A Manhattan jury on Wednesday delivered a mixed verdict in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal trial, acquitting him of the most serious charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking.
Jurors found Combs, 55, guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. He faces up to 10 years in prison.
Ultimately, Combs was found guilty on count three, the Mann Act Transportation of his ex-girlfriend, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, and on count five, the Mann Act Transportation of his former girlfriend, Jane. 
During the weeks-long trial, prosecutors accused Combs of using his wealth and fame to coerce ex-girlfriends into drug‑fueled marathons of sexual exploitation known as “freak‑offs.” 
In November 2023, Ventura filed a civil lawsuit accusing Combs of rape, repeated physical abuse, and years of abuse. The lawsuit was settled within 24 hours, but it was followed by a series of additional civil complaints from other alleged victims with similar complaints.
Next, federal authorities launched a criminal investigation into the rap mogul. In March 2024, federal agents raided Combs’ homes in Los Angeles and Miami as part of a federal sex trafficking probe.
The raids resulted in Diddy being charged with sex trafficking, transportation for prostitution, and racketeering. 
The trial began in June in Manhattan federal court. The rapper pleaded not guilty to all charges.
While the rapper’s legal team painted him as a “complicated” man with an unorthodox but fully consensual sex life, prosecutors wasted no time sharing some sordid details from sexual encounters they say were coerced, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/diddy-trial-defense-admits-hes-complicated-but-domestic-violence-is-not-sex-trafficking?author=Amanda+Harding&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Diddy+Trial%3A+Defense+Admits+He%E2%80%99s+%E2%80%98Complicated%2C%E2%80%99+But+%E2%80%98Domestic+Violence+Is+Not+Sex+Trafficking%E2%80%99">reported</a>.
“He called himself the king, and he expected to be treated like one,” she said as a reference to the viral hotel surveillance footage showing him physically assaulting his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura and “flinging her around like a rag doll.”
The prosecutor also went into detail about one specific incident which allegedly occurred at the rapper’s notorious “freak-off” parties. Johnson alleged that a male prostitute was instructed to urinate in Ventura’s mouth, which led to her saying she “felt like she was choking.”
<div class="ad-wrapper" data-testid="ad-wrapper">A security card testified that Combs paid him a bribe to destroy the security footage of him assaulting Ventura.</div>
Johnson said Combs was able to get away with it for so long thanks to his “inner circle and vast resources of his business empire.”
Additional civil litigation remains active, and sentencing on the federal convictions is expected later this year. Combs has not commented publicly since the verdict was released this morning.

Diddy

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Found Guilty On 2 Counts, Acquitted Of Most Serious Charges

