Celebrities named in testimony as Diddy’s sex trafficking trial enters 3rd week
As week 3 of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking and racketeering trial begins, multiple celebrities have already been name-dropped during testimony.
Usher, former President Barack Obama, Biggie Smalls and Jennifer Lopez are a few A-list names that came up during testimony as Diddy’s jury heard from his former assistants, ex-associates and his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura.
Diddy’s trial began May 5 with jury selection. Opening statements were presented on May 12, and the disgraced music mogul appeared in court to sit through testimony from Cassie, her mother, former Homeland Security Investigations agents, plus singers Dawn Richard and Kid Cudi.
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Here’s a look at all the celebrities mentioned so far.
Former President Barack Obama
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ former assistant, David James, testified on May 20 that the rapper typically carried “25 to 30” undisclosed pill bottles. According to James, some of the pills were ecstasy.
“Can you describe the ecstasy that you saw him taking?” Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Slavik asked.
“There were various pills, but there was one that was in the shape of a former president’s face,” James explained.
“Which former president?” the prosecutor questioned.
“President Obama,” James answered.
Usher
Former Danity Kane singer Dawn Richard testified that Usher was at a dinner where Sean “Diddy” Combs allegedly punched Cassie Ventura in the stomach.
“We were having a private conversation, and we were all sitting, eating at the tables together,” Richard recalled during her testimony. “When I say we, I mean some Bad Boy, some of our other label, and even some celebrities were in the room. And they were secretly arguing, and he punched her in the stomach. Sean Combs punched her in the stomach.”
“She immediately bent over and then was – he was – he told her to leave because I could see him point out, and she went out and left the room,” she added.
Richard claimed music executive Harve Pierre, two of Diddy’s assistants, the rapper’s security and Kaleena Harper were present for the West Hollywood dinner. During cross-examination, it was revealed that Richard hadn’t mentioned all of the celebrities at the dinner.
“Usher was there, Jimmy Iovine was there, Ne-Yo came through,” Richard eventually added. “There were a few others, too. I don’t recall those people, but those are the ones I remember talking to.”
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Kid Cudi
Kid Cudi was first mentioned in Cassie Ventura’s testimony on May 14, when she said Sean “Diddy” Combs had allegedly gone through her phone at a “freak off” and found an email correspondence between her and the rapper.
Cassie and Cudi, whose full name is Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi, dated in 2011 when she was on a break in her relationship with Diddy.
Cudi took the stand May 22 and testified about an alleged break-in that occurred at his home the day Diddy found out the “Pursuit of Happiness” singer was dating Cassie Ventura. According to Cudi, his car was set on fire a month later.
“I reached out to Sean Combs after my car had caught fire and … finally told him that we needed to meet up to talk,” Cudi testified. “He had been wanting to talk to me. So, after the fire, I was like, ‘This is getting out of hand/ I need to talk to him.’”
“Why was it Mr. Combs you reached out to after the fire?” Cudi was asked in court.
“Because I knew he had something to do with it,” Cudi claimed before Judge Arun Subramanian sustained an objection from Diddy’s defense. The jury was then instructed to disregard the musician’s last answer.
Diddy was never charged in the investigation into the alleged break-in or car fire.
The Notorious B.I.G.
Biggie Smalls, or Christopher George Latore Wallace, has been mentioned a few times in Diddy’s sex trafficking trial. Biggie was killed in a drive-by shooting at age 24 in 1997.
During the testimony of Diddy’s former assistant, George Kaplan, it was revealed that the music mogul used the name “Frank Black” when booking his hotel reservations.
James also revealed that Diddy used the name “Frank Black” when booking his hotel reservations.
“I think it was a reference to Biggie,” Kaplan told the jury before adding, “I think that [Biggie’s] nickname was Frank White.”
Kaplan also testified that May 21 was a paid holiday for employees at Combs Enterprises because it was Biggie’s birthday.
Dawn Richard
Former Danity Kane singer Dawn Richard testified in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking trial.
