Paradise News

Tag: General News

  • Fact Check: Fani Willis had over 200 anonymous campaign contributions. Here’s why that’s not fraudulent.

    The Atlanta prosecutor leading the election subversion case against former President Donald Trump has faced scrutiny from Trump’s supporters. But a social media claim that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been “busted” for fraud and money laundering is simply wrong.. 

    “Georgia D.A Fani Willis BUSTED in MASSIVE Money Laundreing (sic) & Election Fraud Enterprise Scheme,” read the caption of a Sept. 20 Facebook video.

    A screenshot of an X post shown in the video read, “The investigators identified in the Fani Willis campaign finance report 222 contributions to her campaign that had ZERO donor information.”

    This post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)

    (Screenshot from Facebook)

    Willis, who is leading an investigation into Trump and his former allies, took office Jan. 1, 2021. The claim in the video stemmed from an Aug. 31 report in The Georgia Record, which centered on contributions made from January 2022 to June 2023.

    The Georgia Record, once a local news site, is owned by Creative Destruction Media, a far-right publisher. The Georgia Record publishes articles that favor Republican personalities, and has also promoted anti-vaccine sentiments and those that sow doubt against election integrity.

    We downloaded and analyzed the data used in the article, sourced from the Georgia Campaign Finance System. It’s not the smoking gun this post claims it to be. 

    “Having anonymous donors in a campaign finance report is not in and of itself an indication of fraud,” Andra Gillespie, Emory University associate professor of political science, told PolitiFact. 

    The Georgia Record’s report highlighted only the absence of donor information; it omitted context about how much these anonymous donors contributed, and what the rules are about disclosing donor information. Georgia’s campaign finance laws state that campaign finance disclosure reports should include the donor’s name, occupation, mailing address, contribution amount, contribution receipt date, employer and election for which the contribution was accepted and allocated.

    But there’s a caveat: this information is required only for contributions exceeding $100. 

    The Georgia Record’s report was mostly accurate in saying there were 222 entries with no donor information. But it missed that, among these entries, 220 of them listed contribution amounts of $100 or less. 

    “Information is not required to be collected or released for contributions of $100 or less.  So these small contributions are not evidence of money laundering,” said Charles Bullock, a University of Georgia political science professor.

    The other two entries with no donor information had the description “Transfer Balance from Legacy System” and were dated Dec. 31, 2020. Gillespie said the transfer date suggested this was surplus money from Willis’ district attorney campaign. Bullock agreed that these may be leftover funds from her previous campaign.

    “It’s completely bogus,” Alan Abramovitz, Emory University professor emeritus who specializes in national politics and elections, said of the claim. “These were small donations that are not covered by the disclosure requirement.  And the folks making this phony claim almost certainly know that.”

    Our ruling

    A report claimed that Willis’ campaign finance disclosure report showing more than 200 donors with no information is proof of a money laundering scheme. 

    The data showed contributions from donors with no information amounted to $100 or less. This is in line with Georgia’s campaign finance laws, which require donor information only for contributions exceeding $100.

    We rate this claim False.

    RELATED: Did Fulton County DA Fani Willis campaign to ‘get Trump’? No, she didn’t say that



    Source

  • BENUE: How Abducted Commissioner Mathew Abo Was Released – Governor Alia

    The Benue State Government has explained the circumstances leading to the release of its abducted commissioner, Mathew Abo.

    Abo, Benue State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mathew, was abducted from his Ukum Local Government Area residence on September 24.

    He was confirmed to be released in the early hours of Thursday.

    Several reports said the commissioner paid N60 million to secure his freedom, but the state government has explained how he was released.

    On Thursday, the State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, through his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, noted that the commissioner was released due to pressure from the state’s security operatives.

    “We can confirm that the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Matthew Abo, has regained freedom. He has since reunited with his family in Sankera, Ukum Local Government Area, where he was abducted.

    “His release was due to intense pressure on the criminals from the gallant security operatives acting on the directives of Gov. Hyacinth Alia, who had earlier given marching orders to them to ensure Mr Abo’s release,” the statement said.

    The governor further warned criminals operating within the state to leave or incur the wrath of the law while commending security operatives’ efforts to ensure the commissioner’s safe release.

    He tasked them to be ruthless on criminals and ensure they had no room to operate in the state.