Sean 'Diddy' Combs Found Not Guilty Of Racketeering And Sex Trafficking

Crime

Entertainment

Lawsuit

Sean 'Diddy' Combs

Sex Crimes

President Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill heads back to the House after a marathon Senate session – and a tie-breaking vote from JD Vance. Trump and Governor Ron DeSantis put aside past differences at Alligator Alcatraz — touting the power of their federal-state alliance. And, Bryan Kohberger avoids the death penalty – pleading guilty to murdering four Idaho students.
It’s Wednesday, July 2, and this is the news you need to know to start your day.
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<h2>The Senate Passes Trump&#8217;s Big, Beautiful Bill</h2>
<div id="attachment_924413" style="width: 868px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-924413" class="size-large wp-image-924413" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2216484723-858x576.jpg" alt="" width="858" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2216484723-858x576.jpg 858w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2216484723-300x201.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2216484723-768x516.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2216484723-1536x1031.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2216484723-2048x1375.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 858px) 100vw, 858px" />(Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)</div>
Topline: After a marathon vote in Congress, the Senate narrowly passed Donald Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill, pushing his sweeping policy agenda toward the finish line.
Senators and their staff spent the last 48 hours debating the bill non-stop — in what Washington calls a Vote-a-Rama, where members submit last minute amendments before a final vote. Votes were held on 45 proposed amendments covering everything from Medicare cuts and electric car subsidies to health care for illegal immigrants and Planned Parenthood funding. That process went all night Monday and well into Tuesday afternoon.
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Democrats made clear that they viewed the Vote-a-Rama as a means of forcing Republicans to go on the record with their views, but more importantly, to stall. That tactic angered Republicans and even some Democrats who opposed the bill, including Pennsylvania’s John Fetterman.
“Oh my God, I just want to go home,” Fetterman <a href="https://x.com/niceblackdude/status/1939829913873522764">said</a> during the Vote-a-Rama. “Keeping us here until some ungodly hour isn’t helping anyone.”
Given their slim majority, the GOP could only afford to lose three Republican votes. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Susan Collins (R-ME) were definite no votes, so it came down to Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski. Ultimately, GOP leadership won her over by offering major concessions, exempting Alaska from a number of funding cuts in the bill. The final tally was 50-50, allowing Vice President JD Vance to step in and cast the deciding vote.
The bill will now head to the House, where it’s expected to pass, though not without some difficulty – some hardline Republicans have expressed concerns about some of the Senate’s changes. Given the delay from Senate Democrats, the bill might not be voted on before President Trump’s desired deadline of July 4th. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has said he would honor the customary 72 hour period to allow members three days to review the legislation – so it’ll be tight.
<h2>Trump-DeSantis Alliance &amp; Alligator Alcatraz</h2>
<div id="attachment_582447" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-582447" class="size-large wp-image-582447" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/RDDT-1024x576.jpg" alt="Donald Trump Ron DeSantis" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/RDDT-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/RDDT-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/RDDT-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/RDDT-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/RDDT-2048x1152.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Getty Images</div>
Topline: President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis held a press conference down at the state’s new “Alligator Alcatraz” on Tuesday.
Trump and DeSantis have reconciled since Trump beat the Florida governor in the GOP presidential primary last year, and Trump’s win in November pushed the two even closer, especially on immigration, but also on other issues as well.
“Ron, I would like to thank you, personally,” Trump said during a joint press conference. “You&#8217;re my friend. You will always be my friend. We may have some skirmishes even in the future &#8212; I doubt it &#8212; but I will always come back. We have blood that seems to match pretty well. We have a relationship that&#8217;s been a very strong one.”
DeSantis is term-limited as Florida’s governor, and he signaled that his wife Casey may jump into the 2026 race to replace him. An endorsement from Trump would be a huge boon in a Republican primary that has the potential to be extraordinarily competitive.
The press conference took place during a visit to Alligator Alcatraz – an immigration facility being built in the everglades. It could hold thousands of illegal aliens slated for deportation. In addition to the new detention facility, Trump also plans to deputize Florida National Guardsmen as immigration judges, which could massively cut down the time it takes to schedule immigration hearings – from a matter of years to just a few days.
Detention capacity has been a big constraint to Trump’s immigration agenda. That’s why we’ve seen the Trump administration partner with El Salvador, for instance, to hold illegal aliens, or ship them to Guantanamo Bay. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is now arresting hundreds of illegal aliens a day, and Trump is doing whatever he can to make sure none of them are released back into the public after they’ve been caught.
<h2>Accused Murderer Accepts Plea Deal</h2>
<div id="attachment_644939" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-644939" class="size-large wp-image-644939" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/10/GettyImages-1663792088-864x576.jpg" alt="Second District Judge John C. Judge speaks at a hearing for Bryan Kohberger, who stands accused of murder, on cameras in the courtroom in Latah County District Court on September 13, 2023 in Moscow, Idaho." width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/10/GettyImages-1663792088-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/10/GettyImages-1663792088-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/10/GettyImages-1663792088-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/10/GettyImages-1663792088.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Ted S. Warren-Pool/Getty Images</div>
Topline: The man accused of the 2022 Idaho murders has accepted a plea deal. The death penalty trial was originally set to begin on August 18th.
Byran Kohberger will accept the prosecution’s plea deal and plead guilty to all charges. Those include four counts of murder, as well as burglary. In exchange, the state has agreed to take the death penalty off the table – he will serve four consecutive life sentences with no possibility of parole, and he has waived the right to appeal. There will be a change of plea hearing on Wednesday, which may provide some closure for the families of the four victims: <a href="https://www.google.com/search?cs=0&amp;sca_esv=6bab3b4dfd99b83d&amp;q=Kaylee+Goncalves&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiu1p60rZyOAxVdfzABHekEHXIQxccNegQIAhAC&amp;mstk=AUtExfAVHVDRi0V94ynk_-wXgwIe9p6AbGoJuzIiz0pCF7FCYFcqYP56aFCt_vMqUu7B0VzjpVsJ9CGG0U3uDDXjN-z2UWJXiAHpe-5dMrBL7SAcF26kj_tjAaHGQcYI7dU2WDq4CZwgj7-Gz0zgIEWPtFN-mEm4Jlb7ZlpRJ3ZAUROmbhuXvcRt8tahCE8pRTkhpY9R&amp;csui=3">Kaylee Goncalves</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/search?cs=0&amp;sca_esv=6bab3b4dfd99b83d&amp;q=Madison+Mogen&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiu1p60rZyOAxVdfzABHekEHXIQxccNegQIAhAD&amp;mstk=AUtExfAVHVDRi0V94ynk_-wXgwIe9p6AbGoJuzIiz0pCF7FCYFcqYP56aFCt_vMqUu7B0VzjpVsJ9CGG0U3uDDXjN-z2UWJXiAHpe-5dMrBL7SAcF26kj_tjAaHGQcYI7dU2WDq4CZwgj7-Gz0zgIEWPtFN-mEm4Jlb7ZlpRJ3ZAUROmbhuXvcRt8tahCE8pRTkhpY9R&amp;csui=3">Madison Mogen</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/search?cs=0&amp;sca_esv=6bab3b4dfd99b83d&amp;q=Xana+Kernodle&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiu1p60rZyOAxVdfzABHekEHXIQxccNegQIAhAE&amp;mstk=AUtExfAVHVDRi0V94ynk_-wXgwIe9p6AbGoJuzIiz0pCF7FCYFcqYP56aFCt_vMqUu7B0VzjpVsJ9CGG0U3uDDXjN-z2UWJXiAHpe-5dMrBL7SAcF26kj_tjAaHGQcYI7dU2WDq4CZwgj7-Gz0zgIEWPtFN-mEm4Jlb7ZlpRJ3ZAUROmbhuXvcRt8tahCE8pRTkhpY9R&amp;csui=3">Xana Kernodle</a>, and <a href="https://www.google.com/search?cs=0&amp;sca_esv=6bab3b4dfd99b83d&amp;q=Ethan+Chapin&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiu1p60rZyOAxVdfzABHekEHXIQxccNegQIAhAF&amp;mstk=AUtExfAVHVDRi0V94ynk_-wXgwIe9p6AbGoJuzIiz0pCF7FCYFcqYP56aFCt_vMqUu7B0VzjpVsJ9CGG0U3uDDXjN-z2UWJXiAHpe-5dMrBL7SAcF26kj_tjAaHGQcYI7dU2WDq4CZwgj7-Gz0zgIEWPtFN-mEm4Jlb7ZlpRJ3ZAUROmbhuXvcRt8tahCE8pRTkhpY9R&amp;csui=3">Ethan Chapin</a>.
Kaylee Goncalves&#8217; sister Aubrie called the decision to take the death penalty off the table “shocking and cruel.” The family posted a statement to social media saying, “We are beyond furious at the state of Idaho. They have failed us.”
The defense has maintained that Kohberger is innocent, although initially the evidence against him seemed overwhelming. His car was caught on surveillance, his cell phone data was consistent with him being near the scene &#8212; not just on the night of the murder, but the next morning, and on about a dozen occasions leading up to the crime, always late at night. Most damning, his DNA was found on the knife sheath left at the scene, and his purchase history showed a black ski mask similar to the one described by the witness. He was also a criminology student with apparent interest in serial killers.
Defense attorney Anne Taylor did raise arguments for reasonable doubt. First, she filed a motion to have the DNA evidence thrown out because it was obtained, according to her, through an illegal genealogy search – that would have been devastating to the prosecution&#8217;s case. She also raised the issue of mystery DNA found in the bloody handprint. Investigators determined that there was DNA from two mystery males found in that print on the bannister, and DNA from a third mystery male was found on a glove outside the residence. There was also DNA from multiple individuals found under the fingernails of one of the victims, although it was inconclusive. The defense was planning to float an alternative suspect theory, and all they had to do was make one juror have doubts. These issues also could have theoretically provided fertile ground for appeals down the road.
However, in the past week, the judge dismissed the defense’s attempt to introduce alternative suspects. And not long before that, it was revealed that a DoorDash driver may have been at the scene delivering food at 4 a.m. when the crime occurred. In leaked police interview footage, that driver can be heard saying, “I saw Bryan there,” and she claimed she parked next to him.

