Justice Department prosecutors have charged Rep. George Santos with federal offenses, three sources familiar with the matter tell NBC News, the most significant escalation in a growing pile of investigations that have plagued the first-term lawmaker since before he even took office.

One source said that Santos could surrender at the federal courthouse in the Eastern District of New York in the morning, and is expected to make a court appearance on Wednesday afternoon. A congressional source said that Santos learned about the charges on Tuesday. His lawyer has not returned requests for comment.

The New York Republican, who faced legal and political pressure to resign from Congress after he admitted to lying about parts of his background, is the subject of multiple investigations into his finances and other issues.

No court documents associated with the case were immediately available. CNN first reported the pending charges.

In December, two federal law enforcement sources confirmed that federal prosecutors from the Eastern District of New York had opened an investigation into Santos and were examining his finances, including potential irregularities involving financial disclosures and loans he made to his congressional campaign.

Santos did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Santos announced his re-election campaign just last month, despite investigations into a variety of allegations against him in New York state, as well as by the House Ethics Committee.

The House panel announced in early March it had opened a probe into Santos to determine whether he may have "engaged in unlawful activity" while campaigning for Congress or if he "failed to properly disclose required information on statements filed with the House."

The panel also said it would examine whether Santos violated federal conflict-of-interest laws in connection with his role in a firm providing fiduciary services, as well as sexual misconduct allegations against him from a prospective aide.

A Navy veteran who accused Santos of disappearing with thousands of dollars from an online fundraising campaign intended to cover lifesaving surgery for his service dog also said that he spoke to the FBI about his allegations.

The Nassau County district attorney's office said in December that it, too, was looking into “numerous fabrications and inconsistencies” about Santos’ background after The New York Times uncovered a series of inconsistencies about his biography, including his education, work history and financial dealings. The New York State Attorney General’s Office said that same month that it was “looking into a number of issues” surrounding Santos.

While Santos has refused to resign from Congress, he said in late January that he would recuse himself from a pair of assignments on the Small Business and Science committees amid the probes.

New citizens taking the oath of allegiance, Federal Court for the Eastern District of New York, Brooklyn, 1924.

Photo: Bettman Archive/Getty Images/Fine Art America

Former President Donald Trump was found guilty of 34 felonies by the jury in his "hush money" trial in New York on Thursday, making him the first former president in U.S. history to be convicted of a crime.

The jury, composed of 12 Manhattan residents, found that Trump illegally falsified business records to cover up a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. They found him guilty on all counts on their second day of deliberations.

The presumptive Republican nominee for president is now also a convicted felon, a label that could reverberate across the electorate in the months between now and Election Day in November.

The verdict was handed down in the same Manhattan courtroom where Trump has been on trial for the past six weeks. Trump stared at each juror as they confirmed their vote to convict and angrily denounced the decision in the hallway outside the courtroom, vowing to fight the conviction.

Jurors sided with prosecutors who said that Trump authorized the plan to falsify checks and related records in an effort to prevent voters from learning of an alleged sexual encounter with Daniels. Prosecutors from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office said the conspiracy spanned his 2016 campaign and continued well into his first year in the White House. Trump denied having sex with Daniels and pleaded not guilty.

Justice Juan Merchan set a sentencing date of July 11, just four days before the start of the Republican National Convention, where Trump will be formally nominated as the party's standard-bearer. He could face up to four years in prison and a $5,000 fine for each count, but Merchan has broad discretion when imposing a sentence, and could limit the punishment to a fine, probation, home confinement or other options...

The Biden campaign warned that former Trump's conviction doesn't prevent him from winning another term in the White House from a legal standpoint. 

"There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president," the campaign's communications director Michael Tyler said in a statement.

-via CBS News, May 30, 2024. Live updates: 7:36 pm, 7:23 pm Eastern Time

--

Note: Even if Trump gets reelected, he cannot pardon himself in this case, because this is a state-level conviction. The president can only pardon people convicted of federal crimes, not people convicted by the states. (x, x)

They work so hard, so you take them on holiday

Where do (Gaz, Ghost, Soap, and Price) like to go on holiday

Not spellchecked :)

Gaz

He's still young and carefree so I see him as a city lover

There's so much to see and do and he has an insane love for street food

He loves all the major cities but some of his favourites are Berlin, Tokyo, and New York

Isn't afraid to stay in a hostel

Ghost

In game he mentions that he goes hunting so it's not a stretch to say he enjoys outdoor activities

With his love of solitude he most likely enjoys visiting countries with nice forests or countryside

Because of this I think he'd like central and eastern Europe

This region has beautiful landscapes that aren't too dissimilar to the ones in the UK

Plus the traditional food and drink in these countries is amazing

If you manage to convince him to go into a city he spends most of his time looking at the architecture

His favourite cities are Budapest, Varna, and Rijeka

Bonus: He is in love with the history of Liechtenstein

Price

As much as I can picture him as the stereotypical British tourist in a resort because that's all British dad's I don't think he enjoys resort holidays

In fact I think if he is going on holiday he's having a staycation, a vacation in the UK

The UK has some lovely holiday destinations up and down the island and they all feel different

Plus every town and city in the UK has a pub, guaranteed

His favourite places to holiday are Cornwall, Devon, and the Lake District

If he does go abroad it's probably not too far, most likely France

Soap

Different places in Scotland

He loves his home country and isn't ashamed to admit he hasn't been to most of it

But he wants to change that and he wants to bring you along

Going abroad? Somewhere warm

Typical tourist places like Spain and Italy

Only wants to stay in hotels or apartments in the city

Can't stand resorts or hostels

Really likes fun cocktails

A Russian-Canadian living in Montreal has admitted to sending millions of dollars of electronics to the Kremlin to support "its ongoing attacks of Ukraine," U.S. authorities announced on Monday. The U.S. Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of New York said 32-year-old Kristina Puzyreva pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy in federal court in Brooklyn and could face up to 20 years in prison when she is sentenced at a later date. The attorney's office said Puzyreva was part of the "sophisticated" export scheme that involved purchasing dual-use electronics from U.S. manufacturers under Brooklyn-based front companies and sending them to Russian entities and companies in violation of U.S. sanctions. Those components were then used in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and guided missile systems used by the Russian military.

Continue Reading

Tagging @politicsofcanada @allthegeopolitics

Jewish State Ideas BEFORE Palestine

CRITICAL PREAMBLE: It is important to keep in mind that the idea of building a Jewish State is Zionist. It does not reflect the views of Judaism as a whole, and any antisemetic actions will result in blocking and banning. It is critical now more than ever that we recognize that there is a different. Your issues in Palestine are with ZIONISM, not Judaism. Do NOT associate them as the same. Doing so is a common Zionist tactic to make comments or opinions against Israel be rebutted that it is antisemetic purely because it comments on actions by Israel and their Zionist government and military.

Again, Zionism and Judaism are NOT one in the same, and should not be treated that way.

Anywho, timeline time!

1820 - Ararat City - Grand Island Niagara River in Western New York. Considered a precursor to Zionism as known today.

1902 - Leaugue of Eastern European States - "would entail the establishment of a buffer state (Pufferstaat) within the Jewish Pale of Settlement of Russia, composed of the former Polish provinces annexed by Russia."

