Perverted Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous - Episode XXXXVII > Barak, Dershowitz, TV Star, Master Chef, Athlete, Biebs, YouTube Star

Former ISRAELI PM named as SEX OFFENDER in Epstein court filings submitted by Dershowitz

John Doe enters suit to say that if he's named, he didn't do it.

Deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein directed his best-known accuser to have sex with former Israeli PM Ehud Barak, according to a sealed deposition – one of many papers lawyer Alan Dershowitz is trying to use to clear his own name.

Lawyers for Dershowitz, who was a friend of Epstein as well as a member of his legal defense team, released the claim about Barak in a Tuesday court filing, attempting to cast doubt on allegations made by accuser Virginia Roberts Giuffre, one of the first Epstein victims to go public with her story. 

Pointing to the “denials and disclaimers” issued by the powerful men Giuffre said she’d had sex with, they suggested her word had been “thoroughly discredited by her proven lies.” If their hope was to smear Giuffre, however, it didn’t quite go as planned, instead renewing media interest in the suspects named by the former Epstein “sex slave.”

Dershowitz’s legal team obtained the sealed deposition from a 2016 defamation suit Giuffre filed against Epstein’s alleged madam, Ghislaine Maxwell, his lawyer admitted in court on Tuesday. The document names not only Barak, but also Victoria’s Secret CEO Les Wexner, along with several others she had already accused publicly.

Howard Cooper, a lawyer for the embattled Harvard professor, urged a judge to turn over even more sealed documents from the Maxwell suit, insisting they were relevant to Dershowitz’s own defamation case against Giuffre, who has long claimed she was forced to have sex with Dershowitz as well (a claim he fervently denies). However, Giuffre’s lawyers argued against the move, concerned that her adversary’s legal team would take the information out of context and twist it for their purposes.

Lawyers for Maxwell actually agreed with Giuffre, reasoning there was little overlap between the two defamation cases (and presumably not wanting further details of Maxwell’s alleged crimes to emerge). Lawyers for a mysterious “John Doe” also concurred, citing the need to protect the privacy of others whose names have not yet been made public. 

Doe entered the Maxwell defamation case last year, filing a friend-of-the-court brief in an effort to keep Giuffre’s depositions private; he claims to be someone who has not yet been named publicly, and wants to stay that way, insisting for good measure that he has not had sex with Giuffre.

Barak dismissed the allegations against him in a statement to Israeli media on Wednesday, claiming his name was “inserted into the article in order to push aside the allegations against Dershowitz” and claiming he did not meet Epstein in 2002. 

The best defense is a good offense, right?

This is at odds with his previous statement that he was introduced to the disgraced financier that year. Former Israeli spy Ari Ben-Menashe has also claimed Epstein and Barak met even before 2002. 

The former Israeli PM was a major beneficiary of Epstein’s largesse, receiving millions of dollars in investments and donations from both the Wexner Foundation – which Epstein, as Wexner’s asset manager, ran – and from Epstein directly, as recently as 2015. The deceased predator was also a big investor in Carbyne911, a surveillance-tech startup Barak founded that same year.

While Barak has been photographed entering and exiting Epstein’s Manhattan residence, in one case with a bevy of attractive young women, and residents of another Epstein building claim he was a “frequent presence” there, the Israeli has insisted his dealings with the wealthy sex offender were entirely businesslike, claiming that even when he visited Epstein’s infamous tropical island – which the media have dubbed “Orgy Island” – he never went to his parties or met any girls – photographic evidence aside.

However, his associations with the notorious asset manager likely cost him a political comeback. Current Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu went to great lengths to hype the Barak-Epstein link when the case against the convicted sex offender re-emerged last year, and Barak’s electoral challenge to the longest-serving PM in Israeli history faded away before election day. 

Giuffre has accused numerous political figures of being involved in Epstein’s underage sex ring, prominent among them Britain’s Prince Andrew, who landed in hot water earlier this month as US authorities slammed his lack of cooperation in the ongoing investigation. While Giuffre was photographed with the prince, he claimed in a widely-mocked interview he had never met her, insisting he was at a pizza restaurant with his daughters on the night of their alleged sexual encounter.

Other famous names that have been implicated include former US president Bill Clinton (who was documented flying on Epstein’s plane over two dozen times), billionaire investor Glenn Dubin, former New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, and model scout Jean-Luc Brunel.

'Workaholics' episode with Chris D'Elia playing a child molester removed from Hulu, Amazon Prime

By Jordan Moreau

LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) - An episode of Workaholics in which Chris D'Elia plays a child molester has been removed from Hulu and Amazon Prime Video.

Last week on Twitter, multiple women accused D'Elia of trying to engage with them sexually, and some women said they were as young as 16 when the encounters allegedly took place. In a widespread Twitter thread, several women claimed the comedian sent them inappropriate messages and attempted to solicit nude photos from them.

In a statement to TMZ last week, D'Elia denied the allegations against him.

