Stephen “tWitch” Boss’ mom is accusing his widow, Allison Holker, of tarnishing his legacy after unearthing Boss’ alleged drug use and childhood traumas while promoting her new memoir.
The former “Ellen DeGeneres Show” executive producer, who shared three children with 36-year-old Holker, died by suicide in December 2022. He was 40.
“Our family is absolutely appalled by the misleading and hurtful claims made about my son, Stephen Boss,” Connie Boss Alexander wrote in an Instagram statement Thursday.
Boss was born in Montgomery. A graduate of Lee High School, he went on to study dance and performance at Southern Union State Community College in Wadley and Chapman University.
“The recent publications spreading untruths about Stephen have crossed every line of decency. As his mother, I will not let these accusations go unanswered. We will not stand by while his name and legacy are tarnished. He doesn’t deserve this, and the kids don’t deserve this,” continued Boss Alexander.
She explained that following Boss’ death, she “remained quiet… to protect my family.
“But when I read these dreadful claims about my baby, our beloved Stephen, I realized I could not stay silent any longer,” Boss Alexander continued. “Our family will ensure his name and memory are protected, and we are committed to defending his honor. … #StandForStephen #BossFamilyUnited.”
Holker said in People’s latest cover story that while preparing for Boss’ funeral, she unearthed a “cornucopia” of drugs in one of his shoeboxes. An autopsy found no evidence or drugs or alcohol in Boss’ system at the time of his death.
The “So You Think You Can Dance” judge, who is promoting her upcoming memoir, “This Far: My Story of Love, Loss, and Embracing the Light,” alleged that Boss’ journals allude to childhood sexual abuse and that he “was trying to self-medicate and cope.”
Former “Ellen” producer Andy Lassner is among those standing in Boss Alexander’s corner, commenting on her post: “Sending you so much love.”
Courtney Platt, a friend of Boss, slammed Holker’s actions as “money hungry. … Let my friend Rest in Peace not your PR.”
Boss’ brother shared his sentiment on his Instagram Story, adding, “No lies told.”
Amid increasing backlash from those describing the book as a “money grab,” Holker maintains that her “only intention in writing the book is to share my own story” and “to help other people.”
She added that all of the book’s proceeds will go toward Move with Kindness, the mental health foundation she established in Boss’ honor.
©2025 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Read MoreWith 75, Alabama had more of its former players appear in NFL games in 2024 than any other college program has had in any regular season in league history.
The Crimson Tide’s status as the premier supplier of pro talent continues in the postseason with 31 players who went directly from Alabama to the NFL on the active rosters of the 14 playoff teams. That number doesn’t include Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who had one season at Oklahoma after three at Alabama, and Denver Broncos linebacker Drew Sanders, who had one season at Arkansas after two at Alabama.
But even with those two players included, Alabama isn’t assured of having a representative in Super Bowl LIX after the Crimson Tide missed Super Bowl LVIII.
Twelve of the postseason teams have former Alabama players on their active rosters – a better spread of alumni than any other college program. But because it’s six teams on each side of the bracket, it’s possible for Super Bowl LIX to go off without a former Crimson Tide player if the NFL championship game matches the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams.
Two college programs are assured of putting at least one player in Super Bowl LIX based on the current active rosters of the playoff teams – Florida and Michigan. The Gators sent 19 of the postseason active-roster players directly to the NFL, and the Wolverines have 13. But each program has at least one alumnus on the active roster of all seven teams in the NFC playoffs.
Georgia is the runner-up to Alabama for playoff players with 27. Notre Dame and Oklahoma have 20 apiece.