    Source

  • Fact Check: Katie Hobbs is still Arizona’s governor, despite online claims

    Katie Hobbs is still listed as Arizona’s governor on the state’s website, but some recent social media posts suggest she’s no longer in power. 

    “BREAKING,” a Sept. 29 Facebook post says. “Katie Hobbs NO LONGER governor of Arizona, Republican taken over | Kari Lake announces.” 

    “IT’S OFFICIAL!!” another post says. “ARIZONA HAS A NEW GOVERNOR!!”

    A third claims Hobbs was “impeached” and is “no longer governor.”

    These posts among others were flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)

    These claims followed a Sept. 27 statement from Arizona Treasurer Kimberly Yee, who said she had “been notified that I will be serving as acting governor beginning later this evening until mid-morning tomorrow.”

    The Arizona Republic reported that rumors from Fox News of Hobbs’ “mysterious disappearance” included unfounded allegations that the state Senate had indicted her on charges related to conspiring with a Mexican drug cartel. 

    The truth won’t make as good of a movie plotline. Hobbs was in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 27 for a meeting about border issues with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, the Republic said. She flew back to Arizona on Sept. 28. 

    Arizona’s state constitution details a line of succession for statewide office holders to assume the role of acting governor if the governor leaves the state, however briefly.  

    With Hobbs, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and State Attorney General Kris Mayes all out of state for business meetings, the Republic said, the duty fell to Yee. 

    Hobbs told Capitol Media Services that she doesn’t “stop being governor when I leave the state.” 

    And she was back in the state by the time these posts claimed she was no longer governor.

    We rate these claims False.

     



    Source

  • Abia Assembly To Intervene On Reinstatement Of Sacked Abia Workers

    Labour-Partys-Emmanuel-Emeruwa-Abia-Speaker-

    Following the protests staged by the disengaged Abia workers employed from January -May 2023 at the Abia State House of Assembly last Tuesday, the Majority Leader of the 8th Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Okoro Uchenna Kalu has said that the House during her plenary considered the appeal and petition of the protesting workers.

    Kalu who disclosed this in his official Facebook page said the Letter of Appeal for Reinstatement by the disengaged workers after its presentation during the Tuesday plenary was committed to the House Committee on Public Complaint for further legislative action.

    Our Correspondent reports that the Chief Whip of the House, Hon. Emeka Obioma who received the Letter of the Appeal after addressing the sacked Abia workers at the House of Assembly complex on behalf of the Speaker, promised to take their message to the House for immediate intervention.

    Recall that the Abia State Government, had last Month disengaged all staff employed between January, 2023 by the immediate past administration of Okezie Ikpeazu.

    The Head of Service, Joy Maduka had in a circular dated 30th August 2023 stated, “Following the ongoing reorganisation in the Abia State Public Service and in line with the provision of the Abia State Public Service Rules nos. 02801 and 02803, I write to inform you that His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Abia State has directed the disengagement of all staff employed into the Abia State Public Service from January, 2O23 till date.

    “However, any further directive(s) of His Excellency on this matter shall be communicated in due course. Please take appropriate steps to implement immediately and according to His Excellency’s directive”

    Source

  • Fact Check: Could Trump take McCarthy’s place as House speaker? Technically, yes, but don’t count on it

    Now that Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., has been deposed as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, could former President Donald Trump take his place? That’s what some House Republicans have said they’d like to see. 

    Soon after McCarthy’s Oct. 3 ouster — made possible by eight votes from members of his own Republican conference — Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, said that once the chamber is back in session, he intends to “nominate Donald J. Trump for Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.”

    Another Republican House member, Greg Steube of Florida, posted on X, “@realDonaldTrump for Speaker.” And Fox News host Sean Hannity told viewers Oct. 3 that “some House Republicans” had “been in contact with and have started an effort to draft” Trump as speaker.

    The following day, Trump himself didn’t rule out the prospect. “A lot of people have been calling me about speaker,” he said outside the New York City courthouse, where he faces a civil trial involving his business holdings. “All I can say is we will do whatever is best for the country and other Republican Party and people.”

    It’s technically possible that Trump could assume the role, experts say. But as a practical matter, it’s highly unlikely. 

    “A speaker of the House need not be a member of Congress,” John Fortier, a research fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, told PolitiFact in 2021. “That said, we have never elected a speaker from outside the House. But it is constitutionally permissible.”

