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Federal judge rejects Trump’s request to intervene in “hush money” case
A federal judge on Tuesday swiftly rejected former President Donald Trump’s request to intervene in his New York hush money criminal case, spurning the former president’s attempt at an end-run around the state court where he was convicted and is set to be sentenced in two weeks.
U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein’s ruling — just hours after Trump’s lawyers asked him to weigh the move — upends the Republican presidential nominee’s plan to move the case to federal court so that he could seek to have his conviction overturned in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s presidential immunity ruling.
Hellerstein, echoing his denial of Trump’s pretrial bid to move the case, said the defense failed to meet the high burden of proof for changing jurisdiction and that Trump’s conviction for falsifying business records involved his personal life, not official actions that the Supreme Court ruled are immune from prosecution.
In a four-page ruling, Hellerstein wrote that nothing about the high court’s July 1 ruling affected his previous conclusion that hush money payments at issue in Trump’s case “were private, unofficial acts, outside the bounds of executive authority.”
Trump’s lawyers first asked the federal court to intervene last week, but their paperwork was kicked back because they hadn’t gotten the required clearance from Hellerstein to file it. Hours after they submitted papers Tuesday requesting Hellerstein’s permission to proceed, he issued his ruling denying it.
Before dissecting Trump’s immunity claims, Hellerstein dispatched quickly of the defense’s oft-repeated claims that trial judge Juan M. Merchan had treated Trump unfairly — subjecting him to a gag order and refusing to delay the trial until after the Supreme Court ruled — because Merchan’s daughter is a Democratic political consultant.
Hellerstein sidestepped a defense complaint that Trump’s state court trial had been plagued by “bias, conflicts of interest, and appearances of impropriety,” writing that he “does not have jurisdiction to hear Mr. Trump’s arguments concerning the propriety of the New York trial.”
A Trump campaign spokesperson suggested he would seek to appeal Tuesday’s ruling. Trump and his lawyers “will continue to fight to move this Hoax into federal court where it should be put out of its misery once and for all,” spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement.
The Manhattan district attorney’s office, which prosecuted Trump’s case, declined comment. Earlier Tuesday, the office sent a letter to Merchan objecting to Trump’s effort to delay post-trial decisions in the case while he was seeking to have the U.S. District Court in Manhattan step in.
Merchan is expected to rule soon on two key defense requests: Trump’s call for the judge to delay his Sept. 18 sentencing until after the November election, and his request that the judge overturn his conviction and dismiss the case in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling.
Merchan has said he will rule Sept. 16 on Trump’s motion to overturn the verdict. His decision on delaying sentencing has been expected in the coming days.
Trump was convicted in May of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels, whose affair allegations threatened to disrupt his 2016 presidential run. Trump has denied her claim and said he did nothing wrong. His lawyers contend the case was tainted by violations of Trump’s constitutional rights and that the verdict is vitiated by the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling.
Falsifying business records is punishable by up to four years behind bars. Other potential sentences include probation or a fine.
Trump’s lawyers contend that sentencing Trump as scheduled, just two days after Merchan’s expected immunity decision, wouldn’t give him enough time to weigh next steps, including a possible appeal, if the judge rules to uphold the verdict.
They also argued a Sept. 18 sentencing, about seven weeks before Election Day, would be election interference. In a court filing last week, they raised the specter that Trump could be sent to jail just as early voting is getting underway.
Prosecutors have not staked a position on whether to delay sentencing, deferring to Merchan on an “appropriate post-trial schedule.” In their letter Tuesday, they said they were open to a schedule that allows “adequate time” to adjudicate Trump’s motion to overturn the verdict while also sentencing him “without unreasonable delay.”
Merchan last month rejected Trump’s latest request that he step aside from the case, saying Trump’s demand was a rehash “rife with inaccuracies and unsubstantiated claims” about his ability to remain impartial. A state appeals court recently upheld the gag order.