The Crimson Tide alumni are among the 65 players from Alabama high schools and colleges on the rosters of the 14 playoff teams. The players with Alabama football roots in the postseason include:
Baltimore Ravens
Reserve/injured: Jalyn Armour-Davis, cornerback, St. Paul’s Episcopal, Alabama
Practice squad: Malik Cunningham, wide receiver, Park Crossing
Practice squad: Darrian Dalcourt, guard, Alabama
Derrick Henry, running back, Alabama
Marlon Humphrey, cornerback, Hoover, Alabama
Michael Pierce, defensive tackle, Daphne, Samford
Buffalo Bills
Amari Cooper, wide receiver, Alabama
Tylan Grable, offensive tackle, Jacksonville State
Practice squad: Kareem Jackson, safety, Alabama
Practice squad: Tyrell Shavers, wide receiver, Alabama
Javon Solomon, edge, Troy
Denver Broncos
Kris Abrams-Draine, cornerback, Spanish Fort
Zach Cunningham, linebacker, Pinson Valley
Bo Nix, quarterback, Pinson Valley, Auburn
Drew Sanders, linebacker, Alabama
Tremon Smith, cornerback, Saks
Jarrett Stidham, quarterback, Auburn
Patrick Surtain II, cornerback, Alabama
Detroit Lions
Terrion Arnold, cornerback, Alabama
Brian Branch, defensive back, Alabama
Reserve/injured: Carlton Davis, cornerback, Auburn
Jahmyr Gibbs, running back, Alabama
Brodric Martin, defensive lineman, Northridge, North Alabama
Za’Darius Smith, defensive end, Greenville
Jameson Williams, wide receiver, Alabama
Green Bay Packers
Josh Jacobs, running back, Alabama
Xavier McKinney, safety, Alabama
Kadeem Telfort, offensive tackle, UAB
Malik Willis, quarterback, Auburn
Colby Wooden, defensive lineman, Auburn
Houston Texans
Will Anderson Jr., defensive end, Alabama
Practice squad: Anthony Averett, cornerback, Alabama
Nico Collins, wide receiver, Clay-Chalkville
Reserve/injured: Tank Dell, wide receiver, Alabama A&M
Christian Harris, linebacker, Alabama
Tytus Howard, offensive lineman, Monroe County, Alabama State
Kamari Lassiter, cornerback, American Christian
John Metchie III, wide receiver, Alabama
Irv Smith Jr., tight end, Alabama
Henry To’oTo’o, linebacker, Alabama
Reserve/injured: Jimmie Ward, safety, Davidson
Practice squad: Kilian Zierer, offensive tackle, Auburn
Kansas City Chiefs
Practice squad: Chris Oladokun, quarterback, Samford
Practice squad: Justyn Ross, wide receiver, Central-Phenix City
Practice squad: Montrell Washington, wide receiver, Samford
Los Angeles Chargers
Bradley Bozeman, center, Handley, Alabama
Justin Eboigbe, defensive lineman, Alabama
Josh Harris, long snapper, Auburn
Practice squad: Eddie Jackson, safety, Alabama
JK Scott, punter, Alabama
Kimani Vidal, running back, Troy
Los Angeles Rams
Darious Williams, cornerback, UAB
Minnesota Vikings
Practice squad: Travis Bell, defensive tackle, Jeff Davis
Practice squad: Bobby McCain, defensive back, Oxford
Nick Mullens, quarterback, Spain Park
Will Reichard, kicker, Hoover, Alabama
Cam Robinson, offensive tackle, Alabama
Dallas Turner, linebacker, Alabama
Philadelphia Eagles
Reed Blankenship, safety, West Limestone
Practice squad: Khari Blasingame, fullback, Buckhorn
Reserve/injured: James Bradberry, cornerback, Pleasant Grove, Samford
Landon Dickerson, guard, Alabama
Jack Driscoll, offensive lineman, Auburn
Bryce Huff, defensive end, St. Paul’s Episcopal
Jalen Hurts, quarterback, Alabama
Eli Ricks, cornerback, Alabama
DeVonta Smith, wide receiver, Alabama
Tyler Steen, offensive lineman, Alabama
Reserve/injured: C.J. Uzomah, tight end, Auburn
Reserve/injured: Byron Young, defensive tackle, Alabama
Pittsburgh Steelers
Montravius Adams, defensive tackle, Auburn
Minkah Fitzpatrick, safety, Alabama
Practice squad: Zyon Gilbert, cornerback, Jeff Davis
Practice squad: Eku Leota, linebacker, Auburn
Jeremiah Moon, linebacker, Hoover
Najee Harris, running back, Alabama
George Pickens, wide receiver, Hoover
Corliss Waitman, punter, South Alabama
Practice squad: Quez Watkins, wide receiver, Athens
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Practice squad: Marcus Banks, safety, Alabama
Chris Braswell, outside linebacker, Alabama
K.J. Britt, linebacker, Oxford, Auburn
Jamel Dean, cornerback, Auburn
Practice squad: D.J. Williams, running back, Auburn
Washington Commanders
Jonathan Allen, defensive tackle, Alabama
Noah Igbinoghene, cornerback, Hewitt-Trussville, Auburn
Daron Payne, defensive tackle, Shades Valley, Alabama
Jeremy Reaves, defensive back, South Alabama
Brian Robinson Jr., running back, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Trent Scott, offensive lineman, Lee-Huntsville
Because of wildfires in California, the NFL on Thursday moved Monday night’s NFC first-round game between the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, to State Farm Stadium, the home of the Arizona Cardinals, in Glendale, Arizona.
