US Domestic News Roundup: Colorado judge finds Trump engaged in 'insurrection' but allows him on ballot; Donald Trump loses bid for mistrial in New York civil fraud case and more

A copy of the letter was seen by Reuters. Trump vows to kill Asia trade deal being pursued by Biden if elected Donald Trump, the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination, said on Saturday that he would kill off a Pacific trade pact being advanced by U.S. President Joe Biden if he were to win the 2024 election and return to the White House.

Following is a summary of current US domestic news briefs.

Colorado judge finds Trump engaged in 'insurrection' but allows him on ballot

A Colorado judge on Friday allowed Donald Trump to remain on the ballot in the state's election next year, but found that he "engaged in insurrection" by sparking the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters. The ruling from Judge Sarah Wallace, which is almost certain to be appealed, rejects a bid by a group of Colorado voters to disqualify Trump under a rarely used amendment to the U.S. Constitution that bars officials who have engaged in "insurrection" from holding federal office.

Donald Trump loses bid for mistrial in New York civil fraud case

A New York judge on Friday rejected Donald Trump's bid for a mistrial in state Attorney General Letitia James' civil fraud lawsuit against him, after the former U.S. president accused the judge and his law clerk of being politically biased.

Justice Arthur Engoron of the New York state court in Manhattan said he could not "in good conscience" let Trump pursue a mistrial request that was "utterly without merit."

Sean 'Diddy' Combs, ex-girlfriend settle sex trafficking, rape lawsuit

Hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs and his ex-girlfriend R&B vocalist Cassandra Ventura on Friday settled her lawsuit that accused the rapper of serial physical abuse, sexual slavery and rape, according to lawyers for Ventura. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

California man pleads not guilty to manslaughter in death of Jewish protester

A California man pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and battery charges on Friday in the death of a Jewish man who fell to the ground and hit his head during an altercation between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrators earlier this month.

The suspect, Loay Alnaji, 50, was arraigned in Ventura County Superior Court the day after his arrest at his home in Moorpark, California, a community roughly adjacent to the scene of the protests on Nov. 5 and about 45 miles (72 km) northwest of Los Angeles.

US lawmakers pressure FDIC chief over misconduct allegations

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Friday renewed public calls for an investigation into the allegations of sexual harassment and other workplace misconduct at the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The announcements came as FDIC Chair Martin Gruenberg this week faced calls for his resignation following Wall Street Journal reporting according to which the agency had failed to eradicate widespread harassment in its workforce and spotlighting Gruenberg's personal role in cases of alleged harassment and discrimination.

Georgia prosecutors propose Aug. 5 trial date for Trump

Prosecutors in former President Donald Trump's election interference case in Georgia on Friday proposed starting the trial on Aug. 5, 2024, just months before the November U.S. presidential election. If that date is accepted by Judge Scott McAfee, Trump could potentially be on trial for allegedly trying to overturn the last presidential election when Americans vote in the next one.

White House challenges House impeachment inquiry of Biden

The White House on Friday challenged the validity of an impeachment inquiry run by Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives into President Joe Biden's son's business dealings. A letter from White House legal counsel Dick Sauber sent to House Republicans leading the inquiry said the probe was not valid since the House did not vote to authorize it. A copy of the letter was seen by Reuters.

Trump vows to kill Asia trade deal being pursued by Biden if elected

Donald Trump, the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination, said on Saturday that he would kill off a Pacific trade pact being advanced by U.S. President Joe Biden if he were to win the 2024 election and return to the White House. Speaking to supporters in Iowa, Trump said he was against the regional trade deal being negotiated by the Biden administration with 13 other countries, arguing that it would hollow out U.S. manufacturing and trigger job losses.

Elon Musk, under fire, threatens lawsuit against media watchdog

Elon Musk threatened on Saturday to sue media watchdog Media Matters and those who attacked his social media platform X, following moves by several large U.S. companies to halt advertising on the site after being promoted alongside antisemitic content. Musk and X have been under a microscope all week for antisemitic and racist content that has proliferated on the site since he purchased it in 2022.

US lawmakers urge scrutiny of SpaceX worker injuries after Reuters report

Three U.S. lawmakers are calling for greater scrutiny of worker safety at Elon Musk's SpaceX following a Reuters investigation that documented hundreds of injuries at the rocket company's U.S. manufacturing and launch sites. The Nov. 10 Reuters report detailed at least 600 previously unreported workplace injuries since 2014 at SpaceX including crushed limbs, amputations, head injuries and one death. The Reuters report found that injury rates at three major SpaceX industrial facilities in Texas and California far exceeded the average for the space industry.