Date Unsure - Herzl Plan - "The Jews who wish for a State will have it. We shall live at last as free men on our own soil, and die peacefully in our own homes." His proposed location? Cyprus 1903 - British Uganda Program - Rejected after (shocker) there were lions in Africa. Also "it was populated by a large number of Maasai people, who did not seem at all amenable to an influx of people coming from Europe." fuckin wonder why. Note that some Zionists were concerned it would "make it more difficult to establish a Jewish state in Palestine in Ottoman Syria, particularly the Mutasarrifate of Jerusalem" 1928 - Jewish Autonomous Oblast in USSR - Proposed by Russia specifcally to prevent a State of Israel AND done because it viewed Judaism as a threat to the state. "In that sense, it was also a response to two supposed threats to the Soviet state: Judaism, which ran counter to official state policy of atheism; and Zionism, the creation of the modern State of Israel, which countered Soviet views of nationalism. Yiddish, rather than Hebrew, would be the national language, and a new socialist literature and arts would replace religion as the primary expression of culture." Also included the idea of a JSR in Crimea or "part of Ukraine, however these were rejected because of fears of antagonizing non-Jews in those regions."

1940 - British Guiana - "the British Government decided that "the problem is at present too problematical to admit of the adoption of a definite policy and must be left for the decision of some future Government in years to come""

The Madagascar Plan and the Italian East Africa plans were both efforts by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy to "solve Jewish problem" (YES THIS IS BAD). "Jews from Europe and Palestine would be resettled to the north-west Ethiopian districts of Gojjam and Begemder, along with the Beta Israel community."

1989 - Plans for the West Bank - Contemplation of a Second Jewish State - "Israeli settlers in the West Bank have mulled declaring independence as the State of Judea should Israel ever withdraw from the West Bank. In January 1989, several hundred activists met and announced their intention to create such a state in the event of Israeli withdrawal."

So yea, don't tell me about "homeland" when there were a shit ton of other ideas accepted within the Zionist ideal prior to SETTLING on Palestine. It's "homeland" cause that's where the British Empire could throw Israel. Not because they though it was the "right thing to do" or whatever thing Zionists claim now a days.

United States District Court

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY – A 23-count superseding indictment was filed today in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, charging George Anthony Devolder Santos, better known as “George Santos,” the United States Representative for the Third District of New York, with one count of conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, two counts of wire fraud, two counts of making materially false statements to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), two counts of falsifying records submitted to obstruct the FEC, two counts of aggravated identity theft, and one count of access device fraud, in addition to the seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, one count of theft of public funds, and two counts of making materially false statements to the United States House of Representatives that were charged in the original indictment.  Santos is due back in federal court in Central Islip on October 27, 2023.

Holy shit!

Shavua Tov, here comes some updates from over Shabbat:

◼️ Friday night, the IDF says it intercepted a surface-to-surface missile that headed toward Israel over the Red Sea area. The missile, apparently launched by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, was downed by the long-range Arrow air defense system.

◼️ The Houthis in Yemen in a statement: We attacked specific targets of the Israeli enemy in the area of Umm Rasarsh (Eilat) using several ballistic missiles. We confirm the continued implementation of our religious, moral and humanitarian obligations towards the Palestinian people. We will not hesitate to carry out additional military operations against Israel on land and at sea until the aggression ceases and the siege on the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip is lifted.

◼️ U.S. Central Command has announced that B-1B “Lancer” Heavy Bombers launched from the United States and other Aircraft from the U.S. Air Force have conducted Strikes tonight against upwards of 85 Targets utilized by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iranian-Backed Groups in Eastern Syria and Iraq, with at least 125 Precision Munition said to have been used against Sites related to Command and Control Operation Centers, Intelligence Centers, Rockets, and Missiles, and Unmanned-Aerial Vehicle Storages, and Logistics and Munition Supply Facilities.

◼️ In an attempt to deter the US from escalating tensions - Iran placed all its armed forces on the highest alert level, activated air defense systems, and placed ballistic missiles along the border with Iraq, according to a report in the New York Times.

◼️ Satellite images show 30% of Gaza destroyed, UN center says.  Air strikes, shelling, and demolitions have razed entire city districts, including much civilian infrastructure.

Ukrainian soldiers watch as smoke billows during fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces in Soledar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Wednesday, January 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Libkos)

Destroyed shops in Bakhmut on Monday, January 2, 2023. The city in eastern Ukraine has been heavily contested for months. (Nicole Tung/The New York Times)

A local resident runs past a burning house hit by the Russian shelling in Kherson, Ukraine, on the Orthodox Christmas Eve, Friday, January 6, 2023. (AP Photo/LIBKOS)

A Ukrainian serviceman writes an inscription reading "Happy New Year" on a mortar shell before firing towards positions of Russian troops, in the outskirts of Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Friday, December 30, 2022. (REUTERS/Anna Kudriavtseva)

Satellite view of damaged apartment buildings and cratered fields from fighting in Bakhmut, Ukraine, Wednesday, January 4, 2023. (Maxar Technologies/via REUTERS)

A woman peers between apartment block buildings during bombardment, in the frontline town of Bakhmut, Ukraine, Tuesday, January 10, 2023. (REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne)

Ukrainian military medics carry an injured Ukrainian serviceman evacuated from the battlefield into a hospital in Donetsk region, Ukraine, Monday, January 9, 2023. The serviceman did not survive. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Serhii Kaharlytskyi showing his wedding photo from 16 years ago in his ruined home in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, January 10, 2023. Serhii lost his wife Iryna Kaharlytska during the latest Russian attack on Kyiv's tranquil Solomianskyi district on December 31. For Serhii Kaharlytskyi, a 42-year-old Kyiv carpenter, his ruined home’s kitchen stands at the center of his family’s traumatic memories of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Kaharlytskyi and his 10-year-old son had a narrow escape when a Russian missile landed outside on New Year’s Eve as they watched television together. Iryna wasn’t so lucky. She was in the kitchen preparing a meal. She didn’t survive. (AP Photo/Roman Hrytsyna)

Commander of the Ukrainian army, Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, gives instructions in a shelter in Soledar, the site of heavy battles with the Russian forces, in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, Sunday, January 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Roman Chop)

Children play along the side of the road, in Bakhmut, Ukraine, Thursday, January 5, 2023. (REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne)

LoZ - Hyrulean Cultural Aesthetics

Important to note, Hylians, Sheikah, Gerudo, & Lupáns are all considered human.

Those with pointed ears are referred to as Cuspan & those without are called Ovelian.

Overall Cultural Influences:

Central Hyrule & Hylians specifically = Medieval Germanic & Arthurian English with some variation depending on location. All Hylian towns will likely have a little bit of this in them.

Ovelians = Rural, small town, down home, farmer, tough as nails, survivor, rough around the edges, traditional, conservative, but still rebellious, & generally very good-hearted. That means they are the rednecks, the cowboys, the military men, the American Southerners, the Vikings, & the Celts kind of characters. You're salt of the earth types. At least in feel, though not necessarily in culture. It's because of this that humans generally get along well with Gorons. Either way, humans stick mostly to the agricultural & ranching settlements for the most part.

Zora = Hard to tell as they generally don't wear clothing, but they do wear a lot of jewelry. If I had to give them clothes, I'd definitely say they'd be something flowy. Possibly Roman or Greek in fashion to go with the water theme? As for sensibilities, maybe a bit of French Rococo. I also get the impression that the Zora's Domain is actually divided into 2 levels: the Upper Domain & the Lower Domain. The Upper Domain is what we see in the games & consists of the commercial district & palace. The Lower Domain is entirely underwater & is where the Zora actually live. The reason we don't see it is because Link can't dive.

Rito = Northern Native American. Aldean specifically. Maybe a bit of Latin American.