The first round of the NFL playoffs looks like this now (with all times Central and point spreads from BetMGM):
Saturday, Jan. 11
AFC: No. 5 Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) at No. 4 Houston Texans (10-7), 3:30 p.m. (CBS) Line: Chargers by 3
AFC: No. 6 Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) at No. 3 Baltimore Ravens (12-5), 7 p.m. (Prime Video) Line: Ravens by 10
Sunday, Jan. 12
AFC: No. 7 Denver Broncos (10-7) at No. 2 Buffalo Bills (14-3), noon (CBS) Line: Bills by 9
NFC: No. 7 Green Bay Packers (11-6) at No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles (14-3), 3:30 p.m. (FOX) Line: Eagles by 5
NFC: No. 6 Washington Commanders (12-5) at No. 3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7), 7 p.m. (NBC) Line: Buccaneers by 3
Monday, Jan. 13
NFC: No. 5 Minnesota Vikings (14-3) vs. No. 4 Los Angeles Rams (10-7) in Glendale, Arizona, 7 p.m. (ABC, ESPN) Line: Vikings by 2.5
Earning first-round byes as the No. 1 seeds for each conference were the Detroit Lions (15-2) in the NFC and the Kansas City Chiefs (15-2) in the AFC. The top two seeds in each conference begin postseason play in the Divisional Round on Jan. 18 and 19. The schedule for that round will be determined after Wild-Card Weekend.
The conference championship games will be played on Jan. 26.
Super Bowl LIX is scheduled be played at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 9 at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. FOX will televise the game.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.
Read MoreAlabamians are coming forward with their own spin on President-elect Donald Trump’s idea to rename the Gulf of Mexico.
In a press conference earlier this week at Mar-a-Lago, Trump announced his plans to rename the “Gulf of Mexico” to the “Gulf of America.”
Rep. Barry Moore, R- AL and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. have joined forces to back the plan, co-sponsoring legislation that would rename the body of water.
The announcement has become a popular topic online, with thousands of people coming forward to share their thoughts on the proposal or jokingly throw their own name ideas into the ring.
Some Alabama posters proposed more local ideas.
And even businesses joined in on the joke.
“It should be called the Gulf of Milo’s,” the official Milo’s burger shop page commented on AL.com’s Instagram post about the announcement.
But many AL.com commentors said the change was pointless.
“Just leave the name be,” one woman wrote.
“Most people refer to it as The Gulf any ways.”
“It accomplishes nothing & helps no one,” another said.
What are your thoughts on a new name for the Gulf of Mexico? Share them on the AL.com Facebook page.
Read MoreRiley Leonard has Notre Dame on the cusp of its first national championship in 36 years.
A former star at Fairhope High School near Mobile, Leonard quarterbacked the Fighting Irish to a 27-24 victory over Penn State in the Orange Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal game on Thursday night. Notre Dame now stands one win away from its first national title since the 1988 season, and will face the winner of the other CFP semifinal, Friday night’s Cotton Bowl Classic between Texas and Ohio State.
