标签： North America

The US Justice Department has initiated legal action against California following the approval of new congressional maps by voters in a recent election. These maps, which favor the Democratic Party, are seen as a countermeasure to the redistricting efforts by Republicans in Texas. US Attorney General Pam Bondi has criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom, accusing him of a ‘brazen’ attempt to consolidate political power. Bondi emphasized that Newsom’s focus should be on ensuring the safety of Californians and addressing issues like Antifa violence rather than manipulating the state’s political landscape for partisan advantage. The redistricting bill, known as Proposition 50, was overwhelmingly approved by California voters and grants Democrats a significant edge in five new congressional districts. This legal battle underscores the ongoing tensions between the two major political parties over electoral boundaries and representation.

Joe Lewis, the 88-year-old British billionaire and former owner of Tottenham Hotspur football club, has been granted a presidential pardon by US President Donald Trump. Lewis, who pleaded guilty to insider trading in 2024, avoided prison as part of a deal with prosecutors. The charges stemmed from allegations that he shared confidential corporate information with his private pilots, friends, personal assistants, and romantic partners, resulting in millions of dollars in illicit profits. A White House official confirmed the pardon, stating that Lewis sought clemency to receive medical treatment and visit his grandchildren and great-grandchildren in the US. Lewis had previously admitted to his wrongdoing, paid a $5 million fine, and did not contest extradition. In a statement, Lewis expressed relief, saying he looks forward to retirement and watching his family continue to build their businesses. A source close to the Lewis family expressed gratitude to Trump for the pardon. Lewis, founder of the Tavistock Group, was ranked 39th on the 2023 Sunday Times Rich List with an estimated net worth of over £5 billion ($6.4 billion). He was arrested in July 2023 on 16 counts of securities fraud and three counts of conspiracy, accused of exploiting his access to corporate boardrooms to pass insider information. Prosecutors alleged that his associates made millions through ‘sure thing’ stock market bets. In one instance, Lewis reportedly instructed a girlfriend to invest in a biotech company before the public release of clinical trial results, personally investing $700,000 from her account and netting a $849,000 profit. In 2024, Lewis pleaded guilty to conspiracy and two counts of securities fraud, receiving a $5 million fine and three years of probation. Lewis, who acquired Tottenham Hotspur in 2001 for £22 million ($32 million), transferred control of the club to a family trust in 2022, relinquishing ‘significant control’ over its operations.

California has initiated the revocation of 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses following an audit that revealed these licenses were issued to immigrants no longer legally permitted to reside in the United States. The Department of Transportation disclosed that California officials had unlawfully granted these licenses to individuals deemed ‘dangerous foreign drivers.’ License holders have been notified that their permits will expire within 60 days. This action comes in the wake of a tragic incident in August, where a truck driver without legal status caused a fatal crash in Florida, prompting the Trump administration to intensify efforts to exclude undocumented immigrants from commercial driving roles. California Governor Gavin Newsom dismissed the administration’s move as politically motivated, emphasizing that the affected drivers had valid federal work authorizations. However, media reports indicate that the licenses contained incorrect expiration dates, violating state law requiring them to expire concurrently with the holder’s legal status in the U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who has been vocal in criticizing California’s policies, described the situation as ‘the tip of the iceberg,’ vowing to ensure the removal of all undocumented immigrants from commercial driving positions. In September, Duffy introduced stringent new rules complicating the process for immigrants to obtain commercial driver’s licenses, including mandatory verification of immigration status and a maximum one-year validity period. While the transportation department estimated that 97% of non-domiciled drivers would exit the freight market, it downplayed the economic impact given the nation’s 3.8 million commercial drivers. A federal appeals court has temporarily halted these rules pending a lawsuit. California, home to over 130,000 truck drivers and the country’s largest ports, remains the only state to have completed a commercial driver’s license audit, with other states expected to follow suit soon.