Chris D'Elia has denied all allegations against him. (Instagram)

"I know I have said and done things that might have offended people during my career, but I have never knowingly pursued any underage women at any point. All of my relationships have been both legal and consensual and I have never met or exchanged any inappropriate photos with the people who have tweeted about me. That being said, I really am truly sorry. I was a dumb guy who ABSOLUTELY let myself get caught up in my lifestyle. That's MY fault. I own it. I've been reflecting on this for some time now and I promise I will continue to do better," he said.

D'Elia guest starred on Season 1 Episode 8 of Workaholics, titled 'To Friend a Predator,' which aired on Comedy Central on May 25, 2011. He played Topher, a child molester, who befriends the main characters played by Adam Devine, Anders Holm and Blake Anderson. After originally trying to expose Topher, the trio becomes friends with him and joins him at an exclusive penthouse party.

The logline for the episode reads "A local child molester attracts the guys' attention, but not, as it turns out, for the reason they expected."

Hulu and Amazon Prime currently offer all seven seasons of Workaholics for free, but the episode is no longer available on either platform. On Hulu, the episode has disappeared entirely, and on Amazon Prime a message says "this video is currently unavailable" and doesn't give an option to play it.

D'Elia's Whitney co-star Whitney Cummings also weighed in on the accusations on Saturday, saying she was "devastated and enraged" by what she's learned.

Chris D'Elia as Alex Green and Whitney Cummings as herself in Whitney. (NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via)

"It's taken me a couple days to process the information I have learned about Chris. I'm devastated and enraged by what I've read and learned. This is a pattern of predatory behaviour. This abuse of power is enabled by silence. Now that I'm aware, I won't be silent," she wrote on Twitter. "Girls should be able to be a fan of a comedian they admire without being a sexual target. It's the adult's responsibility to be an adult."

Mostly known for his stand-up, D'Elia recently starred in Season 2 of You on Netflix, playing a comedian who sexually abuses teenage girls.

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MasterChef contestant Ben Ungermann to fight allegations
he sexually assaulted teenage girl

By court reporter Danny Tran

Dumped MasterChef Australia contestant Ben Ungermann will fight allegations he sexually assaulted a teenager in Melbourne this year, with Victorian prosecutors revealing they expect to call four children to give evidence.

Mr Ungermann, 36, has been charged with three counts of intentionally sexually touching a 16-year-old girl at the Docklands earlier this year.

Among the charges is an accusation that the MasterChef contestant touched the alleged victim's breast without her consent.

At an administrative hearing on Thursday, prosecutor Stephen Payne told the Melbourne Magistrates' Court that some of the witnesses may have to appear by videolink.

"It doesn't appear there's any prospect of the matter resolving at this time," Mr Payne said.

Allegations 'vehemently denied'
Days before the alleged assault, which took place on February 23, Mr Ungermann announced on his Instagram page that he would rejoin MasterChef Australia's 2020 season.

About two weeks later, he was charged by detectives from the Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team.

Mr Ungermann's departure was announced to contestants and viewers on MasterChef in May.

"Before we get to today's challenge, we've got some news. You're probably wondering where Ben is," judge Jock Zonfrillo said. "Due to a personal matter, Ben has had to leave the competition and he will not be returning."

Mr Ungermann has denied the accusations, with his Sydney-based lawyer Adam Houda posting on Twitter: "Allegations against my client are vehemently denied and will be defended." .


Mr Ungermann is on bail and will return to court in October.

Svetlana Gnezdilov: Former Israeli champion accused of sex trafficking and inducement to prostitution

Former top-tier Israeli athlete, Svetlana Gnezdilov, who holds the national record in the heptathlon, has been detained on accusations of organizing a sex-trafficking scheme and engaging persons for prostitution.

The Ukrainian-born athlete, who represented Israel at three world championships, was accused of running a network of brothels under the guise of massage parlors.

The 51-year-old allegedly recruited people on Russian-language websites, posting employment ads searching for workers for her massage salons.

Women allegedly crossed the Israeli border pretending to be tourists before being brought into the alleged prostitution network.

Gnezdilov and her husband were detained three weeks ago along with six other suspects during a raid organized by Israeli police, but their names were revealed only this week.

The woman denies any wrongdoing, her lawyer Orit Hayon insisting that she was involved in a massage business with no sexual or criminal implication.

"We are talking only about massage. My client denies that has to involve someone in prostitution. We are talking about a prominent woman, an athlete, a medalist, with no criminal record.

"She was treated like a criminal. Stating that she was unwell, that was not even considered. We believe that her detention over a period of 23 days was unnecessary,” Hayon said.

Along with sex crimes, Gnezdilov was also accused of tax fraud and money laundering, estimated in millions of Israeli shekels.

The athlete was born in Kharkov, but moved to Israel in 1996 together with her husband. She has represented her new motherland at international events, including world and European championships.

Justin Bieber files $20M defamation lawsuit over sexual misconduct claims

2 women accused Canadian pop star on social media of sexually assaulting them

Thomson Reuters 

Justin Bieber has filed a $20 million US defamation lawsuit against two women who accused him of sexual misconduct.

The Canadian pop star filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday after saying on Twitter earlier this week that a claim that he sexually assaulted a woman in 2014 was "factually impossible."

