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1,000 people in primary Georgia, face 10 years in prison, $100,000 in fines
Georgia: Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger revealed on Tuesday, a crime he promised to prosecute, as many as a 1,000 Georgians voted twice in the primary state of 9 June.
“A double voter knows precisely what they are doing by diluting the votes of each and every voting citizen following the rule,” said the Atlanta Journal-Constitution at the Capitol State press conference. “Those who want to play the game violate the rule. And I would not allow it as the Secretary of State. Double voting is punishable in jail for one to 10 years and a fine of up to 100,000 dollars.
Raffensperger said that the electorate did not vote, but also voted in person. Double votes were found in a post-primary test. Around 150,000 people “who asked for absentee ballots, mostly because they never got absentee voting by mail or chose to vote directly,” reported the AJC in the polls on the election day. “These 1,000 voters returned their absentee votes to county electoral offices and also were permitted to vote in person by poll workers.”
Raffensperger said that the double votes did not change the results of either contest.
As Democrats press for a national vote by mail where votes are sent to all eligible voters, there are further mentions of the system ‘s problems. For example, last month a man in California accused his dead mother of voting fraudulently in three separate elections.
In July, Caesar Peter Abutin was charged with a fraud count and a false count. From 2012 to 2014, he pleaded guilty to election fraud by mail, using his late mother’s votes, who died in July 2006, according to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office. The DA office said he signed his mother’s name while applying for voting by mail.
President Donald Trump warned last month that “the United States would never have fair” presidential elections if universal mail-in votes are allowed.
“I’m going to tell you if you go for a compulsory mail-in […] tens of millions of ballots to people and pets, pets get them, all right? You have to see what is happening to people who have been dead for 25 years. Then you never can have a fair election, “Trump said in an interview with Fox News.
Trump also expressed support for expanding voting to include the weekend before election day and adding more voting stalls to reduce crowding. “I’d help it all. That’s what you want to do, “said Trump. “I’d be opening more polling stations.”
And the president also said that he’s all right with the absent vote. “I support that entirely,” Trump answered. “That’s something amazing.”
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Phil Jurkovec to start at quarterback for Pitt against Virginia Tech
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Matchday 35: What to know, how to watch on MLS Season Pass

The more things change, the more they stay the same.
With only four matchdays left in the 2023 season (and a few makeup games sprinkled in), the logjam between 2nd and 13th in the Western Conference standings is as tight as ever. Meanwhile, two distinct Eastern Conference races – one for a top-four spot, the other for Wild Card places – remain wide open.
Amid the standings tug-of-war, a few teams have made substantial gains in the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs race.
Western Conference: The Portland Timbers were languishing around 12th place in the West at the end of August. A 5W-0L-1D record since then has seen them climb above both the playoff line and the Wild Card spots.
Eastern Conference: A top-four finish looked like a distant hope for Atlanta United, but a 2W-0L-2D run in September has reignited home-field advantage aspirations. Given their current form, no team will want to see a road fixture at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on their playoff schedule.
Atlanta United are the lone team on a bye in Matchday 35.
Inter Miami CF vs. New York City FC
Yup, Inter Miami make the “Big Three” again. It’s not just big-name bias, though – at least, not entirely.
Since integrating their bevy of summer signings – led by Lionel Messi and his ex-FC Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba – the Herons have posted a stellar 9W-2L-4D record in regulation time across all competitions. That’s a blistering 2.07 points-per-game pace, which is on par with FC Cincinnati’s league-leading total (and Cincy still can set the all-time MLS points record by season’s end).
Add in a dramatic chase to climb above the playoff line and Tata Martino’s squad is essentially must-watch TV until they become mathematically eliminated. Speaking of those big names, Martino said Messi is “game to game” and he expects him to play before the regular season ends.
NYCFC are among the teams in direct competition with Miami for a final Wild Card spot, making this as close to a must-win as you can get before Decision Day.