Richard told the jury Diddy threatened her to remain quiet about the alleged abuse of his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. Richard told the court that one day after an alleged altercation in which she “observed Cassie being attacked,” the “Missing You” rapper told her it was par for the course in a normal relationship.
Diddy and Richard were in the recording studio when he allegedly said that what was witnessed the day before was “passion” and what people in relationships do. He claimed Cassie was OK and that it was best if they didn’t say anything.
The rapper allegedly said that where he’s from, people go missing. She testified that she heard his words to mean that people end up dead.
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Rihanna and Jennifer Lopez
Cassie Ventura’s former makeup artist testified she also worked for Rihanna and Jennifer Lopez. Mylah Morales claimed she worked for Sean “Diddy” Combs from 2000 until 2005.
“After you stopped working for Mr. Combs, who is the next artist that you worked with?” Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey asked in court Thursday.
According to Morales, she worked with Rihanna for 13 years along with Jennifer Lopez.
“Are there others that you’re not remembering right now?” Comey asked.
“Yeah, there’s so many,” Morales responded. “It’s like a long list of names.”
Michael B. Jordan
At one point, Sean “Diddy” Combs suspected Cassie was in a relationship with actor Michael B. Jordan.
Cassie testified that she broke up with Diddy in 2015 while in South Africa for a movie. She told Diddy’s defense lawyer during cross-examination that someone had reached out to her about being at an event, but Cassie wasn’t actually there. She testified that she eventually learned Combs was at the event with Gina, another woman he had been seeing. Cassie admitted to being angry because she thought Gina was no longer in the picture.
Cassie explained she cut off contact with Combs, blocked him and focused on the movie.
Diddy began to suspect she was in a relationship with Jordan, but Cassie testified she didn’t remember his reaction.
On May 19, Cassie’s former friend, Kerry Morgan, testified to the singer’s connection with Jordan.
Morgan testified that she did not know much, just that they were speaking at the time. She emphasized that Cassie was not with Diddy at this time, but the rapper was allegedly jealous.
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Suge Knight
David James, Sean “Diddy” Combs’ former personal assistant, testified about a run-in with Suge Knight during his testimony Tuesday. James recalled driving with Diddy’s security guard to Mel’s Diner to get food after a late night at the studio when they ran into the Death Row Records chair. The two allegedly left after four black SUVs pulled into the parking lot and someone gave Knight a gun.
James said he drove D-Roc, Diddy’s security guard, and the rapper back to the diner, per Diddy’s request. Combs was allegedly in the back seat with three handguns in his lap. However, they did not see Knight at the diner and Combs allegedly told James to drive around the block.
The former personal assistant testified he was “really shook up by it” and that it was the first time working for Diddy where he thought his life was in danger. They went back to New York and James gave his six months notice.
Britney Spears
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ defense team revealed during testimony on May 15 that the rapper brought Britney Spears to Cassie Ventura’s 21st birthday party.
Diddy’s defense lawyer, Anna Estevao, took Cassie back to the beginning of the former couple’s relationship during her cross-examination. At Cassie’s 21st birthday party, Combs brought Dallas Austin and Britney Spears. Cassie and Diddy had seemingly just begun seeing each other romantically.
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Prince
Cassie’s former makeup artist testified that she first saw injuries on the singer’s face in 2010 during Grammys weekend.
Mylah Morales told the jury she saw Cassie had injuries to her face after an alleged physical altercation between the singer and Sean “Diddy” Combs. She claimed there had been a party at Prince’s home. Morales claimed she noticed the injury late at night or early in the morning.
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Bruce Willis
Bruce Willis was brought up during Cassie’s testimony in Diddy’s trial. Cassie told Diddy she was “at the edge of tears” in an emotional text exchange shown in court about his private family life.
Cassie wrote, “As much as you think you’re Bruce Willis, you aren’t. He’s married and before he was married, the family as a whole went on trips together, or just with him and his woman. Eddie Murphy and Paige took his kids away on their own.”
