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Hoda Kotb’s First Celebrity Replacements on ‘Today With Jenna & Friends’ Revealed

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Three powerhouse women are stepping into Hoda Kotb’s shoes after the longtime talk show host’s upcoming exit from the Today show. Hoda’s Today With Hoda & Jenna co-host, Jenna Bush Hager, announced the first three celebrity guests who will be joining her in the morning show’s fourth hour beginning on January 13.

Taraji P. Henson, Eva Longoria, and Keke Palmer are kicking off the rotation, Bush Hager confirmed on Monday, January 6. “It’s going to be our month of wonder women,” she told Today viewers of the newly-branded Today With Jenna & Friends. Kotb shared her approval, adding, “You know what that says? Heavy hitter. Home run. Wow. This is a big week.”

Henson will be by Bush Hager’s side for the January 13 show, followed by Longoria and Palmer later that week. Some of the rotating replacements will stay on as co-hosts for a week at a time, while others may only stick around for a day or two.

Jason Merritt/Getty Images for InStyle

Kotb announced in September that she would be leaving Today, which she’s been hosting alongside Savannah Guthrie since 2018. She’s been with NBC News since 1998 and first came to Today as the fourth hour co-host in 2007. In November, NBC announced that Craig Melvin will be Guthrie’s new co-host, while Bush Hager will be joined by a rotation of celebrity guests until a permanent replacement is found.

However, there’s no rush to find someone following Kotb’s final show on Friday, January 10. “Chill out. I feel like our audience deserves the time to get to know a ton of different people, a ton of different backgrounds,” she told Variety in an interview published on Monday, January 6. “We’re hoping to pull up the chairs to all different types of people. I think there will be some surprises for sure. And so, it’s like, when we know, I think we’ll know.”

Talia Parkinson-Jones, the executive producer of Today With Jenna & Friends, added, “We’re in this new version of the show and it’s really Jenna’s dating. We get a chance to meet different people, and we’ll fall in love one day, but until then we’re just having a really good time.”




This story originally appeared on TV Insider

These States Have the Most Private Jet Flights: New Data

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Even though the Big Apple is the richest city in the U.S., with nearly 350,000 millionaires and 60 billionaires, New York State doesn’t even crack the top 10 when it comes to the usage of private jets, according to data from aviation safety company Argus International.

The data, which was analyzed by the travel company Rustic Pathways, calculated the number of private jets in every state per 100,000 residents and found that Alaska was awash in private planes. The state has about 4,996 private jet flights per 100,000 people and recorded 36,650 private jet departures in 2023.

However, it is important to note that Alaska has many areas that are inaccessible by road, which makes airplane travel necessary throughout many parts of the state, according to Travel Alaska.

Related: This Private Jet Company Took Off Thanks to a Simple Philosophy: ‘We Listen to Our Clients’

Wyoming took the No. 2 spot, with 24,263 private jet departures, followed by South Dakota with 26,944.

“America flies more private jets than any other country in the world, with a grand total of 3,123,007 departures in the U.S.,” said Shayne Fitz-Coy, CEO of Rustic Pathways. “From these findings, it is clear America has a private jet addiction.”

Washington D.C. recorded 4,517 private jet flights per 100,000 people in 2023, which would have placed it just below Alaska, but doesn’t qualify for the “state” list.

However, the nearby state of Maryland was last on the list (No. 50) with the least number of private jet departures—only 353 took off per 100,000 people, according to the data.

Though Florida placed No. 8 on the list, the Sunshine State saw the most departures (369,838) and flights per day (1,013).

Shockingly, New York (No. 48) and Connecticut (No. 49) were low on the list. New York flies 472 private jets per 100,000 residents, according to the data, while Connecticut only saw 414 departures per 100,000.