Goron = A mix of Maori (Polynesian), African, Dwarven, & maybe a bit of Old West mining town, though it's hard to tell for certain as they generally don't wear clothing. Definitely something with a decent blend of caballerismo & machismo. Something masculine & tribal, but also community oriented & friendly.

Gerudo = Egyptian/Middle Eastern Amazons with some Orc influence. Possibly with some hints of Hindu too. At least as far as fashion goes.

Korok/Kokiri = If Peter Pan & the Lost Boys were Hobbits.

Twili = Possibly Scandanavian? Also Chinese with some Japanese influences.

Mogma = They seem to be Brooklyn-ish. Maybe even a bit of an Italian-American Mob feel, but more so in the "friendly gangster" way. So, I'm seeing some Bensonhurst influences, which is a specifically Italian-American borough within Brooklyn, I believe. Maybe even a bit of New York Jewish? Like, they come across as being Italian mafia adjacent, but only in so much as the accent, the attitude, & family-oriented organization. Sort of an "it takes a village" & "we take care of our own" type of mentality. Not in any way actually mafia though & certainly not in the romanticized view of gangsters as I don't actually see the Mogmas being the types to actually commit crimes on the reg. And despite being avid treasure-hunters, they seem to have a general culture of altruistic generosity. By that, I mean that their love language is gift-giving.

Yeti = Norse Viking.

Minish = Borrowers.

Anouki = Inuit.

Lokomo = Possibly Greek?

Zonai = Mesoamerican.

*Búralupán = Gaelic, Celtic, & Nordic. (This is a race I made up, if you wanna know more, go to Wolf Link & the Lupán Race.)

Smaller Settlements:

Hateno = I'm getting Gaelic Scottish farming town. Also maybe a bit of Spain, Italy, & Greece. Mostly inhabited by humans, both Cuspan & Ovelian.

Kakariko = Japanese with maybe a touch of American Old West. While primarily Japanese, there's also some definite South Korean influences. Especially in their cooking.

Mabe = Rustic dairy ranching town vibes because I'm putting Lon Lon Ranch there. Based on how AoC & LA's Mabe was designed, their roofing is colorful terracotta tile & generally has ivy & such growing on their homes, so maybe Colonial Spanish. Mostly inhabited by humans.

Goponga = I'm getting rural Luisiana Bayou vibes, most likely due to it being located in a swamp. So, primarily Cajun, French, & Colonial Spanish with some Zora inspiration maybe. Mostly inhabited by humans & Zora.

Deya = Not sure yet, but I'm giving them a vineyard, peach orchard, & making them use them to make moscato, so maybe an old Tuscany winery & fishing village? Mostly inhabited by humans. From what we see in the games, it was actually the biggest settlement in Hyrule besides Castle Town, so it could've been a full-on town or city.

Ordon = Has a rural ranching feel & might be inspired by a southern agricultural town in Italy called Ordona. So, maybe rural Italy with American South mannerisms & sensibilities. Culturally, though, I get Gaelic Irish vibes. It might be the smials… Also, maybe a little bit of Welsh too. Either way, it's mostly inhabited by Ovelians & Lupáns (more human than Lupáns) with the occasional Hylian, Sheikah, & 1 or 2 Gerudo. (For more of their overall culture, go to Ordonian Culture & Ordon Cooking Culture.)

Lurelin = Rural Hawaiian fishing village. Maybe a little bit of Caribbean & Okinawan? With a little bit of Mesoamerican mixed in due to Zonai influence from the nearby ruins.

Ealiyah = Tibetan-flavored Gerudo farming & brewing town. Maybe a little bit of Russian too? Also, interior decoration is eclectic & cluttered but cozy & colorful in a vibrant, rustic Bohemian sort of way. There are also some influences from humans, including Ovelians, Hylians, Lupàns, & even Sheikah to a degree as several of each race lives there too (all men), but overall, the culture remains mostly that Tibetan-Gerudo sort of style. They do a lot of weaving & sewing as well as dying. (This is a town I made up, for more on its culture & history, go to Ealiyah Town & the Highlands Gerudo.)

Tabantha Village = Norse with Rito, Yeti, & Lupos inspiration. So, old Norse Viking, Aldean, Celtic, & Gaelic with a Russian & Welsh accent. They use a lot of furs in their clothing. Mostly inhabited by Ovelians, Hylians, Rito, Yeti, & Lupos.

Shadow Hamlet = Dwarven possibly, with Goron inspiration. So, very masculine. Maybe a bit of Old Western Mining Town. A mix of Gorons, Hylians, & Ovelians tend to live here.

Koholint Domain = This is on the Koholina Archipelago, which Eventide Island is the smallest island of & will eventually become a fishing & port town. In-world, it has influence from Zora, Rito, & Lurelin. But, from a real world perspective, it's mostly Polynesian, coastal Native American, & coastal Hindu with some ancient coastal Greco-Roman (even Atlantis-like) influence for the underwater sections of the settlement. As well as in their formal fashion. There would likely be a tiny bit of Carribean & Okinawan influence in there too. The population is made up of Euryhaline Zora (able to survive in both salt & fresh water), Coastal Rito, & Lurelin humans. And, much like with how I think the Zora's Domain is built, the settlement's commercial district is on land, while the Zora residential area is underwater. The Rito & human residences, as well as the Cheiftain's home, are also on land. (For more on the specifics of this, go to Euryhaline Zora & Coastal Rito Port Town.)

Gatepost, Outpost, & East Post = These are all a package deal. These are mostly military towns, so that'll definitely factor in. They are positioned in such a way as to protect Oldcastle. Mostly inhabited by Hyrulean Humans, but with smatterings of the other races too.

Oldcastle = The site of OoT's Castle Town, a.k.a. the Great Plateau, so there'll be some DEEP historical significance going on. As such, it's mostly Medieval Germanic & Arthurian English. Mostly inhabited by Hyrulean Humans.

LoZ Cultural Masterlist

Let's Look At Where We Would Be In Panem

I'm doing all 50 states, so let's fucking go. (I'm not doing exact, so if it's only partially in the wilds, I'm not stating that)

Alabama - 11 (Agriculture) Alaska - None Arizona - 5 (Power) Arkansas - Southern = 11 (Agriculture), Northern = 8 (Textiles) California - 4 (Fishing) Colorado - 2 (Masonry) Connecticut - Wilds Delaware - Wilds Florida - Wilds Georgia - Wilds Hawaii - None Idaho - Southern = 1 (Luxury), Middle = 4 (Fishing), Northern = 7 (Lumber) Illinois - Southern = 8 (Textiles), Northern = 3 (Technology) Indiana - Southern = 12 (Coal), Norhtern = 3 (Technology) Iowa - 3 (Technology) Kansas - 8 (Textiles) Kentucky - 12 (Coal) Louisiana - Wilds Maine - Wilds Maryland - Wilds Massachusetts - Wilds Michigan - Southern = 3 (Technology), Northwestern = 6 (Transportation), Northeastern = 13 (Nuclear) Minnesota - Western = 9 (Grain), Eastern = 3 (Technology) Mississippi - 11 (Agriculture) Missouri - 8 (Textiles) Montana - Southern = 1 (Luxury), Northern = 7 (Lumber) Nebraska - 9 (Grain) Nevada - 4 (Fishing) New Hampshire - Wilds New Jersey - Wilds New Mexico - 2 (Masonry) New York - 13 (Nuclear) North Carolina - Wilds North Dakota - 9 (Grain) Ohio - 12 (Coal) Oklahoma - 11 (Agriculture) Oregon - 4 (Fishing) Pennsylvania - Wilds Rhode Island - Wilds South Carolina - Wilds South Dakota - 9 (Agriculture) Tennessee - 8 (Textiles) Texas - Western = 10 (Livestock), Eastern = 11 (Agriculture) Utah - Southern = 5 (Power), Northern = 1 (Luxury) Vermont - Wilds Virginia - Wilds Washington - 7 (Lumber) West Virginia - 12 (Coal) Wisconsin - Western = 3 (Technology), Eastern = 6 (Transportation) Wyoming - Southern = Capital, Nothern = 1 (Luxury)

This isn't perfectly exact, but I tried my best.

