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Vince McMahon Retires: A Timeline Of Events Amid 2022 Probe Of Sexual Misconduct

Vince McMahon Retires: A Timeline Of Events Amid 2022 Probe Of Sexual Misconduct

Vince McMahon shockingly retired from WWE amid rising allegations of sexual misconduct. McMahon is in the middle of a WWE investigation regarding alleged “hush money” settlements.

From the day these allegations were announced, McMahon has attempted to weather the storm during a Summer of Hell by publicly stepping down—presumably for optics—and no-selling the brewing scandal in public appearances.

With McMahon reportedly retiring from all duties, however, 2022 will go down as the year that saw the unlikely fall of Vincent Kennedy McMahon.

Vince McMahon Investigated by WWE | June 15, 2022

In a bombshell report by the Wall Street Journal (h/t Forbes), it was revealed that Vince McMahon was the subject of an internal WWE investigation amid “hush money” settlements for sexual misconduct. Amid the damning accusations, WWE reportedly increased the salary of a former paralegal whom McMahon allegedly had an affair with. The investigation also meant the end of John Laurinaitis’ tenure as Executive Vice President of Talent Relations, a role that would later be assumed by Triple H.

Today’s climate is littered with the demise of one male mogul after another due to accusations of sexual misconduct. These very serious allegations against Vince McMahon are the biggest threat to his iron rule as WWE Chairman and CEO, and proved to be too much to overcome.

Vince McMahon Steps Down From WWE | June 17, 2022

Days after the scandalous report of McMahon’s WWE investigation, Vince McMahon stepped down as WWE Chairman and CEO. In his place, McMahon installed his daughter Stephanie just one month after Stephanie McMahon announced she was taking a leave of absence from WWE to focus on her family.

Fast forward to today, Stephanie McMahon and her husband Triple H are at the helm of WWE, a far cry from both of their intentions to step back in favor of family time.

“I love this company and am committed to working with the Independent Directors to strengthen our culture and our Company; it is extremely important to me that we have a safe and collaborative workplace,” Stephanie McMahon said on Twitter.

“I have committed to doing everything in my power to help the Special Committee complete its work, including marshaling the cooperation of the entire company to assist in the completion of the investigation and to implement its findings.”

Despite Vince McMahon stepping down, many dismissed Stephanie’s interim role as an “optics play.” Vince McMahon continued to maintain creative control over WWE, and despite publicly stepping down, seemed to have more control than ever behind the scenes.

MORE FROM FORBESVince McMahon Steps Down; Stephanie McMahon Named Interim WWE Chairwoman And CEOBy Alfred Konuwa

Vince McMahon Appears on SmackDown | June 17, 2022

Just hours after stepping down as WWE Chairman, Vince McMahon appeared briefly to open the June 17, 2022 broadcast of SmackDown.

In quite possibly his final appearance on SmackDown, Vince McMahon repeated WWE’s signature phrase: “Then, Now, Forever…” and “the most important word is Together.” McMahon reportedly shouted “f—k em!” in response to the mounting allegations against him before returning to a “business as usual” demeanor.

McMahon has attempted to no-sell these allegations throughout a very public scandal. Even in his retirement announcement he implied his age (77 years) was the reason for stepping away, with no references to the accusations. Vince McMahon followed up his SmackDown appearance with another empty appearance on the June 20, 2022 broadcast of Raw. McMahon briefly spoke about the impending return of John Cena.

Also under fire was former WWE Executive Vice President of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis, who was ousted from the company due to his alleged involvement with the former WWE paralegal. Bruce Prichard was named Interim Vice President of Talent Relations in his place.

Vince McMahon Hush Money Allegations Grow to $12 Million | July 8, 2022

WSJ’s original bombshell report received a sequel as a follow-up report noted McMahon had paid upwards of $12 million in NDA (non-disclosure agreement) settlements to former WWE contractors and personnel. Additional settlements ranged from $1 million to a stunning $7.5 million in alleged hush money. Accusations against McMahon included sending nude photos and “coercing” a former wrestler to perform oral sex.