As Notre Dame awaits its opponent for the Jan. 20 championship game in Atlanta, here are five things to know about Riley Leonard:
RELATED: Other Alabama connections for remaining CFP teams
Fairhope’s Riley Leonard was a second-time all-state quarterback in football in 2020. However, he was Class 7A Player of the Year in basketball as a senior in 2021. (Mike Kittrell/[email protected])
Leonard was a second-team all-state quarterback for the Pirates as a senior in 2020, but those who saw him play both sports might argue he was even better in basketball (his father and uncle both played Division I hoops).
The 6-foot-4 Leonard was two-time Coastal Alabama Player of the Year and Class 7A Player of the Year in Alabama as a senior, an electrifying athlete who averaged 20.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game for a team that finished 27-2. However, he was a bit undersized for basketball at the next level, and had only small-college offers in that sport.
The COVID pandemic hit during the spring of Leonard’s junior year, meaning he could not attend football camps or making on-campus visits during the recruiting process. Thus, he was a 3-star prospect in football and his only power-conference offers came from Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, Nebraska and Duke.
Former Duke head coach David Cutcliffe is shown during a 2019 game. Cutcliffe, a Birmingham native and Alabama graduate, recruited Riley Leonard to the Blue Devils in 2021. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)Getty Images
Leonard trained growing up with noted quarterback guru David Morris of QB Country in Mobile, and that relationship had a major influence on his choice of colleges. Morris was a backup quarterback at Ole Miss in the late 1990s, when David Cutcliffe was the Rebels’ head coach.
Cutcliffe — a Birmingham native and Alabama graduate most famous for coaching Peyton Manning at Tennessee and Eli Manning at Ole Miss — moved on to Duke in 2008. He spent 14 years with the Blue Devils, winning an ACC division title in 2013 and coaching in six bowl games.
Cutcliffe signed Leonard in what ended up being his final recruiting class in 2021, as the coach retired after a 3-9 finish that fall (Cutcliffe later said not being able to coach Leonard his entire career was a great regret of his). Leonard played in seven games as a true freshman — mostly serving as the primary backup to starting quarterback Gunnar Holmberg, but starting one late-season loss at Virginia Tech.
Duke quarterback Riley Leonard (13) had an outstanding sophomore season in 2022, but injuries limited him to seven games the following year. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)AP
Leonard became the Blue Devils’ full-time starting quarterback in 2022, and enjoyed an outstanding sophomore season. He started all 13 games, passing for 2,967 yards with 20 touchdowns and only six interceptions, while rushing for a team-best 699 yards and 13 TDs.
Duke finished that year at 9-4 under first-year coach Mike Elko, beating Central Florida 30-13 in the Military Bowl. Leonard capped his breakout season by passing for 178 yards and rushing for two touchdowns as the Blue Devils recorded their highest victory total in eight years.
The success did not sustain itself the following year, however. After Leonard led Duke to a 28-7 win over perennial ACC power Clemson in the 2023 opener, ankle and toe injuries limited him to seven games and ultimately ended his season in late October (ironically, he suffered the ankle injury during a late-September loss to Notre Dame).
Riley Leonard transferred to Notre Dame prior to the 2024 season, following in the footsteps of great-grandfather James Curran, who played for the Fighting Irish in the 1940s. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)AP
Elko left for Texas A&M after the 2023 season, and Leonard entered the NCAA transfer portal three days later.
After some early rumors he might return to his home state and play for Auburn (where his long-time girlfriend, Molly Walding, was and is a student), Leonard committed to Notre Dame in mid-December. It turned out to be a no-brainer of a decision for Leonard, as he had deep personal history with the Fighting Irish.
Leonard’s great-grandfather, James Curran, played at Notre Dame during the glory years of the early 1940s. Leonard grew up a Fighting Irish fan, and has said he watched the 1993 film “Rudy” — the story of 1970s Notre Dame walk-on Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger — nearly every day as a child.
This season for the Fighting Irish, Leonard has passed for 2,606 yards and 19 touchdowns with eight interceptions while rushing for 866 yards and 16 scores. Against Penn State on Thursday night, he shook off two early interceptions and a second-quarter injury that caused him to temporarily leave the game to lead Notre Dame to victory, rushing for a touchdown and throwing a 54-yard TD strike to Jaden Greathouse to tie the game in the fourth quarter before kicker Mitch Jeter won it on a 41-yard field goal with seven seconds left.
