Prosecutors released footage this week of alleged victims detailing their claims of sexual assault by the Alexander brothers, accused of drugging and then sexually assaulting and raping dozens of women across multiple states. 

Miami-Dade prosecutors released the videos on Tuesday as part of the state's cases against Oren and Alon Alexander, according to NBC6. 

Tal, 38, and Oren Alexander, 37, two prominent jet-setting brokers in New York and Miami, and their brother Alon Alexander, Oren's identical twin, were arrested in Miami Beach on Dec. 11 and have since been taken into federal custody. 

"I was scared for my life, just because of what I just experienced," one woman whose identity was concealed said in the footage. "Not only the rapes, but just, like, how they were."

WEALTHY FLORIDA REAL ESTATE BROTHERS' 'TROPHIES' UNCOVERED AS JUDGE DENIES BAIL: FEDS

On Dec. 31, 2016, she thought she was meeting Alon Alexander for a barbecue at a Miami Beach condo. But unexpectedly, she said, his twin brother Oren and a third man, Ohad Fisherman, were waiting for her arrival. 

"[Fisherman] just pushed me down and had his knees and hands on my shoulders holding me down," she recalled in the video, according to NBC6. "I was crying, and I know the whole time I was asking them not to do it . . . I was just like 'Please no, please no.'"

The woman claimed that Alon and Oren took turns raping her while Fisherman held her in place, according to her interview with investigators. All three men face sexual battery charges and are awaiting trial; Fisherman is not accused of raping the woman. 

The woman confided in family and friends about the terrifying ordeal but said she was too frightened of the men to report the attack at the time, NBC6 reported.

"They just had this weird presence about them," she said. "It was just very, very, very scary."

HIGH-PROFILE REAL ESTATE BROTHER MISSES HEARING AFTER MIX-UP IN IDENTICAL TWINS' SEX TRAFFICKING CASE

In October 2021, Oren allegedly invited another woman to his Flamingo Drive home. What was initially a flirtatious encounter devolved into assault, she said. 

"I start pulling away and as I pull away, he starts getting aggressive, kissing me, holding me firmly. He ripped the top of my dress," the second woman said in footage released this week. "He pushed me onto his bed, and I laid there stiff and in shock, and he got on top of me."

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Joel Denaro and Edward O'Donnell IV, attorneys representing Oren and Alon, told NBC6 that the accusers' stories "will collapse not only under their own weight but with evidence that will prove they are not believable."

"Aside from the obvious financial reward they are seeking after eight years of not reporting to law enforcement, we will show evidence, witnesses, and motivations contradicting their stories," he told the outlet.

Fisherman's attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.

LUXURY REAL ESTATE BROTHERS LURED DOZENS OF WOMEN OVER TWO DECADES WITH PROMISE OF LAVISH LIFESTYLE: FEDS

Currently, Oren, Alon and Tal are in federal custody in New York. There, they are facing sex trafficking charges, but they deny allegations against them. 

Law enforcement officers have interviewed over 40 women, who reported "being forcibly raped or sexually assaulted by at least one of the Alexander Brothers," according to a recent letter by the prosecution, obtained by Fox News Digital. 

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In many of these alleged instances, "one or more of the Alexander Brothers drugged their victim prior to the rape," prosecutors wrote in the letter addressed to U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni.

Each of the brothers has separately been accused by at least 10 women of forcible rape between 2002 or 2003 and 2021, according to the letter. 

'DIDDY' MAKES 3RD BAIL ATTEMPT AFTER PROSECUTORS ALLEGE HE BLACKMAILED VICTIMS FROM BEHIND BARS

Authorities executed a warrant on Dec. 11 to search Tal Alexander's apartment inside a skyscraper on Manhattan's "Billionaire's Row." During the search, multiple hard drives were discovered and seized, including one with a large quantity of sexually explicit videos and pictures, according to the letter and prosecutor's statement during a hearing earlier this month.

The apartment was previously shared by Oren and Tal Alexander, the letter continues, adding that the photos and videos were found on a hard drive in a closet that appeared to include items belonging to Oren. 

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The seized photos and videos depict "at least Oren, Alon, and several third parties recording or photographing themselves with women in states of intoxication and undress," and in multiple videos, "the women appear initially unaware that they were being recorded and became upset and attempted to hide or flee from the camera after realizing they were being filmed," prosecutors wrote.  

All three brothers were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and a separate count of sex trafficking of one woman by force, fraud or coercion. In addition, Tal Alexander was charged with the sex trafficking of a second victim.

Earlier this month, Judge Caproni denied bail, finding that the Alexander brothers pose a flight risk and a risk to the community. She said the evidence is strong, adding that the men pose a danger to unsuspecting women.

Alon Alexander appealed that decision on Tuesday, according to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital.

Oren and Tal Alexander co-founded the real estate firm Official, which offers luxury listings in places like New York City, the Hamptons, Miami and Los Angeles, in 2022 after rising through the ranks at Douglas Elliman, one of the largest real estate brokerages in the country, according to prosecutors.

Their past clients include Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, Liam Gallagher and Lindsay Lohan, according to CBS News.

Fox News Digital's Mollie Markowitz contributed to this report.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested more than 7,400 people in nine days across several states amid its aggressive crackdown on illegal immigration since the new Trump administration came into office. 

ICE officers have been seen carrying out raids of homes, work sites, and other establishments, while deportations have also ramped up, with the Trump administration also vowing to send the most violent migrants to Guantánamo Bay.

According to a compilation of daily totals of arrests, as of Jan. 31, ICE has so far arrested 7,412 people who the agency says are in the country illegally. The agency says that nearly 6,000 ICE detainers have been placed on individuals.

NYC RESIDENTS PRAISE ICE RAIDS AFTER VIOLENT GANG MEMBER CAPTURED

ICE has posted nine daily arrest totals to X and has also posted details from various raids across sanctuary cities like New York City, Chicago and Boston where they have scooped up illegals accused of sex crimes against minors, rapes, guns and drug offenses, while violent gang members belonging to Tren de Aragua and MS-13 have also been taken off the streets. 

Border czar Tom Homan has said the administration is currently only targeting violent illegal aliens while Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversees ICE, says federal immigration authorities are arresting the "worst of the worst" in raids. She says the streets are now safer as a result.

Many of the ICE raids have been carried out alongside other federal agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Noem joined an immigration enforcement raid in New York City Tuesday morning in which officers picked up Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco, 26, an alleged ringleader of the violent Tren de Aragua gang. Zambrano-Pacheco is the same man caught on camera in a viral video showing heavily armed men kicking down an apartment door at an apartment complex in Aurora, Colorado, last summer.

Luis Adolfo Guerra Perez, 19, a Guatemalan citizen and MS-13 gang member, was arrested by ICE in Massachusetts last week. He was facing state gun charges and had previously been ordered to be deported before he was released by a Boston court.