(Btw, I'd be in District 11. Lemme know where y'all would be.)

Rep. George Santos orchestrated a 2017 credit card skimming operation in Seattle, the man who was convicted of the fraud and deported to Brazil said in a sworn declaration submitted to federal authorities Wednesday.

“I am coming forward today to declare that the person in charge of the crime of credit card fraud when I was arrested was George Santos / Anthony Devolder,” Gustavo Ribeiro Trelha wrote in the declaration. It was sent by express mail and email to the FBI, the U.S. Secret Service New York office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of New York, according to a copy of the receipt from the United States Postal Service.

Telha decided to contact law enforcement officials after seeing the newly minted congressman on television, he said in the declaration.

Santos, whose full name is George Anthony Devolder Santos, often went by Anthony Devolder before his first congressional bid in 2020. The New York Republican won a Long Island swing district last November after lying on the campaign trail about his education, work experience and supposed Jewish ancestry. The House ethics panel initiated an investigation into Santos last week to explore possible “unlawful activity” related to his run. State, federal and Brazilian authorities are also probing Santos related to a string of potential financial crimes. Santos has admitted to “embellishing” parts of his background, but said he never broke any laws.

He was previously questioned about the Seattle scheme by investigators for the U.S. Secret Service, CBS News has reported. He was never charged, but the investigation remains open. Santos also told an attorney friend he was “an informant” in the fraud case. Trelha insists he was its mastermind.

“Santos taught me how to skim card information and how to clone cards. He gave me all the materials and taught me how to put skimming devices and cameras on ATM machines,” Trelha said in the declaration that was submitted to authorities by his New York attorney, Mark Demetropoulos. POLITICO obtained a copy of the declaration.

Spokespeople for the FBI did not return messages. Representatives for the Secret Service and the U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to comment.

A lawyer for Santos also did not respond to emails and text messages for comment.

Trelha and Santos met in the fall of 2016 on a Facebook group for Brazilians living in Orlando, Fla., he said in the declaration and in an interview with POLITICO. By November, Trelha had rented a room in Santos’ Winter Park, Fla., apartment, according to a copy of the lease viewed by POLITICO.

“That is when and where I learned from him how to clone ATM and credit cards,” Trelha wrote in the declaration that was translated from his native Portuguese.

Santos kept a warehouse on Kirkman Road in Orlando to store the skimming equipment, according to the declaration.

“He had a lot of material — parts, printers, blank ATM and credit cards to be painted and engraved with stolen account and personal information.”

“Santos gave me at his warehouse, some of the parts to illegally skim credit card information. Right after he gave me the card skimming and cloning machines, he taught me how to use them,” Trelha wrote.

Trelha then flew out to Seattle where he was caught on a security camera removing a skimming device from a Chase ATM on Pike Street, according to law enforcement records. He was arrested on April 27.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Seattle previously told POLITICO it’s not unusual for credit card thieves to go far from home to nab numbers so there’s less chance of the stolen numbers being traced back to the perpetrators. That spokesperson, Emily Langlie, said she didn’t have any information about Santos’ involvement in the Trelha case.

At the time of his arrest, Trelha had a fake Brazilian ID card and 10 suspected fraudulent cards in his hotel room, according to police documents. An empty FedEx package police found in his rental car was sent from the Winter Park unit he shared with Santos.

Trelha told federal authorities in the declaration Wednesday that his “deal with Santos was 50% for him and 50% for me.”

“We used a computer to be able to download the information on the pieces. We also used an external hard drive to save the filming, because the skimmer took the information from the card, and the camera took the password,” he wrote.

“It didn’t work out so well, because I was arrested,” he admitted.

Trelha said Santos visited him in jail in Seattle, but told him not to implicate him in the scheme.

“Santos threatened my friends in Florida that I must not say that he was my boss,” he wrote.

Trelha agreed to say he was working for someone in Brazil and not with Santos, because he was worried Santos would have his friends in Orlando deported, he said in a telephone interview last month. Trelha recalled Santos warning he could “make things worse for him” since he was already in jail and Santos was a U.S. citizen.

In an audio recording of Trelha’s May 15, 2017 arraignment in King County Superior Court, Santos tells the judge he’s a “family friend” who was there to secure a local Airbnb if the defendant was released on bail.

Santos also claimed to the Judge he worked for Goldman Sachs in New York, a key part of his campaign biography he later admitted wasn’t true.

Trehla was unable to post the $75,000 bail. He pleaded guilty to felony access device fraud, served seven months in jail and was deported to Brazil in early 2018.

“Santos did not help me to get out of jail. He also stole the money that I had collected for my bail,” Trelha told federal investigators in the declaration.

Trelha told POLITICO that before flying to Seattle, Santos had traveled to Orlando to pick up $20,000 in cash he instructed Leide Oliveira Santos, another roommate, to give him from a safe. Santos had promised to hire El Chapo’s lawyer for Trelha, he said. A third roommate in the Winter Park apartment told POLITICO in a phone interview that Oliveira Santos told him Santos had come to get money for Trelha. The third roommate spoke on condition of anonymity because he was in the country as an undocumented immigrant.

But Trelha never heard from Santos after Santos visited him in Seattle, the third roommate said. He later learned from Oliveira Santos that her attempts to contact Santos over the next few months were futile.

Trelha realized he had been conned, he said, when no lawyer appeared — let alone El Chapo’s.

But he still didn’t want to name Santos as a co-conspirator, fearing retaliation against Oliveira Santos, who was also an undocumented immigrant, he said.

Trelha told the federal authorities in the declaration that he had witnesses to support his statements. Oliveira Santos declined to discuss the matter with POLITICO.

“I am available to speak with any American government investigator,” Trelha wrote before providing his email address and cellular phone number and attesting that he signed the declaration “willingly and truthfully.”

A federal prosecutor who handled Trelha’s case described the scheme as “sophisticated,” adding that the Seattle portion was only “the tip of the iceberg,” according to court records reported by CBS News. But a person close to the investigation who is not authorized to speak publicly said they saw no evidence that prosecutors did forensic reports on Trelha’s phone or seemed motivated to pursue international co-conspirators.

dear prof. dr. caesarflickermans, expert in thg, i request your knowledge.

how do you picture the capitol outlines? is it something like the rich are in the middle and the outer circles are poorer? or are there different neighbourhoods with different levels of wealth with no real logic in how it happened?

also is there a clear border between the really rich and the rest of the population? or between the general population and the poor? are people in a way "restricted" to their neighbourhood a bit like inhabitants of the districts are confined in their district?

do you have any more elements that you would like to add?

thank you! 💕

(Please keep in mind I'm no expert in anything city planning, my words are by no means as educated as someone who did study this subject. Maybe @plvtarch can give some more educated information!)

My brief mention in SSLWR 13 might have indicated that the poor live in the outskirts while the rich live in the inner city, but that is not at all the impression I had intended to give!

