"DIDDY COMMUTATION RUMORS, SOCIALITE BLOCKS DAUGHTER'S TESTIMONY & QB ROBBED BY EX"

0:03 Caalaroga Shark Media. Good morning, I'm Red Carter. Wednesday, October twenty second, twenty twenty five. Courts are quiet today, so we're checking the tabloids for the bizarre and sensational crimes making headlines. TMZ reported this week that Donald Trump is considering commuting Ditty's prison sentence. White House immediately denied it, called the report completely fraudulent and fake news. But Trump has previously said did he is essentially sort of half innocent since he was acquitted on sex trafficking charges. Said it's more likely a no on pardoning him. Ditty's attorney's filed notice of appeal this week. He's got thirteen months credit, faces about three more years. Rebecca Grossman is serving fifteen years to life for murdering two young brothers while racing her MLB lover in twenty twenty. Now she's being sued for wrongful death. The victim's parents wanted to pose Grossman's daughter, Alexis, who's twenty now but was sixteen during the crash. Grossman filed motion to block it. Says Alexis has chronic PTSD that forcing her to testify again would cause measurable psychological harm, wants the judge to use her criminal trial testimony instead.

1:23 Wall Street financier Howard Ruben seventy one appeared in court Monday for sex trafficking charges. Allegedly lured dozens of women to a sound proofed dungeon in his Manhattan penthouse from two thousand and nine to twenty nineteen. His estranged wife, Mary Henry seventy four, marched into court to support him. They filed for divorce in twenty twenty one, but she wrote a letter calling him a dedicated family man. Judge denied fifty million dollar bond Reuben Blewer a kiss as he was taken back to jail, and former NFL quarterback Eric Kramer survived shooting himself in the head in twousand fifteen, woke from a month long coma with the mental capacity of a six year old. His toxic ex girlfriend, Courtney, moved in, claiming to care for him, stole seven hundred thousand dollars over two years, married him without his consent.

2:14 When he recovered and tried to divorce her, she called nine to one one claiming he assaulted her. Eventually convicted of elder abuse, grand theft, forgery, got six months after paying one hundred seventy thousand dollars restitution. I'm Red Carter Today. Tabloid crimes, the bizarre, the sensational, the stories that sound too crazy to be true. This is celebrity trials. Monday, TMZ published a report Donald Trump is considering commuting Sean Dittycombe's prison sentence could happen as soon as this week. A White House insider told TMZ that Trump is vacillating on whether to follow his weekend commutation of former Congressman George Santos with Ditty. That White House staff are advising against it, but ultimately Trump will do what he wants.

3:06 The White House immediately responded. A spokesperson told The Daily Mail the report was completely fraudulent. Quote. There is zero truth to the TMZ report, which we would have gladly explained had they reached out before running their fake news. The President, not anonymous sources, is the final decider on pardons and commutations. Strong denial, calling TMZ fake news. But here's the context that makes this interesting. Trump has publicly discussed Ditty's case multiple times. August interview with Newsmax, Trump said Diddy was essentially sort of half innocent because he was acquitted on sex trafficking and racketeering charges. I don't know what they do that he's still in jail or something.

3:54 He was celebrating a victory, but I guess it wasn't as good a victory. Trump described the past relationship. I was very friendly with him, get along with him great, seemed like a nice guy. Didn't know him well. May twenty twenty five, Trump said he'd consider it. I'd look at what's happening. He used to really like me a lot. That relationship soured when Trump entered politics. Ditty was agnostic in twenty sixteen, but endorsed Joe Biden in twenty twenty said if Trump won there would be a race war, so the friendship ended. But Trump's logic is fascinating. Ditty was acquitted on the serious charges sex trafficking and racketeering, but convicted on two prostitution related charges. Trump sees that as half innocent, like Didty beat the major allegations, so the minor convictions don't count. That's not how criminal law works.