Toronto FC vs. FC Cincinnati
When a trophy is on the line, that pretty much automatically puts a match in the “Big Three,” even when it’s one of the few with almost no chance of affecting the playoff picture.
Toronto FC are already mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, and FC Cincinnati have all but locked up the East’s No. 1 overall seed. But the intrigue stems from the Supporters’ Shield, which is given to the best regular-season team each year.
Cincinnati can lock up the Shield with a win over the East’s last-place team (full scenarios), and doing so would mean securing the club’s first title of their MLS tenure and creating an ultra-cathartic moment for fans who endured three-straight Wooden Spoon (last place in the league) seasons from 2019-21.
History can be made in Toronto.
St. Louis CITY SC vs. Sporting Kansas City
More history! St. Louis CITY SC can become the first expansion team to earn their conference’s No. 1 seed on Saturday. The West leaders need to beat Sporting Kansas City and have LAFC lose or draw against Real Salt Lake and have Seattle Sounders FC lose or draw against Nashville SC.
That’s a lot of “and” statements, but the good news for St. Louis is they’ve got two games after this to wrap up the West.
Still, it doesn’t get much sweeter than making history in front of a raucous home crowd at the expense of bitter rivals. Even more, dealing SKC a loss would put them in a serious hole beneath the playoff line.
Let’s see if St. Louis’ fairytale season continues.
Columbus Crew vs. Philadelphia Union
If the race for the top four (and guaranteed home-field advantage through Round 1) in the Eastern Conference is important, then it stands to reason the race for the top two (and guaranteed home-field advantage through the Conference Semifinals) is doubly important.
The Union are in third place at 50 points, one point out of second. The Crew are in fourth place at 49 points, tied on points with the two teams below them. Either club could break into the top two; either club could tumble out of the top four entirely.
New England Revolution vs. Charlotte FC
Fun fact: If the New England Revolution win their game in hand on every team above them in the table, they’d vault back to second place in the Eastern Conference, despite their own internal coaching carousel, key injuries and departures.
Charlotte have a game (or two) in hand on their competition, too. They’re closer to the playoff line than their 13th place in the table would imply.
New York Red Bulls vs. Chicago Fire FC
One of the most underrated center backs in MLS just inked an extension through 2026 with the Red Bulls. That’s especially good news off the back of a 5-3 win that showed RBNY actually can score goals and, maybe, give Andrés Reyes a lead or two to defend.
Orlando City SC vs. CF Montréal
Orlando City have had one of the subtlest glow-ups of the season, already tying their previous MLS points record of 51. Head coach Oscar Pareja deserves his flowers, as does 2023 MLS SuperDraft pick Duncan McGuire, who’s nearly at double-digit goals for the year despite starting the season behind DP striker Ercan Kara (since departed to the Turkish Süper Lig) on the depth chart.
Houston Dynamo FC vs. FC Dallas
Yes, this is a Texas derby. And yes, FC Dallas are in a brutal fight for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Houston Dynamo FC, despite sitting in fourth and winning the US Open Cup midweek, could also feasibly miss out on the postseason if they take a sudden dip.
But forget about all that for a moment and appreciate how far the Dynamo, after a half-decade of underperformance, have progressed in 2023.
Minnesota United FC vs. San Jose Earthquakes
Have Minnesota been brutally unlucky, which their expected goals numbers would imply, or are they just fatally flawed in some way that keeps wins out of their pocket?
A home match against a San Jose team they’ll likely need to surpass to make the playoffs may be one of their last chances to prove it’s the former.
Nashville SC vs. Seattle Sounders FC
The Sounders may have unveiled a new crest this week (launching for 2024), but their tradition of getting hot before the season’s end remains unchanged. Unbeaten in five, a difficult road match against Nashville SC gives them a chance to prove a vintage late-season surge is fully underway.
Colorado Rapids vs. Austin FC
Admittedly, the term “last chance” has been thrown about fairly liberally over the last few matchday “How to Watch” articles. But, for real: If Austin FC can’t get a result over last-place Colorado Rapids, their season may be cooked.