Related: Starbucks’ New CEO Will Have the Use of a Private Jet from California to Seattle Every Week to Meet Its RTO Rules

Here are the top 10 states with the most private jet usage based on population, according to Rustic Pathways:

1. Alaska

Private jet departures per 100,000 people: 4,996
Total private jet flights: 31,446 (86 departures daily)

2. Wyoming

Private jet departures per 100,000 people: 4,173
Total private jet flights: 24,263 (66 departures daily)

3. South Dakota

Private jet departures per 100,000 people: 2,961
Total private jet flights: 26,944 (73 departures daily)

4. Montana

Private jet departures per 100,000 people: 2,954
Total private jet flights: 33,170 (90 departures daily)

5. North Dakota

Private jet departures per 100,000 people: 2,189
Total private jet flights: 17,055 (46 departures daily)

6. Nevada

Private jet departures per 100,000 people: 1,959
Total private jet flights: 62,237 (170 departures daily)

7. Colorado

Private jet departures per 100,000 people: 1,887
Total private jet flights: 110,205 (301 departures daily)

8. Florida

Private jet departures per 100,000 people: 1,663
Total private jet flights: 369,838 (1,013 departures daily)

9. New Mexico

Private jet departures per 100,000 people: 1,643
Total private jet flights: 34,731 (95 departures daily)

10. Idaho

Private jet departures per 100,000 people: 1,622
Total private jet flights: 31,446 (86 departures daily)

Related: Boeing Is Making It Easier to Turn Its Smallest Airliner Into an Enormous Private Jet



This story originally appeared on Entrepreneur

US cyber watchdog says no indication breach at Treasury hit other federal agencies By Reuters

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By Raphael Satter

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. cyber watchdog agency CISA said on Monday there was “no indication” the recently reported breach at the U.S. Treasury Department had affected any other federal agency.

Late last month the U.S. Treasury reported that an unspecified number of computers had been compromised by Chinese hackers following a breach at contractor BeyondTrust, which provides cybersecurity services.

BeyondTrust said last month that a limited number of clients were affected but has not elaborated.

“As the forensic investigation is ongoing, BeyondTrust is unable to confirm the other customers who may or may not have been impacted,” the company said in an email on Monday.

The Washington Post has reported that the hackers breached the U.S. Treasury office that administers economic sanctions, aiming in particular to steal information about Chinese entities that the U.S. government might be considering designating for financial sanctions.

Republican lawmakers have demanded a briefing about the breach, which is the latest in a series of intrusions blamed on Beijing.

Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, has previously described the Treasury hack reports as “irrational” and represented “smear attacks” against China.




This story originally appeared on Investing

More robots and AI than ever before

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CES 2025, the annual tech trade show with the latest gadgets and gizmos, kicked off its media day on Monday in Las Vegas with driverless tractors, a magic skincare mirror, instant hormone tests and more robots than ever before.

The multi-day event, organized by the Consumer Technology Association, welcomed more than 4,500 exhibitors showing off the latest laptops, TVs, wearables and smart home devices — with most featuring artificial intelligence enhancements.

Yukai Engineering introduced Mirumi, a fuzzy robot friend that can latch onto objects. Verge/Instagram

One of the toys garnering the early spotlight was a fuzzy, pastel-colored robot named Mirumi that can latch onto objects and swivel its head to look around. Created by Yukai Engineering, the robot is meant to act like a baby – so if you approach too quickly it will duck away.

Enchanted Tools showed off its orange Mirokai robot, which it hopes can one day help with elderly care in nursing homes or work in hospitality and customer service roles at hotels, food courts and restaurants.

Tombot Inc. brought its hyper-realistic puppy robots to the show, which are made for elderly individuals or those with health issues who can no longer care for a pet but would enjoy the comfort of a companion.

On a more industrial scale, farming giant John Deere rolled out fully autonomous tractors, lawn mowers and dump trucks that seek to solve labor shortages.

Enchanted Tools showed off its orange Mirokai robot, which it aims to implement in nursing homes, hotels and customer service roles. AFP via Getty Images

“When we talk about autonomy, we mean full autonomy,” said Jahmy Hindman, chief technology officer at John Deere. “No one’s in the machine.”

Samsung showed off its latest smart TVs – which have gotten a whole lot brainier thanks to artificial intelligence.