4:51 You're either guilty or not guilty. There's no half innocent. Ditty was convicted of two felonies transportation for purposes of prostitution. Judge sentenced him to fifty months, four years and two months, with credit for thirteen months already served. He faces about three more years. Prosecutors wanted eleven years and three months, defense wanted fourteen months total. Judge split the difference at fifty months, said did he caused irreparable harm to his victims and was making an example of him for his savage abuse of Cassie Ventura. This week, Ditty's attorneys filed a notice of appeal. Two page filing in Federal District Court of New York didn't lay out specific legal rationale yet that comes in later filings, but previous filings argued the prostitution charges don't apply to Ditty's conduct, that their relics of the Man Act rarely used today. The Man Act criminalized transporting women across state lines for prostitution, passed in nineteen ten to combat sex trafficking. Still on the books.

5:54 Did he flew women to various locations for freak off parties, that's transportation for prostitutes. The law applies, but Didty's lawyers argue those provisions are outdated, that modern prostitution laws focus on coercion and trafficking, not just transportation. That consensual adult arrangements shouldn't fall under the Man Act. That's the appeal argument. Trump's half innocent comment plays into that. If you strip away the transportation element and just look at whether did he trafficked women against their will? The jury acquitted him on that, so Trump sees it as did he didn't traffic anyone? Therefore the prostitution convictions based on transportation are wrong legally, that's nonsense. The jury hurt all the evidence, convicted on two counts, acquitted on others. That's how trials work.

6:46 Didt He isn't half innocent, He's fully guilty of the crimes he was convicted of. Would Trump actually commute Didty sentence? The White House says absolutely not, But Trump has a history of surprising pardons and commutations. He pardons Steve Bannon, Roger Stone, Paul Manifort, all political allies convicted of federal crimes. He commuted Alice Johnson's drug trafficking sentence after Kim Kardashian lobbied him. If Trump sees Ditty as half innocent and they have a past friendship, it's not impossible but it's unlikely. The political optics are terrible. Ditty was convicted of prostitution related offenses. The trial included evidence of abuse. Video of him beating Cassie went viral, public opinion turned against him.

7:30 Completely commuting his sentence would be massively unpopular, would be seen as Trump helping a wealthy friend avoid consequences, would undermine the criminal justice system, would enrage victim's advocates. But Trump does what Trump wants. He said so himself in that Newsmax interview, and his comment that Ditty is sort of half innocent suggests he's sympathetic to the appeal arguments. For now, Ditty remains at MDC Brooklyn. Appeal process will take more months or years. His request to transfer to the New Jersey Low Security prison is pending. His attorneys are fighting the conviction, and rumors swirl about possible presidential commutation.

8:11 The White House called the TMZ report fake news, but TMZ has sources. Whether those sources are reliable is another question. Trump's past comments suggest he's considered it. Whether he'll actually do it is unknown. Did he serves his time appeals his conviction hopes for a miracle either from the courts or from Trump More. In a moment September twenty twenty, Westlake Village, California, Rebecca Grossman, wealthy socialite, is driving her white Mercedes SUV, racing her lover, former LA Dodgers pitcher Scott air Erickson, who's in his own black Mercedes. Both speeding through residential streets. They approach a pedestrian crossing. The Iskander family is there. Nancy and Kareem with their four children, Mark eleven and Jacob eight, are crossing when Grossman's Mercedes hits them at high speed, kills both boys. Instantly doesn't stop, keeps driving, hit and run. January twenty twenty four, Grossman convicted of two counts second degree murder, two counts vehicular manslaughter, one count hit and run. Sentenced to fifteen years to life, Currently serving time at California Institution for Women in Chino.

9:39 Cellmates include Betty Brodrick, who killed her ex husband and his new wife, and Manson family murderer Patricia Crenwinkle. Now the escandors are suing Grossman for wrongful death. Civil trial scheduled January twenty twenty six, and they wanted to pose Grossman's daughter Alexis now twenty, but sixteen when the crash happened. Alexi testified at her mother's criminal trial, gave shocking testimony about Scott Erickson. Said after the crash, she was driving to pick up pizza when she saw police lights, saw her mother being questioned, pulled over, ran toward her mother, screaming, mommy, mommy. Police told her to go home. When she turned around, she saw Ericson hiding behind a tree in the bushes.