It won’t be literally cooked, thanks to the oft-mentioned Western Conference logjam. But, psychologically speaking, an L in this one would be brutal to take.
LA Galaxy vs. Portland Timbers
Much like Austin FC, the Galaxy have been navigating a high-wire act for weeks now, wherein a loss could spell the end of the road. Unlike Austin, LA have only lost twice in their last 15, which gives more reason to believe they could actually pull off this great escape.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. D.C. United
The Whitecaps did it. They finished a taxing seven-match road stretch (that featured games in four different time zones) with a playoff spot still in hand. Time to recoup against a D.C. United side that’s slipped out of the Eastern Conference’s playoff spots after winning only once in their last nine.
LAFC vs. Real Salt Lake
For the second time in 2023, LAFC just watched a trophy go to a Liga MX side at BMO Stadium. First came the Concacaf Champions League (against Club León in early June), then it was Campeones Cup (against Tigres on Wednesday night).
The Black & Gold have also won just three of their last 13 games in league play. It’s gut-check time in downtown LA.
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Who is Arthur Engoron? Judge weighing future of Donald Trump empire is Ivy League-educated ex-cabbie

NEW YORK (AP) — He’s driven a taxi cab, played in a band and protested the Vietnam War. As a New York City judge, Arthur Engoron has resolved hundreds of disputes, deciding everything from zoning and free speech issues to a custody fight over a dog named “Stevie.”
Now, in the twilight of a distinguished two-decade career on the bench, the erudite, Ivy League-educated judge is presiding over his biggest case yet: deciding the future of former President Donald Trump’s real estate empire.
Last week, Engoron ruled that Trump committed years of fraud by exaggerating his wealth and the value of assets on financial statements he used to get loans and make deals. As punishment, the judge said he would dissolve some of Trump’s companies — a decision that could cause him to lose control of marquee New York properties, like Trump Tower.
Starting Monday, Engoron will preside over a non-jury trial in Manhattan to resolve remaining claims in New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit against Trump, his company and top executives. He will also decide on monetary damages. James’ office is seeking $250 million.
Trump, who is listed as a potential witness and could end up face-to-face with Engoron in court, called the judge’s fraud ruling “the corporate death penalty.” He referred to Engoron as a “political hack” and said his would appeal.
“I have a Deranged, Trump Hating Judge, who RAILROADED this FAKE CASE through a NYS Court at a speed never before seen,” the 2024 Republican frontrunner wrote on his Truth Social platform.
Through a court spokesperson, Engoron has declined to comment on Trump’s barbs. He is barred from commenting to the news media about the case.
Trump typically hasn’t gone to court in the many cases involving his company. He was absent from a criminal trial in which the Trump Organization and one of its top executives was convicted of tax evasion and skipped a civil trial in which he was found responsible for sexually assaulting the writer E. Jean Carroll. But asked Friday if he planned to be at the New York trial, Trump said: “I may. I may.”
Engoron, a Democrat, has ruled repeatedly against Trump in the three years he’s been presiding over James’ lawsuit. He’s forced Trump to sit for a deposition, held him in contempt and fined him $110,000.
Now, Engoron is poised to permanently disrupt the collection of skyscrapers, golf courses and other properties that vaulted Trump to fame and the White House.
At a hearing in the case last Wednesday, the day after his ruling, Engoron offered “a little bit of New York humor” to break the tension. He repeated an oft-told story about a judge who ended up agreeing with everyone who spoke in his courtroom.
Engoron, a fan of puns and pop culture references, routinely turns to humor — even in the gravest of hearings and decisions.
“We certainly can use it today,” Trump lawyer Christopher Kise said.
Engoron, a few years younger than Trump at 74, spent his early years in Queens, about 3.8 miles (6 kilometers) east of the former president’s childhood home.