The woman, who identified herself as Danielle but said she was posting anonymously, said in a Twitter posting that has since been deleted that she was sexually assaulted by the singer at a hotel in Austin, Texas, on March 9, 2014.

The other woman, who identified herself as Kadi, said on Twitter that she was sexually assaulted by Bieber in a New York hotel room in May 2015.

The lawsuit said the accusations by the two women were "outrageous, fabricated lies" and seeks a jury trial and $20 million in damages.

Neither of the women could be reached for comment on Friday. Bieber's representatives on Friday did not respond to requests for comment about the lawsuit.

The lawsuit said the two women were "trying to capitalize on the climate of fear permeating the entertainment industry, Hollywood and corporate America, whereby it is open season for anyone to make any claim (no matter how vile, unsupported, and provably false) about anyone without consequence."

Hundreds of men in entertainment, business, sports and politics have been accused of sexual misconduct since the #MeToo movement became a cultural force in 2017.

Bieber, now 26, was discovered at age 13 and has become one of the world's most popular musicians.

The lawsuit detailed hotel receipts, emails and news reports to assert that Bieber was not staying at the hotel in Austin where Danielle alleged that the 2014 assault had taken place.

It said that Kadi's accusation was false and that she had fabricated her allegation "out of her desire for fame and attention."

Apparently, you don't have to have a brain to be a YouTube star,

or a moral compass either

‘Disgusting & sick!’ YouTuber Shane Dawson gets cancelled for ‘masturbation joke’ with poster of Will Smith’s 11yo daughter

Just hours after addressing his past blackface and racial slur sins, YouTuber Shane Dawson has found himself in a deeper trouble after a video went viral showing him pretending to masturbate to a poster of 11yo Willow Smith.

The scandalous video shows Dawson, a YouTuber with over 20 million subscribers, standing in front of an old Disney poster of young Willow, huffing and puffing, apparently pretending to masturbate while saying ‘Whip your hair back and forth’, in reference to the girl’s song.

It was not immediately clear when exactly the video was recorded or who undug and shared it, but the clip triggered an immense scandal online, propelling Dawson into the top Twitter trends and prompting shocked response from the members of Smith family.

“Shane Dawson I am disgusted by you. You sexualizing an 11 year old girl who happens to be my sister!!!!!!,” her outraged older brother Jaden tweeted in all caps.

Their mother Jada Pinkett Smith said only: “To Shane Dawson … I’m done with the excuses.”

The YouTuber has yet to respond to the fresh scandal that comes less than a day after he addressed his previous controversies in an apology video that many found unconvincing and insincere.

Earlier this week, another YouTuber with over 20 million subscribers, has rushed to self-cancel – announcing a possibly permanent hiatus from her channel – after facing accusations of “racism” due to her content from years ago. In her case, however, many considered an apology to be much more 'sincere' while the 'sins' were immeasurably less grave.

Anyone who sponsors this creep deserves to be boycotted,

anyone, ever!

MJ, RKelly, IRoc, Batali, Heimlich, Rozon on Perverted Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous; Episode XI

MICHAEL JACKSON: FORMER MAID RENEWS CHILD SEX ABUSE CLAIMS AGAINST KING OF POP

NY MAGEE

Michael Jackson’s former maid is speaking out once again about the allegations of child abuse against the late singer.

As reported by the NME, Adrian McManus testified at Jackson’s 2005 trail that she saw him touch actor Macaulay Culkin on the cheek while his hand was on Culkin’s derriere. She described a similar scene with two other boys and third incident involving a boy who settled with Jackson in 1994, per CBS News. The outlet also reported that McManus testified in a 1994 deposition that she lied under oath “the whole time” stating “I believe I didn’t tell the truth.”

Jackson was ultimately not found guilty on all 14 charges which had been made against him.

But speaking to 60 Minutes Australia in a program which aired over the weekend, McManus, who worked for Jackson at his Neverland Ranch for four years, dropped more bombshell allegations of sexual misconduct against the King of Pop, who died in 2009.

In the interview, McManus called Jackson “a manipulator” and claims she alleged she saw Jackson “fondling” young boys at his estate.

“When I would go in the next day, there were little boys’ underwear either on the floor with Michael’s, or they were in the jacuzzi,” McManus alleged, before then claiming that she witnessed the abuse, per nme.com.

“I just saw a lot of fondling, him running his hands in kids’ hair, kissing them,” she added. “I didn’t think it was appropriate because they weren’t his children.”

McManus’ allegations come on the heels of the premiere of the controversial HBO documentary Leaving Neverland, which features testimony from two of Jackson’s alleged victims. Wade Robson and James Safechuck both say the music icon abused them when they were children.

Jackson’s estate are now suing HBO for $100 million over the documentary.

Estate attorney Howard Weitzman told Deadline: “HBO could have and should have ensured that Leaving Neverland was properly sourced, fact-checked, and a fair and balanced representation.”

The doc is set to air on HBO March 3-4.

R. Kelly Pleads Not Guilty to Sexual Abuse Charges

R. Kelly's lawyer said Monday he was being kept in a hospital unit at the jail for security reasons.

By Elizabeth A. Harris and Robert Chiarito, NYTimes

The R&B singer R. Kelly pleaded not guilty on Monday to 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

As of Monday afternoon, Mr. Kelly had not yet posted bond, which was set at $1 million. His lawyer, Steven Greenberg, said he was being kept in the jail’s hospital unit for security reasons.