Then-Duke quarterback Riley Leonard returned to his hometown of Fairhope in 2022 to host a football camp for grades 1-8. He’ll be back in his home area in a few weeks for the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile. (Ben Thomas | [email protected])
After facing the Texas-Ohio State winner in Atlanta, Leonard has one more game scheduled during his final season of college football.
He’s accepted an invitation to play in the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl, which is set for Feb. 1 in Mobile. In announcing his commitment to the annual all-star game and NFL draft showcase on Thanksgiving Day, Leonard said he was “incredibly grateful” for the opportunity.
“As a kid from Fairhope, Alabama, I grew up going to the game, and having a chance to play in it is truly a blessing,” Leonard said. “So, I’ll see you guys in Mobile. Happy Thanksgiving.”
Leonard should be among the top drawing cards for the Senior Bowl, along with fellow quarterback Jalen Milroe of Alabama, running back Jarquez Hunter of Auburn and linebacker (and Mobile native) Shemar James of Florida. Senior Bowl practices are open to the public and run from Jan. 28-30 at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the South Alabama campus, also the site of the game that Saturday.
Kickoff for the College Football Playoff National Championship Game is set for 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 20, at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta. ESPN will air the game live.
Read MoreEx-Alabama football linebacker Justin Okoronkwo will stay in the SEC and transfer to South Carolina, he shared to social media Friday.
That means the Crimson Tide will have a chance to face Okoronkwo this fall when Alabama plays the Gamecocks on Oct. 25 in Columbia, South Carolina.
“New Home !!!” Okoronkwo posted to X, announcing his decision.
In his freshman season, Okoronkwo tallied 14 tackles. The 6-3, 228-pound freshman is from Munich, Germany.
Okoronkwo was among the depth departures at inside linebacker once it became clear several veterans would be returning. The position will have Justin Jefferson and Deontae Lawson returning as well as Nikhai Hill-Green from Colorado.
Other changes at inside linebacker include Jihaad Campbell going to the NFL Draft and Jeremiah Alexander transferring. Alexander also landed in the Palmetto State. He is transferring to Clemson.
Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.
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Class 6A No. 2 Mountain Brook knocked off Clay-Chalkville 59-47 on the road on Tuesday, with junior point guard Parker Wright leading the way with 20 points.
The Cougars were ranked No. 1 when the teams met, but dropped to No. 6 in this week’s Alabama Sports Writers Association poll.
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Read MorePacking up for the weekend doesn’t require you to sacrifice style.
Anthropologie has a gorgeous quilted bag that can make any trip nicer. The Quilted Velvet Weekender is normally $88 but is on sale for $49.95. The bag isn’t a large tote (it’s 16 inches by 9.5 inches by 8.5 inches) but is perfect for an overnight visit.
The bag is just one of the great picks at Anthropologie’s sale. Here are some other great bag and accessory choices:
Triple Loop Slinky Drop Earrings – $29.95, regularly $44
Dasha Lace Up Trapeze Tote – $49.95, regularly $88
Small Rhinestone Hoop Earrings – $24.95, regularly $38
Crystal-Inset Drop Earrings – $29.95, regularly $44
Flat Heart Post Earring – $29.95, regularly $42
Pleated Velvet Clutch – $39.95, regularly $78
Mixed Metal Beaded Bracelets, Set of 2 – $34.95, regularly $48
By Anthropologie Foldover Shoulder Bag – $59.95, regularly $98
Spur Drop Earrings – $34.95, regularly $48
By Anthropologie Mini Brocade Satchel – $59.95, regularly $98
Mini Faux Fir Tote Bag – $39.95, regularly $78
Antik Kraft Mini Trapeze Shoulder Bag – $59.95, regularly $78
Delicate Spaced Stone Necklace – $29.95, regularly $44
Miztique Faux-Leather Book Bag – $39.95, regularly $78
Read MoreMacy’s will be closing 66 “underproductive” locations in 2025 as part of a company strategy to return to profitable sales growth, according to a statement from the company.