Engoron’s family later moved to East Williston on Long Island, where he ran track and wrote for the student newspaper at The Wheatley School, a public high school in Old Westbury, New York, and graduated in 1967.
A proud alum, Engoron is the founder and director of the school’s alumni association and writes an online newsletter with news about fellow graduates who’ve nicknamed him the “Mayor of Wheatley.” He even posted a link last year to an article about his involvement in the Trump case.
At the end of one newsletter, he posted a quippy call to action: “Please send me your autobiography before someone else sends me your obituary.”
Engoron first made headlines in 1964, when he and three friends won the grand prize in a “Banner Day” contest where the New York Mets, then just two years into their existence, invited fans to parade across the field carrying banners painted with creative messages about the team.
In an early sign of Engoron’s irreverence, the message was a take off on a popular political quote from the era: “Extremism In Defense Of The Mets Is No Vice.” Engoron was just 15 at the time.
While attending Columbia University in the 1960s, Engoron drove a taxi — a fact he revealed a decade ago while ruling against then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s plan to expand yellow cab service outside New York City. A state appeals court later reversed that decision.
Engoron’s rulings are rife with biographical information, part full-disclosure, part nostalgia. He revealed in one decision that he participated in “huge, sometimes boisterous, Vietnam War protests.” He’s also described himself as a free-speech absolutist and said he’s been a member of the American Civil Liberties Union since 1994.
Engoron got his law degree from New York University in 1979. He’s worked as a litigator and was a law clerk for 11 years for a judge in the same court where he now sits. Engoron also taught piano and drums and played keyboard in what he describes as a “moderately successful” bar band. He’s been married three times and has four children, according to his Wheatley alumni page biography.
Engoron joined the bench in 2003 as a judge on the New York City Civil Court, which handles small claims and other lesser-stakes lawsuits. In 2013, he was appointed an acting justice of the state’s trial court and ran unopposed for a permanent post in 2015. His term runs until 2029, though New York requires judges at his level retire when they turn 76.
A former law clerk, Michelle Bernstein Ravenscroft, said she remembered Engoron being “kind and approachable and that he was very invested in making sure his clerks had a good learning experience with him.”
Engoron frequently peppers his rulings with song lyrics, movie quotes and the occasional New York City history lesson. He’s quoted Bob Dylan and Shakespeare and movies like “City Slickers” and the Marx Brothers classic “Duck Soup.” He signs them with a logo of sorts, his initials, AE, drawn together in a circle.
In 2017, Engoron turned to the Frank Sinatra hit “Love and Marriage” which, the song notes, “go together like a horse and carriage” for a ruling restricting protests on horse-drawn carriages in Central Park. He punily titled a subsection “Balancing of the Equines, er, Equities.”
In a 2015 ruling on the custody of “Stevie” — a female, mixed-breed, part Basenji — Engoron offered a philosophical discussion of the rights of animals — or lack thereof — while reversing his previous ruling that sought to do what was in the pet’s best interest.
“Conferring rights on animals would create the ultimate slippery slope,” he said, reasoning that “if dogs were deemed to have rights, why not cats, raccoons, squirrels, fish, ants, cockroaches? Could you be imprisoned for swatting a fly? Where will it all end?”
In another ruling, Engoron said New York’s review process for new housing “seems like Rube Goldberg, Franz Kafka, and the Marquis de Sade cooked it up over martinis.”
Engoron has been involved in Trump-related cases since 2020, when he was assigned to intervene in quarrels among Trump’s lawyers and James’ office over demands for evidence and the direction of her investigation.
Trump’s lawyers wanted James’ lawsuit moved to a judge in the court’s Commercial Division, which is set up to handle complex corporate litigation, but an administrative judge kept the case with Engoron, citing his experience with the matter.
Back in the courtroom last Wednesday, as Trump’s lawyers reached rare consensus with James’ office on procedural issues, Engoron dispatched with one last quip.
“I knew this case would be a love fest,” he said.
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