Mr. Kelly appeared in Cook County criminal court in Chicago in an orange prison jumpsuit with “DOC” printed on the back. In court, Mr. Greenberg asked the judge whether his client would have to settle child support payments he owes to post bond, or if he could just pay $100,000. Judge Lawrence E. Flood said Mr. Kelly only needed to pay $100,000.

Mr. Greenberg told reporters that Mr. Kelly expected to have the necessary cash Monday evening.

Outside the courtroom, a handful of people called “Free R. Kelly!” at members of the media.

Amazing! Do all R Kelly fans think sexually abusing children is fine if you're a rock star?


CHICAGO (AP) — The Latest on the sexual abuse case against R&B singer R. Kelly (all times local):

A Cook County Sheriff’s Office official says singer R. Kelly won’t be released from jail until he pays $161,000 in back child support he owes.


Sheriff’s office spokeswoman Sophia Ansari says Kelly was taken into custody Wednesday during a hearing over the child support and that his next hearing is scheduled for next Wednesday.

DJ IRoc indicted again on child sex abuse charges

By Steve Hughes Times Union

An Albany, NY DJ was previously indicted on child sex abuse charges in Rensselaer County, and was arrested Tuesday on new charges after an Albany County grand jury indicted him.

Brian O. Angelo, 49, who performs as DJ IRoc, was charged with predatory sexual assault against a child, Colonie police said.

Colonie police said they received a tip in July 2018 alleging that Angelo had started abusing a victim in 2006 and, specifically, had abused a 12-year-old girl in 2009.

Angelo turned himself in and was processed and turned over to State Police on a related charged. He was expected to be arraigned in Albany County on Tuesday.

In January, a Rensselaer County grand jury indicted Angelo on 14 counts (2nd story on link) related to sexual abuse of two children in a city residence, according to court records.

Those incidents allegedly occurred between June 1 and Aug. 31, 2005, in November 2006 and from Jan. 1, 2007, to Dec. 31, 2008, according to the indictment. At the time of the abuse, the children ranged in age from 8 to 14, State Police said.

Angelo was a DJ on radio station JAMZ 96.3 FM.

An April story in the Times Union said, “His resume and production credits read like a who's who of NYC and national hip-hop: Diddy, Notorious B.I.G., DMX, Jay-Z, Mase, Big Pun. In addition, he's the longtime touring DJ for R&B superstar Alicia Keys.”

Angelo was accused of first-degree course of sexual conduct, a felony, involving an 8-year-old child between June 1 and Aug. 31, 2005, in a Seventh Avenue residence in North Troy.

He also was charged with two counts of felony first-degree criminal sexual act, three counts of felony first-degree sexual abuse and three counts of misdemeanor forcible touching and a single misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of a child.

The grand jury also accused him of first-degree criminal sexual act with this child in November 2006.

The indictment also charges Angelo with a single count of first-degree sexual abuse for an incident involving a child from Jan. 1, 2007, to Dec. 31, 2008, as well as misdemeanor counts of forcible touching and endangering the welfare of a child.

U.S. chef Mario Batali cuts ties with

restaurants after abuse accusations

Gina Cherelus

(Reuters) - Celebrity chef and former television star Mario Batali sold his stakes in his U.S. restaurants on Wednesday, after accusations of sexual harassment caused him to be fired from a television cooking show and prompted a police investigation.


Batali has sold his shares in the 16-restaurant operation, including Babbo and Del Posto in New York, to former partners Tanya Bastianich Manuali and her brother, Joe Bastianich, he said.

“I have reached an agreement with Joe and no longer have any stake in the restaurants we built together. I wish him the best of luck in the future,” Batali said in a statement from his representative, Risa Heller.

Batali has previously admitted and apologized for sexually harassing women but denied charges that he sexually assaulted a woman in 2005.

The New York Police Department launched an investigation after CBS “60 Minutes” reported in May 2018 that Batali drugged and sexually assaulted an employee in 2005. Batali at the time denied the report.

Police in January closed their investigation because detectives could not find enough evidence and the incident was past the state’s statute of limitations, according to reports by local media.

Ex-college baseball star Luke Heimlich, who pleaded guilty to child sex abuse, signs with Mexican team

By Ryan Gaydos | Fox News

Oregon State pitcher Luke Heimlich throws during an NCAA college baseball game against UC Davis in Corvallis, Ore. (Associated Press)

Former Oregon State star pitcher Luke Heimlich, whose status as a likely first-round Major League draft pick was scuttled when it emerged he'd pleaded guilty at age 15 to sexually abusing his 6-year-old niece, has reportedly signed with a Mexican League baseball team.

The left-handed former standout signed with the Dos Laredos Tecolotes in advance of the April 5 season opener, ESPN reported Wednesday, citing multiple sources.

Heimlich, who last month turned 23, was the 2018 national college pitcher of the year after going 16-1 with a 2.32 ERA and striking out 151 hitters in 120 1/3 innings for the Beavers. He helped the team win the College Baseball World Series, as well.