MRN 7.2.25 Thumbnail_V1

Morning Brief: Senate Passes The Big Beautiful Bill, Alligator Alcatraz & Idaho Plea Deal

Congress

Courts

Donald Trump

Florida

Idaho

Murder

Politics

Ron DeSantis

U.S.

U.S. Senate

Two Chinese nationals were arrested for allegedly working on behalf of a Chinese intelligence agency to recruit members of the United States military to betray America, the Justice Department announced.
The Justice Department said Tuesday that the FBI on June 27 had arrested 38-year-old Yuance Chen, a Chinese national who has legal permanent residency in Oregon, and 39-year-old Liren “Ryan” Lai, a Chinese national who entered the country on a tourist visa in April. Both were charged with operating within the United States as an agent of a foreign government without notifying the attorney general.
The criminal complaint against them says that they were working on behalf of the Ministry of State Security (MSS), Communist China’s primary foreign intelligence service. Specifically, they are accused of attempting to recruit members of the Navy to be assets for the MSS.
“This case underscores the Chinese government’s sustained and aggressive effort to infiltrate our military and undermine our national security from within,” <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndca/pr/justice-department-charges-two-individuals-acting-agents-prc-government">said</a> Attorney General Pam Bondi. “The Justice Department will not stand by while hostile nations embed spies in our country – we will expose foreign operatives, hold their agents to account, and protect the American people from covert threats to our national security.”
In January 2022, the pair facilitated the leaving of a backpack containing $10,000 from MSS in a locker at a recreational facility in Livermore, California, in a dead-drop payment in exchange for national security information on the United States, according to the Justice Department.
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“The FBI arrested two Chinese nationals who were allegedly attempting to recruit U.S. military service members on behalf of the PRC,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The Chinese Communist Party thought they were getting away with their scheme to operate on U.S. soil, utilizing spy craft, like dead drops, to pay their sources.”
The two also allegedly worked together to obtain recruitment information from a Naval installation in Washington and a Navy recruitment center in San Gabriel, California. Chen stole personal recruitment information and sent it to an MSS agent in China, the Justice Department said.
Chen allegedly met with MSS intelligence officers in April 2024 and March 2025 to discuss his assignments and what he would be paid. If convicted, the pair of Chinese nationals could face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