ICE has published details of more than 60 cases while the White House X account has posted details of at least 20 others.

NOEM SAYS 'WORST OF THE WORST' ARRESTED IN NYC RAID TARGETING CRIMINAL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

However, for the vast majority of the 7,412, details on their criminal histories are not yet available.

The arrests total come as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed that the "worst of the worst" criminal migrants will be temporarily housed at Guantánamo Bay detention camp and that "all options will be on the table" for military action against the cartels.

Hegseth made the announcement in an interview with "Fox and Friends" on Friday and it came on the heels of an announcement made by President Donald Trump on Wednesday that he will be instructing the Pentagon to prepare Guantánamo Bay to detain 30,000 "criminal illegal aliens."

"Today I'm also signing an executive order to instruct the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to begin preparing the 30,000-person migrant facility at Guantánamo Bay," Trump said. "Most people don't even know about it."

It was later learned that Trump signed a presidential memorandum, not an executive order, on the matter.

News of the arrests has been generally well-received by locals living in these areas. 

Ramses Frías, a local Queens activist who’s voiced concerns over a crime crisis gripping his neighborhood, which is partially represented by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said the raids have also been warmly received by the community.

"Many residents, from immigrants to citizens, welcome ICE coming in and taking the criminals out of these communities," Frías, a city council candidate, told Fox News Digital. "They welcome law and order and want safe streets."

However, not everyone agreed with the raids and Mayor Brandon Johnson recently "reaffirmed" his commitment to keep Chicago a sanctuary city, as did Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. 

Multiple candidates vying for New York City mayor are hoping to distance themselves from their past support of "defund the police" initiatives.

Democrats, like New York State Sen. Zellnor Myrie, former city comptroller Scott M. Stringer and current city comptroller Brad Lander, have thrown their hats into the ring to replace Mayor Eric Adams in 2025. Since announcing their runs, each candidate has been promoting a pro-police and public safety campaign to address rising crime.

Both Stringer and Myrie have released a plan to hire more than 3,000 police officers, with Stringer also calling for "a dedicated officer on every subway train."

NYC BUSINESSES, EXPERTS RIP CRIME POLICIES HURTING PROFITS, SCARING EMPLOYEES: 'WHY NEW YORK IS THE WORST'

Lander, meanwhile, was more repentant, saying that he wanted to "acknowledge that progressives, including myself, were slow to respond to the growing sense of disorder coming out of the pandemic."

This marked a stark contrast to their opinions on police and police funding just a few years prior.

In June 2020, shortly after George Floyd’s death, Lander remarked, "It is time to defund the police and reimagine our public safety infrastructure." His mindset remained unchanged into 2021, despite having an NYPD security detail for himself.

"All neighborhoods need and deserve to be safe, and we must confront rising levels of gun violence," Lander said in 2021. "But NYC already has more police officers per capita than nearly every large American city."

Stringer called for a $1.1 billion reduction in the police budget in 2020 during the height of the Black Lives Matter protests.

"The brutal, senseless murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery are the most recent reminders of the longstanding need for racial justice and reform in policing," Stringer said. "We must call out racism in all its ugly forms to break this painful cycle. But it is not enough to condemn racism in words: our fight for justice must be backed up with accountability and concrete action."

Myrie previously sued the NYPD, claiming he was assaulted and pepper sprayed while taking part in a Black Lives Matter protest.

NYC SUBWAY RIDERS EXPRESS SAFETY CONCERNS AMID HIGH-PROFILE CRIME STORIES: VIOLENCE 'CAN STRIKE AT ANY HOUR'

"Police brutality is in the DNA of this country and if we do not start the conversation from there I will not engage with you," Myrie wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter) in 2020.

Fox News Digital reached out to the candidates for comment.

The shift resembles Mayor Adams’ own tough-on-crime campaign that led him to victory. In 2021, he criticized his primary opponent, Maya Wiley, for hiring private security while pushing to defund the police.

"To me that’s the highest level of hypocrisy," Adams said. "Security can’t be for the affluent — it must be for every New Yorker."

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Democratic New York City Mayor Eric Adams will have a limited public schedule this week, with his office saying that he will be undergoing medical tests. 

"Over the last few days, Mayor Adams hasn’t been feeling his best," New York City Deputy Mayor for Communications Fabien Levy said in a statement. Levy did not specify a condition or medical concern.  

ADAM SAYS NYC IS COORDINATING WITH ICE AS MASS MIGRANT DEPORTATIONS LOOM

"As a result, this week, the mayor will have a number of doctors’ appointments and undergo routine medical tests," Levy continued. "While Mayor Adams will continue to communicate constantly with staff and ensure city business continues undeterred, during this time, the mayor will have a limited public schedule."

Adams’ office said that New Yorker City Hall would continue its everyday functions as Adams focuses on his health this week.

NYC MAYOR ADAMS TO ATTEND INAUGURATION AT TRUMP TEAM'S REQUEST

"New Yorkers can rest assured that their local government will continue to deliver for them every day as our committed workforce at City Hall, and more than 300,000 employees at dozens of city agencies, continue to show up on the most important issues," Levy said. "Like every other New Yorker, Mayor Adams has a right to privacy when it comes to personal matters, but we will continue to communicate in the unlikely event he is unable to fully discharge his duties on any particular day."

Adams has cozied up to President Donald Trump this month, visiting West Palm Beach for a lunch meeting and then accepting Trump’s invitation to the Inauguration in Washington. Last week, the Democratic mayor agreed to work with the Trump administration on deporting migrants who commit violent crimes in New York City, earning a nod from President Trump’s own border czar Tom Homan.

Adams was indicted in Sept. 2024 for corruption and bribery charges. President Trump said Adams was treated "pretty unfairly" and that he was targeted for his tough stance on illegal immigration. Trump said he would consider a pardon for the New York City mayor.

An Israeli restaurant in Brooklyn was vandalized over the weekend in what New York City Mayor Eric Adams is calling a "despicable act of antisemitism." 

The New York City Police Department told Fox News Digital that its Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating after the phrases "Israel steals culture" and "Genocide cuisine" were found painted on the exterior of Miriam early yesterday morning. 

"This was a despicable act of antisemitism at Miriam, a beloved Israeli restaurant in Park Slope," Adams wrote on X, sharing images of the restaurant’s front door covered in red paint. 

"As mayor of the city with the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, I am particularly heartbroken by this evil act. Make no mistake, the NYPD is investigating and will find those responsible," he added. 

HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY: A TOWN ONCE INHABITED BY NAZIS RECONCILES WITH THE PAST 

The restaurant said it was "sadly vandalized with messages of hate," but "we refuse to let this darken our spirit." 

