What to Know
- Former Trump campaign adviser Roger Stone has been arrested after being indicted by a federal grand jury in special counsel's investigation
- Wilbur Ross suggests the hundreds of thousands of unpaid federal workers shouldn't need food banks because they can just get a loan
- The lawyer for a woman who filed a rape complaint against Chris Brown and two other men says she was raped during a drug-fueled party
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Trump Associate Roger Stone Arrested in Mueller Probe
Former Trump campaign adviser Roger Stone has been arrested after being indicted by a federal grand jury in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, Mueller's office said. He was indicted on five counts of false statements and one count each of obstruction and witness tampering. Stone was arrested in Fort Lauderdale and will appear in court Friday, Mueller's office said.
Wilbur Ross Says Unpaid Federal Workers Shouldn't Need Food Banks, They Can Just Get a Loan
Hundreds of thousands of federal government workers, from the Coast Guard to the National Weather Service, face another payday without pay, and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross suggests they get a loan to cover it. On CNBC's Squawk Box, Ross acknowledged he had heard some federal workers affected by the prolonged shutdown have been going to shelters for food, but said he didn't understand why. "I know they are [going to homeless shelters] and I don't really quite understand why because as I mentioned before, the obligations that they would undertake – say borrowing from a bank or credit union – are in effect federally guaranteed," said Ross. "So the 30 days of pay that people will be out – there's no real reason why they shouldn't be able to get a loan against it and we've seen a number of ads from the financial institutions doing that." Banks and credit unions are offering affected workers interest-free loans to cover part or all of their paychecks, he said. But workers will have to shop around. Two of the largest banks, J. P. Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo, are not offering loans, but they are waiving fees and providing other assistance.
Chris Brown Accuser Alleges Multiple Rapes, Lawyer Says
Local
The lawyer for a woman who filed a rape complaint in Paris against American singer Chris Brown and two other men says she was raped four times during a drug-fueled party. Police questioned Brown and the others before releasing them from custody without charges. The Paris prosecutor's office says the investigation hasn't been closed. Lawyer Franck Serfati said the woman alleges she was forced to take cocaine and raped by the three men at a Paris hotel. Brown's legal representative in France, Raphael Chiche, didn't immediately respond to several calls and messages seeking comment. Chiche tweeted Wednesday he was preparing a defamation complaint that "#ChrisBrown will file against his accuser."
Robert Redford Says He's Ready for Smaller Onstage Role at Sundance
Robert Redford has been kicking off the Sundance Film Festival with an opening day press conference for 34 years, but, he said he was ready to take a backseat role. "I think we're at a point where I can move on to a different place," Redford said. "The thing I've missed over the years is being able to spend time with the films and the filmmakers." It's something he hasn't been able to do much with all the introductions he's asked to do. But he said at this point, the festival doesn't need much of an introduction anymore. The ski town is already bustling with activity as brands and sponsors rush to finish plastering Main Street with logos and installations as the thousands of film fans and filmmakers touch down. Although the temptations in town are many — from flashy virtual reality set-ups and performances from the likes of Arcade Fire, to cozy lounges and filmmaker panels — the films themselves remain the main event for Sundance attendees. The opening night selections are long sold out.