If you look at city maps, you will usually find that if we are differentiating between inner and outer city, the rich usually tend to live a bit further away from a direct city centre, that is because they have greater mobility than the poor, feel more secure there, and have the option for larger homes.

Nothing about levels of wealth and where they settle is truly random. Much of it is determined by zoning laws or gentrification. There are many quirks in city planning and many reasons for different income levels or different races to move to or from specific neighbourhoods.

While I can see the Capitol influencing some of these aspects very actively, the Capitol is also not expanding, has no new people move to it (other than those who are born in there), and much of it is likely more stuck in a gridlock. I do believe that social mobility exists, and therefore some parts of it are moving up and down on the social ladder which implies a changing of neighbourhoods, but I assume it is much slower due to tighter class systems.

On a location level, I believe that the Capitol is located in Salt Lake City, though that is not my only inspiration and I will not keep 100% to the geography of this city. My reason for this belief is the mention of a natural mountain barrier to the East of the city (THG, 4). We also frequently receive a view of the Capitol's lake to the West and IIRC it is mentioned in the books somewhere, but I'm not sure where. Either way, lake to the West, mountain to the East. Salt Lake City seems the natural conclusion here.

When we look at the Salt Lake City area, we notice the following based on (A) median income and (B) a rating on based schools:

(A) is an obvious indicator for wealth, and it seems to accumulate in the Eastern area. (B) further supports this. Rich people like to send their kids to the best of schools, and it can be a good supporting indicator for wealth.

Thus, we have identified the Eastern part of Salt Lake City as a rich neighbourhood.

In addition, while I believe the Capitol to be located in Salt Lake City, the Capitol is a representative of large wealth concentration. The cities that, to me, as a Non-American, come to mind and were part of my inspiration on how I see the Capitol are Los Angeles and New York City. They both are THE metropolitan areas to be and have a large influence on areas such as entertainment, fashion, and finance. They feel quite right for the Capitol. Let's look at the former and its wealth concentration first:

If we compare this with topography levels, we notice a very clear pattern for both Los Angeles and Salt Lake City: The richer areas are closer to or even on mountains. Thus, we notice that our wealth indicator maps correspond with topography level:

I've always liked Los Angeles in terms of Capitol representation for its Northern mountains that overlook the city and the rich people that look into the downtown area. I've never been to Los Angeles, but the property there appears more spaced out which allows for the wealthy to built their larger residences up in the mountains.

I nonetheless also like the idea of skyscrapers which would be more representative of New York. I can envision some wealthy people who are sick and tired of the mountains to prefer living in downtown area in high rise apartments and penthouses. I think for New York City its geography is a bit less relevant, partly because it is so encased by water and the differentiation is more Manhattan/Boston. Nonetheless, I take the NYC comparison and apply it to the Capitol insofar that I read it as the rich liking to live close to or with a view of the river.

Where does this leave us with?

Well, we know that the mountains to the East of Salt Lake City host the wealthy, we know that something similar is happening in Los Angeles with its North, and we know that the wealthy in New York really love looking at the river (or parks, lol).

I like the idea of combining all three aspects into one map, bastardising SLC a bit in the process (they'll survive).

As you can see, I've moved the lake a bit more inward to allow for the New York comparison to make sense. I've added some more mountains on top to have the Los Angeles feeling.

There is an area labelled downtown which is, while still having astonishing real estate prices, the area of the training centre and the bigger shopping area. Most city districts have their own feel to it and their own inner shopping streets, but if you want to shop the big designers, you go to that grey area.

The middle class and lower class are way less defined, but I've placed them roughly in that manner as the lower part of the Capitol is the weakest area in terms of protection.

While the mountains might appear fragile, Katniss mentions that it is impossible to enter through them and, instead, the tunnels are the weak points. Thus, I've figured that the wealth distribution both in the East (SLC) and LA (North) wasn't affected (i.e. moving to the West post Dark Days).

Instead, the lower class area with its mountains receding is the true weak point, and it is likely that the rebels came in from roughly around there, possibly with the tunnels being somewhere around there, too.

This is the general inner city circle for the Capitol. There is a greater area around it which hosts vacation spots and some of the arenas.

The vacation spots I perceive as similar to the arenas, insofar that they are equally unnatural in how they have been built, but they are less adventure-y (yikes) and mostly focused on relaxation. Capitol people do not go to the Districts on vacation, but they have some beautiful areas that are meant to resemble some popular vacation destinations, such as beaches or mountains. They come in different price ranges, of course, and you usually stay overnight there in themed houses. Those places are large, thus they host several groups.

The arenas are nothing we haven't heard of in the books. I think some are in the Capitol outskirts while others are more around its actual border or around the empty stretches of land in between the Districts (no-mans land, essentially).

As to restrictions: No, there aren't any. We can gauge as much from the books as the poor and the rich shop in similar areas (avenues and the side streets, as described by Cressida in MJ & visited by Virgilia in SSLWR 17). But, generally, they maintain this idea that the middle and lower classes are able to make it big. It's a necessity to keep those people in line, and overall successful insofar that they quite literally buy into it and go in debt.

Any restrictions in place usually come through where the best schools are placed, where demand has the housing market skyrocket, but overall they, as previously said, change fairly little.

In this manner, I also think that the Capitol heavily relies on public transport. It's a small city that has had a long time to establish its public transport system, which also means that the people aren't truly restricted to one area over the other, i.e. everyone who wants to can easily attend the tribute parade. Only few people own a car--because I want some utopia in my dystopia--and only those who truly require one in the moment, such as President Snow, own one.

As to where my main cast of characters live: Virgilia obviously lives in the President area, Caesar in the Eastern NYC area (no seaside view for him), Plutarch in the Los Angeles-esque area, and Tigris in the grey downtown area as she lives above her shop.

Avatar Vinyl Sweepstakes

Sponsor: Viacom International Inc., 1515 Broadway, New York, NY 10036.

1. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN A PRIZE. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID IN PUERTO RICO, WHERE PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW, AND OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES. MANY WILL ENTER, FEW WILL WIN.

2. Sponsor: Sweepstakes is sponsored solely by Viacom International Inc., 1515 Broadway, New York, NY 10036. While Instagram’s terms and conditions apply to Instagram use, Instagram is not a sponsor of the Sweepstakes, nor is Instagram in any way responsible for the administration of the Sweepstakes or the verification of winners. All inquiries regarding the Sweepstakes should be directed to Viacom International Inc., not to Instagram.

3. Entry Period: The “Avatar Vinyl Sweepstakes” (the “Sweepstakes”) entry period shall commence at 9:00:01 a.m. Eastern Time (“ET”) on December 15, 2023 and shall end at 11:59:59 p.m. ET on December 22, 2023 (the “Sweepstakes Period”). Sponsor’s computer is the official time-keeping device for this Sweepstakes. All entries must be received by 11:59:59 p.m. ET on December 22, 2023. The odds of winning depend on the total number of Eligible Entries (hereinafter defined) respectively received in each of the participating Instagram accounts (@avatarthelastairbender and @denofgeek) during the Sweepstakes Period.