"Miriam stands for inclusivity and unity and bringing people together through the shared love of delicious food and warm hospitality. We celebrate the diverse flavors of the Mediterranean, where cultures intertwine and stories are shared," it wrote on Instagram. "We will continue to be a safe place where everyone feels welcome. Join us in spreading love, not hate." 

A second Miriam location in Manhattan’s Upper West Side neighborhood was vandalized in 2022, according to the New York Post. 

Owner Rafi Hasid decided to open the Brooklyn location on Sunday with the messages still painted on the glass, the newspaper reported. Three masked individuals reportedly were seen targeting the property around 3 a.m. Sunday. 

"I want the people to see it. I don’t want to wash it right away. People should see... that things like that happen," Hasid told the Post. 

HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR RECOUNTS HOW MOTHER SAVED HER LIFE, REVEALS MESSAGE TO UN 

The NYPD told Fox News Digital that as of Monday morning, "there are no arrests, and the investigation is being handled by the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force." 

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Rep. Ritchie Torres, both Democrats from New York, posted messages of support for Miriam in the wake of the incident. 

"I visited Miriam this evening, the Brooklyn restaurant that experienced despicable vandalism last night. I met with the owner, the workers, and their patrons," Schumer wrote on X. "I told them I stood with them, and that vandalizing a restaurant because the owner was Jewish was outright antisemitism. Period. Hate has no place in New York." 

"Jew-hatred will find no refuge in the City of New York," Torres added. "A hate crime against the Jewish community is a hate crime against all of us." 

Universities and colleges across the US have experienced a rise in antisemitic and anti-Israel activity since Hamas’ brutal attacks on Oct. 7. Anti-Israel agitators have staged massive protests, disrupted courses and events, and set up encampments. However, it's not just the students who are involved, it's also the faculty.

Columbia Business School associate professor Shai Davidai is calling on President Donald Trump to issue an executive order to stop institutions that hire professors who support US-designated terror organizations from receiving federal funds.

In a repost from the account Documenting Jew Hatred on Campus at ColumbiaU, Davidai urged Trump to act.

"I think it’s time for the president to sign a very simple executive order: no federal funds to private institutions that hire professors who support U.S.-designated terrorist organizations," Davidai wrote.

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY TEMPORARILY BANS PRO-ISRAEL PROFESSOR FROM CAMPUS

Davidai believes Columbia is in violation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and "should not receive federal funding" based on the hiring and elevating of terror group-supporting faculty.

"For the past 15 months, we have seen open support for the annihilation of the State of Israel," Davidai told Fox News Digital. "Not just criticism of the government of Israel, but the existence of Israel and Israelis on university campus both by students but also by professors."

However, Davidai emphasized that this is not just an Israeli issue, it’s an American issue. He notes that the agitators often echo the rhetoric of the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps, seeing Israel as "little Satan" and America as "big Satan."  

"This is anti-Americanism. They hate America, and they say so, it’s not me putting words in their mouths."

Columbia University became a hotbed of anti-Israel and antisemitic activity following the Oct. 7 attacks, even drawing national attention as then-President Minouche Shafik was grilled by lawmakers about the situation. Despite a change in university leadership, anti-Israel agitators are still active on campus.

Last week, anti-Israel agitators disrupted a course called the Modern History of Israel, which was being taught by Avi Shilon, a visiting professor from Israel’s Tel-Hai Academic College. Tel-Hai has faced the threat of Hezbollah attacks due to its location near Israel's northern border.

"Just like Hezbollah would not let him teach his class in Israel, the Hezbollah supporters here in New York City just barged into his class and would not let him teach," Davidai said.

COLUMBIA STUDENTS CONFRONT ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTERS WHO STORMED CLASSROOM WITH ANTISEMITIC FLYERS

Columbia did not respond to a request for comment. However, after the incident, interim President Katrina Armstrong issued a statement.

"Today a History of Modern Israel class was disrupted by protesters who handed out fliers. We strongly condemn this disruption, as well as the fliers that included violent imagery that is unacceptable on our campus and in our community. No group of students has a right to disrupt another group of students in a Columbia classroom. Disrupting academic activities constitutes a violation of the Rules of University conduct and the nature of the disruption may constitute violations of other University policies," the statement reads.

"We will move quickly to investigate and address this act. We want to be absolutely clear that any act of antisemitism, or other form of discrimination, harassment, or intimidation against members of our community is unacceptable and will not be tolerated."

The wife of Tal Alexander, a high-profile real estate agent accused last month with his two brothers of drugging and then sexually assaulting and raping dozens of women in multiple states, has reportedly filed for divorce amid the scandal. 

Tal, 38, and Oren Alexander, 37, two prominent jet-setting brokers in New York and Miami, and their brother Alon Alexander, Oren's identical twin, were arrested in Miami Beach Dec. 11 and have since been taken into federal custody. 

"I will continue to provide my young baby with love and support as I leave my husband," Tal Alexander's wife, Arielle Kogut, who recently welcomed a baby with her husband, told the Real Deal in a statement via her attorney confirming the split. 

"This commitment to my child’s best interests and well-being will remain my highest priority."

WEALTHY FLORIDA REAL ESTATE BROTHERS' 'TROPHIES' UNCOVERED AS JUDGE DENIES BAIL: FEDS

Prosecutors allege the Alexander brothers "worked together, and with others known and unknown to repeatedly and violently drug, sexually assault, and rape" victims in New York, Miami and elsewhere, according to a federal indictment filed in December.

According to the charges in the indictment, the three wealthy brothers had conspired in the sex trafficking scheme since at least 2010, but prosecutors have alleged that their sexual violence against women spans more than 20 years, dating as far back as when the men were in high school in Miami.

HIGH-PROFILE REAL ESTATE BROTHER MISSES HEARING AFTER MIX-UP IN IDENTICAL TWINS' SEX TRAFFICKING CASE

Law enforcement officers have interviewed over 40 women who reported "being forcibly raped or sexually assaulted by at least one of the Alexander Brothers," and each of the brothers has separately been accused by at least 10 women of forcible rape between 2002 or 2003 and 2021, according to a recent letter by the prosecution. 

GET REAL-TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB 

Investigators say they uncovered "trophies" during a search at Tal Alexander's apartment on Manhattan's "Billionaire's Row," including sexually explicit photos and videos showing "women in states of intoxication and undress."

Other videos found allegedly show Alon and Oren Alexander and other men engaged in sexual contact with women "who are visibly under the influence of alcohol or other substances," the letter continues. In some cases, it added, at least one of the brothers and another man "physically manipulated the women’s bodies in order to have sex with them while the women did not actively participate in the sexual activity or turned away."

"The fact that video versions of trophies of the defendants’ criminal conduct were found in Tal Alexander’s residence as recently as last month also suggests that the defendants have not closed the door on their criminal conduct," prosecutors have argued. 