“He didn’t go with his ex because that’s not who he’s in love with. I’ve been at the edge of tears this whole week. I don’t think that you sympathize with my feelings.”
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Psychologist Jordan Peterson stuns atheist debaters in viral exchange
Famed Canadian psychologist and speaker Jordan Peterson debated twenty atheists in a video posted Sunday that quickly went viral after Peterson shocked the group by refusing to clarify whether he’s a Christian.
The academic appeared on the YouTube channel Jubilee in a video currently titled, “Jordan Peterson vs 20 Atheists” on Sunday. The video was originally titled, “1 Christian vs 20 atheists,” according to Newsweek.
The popular YouTube channel frequently publishes videos where one person debates 20-25 other people who hold a contrary view on politics, religion or other polarizing issues.
In the roughly-90-minute video, Peterson debated several atheists on claims about belief in God, Christianity and atheism. About halfway through the video, one debater who said his name was “Danny,” pressed Peterson on his understanding of Catholicism, as Peterson reportedly attends a Catholic Church with his wife, who converted to Catholicism last year.
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When Peterson asked Danny why he was asking him about this, Danny responded, “Because you’re a Christian.”
“You say that. I haven’t claimed that,” Peterson replied.
His answer drew laughs from the atheists. Danny retorted, “Oh, what is this? Christians versus atheists?” referring to the title of the debate.
“I don’t know,” Peterson responded.
“You don’t know where you are right now?” Danny mocked, with Peterson chiding his debater to “not be a smart—.”
“Either you’re a Christian or you’re not,” Danny said. “Which one is it?”
Peterson refused to answer his question, replying, “I could be either of them, but I don’t have to tell you. It’s private.”
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Danny told Peterson he was invited to debate a Christian and that Peterson must be in “the wrong YouTube video.”
“You’re really quite something, aren’t you?” Peterson retorted.
“Aren’t I? But you’re really quite nothing, right? You’re not a Christian?” Danny scoffed.
Peterson ended the debate with Danny at this point.
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A clip of the exchange has since attracted over 7 million views.
The person who posted the clip wrote in the caption, “During a debate titled ‘One Christian vs. Twenty Atheists,’ Jordan Peterson was pressed to identify himself as a Christian but awkwardly refused..”
Peterson did not immediately return Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Peterson, who wrote a book last year titled, “We Who Wrestle with God: Perceptions of the Divine,” has faced questions about his faith journey over the years.
During an interview with country music singer John Rich in 2024, Peterson admitted he “loathed” talking about his personal faith beliefs in public because he didn’t want it to be a spectacle.
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German chancellor defies Moscow, lifts range restrictions on Ukraine weapons
Germany’s new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, says his country, as well as its allies, have lifted all range restrictions on the weapons delivered to Ukraine.
Merz has seemingly attempted to maintain diplomatic efforts as he tries to secure a ceasefire keeping Western support for Ukraine.
“We will do everything in our power to continue supporting Ukraine. This also means no longer having any range restrictions on the weapons we supply. Ukraine can now also defend itself by attacking military positions in Russia,” he posted to the social media platform X.
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In an accompanying statement Monday, Merz said that the range restrictions on weapons that have been delivered to Ukraine would include the British, the French, and America.
“That means Ukraine can also defend itself by, for example, attacking military positions in Russia,” Merz said at a forum organized by WDR public television. “Until a while ago, it couldn’t. … It can now.”
“We call this ‘long-range fire’ in jargon, also supplying Ukraine with weapons that attack military targets in the hinterland,” he added.
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Just last week, Merz made a call for Germany to defend democracy and strengthen the constitutional state amid the conflict.
“The Basic Law allows us to live in freedom, peace, and security – we are proud of that. But our freedom is being attacked from within and without like never before. Therefore, we must stand up for a strong constitutional state and defend our democracy every day,” he posted.
Merz’s statements come after Moscow hit Ukraine with more than 300 missiles and drones.
