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With possible charges for Trump, some rivals rally to his side

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Top Republicans, including some of Donald Trump’s potential rivals for the GOP’s 2024 presidential nomination, rushed to his defense Saturday after Trump said he was preparing for a possible arrest.

The reaction underscores the political risks faced by potential adversaries bent on convincing voters it’s time to ditch the former president. But they also recognize that the numerous investigations — Trump’s post on social media about the Manhattan District Attorney’s investigation prompted the public statements of support — remain deeply unpopular with his supporters, and they fear alienating his loyal base.

Among those who came to Trump’s side was House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who said a possible indictment would be “an outrageous abuse of power by a radical prosecutor who lets violent criminals free while pursuing political revenge” against Trump.

McCarthy, R-Calif., said he will direct relevant GOP-led House of Representatives committees to “immediately investigate whether federal funds are being used to undermine our democracy by interfering in elections with politically motivated law enforcement.” McCarthy did not support Trump’s White House campaign, but Trump did help McCarthy secure the speakership after several contentious rounds of voting.

The comments came hours after Trump claimed in a social media post that he expects to be arrested in the coming week as New York City prosecutor Alvin Bragg is considering charges in an investigation into hush money payments to women who had sexual encounters with Trump claimed. A lawyer and spokesman for Trump said Saturday that Trump, who has long denied the allegations, responded to media reports in the post and has no independent knowledge of pending court cases.

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Trump nonetheless declared in a message on his Truth Social network, “THE FAR & AWAY LEADING REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE & FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WILL BE ARRESTED TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK.” He then called out to his supporters, “PROTEST, PROTEST, PROTEST!!!” on. recalling the pleas he made before the US Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.

Any potential violence sparked by Trump’s comments could change the tenor of the reaction. But on Saturday, some of Trump’s stated and potential rivals were quick to blast the prosecutor’s investigation.

“Well, like many Americans, I’m just surprised,” said former Vice President Mike Pence, who is widely expected to enter the race in the coming weeks, and has escalated his criticism of Trump.

In an interview with SiriusXM’s Breitbart News, he said the investigation “smacks of the kind of political persecution we endured in the days of the Russia hoax and all the phone impeachment. And all I know is I know that former President Trump can take care of himself.”

Pence was noncommittal when asked on Thursday whether Trump should step out if he is impeached. “I think it’s a free country. Everyone can make their own decisions,” he said.

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Trump has said he will continue his presidential campaign even if he is impeached.

Vivek Ramaswamy, the conservative tech investor who’s already a declared candidate, urged Bragg to reconsider.

“Impeaching Trump would be a national disaster,” Ramaswamy tweeted. “It is un-American for the ruling party to use police power to arrest its political rivals.”

“Let the American people decide who governs,” he added. “This will mark a dark moment in American history and erode public confidence in our voting system itself.”

Representatives for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, another potential candidate believed to be Trump’s most serious rival, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, the third-ranking Republican in the House of Representatives and an early Trump supporter, said an action by the district attorney was “un-American.”

“Knowing that they cannot beat President Trump at the ballot box, the radial left will now follow the example of socialist dictators and will reportedly arrest President Trump, the leading Republican nominee for President of the United States,” she said in one Statement in which she repeated Trump’s language.

Ohio Senator JD Vance, who won his 2022 race with Trump’s endorsement, said he was asked by several reporters if an impeachment would cause him to quash support for Trump.

“The answer is: Hell no. A politically motivated indictment makes the case for Trump stronger,” he tweeted. “We simply don’t have a real country if justice depends on politics.”

Prosecutors are investigating hush money payments made to two women who alleged sexual encounters with Trump decades ago. A grand jury has heard witnesses, including former Trump attorney Michael Cohen, who says he organized payments to the women in 2016 in exchange for their silence.

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Trump denies the encounters and has described the investigation as a “witch hunt” by a Democratic prosecutor intent on sabotaging Trump’s recent presidential campaign. Trump has said he believes an indictment would help him in the 2024 race.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, RS.C., a longtime ally, agreed.

“The New York Attorney’s Office did more to help Donald Trump with the election,” Graham said Saturday at the Vision ’24 conference in North Charleston, South Carolina. “They are doing this because they are afraid of Donald Trump.

——


Colvin reported from New York. Associated Press writers Holly Ramer of Keene, New Hampshire and Michelle R. Smith of Providence, Rhode Island contributed to this report.

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5 killed in west Sudan tribal violence, rights group says

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CAIRO (AP) — Two days of tribal violence in western Sudan’s long-settled Darfur region killed at least 5 people, tribal leaders and a rights group said on Friday.

Violence between African Masalit tribesmen and Arab herdsmen in west Darfur erupted on Thursday after two gunmen fatally shot a merchant in a remote area, leaders of both groups said.

In a statement, Masalit tribesmen accused Arab militias of being behind the killing. The killing sparked a series of targeted attacks that killed at least four other people, the tribal leaders and rights group said.