LUXURY REAL ESTATE BROTHERS LURED DOZENS OF WOMEN OVER TWO DECADES WITH PROMISE OF LAVISH LIFESTYLE: FEDS

The skyscraper apartment was previously shared by Oren and Tal Alexander, and the photos and videos were found on a hard drive in a closet that appeared to include items belonging to Oren. 

All three brothers were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and a separate count of sex trafficking of one woman by force, fraud or coercion. In addition, Tal Alexander was charged with the sex trafficking of a second victim.

As part of their alleged sex trafficking conspiracy, the Alexander brothers "engaged in a persistent pattern of rape and sexual assault, which included both pre-planned trips and events for which the defendants recruited women to attend and then raped and sexually assaulted them, as well as opportunistic rapes and sexual assaults of numerous victims who they encountered by chance," prosecutors say.

'DIDDY' MAKES 3RD BAIL ATTEMPT AFTER PROSECUTORS ALLEGE HE BLACKMAILED VICTIMS FROM BEHIND BARS

Defense attorneys for the three brothers have argued the brothers committed no sexual assaults, and that their relationships with the alleged victims were consensual, according to court records.  

A judge last week said the Alexander brothers will likely be housed at the Metropolitan Detention Center, the same prison where Sean "Diddy" Combs and Sam Bankman-Fried are being held. The next status conference in the case is scheduled for Jan. 29. 

Tal Alexander's attorney and his wife's attorney did not immediately respond for comment. 

Fox News' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and President-elect Trump met in Palm Beach, Florida, Friday, three days before Trump's return to the White House.

"President Trump and I had a productive conversation about New York’s needs and what’s best for our city and how the federal government can play a more helpful role in improving the lives of New Yorkers," Adams said in a statement shared by his spokesperson, Fabien Levy.

"While we briefly touched on a number of issues, we specifically focused on the cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas and how it will have a positive impact on public safety in our country; how we can bring manufacturing jobs back to New York, particularly in the Bronx; and how we can continue to make federal investments in New York City, especially when it comes to infrastructure." 

The Democratic mayor, who is awaiting trial on federal corruption charges in April, said the pair didn’t discuss his legal issues in the meeting. 

NYC MAYOR ERIC ADAMS BELIEVES FEDERAL CHARGES AGAINST HIM ARE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED: ‘DID NOT BREAK THE LAW’

As president, Trump would have the power to pardon Adams. 

Adams faces charges he accepted luxury travel perks and illegal campaign contributions from foreign nationals in exchange for corrupt acts.

Trump, who was convicted in a New York court last year for falsifying business records, has defended Adams in the past, claiming the charges against the mayor may have been brought because he criticized President Biden over the border. 

Trump said he would consider a pardon for Adams. 

"To be clear, we did not discuss my legal case, and those who suggest the mayor of the largest city in the nation shouldn’t meet with the incoming president to discuss our cities' priorities because of inaccurate speculation or because we’re from different parties clearly care more about politics than people," Adams said.

"Like I’ve always done, I will take every opportunity possible to advocate for New Yorkers and our city. And, after our discussion, I strongly believe there is much our city and the federal government can partner on to make New York City safer, stronger and more affordable. I thank President Trump for his time and attention and look forward to working with him to benefit all New Yorkers."

Fox News Digital has reached out to Trump for comment.

FBI RAIDS HOMES OF TOP AIDES FOR NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ERIC ADAMS

Adams had been criticized by other New York politicians for the meeting. 

"The Trump agenda is not going to help move our city or the country forward. This pilgrimage is clearly about something else," state Sen. Zellnor Myrie wrote on X this week. 

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander wrote on X that "Eric Adams should state immediately that he will not seek or accept a pardon from Donald Trump. New Yorkers deserve to know that their Mayor is putting their interests ahead of his own — and whether our tax dollars, or Turkish Airlines, will be financing his trip to Florida."

"Who is this meeting for, New Yorkers or Eric Adams? Our city has too many problems right now for us to worry about if he's fighting for New Yorkers or a hypothetical pardon for himself," Scott Stringer, the former city comptroller, posted on X. 

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Lander and Stringer are running for mayor against Adams.

Three wealthy brothers were accused last month of drugging and then sexually assaulting and raping dozens of women in multiple states, and authorities say new video evidence in the case shows the "depraved" nature of their alleged crimes. 

Tal, 38, and Oren Alexander, 37, two prominent jet-setting brokers in New York and Miami, and their brother Alon Alexander, Oren's identical twin, were arrested in Miami Beach on Dec. 11 and have since been taken into federal custody. 

Law enforcement officers have interviewed over 40 women, who reported "being forcibly raped or sexually assaulted by at least one of the Alexander Brothers," according to a recent letter by the prosecution, obtained by Fox News Digital. 

HIGH-PROFILE REAL ESTATE BROTHER MISSES HEARING AFTER MIX-UP IN IDENTICAL TWINS' SEX TRAFFICKING CASE

In many of these alleged instances, "one or more of the Alexander Brothers drugged their victim prior to the rape," prosecutors wrote in the letter filed last week and addressed to U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni, the New York judge who presided over a hearing in the case on Wednesday. 

Prosecutors on Wednesday argued against setting bail for the brothers, whose "incentives to flee are through the roof," they said, arguing that the Alexanders have significant foreign connections. 

After hearing arguments for three hours, Judge Caproni denied bail, finding the Alexander brothers pose a flight risk and a risk to the community. She said the evidence is strong, adding that the men pose a danger to unsuspecting women. 

Each of the brothers has separately been accused by at least 10 women of forcible rape between 2002 or 2003 and 2021, the letter continues. 

Authorities executed a warrant on Dec. 11 to search Tal Alexander's apartment inside a skyscraper on Manhattan's "Billionaire's Row." During the search, multiple hard drives were discovered and seized, including one with a large quantity of sexually explicit videos and pictures, according to the letter and prosecutor's statement during Wednesday's hearing.

The apartment was previously shared by Oren and Tal Alexander, the letter continues, adding that the photos and videos were found on a hard drive in a closet that appeared to include items belonging to Oren. 

LUXURY REAL ESTATE BROTHERS LURED DOZENS OF WOMEN OVER TWO DECADES WITH PROMISE OF LAVISH LIFESTYLE: FEDS

The seized photos and videos depict "at least Oren, Alon, and several third parties recording or photographing themselves with women in states of intoxication and undress," and in multiple videos, "the women appear initially unaware that they were being recorded and became upset and attempted to hide or flee from the camera after realizing they were being filmed," prosecutors wrote. 

Other videos found in Tal Alexander's apartment show Alon and Oren Alexander and other men engaged in sexual contact with women "who are visibly under the influence of alcohol or other substances," the letter continues, adding that in some cases, at least one of the brothers and another man "physically manipulated the women’s bodies in order to have sex with them while the women did not actively participate in the sexual activity or turned away."

