House Dems lay out evidence

WASHINGTON -- The House released a sweeping impeachment report Tuesday outlining evidence of what it calls President Donald Trump's wrongdoing toward Ukraine, findings that will serve as the foundation for debate over whether the 45th president should be removed from office. The 300-page report from Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee makes the case that Trump misused the power of his office and, in the course of their investigation, obstructed Congress by stonewalling the proceedings. Based on two months of investigation, the report contains evidence and testimony from current and former U.S. officials. "The impeachment inquiry has found that President Trump, personally and acting through agents within and outside of the U.S. government, solicited the interference of a foreign government, Ukraine, to benefit his reelection," said Chairman Adam Schiff in the report's preface. In doing so, "the President placed his own personal and political interests above the national interests of the United States, sought to undermine the integrity of the U.S. presidential election process, and endangered U.S. national security," the report said. The report does not render a judgment on whether Trump's actions stemming from a July 25 phone call with Ukraine president rise to the level of "high crimes and misdemeanors" warranting impeachment, leaving that to Congress to decide.

Accuser asks public for support

LONDON -- Prince Andrew suffered fresh scrutiny Monday night when the woman who says she was a trafficking victim made to have sex with him when she was 17 asked the British public to support her quest for justice. Virginia Roberts Giuffre told BBC Panorama that people "should not accept this as being OK." Giuffre's first UK television interview on the topic describes how she says she was trafficked by notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein beginning in 2001 and ordered to have sex with Andrew three times, including once in London. "This is not some sordid sex story. This is a story of being trafficked, this is a story of abuse and this is a story of your guys' royalty," Giuffre tells the program. Giuffre, now 35, described how she says she was recruited by Ghislaine Maxwell to give Epstein massages when she was working as a locker room attendant at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, FL. and later taken to London to meet Andrew. Breaking down in tears, Giuffre described the humiliating aftermath of being made to have sex with Andrew at a townhouse in London after a night out at the exclusive Tramp nightclub. She said she was told to dance with him by Maxwell, Epstein's girlfriend at the time. "It was horrible and this guy was sweating all over me," she said. "His sweat was like it was raining basically everywhere, I was just like grossed out from it, but I knew I had to keep him happy because that's what Jeffrey and Ghislaine (Maxwell) would have expected from me." She said that Maxwell told her she would have to do for Andrew what she had done for Epstein, meaning she would have to have sex with the prince. "That just made me sick," Giuffre said. "There was a bath," she said. "It started there, then went into the bedroom. It didn't last very long, the whole procedure. It was disgusting." She said: "He got up and he said 'Thanks'. I sat there in bed, just horrified and ashamed and felt dirty."

Domingo's accusers fire back

SAN FRANCISCO -- Two opera singers who accused Placido Domingo of sexual misconduct said Tuesday that it was disappointing and disturbing that the opera legend recently claimed he has always behaved like a gentleman and never acted improperly toward women. Angela Turner Wilson and Patricia Wulf (pictured) were among more than 20 women who accused Domingo of sexual harassment or inappropriate sexually charged behavior in two Associated Press reports this summer. Their new statement came in response to comments Domingo made in two recent interviews with European publications, in which he disputed the allegations against him and said he never abused his power. He said he always behaved like a gentleman but that "gallant gestures are viewed differently nowadays." "There is nothing 'chivalrous' or 'gallant' about groping a woman in the workplace, in any country or era," Wilson and Wulf said in the statement issued through their attorney, Debra Katz. "He did not behave like a gentleman when he repeatedly propositioned women for sex in the workplace … and when he groped them and kissed them over their objections," the statement said. "He did not behave respectfully when he offered to assist with the careers of aspiring female opera singers if they came to his apartment and had sex with him."

Kasem kids, widow settle suit

LOS ANGELES -- Family members of radio personality Casey Kasem have settled dueling lawsuits alleging that the longtime "American Top 40" host was badly mistreated before his death in 2014. The two sides filed a joint request Monday in court to dismiss a wrongful death lawsuit by three of Kasem's children and his brother against Kasem's widow that claimed her neglect and physical abuse led to his death, as well as a countersuit making similar claims against the plaintiffs that was filed by his widow and another daughter. The terms of the agreement were not revealed, and attorneys did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment. Kerri Kasem, (pictured) one of the daughters who filed the initial lawsuit, released a statement through a spokesman Tuesday saying she was "distraught and heartbroken over her family and lawyers' decision to force her into a settlement." The first lawsuit was filed four years ago by Casey Kasem's children from a previous marriage, Kerri, Julie and Michael Kasem, and his brother Mouner Kasem. It was a lingering chapter in a series of heated and often public fights between his children and his second wife, former actress Jean Kasem, that began even before his death at age 82. The wrongful death lawsuit accused Jean Kasem, who was married to Casey Kasem for 34 years, of elder abuse and of inflicting emotional distress on his children by restricting their access to him before his death. It alleged that "Casey's early death occurred as a direct and proximate result of Jean's neglect and physical abuse." Jean Kasem denied all of the allegations. She counter-sued and alleged that Casey Kasem's children were motivated by their desire to get his money after he cut them off financially in 2012, and that they had brought emotional distress to her and her father.