AG Bondi, FBI Director Patel Hold Press Conference In Florida After Drug Seizure

Chinese Nationals Arrested Over Plot To Recruit American Military Personnel

California

Communist China

Department of Justice

Spying

U.S. Navy

Despite an early hiccup in the deliberation process, a federal jury has apparently reached a verdict on four of the five counts against disgraced rapper and music mogul <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/diddy-trial-on-pause-after-just-one-hour-of-jury-deliberations-note-reveals-problem-with-juror-25" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sean &#8216;Diddy&#8217; Combs</a>.
The jury sent a note to Manhattan Federal Court Judge Arun Subramanian on Tuesday, stating that they had <a href="https://www.cnn.com/entertainment/live-news/sean-diddy-combs-trial-07-01-25" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reached a verdict</a> on counts 2, 3, 4, and 5 — but were struggling to reach a consensus on the top charge, racketeering conspiracy.
Upon receipt of the jury&#8217;s note, Combs&#8217; attorney Marc Agnifilo asked the judge to recall the jury to the courtroom for further instructions, saying that the defense wanted the jury to continue deliberating. The prosecution also favored continued deliberations, CNN reported, adding that all parties were working to agree on &#8220;the wording of that instruction.&#8221;
Just about an hour after deliberations began on Monday, the trial hit a bit of a snag when the jury sent another note to Judge Subramanian. That note revealed that the majority of the jury had concerns about &#8220;Juror 25&#8221; and questioned whether or not he would be able to &#8220;follow Your Honor&#8217;s instructions.&#8221;
The foreperson requested the chance to speak with the judge personally — or, if that was not possible, suggested that the judge should interview Juror 25.
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A live report from CourtTV stated that during jury selection, the juror in question had revealed he’d seen the video of Combs attacking then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura and said that “he had formed an opinion about that particular video,” but said at the time that he would be able to “set his opinion aside” when it came time to discuss the case.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
JUST IN: Jury deliberating Diddy&#8217;s fate sends note to Judge
&#8220;We have a juror, No. 25, who we are concerned cannot follow your honor&#8217;s instructions.&#8221;<a href="https://t.co/XkHn2q4y3s">pic.twitter.com/XkHn2q4y3s</a>
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) <a href="https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/1939760285184819411?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
At the time, the judge instructed the jury to continue deliberations.
Combs, who faces charges that include sex trafficking, transportation for the purpose of prostitution, and racketeering, could be facing life in prison of he&#8217;s convicted on any of the top three charges against him.

Sean “Diddy” Combs

Jury Reaches Partial Verdict In ‘Diddy’ Sex Trafficking Trial, One Charge Still Pending

Sex Trafficking

Sexual Assault

trial

The Trump administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a memo directing United States’ attorneys to “prioritize” and “pursue” denaturalization proceedings for new citizens who may pose a threat to national security.
The <a href="https://www.justice.gov/civil/media/1404046/dl?inline">memo</a>, issued by Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate to the Justice Department’s Civil Division on June 11, directs lawyers to “prioritize and maximally pursue denaturalization proceedings in all cases permitted by law and supported by the evidence.”
The DOJ&#8217;s denaturalization efforts will also target “individuals who pose a potential danger to national security, including those with a nexus to terrorism, espionage, or the unlawful export from the United States of sensitive goods, technology, or information raising national security concerns,” the memo explained. The move will also “prevent convicted terrorists from returning to U.S. soil or traveling internationally on a U.S. passport,” Shumate <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/doj-directs-us-attorneys-seek-revoke-citizenship-naturalized-americans-over-crime">explained</a>.
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The memo went on to argue that denaturalization proceedings reaffirm the sanctity of citizenship and support “the overall integrity of the naturalization program by ensuring that those who unlawfully procured citizenship, including those who obtained it through fraud or concealment of material information, do not maintain the benefits of the unlawful procurement.”
The DOJ successfully <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-secures-denaturalization-convicted-distributor-child-sexual-abuse">denaturalized</a> one man last month after he was convicted of collecting and distributing child sexual abuse material. The man, who <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/06/30/nx-s1-5445398/denaturalization-trump-immigration-enforcement">identified</a> with the “they/them” pronouns, joined the United States Army while still a citizen of the United Kingdom and gained American citizenship in 2012. The DOJ contended that he lied about his criminal history in order to fraudulently obtain American citizenship.
“If you commit serious crimes before you become a U.S. citizen and then lie about them during your naturalization process, the Justice Department will discover the truth and come after you,” Shumate asserted while commenting on the case.
The case is part of an ongoing, national effort between the DOJ and ICE to “identify and prosecute sex offenders who have fraudulently obtained United States citizenship.”