Just one day prior, WWE Board of Directors member Connor Schell stepped down from his position.

“Mr. Schell’s decision to resign from the Board was not due to any dispute or disagreement with the Company, its management or the Board on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices,” read an SEC filing.

Despite the public statement, it’s not difficult to make the connection between Schell’s decision and the rising amount of negativity plaguing the company. In light of the rising allegations, streaming giant Netflix reportedly pulled its planned documentary series about Vince McMahon.

MORE FROM FORBESVince McMahon Investigation Gets Worse As Alleged Hush Money Balloons To $12 MillionBy Alfred Konuwa

Triple H Named EVP of Talent Relations | July 22, 2022

Triple H, nicknamed the King of Kings, went back on his throne as WWE announced he would replace John Laurinaitis as EVP of Talent Relations. This wasn’t even the most shocking announcement of the day on another whirlwind of a Friday afternoon in pro wrestling. The announcement preceded Vince McMahon’s own shocking announcement that the WWE Chairman was set to retire.

It wasn’t too long ago that both Triple H and Stephanie McMahon’s futures—as power brokers within WWE—were in question. With Stephanie McMahon as WWE Interim Chairwoman and CEO, and Triple H installed as WWE Executive Vice President of Talent Relations, WWE’s seemingly scrapped succession plan was reincarnated amid internal turmoil. Amid Triple H’s unlikely return to power, Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Wrestling Inc) reported Vince McMahon and Kevin Dunn were not present at WWE SmackDown.

Vince McMahon Retires from WWE | July 22, 2022

Vince McMahon shockingly retired via Twitter.

“At 77, time for me to retire. Thank you, WWE Universe. Then. Now. Forever. Together.”

McMahon’s decision was reportedly in the works for a week before the announcement was made as only a small circle was aware of the news beforehand.

Stephanie McMahon and WWE Chief Revenue Officer Nick Khan will be taking over as co-CEOs while Triple H steps in as WWE Executive Vice President of Talent Relations.

The announcement reportedly led to immediate backstage hysteria. Despite cynicism of McMahon possibly maintaining control behind the scenes, McMahon has reportedly retired from all duties, including creative.

“To all WWE Superstars: as I approach 77 years old (OMG am I really that old?), I feel it’s time for me to retire. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my passion, wisdom, and love of the business with you. No longer will you see the smiling, docile, level-headed, calm presence at Gorilla every week,” McMahon said in an internal memo.

“Your dedication to WWE will ensure that our company will continue to grow and prosper. Our organization is nothing without you. You are WWE’s only natural resource, chosen to perform in front of a global audience.”

“You are all WWE Global Ambassadors. Carry the WWE flag wherever you go. Wave it high and proud. And bust your ass to be all you can be as a person and as a performer.”

“One other thing—I won’t be with you, but I’ll be watching. Remember to keep your hands up, grab hold, and sell. Btw, SmackDown airs live tonight at 8pm Eastern/7pm Central on FOX.”

Possibly the most telling line, unintentional or not, is “I won’t be with you, but I’ll be watching.” Given Vince McMahon’s penchant for fighting and maintaining control, it’s safe that he will always be “watching” in some form or fashion until his final day on this earth.

Brock Lesnar Walks out of SmackDown | July 22, 2022

In response to Vince McMahon retiring, Brock Lesnar reportedly walked out of SmackDown. Per multiple sources, Lesnar walked out of SmackDown under the mentality that if Vince McMahon is gone, Lesnar is gone.

Lesnar’s sudden departure puts his forthcoming match against Roman Reigns—the WWE SummerSlam main event—in jeopardy. Lesnar has never been shy about walking out of WWE shows when the situation does not serve him. For Lesnar, McMahon’s ousting appeared to be a dealbreaker. In the end, cooler head prevailed and Lesnar returned to the building in time to close out SmackDown with a brutal beatdown of Mr. Money in the Bank Theory.

