By Harmeet Kaur, CNN

(CNN) — Last week, The New York Times broke the news that the aircraft the US used to attack a boat in the Caribbean last September, killing 11 people, had a paint job that made it look like a civilian plane.

By using a plane with a nonmilitary appearance for a military operation, the Times wrote, the Trump administration may have committed a war crime called “perfidy.” Dictionary lookups for the word spiked the day the Times story was published, per Merriam-Webster.

Perfidy — from the French perfidie via the Latin perfidia — means deceitfulness, treachery or a breach of faith or promise. The Oxford English Dictionary traces its earliest known use to 1592, when it appeared in the letters of English writer Gabriel Harvey: “The Athenians were noted for lavish amplifying … the Carthaginians for deceitful perfidy.”

But while the word’s general usage sounds more than a little archaic in the 21st century, its application to a particular kind of deceit prohibited in war remains active law. The Trump administration denies violating international law in the strike.

“Perfidy” is often used interchangeably with “treachery,” says Gary Solis, a Marine Corps veteran and a scholar on the law of armed conflict. But to constitute a war crime, he says there are three key criteria that must be present: 1) inviting the confidence of an enemy, 2) intending to betray that enemy and 3) betraying the enemy in a way that exploits their expectations for protection under the laws of armed conflict.

Take this hypothetical example: A military uses a vehicle marked with the Red Cross emblem to trick its enemy into stepping out of cover so that its wounded soldiers could presumably receive aid. If that military then opened fire on those combatants, that would be perfidy, Solis explains.

Perfidy was mentioned in the 1863 Lieber Code, which laid out rules of conduct for the Union Army during the American Civil War and is known today as the first modern codification of the laws of armed conflict.

“Military necessity does not admit of cruelty – that is, the infliction of suffering for the sake of suffering or for revenge, nor of maiming or wounding except in fight, nor of torture to extort confessions … It admits of deception, but disclaims acts of perfidy,” Article 16 reads.

Tess Bridgeman, co-editor-in-chief of the law journal Just Security, says today perfidy is an established construct in international law, appearing in the Hague Conventions and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, as well as in US military manuals.

The US Department of Defense Law of War manual defines perfidy as “acts that invite the confidence of enemy persons to lead them to believe that they are entitled to, or are obliged to accord, protection under the law of war, with intent to betray that confidence.” International humanitarian law prohibits killing, injuring or capturing an adversary through perfidy.

Charges of perfidy are relatively unusual, Solis says. During World War II, Nazi commander Otto Skorzeny headed a brigade that was accused of disguising themselves with American uniforms and subsequentl

By Annie Grayer, CNN

(CNN) — Lawmakers have taken the next step toward holding Bill and Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with a subpoena to testify in the congressional Jeffrey Epstein investigation.

The Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee voted to send the effort to the full House for a vote. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who supports holding the Clintons in contempt, has committed to having the chamber vote on the resolutions.

Some Democrats joined with Republicans in voting to hold the former president in contempt. The vote to hold the former secretary of state in contempt was also bipartisan. But fewer Democrats supported that move, with some arguing she should be allowed to submit written testimony or should not have faced a subpoena for testimony in the first place. Ultimately, however, it was moot as Republicans had the votes to send both to the full House.

The panel’s action marks an escalation in its feud with the Clintons over testimony in the bipartisan Epstein investigation. A successful contempt vote by the GOP-controlled House would be both symbolic — as rebukes to the Clintons — and could also be used as a tool to compel them to testify. It could also have legal consequences if the House votes and the courts or the Justice Department decide to take up the matter. A vote by the full House would set up a referral to the Department of Justice, which would then have to decide whether to prosecute.

“Former President Clinton and Secretary Clinton were legally required to appear for depositions before this committee. They refused,” House Oversight Chair James Comer said during Wednesday’s committee meeting.

The former president sought a last-minute off-ramp to prevent contempt proceedings from moving forward. Clinton proposed a limited interview with the top two lawmakers on the committee, according to a letter from Clintons’ attorneys sent to Comer, which was obtained by CNN.

