Ex-governor exploring GOP run in '20
BEDFORD, N.H. -- William Weld, a former governor of Massachusetts who two years ago ran for vice president on the Libertarian Party ticket, has moved closer to becoming the first Republican to announce a challenge to President Donald Trump in the 2020 primaries.
Speaking Friday at a breakfast in New Hampshire, Weld said he has created a presidential exploratory committee. He blasted Trump for leaving the nation in "grave peril."
Fiscally conservative but socially liberal, the 73-year-old Weld ran on the Libertarian ticket with former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson. But he re-registered as a Republican last month, and on Friday in New Hampshire said he has created a presidential exploratory committee.
Weld said Trump's priorities are skewed toward promoting himself and that he is "simply too unstable" to carry out the duties of his job.
If Weld decides to run, it would make Trump the first incumbent president since George H.W. Bush in 1992 to face a notable primary challenge. Other Republicans eyeing a presidential campaign include former Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan.
N.J. subpoenas Trump inaugural planner
NEW YORK -- President Donald Trump's inaugural committee received a sweeping request for financial records this week from prosecutors in New Jersey, the second subpoena the group has received in as many weeks as its fundraising and spending draws mounting scrutiny.
The committee said Friday that it is in contact with the New Jersey attorney general's office, which issued the request for documents on Monday as part of a civil inquiry into how the committee raised and spent $107 million on inaugural events.
The inaugural committee has told the AP its finances were independently audited and that all funds were spent in accordance with the law.
Leland Moore, a spokesman for New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, declined to comment.
The subpoena, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, resembles the wide-ranging request for documents the committee received last week from federal prosecutors in Manhattan, who are investigating, among other potential crimes, whether foreigners illegally contributed to the inaugural events.
The latest subpoena contains similar language but specifically asks for records relating to fundraising events and "solicitations" conducted in New Jersey. It also requests copies of ledgers, tax forms, contracts and "all documents related to any benefits provided to donors."
Nigerians held in actor's attack set free
CHICAGO -- Chicago police late Friday released without charges two Nigerian brothers arrested on suspicion of assaulting Empire actor Jussie Smollett and said they have new evidence to investigate as a result of questioning them.
"The individuals questioned by police in the Empire case have now been released without charges, and detectives have additional investigative work to complete," Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a brief statement.
He gave no details of the new evidence.
Smollett, who is black and gay, has said two masked men shouting racial and anti-gay slurs and "This is MAGA country!" beat him and looped a rope around his neck early on Jan. 29 before running away. He said they also poured some kind of chemical on him.
Smollett, 36, said he was out getting food at a Subway sandwich shop in downtown Chicago when the attack happened.
The two men detained, identified only as Nigerian brothers, were picked up at Chicago's O'Hare Airport on Wednesday on their return from Nigeria after police learned at least one worked on Empire, Guglielmi said earlier.
Guglielmi earlier also said police searched the Chicago apartment where the men lived. But he said he had no information on what was found.
Police earlier this week said there was "no evidence to say that this is a hoax" and that Smollett "continues to be treated by police as a victim, not a suspect."
Police have said they found no surveillance video of an attack but continue to look.
'Sanctuary' ruling favors Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA -- A federal appeals court ruled Friday that the Justice Department can't deny Philadelphia millions of dollars in public safety funding because of its status as a "sanctuary city."
The ruling echoes others that block the department from withholding funds to cities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration agencies.
City officials have refused to give immigration agents access to prison inmates suspected of being in the country illegally or notify agents before the inmates are released.
In her ruling, U.S. Circuit Court Judge Marjorie Rendell said the Justice Department exceeded its power in attaching those conditions to the approximately $2.5 million in annual grants the city receives.
Mayor Jim Kenney said Philadelphia will continue to welcome immigrants, calling the Justice Department's efforts "an unconscionable attempt to bully the city and its residents."
-- Compiled by Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports
A Section on 02/16/2019