“Closing any store is never easy, but as part of our Bold New Chapter strategy, we are closing underproductive Macy’s stores to allow us to focus our resources and prioritize investments in our go–forward stores, where customers are already responding positively to better product offerings and elevated service,” said Tony Spring, chairman and chief executive officer of Macy’s, Inc.
“…This plan [Bold New Chapter] is designed to return the company to sustainable, profitable sales growth which includes closing approximately 150 underproductive stores over a three-year period while investing in its 350 go-forward Macy’s locations through fiscal 2026,” the release reads.
Not included on the list is the Macy’s location inside Hoover’s Riverchase Galleria, which has been up for sale since August, but remains on the market and in operation.
Hoover Economic Development Manager Greg Knighton previously told AL.com that the city and Riverchase Galleria management are prepared to start scouting a replacement store if the mall’s Macy’s location closes.
The list of 66 closing Macy’s locations can be found here.
Read MorePresident-elect Donald Trump was sentenced Friday in his hush money case, but the judge declined to impose any punishment, an outcome that cements his conviction but frees him to return to the White House unencumbered by the threat of a jail term or a fine.
Trump’s sentence of an unconditional discharge caps a norm-smashing case that saw the former and future president charged with 34 felonies, put on trial for almost two months and convicted by a jury on every count. Yet, the legal detour — and sordid details aired in court of a plot to bury affair allegations — didn’t hurt him with voters, who elected him to a second term.
Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan could have sentenced the 78-year-old Republican to up to four years in prison. Instead, he chose a sentence that sidestepped thorny constitutional issues by effectively ending the case but assured that Trump will become the first person convicted of a felony to assume the presidency.
Merchan said that like when facing any other defendant, he must consider any aggravating factors before imposing a sentence, but the legal protection that Trump will have as president “is a factor that overrides all others.”
“Despite the extraordinary breadth of those legal protections, one power they do not provide is that they do not erase a jury verdict,” Merchan said.
Trump, briefly addressing the court as he appeared virtually from his Florida home, said his criminal trial and conviction has “been a very terrible experience” and insisted he committed no crime.
The Republican former president, appearing on a video feed 10 days before he is inaugurated, again pilloried the case, the only one of his four criminal indictments that has gone to trial and possibly the only one that ever will.
“It’s been a political witch hunt. It was done to damage my reputation so that I would lose the election, and obviously, that didn’t work,” Trump said.
Trump called the case “a weaponization of government” and “an embarrassment to New York.”
“Today’s event was a despicable charade, and now that it is over, we will appeal this Hoax, which has no merit, and restore the trust of Americans in our once great System of Justice,” he wrote in a lengthy post on his social media platform after the sentencing.
With Trump 10 days from inauguration, Merchan had indicated he planned a no-penalty sentence called an unconditional discharge, and prosecutors didn’t oppose it.
Prosecutors said Friday that they supported a no-penalty sentence, but they chided Trump’s attacks on the legal system throughout and after the case.
“The once and future President of the United States has engaged in a coordinated campaign to undermine its legitimacy,” prosecutor Joshua Steinglass said.
Rather than show remorse, Trump has “bred disdain” for the jury verdict and the criminal justice system, Steinglass said, and his calls for retaliation against those involved in the case, including calling for the judge to be disbarred, “has caused enduring damage to public perception of the criminal justice system and has put officers of the court in harm’s way.”
As he appeared from his Florida home, the former president was seated with his lawyer Todd Blanche, whom he’s tapped to serve as the second-highest ranking Justice Department official in his incoming administration.
“Legally, this case should not have been brought,” Blanche said, reiterating Trump’s intention to appeal the verdict. That technically can’t happen until he’s sentenced.
Trump, a Republican, becomed the first person convicted of a felony to assume the presidency.
The judge had indicated that he planned the unconditional discharge — a rarity in felony convictions — partly to avoid complicated constitutional issues that would have arisen if he imposed a penalty that overlapped with Trump’s presidency.
Before the hearing, a handful of Trump supporters and critics gathered outside. One group held a banner that read, “Trump is guilty.” The other held one that said, “Stop partisan conspiracy” and “Stop political witch hunt.”