But he went undrafted by MLB teams in 2017 and 2018 and failed to sign with any team after the draft.

The Pullyap, Wash., native initially was charged with two counts of molestation but ultimately pleaded guilty to one count, with prosecutors dismissing the other. The alleged sex abuse occurred between February 2011 and December 2011, during which time Heimlich was 15.

Heimlich has maintained his innocence and said he pleaded guilty to spare his family the ordeal of a trial and due to bad advice.

He initially signed a contract with a Chinese Professional Baseball League team in August, but the league disallowed the agreement because of its zero-tolerance policy regarding teams signing players with a criminal past.

The Kansas City Royals also raised eyebrows last June when general manager Dayton Moore said the organization was looking into signing Heimlich, but the team ultimately opted not to do so.

He's obviously really good, but I suspect major league hitters might have a problem holding onto their bats when swinging at his pitches.

Gilbert Rozon’s sexual misconduct hearing draws International Women’s Day protesters

'Just for Laughs' founder, not finding much humour lately

By Kalina Laframboise
Global News

A group of protesters made their way to the Montreal courthouse to draw attention to sexual misconduct charges against Just For Laughs founder Gilbert Rozon on International Women’s Day.

The Collectif 8 Mars, which represents more than 700,000 women across Quebec, waited outside the building where Rozon was scheduled to appear Friday morning.

“There is one man here who is accused of sexual assault,” said Gabrielle Bouchard, the president of collectif and the Fédération des femmes du Québec.

Rozon, 64, is facing one count of rape and one count of indecent assault from an alleged incident involving one victim dating back to 1979.

He was not present in court on Friday when his lawyer Pierre Poupart asked for the hearing to be postponed for a later date. The case will return to court on April 25.

While Rozon’s hearing was pushed back, those who attended the protest said it was important to support the alleged victim at the centre of the case. “It’s important to support the victim and be there for them,” Audrey Antcil said. “And to show support that it concerns us.”

In October 2017, the giant in the Quebec entertainment industry stepped down from the company amid allegations of sexual assault and harassment. He has denied the allegations.

Rozon is also facing a $10-million class-action lawsuit alleging that he abused at least 20 women between 1982 and 2016. In August 2018, the Quebec Court of Appeal allowed Rozon to appeal the decision authorizing the lawsuit. The appeal has not yet been heard.

Those in attendance said that while Rozon has become a symbol of the powerful people the Me Too movement has taken down, there is a long way to go in fighting for women’s rights and gender equality.

“All those issues of violence against women are not done,” Dominique Daigneault said. “We still have to fight in solidarity with all women who are victims of violence.”

Perverted Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous Episode IX

Virginia power crisis escalates with 2nd woman accusing Democrat Lt. Governor of rape

A second woman has accused embattled Virginia Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax of sexual assault, with his office still reeling from last week’s claims he’d assaulted a female professor at the 2004 Democratic National Convention.

Meredith Watson claims she was raped by Fairfax in a “premeditated and aggressive assault” while both were students at Duke University back in 2000. Watson told multiple friends and classmates about the assault after it happened – both verbally and in Facebook messages and emails, she has revealed through her attorney. At least one of those friends has publicly corroborated her account, while others have reportedly provided statements.

The two undergrads were “friends” at Duke but did not date or see each other romantically, according to Watson’s lawyer, Nancy Erika Smith.

“At this time, Ms. Watson is reluctantly coming forward out of a strong sense of civic duty and her belief that those seeking or serving in public office should be of the highest character,” said Smith, who claims the details of the attack on Watson are similar to the details shared by Vanessa Tyson, the professor who accused Fairfax last week.

I have that same ridiculous trait - a belief that those seeking or serving in public office should be of the highest character. How utterly naive!

Fairfax has denied Watson’s allegations, claiming there is a “smear campaign” targeting him. “I will not resign,” he said in a statement, calling for a full investigation and noting he has already passed FBI background checks.

The Lieutenant Governor also insisted there was nothing non-consensual about his encounter with Tyson, who released a statement claiming she initially suppressed memories of the assault - in which the Democratic politician allegedly forced her to perform oral sex - out of shame until the news he was running for office “hit [her] like a ton of bricks.”

As the reports of Fairfax’s second accuser filtered through Congress, multiple Democratic lawmakers called for his resignation. Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-Virginia), Sen. Cory Booker (D-New Jersey), and former Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe were among the first.

Fairfax isn’t the only VA Democrat in hot water, as the entire state leadership is crumbling under allegations of racism and sexual assault. After first admitting, then denying he had appeared in a photo from his high school yearbook depicting a man in blackface next to a man in a KKK costume, Governor Ralph Northam has refused to step down despite calls for his resignation. Meanwhile, Attorney General Mark Herring has admitted that he too wore blackface at a college party.

National Enquirer publisher to investigate
Bezos extortion claims

Tabloid said it 'acted lawfully' while reporting story on Amazon CEO

The Associated Press 

The publisher of the National Enquirer said Friday it will look into claims of extortion and blackmail made by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, who said the tabloid threatened to publish intimate photos of him unless he stopped investigating how the Enquirer obtained his private communication with his mistress.

