Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar
NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump’s legal team says it tried serving a subpoena on Stormy Daniels as she arrived for a screening of her documentary at a gay bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor and hush money trial figure refused to take it and walked away. Newly filed court documents show a process server working for the former president’s lawyers approached Daniels with papers demanding information but was forced to “leave them at her feet.” The encounter outside the 3 Dollar Bill nightclub has touched off a monthlong battle between Trump’s lawyers and Daniels’ attorney that continued this week as the presumptive Republican nominee’s criminal trial began in Manhattan. Daniels’ lawyer Clark Brewster claims they never received the paperwork.
Dems clear path to bring proposed repeal of Arizona’s abortion ban to a vote
PHOENIX (AP) — Democrats in the Arizona Senate cleared a path to bring a proposed repeal of the state’s near-total ban on abortions to a vote after the state’s highest court concluded the law can be enforced and the state House blocked efforts to undo the long-dormant statute. No vote was taken on the repeal itself, but two Republicans sided with 14 Democrats in the Senate in changing rules to let a repeal proposal advance after the deadline for hearing bills passed. Proponents say the Senate could vote on the repeal as early as May 1. The state’s near-total ban permits abortions only for saving the woman’s life and provides no exceptions for rape or incest.
House’s Ukraine, Israel aid package gains Biden’s support
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden says that he strongly supports a proposal from Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson to provide aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. His words send crucial bipartisan support to the effort to approve $95 billion in funding for the U.S. allies. Before potential weekend voting, Johnson is facing a choice between losing his job and aiding Ukraine. He notified lawmakers Wednesday that he would forge ahead despite growing anger from his right flank. Shortly after Johnson released the aid proposals, Biden offered his support for the package.
Netanyahu brushes off calls for restraint
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his country will be the one to decide whether and how to respond to Iran’s major air assault over the weekend. Netanyahu’s remarks on Wednesday appeared to brush off calls for restraint from close allies, including the visiting foreign ministers of Germany and Britain. Israel has vowed to respond to Iran’s unprecedented attack without saying when or how. That’s left the region bracing for further escalation after months of unrest linked to the ongoing war in Gaza. Iran’s president warned Israel against responding. Violence meanwhile has continued to surge along Israel’s border with Lebanon. A rocket attack on an Israeli town by Iran-backed Hezbollah wounded at least 14 people.