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German police probe incident at Scholz party event

German police probe incident at Scholz party event

BERLIN — German police are investigating after several women reported feeling unwell following an event hosted by the parliamentary group of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s party.

Berlin police said Saturday that the investigation was triggered by a 21-year-old woman, who felt dizzy and unwell several hours into Wednesday’s summer party for the Social Democrats and then was unable to remember the evening the following day. She went to a hospital for checks, and police ordered a blood test for an analysis of possible toxic substances.

The woman ate and drank at the event, but didn’t consume any alcohol, police said. By Saturday morning, another four cases in which people reported similar symptoms had emerged. German media reported that they apparently were victims of so-called “knockout drops,” which can be mixed into drinks or food. Police said they were awaiting test results.

Police opened an investigation of persons unknown on suspicion of bodily harm. Both they and the center-left Social Democrats said they weren’t aware of any offenses beyond that.

The Social Democrats’ co-leader, Lars Klingbeil, told Welt television he was “furious that something like this could happen at an event” organized by the party. He said the parliamentary group’s leadership is cooperating with authorities and he hopes “that the perpetrator or perpetrators can be caught and then brought to account.”

About 1,000 people attended the annual party on Wednesday, including the chancellor, party lawmakers and their employees.

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Probe shows prison officials’ role in events leading to youth’s jail death

Probe shows prison officials’ role in events leading to youth’s jail death

A new report by a committee formed to probe into the death of a Dalit youth in a jail in Rolpa has raised serious questions over Nepal’s prison administration.

Sundar Harijan, 20, died in jail on May 18 under suspicious circumstances. He was said to have died by suicide.

The probe committee has found that it was a case of identity swapping—that Harijan was serving time for another criminal. It has also found that there was gross negligence on the part of prison administration.

The executive summary of the report, a copy of which is seen by the Post, says CCTV footage of the time when Harijan ‘committed suicide’ is not available and recommends further detailed investigation by the Nepal Police.

Harijan was jailed on charges of mobile phone theft by Banke District Court judge Dilip Raj Onta.

Harijan was handed down one-year jail and Rs10,000 fine for mobile theft. He was supposed to remain in jail until September 3, 2020. His jail term, however, was extended until October 8 after he could not pay the fine.

Meanwhile, Bijay Bikram Shah was sent to jail for extortion and his involvement in organised crime. He was due to get released on March 6 next year.

But for no apparent reason, both Harijan and Shah were transferred to Rolpa Prison on November 23.

Then came the twist. Shah was released on January 12, 2021 as Harijan. Harijan continued to be in jail as Shah.

Harijan was found dead on May 18 at the Rolpa jail in a suspicious condition.

Earlier on May 20, the government had formed a probe panel led by Jharendra Chapagain, director of the Department of Prison Management, to study the death of Harijan. The panel submitted its report to Basudev Ghimire, director general of the Department of Prison Management, saying there was no involvement of the prison administration in Harijan’s death.

But the Home Ministry formed yet another committee led by Surya Prasad Sedhai, a joint secretary at the ministry, on May 31 to investigate the matter.

The Sedhai committee’s report has pointed out that Shah influenced the then acting jailor of Banke District Prison Dipendra Prasad Poudel and Dinesh Kumar Yadav, who was working as a driver for the prison. The panel found that Poudel and Yadav were pretty close with each other.

“Yadav, the driver, left for India immediately after the incident,” the executive summary of the report states. “He closed all his contacts, including phone and his social media accounts. Both Poudel and Yadav appear to have accomplices in the incident.”

The panel has recommended that the Nepal Police carry out a detailed investigation into the activities of Khadka Bahadur Khatri, also a prisoner, who was seen in CCTV footage talking to other inmates after Harijan’s death.

