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April 2, 2024

As presumptive 2024 GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump continues to face various legal battles, an appeals court recently granted him at least a temporary reprieve from a $454 million fine.

Listen to them on the latest episode of Quick Start ?

With Trump and co-defendents up against a deadline to pay the penalty, the appeals court last week lowered the amount to a $175 million bond, giving the former president 10 days to secure the sum.

This not only at least temporarily lowered the penalty but also relieved Trump from New York Attorney General Letitia James’s pledge to seize his assets should he be unwilling or unable to pay the larger fine.

If, in months to come, the appeals court does rule in the attorney general’s favor and against Trump’s appeal, he could reportedly still be forced to pay the $454 million bond. But, for now, the former commander-in-chief secured and posted the lower $175 million bond Monday.

Certain critics have claimed the sum is unheard of, with some talking heads alleging the massive bond is a violation of the 8th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which reads, “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.”

Bradley Jacob, a professor at Regent University School of Law, told CBN News the 8th Amendment is “primarily about criminal law in a criminal court,” which is noteworthy considering Trump’s case is civil. Jacob went on to explain some of the parameters and confines of the 8th Amendment text:

“You can’t give cruel and unusual punishments,” he said. “You can’t tar and feather someone; you can’t impale them on a stake those kinds of things are not permitted under the Constitution.”

Jacob continued, “Bail can’t be way out of proportion to the crime; if you’re going to go on trial for jaywalking, they can’t put $10,000 bail on that … those kinds of issues.”

Despite the criminal aspects of the 8th Amendment, Jacobs said there have been some court cases indicating excessive fines could also apply to a fine or judgment in a civil case “if the amount of money that’s in the judgment is just way out of proportion to the offense.”

This is why some might be claiming the amendment applies to Trump’s current battle.

That said, Jacobs noted some might argue the initial fine was so large due to Trump’s sweeping financial resources. Considering he’s reportedly worth billions, hundreds of millions might be seen by some as large enough to dissuade alleged behaviors.

Still, Jacobs said other issues must be considered, specifically the “actual harm” purportedly done by Trump.

“It’s particularly tricky in this case, because it’s hard to quantify the actual harm that he caused,” he said, citing claims made against the president.

Watch Jacobs’ full explainer.

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Entertainment

Rapper Ghetts pleads guilty to causing death by dangerous driving

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Rapper Ghetts pleads guilty to causing death by dangerous driving

Rapper Ghetts has pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

The 41-year-old also pleaded guilty to driving dangerously before the fatal collision shortly after 11.30pm on 18 October.

The musician, whose real name is Justin Clarke-Samuel, appeared for a hearing at the Old Bailey via videolink from Pentonville prison, wearing a green polo shirt.

Yubin Tamang, 20, a student from Nepal, died two days after being hit by Clarke-Samuel’s BMW M5 in Redbridge Lane, Ilford, northeast London.

Ghetts, a two-time Mercury Prize nominee and MOBO winner, has been in custody since a preliminary appearance at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on 27 October.

He will now be sentenced in February.

The rapper was first nominated for the prestigious Mercury Prize in 2021, for his third album Conflict Of Interest. His second nomination for his fourth album, On Purpose, With Purpose, in 2024.

More on Ghetts

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US

Paramount launches hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros

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Paramount launches hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros

Paramount has launched a £108.4bn hostile bid for Warner Bros, challenging Netflix, which had reached a $72bn takeover deal with the company.

Paramount said on Monday that it was going straight to Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) shareholders with a $30 per share in cash offer for the entirety of the company, including its Global Networks segment, asking them to reject the deal with Netflix.

On Friday Netflix struck a deal to buy WBD, the Hollywood giant behind “Harry Potter” and HBO Max

The agreement means Warner Bros Discovery's library of film and TV successes including Harry Potter and Game Of Thrones will come under the same roof as Stranger Things and Squid Game.
Image:
The agreement means Warner Bros Discovery’s library of film and TV successes including Harry Potter and Game Of Thrones will come under the same roof as Stranger Things and Squid Game.

The cash and stock deal is valued at $27.75 per Warner share, giving it a total enterprise value of $82.7 billion, including debt.

But Paramount says its deal will pay $30 cash per share, representing $18 billion more in cash than its rivals are offering.