American Media Inc. said it "acted lawfully" while reporting the story.

The company's statement is the latest twist in a high-profile clash between the world's richest man and the leader of America's best-known tabloid, who is a strong backer of U.S. President Donald Trump. Bezos's investigators have suggested the Enquirer's coverage of his extramarital affair — which included the release of explicit text messages — was driven by dirty politics.

Bezos, who is also owner of the Washington Post, detailed his interactions with American Media Inc., or AMI, in an extraordinary blog post Thursday on Medium.com. The billionaire did not say the tabloid was seeking money — instead, he said, the Enquirer wanted him to make a public statement that its coverage was not politically motivated.

The company has admitted in the past that it engaged in what's known as "catch-and-kill" practices to help suppress negative stories that could have hurt Trump's candidacy for president. Trump has been highly critical of Bezos and the Post's coverage of the White House.

"Of course, I don't want personal photos published, but I also won't participate in their well-known practice of blackmail, political favours, political attacks, and corruption," Bezos wrote of AMI, in explaining his decision to go public.

"I prefer to stand up, roll this log over, and see what crawls out."

Bezos's phone not hacked

The Bezos affair became public when the Enquirer published a Jan. 9 story about his relationship with Lauren Sanchez, a former TV anchor who is married. Bezos then hired a team of private investigators to find out how the tabloid got the texts and photos the two exchanged.

Bezos's personal investigators, led by his longtime security consultant, Gavin de Becker, concluded that Bezos's phone wasn't hacked. Instead, they've been focusing on Sanchez's brother, according to a person familiar with the matter.

De Becker and his team suspect Michael Sanchez, a talent manager who touts his support of Trump and is an acquaintance of Trump allies Roger Stone and Carter Page, may have provided the information to the Enquirer, the person said. The person wasn't authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Sanchez, who is also his sister's manager, has declined to speak with The Associated Press on the record and did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Thursday. In a tweet, he said de Becker "spreads fake, unhinged conservative conspiracy theories" and "'dog whistle' smears."

Several days ago, someone at AMI told Bezos's team that the company's CEO, David Pecker, was "apoplectic" about the investigation, Bezos said. AMI later approached Bezos's representatives with an offer.

Pecker is a personal friend of Donald Trump.

"They said they had more of my text messages and photos that they would publish if we didn't stop our investigation," Bezos wrote.

'Below the belt' selfie obtained

Bezos wrote that this week, the tabloid's editor, Dylan Howard, emailed an attorney for de Becker to describe photos the Enquirer "obtained during our newsgathering." The photos include a "below the belt selfie" of Bezos, photos of him in tight boxer briefs and wearing only a towel, and several revealing photos of Sanchez, according to the emails Bezos released.

According to the emails, an attorney for AMI offered a formal deal Wednesday: The tabloid wouldn't post the photos if Bezos and his investigators would release a public statement "affirming that they have no knowledge or basis" to suggest the Enquirer's coverage was "politically motivated or influenced by political forces."

Bezos said he decided to publish the emails sent to his team "rather than capitulate to extortion and blackmail" despite the "personal cost and embarrassment they threaten."

In its Jan. 9 story, the Enquirer said reporters followed Bezos and Sanchez "across five states and 40,000 miles" and "tailed them in private jets, swanky limos, helicopter rides, romantic hikes, five-star hotel hideaways, intimate dinner dates and 'quality time' in hidden love nests."

It reported that Bezos sent "sleazy text messages and gushing love notes" to Sanchez, months before Bezos announced he was splitting up with his wife, MacKenzie. The story carries the bylines of Howard and two reporters.

Bezos usually stays out of the public eye, frequently delegating announcements and public Amazon business updates to his executives. He doesn't even speak on the company's quarterly financial earnings call with analysts.

AMI's relationship with Trump has gotten the company into hot water in the past. It admitted to "catch-and-kill" practices as part of a deal with federal prosecutors, who agreed not to pursue charges against the company.

AMI acknowledged secretly assisting Trump's campaign by paying $150,000 to a Playboy model for the rights to her story about an alleged affair with the then-candidate. The company then intentionally suppressed the story until after the 2016 election.

In September, the Justice Department agreed to a non-prosecution agreement with AMI, which requires the company and some top executives, including Pecker and Howard, to co-operate with authorities.

De Becker is now trying to find a way that federal prosecutors in Manhattan — where the non-prosecution agreement was signed — could investigate the text message scandal, the person familiar with the matter said, though it wasn't immediately clear what, if any, crime the prosecutors would be asked to look into.

It is a federal crime to threaten to injure someone's reputation in exchange for money or a "thing of value," though federal courts haven't made it directly clear whether a public statement, like the one demanded by AMI, could be considered something of value.

If it had no intrinsic value, there would be no issue here. Nevertheless, it's amazing to me how someone as brilliant as Jeff Bezos could do such stupid things as to get himself in this situation in the first place.

Dave Brubaker, ex-Canadian gymnastics coach,
acquitted of sex-related charges

Is it just me, or do the rich and famous have their own judicial system?

