The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) announced Wednesday they had fired top presenter Huw Edwards following reports he illegally paid tens of thousands of dollars to a teenager in exchange for sexually explicit photos.
The allegations against Edwards, whose almost 40-year career includes announcing Queen Elizabeth’s passing on television, came over the weekend in an article from The Sun. The post didn’t specifically name Edwards, instead referring to him as a “familiar face who is known to millions.”
The Sun reported that it had spoken to the child’s family, who claimed that Edwards had paid their child upwards of £35,000 ($45,400 USD) over the course of three years for filthy images and sexual performances, which the boy had used to support a crack cocaine addiction. The child is now 20 years old.
The furious mother told last night how her child had gone from “a happy-go-lucky youngster to a ghost-like crack addict” in just three years.
They approached The Sun, making it clear they wanted no payment.
The mother said: “All I want is for this man to stop paying my child for sexual pictures and stop him funding my child’s drug habit.”
She told how her child, now 20, had shown her an online bank statement that had numerous deposits from the star.
Holding back tears, she added: “There were huge sums, hundreds, or thousands of pounds at a time.
“One time he had sent £5,000 in one lump. The money had been in exchange for sexually explicit photographs of my child.”
When the child was 17 years old in 2020, shady messages allegedly began.
According to the presenter’s family, he never concealed his name and even shared photos of himself at work.
She said she was told the star requested “performances” and, heartbreakingly, her child said they would “get their bits out”.
Seven weeks ago, the family informed the BBC about the allegations, and the BBC assured them that they would be investigated. Edwards remained on broadcast during this time.
Several BBC presenters came forward to publicly defend themselves as rumors about the identity of the unknown “household name” spread.
After reading the allegations from The Sun on Saturday, the BBC fired Edwards. The network was also mandated to “urgently” look into the claims by the UK government.
The BBC said Edwards was the person of interest and had been fired on Wednesday. They also said at least three other BBC employees had lodged claims against him alleging “inappropriate behavior.”
Following the announcement, Edwards’ wife came forward to say that her husband suffers “from serious mental health issues” and “has been treated for severe depression in recent years.”
In a statement released to the PA news agency, Vicky Flind, the wife of BBC news reader Huw Edwards said: "In light of the recent reporting regarding the 'BBC Presenter' I am making this statement on behalf of my husband Huw Edwards, after what have been five extremely difficult…
“The events of the last few days have greatly worsened matters, he has suffered another serious episode and is now receiving in-patient hospital care where he’ll stay for the foreseeable future.
“Once well enough to do so, he intends to respond to the stories that have been published.
“To be clear Huw was first told that there were allegations being made against him last Thursday.
“In the circumstances and given Huw’s condition I would like to ask that the privacy of my family and everyone else caught up in these upsetting events is respected. I know that Huw is deeply sorry that so many colleagues have been impacted by the recent media speculation. We hope this statement will bring that to an end.”
The wife’s statement bizarrely came just moments after the Metropolitan Police released a statement claiming there was no evidence a criminal offense was committed.
“The Met Police said detectives from its specialist crime command have ‘concluded their assessment and have determined there is no information to indicate that a criminal offence has been committed’,” reported Sky News.
However, the matter may only get worse for Edwards as The Sun has subsequently suggested he’s possibly a serial offender and also allegedly sent “threatening and abusive messages” to another person who threatened to reveal his identity.
The newspaper reported Wednesday that “Since The Sun revealed the allegations a further three youngsters have come forward.”
Yesterday, a second person claimed they received “threatening messages” from the suspended presenter.
The person in their early 20s claimed to the BBC that Edwards contacted them anonymously using a dating app before pressuring them to meet up.
They said that after striking up a chat on a dating app, Edwards’ name was disclosed.
Edwards is then accused of sending the “menacing” and “abusive” messages after the second youngster suggested naming him online.
BBC News claimed it has seen the messages from the presenter to the young person and verified the phone number of Edwards.
A third youngster approached The Sun and claimed the star broke Covid lockdown laws to meet them, while a fourth told us they received inappropriate messages from the broadcaster from when they were 17.
The BBC presenter’s ousting was mocked by none other than male empowerment guru Andrew Tate, who shared a video of Edwards reporting on fake news involving him.
This TV presenter, who works for the BBC, has just been ousted as a sexual predator. https://t.co/LAJ7GbRZqb
The BBC’s lack of immediate action despite the seriousness of the allegations is eerily reminiscent of their alleged efforts to cover-up the sordid acts of now-deceased former broadcaster and notorious pedophile Jimmy Savile.