Prosecutors explained that the new evidence reveals the "depraved nature" of the brothers' actions, as well as the "immense danger" they present. 

"The fact that video versions of trophies of the defendants’ criminal conduct were found in Tal Alexander’s residence as recently as last month also suggests that the defendants have not closed the door on their criminal conduct," the letter continues. 

'DIDDY' MAKES 3RD BAIL ATTEMPT AFTER PROSECUTORS ALLEGE HE BLACKMAILED VICTIMS FROM BEHIND BARS

Prosecutors allege that the Alexander brothers "worked together, and with others known and unknown to repeatedly and violently drug, sexually assault, and rape" victims in New York, Miami and elsewhere, according to a federal indictment filed in December.

All three brothers were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and a separate count of sex trafficking of one woman by force, fraud or coercion. In addition, Tal Alexander was charged with the sex trafficking of a second victim.

As part of their sex trafficking conspiracy, the Alexander brothers "engaged in a persistent pattern of rape and sexual assault, which included both pre-planned trips and events for which the defendants recruited women to attend and then raped and sexually assaulted them, as well as opportunistic rapes and sexual assaults of numerous victims who they encountered by chance," prosecutors say.

According to the charges in the indictment, the three brothers had conspired in the sex-trafficking scheme since at least 2010, but prosecutors have alleged that their sexual violence against women actually spans more than 20 years, dating as far back as when the men were in high school in Miami.

GET REAL-TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB 

Defense attorneys for the three brothers have argued that they committed no sexual assaults, and that their relationships with the alleged victims were consensual, according to court records.  

Attorneys for Tal Alexander wrote a responding letter to Judge Caproni this week, arguing that the prosecution "fails to detail when the videos were taken, how many videos, if any, the defendants are in, whether the purported participants have been identified, or whether the videos even depict non-consensual sexual activity."

At Wednesday's hearing, Judge Caproni said the women in the videos appear visibly incapacitated, adding, "In my view, that is rape." 

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Oren and Tal Alexander co-founded the real estate firm Official, which offers luxury listings in places like New York City, the Hamptons, Miami and Los Angeles, in 2022 after rising through the ranks at Douglas Elliman, one of the largest real estate brokerages in the country, according to prosecutors.

Their past clients include Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, Liam Gallagher and Lindsay Lohan, according to CBS News.

Alon Alexander, 37, did not work in real estate, but he socialized with them.

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The Alexander brothers are still in custody in Florida and will be moved to New York next week, the judge added. They will likely be housed at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC), the same prison where Sean "Diddy" Combs and Sam Bankman-Fried are being held. 

The next status conference in the case is scheduled for Jan. 29. 

Video captured a New York City bus teetering on the edge of an overpass after a bus driver lost control and skidded into a wall, according to officials.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Fire Department of New York confirmed to Fox News Digital the driver missed a turn at 8:40 a.m. Friday and careened into a stone wall. 

Video footage captured the passenger bus dangling over a roadway on the Henry Hudson Parkway and Kappock Street in the Bronx. The bus, identified as a BXM1 bus, runs to and from Manhattan.

No passengers were riding the bus and the driver was not injured, officials said. Firefighters were able to help the bus driver without injury.

MAN BRUTALLY SHOVED OFF NYC SUBWAY PLATFORM, STRUCK BY INCOMING TRAIN IN CAUGHT ON CAMERA ATTACK

Video captured fire department officials responding to the scene, where the bus had knocked down stone rubble from the overpass to the street below. 

NEW JERSEY MAYOR FLOATS ‘REVERSE CONGESTION PRICING’ TOLL IN RESPONSE TO NYC'S CONTROVERSIAL TOLL

Firefighters used a heavy-duty cable and hooked it on the bus to pull it back from the steep fall, video showed.

Authorities said the cause of the crash was still being investigated and the Department of Transportation will investigate the incident. 

After New York Mayor Eric Adams announced the planned opening of a massive, 2,000-bed migrant shelter in the South Bronx, Democratic Congressman Ritchie Torres slammed the decision, accusing Adams of treating the borough as an immigrant "dumping ground."

The mayor's office responded to Torres' accusation by pointing out that despite the new shelter being opened, they are planning to close 46 migrant shelters across the city and reduce the total shelter bed count by 10,000 by June. She noted that the Hall Street shelter in Brooklyn, one of the largest shelters being closed, housed 3,500 migrants. 

The office announced the new shelter last week while simultaneously claiming that the ongoing migrant crisis in New York City is waning. 

This comes as New York is set to close its sprawling tent shelter on Randalls Island and dozens of other shelters in the next few months. New York is a migrant sanctuary city and has a "right to shelter" law that requires the city to accommodate anyone seeking shelter who has no other option. However, in recent months, Adams has taken a different tone toward immigrants in the city and announced the closure of a string of migrant shelters. In last week's statement, Adams said the closures are part of the city’s efforts to find "more opportunities to save taxpayer money and turn the page on this unprecedented humanitarian crisis."

"Thanks to the administration’s successful asylum seeker management strategies and federal border policy changes the city advocated for that have continued to drive down the number of people in the city’s care for 27 straight weeks and reduce costs by nearly $2.8 billion over three fiscal years," the mayor's office said. 

TRUMP BORDER CZAR MEETING WITH NYC MAYOR ADAMS DESPITE SANCTUARY CITY STATUS

Meanwhile, the New York Post reported that it will cost the city between $250,000 and $340,000 to retrofit and prepare a 275,000-square-foot former office building in the Bronx to accommodate the expected thousands of men who will live in the new migrant shelter.  

The shelter’s location – 825 E. 141st St. – was renovated in 2017 and is near an infamous section of the Bronx called "the Hub," which is known for having a high volume of open drug use and activity, including the use of heroin and fentanyl. The building is owned by SoBro Local Development Corp., a nonprofit that’s stated mission is to "enhance the quality of life in the South Bronx by strengthening businesses and creating and implementing innovative economic, housing, educational, and career development programs for youth and adults."

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Adams’ announcement was not taken well by many Bronx residents. Many of the migrant shelters in the city have earned reputations as centers for violence, crime and gang activity from the likes of the international criminal group Tren de Aragua. The New York Post reported one 21-year-old Bronx resident named Serene Bilal saying: "Wrong move!… You need to work with the people already here. We have issues going on. Why the Bronx? Why pick on the Bronx?

"It’s going to be dangerous," Bilal told the outlet. "We don’t know who these people are. We are not talking about 10 people. We’re talking about thousands. That’s a lot."

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS MAKE UP 75% OF ARRESTS IN MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, SAY POLICE: REPORT

Torres, who is rumored to be considering a run for New York governor, also slammed the decision to place the new shelter in the Bronx.

"Instead of decisively dismantling open-air drug markets in the Hub, the City is treating the South Bronx as a dumping ground for an endless stream of shelters," Torres told Fox News Digital.