“From the details mentioned in the report it is clear that the then civil servants related to prison administration made serious mistakes and negligence in accomplishing their responsibilities and following laws, we recommend legal action against them,” the report states. “Likewise, we also recommend immediate implementation of the suggestions of this panel.”

The committee employed different methods for completing its study including field inspection, information collection and analysis, enquiry and the analysis of phone call and incident details.

The Sedhai-led panel included Jhanka Nath Dhakal, director of the Department of Prison Management, Superintendent of Nepal Police Bhupendra Khatri, Deputy Investigation Director of National Investigation Department Bishwamani Acharya and an administrative officer at the District Administration Office, Banke.

Its members also met with Shah, who is currently doing time in Barabanki District of India’s Uttar Pradesh, on drug trafficking charges, through unofficial channels.

Shah had told the investigation team that Harijan could have committed suicide after Khadka Bahadur Khatri, who is also known as Tora Bora, and Prakash Budha tortured him to return their money. The report does not have details of the money Shah is referring to.

The panel has recommended action against those who decided to transfer Shah and Harijan from Banke to Rolpa, saying that they failed to discharge their duties properly.

“I cannot say anything about the report because there are some very sensitive security issues,” said Surya Sedhai, joint secretary of the Home Ministry, who led the probe panel.

The Sedhai panel was asked to submit its report in seven days from the day they started their work. The panel submitted a report to Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand on Tuesday.

After receiving the report, Khand said he would implement the recommendations of the report.

According to another joint secretary of the Home Ministry, who wished not to be named, the recommendations of the probe panel will be implemented gradually.

He said the panel has made many recommendations including the reforms in prison administration and management of physical infrastructure, maintaining proper records of the prisoners with their clear identification so as to ensure that such incidents of identity swapping are not repeated in the future.

The National Human Rights Commission has also formed a separate probe panel. A report is pending.

The National Dalit Commission, however, said despite its wish to conduct a probe on its own, it could not do so because of fund crunch.

“We wanted to send an independent panel to investigate the death of the Dalit youth under suspicious circumstances in the prison. But we could not do so,” said Devraj Bishworkarma, chairperson of the Dalit Commission. “We could not manage funds for the probe.”

Legal experts say the government should come up with a new legal provision to control the crimes related to prisoner swapping as this could happen in the future as well.

“Since this is a new kind of crime in which prison administration officials seem to be involved, a separate law should be brought to curb such new forms of criminal activities,” said Balaram KC, former justice of the Supreme Court.

KC said the government must form another independent enquiry commission led by a sitting High Court judge as this is a serious issue in which all the state mechanism seems to have been involved in taking the life of a youth.

“The state is the custodian of the fundamental rights of its people,” KC told the Post. “The jailor concerned must be punished and the state must issue a public apology to the people and form an independent commission.”

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Proud Boys disrupt drag-queen reading event, prompting hate-crime probe

Proud Boys disrupt drag-queen reading event, prompting hate-crime probe
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A children’s story hour at a California library was disrupted by several members of the Proud Boys on Saturday, prompting local authorities to launch a hate-crime investigation as LGBTQ and anti-extremism advocates warn that such threats by far-right extremists are intensifying.

Roughly 25 miles from San Francisco across the East Bay, the San Lorenzo Library was hosting Drag Queen Story Hour when a group of five men interrupted the event and began hurling homophobic and transphobic insults at attendees, including the drag performer known as Panda Dulce, officials said. Drag Queen Story Hour, where performers read books to children, takes place in a part of the library where any member of the community can hold a meeting, according to Lt. Ray Kelly, a spokesman for the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office.

“The men were described as extremely aggressive with a threatening violent demeanor causing people to fear for their safety,” Kelly said in a statement. In addition to the hate-crime probe, authorities have also launched an investigation of whether the Proud Boys’ actions “annoyed or harassed children,” which is a violation of the penal code.

