The U.S. National Park Service estimated that some 300 migrants arrived in the Dry Tortugas National Park over the past couple days. The park is about 100 miles north of Havana, the Cuban capital.
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National News
‘Cohen can’t remember how old his son is’: J.D. Vance days after Trump forgets son’s age
Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) on Monday joined a gaggle of Donald Trump defenders — including Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, (R-NY) and the ex-president’s son Eric Trump — at the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse to attend the ongoing “hush money” trial.
At a press conference, Tuberville ranted against "supposedly American citizens" in the courtroom and claimed District Attorney Alvin Bragg is putting the former president through “mental anguish.”
Tuberville also said of former Trump fixer Michael Cohen: “This guy is giving an acting scene.”
Vance, in a series of tweets on X, assailed Cohen's credibility as a witness.
READ MORE: Tuberville slammed for berating 'supposedly American citizens' in Trump hush money courtroom
"Cohen can’t remember how old his son is or how old he was when he started to work for Trump but I’m sure he remembers extremely small details from years ago!" Vance wrote.
But his comment came just days after Trump, in an interview Thursday with Telemundo51, misstated son Barron Trump’s age as 17. Barron Trump turned 18 in March.
In that interview, Trump told reporter Marilys Llanos he’s “able to put [aside]” the ongoing trial and focus on “a lot of things at one time.”
“I’m very ambidextrous, so to speak,” Trump said last week.
READ MORE: 'Ambidextrous' Trump tells Telemundo his 18-year-old son is 17
Despite Trump’s claim that he’s able to compartmentalize the trial, allies like Vance are “[stepping] up attacks” in light of Merchan’s gag order — which the president has violated 10 times, NBC News reports.
“The president is expected to sit here for six weeks to listen to the Michael Cohens of the world,” Vance complained in his tweets. "I’m now convinced the main goal of this trial is psychological torture. But Trump is in great spirits."
The Ohio senator, a vice presidential contender, also appeared to defend Trump against claims he’s fallen asleep in the courtroom, The Arizona Republic reports.
"I’m 39 years old and I’ve been here for 26 minutes and I’m about to fall asleep," Vance wrote.
National News
Trump attorney gets schooled on the law by witness: ‘It’s not illegal in New York’
Manhattan Criminal Court — Donald Trump's attorney was schooled on the law by the former president's ex-attorney Michael Cohen as he sat in the witness box during his cross-examination Thursday.
Cohen delivered his lesson to attorney Todd Blanche, the lead defender in Trump's criminal hush money case, as the two discussed conversations that Trump's former fixer had recorded.
Blanche took a stern tone when he demanded to know if Cohen had informed those he recorded of that fact, and appeared astounded when Cohen said he had not.
But Cohen remained calm as he said into the microphone, "It’s not illegal in New York."
New York allows "one-party consent," which allows anyone participating in a conversation to legally record it without informing other parties.
This check did not stop Blanche from pushing Cohen on recorded conversations he shared with reporters such as New York Times Maggie Haberman and with clients who Blanche argued were unilaterally protected by privilege.
When Blanche asked if there were any exceptions to attorney-client confidentiality, Cohen yet again had an answer: the rule that mandates lawyers to disclose conversations — advice for example — that would contribute to criminal activity.
ALSO READ: Trump told to pay up before rallying in N.J. town he previously stiffed
Blanche sputtered a question asking incredulously if Cohen was claiming to have relied on this exception. Again, Cohen was calm.
"You asked if there were exceptions," a deadpan Cohen replied. "And I said 'Yes, the crime-fraud exception."
This exchange occurred on the second day of Cohen's courtroom battle with Blanche in the Manhattan criminal courtroom where Trump stands accused of falsifying business records to conceal hush money paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
Trump pleaded not guilty, denies an affair with Daniels and contends he is the victim of a political witch hunt, without evidence.
Blanche had a rocky start Thursday morning that saw his request to consult Judge Juan Merchan swiftly shut down with a resounding "No."
His jab at members of Congress fell flat, and in front of several Republican House members who came to the New York City courtroom to back up Trump.
ALSO READ: 'Bootlickers': GOP lawmakers supporting Trump nailed by protest sign at hush money trial
The morning's session also saw Merchan sternly order Blanche to fix a problem raised by prosecutor Josh Steinglass that Blanche had unfairly suggested Cohen was engaged in improper conduct tied to the District Attorney's criminal indictment.