    Long before the possibility of a Trump speakership, the notion of a non-House member speaker has been catnip for journalists and other politicos, who have engaged in parlor games about which major figure might be able to whip the institution into shape. But this scenario has never come close to fruition and has become something of a running joke among Washington, D.C., insiders. 

    “There will never, ever be a speaker who is not a member of the House,” Punchbowl News’ John Bresnahan posted on X. “It’s never gonna happen. Move on.”

    Congressional rules about indictments

    One potential hiccup emerged, but it doesn’t seem to be a significant barrier. 

    Replying to a post on X citing Hannity’s comment about the push for a Trump speakership, Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill., shared a screenshot, saying, “I would direct your attention to rule 26(a) of the House Republican Conference rules for the 118th Congress.” 

    That provision says, “A member of the Republican Leadership shall step aside if indicted for a felony for which a sentence of two or more years imprisonment may be imposed.” 

    Trump is facing four separate indictments, two in federal cases and two in state cases. In just one of those cases, involving documents he’s charged with keeping after his presidency, one Espionage Act charge alone carries a maximum sentence of 10 years. Other charges, such as conspiracy to obstruct justice, could bring a sentence of up to 20 years.

    However, experts said the rule cited by Casten likely would not be a significant barrier to Trump taking the speaker role.

    The House Republican Conference’s rules can be changed fairly easily by an internal vote that doesn’t require any input from House Democrats. 

    In addition, the House Republican Conference rules could be trumped, to coin a phrase, by the fact that the speaker is not only a leader of the majority party, but also an officer of the House of Representatives.

    While the House’s majority party is typically able to install its speaker of choice because it holds the majority of the chamber’s votes, the speaker of the House is formally elected by the full House, with a Republican nominee facing off against a Democratic nominee. Even though speakers direct their party’s strategy and tactics in the chamber, they are also officers of the House as a whole. Given this role, being an officer of the House might take precedence.

    So, what do the House rules say? One X user entered the fray by posting screenshots of the House rules for the 118th Congress, which say a party leader who’s indicted “should” resign, rather than the more definitive “shall.”

    Still, the unusual status of the speaker — part party leader, part institution leader — isn’t explicitly addressed in the House rules.

    Is the scenario realistic?

    There are lots of reasons why a Trump speakership is far-fetched in a real-world sense.

    First, Trump already has a lot on his plate. Not only is he defending himself in four criminal trials and the civil trial, but he’s also running for president. (Not to mention managing the rest of his business empire.) 

    The speakership is a job filled with constant tasks both big and small. “It requires that you actually get to the office at a reasonable hour and deal with the kinds of factional disputes that he would rather fuel, rather than settle,” said C. Lawrence Evans, a College of William & Mary professor of government.

    It’s also unclear whether Trump could win a speakership election, despite the loyalty he inspires among Republican leaders and voters. 

    If Trump gets as far as a full House vote as the Republican nominee, it would take only a handful of Republican defectors to deliver the election to the expected Democratic nominee, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. This is not an idle threat, given that there are 18 House Republicans serving in districts won by Joe Biden in 2020 who would think long and hard before voting for Trump for speaker.

    PolitiFact Staff Writer Amy Sherman contributed to this report.



    Source

  • Fact Check: Facebook posts – No metal detector needed. Magnetic meat is not for sale in the U.S.

    Social media users are telling consumers to think twice about buying meats from grocery store coolers, suggesting the meats contain dangerous substances.

    An Aug. 6 Facebook video shows a person putting a small magnet on top of packaged beef and claiming the magnet is sticking to the meat because it contains metal.

    The video also suggests this supposed magnetic beef is linked to lab-grown, or cultivated from cells, meat. The captions reads, “Lab grown meat approved for sale in America.”

    The person in the video also referred to lab-grown meat.

    “Now that they’ve given the OK to sell lab-grown meat in the United States, I figured it would be time to return to Walmart and see if they’re still selling magnetic meat with this tiny, very strong rare-earth magnet. And right away, I found that it’s still magnetic,” the person says.

    This post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)

    Screengrab from Facebook

    Keep those magnets on the refrigerator — there’s no evidence grocery store meat is magnetic.

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service works to ensure that meat, poultry and eggs are safe to eat and properly labeled.

    Meat and poultry establishments must have a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point system “to prevent, eliminate or reduce to a safe level any biological, chemical or physical hazard that is reasonably likely to occur in the product,” an agency spokesperson told PolitiFact in a written statement.