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Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for the Kremlin, warned that lifting the range restrictions would be dangerous in a statement, saying that it runs “contrary to our efforts to reach a political settlement.”
Moscow warned the West to not lift the restrictions, claiming that doing so would make the offender a target for the Kremlin and face the threat of nuclear weapons.
War hero to censured congressman: Rep Rangel’s journey ends on Memorial Day
I didn’t recognize the “917” New York number that called me.
But there was no question about who phoned after they left a message.
The caller on the voicemail was utterly unmistakable.
They didn’t say their name.
They didn’t have to.
“Chad, you’re the only one who missed me,” croaked the voice.
FORMER NY DEMOCRATIC REP CHARLIE RANGEL DEAD AT 94
It carried the sleekness of a stone crusher working over basalt in a West Virginia quarry.
The voicemail was from the late Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y. And he was essentially calling to assure me that he wasn’t dead.
After all, I was apparently the only member of the congressional press corps who noticed that the New York Democrat hadn’t voted nor been anywhere near the U.S. Capitol in several weeks.
There was no article in Roll Call. Nothing in Politico. No statement from his office.
Rangel just wasn’t around.
So I called and wound up speaking to his communications director Hannah Kim and chief of staff George Henry.
I inquired if Rangel was all right. They assured me he was. But they didn’t quite give me the full story. That was for Rangel to do.
And then Rangel himself called — from his sickbed — so I could hear his signature jackhammer-chopping-through-the-asphalt-of-Manhattan voice to prove to this reporter he was still among the living.
“I wanted you to hear it from me,” said Rangel.
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It was 2012. Rangel was out because of a back injury and a viral infection, which made it difficult for him to stand for long periods of time. From 2008 through late 2010, I dogged Rangel through the halls of Congress on a daily basis as the veteran congressman grappled with an ethics scandal. The ethics case culminated in the House censuring Rangel, permanently smudging his record as a war hero, a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus and chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.
First elected to the House in 1970, Rangel’s star had dimmed after the ethics scandal. But in 2012, any information about an elderly, legendary congressman like Rangel was newsworthy. So, as a reporter on the Capitol Hill beat, I appreciated the phone call as he described the excruciating pain that beset him.
It’s possible the Ethics Committee investigation and censure by the House were more agonizing for Rangel than the back problem. Rangel was so confident that he didn’t violate House rules that he referred himself to the Ethics Committee.
Rangel started to feel the ethics heat in 2008. He used his position as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee to solicit funds for a school in his name at City College of New York. He failed to report hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes or rental income on a villa he owned in the Dominican Republic.
A rent-controlled apartment in Harlem doubled as a campaign office. He improperly parked his broken-down, 1972 silver Mercedes-Benz in the garage of the Rayburn House Office Building. The House prohibits lawmakers from using the garage for storage. The Benz lacked plates, wasn’t registered and apparently hadn’t been driven in about four years. A Falls Church, Virginia, towing company lugged the car out of the garage on Sept. 19, 2008.
Video of the tow-truck hauling away the Mercedes-Benz from Rayburn would have made a juicy story the next morning on TV. But Rangel caught a break.
Sort of.
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Then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., summoned then-Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson to Capitol Hill that night. The U.S. economy teetered on the verge of an epic financial collapse. By nightfall, it was clear just how bad the nation’s economy was. Everyone temporarily forgot about Rangel. In fact, the inoperable Benz may have been in better shape than some American car companies at that moment.
But the House Ethics Committee was investigating Rangel. An inquiry started in 2009 and culminated in his censure on the House floor in 2010. The House voted 333-79 to discipline Rangel. A somber Rangel presented himself in the well of the House chamber, hands folded in front of him as though he were about to receive Communion. Pelosi doled out her admonition from the dais and lightly rapped the gavel.
“He violated the public trust,” said then-Ethics Committee Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif.
It was the first censure of a House member in 27 years.