"The Bronx is treated differently from the rest of the city," he went on. "We are treated as the second-class borough of New York City."

Liz Garcia, a spokesperson for Adams, responded to Torres' criticisms by emphasizing that the overall number of shelters across the city and the tax burden on citizens is being significantly reduced. 

"I know that every elected official has specific people to speak to but we're really looking at it from a holistic lens," said Garcia. "The bigger picture here is we're closing 46 migrant sites, we are reducing our bed count by 10,000 beds across the city, not just the Bronx. And we're specifically closing shelters that are in oversaturated areas." 

She noted that the city's migrant shelter system was never meant to be permanent and noted the new Bronx shelter is also a temporary measure. 

In response to a question about when the Bronx shelter will close, Garcia said: "We don't have a specific timeline as to when it will close. It's a lease, so it won't be forever." 

She said that it will depend on the next migrant census taken by the city.

"For the past over six months now, we've seen a decline in our [migrant] census numbers. So if that continues, obviously there's not going to be a need for it," she said. "So, at some point it will close in the near future. It's just we still need places to put people while we have to help them take their next steps."

Michael Dorgan contributed to this report. 

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, announced Tuesday a plan to offer free tuition for certain degree programs at state and city colleges.

The governor announced the education proposal during her state of the state address, in which she also vowed to give students free meals at schools, make it more difficult for hedge funds to buy homes, cut taxes for middle-class earners and expand the child tax credit.

Under the free tuition plan, New York residents between the ages of 25 and 55 who enroll in associate degree programs in nursing, teaching, technology, engineering and other fields at colleges operated by the State University of New York and the City University of New York would have their tuition covered.

NEW YORK GOV. KATHY HOCHUL SEEKS EXPANDED INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT LAWS OVER VIOLENT CRIMES ON SUBWAY

The state would also cover the cost of books and other college fees.

"When my dad got a college education, our whole family got a shot at a better life — and I want every New Yorker to have that opportunity," Hochul said in a statement. "Under my plan, every New Yorker will have the opportunity to pursue a free degree at SUNY and CUNY community colleges to help fill the in-demand jobs of tomorrow."

Other states have similar tuition programs, and several others offer various discounted tuitions for state colleges.

New York residents already receive discounted tuition at the vast network of state and city colleges, which consists of nearly 90 schools, and a program that already provides free tuition at the institutions for residents who make less than $125,000 a year.

Hochul also said she wants to address the problem of smartphones in K-12 schools by creating a statewide standard for distraction-free learning in the state.

Additionally, Hochul said she will work to address crime, expand mental health treatment services and to strengthen security in the New York City subway system after a surge in violent crimes on the subway. This would include plans to add police patrols on overnight trains and install barriers and better lighting on platforms.

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The governor's proposals will be debated in the Democrat-controlled state legislature.

She is expected to face a contested Democratic primary election next year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

New York officials are considering imposing emissions restrictions on a popular grilling appliance as their latest climate crackdown, claiming that such regulations could prevent premature deaths.

The blue state's Department of Environmental Protection proposed a new rule to establish emissions standards for under-fire commercial char broilers, a commonly used method of cooking meat that gives it a smokey taste. 

The proposed rule would force all New York City restaurants using under-fire char broilers installed after May 2016 to cut emissions from the appliance by 75%.

Additionally, under the rule, NYC restaurants that char-broil more than 875 pounds of meat per week would not be allowed to operate, with the exception that the business has an approved emissions control device.

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In the proposed rule, reviewed by Fox News Digital, officials claimed that such regulations on meat cooking appliances could prevent hundreds of deaths. 

The document cited a study by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene on premature deaths attributed to particulate matter (PM) — solid particles like smoke or dust, released when cooking or burning fires.

"If all char broilers had control technology installed, the reduction in ambient PM concentrations could have prevented nearly 350 of these premature deaths each year," the proposed rule reads.

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The study reportedly found that commercial char broilers released an estimated 1,400 tons of PM per year in New York's five boroughs, which they concluded contributed to more than 12% of PM attributable premature deaths annually from 2005 to 2007. 

But restaurant owners are fuming at the potential regulation.

"The fact that this is even an issue is a nothingburger," Alan Rosen, who owns Juniors in NYC, a restaurant that uses the charred meat method, told the New York Post.  

"People are getting knifed in the subway, and they’re worried about charbroilers? We’ve been doing this for almost 75 years. It’s absolutely ridiculous."

In the proposed rule, the department acknowledges the difficulty in requiring New York City restaurants to undergo emissions tests.

"Demonstrating the 75% PM reduction presented a challenge for many restaurant owners who do not have an Environmental Protection Agency Method 5 certified emissions control device," the proposal reads.

A public hearing on the proposed rule will be held on Jan. 29, 2025.

When President-elect Trump is inaugurated on Jan. 20, Republicans will officially control the White House and both houses of Congress.

And while the political spotlight in 2025 will remain fixed on the new administration and GOP congressional majorities, as they aim to rock the nation's capital, some high-profile ballot box showdowns across the country will grab attention as they serve as a barometer of whether Trump and the Republicans' electoral momentum can be sustained.

And for Democrats, who aim to rebuild after suffering setbacks in the 2024 elections, 2025's off-year elections can't come soon enough.

THIS REPUBLICAN WOMAN MAY BECOME THE NATION'S FIRST BLACK FEMALE GOVERNOR

New Jersey and Virginia are the only two states in the nation to hold gubernatorial contests in the year after a presidential election, and because of their spot on the calendar, they both garner plenty of national attention.

And Virginia is often seen as a bellwether of the national political climate and how Americans feel about the party in the White House. The party that wins the presidency has lost the ensuing Virginia gubernatorial election in recent decades, with only one exception.

HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS REPORTING ON THE TRUMP TRANSITION

Gov. Glenn Youngkin, three years ago, became the first Republican in a dozen years to win a gubernatorial election in Virginia, a onetime key swing state that has shaded blue in recent cycles.

But Virginia is unique due to its state law preventing governors from serving two consecutive four-year terms, so Youngkin cannot run for re-election next year.

Running to succeed Youngkin is Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears, who would make history as the nation's first elected Black female governor.

In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, Sears emphasized that "I'm not really running to make history. I'm just trying to, as I've said before, leave it better than I found it, and I want everyone to have the same opportunities I had."

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THIS POPULAR REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR WHEN HE LEAVES OFFICE IN A YEAR

Sears, who was born in the Caribbean island nation of Jamaica and immigrated to the U.S. as a six-year-old, served in the Marines and is a former state lawmaker. She made history three years ago when she won election as Virginia's first female lieutenant governor. 

Three-term Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA officer who represents a conservative-leaning district, is her party's candidate for governor.

One of them will likely make history as the first woman elected Virginia governor.

