By Marshall Cohen, Annie Grayer, CNN

(CNN) — Former US Capitol riot prosecutors, fired federal officials and journalists who say they were past targets of President Donald Trump’s retribution tell CNN they may seek compensation from the Justice Department’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund.

Some Trump critics have already sent letters to the DOJ outlining their claims, hoping to draw attention to how the president has harnessed government powers in an effort to punish his political opponents. Others are still debating whether filing a request could legitimize a fund they see as brazenly corrupt.

The six Democratic lawmakers who faced legal scrutiny after publicly urging servicemembers to disobey illegal orders have also discussed whether to apply, according to a source familiar with the matter. If they do end up filing a claim, it would create a major test case of whether the fund is truly party-blind as DOJ has suggested.

Trump loyalist-turned-nemesis Michael Cohen suggested he deserves compensation after his years of legal battles.

“If the weaponization fund truly exists to support individuals whose lives have been destroyed by politically motivated law enforcement tactics, by selective prosecution, by government leaks, abuses of power, and intentional destruction of reputation, then there is perhaps no clearer example than what happened to me,” he said on CBS News. “I guess I would be a test case.”

CNN has reached out to the Justice Department for comment.

The controversial fund was announced as part of a settlement to resolve a $10 billion civil lawsuit Trump filed against the IRS, over a leak of his tax returns. (The perpetrator was caught, pleaded guilty, and went to prison.)

The fund will “right the wrongs that were previously done,” acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in announcing the fund last week, invoking Trump’s longstanding grievances over the Trump-Russia probe and the 2022 FBI search of Mar-a-Lago. Convicted US Capitol rioters, members of the far-right Proud Boys, 2020 fake electors and other election deniers are also rushing to file claims.

But many of Trump’s loudest critics say the president and his political allies aren’t the victims of weaponization – they’re the perpetrators.

Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, whom Trump fought with during his first term over the Russia probe, is “strongly considering” filing a claim, according to his lawyer Michael Bromwich.

“The idea of this slush fund is crazy, ridiculous and illegal,” Bromwich said. “But if, in fact, money is going to be given to people who were weaponized by the Justice Department, Andy McCabe should be at the front of the line.”

During his first term, Trump regularly attacked McCabe and Read more

CNN

By Marshall Cohen, Annie Grayer, CNN

(CNN) — Former US Capitol riot prosecutors, fired federal officials and journalists who say they were past targets of President Donald Trump’s retribution tell CNN they may seek compensation from the Justice Department’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund.

Some Trump critics have already sent letters to the DOJ outlining their claims, hoping to draw attention to how the president has harnessed government powers in an effort to punish his political opponents. Others are still debating whether filing a request could legitimize a fund they see as brazenly corrupt.

The six Democratic lawmakers who faced legal scrutiny after publicly urging servicemembers to disobey illegal orders have also discussed whether to apply, according to a source familiar with the matter. If they do end up filing a claim, it would create a major test case of whether the fund is truly party-blind as DOJ has suggested.

Trump loyalist-turned-nemesis Michael Cohen suggested he deserves compensation after his years of legal battles.

“If the weaponization fund truly exists to support individuals whose lives have been destroyed by politically motivated law enforcement tactics, by selective prosecution, by government leaks, abuses of power, and intentional destruction of reputation, then there is perhaps no clearer example than what happened to me,” he said on CBS News. “I guess I would be a test case.”

CNN has reached out to the Justice Department for comment.

The controversial fund was announced as part of a settlement to resolve a $10 billion civil lawsuit Trump filed against the IRS, over a leak of his tax returns. (The perpetrator was caught, pleaded guilty, and went to prison.)

The fund will “right the wrongs that were previously done,” acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in announcing the fund last week, invoking Trump’s longstanding grievances over the Trump-Russia probe and the 2022 FBI search of Mar-a-Lago. Convicted US Capitol rioters, members of the far-right Proud Boys, 2020 fake electors and other election deniers are also rushing to file claims.

But many of Trump’s loudest c

By Ben Jones, CNN

(CNN) — Europe wants to lure more people away from short-haul airlines and onto high-speed trains between its major cities. And as more and more travelers discover the joys of long-distance rail, there’s everything to play for.

But there’s one big problem: geography. Europe is a continent with mountain ranges slicing through it and seas severing countries from each other. And unlike planes, trains can’t simply skim over it all.

That’s why some of the world’s biggest and most daring construction projects are currently cutting, drilling and blasting their way through mountains that were once traversed only by the brave or the foolhardy.

The next decade will see the world’s longest rail tunnels completed in Austria, France and Italy, with the aim of revolutionizing rail connectivity between northern Europe and the industrial hubs of northern Italy. Billions of dollars are being invested in record-breaking tunnels and new approach lines to raise speeds and increase freight capacity on long-established corridors through the Alps.

Meanwhile, Denmark has long been tackling the seas, transforming rail and road travel with a chain of tunnels, artificial islands and soaring bridges linking its two biggest islands with mainland Europe and Sweden. In the early 2030s it will complete another road-rail link under the Baltic Sea to Germany, drastically shortening journey times between Copenhagen, Hamburg and Berlin.

And an even more ambitious plan to link Helsinki with Tallinn in Estonia and the other Baltic States via a 50-mile tunnel under the Gulf of Finland has also been proposed.