Years later, I half-jokingly told Rangel that he could blame me for his problems with the Ethics Committee.
As stated earlier, it was Rangel who believed his actions were beyond reproach. So he sent himself before the Ethics Committee to review his conduct.
I entered the Capitol one morning in 2008 and discovered his longtime aide, Emile Milne, wandering the basement. I asked Milne what he was looking for. He waived an overstuffed envelope at me.
“The Ethics Committee,” said Milne.
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This was the actual “self-referral” to the Ethics Committee. And Milne was the courier of a dossier Rangel would use to defend himself.
I knew exactly where the Ethics Committee was located in those days in the Capitol catacombs. So I escorted Milne to the door.
As I said, I told Rangel he could blame all of his problems on me.
Between 2008 and 2010, I staked out Rangel somewhere at the Capitol nearly every day. The day Pelosi summoned him to her office. The day Pelosi removed him as Ways and Means Committee chairman. The day he spoke at length on the House floor to defend himself against the allegations after the ethics panel formalized its inquiry.
One night, a scrum of reporters caught Rangel in the hallway off the House floor and pelted him with a barrage of questions. Rangel briefly answered. Then deflected. He then decided he had enough as scribes fired questions at him with the speed of a Gatling gun.
Rangel sighed, exasperated at what to do.
“Sergeant Charles B. Rangel. 85718162!” hollered Rangel. “And that’s all I’m going to say about it!”
It’s unclear if the other reporters understood what just happened. But I did.
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Rangel served in the Army during the Korean War. He was wounded in the back by shrapnel and eventually led dozens of men out of a firefight and to safety. Multiple soldiers died, and others were taken prisoner. Rangel received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star with valor.
Rangel survived that day. But back on Capitol Hill, the news cycle had effectively taken Rangel prisoner. So he complied with the terms of the Geneva Convention. A prisoner of war is only compelled to provide enemy captors their name, rank and serial number. And after absorbing heavy fire from the press corps, Rangel had only one option.
It’s notable that someone with Rangel’s military record and Army service passed away on Memorial Day.
In August 2008, Rangel published his autobiography entitled “And I Haven’t Had a Bad Day Since.” The book chronicles how a high school dropout joined the Army and was wounded on the battlefield. Rangel chose to continue — eventually winding up in Congress as one of the most important lawmakers of the last 50 years. But Rangel then faced one of the harshest punishments Congress could dole out. It cost him his chairmanship and upended his reputation.
But Rangel was often philosophical about his fate and transgressions in Congress. He argued that despite the trouble, he still hadn’t had a bad day since that fateful battle in Kunu-ri, Korea in late 1950.
Back in 2012, I may have been the only one who noticed that Rangel was absent when he was suffering from a back issue and viral infection.
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But I certainly won’t be the only one today.
Trump moves on Syria as Iran eyes ‘long game’ strategy, expert warns
President Donald Trump last week announced he would normalize U.S. relations with Syria by lifting decades-old sanctions, and he became the first American president to meet with the leader of the Middle Eastern nation in 25 years – a move that some have seen as an indirect hit on Iran.
The news was a surprising shift from Trump’s prior position in which he said in a December post that “Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.”
Trump’s change of posture is a gamble that could see serious gains regarding regional stability and securing U.S. interests by deterring Iranian influence, explained Behnam Ben Taleblu, Iran expert and senior fellow with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
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“This is what I call a high-risk, high-reward gamble, but one that, if achieved successfully, can actually prevent Syria from being a launching pad for more Iranian malign activity,” Ben Taleblu told Fox News Digital. “But if it fails, . . . Washington would have ended up empowering a jihadist government in Damascus [that] does not have full control over its own territory.”
The December collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime following the takeover by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former al-Qaeda affiliate, not only signified an end to a decades-long oppressive regime, it also effectively dismantled years of Iranian investment in a major setback to its regional influence.
Trump emphasized that this sanctions relief, which he argued will give the country a chance to recover and was soon followed by an EU order to lift sanctions, is a move to encourage Syria to normalize diplomatic ties with Israel.
But Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who is also the leader of HTS, which is still a designated terrorist group under the U.S. and the UN, has not officially agreed to pursue diplomatic ties with Jerusalem – a push several Middle Eastern nations have flatly rejected amid its aggressive military operations in the Gaza Strip.
Trump also emphasized that the new Syrian government needs to suppress the rise of Islamic extremist groups, which Ben Taleblu pointed out is going to be one of the nation’s chief vulnerabilities as it looks to completely re-establish itself in the world order as trade, business and diplomacy have been reopened to Damascus.
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“Tehran traditionally responds to these sorts of things with patience. The Islamic Republic has an ideological view of the way the region should be oriented, and has put time, money, resources, blood and treasure towards that,” Ben Taleblu said.
The Iran-expert explained that Tehran is waiting for the U.S. and Israel to loosen its pressure on the regime and its proxies, “and for Washington and Jerusalem to make mistakes in the region as they try to push towards bigger-picture things – like flipping Syria or regional peace and stability.”
“And it is there that in the interim, while Washington focuses up on building up states that Tehran will focus on building up proxies and partners,” he added.
Syria is not a united nation as conflict persists across the country between varying minority groups, former regime loyalists and terrorist organizations like ISIS.
Secretary of State Macro Rubio also warned lawmakers on Tuesday that Syria could be just “weeks” away from a “potential collapse and a full-scale civil war of epic proportions.”
These fractures pose a significant vulnerability for the new Syrian government.
“Whenever there is a downtrodden or dispossessed person in a war zone or in a conflict zone, that is Tehran’s angle of entry back into a conflict,” Ben Taleblu said. “This has been Iran’s strategy, sitting and waiting and looking to exploit opportunities across the entire northern tier of the Middle East, from Iraq to Syria to Lebanon.
“Exploiting disarray is a specialty of the Islamic Republic,” he warned.
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The expert explained that if the Trump administration wants to ensure that Iran is unable to exploit vulnerable populations in Syria, then it will need to press Damascus to address the sweeping concerns facing various groups across the country.
Though the president, and his constituents, notoriously opposed nation-building, which could spell trouble for the long-term security of Syria as it sits in Iran’s shadow.
“Tehran is going to be playing the long game. It’s going to be running the clock when it comes to American and Israeli patience for what the future regional order could look like,” Ben Taleblu warned.
Three more fugitives from New Orleans jailbreak captured, authorities say
Three more fighters on the run after a group of 10 inmates escaped from a New Orleans jail have been captured, authorities said Monday.
Authorities initially announced that Lenton Vanburen was arrested in Baton Rouge and was back in custody.
“Vanburen was originally incarcerated on charges of parole violation, possession of firearm by felon, and illegal carrying of a weapon,” Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill wrote on X.
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He will face additional charges related to his escape.
Leo Tate and Jermaine Donald were arrested in Walker County, Texas, by the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Louisiana State Police said.
According to Huntsville Police in Texas, Donald and Tate led law enforcement from several agencies on a high-speed chase before they were taken into custody.
“Leo Tate and Jermaine Donald were arrested on May 26th after leading law enforcement officers from several agencies on a high-speed chase through the Huntsville area,” the department wrote on Facebook. “The pursuit ended near US 190 and Geneva, where both subjects were taken into custody.”
Donald was originally charged with second-degree murder, aggravated battery, possession of a firearm or weapon by a felon and obstruction of justice.
Tate was jailed on charges of simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling, possession of a firearm or weapon by a felon, illegal carrying of a weapon, motor vehicle theft and multiple drug counts.
Donald and Tate now face additional charges in connection with the escape.
The trio were three of 10 inmates to make the brazen May 16 escape from their Orleans Parish jail.
As of Monday, eight of the 10 escaped inmates have been re-captured. Before Vanburen’s capture, the most recent inmate arrest was made when Corey Boyd was taken into custody last week. The other inmates recaptured are Kendell Myles, Robert Moody, Dkenan Dennis and Gary Price.