Democrats currently control both houses of the Virginia legislature, after flipping the House of Delegates in the 2023 elections. All 100 seats in the state House are up for grabs in 2025, as Republicans aim to win back majorities in both the House and state Senate, where there will be special elections for two members who recently won election to Congress.

With little electoral competition, expect outside groups to sink millions in outside money into Virginia's statewide and legislative showdowns in 2025.

In blue-state New Jersey, Trump dramatically increased his support at the ballot box in the 2024 elections.

He came within six points of defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in the state in November, a dramatic improvement from his 16-point loss to President Biden in New Jersey in the 2020 presidential election.

Trump's showing is giving Republicans encouragement that they can win governor's office in a state where Democrats control the government and enjoy a vast voter registration advantage over the GOP.

Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, who won the 2017 and 2021 gubernatorial elections, is term-limited, and a crowded field of Democrats and Republicans are lining up to try and succeed him.

New Jersey's election for governor, like the contest in Virginia, is sure to grab the attention and resources of outside groups.

So will 2025 elections that will determine if Democrats hold onto their majorities on the state Supreme Courts in two key battleground states - Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Also garnering attention in the new year will be the mayoral election in the nation's most populous city.

New York City's embattled Democratic mayor, former police captain Eric Adams, has been indicted on federal corruption charges.

While he says he'll seek a second term steering New York City, the race may attract numerous challengers, possibly including former New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who stepped down in 2021 amid scandals.

Ex-NY state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi faced backlash online after telling a New York City man on X, who was upset over the new congestion toll, to "get over it."

Biaggi was responding to a video on Monday posted to X of an Upper East Side resident, identified as Andrew in the post, explaining how the congestion toll personally affects him, discussing how he had to "pay $9 to go around the block," adding that "something needs to be sorted out for Manhattan residents."

"Lord Jesus, get over it," was Biaggi's response on X.

NJ DEM SLAMS NEW YORK AS CONTROVERSIAL NYC CONGESTION PRICING TAKES EFFECT

This response by Biaggi prompted immediate backlash from users on X, many feeling her response was insensitive.

"What's your net worth Biaggi and why do you hate working people so much?" asked one user.

"'Get over it you poors!' - Alessandra Biaggi," another mocked.

Another user responded, "Not everybody has the money to afford this. How are people going to simply 'get over it' you insensitive clown."

FDNY UNION LEADERS WARN AGAINST CONGESTION PRICING AFTER BEING DENIED EXEMPTION: 'DON'T GO DOWN THIS ROAD'

Biaggi's subsequent posts to X were flooded with "get over it" comments from users reminding the ex-senator that her comment did not land well with them.

The ex-senator previously faced backlash online in 2023 for her comments on X about her own student loan interest rates. In the year prior, however, Biaggi purchased a $1.14 million dollar home in Beford, NY. 

When asked for comment by Fox News Digital, Biaggi responded, "Congestion pricing is a modern solution to funding our subways. Any person who rides the subway knows that they're in desperate need of updates that require funding. This should have happened sooner." 

Biaggi added, "If New Yorkers want something to be angry about, it should be that [New York Gov. Kathy] Hochul is allowing Andrew Cuomo to spend millions of New York taxpayers' money to retaliate against his credible sexual assault victims."

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass rejected an offer from the New York Fire Department to help battle deadly wildfires scorching the Golden State, the New York Post reported.

As of Friday morning, the California fires have burned more than 10,000 homes and buildings in the Los Angeles area. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently agreed to pay for more firefighters after the state reported it was beyond capacity.

New York City Fire Commissioner Robert Tucker extended the offer in "recent days," according to the report. JetBlue agreed to pay for the firefighters' fares to the city.

LA FIRE SOUNDED ALARM ON BUDGET CUTS IMPACTING WILDFIRE RESPONSE: MEMO

Mexico is sending crews to help contain the Eaton Fire, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday via X.

"California is deeply grateful for President @ClaudiaShein's support as we work to suppress the Los Angeles wildfires," Newsom wrote. "Our partnership and shared commitment to helping communities in need is greatly valued."

CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES DEVASTATE LOS ANGELES COUNTY, KILLING 5 AND THREATENING THOUSANDS OF HOMES

On a call with Fox News Digital on Friday afternoon, FDNY officials said they would prepare a statement. 

However, minutes later, they responded with an email saying, "We are currently unable to confirm or comment on this."

New York lawmakers called for the governor-appointed chairman of the New York City transit system to be fired amid accusations he downplayed a rash of subway crime to praise new Manhattan tolls that are aimed at driving commuters underground.

In comments on a Bloomberg podcast, MTA Chairman Janno Lieber argued that crime on the MTA has declined and that the recent viral incidents are giving an impression of a system-wide safety crisis.

"The overall stats are positive. Last year, we [had] actually 12.5% less crime than 2019 . . . , " he said.

"But there's no question that some of these high-profile incidents; terrible attacks, have gotten in people's heads and made the whole system feel less safe." 

SUBWAY MAYHEM SPURS CUOMO TO URGE HALT TO NEW NYC DRIVING TAX

Rep. Michael Lawler, R-N.Y., shared a clip of Lieber ceremonially unveiling one of the new "Congestion Pricing" setups near Lincoln Center and said the agency "needs an enema; starting with Janno Lieber."

"Imagine being such an a--hole as to celebrate screwing New Yorkers out of their hard-earned money just for the privilege to drive to work," Lawler wrote, adding that Hochul "needs to be defeated in 2026."

Lieber ripped Lawler in response, telling MSNBC that the Rockland County lawmaker was dabbling in "grievance politics."

Lieber claimed that a plurality of Lawler’s constituents – in bedroom communities 30 miles north of the city – already rely on mass transit and that only "one percent" make the daily drive down the Palisades to the "congestion-pricing" zone.

HOCHUL CHRISTMASTIME BOAST OF SAFER SUBWAYS CAME AMID STRING OF ALARMING VIOLENT ATTACKS

New York’s new $9 toll to enter any part of Manhattan below Central Park has enraged commuters, as well as residents within its bounds.

Commuters from Long Island found themselves bottlenecked in trying to access the last unaffected entry to Manhattan – the Upper Level of the Queensboro Bridge.

One East Side luxury building's exit also unintentionally forced residents through a toll gantry, even if they are trying to go uptown; away from the zone, while outer neighborhoods braced for a deluge of suburbanites looking for parking to avoid the toll.

New York Senate Deputy Minority Leader Andrew Lanza, R-Staten Island, torched Lieber:

"Janno: pull your head out of your piles of statistics, get out from behind your computer, and walk a mile in your riders’ shoes before you ignore, dismiss and insult them," Lanza said.

"The people of this state and city deserve the truth and real solutions, not eggheads trying to convince themselves they’re doing a good job."