The hush money case accused Trump of fudging his business’ records to veil a $130,000 payoff to porn actor Stormy Daniels. She was paid, late in Trump’s 2016 campaign, not to tell the public about a sexual encounter she maintains the two had a decade earlier. He says nothing sexual happened between them, and he contends that his political adversaries spun up a bogus prosecution to try to damage him.
“I never falsified business records. It is a fake, made up charge,” the Republican president-elect wrote on his Truth Social platform last week. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office brought the charges, is a Democrat.
Bragg’s office said in a court filing Monday that Trump committed “serious offenses that caused extensive harm to the sanctity of the electoral process and to the integrity of New York’s financial marketplace.”
While the specific charges were about checks and ledgers, the underlying accusations were seamy and deeply entangled with Trump’s political rise. Prosecutors said Daniels was paid off — through Trump’s personal attorney at the time, Michael Cohen — as part of a wider effort to keep voters from hearing about Trump’s alleged extramarital escapades.
Trump denies the alleged encounters occurred. His lawyers said he wanted to squelch the stories to protect his family, not his campaign. And while prosecutors said Cohen’s reimbursements for paying Daniels were deceptively logged as legal expenses, Trump says that’s simply what they were.
“There was nothing else it could have been called,” he wrote on Truth Social last week, adding, “I was hiding nothing.”
Trump’s lawyers tried unsuccessfully to forestall a trial. Since his May conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records, they have pulled virtually every legal lever within reach to try to get the conviction overturned, the case dismissed or at least the sentencing postponed.
The Trump attorneys have leaned heavily into assertions of presidential immunity from prosecution, and they got a boost in July from a Supreme Court decision that affords former commanders-in-chief considerable immunity.
Trump was a private citizen and presidential candidate when Daniels was paid in 2016. He was president when the reimbursements to Cohen were made and recorded the following year.
On one hand, Trump’s defense argued that immunity should have kept jurors from hearing some evidence, such as testimony about some of his conversations with then-White House communications director Hope Hicks.
And after Trump won this past November’s election, his lawyers argued that the case had to be scrapped to avoid impinging on his upcoming presidency and his transition to the Oval Office.
Merchan, a Democrat, repeatedly postponed the sentencing, initially set for July. But last week, he set Friday’s date, citing a need for “finality.” He wrote that he strove to balance Trump’s need to govern, the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling, the respect due a jury verdict and the public’s expectation that “no one is above the law.”
Trump’s lawyers then launched a flurry of last-minute efforts to block the sentencing. Their last hope vanished Thursday night with a 5-4 Supreme Court ruling that declined to delay the sentencing.
Meanwhile, the other criminal cases that once loomed over Trump have ended or stalled ahead of trial.
After Trump’s election, special counsel Jack Smith closed out the federal prosecutions over Trump’s handling of classified documents and his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. A state-level Georgia election interference case is locked in uncertainty after prosecutorFaniWillis was removed from it.
Read MoreParts of Alabama have been hit with up to 4 inches of snow today with the potential for ice later this afternoon.
The National Weather Service is asking Alabamians to provide snow and ice reports but there is a right – and a wrong – way to provide information.
For all cases, NWS needs to know when, where, the duration and the amount of snow or ice reported.
For snow, you should find an open, flat area sheltered from the wind. Avoid taking measurements on elevated surfaces where melting occurred, near trees, around structures or in old snow or drifts.
You should use a ruler to take measurements in several different locations and average the amount to the nearest tenth of an inch. Try to be level with surface of snow to read measurements.
Details on best ways to measure snow from the National Weather Service.NWS
Measuring ice is a little different. For that, you should find an ice-covered object like a branch, fence or sidewalk, in an open area. Avoid taking measurements on objects that are sheltered or around structures.
Once you find a flat surface, use a ruler to measure from the edge of the object to the edge of the ice. If you’re on a non-flat surface, use a ruler to measure the thickest part and thinnest part of the ice from the edge of the object to the edge of the ice and average the two measurements by adding and then dividing by two.
You should report when the freezing rain ends and report the average ice thickness to the nearest hundredth of an inch, duration, time of observation and location.
Details on how to measure ice from the National Weather Service.NWS