(SEATTLE) — Police in Seattle have arrested a 21-year-old man armed with a shotgun, pistol, and carrying multiple rounds of ammunition near the Space Needle during Seattle’s New Year’s Eve celebration, authorities said.
On New Year’s Eve at approximately 7:20 p.m., patrol officers in Seattle responded to reports of a man sitting on a bench near the Pacific Science Center holding a partially concealed shotgun, according to a statement from the Seattle Police Department.
“Witnesses saw him holding the gun by the grip, causing alarm, while facing the area where spectators were gathering for the fireworks display,” police said. “The suspect, wearing all black clothing and a red hat with “WAR” written on it, cooperated with police.”
Officers safely recovered the shotgun and the suspect, who was also armed with a handgun, had a valid concealed carry permit, police said.
Police assigned to the event center arrested the man without incident, authorities said.
Seattle Police Department’s arson bomb squad were able to locate the suspect’s vehicle and swept the car for potential weapons or explosives, though none were found and it was determined the vehicle did not pose a threat, officials confirmed.
Police subsequently booked the suspect into the King County Jail for unlawful use of weapons and detectives reviewing the case referred criminal charges to the City Attorney’s Office, authorities said.
The investigation into the incident is currently ongoing.
(NEW YORK) — More than 700 flights nationwide have been canceled Saturday as the Federal Aviation Administration continues limiting flight capacity at 40 major U.S. airports amid the government shutdown.
As of 6 a.m. ET on Saturday, 754 flights have already been canceled nationwide and the total could eclipse Friday’s toll of 1,024 cancellations.
However, despite more than 1,000 flights being canceled on Friday, major delays at airports across the country continue to persist due to staffing issues in air traffic controller towers and centers.
If the government shutdown continues, more air travel reductions could be on the way, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in an interview on ABC News Live on Friday.
“My hope is that this government shutdown will end soon and we can get back in the business of letting Americans travel,” Duffy said in the interview.
It is possible the Department of Transportation may ask airlines to cancel more than 10% of their flights if controllers keep calling out in higher numbers, Duffy told ABC News.
Duffy said the FAA has asked private jets to avoid flying at the 40 airports impacted by the flight reductions, though they are currently not prohibited from flying there. He said private jet companies have been cooperative and are choosing alternate airports to help alleviate the pressure at those airports.
The cancellations are the latest — and perhaps biggest — disruption to air travel since the government shutdown began more than a month ago.
The FAA decided not to cut any international flights as it would be a violation of international agreements with the countries, according to Duffy.
“We have international agreements that we abide by, and because of those international agreements, I’m not going to impact those international flights. And because if I do, what will happen is we have other countries that are waiting to have a breach of those contracts from the US so they can cut down American flights, and then that would have a very long lasting impact on our ability to to to send travelers from the U.S. to those partners that have the agreements,” Duffy said.
Paul Chinn/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images
(WASHINGTON) — In the wake of the newly released Epstein files last week, President Donald Trump ordered an investigation into Democrats mentioned in the files — including LinkedIn co-founder and major Democrat donor Reid Hoffman.
On Tuesday, when pressed by ABC News’ Mary Bruce, Trump lashed out about the files, saying Democrats should face scrutiny. Specifically, he called out Hoffman by name, saying, “Hoffman, in my opinion, should be under investigation.”
“He’s a sleazebag,” Trump added.
Hoffman’s ties to Epstein have previously been reported — including a trip he took to Epstein’s island. Hoffman has said he regretted the relationship, which he said surrounded fundraising for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
No victim of Epstein’s sexual exploitation has made any public allegation of wrongdoing by Hoffman.
In 2019, Hoffman told AXIOS, “My few interactions with Jeffrey Epstein came at the request of [then-MIT Media Lab Director] Joi Ito, for the purposes of fundraising for the MIT Media Lab. Prior to these interactions, I was told by Joi that Epstein had cleared the MIT vetting process, which was the basis for my participation. My last interaction with Epstein was in 2015. Still, by agreeing to participate in any fundraising activity where Epstein was present, I helped to repair his reputation and perpetuate injustice. For this, I am deeply regretful.”
Ito resigned his position at MIT Media Lab in 2019 and apologized for “bringing such a person into our network. He denied any knowledge of Epstein’s “horrific acts.”
