>>6582600 (pb)
https://www.moonofalabama.org/images8/Engineering-assessment-of-two-cylinders-observed-at-the-Douma-incident-27-February-2019-1.pdf
Disgraced Chef Mario Batali Charged With Indecent Assault And Battery For Kissing, Groping Woman
Disgraced celebrity chef Mario Batali has been formally charged with indecent assault and battery based on accusations that he groped and kissed a woman against her will in a Boston restaurant in 2017. Batali pleaded "not guilty" to the charges at his arraignment in Boston on Friday, according to The Wrap. Batali reportedly ignored questions as he walked into the Boston Municipal Court.
His accuser was named as Natali Tene, who said that during a visit to the since-closed Towne Stove and Spirits on Boylston Street in 2017, Batali noticed her taking a photo of him and told her to "come here now", before offering to take a picture with her. Tene then alleges that a drunk Batali "put his arm around her and grabbed her breast" before grabbing her buttocks, touching her groin over her clothing and holding her face while kissing her on the cheek and mouth. The incident report said: "The victim realized Batali was intoxicated by the smell and half closed eyes." Tene's lawsuit says that Batali's alleged actions were "dehumanizing" and "humiliating." Tene said she "was uncomfortable and it was shocking to her that this was happening," before Batali invited her back to the Mandarin Oriental hotel, where he was staying. She declined. Tene's lawyer said: "The criminal charges brought against him are independent of the ongoing civil lawsuit. Mr. Batali must be held accountable criminally and civilly for his despicable acts. Natali is grateful that the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office in Boston has chosen to go forward in prosecuting Mario Batali on criminal charges of sexually assaulting her. In doing so, the DA’s Office has taken a strong stance in advocating on behalf of our client."
Anthony Fuller, an attorney for Batali said: “Mr. Batali denies the allegations in both this criminal complaint and the civil complaint filed last August. The charges, brought by the same individual without any new basis, are without merit. He intends to fight the allegations vigorously and we expect the outcome to fully vindicate Mr. Batali.” When accused with sexual assault back in December of 2017, Batali had commented: “Much of the behavior described does, in fact, match up with ways I have acted. That behavior was wrong and there are no excuses.” After 60 Minutes did a report on Batali in May 2018, the NYPD opened a criminal investigation into accusations made against him.
Back in March we reported that Batali, amidst a chorus of sexual harassment and assault allegations, had given up his stake in all of his restaurants. The chef's ongoing 20 year partnership with the Bastianich family of restaurateurs was "formally dissolved" earlier this year, about 12 months after sexual harassment and assault allegations surfaced. The "Batali & Bastianich Hospitality Group" has been dissolved. According to Tanya Bastianich Manuali, who was set to head up the new company taking the place of Batali's former partnership, Batali “will no longer profit from the restaurants in any way, shape or form.” Bastianich Manuali and her brother bought out Batali's shares for undisclosed terms. The new company is now heading up the group's 16 restaurants under a new management and financial structure. Batali said back in March: “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 also sold his stake in Eataly, a chain of luxury Italian supermarkets, that he was an investor in. Chris Giglio said on behalf of Eataly in March: “Eataly is in the process of acquiring Mr. Batali’s minority interest in Eataly USA.” During its heyday, the "Batali & Bastianich Hospitality Group" was made up of dozens of restaurants and food businesses located not just in the US, but also in Singapore, Italy and Hong Kong. Restaurants like Babbo and Del Posto were responsible for helping lift Batali to his celebrity status. Investments from California chef Nancy Silverton and Lidia Bastianich, Mr. Bastianich’s mother, helped give the operation even more gravitas as it grew.
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-05-24/disgraced-chef-mario-batali-charged-indecent-assault-and-battery-kissing-groping
Judge partially blocks Trump’s border wall plan, bars use of DOD funds
A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction Friday that partially bars President Trump’s plan to assemble a border wall along the United States-Mexico border. U.S. District Court Judge Haywood Gilliam’s ruling also blocks the administration from tapping into $1 billion of Pentagon funds to construct the border wall and restricts construction to only certain portions of Texas and Arizona.
“The case is not about whether the challenged border barrier construction plan is wise or unwise. It is not about whether the plan is the right or wrong policy response to existing conditions at the southern border of the United States,” Haywood wrote. “Instead, this case presents strictly legal questions regarding whether the proposed plan for funding border barrier construction exceeds the Executive Branch’s lawful authority under the Constitution and a number of statutes duly enacted by Congress,” he wrote.
The Pentagon approved allocating $1 billion for the U.S Army Corps of Engineers to support the Homeland Security Department and Customs and Border Protection in constructing part of a border wall. The funds were designated to build 57 miles of 18-feet-high pedestrian fencing, and to construct and improve roads.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/judge-partially-blocks-trumps-border-wall-plan-bars-use-of-dod-funds
Can't imagine women fawning over him, he looks like a slob.
Giuliani met with former Ukrainian diplomat as he pursues info on Democratic ties to Ukraine
President Trump’s attorney Rudy Giuliani met with a former Ukrainian diplomat in New York last week, according to a new report. Giuliani spent the afternoon with Andrii Telizhenko, 28, who has accused the Democratic National Committee of conspiring with Kiev to find damaging information on former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort. The DNC has rejected his allegations. “He was in Washington and he came up to New York, and we spent most of the afternoon together,” Giuliani told the Washington Post.
But Giuliani was tight-lipped when asked for details. “I can’t tell you a thing about the meeting,” he said. “When I have something to say, I’ll say it.” Telizhenko confirmed he met with Giuliani. “We spoke on U.S.-Ukraine relations and politics in D.C. and Ukraine,” he said.
Giuliani called off a trip to Ukraine this month where he wanted to learn more details about the genesis of the federal Russia investigation, and Joe Biden’s son’s ties to an energy company owned by a Ukrainian oligarch. The trip faced pushback from the State Department, and a senior administration official said Trump viewed the trip as too “hot.” It raised questions regarding what capacity Giuliani was serving the president, even though Giuliani said Ukraine was notified he was representing Trump in a personal capacity and not on behalf of the administration. Giuliani has said he still wants to dig up information on Democrats’ connections to Ukraine.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/giuliani-met-with-former-ukrainian-diplomat-as-he-pursues-info-on-democratic-ties-to-ukraine