A Georgia judge has released three parts of a grand jury report into former President Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Also in the news: President Joe Biden stressed there's "no evidence" that more flying objects are in the sky than usual. The next chapter for NFL legend and legal advocate Alan Page. |
Now, here we go with Friday's headlines. |
Witnesses in Georgia Trump probe suspected of lying |
Portions of a long-awaited report by a grand jury that examined interference in the 2020 election released by Fulton County Superior Judge Robert McBurney conclude that a majority of witnesses lied during the investigation and recommended Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis seek indictments for perjury "where the evidence is compelling." The witnesses weren't identified. |
The 23-member grand jury concluded unanimously "no widespread election fraud took place in the Georgia 2020 presidential election that could result in overturning the election results." |
| • | Scant details were contained in a nine-page release ordered by McBurney, though the panel's rejection of election fraud offered a direct rebuke to the former president and represented one of the few notable elements contained in the much-anticipated release. | | • | Legal experts said prosecutors could pursue perjury charges as leverage to broaden the investigation. Charges for lying to investigators or perjury are rare because they can be difficult to prove and peripheral to the main case, according to legal experts. But federal prosecutors have convicted witnesses in recent years of lying to authorities during previous investigations of Trump. | | • | The Georgia inquiry was launched shortly after the former president telephoned the state's top election official, Brad Raffensperger, Jan. 2, 2021, urging him to "find 11,780 votes" to tilt the 2020 statewide election in his favor. On Thursday, the Trump campaign maintained the former president "did absolutely nothing wrong." | | Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, right, talks with a member of her team during proceedings to seat a special purpose grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia, on May 2, to look into the actions of former President Donald Trump and his supporters who tried to overturn the results of the 2020 election. The hearing took place in Atlanta.
Ben Gray, AP |
EPA will 'hold Norfolk Southern responsible' |
The head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency traveled to East Palestine, Ohio, on Thursday and told residents he vows to hold train company Norfolk Southern accountable for its role in a derailment. On Feb. 3, a train carrying hazardous materials derailed near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border, leading to evacuations. Authorities still say testing has not detected anything of concern. after officials decided to do a controlled release of gas, allowing it to burn to prevent an explosion. The burn caused toxic fumes to be released into the area, which alarmed residents about possible long-term effects after the explosion, including the occasionally strong odorous air they breathe and whether the water is safe to drink. Read more |
📷 Photo of the day: East Palestine residents raise concerns after train derailment 📷 |
Nearly two weeks after a train derailed near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border, impacted residents hoped to voice their concerns to the rail company involved. Immediately before the event, East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway told his residents that the company, Norfolk Southern, backed out of the meeting – citing safety concerns. Read more about the meeting and click here for photos of the hourslong event. | A area resident asks a water quality question during a meeting at East Palestine High School on Wednesday.
Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal |
Biden says 'aerial objects' not looming threat |
President Joe Biden said Thursday the administration continues to study a series of unidentified "aerial objects" shot down in recent days but that intelligence officials increasingly believe they were benign balloons used for research or commercial purposes. Biden said the intelligence community's current assessment is that three objects shot down over North American airspace were "most likely balloons tied to private companies, recreation or research institutions." That does not include the Chinese spy balloon the U.S military shot down in early February. Read more | President Joe Biden speaks about the Chinese surveillance balloon and other unidentified objects shot down by the U.S. military, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023, in Washington.
Evan Vucci, AP |
Court appearance for former Memphis police officers charged with Tyre Nichols' death |
Five former Memphis police officers who have been charged with murder and other crimes in connection to the beating of Tyre Nichols after a traffic stop will appear in court for an arraignment Friday. Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Justin Smith, Emmitt Martin III and Desmond Mills Jr. were indicted on one count of second-degree murder, aggravated assault, kidnapping, official oppression and two counts of official misconduct. Body camera and pole mounted surveillance footage showed them aggressively pulling Nichols, 29, from his car and beating him on Jan. 7. Nichols, a FedEx employee, father and skateboarder, died three days later. Read more |
👉 What do you want to know about crime and the criminal justice system? USA TODAY reporter Grace Hauck focuses on this topic and she wants to hear from you. What questions do you have? What kinds of stories do you want to see? Email her at ghauck@usatoday.com. | The five former Memphis police officers are scheduled Friday, Feb. 17, 2023, to make their first court appearance on murder and other charges in the violent arrest and death of Tyre Nichols.
AP |
Alan Page's next chapter: An NFL star, a high court justice and an education advocate |
Alan Page went to the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, on an athletic scholarship and in 1967 was a first-round draft pick by the Minnesota Vikings. A defensive tackle, he played in four Super Bowls and in 1971 was the first defensive player in NFL history to be named league MVP. But he never took his eyes off his real goal: becoming a lawyer. Page obtained his law degree in 1978. That year, the Vikings released him, and he went to the Chicago Bears. For three years during the offseason, he practiced law at a leading Minnesota firm, eventually becoming an assistant state attorney general. Read more about Page's next chapter. |
In February for Black History Month, USA TODAY Sports is publishing the series "28 Black Stories in 28 Days." We examine the issues, challenges and opportunities Black athletes and sports officials continue to face after the nation's reckoning on race following the murder of George Floyd in 2020. This is the third installment of the series. | In this Jan. 11, 2018 photo, Alan Page, NFL Hall of Famer and retired Minnesota Supreme Court justice, stands in Minneapolis, by a photo of black babies labeled "Alligator Bait." It is among the artifacts of slavery and segregation collected by Page and his wife, Diane Sims Page.
Steve Karnowski, AP | Julia Fox, from left, Lil Nas X and Teyana Taylor attend the LaQuan Smith Fall/Winter 2023 fashion show at the Rainbow Room on Monday, Feb. 13, 2023, in New York.
Charles Sykes, Charles Sykes/Invision/AP |
Associated Press contributed reporting. | | | |
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