In a statement, Paramount said it was making a “strategically and financially compelling offer to WBD shareholders” and a “superior alternative to the Netflix transaction”.

File pic: iStock
Image:
File pic: iStock

David Ellison, chairman and CEO of Paramount, said: “WBD shareholders deserve an opportunity to consider our superior all-cash offer for their shares in the entire company.

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“Our public offer, which is on the same terms we provided to the Warner Bros. Discovery Board of Directors in private, provides superior value, and a more certain and quicker path to completion.

“We believe the WBD Board of Directors is pursuing an inferior proposal which exposes shareholders to a mix of cash and stock, an uncertain future trading value of the Global Networks linear cable business and a challenging regulatory approval process.

“We are taking our offer directly to shareholders to give them the opportunity to act in their own best interests and maximize the value of their shares.”

Paramount said it had submitted six proposals to WBD in the course of 12 weeks, but that they were never “meaningfully” engaged with.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

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You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.

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UK

Storm Bram named as weather warnings issued for UK and Ireland

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Storm Bram named as weather warnings issued for UK and Ireland

Storm Bram has been named by the Irish weather service – with warnings for strong winds and heavy rain issued for parts of the UK and Ireland.

More than half a month’s rainfall could hit some parts of the UK in just a 24-hour period, the Met Office has warned.

Parts of Scotland are also facing a “danger to life” warning due to the “very strong” winds on Tuesday.

Yellow and orange warnings are in place across Ireland today and tomorrow, with “very strong to gale force” winds forecast on Tuesday.

Check the forecast for your area

The Met Office said strong winds forecast from Monday evening through until Wednesday could cause disruption, with gusts of 50-60mph predicted widely and 70-80mph in some places.

A yellow weather warning for rain comes into force from 6pm on Monday, and will be in place until 2pm on Tuesday, covering parts of southwest England and Wales, and stretching to parts of Herefordshire and Hampshire.

The Met Office has also issued a yellow warning for high winds from Dorset to Cornwall and up to north Wales, in place from 10pm on Monday until 4pm on Tuesday.

It said transport networks could face disruption, with delays for high-sided vehicles on exposed routes and bridges, and coastal roads and seafronts affected by spray and large waves. Power outages are also possible.

For 24 hours from 6pm on Monday, up to 40mm of rain could fall in some areas, with 60-80mm of rain over Dartmoor and high ground in South Wales, which would amount to more than half the average monthly rainfall in December.

The predicted rainfall across southwest England and South Wales is expected to hit already saturated ground and could lead to difficult travel conditions.

An amber warning for wind has been issued for northwest Scotland on Tuesday, from 4pm until the end of the day.

Flying debris “could result in a danger to life” – and there could be damage to buildings and homes along with the risk of roofs being “blown off” due to the “very strong and disruptive winds”, the Met Office warned.

Forecasters added there was the potential for large waves and beach material “being thrown” across sea fronts, roads and properties.

There are also further yellow warnings for wind and rain on Tuesday across Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and northern England.

Weather warnings issued for Tuesday. Pic: Met Office
Image:
Weather warnings issued for Tuesday. Pic: Met Office

Yellow warnings for wind have been issued for Scotland and parts of northern England on Wednesday.

The Met Office’s deputy chief meteorologist, Steven Keates, said: “A deepening area of low pressure will approach the UK from the southwest later on Monday, bringing with it heavy rain and strong winds, which are likely to affect the UK between late Monday and early Wednesday.

“The exact track, depth and timings of this low are uncertain, which makes it harder to determine where will be most impacted by strong winds and/or heavy rain.

“This system has the potential to cause disruption, and severe weather warnings are likely to be issued over the weekend as details become clearer. We therefore urge people to keep up-to-date with the latest Met Office forecast.”

Read more from Sky News:
City may have to evacuate as water supplies run low
UK unveils undersea military technology

Sky News meteorologist Dr Christopher England warned many areas could face disruption from “damaging gusts”.

“There could also be ferry disruption and that even outside the warning areas, potentially damaging gusts of over 50mph are possible,” he said.

“It only takes one tree falling in the wrong place at the wrong time to have a significant impact.”

The Met Office said the rest of the month remained unsettled, with further periods of low pressure predicted.

It said it is too early to provide an accurate forecast for the Christmas period.

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