In addition, 13 people have been arrested for allegedly aiding the escapees. Authorities announced Monday that the latest accomplice, 21-year-old Diamond White, was arrested for assisting Antoine Massey, who is still at-large.
Over the weekend, authorities arrested 28-year-old Lenika Vanburen, 18-year-old Patricia Vanburen, 27-year-old Tyshanea “Minnie” Randolph, 47-year-old Lenton Vanburen Sr., and 40-year-old Angel McKey.
A source confirmed to Fox News that Vanburen Sr. is the father Lenton Vanburen Jr.
Two others — Casey Smith and Cortnie Harris — have been arrested for allegedly aiding the escapees. Another woman, Connie Weeden, 59, allegedly gave cash to Donald via a cellphone app.
She is charged with one felony count of accessory after the fact.
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The remaining inmates on the run are:
- Antoine Massey, 32, faces charges of domestic abuse involving strangulation, theft of a motor vehicle and a parole violation.
- Derrick Groves, 27, faces three counts of attempted second-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder and battery of a correctional facility employee.
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Authorities have reminded the public that these men are considered armed and dangerous.
Common vitamin could slow aging process at cellular level, study finds
Vitamin D might be doing more than just supporting bone health — it could also help the body age slower, according to a new study led by researchers at Mass General Brigham (MGB) and the Medical College of Georgia.
The study, published this month in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, reveals that taking vitamin D supplements may protect against biological aging by slowing the shortening of telomeres, the tiny caps on DNA that naturally erode as people grow older.
Conducted as part of a nationwide four-year trial, the study tracked over 1,000 U.S. adults (men over 50 and women over 55) and found that daily vitamin D3 could reduce biological wear and tear, equivalent to nearly three years of aging, according to a press release from MGB.
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Participants were randomly assigned to take either a placebo or a daily dose of vitamin D3 (2,000 IU) and omega-3 fatty acids (1 gram).
Telomere length in white blood cells was measured at the start of the study, at the two-year mark and after four years.
Compared to the placebo group, those taking vitamin D3 had significantly less telomere shortening, the researchers found.
In contrast, omega-3 supplements “had no significant effect on telomere length throughout follow-up,” the team reported.
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This was the first large-scale, long-term randomized trial to show that vitamin D supplements protect telomeres, according to co-author JoAnn Manson, M.D., the Michael and Lee Bell Professor of Women’s Health at Harvard Medical School.
“This is of particular interest because VITAL (the trial) has also shown benefits of vitamin D in reducing inflammation and lowering risks of selected chronic diseases of aging, such as advanced cancer and autoimmune disease,” Manson said in the release.
Telomeres act like protective tips at the ends of chromosomes, similar to the plastic ends of shoelaces, according to the researchers. They “prevent chromosome ends from degrading or fusing with other chromosomes.”
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Over time, these DNA caps shorten, which is a natural part of aging and is linked to a higher risk of age-related diseases.
Because of this, scientists view telomere length as a marker of “biological age,” which may better reflect a person’s health status than their actual age in years.
Why it matters
Earlier phases of the trial showed that vitamin D supplementation could reduce inflammation and lower the risk of certain chronic age-related conditions, such as advanced cancers and autoimmune diseases, Manson noted.
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While the new telomere findings don’t prove that vitamin D slows aging across the board, researchers say it points to a potentially powerful way to protect the body at the cellular level.
“Our findings suggest that targeted vitamin D supplementation may be a promising strategy to counter the biological aging process, although further research is warranted,” said first author Dr. Haidong Zhu, a molecular geneticist at the Medical College of Georgia, in the release.
Previous research suggested vitamin D could reduce inflammation and lower the risk of some age-related diseases.
The research team emphasized that more work is needed to determine how vitamin D impacts aging in different populations and whether these effects endure over longer timeframes.