    Metal pieces are a physical hazard. Many establishments install metal detectors or X-ray devices to screen their products for unexpected metal pieces. Food Safety and Inspection Service employees also conduct regular inspections to ensure products are safe for consumption.

    The magnet in the video may be sticking to the packaged meat because of the meat’s texture or moisture or the angle at which the package is held. But that doesn’t mean it contains metal, a statement from the Food Safety and Inspection Service said.

    Meat and poultry with the USDA inspection marker have been assessed for safety, wholesomeness and proper labeling, the statement said.

    The Facebook post also mentions lab-grown meat, but currently cell-cultured meat is not sold in U.S. stores.

    Cell-cultured meat is typically made by growing animal cells — which come from the tissues of living animals or a “bank” of stored cells — in steel tanks. Cultivated meat is harvested and prepared using conventional food processing and packaging methods, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

    In June, the USDA gave Upside Foods and Good Meat permission to offer cell-cultivated chicken and meats. Both companies began by putting the products on the menu at restaurants owned by famous chefs.

    The two companies also received FDA safety clearance to sell chicken directly grown from animal cells. Cell-cultivated beef or seafood has not been approved for sale.

    FDA spokesperson Veronika Pfaeffle said that based on the manufacturing methods for these foods “there is no scientific reason or credible basis to expect that food products produced with animal cells would be magnetic.”

    Lab-grown meat must adhere to the same safety requirements as all other foods, Pfaeffle said.

    We rate the claim that a video shows magnetic meat for sale in U.S. grocery stores False.

  • Fact Check: Ron DeSantis exaggerates number of migrants in US illegally under President Joe Biden

    Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently vowed that, if elected president, he will deport all migrants who have entered the U.S. illegally under President Joe Biden.

    “Everyone that has come illegally under Biden, we gotta, we’ll send them back. That’s going to be first priority,” DeSantis said at a Sept. 29 campaign event in California. “That’s probably 6 or 7 million people right there. It’s going to require a lot of effort.”

    But DeSantis is conflating the number of times border patrol agents have encountered migrants at the border with the number of migrants who entered and remain in the country, an error also made by others who previously vied for the Republican presidential nomination.

    When contacted for comment, DeSantis’ campaign pointed us to his immigration policy, which outlines broad plans to handle deportations, including hiring “more border patrol agents and more removal agents” and allowing “ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officers to do their jobs.”

    What is not reflected in DeSantis’ figure

    U.S. Customs and Border Patrol data shows that the figures DeSantis cited are close to the nationwide number of migrant encounters at and between ports of entry since Biden took office. But that figure doesn’t show how many migrants remained in the U.S.

    Biden was inaugurated Jan. 20, 2021. From February 2021 through August 2023, there were about 7.2 million encounters across all points of entry nationwide, CBP’s data shows.

    Encounter data does not reflect the number of individual immigrants stopped. For example, if one person tries to cross the border three times and is stopped each time, that would be counted as three encounters.

    The data also does not reflect expulsions.

    “The CBP encounters include nearly 3 million expulsions — in other words, enforcement activity that ensures people do not remain in the United States,” said Michelle Mittelstadt, communications director for the Migration Policy Institute, a progressive think tank.

    Mittelstadt also said some people apprehended at the border are initially detained and eventually removed from the country.

    CBP data confirms Mittelstadt’s point that millions of encounters led to removals. From February 2021 to May 2023, there were about 2.5 million expulsions under Title 42, a COVID-19 pandemic-era policy that allowed border officials to quickly expel migrants who crossed the southwest border. Besides the Title 42 removals, CBP data shows there have been about 591,000 removals initiated by border authorities during Biden’s tenure.

    There is no available data that shows the number of migrants who have been allowed to stay in the country after entering.

    PolitiFact reached out to CBP and the Department of Homeland Security but did not receive a reply.

    Mass deportations aren’t simple

    DeSantis is not the only Republican presidential candidate who has promised mass deportations; Former President Donald Trump also made that promise during his tenure, and we rated it Promise Broken.

    The highest number of deportations in a single year came in 2013, when the Obama administration deported around 438,000 people.

    Experts say that instituting mass deportations is easier said than done.