“It would be highly improper for this Court to evaluate the issues of bias, unfairness or error in the state trial,” Hellerstein wrote. “Those are issues for the state appellate courts.”
Instead, he noted, Trump can pursue a state appeal or seek review from the U.S. Supreme Court, whose immunity ruling reins in prosecutions of ex-presidents for official acts and restricts prosecutors in pointing to official acts as evidence that a president’s unofficial actions were illegal.
Trump’s lawyers have argued that prosecutors rushed to trial instead of waiting for the Supreme Court’s presidential immunity decision, and that prosecutors erred by showing jurors evidence that should not have been allowed under the ruling, such as former White House staffers describing how Trump reacted to news coverage of the hush money deal and tweets he sent while president in 2018.
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CookUnity
Looking to save some money on your weekly food budget this fall? Meal kit delivery services are already a budget-friendly alternative to grocery shopping or ordering delivery, but we here at CBS Essentials have found even more ways to save with the best deals on meal kits this month.
Unless you’re brand new to meal kits (in which case welcome to your new nutritious, affordable and hassle-free lifestyle!), you’ve probably seen a meal kit company offer up an enticing deal for first-time subscribers. These deals, which typically translate to price markdowns on one or more weekly deliveries, can be fleeting — there one week, gone the next.
To help you find the best deals that won’t slip through your metaphorical fingers, we’ve researched the absolute best deals on meal kits that are available this month.
The best deals on meal kits this month
We rounded up the best deals you’ll find on meal kits and listed our favorites below. These deals are definitely available through the end of September, but beyond that, who’s to say? Don’t wait around to see these big discounts and fun freebies vanish after this month ends — find the best meal kit delivery deal for you and sign up today.
Interested in saving money on your first meal kit delivery? How about discounts that last for several week’s worth of orders? Whether you’re looking for a great deal on first time meal kit subscriptions or simply want to hook yourself up with freebies like ButcherBox’s offer of free ground beef and wings for six months, we have the best deals you can find on meal kits this month below.
Save 50% off your first order with CookUnity
CookUnity via X/Twitter
Based in New York, CookUnity is a chef-to-consumer meal delivery service that pairs families with the works of local talented chefs. It isn’t available nationwide quite yet, but CookUnity is rapidly expanding its reach, covering most of the continental U.S. with the exception of West Virginia, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and parts of Wyoming, Nebraska and Colorado.
If you’re interested in signing up for access to CookUnity’s 70+ weekly recipes, now is the time to act. For the rest of this month, CookUnity is offering a whopping 50% discount for that first weekly delivery to new subscribers.
Free ground beef and wings for six months when you try ButcherBox
ButcherBox
Sometimes you know exactly what you want in a meal delivery service, and if that’s grass-fed beef, pasture-raised pork or chicken, then ButcherBox is right up your alley.
This delivery service replaces the wide variety of meals and sides that most other meal delivery services offer in place of a curated selection of meats. You can then use these as the base for your own cooking.
ButcherBox works with a group of family-owned farms and cooperatives to source its meats. ButcherBox deliveries are priced per meal. ButcherBox always offers free shipping.
All month long, first time subscribers can enjoy an impressive bonus: free ground beef and free wings each week for six months.
Enjoy 50% off your first four weeks with Blue Apron
Blue Apron
During our in-depth review for Blue Apron, we found plenty of reasons to sign up for the popular meal delivery service. Among Blue Apron’s +70 weekly recipe options, there are more than a few diet-friendly options for people to choose from.
Blue Apron also offers subscribers a choice between build-your-own meal kits that take as little as 20 minutes to whip up in the kitchen and a new line of prepared and ready meals. These nutritious offerings take no time at all to prepare, with most prepared and ready dishes ready to go in five minutes or less.
This month, Blue Apron is offering new subscribers an impressive 50% discount that is spread across their first four weeks.