DOJ Podium

Trump Admin Orders Justice Dept To Denaturalize New Citizens Convicted Of Crimes

Immigration

mass immigration

Stephen Ireland, who has repeatedly attacked J.K. Rowling online for her pro-woman and anti-trans stances, was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Monday for raping a 12-year-old boy.
Ireland co-founded the pro-LGBT UK-based group Surrey Pride in 2018, and since then, has used his position to lash out at the “Harry Potter” author, labeling her a TERF (Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminist) for advocating that women must be protected from biological men taking over their spaces.
“How to ruin a legacy… Become a TERF!” he <a href="https://hotair.com/john-s-2/2025/06/30/pride-founder-who-repeatedly-attacked-jk-rowling-online-gets-30-years-for-rape-n3804344">wrote</a> in a 2020 X post shared by J.K. Rowling on Monday. “Very disappointing JK!”
Another post from 2020 read, “The sorting hat has decided… @JK_Rowling ‘House of TERF.’”
Ireland, 41, raped the child at a flat in Addlestone, a town about 18 miles from London, after messaging him on Grindr, a dating app for gay men. The victim told police they had sex in the flat, smoked methamphetamine, and watched pornography, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2kkrxdpndo">according</a> to the BBC.
The child initially lied to Ireland about his age, saying he was 17 before later claiming he was 13.
“OK &#8211; we just have to keep it a secret,” Ireland said when the child told him this, and later asked if he would do it again with his flatmate, David Sutton, who was a Surrey Pride volunteer.
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Ireland and Sutton were both found guilty of a string of sexual crimes against children, including voyeurism, arranging commission of a child sex offense, and &#8220;possession and distribution of prohibited images of children.&#8221;
On Monday, Judge Patricia Lees said that Ireland “took advantage” of the 12-year-old boy.
“Far from finding that repugnant, you found that exciting, and sought to do it again,” she said. 
Ireland was sentenced to 24 years for the rape, as well as a further 6 years on &#8220;extended license,&#8221; often part of an extended sentence for offenders deemed a significant risk to the public. Sutton was sentenced to four-and-a-half years for making inappropriate images of children and the possession of an extreme pornographic image.
After enduring much online abuse from Ireland, Rowling weighed in on the sentencing in an X post.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Stephen Ireland, who targeted me with endless abuse on here because I oppose the chemical castration of children and the removal of protected spaces for women and girls, has just been sentenced to 30 years in jail for child rape. <a href="https://t.co/0HHctRocB4">pic.twitter.com/0HHctRocB4</a>
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) <a href="https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1939783256620298492?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“Stephen Ireland, who targeted me with endless abuse on here because I oppose the chemical castration of children and the removal of protected spaces for women and girls, has just been sentenced to 30 years in jail for child rape,” she wrote.

“Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald” UK Premiere – Red Carpet Arrivals

Pride Group Founder Who Vilified J.K. Rowling For Defending Women Convicted Of Child Rape

JK Rowling

minors

Rape

United Kingdom

World

The sex-trafficking trial of disgraced music mogul Sean &#8220;Diddy&#8221; Combs ground to screeching halt on Monday, just one hour after the jury began deliberating, when the jurors slipped a note to Manhattan Federal Court Judge Arun Subramanian questioning whether or not &#8220;Juror 25&#8221; would be able to carry out his civic duty.
The note, sent to Subramanian around 12:40 p.m. local time, stated that the majority was unsure of said juror&#8217;s ability to adhere to the judge&#8217;s instructions — but it did not give any indication as to why they believed that was the case.
&#8220;We have a juror, ‘Juror 25,’ who we believe cannot follow your honor&#8217;s instructions,&#8221; the note said, according to a report published Monday by the New York Post.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
JUST IN: Jury deliberating Diddy&#8217;s fate sends note to Judge
&#8220;We have a juror, No. 25, who we are concerned cannot follow your honor&#8217;s instructions.&#8221;<a href="https://t.co/XkHn2q4y3s">pic.twitter.com/XkHn2q4y3s</a>
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) <a href="https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/1939760285184819411?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The juror&#8217;s name was not revealed, but the Post described him as &#8220;a 51-year-old man with a thick European accent,&#8221; and noted that he works as a scientist in Manhattan and holds an advanced degree in molecular biology.
A live report from CourtTV stated that during jury selection, the juror revealed he&#8217;d seen the video of Combs attacking then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura and said that &#8220;he had formed an opinion about that particular video,&#8221; but said at the time that he would be able to &#8220;set his opinion aside&#8221; when it came time to discuss the case.
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The foreperson requested the chance to speak with the judge personally — or, if that was not possible, suggested that the judge should interview Juror 25.
Combs&#8217; trial came to an end on Friday after seven weeks of testimony and evidence, and the jury began deliberating at 11:30 a.m. on Monday. The rapper and music producer has pleaded not guilty to all charges, including sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion; transportation to engage in prostitution; and racketeering — and could spend up to life in prison if he&#8217;s convicted on any one of the three biggest charges against him.
Thus far, the judge has directed the jury to continue deliberations until further notice.