Sen. Bill Weber of Valley Cottage added: "Albany Democrats claim congestion pricing is to reduce traffic congestion, but at what cost? It punishes everyday people—working parents, firefighters, seniors going to doctor's appointments, and those who already struggle to make ends meet."

"For them, this isn’t just a toll; it’s another obstacle in their daily lives. Tell me, how is that progressive?" he asked.

Sen. Steve Rhoads of Nassau previously quipped that the MTA’s acronym stands for "Money Thrown Away" and said this week that his constituents who rely on trains like the LIRR have grown distrustful of the agency.

"[Lieber] has no idea what it is to be a working-class New Yorker," Rhoads said. "While affordability and safety are huge concerns for real people, they are abstract concepts for him."

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Lieber was previously an executive at Silverstein Properties — recently overseeing a World Trade Center project — a transportation adviser to President Bill Clinton and Mayor Ed Koch, and a journalist for the New Republic. 

He was also the MTA’s capital development officer under Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Cuomo, who still strongly supports the congestion pricing plan, recently told Fox News Digital through a spokesman that he, however, has reservations about whether now is the right time to activate the tolls – given the lack of confidence in subway safety and changes in the city since the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It is undeniable that New York is in a dramatically different place today than it was in 2019, and without a study forecasting its consequences based on facts, not politics, it could do more harm than good to New York City's recovery," Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi said last week.

State Sen. Alexis Weik, R-Suffolk, called the video of Lieber’s Broadway sign-reveal "a despicable show of glee and greed" and called for a financial review board to scrutinize the transit agency’s books.

In response to the slew of calls for Lieber's ouster, MTA Chief of Policy & External Relations John J. McCarthy defended the transit boss.

"Under Chair Lieber’s leadership, the MTA has added service, opened new terminals and provided record on-time performance for their constituents on Long Island and the Hudson Valley, while delivering the most reliable subway service in a dozen years," McCarthy said.

"But apparently, none of that prevents out-of-touch politicians from bloviating."

Republicans slammed the sentencing of President-elect Donald Trump on Friday, calling it a "disgrace."

Trump was sentenced Friday morning in New York City to unconditional discharge. He was convicted last year of falsifying business records after a years-long investigation by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

LAKEN RILEY ACT OVERCOMES FILIBUSTER IN SENATE AS DEMS GIVE GOP HELPING HAND

"What a joke and a disgrace," wrote Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., on X. 

"This witch hunt and ruling was an insult to the American people," she added. 

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., reacted in a statement, remarking, "After four years of lawfare, restoring the American people’s trust in our system of justice will be critically important, and I support President Trump’s decision to appeal this decision and put this shameful chapter in American history behind us." 

Rep. Rudy Yakym, R-Ind., sounded off on the sentencing as well, writing, "Today’s sentencing is an unfortunate reminder that Democrats will stop at nothing, including weaponizing the justice system to try and destroy President Trump. Rest assured, their efforts have and will continue to fail. America’s comeback begins in 10 days."

NEW GOP SENATOR TEARS INTO DEMS 'SEEKING TO DELAY' PETE HEGSETH DOD CONFIRMATION

Despite Trump's attempts to delay the sentencing, it went forward just 10 days before his inauguration. 

The incoming president attended the proceeding virtually. "After careful analysis, this court determined only lawful sentence that permits entry of judgment of conviction is an unconditional discharge," Judge Juan Merchan said. "At this time, I impose that sentence to cover all 34 counts." 

"Today’s sentencing of President Trump confirms what the American people have known all along: these trials have been pure political persecution. The American people overwhelmingly rejected the weaponized judiciary and politicized lawfare. This ends January 20th," said Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., on X. 

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The unconditional discharge, as Merchan sentenced Trump to, does not impose a punishment on the convicted individual. It does maintain that the conviction stands. However, it means that any relevant penalties will not be imposed. 

While Trump will not face these penalties due to the sentence, he could still run into obstacles due to his felon status as long as the conviction is upheld. 

BORDER STATE DEMOCRAT RUBEN GALLEGO BACKS GOP'S LAKEN RILEY ACT AHEAD OF SENATE VOTE

Top Trump ally Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., responded to the news, saying, "Finally, this baseless NYC liberal activist charade is over. It’s worth a reminder: President Trump doesn’t have to do this job—he’s doing it to save America. We’re looking forward. 10 days."

Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., slammed the conviction and sentence as "a pathetic waste of taxpayer resources that should be used on the real crimes harming New Yorkers."

Daniel Penny's legal team wants a civil judge to dismiss the lawsuit filed by Jordan Neely's father – and make him cover the legal costs – after Penny was acquitted of criminally negligent homicide for a chokehold that put an end to a violent outburst of death threats on a Manhattan subway car.

Andre Zachery sued Penny in December, alleging that Penny negligently assaulted, battered and seriously injured Neely, causing his death.

"All injuries or damages sustained by Plaintiff as alleged in the Verified Complaint, if any, were caused in whole or in part by the culpable conduct, negligence, carelessness, and lack of care on the part of Plaintiff, and any recovery against this Defendant must be diminished in proportion to Plaintiff’s relative wrongdoing, fault, misfeasance, malfeasance, failure to exercise due care and/or other culpable conduct," Penny's attorneys countered in an answer to the lawsuit filed on Monday.

DANIEL PENNY FOUND NOT GUILTY IN SUBWAY CHOKEHOLD TRIAL

Zachery's lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

The filing comes a month after Penny's acquittal in a high-profile and controversial manslaughter trial. Prosecutors asked the court to dismiss the top charge of manslaughter to avoid a hung jury, and jurors ultimately found Penny not guilty of the lesser charge.

Penny, a 26-year-old Marine veteran and architecture student, was charged for the subway chokehold death of Neely, a 30-year-old homeless man with schizophrenia who barged onto the train shouting death threats while high on a type of synthetic marijuana known as K2. It happened on May 1, 2023.

JORDAN NEELY'S DAD FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST DANIEL PENNY

Neely had a lengthy criminal record, an active arrest warrant, a history of psychosis and was high. He also had the sickle cell trait genetic disorder.

Subway crime has plagued the city in recent years, and there was an atmosphere of fear among riders.

Just three days earlier, a straphanger had been stabbed with an ice pick on a J train, according to reports from the time. It was about a month after a PBS reporter got sucker punched on a No. 4 train. There was a shove a week before that, and the victim hit the side of a moving R train and survived.

Read Daniel Penny's verified answer to the civil complaint from Jordan Neely's father

In that climate of fear, witnesses said they were terrified by Neely, who shouted death threats at them.

But legal experts have predicted Neely's family may fare better in civil court, where there is a lower standard of guilt.

Prosecutors have to convince jurors of criminal charges beyond "reasonable doubt." In a civil case, the plaintiff's attorneys must prove their case based on a "preponderance of evidence," more likely true than not.