10:21 He was poking his head out and we made eye contact. She drove home shortly after. The front door burst open, and Scott Erickson walked in and said, why did your mom stop? Why did your mom stop? He seemed very angry, he was frantic. I could smell alcohol on him. He was freaking out. I was scared, Alexis testified. Ericson yelled, don't say anything. Don't tell anyone you saw me, or I will ruin you and your family. He's a big guy, he's this baseball player, and he was scary. I was scared he might do something to hurt me or my family from what he said. Prosecutors poured scorn on that testimony, pointed out Alexis never mentioned Erickson in earlier interviews with police and the DA. In one interview ten months after the crash, she said Ericson had not come back to the house and their paths had not crossed that night.

11:17 Under cross examination, Alexis admitted she'd told different stories at different times. Her credibility destroyed, but the testimony revealed Alexis was traumatized watching her mother get arrested, dealing with intense media scrutiny, living through the trial. Now the escandors wanted to pose her again for the civil case. Standard procedure in wrongful death lawsuits depose everyone with relevant information. Alexis was a witness, has information about the night of the crash, about Grossman's relationship with Ericson, about what happened after, but Grossman filed a motion to block it. New court documents reveal Alexis has been diagnosed with chronic p t D as a result of her mother's crash, continues with psychotherapy.

12:04 A licensed clinical social worker treating Alexis warns that a deposition poses a significant risk of re traumatization and would likely cause measurable psychological harm and destabilization. Grossman's attorneys argue Alexis Grossman, who was not a witness to the accident, does not have information reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence plaintiffs do not already have and or cannot get from other sources. Any information Alexis does have is not sufficient to justify the burden mental anguish and medical risk from a deposition about her mother's tragic accident, conviction, and incarceration. They propose using Alexis's criminal trial testimony instead of a new deposition. That testimony is already on the record, already available, no need to traumatize Alexis again. The Aescanders also wanted to pose Grossman's husband, doctor Peter Grossman, renowned plastic surgeon who owned the Mercedes. Grossman's team objects to that too, says Peter was already deposed for three hours and twenty twenty one no good cause for a second deposition.

13:12 Hearing scheduled December. First judge will decide whether to grant a protective order blocking Alexis and Peter from depositions. Here's the conflict. The Ascanders lost two sons, Mark and Jacob, were killed by Grossman's reckless driving. They have every right to pursue civil damages, to get answers to depose witnesses who might have relevant information. But Alexis is a victim iiO. She's not responsible for her mother's crimes. Was sixteen when it happened, watched her mother get arrested, testified at trial, deals with chronic PTSD. Forcing her to relive that trauma for a civil deposition is cruel. The civil trial will determine damages how much Grossman owes the iskonders. The judge already approved a motion to examine the Grossman's finances to determine how how much they're worth. That's standard in wrongful death cases. You need to know the defendant's assets to determine appropriate damages. Scott Erickson is also named in the lawsuit.

14:10 He was racing Grossman. Prosecutors tried to blame him for the crash at Grossman's trial, but he was only charged with misdemeanor reckless driving, got a slap on the wrist, ordered to make a public service announcement for high school students about safe driving. Ericson has a court date Friday. We'll ask the judge to deny the a iscandor's motion to probe his finances. Doesn't want them knowing how much he's worth, but the judge will probably grant it, same as with the Grossmans. Grossman also has a court date Friday. We'll argue for change of venue. Claims she can't get a fair trial in La County because of prejudice against her once the trial moved somewhere with less media coverage.

14:50 That motion will probably fail. Grossman was already convicted in criminal court. The civil trial is just about damages. Changing venue won't change the fact that she killed two children while racing her lover through residential streets. More in a moment. Howard Ruben Monday morning, Brooklyn Federal Court. Howard Ruben, seventy one year old Wall Street financier, appears on sex trafficking charges allegedly lured dozens of women to a sound proofed sex dungeon in his Manhattan penthouse from two thousand and nine to twenty nineteen. His estranged wife, Mary Henry, seventy four, marches into court wearing a blue coat and stoic expression.