4. Eligibility: The Sweepstakes is open to individuals who: (i) are a legal resident of one (1) of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia, (ii) are at least eighteen (18) years old or the age of majority in the jurisdiction in which he/she resides (nineteen [19] years old in Alabama and Nebraska, twenty-one [21] years old in Mississippi) at the time of entry, and (iii) have a valid Instagram account at time of entry (Note: You will need to create an Instagram account if you don’t already have one. Membership on Instagram is free, and registration can be obtained by logging on to http://www.instagram.com [“Instagram Web Site”] and following the onscreen instructions to open an account.) (each a “Participant”, collectively the “Participants”). Employees and their immediate families (i.e., parents, spouse, children, siblings, grandparents, step parents, step children and step siblings) of Viacom International Inc. (“Sponsor”), Meta Platforms, Inc. (“Instagram”), DoG Tech LLC (“Den of Geek”), all prize providers and each of their respective affiliated parents, companies, sponsors, subsidiaries, advertising agencies and third party fulfillment agencies (collectively, the “Sweepstakes Entities”) and each of their respective officers, directors, licensors, employees, representatives and agents, and members of their immediate families (parents, step parents, children, step children, siblings, step siblings, spouses, regardless of where they reside) and members of their households (whether related or not) and those individuals who have won a prize in any Sponsor-related sweepstakes and/or contest in the twelve (12) months prior to the start of the Sweepstakes Period are ineligible to participate in this Sweepstakes. Eligibility will be determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion. By participating in this Sweepstakes, Participants: (a) agree to be bound by these Official Rules and by the interpretations of these Official Rules by the Sponsor, and by the decisions of the Sponsor, which are final in all matters relating to this Sweepstakes; (b) release and hold harmless Sweepstakes Entities and their respective agents, employees, officers, directors, successors and assigns, against any and all claims, injury or damage arising out of or relating to participation in this Sweepstakes and/or use or misuse or redemption of the Prize (as defined below); and (c) acknowledge compliance with these Official Rules.

5. To Enter: During the Sweepstakes Period, go to both https://www.instagram.com/avatarthelastairbender and https://www.instagram.com/denofgeek from your Instagram account and follow both the Avatar: The Last Airbender (@avatarthelastairbender) and Den of Geek (@denofgeek) Instagram accounts. Go to @avatarthelastairbender or @denofgeek, find the initial post announcing the Sweepstakes and respond in the comment section with the designated hashtag #AvatarVinylSweepstakes. BY RESPONDING IN THE COMMENT SECTION OF THE INITIAL POST ANNOUNCING THE SWEEPSTAKES WITH THE HASHTAG #AVATARVINYLSWEEPSTAKES DURING THE SWEEPSTAKES PERIOD, YOU AGREE TO THESE OFFICIAL RULES. You are required to follow both Instagram accounts used for entry (@avatarthelastairbender and @denofgeek) so you can see the Prize winner announcement to see if you’ve won (pending verification), in addition to the winner notification described in Section 5 below. Please note that if you do not respond to the Prize winner notification described in Section 5, you will be disqualified and another Prize winner may be selected. You must respond in the comment section of the initial post announcing the Sweepstakes with the designated hashtag #AvatarVinylSweepstakes during the Sweepstakes Period in order to obtain one (1) entry into the Sweepstakes. Limit of

one (1) unique entry per person/Instagram account/household during the Sweepstakes Period on each of the participating Instagram accounts (@avatarthelastairbender and @denofgeek). Each Participant must submit his/her own entry. Automated posts or posts sent via a bot will be disqualified. All entries submitted in accordance with these Official Rules shall be hereinafter referred to individually as an “Eligible Entry” and collectively as the “Eligible Entries”. In the event of a dispute over who submitted a winning online entry, the authorized subscriber of the Instagram account, as applicable, used to participate in the Sweepstakes at the actual time of entry will be deemed to be the Participant. The authorized account subscriber is defined as the natural person who is assigned an Instagram account by Instagram. The Potential Winner (as defined below) may be required to show proof of being the authorized account holder to the Sponsor or forfeit the Prize. Multiple Participants are not permitted to share the same Instagram account. All entries become the property of Sponsor and will not be acknowledged or returned. All entries must comply with Instagram’s Terms of Service and rules available at the Instagram Web Site. Entries must not include personal information or profane or obscene language as solely determined by Sponsor. Any attempt to obtain entries in excess of the limit on entries as set forth in these Official Rules, including by using or creating multiple Instagram accounts; by using multiple and/or different identities, forms, or registrations; or by any other methods, will void all of the relevant Participant’s entries, and that Participant may be disqualified at Sponsor’s discretion. Important note: If your Instagram account is set to “protected mode,” your updates/responses may not be visible in the @avatarthelastairbender or @denofgeek inboxes and may not be received by Sponsor unless you previously consented to permit Sponsor to see the Instagram updates. Normal Internet access, phone, and usage charges imposed by your online or phone service may apply.

If you opt to use Instagram via your wireless mobile device (which may only be available via participating wireless carriers and is not required to enter the Sweepstakes), standard text messaging and/or data rates may apply for each message sent or received from your handset according to the terms and conditions of your service agreement with your wireless carrier. Other charges may apply (such as normal airtime and carrier charges) and may appear on your mobile phone bill or be deducted from your prepaid account balance. Wireless carriers' rate plans may vary, and you should contact your wireless carrier for more information on messaging rate plans and charges relating to your participation in this Sweepstakes. Participation in this Sweepstakes by mobile device means that you understand that you may receive additional messages by mobile device relating to this Sweepstakes, including notifying you if you are a Prize winner, which may be subject to charges pursuant to your carrier's rate plan. Mobile device service may not be available in all areas. Check your phone’s capabilities for specific instructions.

6. Prize Winner Selection/Notification: Five (5) potential Prize winners (each a “Potential Winner”, collectively the “Potential Winners”) will be randomly selected on or around December 23, 2023, by Sponsor from the Eligible Entries received during the Sweepstakes Period. Sponsor will make one (1) attempt on or around December 23, 2023, to contact the Potential Winners via Instagram Direct Message from @avatarthelastairbender. If a Potential Winner does not respond within eight (8) days of being contacted, such Potential Winner will be disqualified and an alternate Potential Winner will be selected through a random drawing from among the remaining Eligible Entries received. This process will be repeated until a Potential Winner responds, if time permits. Sponsor reserves the right to not award the Prize if Sponsor is unable to successfully contact and confirm the eligibility of a Potential Winner after five (5) alternate drawings for a specific Potential Winner slot.

7. Prize Winner, Verification: In order for a Potential Winner to be deemed an official winner of the Sweepstakes (each a “Winner”, collectively the “Winners”), he/she must prove eligibility, including, without limitation, proof of age and residence, within forty-eight (48) hours of being notified as the Potential Winner. In the event of non-compliance by the Potential Winner, such Potential Winner shall be disqualified and all privileges otherwise due as the Potential Winner shall be terminated and an alternative Potential Winner will be chosen through a random drawing from among the remaining Eligible Entries received during the Sweepstakes Period in accordance with the process set forth in Section 6 above. Each Potential Winner may be required to sign within forty-eight (48) hours of receipt of the following documents from Sponsor: (a) an affidavit of eligibility and release of Sweepstakes Entities and its respective officers, directors, employees, agents and members (“Releasees”), from any and all liability, loss, claims, demands, and causes of action for personal injury and/or damage, theft, loss, or any other harm suffered in connection with this Sweepstakes or the use/misuse or acceptance of a Prize, as applicable, or any portion thereof to be eligible for a Prize; (b) except where prohibited by law, a publicity release granting Sweepstakes Entities the right to use the Potential Winner’s name, Instagram username and likeness for advertising and publicity purposes without additional compensation; and, (c) any other documentation required by Sponsor, including a W9 tax form and Potential Winner’s social security number for tax purposes (collectively, the “Releases”). Entry into this Sweepstakes constitutes agreement to sign such Releases. Each Potential Winner must also acknowledge that Sponsor has not and will not obtain or provide insurance of any kind relating to the Prize and that such Potential Winner will be responsible for obtaining and paying for any life, travel, accident,

property or other form of insurance relating to the Prize, if applicable. Each Potential Winner must also complete any additional legal documents provided by Sponsor (or third party on its behalf, if applicable) with respect to the Prize and return them as instructed within the time frame specified by Sponsor or such Potential Winner may forfeit the Prize at Sponsor’s sole discretion. Failure to return all such documents and comply with the aforementioned deadline, noncompliance with these Official Rules or the return of any Prize or Prize notification will result in disqualification and selection of an alternate Potential Winner. All decisions of the Sponsor relating to the Sweepstakes are final. Sponsor expressly reserves the right to delay the announcement of the Winners for creative or technical reasons or for any other reason Sponsor deems necessary.