Trump takes bold stance at NATO

LONDON -- Thumping his chest on the world stage as he faces an impeachment inquiry at home, President Donald Trump claimed credit Tuesday for transforming NATO as the military alliance marks its 70th anniversary. But he also clashed with America's NATO allies, especially French President Emmanuel Macron, about defense spending and the alliance's very mission. Trump began the first of two days at the NATO conference by publicly rebuking Macron, once arguably his closest European ally, for recently saying the post-World War II alliance was experiencing "brain death" as a result of diminished U.S. leadership under Trump. "I think that's insulting to a lot of different forces. It's very disrespectful." But the president himself has questioned whether the alliance has become "obsolete," and he accused NATO members anew of shirking national commitments on military spending. Hours later, Macron and Trump sat side by side for a media session, and Macron said he stood by his comments about the health of the alliance. He also firmly expressed his frustration that Trump withdrew hundreds of American troops from Syria in October The U.S. president bantered with reporters for more than two hours Tuesday, sitting casually in a salon of Winfield House, the manicured estate of the U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom, where he also met with fellow NATO leaders.

Snowstorm lingers in East

BOSTON -- A long-lasting snowstorm hit much of New England at the height of the morning commute Tuesday and continued to hang around for most of the day, snarling travel and closing schools. The wintry weather that moved into the region Sunday night brought more than 2 feet of snow to parts of upstate New York, western Massachusetts and Vermont on Tuesday, according to tallies from the National Weather Service. Boston and other coastal communities in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut saw less than 6 inches of snow, but its arrival just before the rush hour commute could hardly have been worse. At one point, a jackknifed tractor-trailer blocked all southbound lanes on Interstate 95 just south of Boston, causing backups. The Boston region's much-maligned transit system also lived up to its reputation, with mechanical problems, power outages, and other equipment failures causing delays on multiple lines and frustrating commuters.

Harris ends White House bid

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Sen. Kamala Harris told supporters on Tuesday that she was ending her bid for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, an abrupt close to a candidacy that held historic potential. "I've taken stock and looked at this from every angle, and over the last few days have come to one of the hardest decisions of my life," the California Democrat said. "My campaign for president simply doesn't have the financial resources we need to continue." A senior campaign aide said Harris made the decision Monday after discussing the path forward with family and other top officials over the Thanksgiving holiday. Her withdrawal marked a dramatic fall for a candidate who showed extraordinary promise in her bid to become the first black female president. Harris launched her campaign in front of 20,000 people on a chilly January day in Oakland, California. The first woman and first black attorney general and U.S. senator in California's history, she was widely viewed as a candidate poised to excite the multiracial coalition of voters that sent Barack Obama to the White House. Her departure erodes the diversity of the Democratic field, which is dominated at the moment by a top tier that is white and mostly male.

Pothole sports holiday decor

MCCOMB, Miss. -- Residents of a Mississippi city are protesting a large pothole in their neighborhood by decorating it with holiday cheer. The Enterprise-Journal reports residents of McComb's Edgewood neighborhood have topped the pothole and its yellow traffic cone with tinsel, spray-painted pinecones, white leaves and what appear to be holly berries. The newspaper says residents plan to add lights and presents in the hopes of drawing the city's attention. It's unclear how long the pothole has gone unattended by the city or what drove residents to start cheerfully protesting it recently.

Called to work, he robbed place

OAKWOOD, Ga. -- A man called out of his Steak 'n Shake job because he was "intoxicated," then showed up anyway and demanded money while holding a co-worker at gunpoint. Kentarias Gowans, 20 called out on Thanksgiving, went to the restaurant that night, held a gun to a co-worker's head and demanded money. Responding officers arrived to see employees running from the business, which had customers at the time. Police say an apparently still intoxicated Gowans briefly raised the gun at officers before dropping it. He was arrested after a brief struggle during which a stun gun was used.

Charged with stealing gold bars

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- A former FedEx worker has been charged with stealing thin gold bars from a package at the shipping giant's hub in Memphis, Tennessee. Darrel Parker, 50, has been indicted on a state charge of theft over $10,000. He has been fired from FedEx and is free on bond. Investigators say Parker was working in the FedEx sorting facility near Memphis International Airport in 2017 when he took eight thin gold bullion bars from a package. Security officers found the bars in his wallet. The bars weighed about 1.3 ounces each and had a total value of more than $12,000.