15:38 They filed for divorce in twenty twenty one, but she's there to support him. Wrote a letter to the judge calling him, a dedicated family man, claimed he's not a flight risk. Prosecutors disagree, say Reuben is absolutely a flight risk and a danger to society. Judge sides with prosecution, denies fifty million dollar bond package. Ruben remains in Custom City at Metropolitan Detention Center in Sunset Park. As Reuben was taken out of the courtroom, he blew Henry a kiss. She watched no visible reaction the charges. Ruben and his personal assistant Jennifer Powers forty five allegedly trafficked former playboy models and other women from two thousand and nine to twenty nineteen. Spent over one million dollars recruiting women for sadomasochistic sex acts in exchange for money. Once in New York, women were encouraged to use drugs or alcohol to prepare for encounters, sometimes engaged in conduct beyond the scope of their consent court filing. During many of these encounters, Ruben brutalized women's bodies, causing them to fear for their safety and or resulting in significant pain or injuries, which at times required women to seek medical attention. Ruben allegedly gave women a safe word, but disregarded it when acts continued, was violent without concer After encounters, paid women five thousand dollars if he was satisfied through wire transfer, PayPal or Venmo.

17:08 Before twenty eleven, acts occurred at luxury Manhattan hotels. From twenty eleven to twenty seventeen at Ruben's two bedroom penthouse near Central Park. The penthouse contained the Dungeon, a sound proofed room painted red with a lock on the door. Outfitted with bondage and discipline instruments. Ruben and Powers required women to sign NDA's and pledge they weren't under influence of drugs or alcohol when signing. Some alleged victims sued. In twenty seventeen, a jury found only Reuben liable, awarded women three point nine million dollars. He's appealing. If convicted of all charges, Reuben and Powers each face at least fifteen years in prison. Mary Henry's letter to the judge painted a different picture. I understand far too well the serious charges before the court. I can only speak from my own experience when I say they do not represent the Howie Ruben. I saw a caring father, a loving son in law, and devoted grandfather known affectionately as pops.

18:12 She described falling in love with him in graduate school, called him intelligent, quick witted, kind, said he'd never abandon his family, that he retired at forty four to help raise their three adopted children, that he was a constant presence in their lives. But the indictment describes a predator who brutalized women in a sound proof dungeon for a decade, who disregarded safe words, who caused injuries requiring medical attention, who paid women to keep quiet. That's not the family man Henry describes. Why is Henry supporting him? They're divorced, filed in twenty twenty one, but still co grandparent a ten family events together. Maybe she genuinely believes he's innocent.

18:54 Maybe she's protecting their children from seeing their father as a monster. Maybe she benefits financial from his freedom. Whatever the reason, her presence sent a message. Ruben has support, has people who believe in him. But the judge wasn't swayed, denied bond. Ruben stays in jail until trial. Summer twenty fifteen. Eric Kramer, former NFL quarterback, checks into a motel room. Eleven year NFL career played for Falcons Lions Bears. Chargers still holds Bear's record for most passing yards and touchdowns, but crippling depression got the best of him. Lost his son to drug overdose, lost his mother to cancer, decided to end his life. Put a gun to his head, pulled the trigger. Bang. Most people die from self inflicted gunshot wounds to the head. Kramer survived, woke from a month long coma. The bullet split his tongue, carved through his frontal lobe and skull. Didn't kill him, but destroyed his mental capacity. A neurologist declared him mentally incapacitated. Kramer had the mental state of a six year old placid, easy going, highly suggestible, couldn't process complex concepts or decisions, just did what he was told without question. Whoever instructed him, he complied, whether he knew them or not. His NFL career left money in the bank for medical treatment. That

20:25 money attracted attention his ex girlfriend, Courtney. They dated briefly. Kramer broke up with her extremely toxic relationship. His friends and family hated her. His mother called her a gold digger. Last person Kramer expected to help him, but out of the blue, Courtney started texting then calling, full of concern and loving solace. Kramer had the mental capacity of a six year old. Didn't really remember her, didn't remember dating or breaking up, had zero short term memory. Sometimes ate dinner two or three times because he forgot the first. Soon Courtney was visiting, then moved into his house under guise of taking care of him. Quit her office job.