CBC Sports

Former Canadian gymnastics coach Dave Brubaker leaves a courthouse on Wednesday after being

found not guilty of sexual assault and sexual exploitation levelled by a former athlete.

(Mark Spowart/Canadian Press)

Former Canadian Olympic women's gymnastics coach Dave Brubaker was found not guilty today of two sex-related charges levelled by a former athlete.

Brubaker had pleaded not guilty to sexual assault and sexual exploitation relating to the alleged incidents between 2000 and 2007.

Justice Deborah Austin, in delivering her decision inside a Sarnia, Ont., courtroom, gave a scathing critique of how the lead officer handled the investigation, saying the Crown's case was damaged by the relationship between the complainant and the officer, who she said abandoned both his oath of impartiality and his oath of secrecy

"I don't criticize him for being a good friend … I do criticize the decision to also at the same time take on the role of sole investigating officer in the case resulting in some questions about the handling of the case," she said. "These things do affect the reliability of the Crown's case. These issues cannot be ignored."

Unlike sincere truth and genuine suffering, they can be ignored, apparently, in the name of justice.

Judge says complainant's testimony 'sincere, genuine'
The trial heard the sole investigating officer made the complainant the godmother of his child during the course of the probe. Court also heard the officer shared details of Brubaker's police interview with the woman, who cannot be identified under a publication ban.

Austin said none of her critique of the officer should be interpreted as an indictment of the complainant. "She was forthright and appeared to be doing her best, generally," the judge said. "It was sincere and genuine."​

Brubaker hugged his wife, Elizabeth, after the judge's decision while his supporters applauded in court.

Gymnastics Canada launching internal probe
In a statement, Gymnastics Canada announced it would conduct an internal investigation in accordance with its Code of Ethics and Conduct and Discipline policies.

"Gymnastics Canada acknowledges, understands, and remains committed to our responsibility in creating and preserving gymnastics environments that ensure positive, healthy, and fulfilling experiences for all of our participants," read the statement. "Together with our provincial and territorial partners and member clubs, we are continuing to implement a safe sport framework for gymnastics across the country.

"This framework includes tools to assist parents and other responsible adults to identify potentially unsafe situations and take proactive steps to ensure the safety of the athletes; providing confidential channels for athletes to communicate concerns with respect to their safety and well-being without risk of reprisals; and utilizing the appropriate enforcement mechanisms for addressing individuals who breach safe sport policies."

Gymnastics Canada CEO Ian Moss told CBC Sports' Devin Heroux that the investigation would follow proper protocol and he hoped that it would move swiftly.

"He [Brubaker] is unable to become a member again until we determine the outcome of the investigation. We've said in our other cases that we hope that the investigations can be completed within a month. We hope that that's the case. Certainly we're not going to drag it out," Moss said.

"These are very difficult times. These are very difficult stories and conversations. We know we want to maintain the sanctity and the beauty of the sport. We know that we've got work to do. Every sport has work to do there. And we are vigilant in ensuring that."

At the time of Brubaker's arrest in December 2017, he was interviewed by the lone officer on the case — a procedure the judge found was conducted in a particularly concerning way. He was also put on administrative leave by Gymnastics Canada and will remain suspended during its investigation.

Police officer should be investigated, says defence lawyer
"The statement contains unusually long commentary and monologue by the investigating officer and the questions were broad and wide-ranging," Austin told the court, suggesting the officer acted as a "conduit" for the complainant.

The most damning part of the statement, she said, was that Brubaker said he was "guilty of crossing a line." The officer, however, did not ask Brubaker to clarify what "line" he crossed or in what ways he crossed it, Austin said.

Outside court, Brubaker's defence lawyer argued the officer should be investigated for the way the probe was carried out.

"He owes [Brubaker] more than [an apology]. He turned his life upside down," Patrick Ducharme said. "This is not over … We'll try to clear [Brubaker's] name in every respect."

Sarnia police did not respond to request for comment on the judge's criticism of the investigating officer or Ducharme's call for a probe into his conduct.

Complainant initiated kisses, Brubaker said
In the case involving Brubaker, the complainant told the court that from the time she was 12, he would commonly greet her with a kiss on the lips.

Brubaker didn't deny this.

"I think it was just out of habit … that she started to kiss me," Brubaker said, insisting the kisses were innocent. "I don't come from a kissy family, so to me it's just part of the gymnast culture. It's not something I need as a man."

Brubaker, who coached the national women's team at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, told the court the complainant initiated the kisses after a competition in Europe.

Brubaker's wife, who worked alongside her husband, testified she found nothing odd about the kisses, but acknowledged her husband kissed other students only on the cheek.

Brubaker's wife suspended
Last month, Gymnastics Canada suspended Elizabeth Brubaker, who isn't facing criminal charges, from her coaching job with the Bluewater Gymnastics Club in Sarnia.

In a statement, Gymnastics Canada said it suspended her after receiving "a number of written formal complaints … that outlined alleged violations of Gymnastics Canada's ethics and code of conduct policies over an extended period of time a number of years ago."