Sean “Diddy” Combs attends trial in New York federal court

Diddy Trial On Pause After Just One Hour Of Jury Deliberations, Note Reveals Problem With ‘Juror 25’

Diddy Trial On Pause After Just One Hour Of Jury Deliberations, Note Reveals Problem With 'Juror 25'

Celebrities

The man suspected of killing two Idaho firefighters during an ambush on Sunday was found dead with a gunshot wound.
The man is believed to have deliberately set a grass fire at Canfield Mountain in northern Idaho and then started shooting at firefighters when they responded. Two firefighters were killed, and a third is fighting for his life after sustaining serious injuries. 
Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris did not release any identifying information on the suspect, but said that he was found with a weapon and that law enforcement had tracked him using his cell phone. 
&#8220;We had a cell phone activation that was in the same spot since about 3:16 [p.m.], and that it was in the same area,&#8221; Norris said at a press conference. &#8220;And we honed in on that cellphone, and we saw that there was a male, appeared to be deceased, with a weapon nearby.&#8221;
He said that the cell phone signal was tracked with help from federal resources, including helicopters. 
&#8220;There are some helicopters that had some really good technology that were able to pinpoint where that cellphone activity was,&#8221; Norris said. &#8220;So yeah, there were our federal partners assisting us in this situation.&#8221; 
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Norris said that they had not yet identified a motive, but the attack was an intentional ambush. He added that law enforcement had to act quickly to recover the suspect&#8217;s body as the fire continued to spread and that they expected to find more weapons near the scene after the blaze was fully contained. 
The two firefighters killed were from the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department and the Kootenai County Fire and Rescue. The names have not yet been released to allow time for family notification. 
“This was a total ambush,” Norris said. “These firefighters did not have a chance.”
At one point, there were more than 300 law enforcement officers on the scene Sunday afternoon, including FBI agents. Norris said law enforcement exchanged gunfire with the suspect, but it was not known if he was killed by law enforcement or if he shot himself. 
Based on the current information, investigators believe there was only one shooter and that there was no active threat to the community. Norris thanked the White House, Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador, and Republican Governor Brad Little for assisting in the response. 
“Multiple heroic firefighters were attacked today while responding to a fire in North Idaho. This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters,&#8221; Little <a href="https://x.com/GovernorLittle/status/1939460833354072306">posted</a> on X. &#8220;I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more. Teresa and I are heartbroken.&#8221;

Close-up Shot of Police Car Siren Lights. Offices of the Law Ready for Action, Chase the Criminals, Arrest Offenders and Fight Crime. Stylish Cinematic Lights with Dark Sky

‘Total Ambush’: Idaho Firefighters Gunned Down, Suspect Found Dead In Apparent Trap

Arson

Firefighters

Law Enforcement

<div class="wpds-c-PJLV article-body type-text" data-qa="article-body">
<p class="wpds-c-heFNVF wpds-c-heFNVF-iPJLV-css overrideStyles font-copy" dir="null" data-apitype="text" data-contentid="7BU43BIRSBANNPPEFSXUVKFJDQ" data-el="text" data-scroll-pos="0" data-scroll-measured="true">A Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post editor has been charged by the federal government with possession of child pornography.
<p class="wpds-c-heFNVF wpds-c-heFNVF-iPJLV-css overrideStyles font-copy" dir="null" data-apitype="text" data-contentid="7BU43BIRSBANNPPEFSXUVKFJDQ" data-el="text" data-scroll-pos="0" data-scroll-measured="true">Thomas P. LeGro, 48, was arrested on Thursday after authorities allegedly found 11 video files of child pornography on LeGro&#8217;s work laptop, which was located at his home in Washington, D.C.
The journalist faces up to 20 years behind bars if convicted.
The Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/06/27/legro-post-child-pornography-possession/">said</a> in a statement that it “understands the severity of these allegations, and the employee has been placed on leave,” but refused to comment further.
LeGro&#8217;s Washington Post profile says he was &#8220;part of a team of Post reporters who were awarded a Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the Senate candidacy of Roy Moore and a subsequent effort to discredit The Post&#8217;s reporting&#8221; in 2018. &#8220;As Deputy Director of Video, Tom oversees an award-winning team of video journalists who work across the newsroom, including in National, Climate, Metro, Style and Technology,&#8221; the profile adds.
</div>
<div class="wpds-c-PJLV article-body type-text" data-qa="article-body">
<div id="attachment_940773" style="width: 453px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-940773" class="wp-image-940773 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/Screenshot-2025-06-28-at-12.05.59-PM-443x576.png" alt="" width="443" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/Screenshot-2025-06-28-at-12.05.59-PM-443x576.png 443w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/Screenshot-2025-06-28-at-12.05.59-PM-231x300.png 231w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/Screenshot-2025-06-28-at-12.05.59-PM-768x999.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/Screenshot-2025-06-28-at-12.05.59-PM.png 1032w" sizes="(max-width: 443px) 100vw, 443px" />Facebook: Tom LeGro</div>
</div>
A press release from the U.S. Attorney&#8217;s Office in the District of Columbia <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/award-winning-journalist-arrested-and-charged-possession-child-pornography">said</a> LeGro made his first appearance in U.S. District Court on Friday.
&#8220;LeGro, a journalist at the Washington Post and resident of the District of Columbia, was arrested [Thursday] and taken into custody following a search of his home,&#8221; the office said.
The charges were announced by Jeanine Pirro, interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.
&#8220;On June 26, 2025, FBI agents executed a search warrant at LeGro’s residence and seized several electronic devices,&#8221; the press release said. &#8220;A review of LeGro’s work laptop revealed a folder that contained 11 videos depicting child sexual abuse material.&#8221;
&#8220;During the execution of the search warrant agents observed what appeared to be fractured pieces of a hard drive in the hallway outside the room where LeGro’s work laptop was found,&#8221; it continued.
&#8220;This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which is composed of FBI agents, along with other federal agents and detectives from northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The task force is charged with investigating and bringing federal charges against individuals engaged in the exploitation of children and those engaged in human trafficking.&#8221;