In a statement, Comer called the offer from Clinton’s team “unreasonable” and said he planned to move forward with holding the Clintons in contempt of Congress.

On January 16, Clinton’s attorneys offered to make the former president available for an interview with Comer and the top Democrat on the panel, Rep. Robert Garcia, “on areas within the scope” of the panel’s Epstein probe, according to the letter. On January 19, Clinton’s counsel followed up to say staff could also attend the interview.

“You rejected those offers, and rather than provide counter offers, chose the spectacle of a contempt proceeding,” Clinton attorneys Ashley Callen and David E. Kendall wrote.

In a statement, Comer said, “the Clintons’ latest demands make clear they believe their last name entitles them to special treatment. The House Oversight Committee’s bipartisan subpoenas require the Clintons to appear for depositions that are under oath and transcr

By Lisa Respers France, CNN

(CNN) — The latest round of legal drama between actress Blake Lively and her “It Ends with Us” director Justin Baldoni offers incredible insight into the support network Lively relied on during and after the movie’s production — including one of her good friends, Taylor Swift.

According to unsealed documents filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan on Tuesday and obtained by CNN, Lively spoke openly with friends about the trouble she allegedly experienced on the set of the 2024 movie, which she costarred in alongside Baldoni.

Lively has accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and coordinating a “plan” to “destroy” her reputation, according to a suit filed against him and his production company, Wayfarer Studios.

In one exchange with Swift, with whom she has had a longstanding friendship, Lively referred to Baldoni as her “doofus director,” according to the new filing. A year later, the two women texted about Baldoni again, according to the new filing, this time ahead of a New York Times story that burst open the drama on set for all the public to see.

“I think this bitch knows something is coming because he’s gotten out his tiny violin,” Swift texted Lively, along with a screenshot of an Instagram post from People Magazine, highlighting comments from Baldoni about being “sexually traumatized” in his past, according to the legal documents. Swift likened the Lively/Baldoni situation to “a horror film no one knows is taking place,” the documents show.

CNN has reached out to Swift’s representative for comment.

“The newly unsealed evidence shows the concerns of Ms. Lively and others were documented in real-time as early as Spring 2023, and Wayfarer understood them as ‘sexual harassment’ concerns,” Sigrid McCawley, a member of Lively’s legal team, said in a statement to CNN. “The evidence also documents how Wayfarer refused to investigate, but instead attempted to ‘bury’ Ms. Lively and others who spoke up through retaliation,” she said.

Asked to comment on McCawley’s statement, Bryan Feldman, a lawyer for Baldoni and Wayfarer, said “the evidence does not support the claims as a matter of law. A simple read of the newly released message exchanges make the truth abundantly clear. We remain confident in the legal process and clearing the names of all of the Justin Baldoni parties.”

After the New York Times published its article, “’We Can Bury Anyone’: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine,” Baldoni filed suit against the newspaper, alleging that the story was “rife with inaccuracies, misrepresentations, and omissions” and relied on Lively’s “self-serving narrative.”

The story included contents from a Civil Rights Department complaint, typically kept confidential, that Lively had filed against Baldoni in December 2024 accusing him of sexual harassment and retaliation against her.

Lively then filed a suit against Baldoni. Baldoni followed with a $400 million suit against Lively and her superstar husband, Ryan Reynolds, alleging defamation and that they both “hijacked” his film and were attempting to “destroy” his career.

A judge dismissed Baldoni’s suits against Lively and Reynolds, as well as against the New York Times, in June 2025.

Two months later, the New York Times filed suit against Wayfarer in an effort to recoup legal fees.

In December 2025, Lively’s suit against Baldoni was postponed from a trial date of March 9 to May 18, 2026.

Swift’s star power first entered the

VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – Sergio Sanchez of Moreno Valley is now facing charges connected to the seizure of around 350 pounds of methamphetamine, weapons, and evidence of drug sales.