Tombot’s hyper-realistic puppy robots were made for the elderly and those with health issues. AFP via Getty Images

Its new Frame Pro TV, along with its other 2025 televisions, will be enabled with AI features like Click to Search, which allows viewers to seek out more information on anything they are watching. For example, those who see a delicious dish on their screen can simply click the button and AI will produce a recipe for the meal.

John Deere announced its plans to double-down on autonomy with self-driving tractors, lawn mowers and dump trucks. AP

Samsung’s AI-powered TVs also can connect to other smart home devices – providing real-time safety alerts. They can even play a summary of your pet’s bad behavior when you return home.

The South Korean electronics giant also unveiled a magic mirror that can help fine-tune your skincare game.

The Micro LED Beauty Mirror scans your face using AI to analyze your wrinkles, pores, redness and melanin. 

A check mark graphic indicates you’re doing fine, while a red exclamation mark next to a category shows you need improvement – but the mirror immediately recommends a skincare product to take your routine to the next level. For now, the mirror only pushes products from Amorepacific, a leading Korean beauty brand.

Meanwhile, Dell showcased a new computer monitor with a camera that tracks your head movements so it can beam audio directly to your ears – a potential new favorite for gamers.

Samsung revealed its newest TVs, along with AI-powered features for all of its 2025 TVs. AP

As it directs audio toward each of your ears, it will block sound at the opposite ear – the same method used in noise-canceling headphones.

There are also a number of smart devices aimed at improving your health.

Eli Health introduced its Hormometer, a one-step, at-home testing system that can measure your cortisol and progesterone levels. 

The test – which looks similar to a pregnancy or COVID test, with a small window that reads your results – requires a small saliva sample. 

After sticking the cartridge in your mouth for one minute, you can use your phone camera to read the test’s results based on color intensity and patterns. 

Eli’s app then provides personalized recommendations based on your results related to stress, sleep, athletic performance and fertility.



This story originally appeared on NYPost

Biden’s questionable honorees: Letters

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The Issue: Biden awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to George Soros and Hillary Clinton.

Not content with pardoning son Hunter Biden and commuting hard-won federal death sentences, President Biden has now awarded a presidential medal to George Soros (“Megadonor among Joe’s medalists,” Jan. 5).

To be fair, Soros — as a young man — demonstrated incredible courage when escaping almost certain death by the Nazis. But that was a long time ago and Soros has since emerged as a principal sponsor of virtually every far-left cause calculated to undermine our criminal-justice system.

So what is Biden’s rationale for awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Soros? I suspect that, in Biden’s muddled mind, underwriting campaigns of far-left prosecutors is a virtue.

Frankly, the Medal of Freedom, once considered a superlative honor, has become just another meaningless political and celebrity handout.

Mitchell Schwefel

Barnegat, NJ

Biden has not only devalued the US dollar, he has now devalued the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

It’s shameful to place his pals beside the likes of former recipients such as Ralph Bunche, Walt Disney, Henry Ford, T.S. Eliot, Edward R. Murrow, Jesse Owens, Norman Rockwell and countless others who contributed so much to America.

I guess he’s not in a position to offer them Cabinet spots, so he handed out these medals like the kid in class who gives out lollipops on his birthday.

Bo Madden

Jupiter, Fla.

Biden’s Medal of Freedom for Soros should be known as the “Presidential Medal of Destruction” for all the damage Soros has done to cities by helping absurd prosecutors who aided increases in crime and the losses of businesses, jobs and public safety.

And former Sen. Hillary Clinton? She deleted 33,000 emails after they were subpoenaed, then wiped her computer of evidence, impeding an investigation.

Gary Layton

Interlaken, NJ

The only thing that Soros brought to this country was death and misery by funding radical left-wing politicians and district attorneys who refused to prosecute or jail violent criminals.

Big cities across America have seen the mayhem caused by these left-wing ideologies — yet Biden awards the main architect of this misery the Medal of Freedom.

Michael Greaney

Massapequa

These medal recipients are a slap in the face to our country, coming from a bitter man who can’t find his way off the stage and is having his last presidential tantrum by honoring those who tried to take the US down with him.

This reminds me of the ridiculous former President Barack Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize — awarded for nothing. The value of all awards plummets with these kinds of selections.