Following Trump’s call for an investigation, Hoffman responded in a series of social media posts calling for all the Epstein files to be released.
“Trump should release all of the Epstein files: every person and every document in the files,” Hoffman wrote. “I want this complete release because it will show that the calls for baseless investigations of me are nothing more than political persecution and slander. I was never a client of Epstein’s and never had any engagement with him other than fundraising for MIT.”
“I refuse to bend the knee to Donald Trump and his slanderous lies,” he added.
Notably, despite Trump’s new call for scrutiny of Hoffman, the 20,000+ page tranche of newly released Epstein files by the House Oversight Committee this week appears to contain few communications between Epstein and Hoffman.
In one July 2015 exchange, Hoffman sent Epstein an email containing a link, writing: “my occasional roundup of interesting links and writing I’ve shared— in case you missed them :)”
Epstein responded, but on another topic, “heyy it looks like your diet program has worked,” he wrote.
“Slow process,” Hoffman replied, indicating he would see Epstein soon. “Planning to see you in August. Hope you’re well.”
Years later, in March 2017 — during the first Trump administration — Epstein emailed Hoffman, the records show, about a “HUGE donor advised fund,” telling him it would be “an elegant solution to the cuts trump proposes to what some consider critical programs.”
“You could organzie a huge public charity that would continue the work of many worthwhile orgs. not my thing but structurally beautiful,” he continued.
“Hope you see you soon,” Epstein said to end the note.
Additionally, Epstein’s scheduling records show the convicted sex offender had numerous meetings scheduled with Hoffman over the years — including one apparent visit to Epstein’s infamous private island.
The records of Epstein’s schedules were included in discovery exchanges in litigation, since settled, between the government of the U.S. Virgin Islands and JPMorgan Chase. The records were obtained by ABC News through a public records request.
Specifically, a November 2014 calendar entry lists a “reminder” that Hoffman would be arriving in Fort Lauderdale via a Virgin America flight. The schedule then lists a 9 p.m. Boeing flight that would “arrive LSJ” — an apparent reference to Epstein’s island.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Hoffman told the outlet he visited Epstein’s island only once for an MIT fundraising trip. He also said his last interaction with Epstein occurred in 2015 and that he regretted his association with him.
Beyond the island visit, Epstein’s calendar records also reflect multiple Skype calls scheduled with Hoffman, including in 2013 and into 2014.
Earlier this year, Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell said she had never seen Hoffman with Epstein on a flight or “getting massages.” The comments came during an interview with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche — Trump’s former personal attorney.
Do you know whether Mr. Epstein had a relationship with Reid Hoffman?” Blanche asked.
“I don’t know,” Maxwell replied.
“Did you ever observe Mr. Hoffman flying anywhere with you or Mr. Epstein?” Blanche followed up.
(NEW YORK) — A winter storm brought the first big batch of snow and ice to parts of the Midwest and South on Monday, and now that same storm is bringing ice to parts of Appalachia and heavy snow to the inland Northeast on Tuesday.
On Monday, the Kansas City area saw 3 to 5 inches of snow, while Louisville recorded around 3 inches of snow. St. Louis, Missouri, and Indianapolis both recorded about 2 to 4 inches of snow.
A glaze of ice wreaked havoc on roads in places like Oklahoma and Arkansas on Monday, and on Tuesday, that ice will be a major threat for cities including Boone, North Carolina, and Roanoke, Virginia.
On Tuesday, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and western New York could see 2 to 4 inches of snow.
Winter weather advisories are in place in northern Pennsylvania and central New York, where 4 to 6 inches of snow is possible.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency in several counties.
“With snow and rain in the forecast, we urge all New Jerseyans to be cautious of icy roads and walkways,” he warned on social media on Tuesday.
Cities directly along the East Coast will be warmer and will likely only get rain, but there is a brief chance for a morning wintry mix around Washington, D.C., that could cause disruption on roads.
A winter storm warning is in place from northeast Pennsylvania to central Maine, where more than 6 inches of snow is in the forecast. Some spots could even see snow totals of 9 to 12 inches.
By Tuesday night, the rain will be ending in New York City but ongoing in Boston, while snow will still falling from Albany, New York, through Maine.
