FBI opens criminal investigation into Baltimore bridge collapse – National and International News – MON Apr 15, 2024 –

The FBI opens a criminal investigation into the Baltimore bridge collapse.

Trump's first criminal trial begins in NY.

The FBI opens a criminal investigation into the Baltimore bridge collapse

The FBI is collecting data from the M/V Dali, the 985-foot-long cargo ship that crashed into one of the abutments of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26. Dali crashed into the wharf after experiencing a power failure and lost control of the ship. The FBI is focusing on the ship's crew's knowledge of any previous mechanical problems on the ship before the crash. The crash caused the bridge to collapse within seconds, killing 6 road workers who were repairing potholes in the bridge. The bodies of three of the victims are still missing.

An anonymous source told The Associated Press that the ship had experienced electrical problems while still at the dock. An alarm in one of the ship's refrigeration units had indicated an unstable power supply. It is not clear from the report if there was any attempt to investigate or fix any power problems before the ship sailed.

Baltimore City is also pursuing legal action “to hold accountable all entities for the Key Bridge tragedy, including the owner, charterer, manager/operator and manufacturer of the M/V Dali, as well as any other potentially responsible third parties. parties, according to the city's Mayor Brandon M. Scott. Scott said the action would hold “criminals accountable” and “mitigate the immediate and long-term harm caused to the residents of Baltimore City.” The port is still out of service, leaving 8000 people unemployed.

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Trump's first criminal trial begins in NY

Jury selection began today in the hush money case against Donald Trump. Trump is charged with more than 30 felonies in connection with payments he made to reimburse former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen, who paid porn actress Stormy Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet about her affair with Trump before the election of 2016. The state claims these payments were part of a scheme to “illegally influence” the outcome of the election.

Of an initial pool of 96 jurors, about 60 were fired immediately after they responded that their prior feelings about Trump would make them unable to think impartially. Jury selection was originally expected to take two weeks and the trial itself about 4-6 weeks.

Trump confronts up to four years in prison if convicted of all charges. Cohen was previously sentenced to three years for his part in the scheme and will be a key witness in this trial.

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