Liz Muller

Barnegat, NJ

The Democrats, enraptured by a “woke” world, are still wondering why so many were propelled to the polls to vote for President-elect Donald Trump. They should look no further than Biden’s decision to award the Medal of Freedom to Soros.

Matthew Brief

Manhattan

Biden is trying hard to outdo himself in the last days before he wanders out of the White House and into presidential infamy.

Giving Liz Cheney the Presidential Citizens Medal for presiding over the Jan. 6 fiasco was absurd. Hillary Clinton getting the Medal of Freedom was even worse.

But George Soros, really? That’s a step too far.

Rick Meyer

Pinehurst, NC

Rewarding someone like Soros with a Medal of Freedom solidified the notion that Biden is mentally gone.

Putting Soros in the same group as war heroes and undeniable humanitarian leaders is an insult to each one of them.

Betty Schwartz

Livingston, NJ

Biden gave some Medals of Freedom to donors who gave him the most money. So shouldn’t Hunter Biden, who attended the ceremony, have gotten one?

Stephen Beccalori

Douglaston

Want to weigh in on today’s stories? Send your thoughts (along with your full name and city of residence) to letters@nypost.com. Letters are subject to editing for clarity, length, accuracy, and style.



This story originally appeared on NYPost

Are Rollie Pollies (Pill Bugs) Good or bad for Your garden?

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The humble pill bug, also affectionately known as a Rollie Pollie, Roly Poly or woodlouse, is a common sight in gardens worldwide. These little crustaceans with their distinctive ability to curl into a ball are often met with a mix of curiosity and apprehension by gardeners. But are pill bugs beneficial or destructive to our beloved gardens? The answer, like many things in nature, is not a simple one.

Are Rollie Pollies (Pill Bugs) Good or bad for Your garden?

Decomposers at Heart:

Pill bugs are detritivores, meaning they feed on decaying organic matter. This includes fallen leaves, dead plant material, and even animal feces. As they munch their way through this detritus, they play a vital role in the decomposition process. Decomposition is a crucial step in the nutrient cycle, breaking down organic matter into simpler forms that plants can readily absorb. In essence, pill bugs act as nature’s recyclers, helping to return valuable nutrients back to the soil, promoting healthy plant growth.

Benefits Beyond Breakdown:

The advantages of pill bugs extend beyond their role in decomposition. Their burrowing activities help to aerate the soil, improving drainage and allowing for better root development in plants. Additionally, pill bugs contribute to the creation of compost by breaking down organic matter in compost piles, accelerating the composting process.

The Potential for Damage:

While beneficial in many ways, pill bugs can, under certain circumstances, become a nuisance in the garden. They are particularly fond of moist environments and tend to congregate in areas with high levels of organic matter. If populations become large and food sources are scarce, pill bugs can turn their attention to living plants, particularly young, tender seedlings. They may munch on leaves, stems, and even fruits, potentially causing damage to your precious crops.

Signs of a Pill Bug Problem:

How can you tell if pill bugs are becoming a problem in your garden? Look for signs of damage on young plants, such as chewed leaves or missing chunks of stems. You may also notice the presence of pill bugs themselves, particularly in moist areas under mulch or around decaying organic matter.

Keeping Pill Bugs in Check:

There are several ways to manage pill bug populations in your garden and prevent them from becoming a major threat. Here are some tips:

  • Habitat Modification: Reduce the hiding places for pill bugs by removing piles of leaves, debris, and excess mulch around your plants. Aim for a thin layer of mulch (around 2 inches) that allows the soil to breathe.

    Moisture Control: Maintain good drainage in your garden beds to avoid creating overly moist environments that attract pill bugs.

    Natural Predators: Encourage natural predators such as toads, frogs, and certain types of beetles to take up residence in your garden. These creatures will help to keep pill bug populations in check.

    Physical Barriers: Create physical barriers around your seedlings using organic materials like eggshells or coffee grounds. The rough texture and potentially repellent scents may deter pill bugs from feasting on your young plants.