That’s the plan, at least. But creating the world’s longest rail tunnels is technically challenging and ferociously expensive, and Europe’s recent record of delivery is best described as “patchy.”

To no one’s surprise, construction costs have ballooned and delays are measured in years, or even decades, which means that the European Union will not meet its deadline of completing the core Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T)—the ambitious project to upgrade 10,850 miles of rail corridors across the continent by 2030, linking major cities, regions and ports.

In January, the European Court of Auditors reported that the costs of delivering eight major TEN-T projects have increased by an average of 82% over their initial estimates. The average delay across five projects is 17 years.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom. EU member states see infrastructure investment as a key stimulus for economic prosperity and sustainable mobility. And these new mega-tunnels will revolutionize international travel within the next decade, knitting together regions and countries that have until now been separated by mountains and seas.

“Mega-projects like the Brenner Base Tunnel, Lyon–Turin and the Fehmarn Belt can be game-changers for European rail,” says Nick Brooks, secretary general of rail operator lobby group ALLRAIL.

Here are some of the most exciting projects underway.

Beating a natural border

For centuries the Alps have been a natural border separating northern and southern Europe. The high mountains were a land of mythical beasts and potentially lethal weather — a place to be feared and, if possible, avoided. From the 18th century, wealthy “Grand Tourists” from northern Europe hired sedan chairs and local guides to negotiate the treacherous Alpine passes on their way to Italy

Mid to high level clouds fill the skies early Tuesday morning. Expect some clearing due to the strong winds by the evening. A cold air mass pushes into the Central Coast today. You'll notice temperatures falling a few degrees. Highs max out into the 60s and 70s. Wind Advisories go into effect at 2pm and High Surf Advisories kick off at 5pm. Bring valuable items inside and use caution when headed to the beach.

A mix of clouds and sun are in the forecast for Wednesday. This is the coolest day of the week as the cold air mass is parked over the Central Coast. Misting and drizzle is possible from the marine layer early in the morning. Spotty showers and thunderstorms are likely around the Kern County boarder by the evening. Rain amounts will be less than a tenth of an inch and most beaches stay dry. Winds may be a nuisance, so bring valuable items inside.

We remain below average Thursday with some pop up light rain inland. After breakfast our rain chances diminish back to zero and we dry out. A weekend warming trend begins Friday with temperatures back to beach weather by the weekend.

The post Tracking a col;d front Tuesday, cool mid-week appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

By Zoe Sottile, CNN

(CNN) — As a courtroom interpreter in Texas’ immigration system, it was Meenu Batra’s job to make sure migrants understood the proceedings of immigration court – the good and the bad.

In March, Batra was exposed to the other side of the immigration system when she was detained by the Department of Homeland Security after decades spent living and working in the United States.

Batra, a mother of four US citizens who transitioned to interpreting in other courtrooms after years spent in immigration court, was detained for more than six weeks – a harrowing experience from which she says she’s still recovering.

She came to the US in 1991, she said, a fragile 18-year-old traumatized by the killing of her parents in a spate of anti-Sikh violence in India. She rejoined her older siblings who were already in the US and applied for asylum.

Batra declined to give details about how she entered the US but was given a final order of removal by an immigration judge in 2000, under President Bill Clinton, according to DHS, her attorney and a judge’s ruling in her current case. But the same day, she was granted withholding of removal, a legal protection similar to asylum that says she cannot be deported to India. The government never appealed that decision, and she was released and spent the last 25 years without any formal interactions with immigration authorities, she says.

That’s until March 17, when she was detained at an airport while on her way to interpret Punjabi for a trial in Milwaukee.

DHS called Batra an “illegal alien” and said she was arrested during a “targeted enforcement operation.”

“We will continue to fight for the removal of illegal aliens who have no right to be in our country,” an agency spokesperson said in a statement when asked for comment about Batra.

The Trump administration has continually said officials are focused on deporting the “worst of the worst,” migrants with serious criminal records. But President Donald Trump’s sweeping deportation campaign has seen people with no or minor criminal records detained for weeks on end or deported, too. Many of them have spent years building lives, careers and families in the US, like Batra, whose attorney said has no criminal record.

Batra said her experience in detention has given her even more insight into the experience migrants face in the American court system. In detention, she said, she fought to help other detainees understand their legal rights and advocate for themselves.

Now she hopes her experience will help highlight the ordinary people detained by DHS – and “how we are denying the basic human rights to people who have been and who are part of this society and this country.”

“I’m just hoping that this brings some attention to those who don’t have a voice,” she said.

Hope for a better life

Batra came to the US like many immigrants do: hoping for a better life.

In 1984, Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two Sikh bodyguards. The killing prompted organized pogroms against Sikhs across the country. Batra’s parents were among those killed, she says.

“I just became numb” after the killings, she said. When she came to the US, “I was leaving everything that was familiar to me, my friends. I didn’t get much chance to say goodbye to many of them.”

Batra spent a few years living on the East Coast before relocating to Texas in 2002. It was in the Lone Star State she first took advantage of her language skills and began working as an interpreter. She lived just 30 minutes from the US-Mexico border, where there were several DHS detention centers – and, she discovered, a need for interpreters of South Asian languages.

Her first experiences working in immigration court were disorienting enough that she considered quitting outright. “You have to go throug