Washington Post Logo

Washington Post Journalist Charged With Possession Of Child Pornography

Feds Charge Award-Winning Journalist With Child Porn Possession

Child pornography

Jeanine Pirro

Pulitzer Prize

Washington Post

An Egyptian man was deported on Thursday after kicking a Customs and Border Patrol dog that discovered prohibited food products.
Hamed Ramadan Bayoumy Aly Marie, 70, kicked the CBP beagle with enough force to lift the dog off the ground, a CBP press release said. The dog, Freddy, suffered contusions to his rib area.
Marie pled guilty to federal charges involving harming animals used in law enforcement.
&#8220;He was credited with time served, ordered to pay the veterinarian’s fee, and to immediately report to CBP for removal from the United States,&#8221; the press release <a href="https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/egyptian-traveler-eats-federal-charges-kicking-dulles-cbp-beagle">said</a>. &#8220;Marie departed the United States on a flight to Egypt at 12:30 p.m. today.&#8221;
Freddy was inspecting baggage at Washington Dulles International Airport when he discovered 100 pounds of undeclared food items in Marie&#8217;s luggage. Marie violently kicked Freddy after the CBP canine handler began questioning him, the press release said.
CBP immediately handcuffed Marie and turned him over to Homeland Security Investigations.
&#8220;Kick around and find out,&#8221; CBP said on social media.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Kick Around and Find Out.<a href="https://t.co/EURMaQX60X">https://t.co/EURMaQX60X</a>
&mdash; CBP (@CBP) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBP/status/1938363965152620776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
CBP examined Marie&#8217;s luggage and found &#8220;55 pounds of beef meat, 44 pounds of rice, 15 pounds of eggplant, cucumbers, and bell peppers, two pounds of corn seeds, and a pound of herbs,&#8221; all prohibited in the U.S., the press release said.
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“Being caught deliberately smuggling well over one hundred pounds of undeclared and prohibited agriculture products does not give one permission to violently assault a defenseless Customs and Border Protection beagle,” said Christine Waugh, CBP’s area port director for the Area Port of Washington, D.C. “We rely heavily on our K9 partners and Freddie was just doing his job. Any malicious attack on one of us is an attack on all of us, and CBP will continue to work with our investigating and prosecuting partners to deal swift and severe justice to perpetrators.”
CBP thanked people for their concern about Freddy.
&#8220;He was treated by his veterinarian, and is expected to make a full recovery,&#8221; CBP said on social media.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Thanks to everyone for their concern about Freddy who was injured while performing his duties at Dulles airport. He was treated by his veterinarian, and is expected to make a full recovery. Here he is enjoying his favorite comfort treat &#8211; a Pup Cup! <a href="https://t.co/g8phC2DDsT">pic.twitter.com/g8phC2DDsT</a>
&mdash; CBP (@CBP) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBP/status/1938618168525672625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Freddy and Marie

Egyptian Man Deported After Kicking CBP Dog

Animals

Customs and Border Protection (CPB)

Deportations

Egypt

A shocking poll <a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/women-safety-london-streets-shock-poll-itv-sadiq-khan-sarah-everard-met-police-b1234774.html">found</a> that over half of London women do not feel safe in the capital city.
ITV News London <a href="https://www.itv.com/news/london/2025-06-24/hold-us-to-account-over-target-to-reduce-violence-against-women-and-girls">conducted</a> the Survation poll of 1,528 women and discovered that 57% of respondents do not feel safe on the city streets. Only 32% said they do. Nearly half said they have been followed or verbally harassed by a man, while a third said they’ve experienced physical or sexual assault, some more than once.
The issue of women’s safety in London has gained traction over the last few years, especially after the murders of Sarah Everard and Zara Aleena, as well as sisters Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry.
Mayor Sadiq Khan, who is Muslim, <a href="https://www.itv.com/news/london/2025-06-24/hold-us-to-account-over-target-to-reduce-violence-against-women-and-girls">told</a> ITV News London that every three days, a woman in London is killed at the hands of a man.
“Across the globe it is every 10 minutes,” he said. “We&#8217;re doing our bit from City Hall, but we can&#8217;t do it ourselves. That&#8217;s why we are working really closely with the police, with the courts, with the CPS, with the judiciary, but also schools. It&#8217;s got to start from primary school.”
Despite the government committing to halving violence against women within the next decade, 58% of poll respondents said they do not believe the mayor is doing enough on the issue, with only 26% saying better education for young boys would help. 51% said increasing the number of law enforcement officers would make them feel safer. 
Jess Phillips, the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, <a href="https://www.itv.com/news/london/2025-06-24/hold-us-to-account-over-target-to-reduce-violence-against-women-and-girls">said</a> the poll figures “saddened” her.
“Every woman I know has been harassed at some point in their life,” she stated.
When asked whether London has become more or less safe over the previous five years, 49% said it has become less safe while only 21% said it has become more safe.
Ben Russel, the Met’s deputy assistant commissioner, said that the volume of violence against women and girls is the real challenge.
“We are receiving thousands and thousands of reports every year. … We know we have got more to do to get to where we want to be. But it&#8217;s something that is important and we all recognise that,” he said.