    Trapping: Set traps baited with potatoes, carrots, or other starchy vegetables to attract pill bugs. Collect and dispose of the trapped creatures regularly.

Finding the Balance:

Ultimately, the key to coexisting with pill bugs in your garden is to maintain a healthy balance. These little detritivores offer valuable benefits to your garden’s ecosystem. However, it’s important to be mindful of their potential for damage, particularly to young plants. By implementing preventative measures and controlling populations if necessary, you can ensure that pill bugs remain beneficial friends in your garden, not destructive foes.

Beyond the Garden:

The role of pill bugs extends beyond the garden. They are important players in various ecosystems, including forests, grasslands, and even caves. Their detritivore activities contribute to the breakdown of organic matter in these environments, ensuring the continued health of these ecosystems.

The Future of Pill Bugs:

As research on pill bugs continues, we may discover even more about their ecological significance. Their ability to thrive in diverse environments and their role in decomposition processes make them interesting subjects for scientists studying soil health and nutrient cycling. Understanding the complex relationship between pill bugs and their environment can help us promote sustainable gardening practices and maintain healthy ecosystems.

Conclusion:

Pill bugs are fascinating creatures with a vital role to play in the natural world. While they may occasionally nibble on your garden bounty, the benefits they provide often outweigh the potential for damage. By adopting a balanced approach and understanding their ecological role, you can ensure that rollie pollies remain helpful companions in your garden, contributing to a thriving ecosystem that promotes healthy plant growth.

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This story originally appeared on Mostexpensivething

Planes, trains and third-party risks — a tale of two IT-related shutdowns – Computerworld

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“It took us a while before we could trace it to a firewall issue. It was not one of the obvious causes to look at,” Strachan Stine Smemo, the Bane external communications manager, said in an email to Computerworld. “It was tricky to find the problem.”

Bane’s team opted against changing any firewall settings and instead — as a temporary measure — switched communications to a different firewall. (They later changed the impacted components, Smemo said.)

Arild Nybrodahl, Bane’s information and communications technology director, said his team detected “system instability” on Christmas Eve, which is when “troubleshooting efforts were initiated.” Things didn’t get bad enough to shutdown operations until 8 a.m. the next day, he said. 



This story originally appeared on Computerworld

Roborock’s new flagship robot vacuum has an arm that can grab small objects

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Robot vacuums can remove the dust and dirt on your floor, but you still have to pick up stray socks and and any item strewn about your home. Now Roborock, a Chinese company that manufactures robot vacuums and other household cleaning appliances, has unveiled a new model that can pick up small objects so you don’t have to. The Roborock Saros Z70 has a foldable robotic arms that the company calls the “OmniGrip.” It has five axis and can lift objects under 300 grams like socks, light sandals and small dog toys to put them away.

Apparently, the AI-powered vacuum marks objects it can lift while going about cleaning the floor and then circles back to pick them up when it’s done. It then cleans the areas underneath the objects during its second pass. The OmniGrip uses its equipped precision sensors, camera and LED light to determine its position and whether an item is too heavy to pick up.

Engadget got a brief demo of the arm in action during CES 2025, and the Saros Z70 was able to lift up socks and place them in a basket. The unit we saw was a pre-production model that was running on a pre-programmed route in a hotel suite, so the vacuum may perform differently inside an actual home. A Roborock rep said the vacuum that goes on sale will be able to automatically recognize 108 different objects, with the option to add up to 50 custom objects.

Before you can use it, you will have to activate the arm through the Roborock app, where you can also set what kind of objects it can interact with and where they should be placed. While not quite Rosey the Robot, Saros Z70 has the potential to make tidying up a lot easier. And it’s not just a prototype — Roborock is planning to make it available for purchase this year.

In addition to Saros 270, Roborock has also launched two more robot vacuums, a lineup of handheld wetdry vacuum cleaners, as well as three all-in-one washer-dryers. It will be showcasing its home cleaning products at CES this year.

Update January 6, 2025, 2:25 PM PT: This post has been updated to add additional photos, video and impressions from a demo at CES.

Additional reporting by Karissa Bell.