Following a two-month investigation into drug trafficking in Ventura County by the Ventura County Combined Agency Team, detectives found probably cause to secure a warrant for the arrest of the 36-year-old Moreno Valley resident as well as a search of his home and vehicle detailed the Ventura County Sheriff's Office in a press release Wednesday.

According to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office, detectives determined during the investigation that narcotics, in this particular case methamphetamine, end up in the local area after being smuggled across the southwest border, stored in safe houses in Southern California, and then are packaging and distributed to sellers across the state.

Detectives identified Sergio Sanchez, who was living in the 11900 block of Indian Street in Moreno Valley, as a narcotics trafficker and safehouse operator on behalf of a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization and that he was responsible for storing, packaging, and delivering bulk shipments of methamphetamine explained the Ventura County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators then requested and received an arrest warrant for Sanchez and a search warrant for his vehicle and Moreno Valley home shared the Ventura County Sheriff's Office.

On Dec. 17, law enforcement officers executed the warrants and Sanchez was found to have a loaded firearm in his possession during his detention stated the Ventura County Sheriff's Office.

A search of Sanchez's home resulted in the discovery of about 350 pounds of methamphetamine, five rifles, ammunition, two handguns, cash, and "additional evidence to support drug sales" noted the Ventura County Sheriff's Office.

Sanchez was then placed under arrest and on Jan. 14, 2026, the Ventura County District Attorney's Office filed the following violations against him:

• H&S 11378-Possession for Sale of a Controlled Substance with a weight enhancement and armed allegations
• Two counts of H&S 11370.1-Possession of a Controlled Substance with a Loaded Firearm
• PC 30605-Possession of an Assault Weapon
• PC 25400-Carrying a Concealed Weapon

"This case is a great example of the impact that local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies can have when they work together to dismantle transnational criminal organizations," said Ventura County Assistant Sheriff Victor Fazio

The post Sergio Sanchez of Moreno Valley charged after seizure of over 300 pounds of methamphetamine appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

ISLA VISTA, Calif. (KEYT) - A new effort is underway to have an organized Spring celebration in Isla Vista that reigns in the crowds known to show up for the unpermitted Deltopia event, which was recently silenced by the County Board of Supervisors.

Santa Barbara County Supervisors voted to have a noise ordinance, banning amplified music on and near the dates when Deltopia would be taking place.

To still bring the community together for a festival event under more sanctioned activities, the Isla Vista Community Services District (IVCSD) has a plan in the works. The organizers and board members did have alternative activities last year to get the crowds away from the overloaded Del Playa Drive and reduce issues with medical calls, first responder access, and the dangers of cliff falls.

It was well received in the park settings with live bands, free water, tacos and safe resting areas.

A similar festival vibe is on the drawing board and funding has come in that amounts to about $240,000 from the IVCSD and also the A.S. Board at UC Santa Barbara nearby, which has been joining the recent events that serve the student population in Isla Vista in a safe way.

The festival has no name as of now, but organizers are looking for suggested names as part of their outreach.

Last night was a work session and town hall meeting to lay out the plan, show a color map and give the timeline that has to be met for approvals prior to the April 4th festivities.

Even if the event falls short on the approval, the IVCSD will be providing extra bathrooms, water stations and resources to help with safe community services, in anticipation of an active scene.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department is already budgeting to have resources on duty that would be in line with a large event.

In a presentation to the Board of Supervisors recently prior to the noise ban,  the Sheriff's Isla Vista Foot Patrol cited the burden of the unpermitted event with numerous calls for service, medical emergencies, injuries, overloaded emergency room beds, a broken crowded balcony and over the past 15 year, two deaths.

The report also cited thousands of dollars in county funds spent on managing the event needs beyond what a normal weekend would need. This is taking place as the county budget is forecasted to be facing a multi-million dollar deficit.

(More details, photos and video will be added here later today.)

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The post Deltopia Becomes No-topia, New Permitted Event in the Works appeared first on News Channel 3-12.