    “Deporting millions of people summarily is an implausible and fantastical idea that has been brought forward from time to time for political purposes only,” said Mario Russell, the executive director at the Center for Migration Studies, a nonpartisan think tank.

    “It is not practical or achievable as it would require a huge increase in enforcement resources, court expenditures and more,” said Russell.

    Our ruling

    DeSantis said 6 million or 7 million people have “come illegally under Biden.”

    His estimate misrepresents the data. Since Biden took office, border patrol agents have encountered migrants about 7.2 million times at and between ports of entry. But that doesn’t mean that many migrants entered and remained in the U.S. That data shows events, not individuals, and one person can be recorded multiple times.

    CBP data also shows that millions of encounters led to removals.

    DeSantis’ statement contains an element of truth but ignores critical facts that would give a different impression. We rate it Mostly False.

    Source

  • SENATE: Ministerial Nominee Who Slumped, Two Others Scale Screening Exercise

    Godswill-Akpabio

    The Nigerian Senate has confirmed the appointments of three ministerial nominees by President Bola Tinubu.

    The three confirmed nominees are:

    1. Jamila Bio-Ibrahim (Kwara State).
    2. Balarabe Abbas (Kaduna State).
    3. Ayodele Olawande (Ondo State)

    The confirmation brings the total number of ministers in Tinubu’s cabinet to 48, as the Senate had previously approved 45 out of the 48 ministerial nominations put forth by President Tinubu on August 7.

    THE WHISTLER reported an unexpected incident that occurred during the screening session when Abbas, who was nominated to replace former Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, slumped.

    The situation forced the Senate to go into a brief closed-door session.

    Meanwhile, Jamila Bio-Ibrahim, born in 1986 and representing Kwara State, expressed her commitment to serving Nigeria.

    She expressed belief in the potential of Nigerian youths and her desire to contribute to nation-building in Tinubu’s administration because it prioritizes youth empowerment

    Bio-Ibrahim also pledged to create opportunities for the youth to access education, self-development, and entrepreneurship, harnessing their potential talents.

    The Senate spokesperson , Senator Yemi Adaramodu, confirmed that Balarabe Abbas, the nominee who had slumped during the screening, was successfully revived.

    Source

  • N110m Fraud: You Have Case To Answer, Court Tells Lagos Businesswoman, Company

    A Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, presided by Justice O.O. Abike-Fadipe, on Wednesday, ordered one Portia Emilia, a businesswoman, to enter her defence in an alleged N110m fraud brought against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

    The order was given to both Emilia and her company, Savanah Crest Investment Limited.

    Both she and her company were re-arraigned on March 16, 2023 on amended five-count charges bordering on conspiracy to steal.

    According to EFCC, this is contrary to Section 411 and punishable under Section 287 (5) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

    In the case of obtaining money and property by false pretences, the Commission noted that it goes contrary to Section 1(1)(2) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Fraud Offences Act 2006.

    Meanwhile, pertaining to theft, EFCC noted that it is contrary to Section 280(1) (12)8(7), 285(1) and 278(1)b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

    However, in retaining stolen property the defendants’ actions are contrary to Section 328 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

    Emilia pleading for herself and her company had pleaded “not guilty” to all the charges and during the course of the trial, the prosecution counsel, F. Ofoma called two witnesses through whom he tendered several documents.

    On March 16, 2023 the prosecution closed its case and instead of opening their defence, lawyer to the defendants J.J. Amodu, filed a no-case submission, arguing that his clients had nothing to answer in spite of evidence EFCC had submitted.

    Justice Abike-Fadipe while ruling on the no-case submission on Wednesday, held that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against the defendants on all the counts, necessitating them to be arraigned for their own sides of the story.

    “I am satisfied that the prosecution has established a prima facie case, which the defendants are called upon to answer.

    “The no-case submission is hereby overruled, and the defendants are called upon to enter their defence.”

    The matter was adjourned to January 18 and 25, 2024 and February 1, 2024.

    Meanwhile one of the charges against Emilia reads: “Portia Anthony Emilia and Savanah Crest Investment Limited, sometime in 2018 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, stole and dishonestly converted to your own the sum of N40,000,000.00 (Forty Million Naira only).”

    Another count reads: “Portia Anthony Emilia and Savanah Crest Investment Limited, sometime in 2018 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, fraudulently obtained the sum of N20,000,000.00 (Twenty Million Naira) from one Wendy Daniel.”

    Source