Save 10% on orders over $100 with Daily Harvest
Daily Harvest
Daily Harvest has a refreshing menu full of dinners, lunches and snacks that are made from whole fruits and vegetables. If you want certified organic meals, Daily Harvest is worth considering.
Daily Harvest is extra worthy this month thanks to a simple yet effective discount: new subscribers can save 10% on orders with a total over $100.
Deliveries are put together one item at a time, so you have the freedom to build your own meal plan each week. Pick anywhere from nine to 24 items each week. Prices for Daily Harvest typically start at $7 per item.
Want half off your first box? Sign up for Factor
Factor
If you want fresh, ready-made meals that take little to no prep time, then Factor has a number of nutritious and satisfying meals for you to try out this month. Each fresh, never-frozen dinner is designed by one of Factor’s gourmet chefs.
If you’re interested in Factor’s selection of diet-friendly options — Factor serves up more than 30 dietitian-approved meals each week — then now is the time to sign up.
All through September, first time subscribers can save 50% off the price of their first box.
Get discounted meals as low as $3 per serving with EveryPlate
EveryPlate
One of the most affordable meal kit delivery services available today just got a little bit cheaper thanks to this month’s discount. EveryPlate offers a good selection of nutritious and hassle-free recipes each week, which you can enjoy for a fraction of the normal price by signing up during September.
Normally available starting at $5 per serving, EveryPlate orders are currently available to new subscribers for as low as $3 per serving.
Save $260 off your first five boxes with Marley Spoon
Marley Spoon
Marley Spoon is a meal kit company that’s all about the cooking experience. Each box contains quality ingredients and recipes based off of Martha Stewart classics, which have been pared down to be even more accessible to the average home chef.
If you’re ready to make the switch to meal kits, Marley Spoon has the perfect long-term offer. Right now, anyone who signs up for Marley Spoon can enjoy $260 in savings, spread across their first five boxes.
Get 50% off your first box, while supplies last, with Purple Carrot
Purple Carrot
Purple Carrot offers delicious, frequently low-calorie, meals each week. Every plant-based meal kit or pre-made meal is packed with nutrients — a perfect choice for vegans, vegetarians or anyone who just wants to eat healthier.
All through September, Purple Carrot is offering a 50% discount on that first weekly box for first-time subscribers.
How much do meal kits cost?
One of the biggest benefits to meal kits is the cost. Let’s face it: grocery prices can easily get out of hand, no matter how thrifty you are. The average two-person household typically spends between $450 and $800 per month at the grocery store.
Meal kit prices essentially boil down to the price per serving for each delivered meal kit. Most meal kits cost between $8 and $12 per serving, with prices going up if you choose fewer meals or servings each week (and vice versa). These prices are laid out for subscribers building their meal plan.
The good news is that first-time subscribers can usually find impressive sign-up bonuses and discounts. If you’re looking for the best deals, circle back to our list above for the best meal kit deals available through the end of September.
How do meal kits work?
Put simply, a meal kit is a subscription food delivery service that’s all about convenience. Meal kits are shipped right to your door, with ingredients prepped and pre-portioned to save you as much time as possible in the kitchen. Most meal kits leave the cooking steps up to you: Simply follow the included instructions (typically printed on recipe cards that you can save) to whip up dinner for you or the whole family with ease.
Weekly recipes change weekly so there’s always something new to look forward to. And if you ever want a break from meal kits, most meal kit delivery services make it easy to pause or cancel your subscription.
What is the best meal kit for large families?
In many ways, meal kits are one of the best solutions for anyone struggling to come up with new and nutritional dinners each night for a full house. They can help to cut down on expenses and save you time with pre-portioned meal kits that take a fraction of the time to whip up over a traditional home cooked meal.
One standout benefit that some meal delivery services offer is the option to personalize your meal plan. EveryPlate is one meal delivery service that has a meal plan perfectly tailored for larger families. EveryPlate’s kid-friendly family plan comes with dozens of weekly meal options.
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