8. Prizes (5): Five (5) prizes (each a “Prize”, collectively the “Prizes”) are available to be awarded in this Sweepstakes. Each Prize consists of one (1) “Avatar: The Last Airbender – Book 1: Water (Music from the Animated Series)” vinyl soundtrack album autographed by the composer, Jeremy Zuckerman. The total approximate retail value (“ARV”) of each Prize is $39.99, the total ARV for all Prizes is $199.95.

9. General Prize Terms: All federal, state and local taxes (if any), and any other costs and expenses associated with the Prize not specifically provided for in these Official Rules, are solely the applicable Winner’s responsibility. Sweepstakes Entities are not responsible for any mechanical difficulties or failure connected with the Prize, or any act or omission whatsoever. No transfer, substitution, or cash equivalent for the Prize is allowed except at Sponsor’s sole discretion. Sponsor reserves the right in its sole and absolute discretion, to substitute the Prize or any Prize component with a prize of equal or greater value if a Prize component cannot be awarded as described for any reason. The Prize is non-transferable and may not be given, bartered, substituted, sold, or exchanged for cash or another prize. Unused components of the Prize have no redeemable cash value. Any difference between the ARV and the actual value, if any, of any Prize component will not be awarded. In the event that the Potential Winner chooses not to accept his/her Prize, or is unable to be notified, an alternate Potential Winner will be randomly selected from all of the remaining Eligible Entries received during the Sweepstakes Period, if time permits.

10. General Terms: Receipt of a Prize in this Sweepstakes is conditioned upon compliance with any and all applicable federal, state and local laws, rules, and regulations. Noncompliance with any of these Official Rules may result in disqualification. ANY VIOLATION OF THESE OFFICIAL RULES BY A WINNER OR ANY BEHAVIOR BY A WINNER THAT WILL BRING SUCH WINNER OR SWEEPSTAKES ENTITIES INTO DISREPUTE (IN SPONSOR’S SOLE DISCRETION) WILL RESULT IN SUCH WINNER’S DISQUALIFICATION AS A WINNER OF THE SWEEPSTAKES AND ALL PRIVILEGES AS A WINNER, AS APPLICABLE, WILL BE IMMEDIATELY TERMINATED. Entries generated by a script, computer programs, macro, programmed, robotic or other automated means will be disqualified. Entries that are incomplete, illegible, corrupted, false, lost, late or misdirected, deceptive or otherwise not in compliance with the Official Rules may be disqualified from the Sweepstakes at Sponsor's sole and absolute discretion. Proof of sending or submission of entry will not be deemed proof of receipt by Sponsor. If, for any reason, the Sweepstakes is not capable of running as planned, including, without limitation, unauthorized intervention, fraud, or any other causes beyond the control of Sponsor which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of this Sweepstakes, Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Sweepstakes. Should the Sweepstakes be terminated prior to the stated expiration date, a Prize may be awarded to a Winner to be selected from among all Eligible Entries received up until and or after (if applicable) the time of modification, cancellation or termination or in a manner that is fair and equitable as determined by Sponsor. All interpretations of these Official Rules and decisions by Sponsor are final. CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY ANY INDIVIDUAL TO DELIBERATELY UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE SWEEPSTAKES IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH INDIVIDUAL TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. THE NEW YORK COURTS (STATE AND FEDERAL) SHALL HAVE SOLE JURISDICTION OF ANY CONTROVERSIES REGARDING THE SWEEPSTAKES AND THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN THE SWEEPSTAKES. EACH PARTICIPANT WAIVES ANY AND ALL OBJECTIONS TO JURISDICTION AND VENUE IN THESE COURTS AND HEREBY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF THOSE COURTS. Participants agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Sweepstakes Entities from any and all liability resulting or arising from the Sweepstakes, to release all rights to bring any claim, action or proceeding against Sweepstakes Entities, and hereby acknowledge that Sweepstakes Entities have neither made nor is in any manner responsible or liable for any warranty, representation or guarantee, express or implied, in fact or in law, relative to the Prize. Sponsor’s failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.

11. Release and Limitations of Liability: By participating in this Sweepstakes, each Participant agrees (and agrees to affirm in writing) that the Sweepstakes Entities and their respective employees, officers, directors, agents, contractors, members, and representatives (the “Released Parties”) are not responsible for: (i) any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by Participants, printing errors or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Sweepstakes; (ii) technical failures of any kind, including, but not limited to malfunctions, interruptions, or disconnections in phone lines or network hardware or software; (iii) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Sweepstakes; (iv) technical or human error which may occur in the administration of the Sweepstakes or the processing of entries; or (v) any injury or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from Participant’s participation in the Sweepstakes or receipt or use or misuse of the Prize. No more than the stated number of prizes will be awarded.

BY PARTICIPATING IN THIS SWEEPSTAKES, EACH PARTICIPANT AGREES THAT THE RELEASED PARTIES WILL HAVE NO LIABILITY WHATSOEVER FOR, AND SHALL BE HELD HARMLESS BY PARTICIPANTS AGAINST, ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY INJURIES, LOSSES OR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND TO PERSONS, INCLUDING PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH, OR PROPERTY RESULTING IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, FROM ACCEPTANCE, POSSESSION, MISUSE, OR USE OF THE PRIZE, ENTRY, OR PARTICIPATION IN THIS SWEEPSTAKES OR IN ANY SWEEPSTAKES RELATED ACTIVITY, OR ANY CLAIMS BASED ON PUBLICITY RIGHTS, DEFAMATION OR INVASION OF PRIVACY, ACCESS TO AND USE OF ANY INTERNET SITE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SWEEPSTAKES OR THE DOWNLOADING FROM AND/OR PRINTING MATERIAL DOWNLOADED FROM SAID SITE, OR MERCHANDISE DELIVERY. THE RELEASED PARTIES ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE IF THE PRIZE CANNOT BE AWARDED DUE TO ACTS OF GOD, ACTS OF WAR OR TERRORISM, NATURAL DISASTERS OR WEATHER EVENTS.

WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, EVERYTHING REGARDING THIS SWEEPSTAKES, INCLUDING ALL PRIZE COMPONENETS, ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. SOME JURISDICTIONS MAY NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES, SO SOME OF THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY. CHECK LOCAL LAWS FOR ANY RESTRICTIONS OR LIMITATIONS REGARDING THESE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS.