Fears deepen for families

WASHINGTON -- Families of several U.S. and British people held in Iran expressed fear for their loved ones Tuesday amid the deadliest unrest in decades in the Islamic Republic. The relatives spoke at a news conference in Washington to demand the release of spouses and parents held in Iran -- in at least one case for more than a decade. Among those who spoke was a daughter of Robert Levinson, the former FBI agent who disappeared in Iran in 2007. The protests now roiling Iran, reflecting widespread economic discontent and outrage over spiking gasoline prices, have been an added challenge to families who have gone years without seeing their loved ones. Iranian state television acknowledged Tuesday that security forces shot and killed protesters in multiple cities. "Of course any kind of protest that goes on in Iran, and any kind of situation, that overlaps potentially with the fact that our families and loved ones are being held there as well," said Babak Namazi, whose brother and father are held captive in Iran. "We've been talking about the brutality of what our family members have been facing. But I guess this is just a reminder of what the abilities and capabilities are." Prisons are more overcrowded now because of the demonstrations, the internet has been down, and communication has been even more complicated than it already is, Namazi said.

Asylum seekers jam US border

PHOENIX -- For months, asylum seekers have been prohibited from filing their claims at U.S. border crossings under a much-criticized Trump administration policy. Now some are sprinting down vehicle lanes or renting cars to try to make it inside the U.S. The migrants' efforts are causing traffic delays at Arizona crossings because U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials had to barricade lanes used by cars legally entering the U.S. from Mexico, officials said. Shoppers, teachers and visitors traveling to the U.S. through Nogales, Mexico, endured up to five-hour waits Monday and over the weekend, causing concerns among local officials whose tax base relies on Mexican shoppers, especially during the holiday season. In a statement, Customs and Border Protection said it's committed to the safety of border crossers, adding that there's been an increase of incursions through vehicle lanes "by asylum seekers attempting to evade established entry processes." "These tactics interfere with CBP officers conducting their responsibilities and exacerbates wait times for daily commuters," the agency said in a statement. "CBP will not allow ports to be overrun, or unauthorized entry."

Prosecutor vows to seek prison

SAN DIEGO -- A federal prosecutor vowed Tuesday to seek jail time for California Rep. Duncan Hunter after he pleaded guilty Tuesday to misusing $150,000 in campaign funds for his own personal expenses. The six-term Republican, who had fought the allegations for more than a year, showed no emotion in the courtroom and only spoke in affirming his guilty plea. Outside the federal courthouse in San Diego, Hunter, 42, offered a brief statement, saying, "I failed to monitor and account for my campaign spending. I made mistakes and that's what today was all about." He said he would discuss his future later. In his plea deal, Hunter said he and his wife dipped into the election funds between 2010 and 2016 more than 30 times and tried to hide it by falsely reporting the expenses -- from their daughter's birthday party at the famed Hotel Del Coronado to an outing with friends in Washington at a french bistro -- were campaign related. An early supporter of President Donald Trump's 2016 election bid, Hunter is the second Republican congressman to pleaded guilty to federal charges this year.

Didn't intentionally deceive

CHICAGO -- Ousted Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said Tuesday that he didn't "intentionally mislead or deceive" anyone about the mid-October night he was found sleeping behind the wheel of his SUV. Johnson, 59, released a statement through his attorney a day after Mayor Lori Lightfoot fired him for "ethical lapses," just weeks before he was set to retire. She said an inspector general's report, which hasn't been released publicly, revealed he misled her and the public about the circumstances of that evening and showed "flawed decision-making." Two Chicago newspapers published reports Monday night that seem to contradict Johnson's public account in which he blamed an issue with his medication, saying he felt lightheaded while driving home and fell asleep after pulling over. Lightfoot said he'd told her he had "a couple of drinks with dinner." But the Chicago Sun-Times reported he was drinking for hours with a female member of his security detail at a downtown restaurant. The Chicago Tribune reported that the inspector general's investigation includes video showing Johnson drinking for hours with a woman at a Chicago Board of Trade building restaurant. Both newspapers attributed the information to sources they didn't identify. "One thing I want everyone to know is this: I did not intentionally mislead or deceive the Mayor or the people of Chicago," Johnson said in the statement. "I acknowledge that I made a poor decision and had a lapse of judgment on the night of October 16. That was a mistake and I know that."

Google co-founders out of Alphabet

SAN FRANCISCO -- The co-founders of Google are stepping down as executives of its parent company, Alphabet, ending a remarkable two decades during which Larry Page and Sergey Brin shaped a startup born in a Silicon Valley garage into one of the largest, most powerful -- and, increasingly, most feared -- companies in the world. Sundar Pichai, who has been leading Google as CEO for more than four years, will take on additional duties as Alphabet's CEO, the position held by Page. The company isn't filling Brin's position as president. Page and Brin met as Stanford University graduate students in 1995 and started the company soon after. What started as a way to catalog the growing internet has now become one of the most powerful companies in the world. Google dominates online search and digital advertising and makes the world's most widely used operating system for smartphones, Android. It's hard to make it through a whole day without using one of Google's services -- ranging from online tools to email, cloud computing systems, phones and smart speaker hardware. Yet Google has been facing pressure from privacy advocates over its collection and use of personal information to target advertising. It also faces allegations that it abuses its dominance in search and online advertising to push out rivals.