The complainant in her husband's case is now in her 30s. She also alleged Dave Brubaker touched her inappropriately while treating her for persistent pain and soreness.

Brubaker, the women's national team director at last year's world championships in Montreal, also vehemently denied this. But at the same time, an expert witness told the court that treatment, often in sensitive areas, is an integral and necessary part of maintaining the body of an elite gymnast.

Complainant alleged Brubaker would 'spoon' her
During their lengthy time as coach and student, the complainant also lived with the Brubakers. The court heard that David Brubaker took special care of her, picking her up almost daily at school before driving her home and then to practice.

On a number of occasions, it's alleged, Brubaker invited the complainant into his bedroom to join him for a nap. She alleges Brubaker would "spoon" her and tickle her belly.

He denied this ever happened.

Ducharme argued the young woman was bitter because she didn't make it to the Olympics, unlike some others Brubaker coached.

Brubaker's trial came at a time when the sport of gymnastics is in a seismic flux. In the U.S., Larry Nassar, the former U.S. gymnastics national team doctor who was convicted of assaulting hundreds of young gymnasts under the guise of treatment, has brought the sport to its knees.

Nassar was sentenced to 40 to 125 years in jail for his crimes. And just this week, U.S. Gymnastics declared bankruptcy as it desperately tries to make a fresh start.

'Clean-up' work halts at boy band's South Korea night club embroiled in rape allegations

By Elizabeth Shim

Seungri (L), a former member of South Korean boy band Big Bang, has apologized for sex assault allegations at a nightclub he owns in southern Seoul. File Photo by Yonhap/EPA-EFE

(UPI) -- South Korean police have ordered clean-up work be stopped at a nightclub in southern Seoul where drugging and rapes may have occurred, according to multiple allegations.

Club Burning Sun, owned by K-pop celebrity Seungri, a former member of boy band Big Bang, is at the center of controversy over a local nightclub culture that caters to wealthy patrons and encourages police to mind their own business.

The club's dismantlement began on Sunday amid allegations from victims and anonymous male clients that the club staff routinely used date rape drugs on women and literally dragged them to hotel rooms meant for male VIP guests.

The Seoul metropolitan police ordered club dismantlement to stop late Wednesday, according to News 1. The report came after local newspaper Chosun Ilbo reported the club was being cleaned before evidence could be collected, as Gangnam district police, suspected of taking a laissez-faire approach to club incidents, told the paper they "didn't know" anything about the demolition.

Burning Sun opened less than a year ago. According to photographs posted to Instagram or to its proprietary website, Burning Sun regularly attracts K-pop celebrities. Seungri, whose legal name is Lee Seung-hyun, has denied knowledge of the use of date rape drugs at his establishment. Local police could bring Lee in for questioning, according to reports.

A photo of Seungri with a suspected drug trafficker has surfaced online.

The suspect, identified as a Chinese woman, was recently investigated after police found "suspicious" liquids and white powders at her residence, according to local network KBS.

The woman, a staff member at the club, has been connected to securing drug purchases, according to multiple reports.

The club has been under public scrutiny since late 2018, when an anonymous YouTube account holder posted surveillance footage of a "secret VIP tunnel" that Burning Sun staff use to drag drugged women to undisclosed locations.

The shocking footage shows a woman struggling to escape staff, and hold onto a nearby laptop, before they pull her by the hair and take her away.

Local network MBC has reported staff drugged women regularly then would text VIP clients with images of the unconscious victims.

Seungri has recently apologized for the incidents.

Weird to Be on Set: Kriti Sanon on ‘Housefull 4’,

#MeToo & Sajid Khan

BOLLYWOOD

Actor Kriti Sanon says when the #MeToo allegations surfaced against Housefull 4's former director Sajid Khan and her co-star Nana Patekar, the team took swift actions as they were focused about not letting it affect the final product. Sajid Khan stepped down from the project following multiple accusations of sexual misconduct against him. He was replaced by writer Farhad Samji as the director. Nana Patekar too, distanced himself from the comedy after being accused of harassment by actor Tanushree Dutta. He was replaced by actor Rana Daggubati.

“It was weird to be on set with all that going on. Someone else directing us suddenly in the middle of the film. But I give it to producer Sajid Nadiadwala sir. He took certain decisions and handled it very well. We didn’t stop shooting for more than two days,” Kriti told PTI.

The actor says the team, including actors Akshay Kumar, Kriti Kharbanda, Bobby Deol, Riteish Deshmukh and Pooja Hegde, were focused on the film and in delivering a good final product. "We finished our schedule a day before we were supposed to finish. That way, we all just wanted to make the film in a good manner and make sure all of this doesn't affect the final product. A film once made is out forever. We were together in it."

The Bareilly Ki Barfi star says some of the highlight sequences of the film were shot after the #MeToo allegations surfaced and were handled very well. "We shot some major sequences including the interval and the climax after that. These sequences are usually crazy because the entire star cast is together. Our producer took the call of spending that extra money to reshoot scenes with no fault of his," she added.

Kriti will be next seen in Luka Chuppi co-starring Kartik Aaryan. The film, directed by Laxman Utekar and written by Rohan Shankar, is scheduled to release on 1 March.