A lawyer said his client was allegedly paid to have sex with Matt Gaetz at a 2017 party. A man accused of three fatal stabbings in New York City has an extensive criminal history. And a debate is raging ahead of the release of “Wicked”: to sing or not to sing?
Here’s what to know today.
Matt Gaetz allegedly paid an adult woman for sex in 2017, attorney says
Matt Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Justice Department, paid a woman for sex at a party in Florida — where prostitution is illegal — while Gaetz was a member of the House, the woman’s attorney said. In an interview with NBC News, Joel Leppard said the woman says she also saw Gaetz having sex with her friend, who was 17, at the same invitation-only party in Orlando in 2017.
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Leppard said two women he represents, whom NBC News is not naming, told House Ethics Committee investigators that Gaetz paid them for sex several times and that they believe the committee’s report on Gaetz should be publicly released.
The report on Gaetz is expected to be discussed at a committee meeting tomorrow. Yesterday, a key Democrat on the committee said the report “absolutely should” be made public.
Gaetz, a former Republican U.S. representative from Florida, has long denied the allegations against him and has claimed he was the target of an extortion plot. A Trump transition team spokesperson called the allegations “baseless.” Gaetz resigned from Congress last week after Trump announced plans to nominate him for attorney general.
Read politics and post-election news:
- Trump’s pick for transportation secretary is Sean Duffy, a Fox Business host, former Wisconsin congressman and one-time “Real World” star.
- Caroline Kennedy, the U.S. ambassador to Australia and sister of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., said her brother’s views on vaccinations are “dangerous.”
- RFK Jr. wants to transform America’s food system, a mission that might have broad support. But his mission will likely face a major hurdle.
- Federal employees working from home might be among the first targets in Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk’s new efficiency effort.
- The final NBC News poll of the 2024 race shows Vice President Kamala Harris and Democrats convinced one group to stick with them in the election but lost with almost everyone else.
- The race for the Democratic Party chair has begun, with former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley entering the fray. Several other names are being tossed around, too.
- A government funding fight will likely be punted to early 2025, House Speaker Mike Johnson said, rather than Congress reaching a full-year deal before the Dec. 20 deadline.
3 dead in stabbings across New York City
A knife-wielding assailant with an extensive criminal history is accused of killing two men and a woman during a seemingly “unprovoked” stabbing spree yesterday in New York City, authorities said. Ramon Rivera was identified as the person responsible for the deadly spree. The 51-year-old, who authorities described as homeless, has had eight arrests in the city in the past year, officials said. Rivera also has a documented history of mental health concerns.
The stabbings happened yesterday morning at three separate locations. The first victim, a 36-year-old man, was attacked at a construction site where he was working. The second, a 68-year-old man, was fishing when he was attacked. And the third victim was stabbed near the United Nations. She was pronounced dead last night. Here’s what else we know.
The shifting strategies of online retailers
Holiday shoppers know a good deal is all but guaranteed on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. But in general, it’s getting more difficult to know ahead of time when a discount is coming. NBC News’ Holiday Price Check has been tracking the online prices of five gift items over the past six months: Apple Airpods Pro 2, Magna-Tiles, the Ninja Coffee Maker, Reebok Club C shoes and the TCL 65-inch TV.
What reporters Maya Huter and Jing Feng found is that Amazon tends to lead the pack when it comes to slashing prices — and that these price-cuts can happen very quickly. The patterns reflect a gradual shift in online shopping habits as retailers fight it out for consumers’ money.
Read All About It
- The family of a 30-year-old Hawaii resident is searching for her in Los Angeles after she missed a flight, sent unusual text messages and then went silent.
- An Illinois woman is charged with hate crimes after allegedly attacking a man for wearing a Palestine hoodie at a Panera Bread in Chicago.
- Residents and environmental activists are demanding officials in Syracuse, New York, declare a state of emergency over lead levels in the drinking water in some parts of the city.
- A Hong Kong court sentenced 45 leading pro-democracy figures in the single largest trial under a national security law that critics say has been used to eliminate political dissent.
- Violent crime in hospitals, which includes incidents of rape and sexual assault, has risen over the past two years, a report shows. And experts say many more alleged incidents go unreported.
- Backlash is bubbling against Coca Cola over the company’s AI-generated Christmas advertisement.
Staff Pick: Singing during ‘Wicked’ might not make you popular
The fall blockbuster “Wicked” is almost here (it opens Friday), and a debate is raging among musical theater lovers: to sing or not to sing in the theater? What’s the etiquette? Fans of the original Broadway musical have feelings. And what about stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who play Elphaba the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good — what’s their advice? Kalhan Rosenblatt and Tony Lee spoke with the stars and fans to get some takes on whether to belt out the “popular” Broadway numbers, keep quiet or do both!— Richie Duchon, deputy director of platforms
NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified
Mattress toppers can make your bed firmer or softer and are less expensive than buying a new mattress. Here’s how to choose the best mattress topper for every sleep position. Plus, NBC Select’s editors rounded up the best deals from REI’s Winter Sale.
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