On Monday, detectives were still investigating. They were expected to hand over any evidence to the district attorney, who will determine whether hate-crime charges should be brought against the Proud Boys, a far-right group with a history of violence.

With the Bay Area being the epicenter of the Pride movement, LGBTQ events are often uneventful and “go off without a hitch,” Kelly told The Washington Post on Monday.

“As far as hatred and being a focal point, I’ve not seen that in years past. This is kind of new,” Kelly said. He also noted that the Proud Boys members who disrupted Saturday’s reading event were not believed to be from the San Lorenzo community.

“We don’t have right-wing extremists groups that come out into the open in the Bay Area all that much,” he said. “We believe there’s a group connected in San Mateo County, so we believe these people crossed the bay for this event.”

Meet the woman behind Libs of TikTok, secretly fueling the right’s outrage machine

Kelly said investigators believe the confrontation was spurred by the Twitter account Libs of TikTok, which traffics in anti-LGBTQ sentiment and propels incendiary stories into the right-wing media sphere.

Across the country, extremist groups with a far-right or white-supremacist ideology have increasingly coalesced around targeting LGBTQ events and individuals and sought to justify their attacks with false claims that gay and transgender people — and sometimes perceived ideological opponents — are preying on children.

Dulce, who is among the co-founders of the Drag Queen Story Hour program, said the men marched in making white-power hand gestures and had their “cameras blazing.”

“They said: ‘Who brought the tranny? It’s a groomer. It’s a pedophile. Why do you bring your kids to this event?’” Dulce said in an interview with KGO-TV in San Francisco.

That same day in Idaho, police arrested 31 men allegedly affiliated with the white-supremacist group Patriot Front on charges that they were conspiring to riot at a local Pride event. Extremism researchers say hate groups that target LGBTQ-friendly organizations or individuals are motivated by often overlapping beliefs in hyper-masculinity and archaic gender roles, fear of people who are different and the misplaced belief queer groups are amassing power and privilege at their expense.

Men tied to hate group planned for riot, ‘confrontation’ at LGBTQ event, police say

Over the past two years, conservative activists and lawmakers have increasingly fought over transgender and LGBTQ inclusivity and visibility in girl’s sports, school curriculums and public libraries.

Libraries throughout the United States have seen a big increase in the number of attacks and protests over inclusive reading lists or book displays in recent years, while the American Library Association’s Office of Intellectual Freedom has seen an overall increase in the targeting of libraries in general, said Emily Knox, who teaches at the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois and serves as editor of the ALA’s Journal of Intellectual Freedom and Privacy.

Libraries are also one of the few public faces of local government where individuals feel they can be heard, Knox said. Most people don’t go to city council meetings, Knox said, but lots of people go to the library.

Gender identity lessons, banned in some schools, are rising in others

Story hours have long been a staple of public library programming meant to promote literacy and engage young readers, though the Drag Queen Story Hour program is organized in local chapters and hosted by a local library.

Jonathan Hamilt, executive director of Drag Queen Story Hour, said the program drew a strong positive response when it began in 2015 for bringing fun and glamour to children’s story time, though it has always experienced pushback from some conservative groups.

Over the years, however, Hamilt said, pushback has morphed to hate and is now more directed at drag culture instead of gay people overall.

“With right-wing conservatives and Republican groups, outright saying they don’t like gay people sounds homophobic. It doesn’t play well,” he said. Going after drag culture provides cover under the argument that drag queens reading to children is inappropriate or untoward.

Contrary to what Drag Queen Story Hour opponents claim, Hamilt said, the group isn’t trying to persuade or “indoctrinate” anyone. It exists for the people who want and need it, he said.

“Our program is for queer families and their allies,” he said. “It’s not our job to teach people [about] the difference between sex and gender, or to make people like us. People who are against us, no matter how much we explain what we’re doing, they’re not going to understand or listen.”