Wilder Walk Alleyway

Shocking Number Of Women ‘Feel Unsafe’ In One Of The World’s Largest Cities

London

U.K.

Karmelo Anthony, the Texas teenager who allegedly fatally stabbed another high school boy at a track meet, was charged with first degree murder on Tuesday.
Anthony, 17, was indicted by a grand jury on Tuesday for allegedly killing Austin Metcalf, also 17, during an altercation on April 2 over where Anthony was sitting at the University Interscholastic League&#8217;s District 11-5A championship in the Frisco area.
“For weeks, my team has been presenting evidence to the grand jury. Today, I summarized that evidence, and I asked the Grand Jury to return a first-degree murder indictment against Karmelo Anthony, which they did,” Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis said at a press conference on Tuesday.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
DA Greg Willis Announces First-Degree Murder Indictment in Frisco Track Meet Stabbing Death of Austin Metcalf; Karmelo Anthony Charged
Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis announced today that a Collin County Grand Jury has indicted a defendant for First-Degree Murder in… <a href="https://t.co/2KPb9jreKE">pic.twitter.com/2KPb9jreKE</a>
&mdash; Collin County DA (@collincountyda) <a href="https://twitter.com/collincountyda/status/1937582912699871513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Anthony faces up to life in prison if he is convicted. Judge Angela Tucker, a <a href="https://www.collincountygop.org/collingop-elections/meet-the-collin-county-district-judges/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Republican</a>, is <a href="https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/karmelo-anthony-austin-metcalf-stabbing-death-track-meet-indictment-collin-county-texas/287-5301ff28-8bdb-479f-b6e9-1b181a85ece9">presiding</a> over the case.
Anthony was freed on $250,000 bond with an ankle monitor after his legal team got his bond slashed from $1 million, citing financial hardship.
However, the case sparked outrage and aggravated racial tensions when Anthony&#8217;s fundraiser page raised more than $530,000 and his family moved into a $900,000 home in a gated community in Frisco. They also hired security.
Anthony had been attending Frisco Centennial High School at the time of the stabbing, while Metcalf was an athlete at Frisco Memorial High School.
At the track meet, Metcalf allegedly <a href="https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/karmelo-anthony-austin-metcalf-stabbing-death-track-meet-indictment-collin-county-texas/287-5301ff28-8bdb-479f-b6e9-1b181a85ece9">told</a> Anthony he had to move out from under the Memorial High School tent, a witness told police. Anthony allegedly responded by reaching inside his bag and telling Metcalf, &#8220;Touch me and see what happens.&#8221;
Metcalf reportedly then touched Anthony, who told him to punch him and see what happens. At one point, Metcalf reportedly grabbed Anthony to get him to move, and Anthony then pulled out a black knife and stabbed Metcalf once in the chest, then ran away.
Anthony’s lawyer, Mike Howard, released a video response to the indictment, arguing that his client&#8217;s actions were &#8220;self-defense.&#8221;
&#8220;We are confident that when all the facts are presented and the full story is heard, the jury will reach the right conclusion and justice will be done,&#8221; Howard said.
In April, Howard declined to say why Anthony had brought a knife to a track meet.
“That’s an understandable question, but it’s not something that we are prepared to go into,” the attorney <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/04/15/us-news/karmelo-anthonys-family-want-to-beef-up-their-security/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “It would be irresponsible for me or them to say this is why. We ask that the public, as hard as it is, withhold judgment.”
<div class="article__section article__section_type_text utility__text">
Metcalf&#8217;s father, Jeff Metcalf, said he is &#8220;pleased that we are moving forward.&#8221;
“With the first degree murder indictment, it now goes into the court system,&#8221; Metcalf&#8217;s father <a href="https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/karmelo-anthony-austin-metcalf-stabbing-death-track-meet-indictment-collin-county-texas/287-5301ff28-8bdb-479f-b6e9-1b181a85ece9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &#8220;I fully believe that justice will be served for Austin Metcalf. I look forward to the forthcoming trial. But it will never bring my son back.&#8221;
</div>

Karmelo Anthony Indicted On First Degree Murder Charge

Austin Metcalf

Karmelo Anthony

Race

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