This story originally appeared on Engadget

Trump Throws A Fit, But Still Hasn’t Figured Out That Biden Outsmarted Him

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This really isn’t fair.

Joe Biden has more than half a century of experience governing at the federal level. Donald Trump technically has four years, but given that during his first stint in the White House, Trump spent more time on the golf course than guiding legislation through Congress, Biden has a major experience and intellectual advantage that he is putting to use during his final days in office.

Trump angrily posted on Truth Social, “Biden is doing everything possible to make the TRANSITION as difficult as as possible, from Lawfare such as has never been seen before, to costly and ridiculous Executive Orders on the Green New Scam and other money wasting Hoaxes. Fear not, these “Orders” will all be terminated shortly, and we will become a Nation of Common Sense and Strength. MAGA!!!”

Apparently, what triggered Trump was Biden’s use of a 1953 law to ban the expansion of offshore drilling in US waters.

Trump thinks that he can overturn the order when takes office, as I wrote in The Daily, he can’t, “On the issue of offshore drilling, it could take years for the matter to work its way to the Supreme Court and for the court to rule on the Biden ban. Even if the court overturned it, Trump could be on his way out of office before it happened, and the next Democratic president could reinstitute the Biden ban. There aren’t enough votes for it in the House and Senate to reverse a Biden ban, so it looks like this move by Biden will screw up a big part of the Trump agenda.”

The law has no provision to reverse Biden’s order. Trump can try to issue an executive order reversing Biden’s order, but his administration will be immediately sued and likely lose in court because Biden got a record number of federal judges confirmed during his term. Plus, this matter was already litigated during Barack Obama’s second term, so Trump will have an uphill battle at best.

Donald Trump remains ten steps behind.

Joe Biden outsmarted Donald Trump, but the president-elect doesn’t even know it yet.

What do you think about Biden outsmarting Trump? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Leave a comment



This story originally appeared on Politicususa

JUST IN: Judge Finds Rudy Giuliani in Contempt of Court, Agrees to Impose Sanctions in Case Related to Georgia Election Workers | The Gateway Pundit

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Rudy Giuliani

A federal judge on Monday held Rudy Giuliani in contempt of court in a defamation case related to Georgia election workers.

The judge held Rudy in contempt for allegedly slow-rolling efforts to turn over assets to the election workers.

“U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman also agreed to impose sanctions, which he said he will decide on later,” MSNBC reported.

“Discovery is not supposed to be a shell game where the hidden ball is moved around and around,” Judge Liman said while announcing his ruling Monday, according to MSNBC.

Last Friday Rudy Giuliani told the judge that he was not purposely withholding his assets, but certain items and valuables are missing or unable to be located.

In October Judge Liman ordered Rudy Giuliani to turn over a large amount of his valuables and his Manhattan apartment to a receivership that will be controlled by Plaintiffs related to a defamation judgment against him related to his claims about 2020 election fraud.

A DC jury previously decided that Giuliani should pay $148 million in damages.

Judge Lewis Liman, a Trump appointee, said Giuliani must turn over his interest in the New York property to the Plaintiffs so it can be sold.

According to Bloomberg, Giuliani listed $500 million in debts and between $1 million and $10 million in assets in a previous bankruptcy filing.

Giuliani was also ordered to turn over special mementos, luxury watches and gifts he received after the September 11 terror attacks.

“In addition to the Trump campaign fees and the New York apartment, Giuliani must also turn over a collection of several watches, including ones given to him by European presidents after the September 11, 2001, attacks; a signed Joe DiMaggio jersey and other sports memorabilia; and a 1980 Mercedes once owned by the Hollywood star Lauren Bacall. Additionally, the judge ordered that Giuliani turn over his television, items of furniture and jewelry,” CNN reported.

The defamation suit was related to Giuliani’s statements about surveillance video from the State Farm Arena tabulation center on election night in 2020.

Judge Beryl Howell unilaterally decided that Rudy Giuliani was guilty of defamation after he was late turning in a financial statement in the case.

The judge has not made a decision on Giuliani’s Palm Beach, Florida condo or his four New York Yankees World Series rings.



This story originally appeared on TheGateWayPundit