Dulce, the drag performer who was allegedly harassed by Proud Boys at the San Lorenzo Library, told KGO there’s no reason to fear or hate them.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” Dulce said. “I just want to tell you a story. That’s it.”

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Security agencies probe pattern of provocative events in Punjab

Security agencies probe pattern of provocative events in Punjab


Tribune News Service

Jupinderjit Singh
Chandigarh, April 29

Security agencies in Punjab are probing if there’s a pattern between today’s clash that took place between two groups in Patiala, hoisting of a Khalistani flag in Malerkotla last night and the recent attempt to blow off a wall of Chandigarh’s Burail jail, where several hardliner terrorists are lodged.

Officials of the Punjab Police and intelligence agencies are also looking at the possibility that if the recent pruning of the police security given to several religio-politico leaders could be the motive to disturb law and order situation.

Officials said the security agencies were on alert to not let the situation go out of hand as groups in Pakistan besides Italy, Canada and the US had been instigating people and luring them with money and awards to carry out ‘some kind of action ’in Punjab.

With a new Chief Minister and DGP in the saddle, the sequence of events suggests there could be a pattern to destabilise the state, said sources. A high-level meeting between CM Bhagwant Mann and DGP VK Bhwara besides other officials took place in the evening to take stock of the challenges.

Meanwhile, a counter-intelligence expert said it had been a trend that whenever the security of religio-politico leaders was pruned or withdrawn, some kind of protests take place. “This has to stop,” he stressed.

Another official said it was well-known that stronger efforts were being made by the anti-national elements to use tiffin bombs, recruit youths via social media, activate sleeper cells and the more frequent use of smugglers and gangsters by the terror groups to supply drugs and weapons in the state.


#bhagwant mann
#punjab police
#vk bhwara

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Poland proposes formation of international commission to probe events in Ukraine’s Bucha

Poland

Amid the ongoing brutal war between Russia and Ukraine, Poland has proposed to create a special international commission to investigate the events in Ukraine’s Bucha. In a series of tweets, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki accused Russia of committing genocide in several Ukrainian cities. “Bucha, Irpin, Hostomel and Motyzhyn are the places we will remember. The Russians committed the crime of genocide. It must be properly documented and judged. Therefore, I am calling to establish an international commission composed of specialists,” Morawiecki stated in one of the Twitter posts. 

The Polish Prime Minister also called on European Union (EU) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) leaders to act decisively and implement actions to break Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war machine, confiscate the assets of the Russian Federation and the oligarchs deposited in the banks of Europe, and to break Russia’s aggressive policy. Motyzhyn also claimed that stopping Putin’s war machine depends on sanctions. “Today we are witnessing the creation of a genocide map of the 21st century, and the conclusion is that Russia is already a totalitarian, fascist state, which we must stop together within NATO and the EU,” he added in another tweet. 

 

Poland’s PM slams Germany for not imposing tougher sanctions on Russia

Meanwhile, Polish Prime Minister Morawiecki also blamed Germany for failing to impose tougher sanctions on Russia for its unjustified invasion of Ukraine. He also hailed Hungary for being supportive of new measures despite Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s friendly attitude towards Russia. “It’s Germany that is the main roadblock on sanctions,” Morawiecki added, as per The Kyiv Independent. Notably, several countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia and the European Union, have imposed numerous sanctions on Russia. 

Poland’s PM vows to stop importing Russian oil by the end of 2022

Last week, Poland’s PM Morawiecki announced that his country will take steps to stop importing Russian oil by the end of 2022. Addressing a press conference, he claimed that Poland was launching the most ambitious plan among European states to disentangle itself from Russian energy sources. He also stated that Poland’s reliance on Russian oil has decreased significantly. According to Morawiecki, Russian President Putin used gas and oil as a “tool of blackmail.” Poland’s Prime Minister further claimed that money from oil and gas exports is funding Russia’s war activities, which need to be stopped, The Associated Press (AP) reported. 

Image: AP

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