Five victims were later identified by the Darfur Bar Association, a Sudanese rights group focused on human rights in the western province. The group urged both sides to de-escalate tensions.

The violence comes as quarrelsome bipartisan talks continue in Khartoum over how the African country will institute civilian rule after 17 months of military rule.

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Sudan has descended into chaos after a military coup led by the country’s top general, Abdel-Fattah Burhan, ousted a Western-backed government in October 2021, turning the short-lived transition to democracy on its head.

But last December, the country’s ruling military and various pro-democracy forces signed a tentative agreement in which they pledged to resume the transition.

Last week, signatories to the December accord pledged to begin forming a new civilian-led interim government on April 11. However, many important political forces in the country remain opposed to the agreement.

Since the military takeover, Sudan has also seen a surge in inter-tribal violence in the west and south of the country.

Analysts see the violence and growing insecurity in Sudan’s remote regions as a result of the power vacuum created by the military takeover.

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I’m a champion bodybuilding goliath – my title-winning workout makes a specific area of your body mega-ripped

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ERIN Banks has unveiled his title-winning workout that will transform a specific area of ​​your body into a mega-ripped phenomenon.

The master body builder is one of the biggest names in the lifting world, but his latest fitness regimen has wowed fans.

Erin Banks is a professional female bodybuilder from the USA

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Erin Banks is a professional female bodybuilder from the USAPhoto credit: Getty
He is known for his V-taper physique

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He is known for his V-taper physiquePhoto credit: KMPH

banks began competing professionally in 2019 and has since won the Men’s Physique Olympia as well as the highly regarded Arnold Classic.

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However, his success was not pure luck, but dedication.

Most days, Banks starts his day at 4:30 a.m., where he kicks off fast cardio.

For the rest of the day he balances family life with a strength program and finishes it by 8 p.m. at the latest.

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He told BarBend, “If I’m really locked down for these shows and prep, I’ll be in bed by 7pm.

“I don’t like to push beyond that because recovery is key.

“Routine is so important.

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“I believe a lot of my success comes from what I do every day – adapt and stay focused.”

However, Banks is most notable for his incredible V-shaped physique, evident through his huge back muscles.

And he has now let fans in on his secret workout, which he does twice a week.

It contains:

  • Lat pulldowns with straight arms: 4 x 20 reps (moderate weight to warm up)
  • Chest Assisted T-Bar Row: 4 x 12 reps (Hard)
  • Seated Lat Pulldown: 4 x 12 reps (hard)
  • Rack pulls: 3 x 10 reps (super hard)
  • Extended row: 4 x ten reps (super hard)
Banks tenses his back muscles

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Banks tenses his back musclesPhoto credit: Instagram
He is an Arnold Classic Champion

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He is an Arnold Classic ChampionPhoto credit: Instagram

Before competing professionally, Banks was a gifted athlete in high school and then majored in kinesiology in college.

Despite his inclination towards fitness, he admitted that he never wanted to be a bodybuilder.

But in 2017, trainer Terry Reeves “begged” Banks to try.

Since then, the 33-year-old has perfected his craft to become the best in the world.

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He said: “We’ve tried to preserve every other part of the body, but once you start exercising to the extreme, everything grows.

“During these months we became more sophisticated.”

During one cut, Banks burned about 2,700 calories per day.

After a ten-week break from competition, he increased it to 3,200 calories.

Most of its nutrient gains come from chicken breast, rice, and broccoli.

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He said, “After 10 to 12 weeks, we push that stuff aside.

“It’s based on being the best.

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“I’ve never gotten bored with food, so for the past three years I’ve prepared myself and eaten the same things over and over again.”

After his InstagramBanks teased that he would try the Classic Physique division when he retires.

The 33-year-old has massive traps

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The 33-year-old has massive trapsPhoto credit: Instagram
The mega ripper has more than 315,000 followers on Instagram

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The mega ripper has more than 315,000 followers on InstagramPhoto credit: Instagram

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Rodolphe Jaar pleads guilty in Haiti president’s assassination

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The late former President of Haiti Jovenel Moise.

The late former President of Haiti Jovenel Moise.

Haitian-Chilean national Rodolphe Jaar pleaded guilty before a US judge on Friday to three counts relating to his role in the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise, who was killed at his home in July 2021, court documents showed.

Jaar is one of 11 defendants in the case, including businessmen accused of helping to obtain vehicles and firearms from Florida and former Colombian soldiers accused of gunning down Moise in his bedroom.

According to the US Department of Justice, Jaar had been charged with helping get arms to the Colombians who also lived in a home he controlled and helping them while they were in hiding from Haitian authorities.

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He was arrested in January 2022 in the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti.

Jaar’s sentencing, which could face life imprisonment, was set for June 2 in Miami, according to court documents.

Moise’s murder left a political vacuum in the Caribbean nation and emboldened powerful gangs that now effectively control large parts of the country and whose turf wars are fueling a humanitarian crisis that has displaced at least 160,000 people.

Jaar’s lawyer declined to comment.


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