Before starting a new supplement regimen, experts recommend consulting with a healthcare provider to discuss proper dosage and potential risks.
Giants rookie Jaxson Dart declines to pay teammate for coveted jersey number
The New York Giants made what was largely viewed as a surprising decision when the team selected Jaxson Dart in the first round of the NFL Draft.
While Dart’s name had been linked to the Giants leading up to the draft, New York put its belief in the young quarterback on full display by trading up to pick the former Ole Miss signal caller. Dart wore the No. 2 jersey at Ole Miss, a number that currently belongs to Giants cornerback Deonte Banks.
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Banks gave up the No. 3 jersey number after he reached a deal in March with veteran quarterback Russell Wilson for an undisclosed amount. Banks then decided to switch to No. 2.
BROWNS’ SHEDEUR SANDERS SAYS HE WON’T BUY COLLEGE JERSEY NUMBER FROM TEAMMATE, CITES MODEST SIGNING BONUS
Dart explored regaining his preferred jersey number, but ultimately determined that Banks’ asking price was not something he was willing to pay.
“Yeah, it’s too much,” the 22-year-old told Cllct Media as he laughed. “Too much.”
The latest NFL collective bargaining agreement introduced fixed rookie pay scales, which effectively eliminates negotiations.
Since Dart was the 25th overall pick, he was slotted to earn a total of $16.9 million over the life of his first contract. The projected four-year deal is also expected to include an estimated $9 million signing bonus.
Dart wore the No. 6 jersey once he arrived at Giants rookie minicamp earlier this month. At that time, Dart suggested he was still considering making a deal for the No. 2 jersey.
“I think we’ll come to a final decision here soon,” Dart said. “Quite honestly, I kind of have to just look at the pictures to see if I like myself in No. 6.”
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Last year, Drew Lock wore the No. 2 in his lone season with the Giants. Lock agreed to a two-year contract with the Seattle Seahawks last month.
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Scientists discover gold leaking from Earth’s core in Hawaiian volcanic rocks
A German university, Göttingen University, has literally “struck gold” in recent findings from volcanic rocks.
A new study of these volcanic rocks from Hawaii, that leaked out from deep under the lithosphere, contained various precious metals.
Dr. Nils Messling of the Göttingen University’s Department of Geochemistry said in a news release they were surprised when the test results came in.
“When the first results came in, we realized that we had literally struck gold! Our data confirmed that material from the core, including gold and other precious metals, is leaking into the Earth’s mantle above,” Messling said.
LARGEST GOLD DEPOSIT IN THE WORLD WORTH $83 BILLION FOUND IN CHINA
Approximately 99% of the Earth’s gold is buried deep in the Earth’s Metallic Core, far out of humankind’s reach.
The gold is currently buried about 1,800 miles deep in the core.
The discovery of this ruthenium, which was formed and locked down with gold, might be a telling sign that these volcanic rocks are coming from deep within the Earth.
HAWAII’S KILAUEA VOLCANO ERUPTS WITH 1,000-FOOT ‘LAVA FOUNTAINING’
“Our findings not only show that the Earth’s core is not as isolated as previously assumed. We can now also prove that huge volumes of super-heated mantle material – several hundreds of quadrillion metric tonnes of rock – originate at the core-mantle boundary and rise to the Earth’s surface to form ocean islands like Hawaii,” said Professor Matthias Willbold in a news release.
There is a way to test for isotopes of ruthenium, especially when differences are small variations of the same element.
The isotopes of ruthenium in the Earth’s core are slightly different from those on the surface, with the difference being too small to really detect.
However, new procedures developed by researchers at the University of Göttingen have made it possible.
“Whether these processes that we observe today have also been operating in the past remains to be proven. Our findings open up an entirely new perspective on the evolution of the inner dynamics of our home planet,” Messling said in a statement.
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With these precious metals beginning to leak to the Earth’s surface, it could suggest that the supplies of gold and others important for renewable energy came from the Earth’s core.