21:07 Seemed like a godsend. Swipe his credit card for groceries, used cash back feature to pocket one hundred dollars or more each trip, testing the waters for the long con She invited friends and family over frequently, Kramer's ex wife, his son Dylan, his aunt, and uncle. Made everyone dinner, updated them about his treatment. Did a better job explaining than Kramer could. He suffered confusion and memory loss. Just nodded along while she topped off his wineglass and kissed his head. Convinced everyone she had his best interests at heart. Nobody guessed she was stealing three hundred to seven hundred dollars every single day. Kramer's childhood friend, Anna Durgan, noticed packages piling up on the doorstep, addressed to Courtney, paid for with Kramer's credit cards. Checked his bank records, found strange daily atm withdrawals except of credit card transactions, cash advances, forged checks. Courtney had drained Kramer's deceease son's memorial account.

22:07 Anna reported the theft to La Sheriff's department. A detective investigated interviewed Kramer at a brain rehabilitation center. Must have been frustrating. The detective kept explaining the situation, but Kramer couldn't connect the dots, couldn't understand. Detective wrote in his report that Kramer was mentally incapacitated and unable to handle financial affairs. When Kramer told Courtney about the detective and missing money, she said she took the money for groceries, told him to call the detective and end the investigation because there was no crime. So Kramer called and told the detective not to investigate. Did what he was told. Passenger in his own life, Courtney behind the wheel. As weeks passed, Courtney isolated Kramer from friends and family, took over his entire identity, collected passwords, monitored emails, discover he had a meeting with a conservatorship attorney. His family arranged to stop the theft. Courtney's checkmate move married Kramer in a top secret ceremony behind everyone's backs. Worked beautifully. LA district attorney refused to file charges. Marriage muddied the waters.

23:17 A wife can't steal from her husband right. By twenty seventeen, Kramer had been with Courtney eight months. She'd scammed him out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Court appointed an attorney to handle his conservatorship. That attorney seemed to take Courtney's side, argued Kramer was as competent as anyone else in the courtroom, scoffed at evidence. Judge ruled in Courtney's favor. Kramer remained married to Courtney, losing ten thousand to fifteen thousand dollars a month as she funded her lavish lifestyle. It took another year before Kramer's mental fog dissipated June twenty eighteen, flash of lucidity, like waking from a coma. Realized he didn't love Courtney, never wanted to marry her, didn't consent, realized she was stealing, told her they were getting divorced, insisted she move out. Courtney went to her room to pack instead, called nine to one one, accused Kramer of assaulting her. He was arrested and charged with domestic battery. Media sensationalized it, but Kramer fought back, got the fraudulent marriage annulled, got the domestic violence case dropped.

24:25 After a year and a half proving his case to the DA, Courtney was arrested February twenty twenty charged with twelve felony counts dependent adult abuse, grand theft, forgery, identity theft. She eventually pleaded guilty in twenty twenty four, after dozens of court appearances and changing attorneys five times. Trying to drag it out and exhaust Cramer didn't work. Sentenced to six months in jail after magically coming up with one hundred seventy thousand dollars cash for restitution. Judge went easy, but it was a drop in the bucket. Between attorneys, fees, annulment costs, clearing his name from false accusations, his years with Courtney cost over seven hundred thousand dollars. Kramer survived a self inflicted gunshot. Less than one percent of such attempts are survived. His recovery was extraordinary, and for the past year he's produced a podcast called The Quarterback and the con Artist, Unwinding exactly what happened by interviewing everyone involved, con artists are everywhere. Nine times out of ten, they's someone you know or someone you love that Celebrity Trials for Wednesday, October twenty second, twenty twenty five. Did he commutation rumors denied by Whitehouse? Trump previously called him half innocent.

25:45 Appeal filed this week. Rebecca Grossman trying to block daughter's deposition Alexis has chronic PTSD. Hearing December first, Howard Rubens's estranged wife showed up to support him on sex trafficking charges. Judged denied fifty million dollar bond. Eric Kramer scammed out of seven hundred thousand dollars by ex girlfriend after surviving suicide attempt. She got six months. I'm reed, Carter tomorrow. Back to regular court coverage. This is celebrity trials