12. Publicity. EXCEPT WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW, THE WINNER GRANTS TO SPONSOR (WHICH GRANT WILL BE CONFIRMED IN WRITING ON REQUEST OF SPONSOR), ITS PARENT, SUBSIDIARIES, AFFILIATES, AGENTS (INCLUDING ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION AGENCIES), CONTRACTORS, SUPPLIERS, AND THOSE ACTING PURSUANT TO ITS AUTHORITY, THE RIGHT AND PERMISSION TO PRINT, PUBLISH, BROADCAST, AND USE, WORLDWIDE IN ANY MEDIA NOW KNOWN OR HEREAFTER DEVELOPED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WORLD WIDE WEB, AT ANY TIME OR TIMES, SUCH WINNER’S NAME, INSTAGRAM USERNAMES, PORTRAIT, PICTURE, VOICE, LIKENESS, AND BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION FOR ADVERTISING, TRADE, AND PROMOTIONAL PURPOSES (INCLUDING THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF HIS OR HER NAME OR INSTAGRAM USERNAMES ON TELEVISION OR RADIO BROADCAST) WITHOUT ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATION, COMPENSATION, PERMISSION, OR NOTIFICATION. PARTICIPANTS AGREE THAT SPONSOR SHALL OWN THE ENTRIES, WHICH WILL NOT BE ACKNOWLEDGED OR RETURNED, AND THAT SPONSOR AND ITS DESIGNEES SHALL HAVE THE PERPETUAL, WORLDWIDE RIGHT TO EDIT, PUBLISH, AND USE THE ENTRIES IN ANY WAY AND IN ANY MEDIA FOR TRADE, ADVERTISING, PROMOTIONAL, AND/OR OTHER PURPOSES AS SPONSOR AND/OR ITS DESIGNEES MAY DETERMINE WITHOUT FURTHER CONSIDERATION TO PARTICIPANTS OR ANY THIRD PARTY.

13. Governing Law/ Jurisdiction. THE NEW YORK COURTS (STATE AND FEDERAL) SHALL HAVE SOLE JURISDICTION OF ANY CONTROVERSIES REGARDING THE SWEEPSTAKES AND THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (AS DISTINGUISHED FROM THE CHOICE OF LAW RULES) SHALL GOVERN THE SWEEPSTAKES. EACH PARTICIPANT WAIVES ANY AND ALL OBJECTIONS TO JURISDICTION AND VENUE IN THESE COURTS AND HEREBY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF THOSE COURTS. Except where prohibited, as a condition of participating in this Sweepstakes, each Participant agrees that any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Sweepstakes, the Prize awarded, or the determination of the Winner shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action. Each Participant further agrees that in any cause of action, the Sweepstakes Entities’ entire liability will be limited to the cost of entering and participating in the Sweepstakes, and in no event shall the Sweepstakes Entities be liable for attorneys' fees and/or experts' fees and costs. Each Participant waives the right to claim any damages whatsoever, including, but not limited to, punitive, consequential, direct, or indirect damages and participant further waives all rights to have

damages multiplied or increased.

14. Privacy and Use of Information: By entering the Sweepstakes, each Participant agrees that Participant’s entry and any other personally identifiable information collected or used in connection with the Sweepstakes is subject to and may be used by Sponsor in accordance with its Privacy Policy, as posted on www.paramountprivacy.com/policy.

15. Request for Names of Winners, Official Rules or General Inquiries: For general inquiries regarding the Sweepstakes, the name of the Winners and/or a copy of the Official Rules, send a self-addressed stamped envelope by February 23, 2024 to: “Avatar Vinyl Sweepstakes” c/o Nickelodeon Social Marketing, 1515 Broadway, Floor #39, New York, NY 10036. Please note on the front left-hand corner of your outer envelope whether you are requesting “Official Rules” or the name of the “Winners.”

©2023 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. Nickelodeon, Avatar: The Last Airbender and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

In response to reporting about an innocent Black woman misidentified as a criminal suspect by facial recognition software and arrested in Michigan, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey on Monday demanded federal legislation he first proposed years ago.

The New York Times detailed Sunday that Porcha Woodruff was eight months pregnant and getting her daughters ready for school in February when members of the Detroit Police Department (DPD) arrested her for alleged robbery and carjacking. The 32-year-old was held at the Detroit Detention Center for 11 hours, after which she required hospital treatment for dehydration. The case against her was dismissed, but on Thursday she filed suit against the city and Detective Officer LaShauntia Oliver in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

"In the warrant affidavit, Detective Oliver omitted the fact that [Woodruff's] facial recognition was eight years old, and [Woodruff's] recent driver's license photo was available," the suit states, according toThe Detroit News. "[Oliver] deliberately omitted facts because the magistrate would have possibly denied the warrant. The omitted facts were material in finding probable cause to obtain a warrant affidavit for [Woodruff's] arrest."

Responding on social media, Markey (D-Mass.) said: "Unacceptable. Facial recognition frequently misidentifies vulnerable and marginalized people. We need to pass my bill to prohibit the use of biometric technologies by federal entities and law enforcement so that people like Porcha aren't wrongly accused."

@chrisdornerfanclub @nerdymouse

Former Spokane NAACP President Nkechi Diallo — better known as Rachel Dolezal, a white woman who identified as Black — has been fired from a teaching gig in Arizona.

Dolezal, 46, was employed as an after-school instructor with the Catalina Foothills School District in Tucson, but lost her job at Sunrise Drive Elementary after local news station KVOA revealed she had posted explicit content to an OnlyFans page.

"We only learned of Ms. Nkechi Diallo's Only Fans social media posts yesterday afternoon. Her posts are contrary to our district's ‘Use of Social Media by District Employees’ policy (attached) and our staff ethics policy. She is no longer employed by the Catalina Foothills School District," Julie Farbarik, the district's director of alumni & community relations, told KVOA on Wednesday.

Dolezal made national headlines in 2015 after her claims of being an African-American were debunked by her own parents, who said she had Czech, German and Swedish ancestry. She resigned as head of her local NAACP chapter in Spokane, Wash., amid the controversy and was dismissed from her position as an instructor for Africana studies at Eastern Washington University.

‘TRANSRACIAL’ RACHEL DOLEZAL WHINES THAT SHE CAN'T GET A JOB

She was also ousted from Spokane's volunteer police ombudsman commission amid allegations that she acted improperly and violated government rules, the Guardian reported.

In 2019, Dolezal reached a settlement with the state of Washington, which had accused her of welfare fraud. She was required to pay restitution and complete 120 hours of community service.

Dolezal was still claiming to be Black as recently as 2021 when she told the "Tamron Hall" show in an interview that she had been unable to secure a job. She said she's "always identified racially as human" but she's found "more of a home in Black culture and the Black community." 

"I’m still the same person I was in May of 2015, I’m still doing the work, I’m still pressing forward, but it has been really tough for sure," she said at the time.

She launched her OnlyFans page later that year, offering content including "Monday Motivation = Gym/Fitness/Squats N Other Stuff" followed by "Wednesday WorkDay = Hair-chair Conversations with my clients + HairTutorials" and "Friday Unwind: I bring the Art, you bring the wine/drinks. Watch me create & discuss my art," the New York Post reported.

But in the years since, Dolezal has posted explicit content on her OnlyFans page, which KVOA reported was shared on public websites. 

NKECHI DIALLO, AKA RACHEL DOLEZAL, REACHES SETTLEMENT IN WELFARE FRAUD CASE

Sunrise Drive Elementary Principal Julie Farbarik emailed parents Wednesday confirming that Dolezal is no longer employed by the school, KVOA reported.

"Yesterday afternoon, we received information that a Sunrise Drive employee had an Only Fans account, which had content that was contrary to our district's staff social media use and ethics policies. That person is no longer employed by the Catalina Foothills School District," the email stated.

"We are committed to maintaining a learning environment where our presence on social media is consistent with our professional obligations."

The Catalina Foothills School District did not immediately respond to a request for comment.