Savile, who passed away in 2011, was a well-known BBC DJ who served as the show’s host twice, first from 1964 to 1973 and subsequently from 1975 to 1984. He was suspected of abusing hundreds of victims throughout that time, some of whom were youngsters as young as eight.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s trip to Washington in December 2022 was treated with the utmost importance, featuring extraordinary security measures. Hundreds of law enforcement and intelligence officials were activated, with the U.S. Secret Service leading the effort as Zelenskyy visited the White House and addressed Congress. From the moment he landed, Zelenskyy was accompanied by a Secret Service detail, and this protection continued until his departure. His motorcade was also provided by the Secret Service, assisted by local law enforcement.
Former Secret Service agent Don Mihalek explained that the agency is responsible for protecting all visiting foreign heads of state on U.S. soil. Zelenskyy’s visit was seen as particularly sensitive due to the ongoing war with Russia, raising concerns about potential threats from Russian agents or collaborators.
Security for Zelenskyy’s trip to Capitol Hill was akin to State of the Union preparations, with significant measures implemented. The Secret Service consulted with the Capitol Police, CIA, FBI, and other agencies to ensure safety. Every Capitol Police officer was on standby, given the potential threats.
In stark contrast, former President Donald Trump’s security detail has faced significant challenges in obtaining the same level of resources and personnel. Over the past two years, the Secret Service acknowledged denying multiple requests for increased security at Trump’s events. While the agency provided alternative measures, such as local sniper teams and hand-held magnetometers, Trump’s team felt these were insufficient and inadequate to address the security risks involved.
The recent attempted assassination of Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, has intensified scrutiny. A sniper managed to get rooftop access roughly 150 meters from Trump’s position, raising serious questions about security lapses. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle is facing calls for her resignation, including from House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Despite these assurances, the disparity in security measures for Zelenskyy and Trump has raised significant concerns about the Secret Service’s prioritization and ability to adequately protect high-profile individuals. Trump’s security detail and advisers have repeatedly voiced their frustrations over what they perceive as an unequal allocation of resources and attention.
The decision to prioritize Zelenskyy’s security to such an extent, while denying crucial security enhancements for a former U.S. president, suggests a troubling inconsistency in the Secret Service’s approach to protection. The assassination attempt on Trump highlights the severe consequences of these decisions and underscores the urgent need for a reassessment of priorities and resource allocation within the agency.
The handling of security for Trump, particularly in light of the recent assassination attempt, exposes significant gaps and inconsistencies within the Secret Service. As scrutiny intensifies, the agency must address these failures, ensure equitable security measures for all high-profile individuals, and restore confidence in its protective capabilities. Director Kimberly Cheatle’s leadership and decisions are now under intense examination, and calls for her resignation reflect the gravity of the situation and the demand for accountability.
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is moving forward with plans to confirm President Joe Biden as the party’s presidential nominee despite increasing calls for him to step aside. Amid internal turmoil over the party’s candidate for the upcoming election against former President Donald Trump, the DNC’s Rules Committee met on Friday, maintaining that everything is proceeding as planned.
The committee convened to discuss plans for a virtual roll call vote to formally nominate Biden weeks before the convention. While no votes were taken or decisions made, party leaders informed the nearly 200 committee members about the current process. The committee will meet again on Friday, July 26, to consider adopting the virtual roll call process, which would take place in the first week of August.
The virtual roll call idea has its detractors within the party, though the meeting saw little dissent. Questions arose about whether other candidates could be nominated during the virtual roll call. Technically, this is possible, but practically unlikely. The meeting started shortly after four Democratic members of Congress called on Biden to step aside.
Despite the growing calls for Biden to step down, party leaders, including DNC Chair Jaime Harrison, expressed their excitement to “renominate President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris” and promote the “Biden-Harris ticket.” Leah Daughtry, co-chair of the Rules Committee, and Alex Hornbrook, convention executive director, highlighted the planned events and the involvement of social media influencers to reach young voters.
BREAKING: Reports of Joe Biden withdrawing from race are inaccurate, the President is more committed than ever to winning the election, according to Biden aides.
The primary purpose of the meeting was to address a paperwork issue causing concern among Democrats. Parties typically nominate their candidates during live roll call votes at their national conventions. However, Ohio’s Aug. 7 deadline for submitting nominees conflicts with the Democratic convention’s Aug. 19 start date. Despite a legislative fix, the issue persists as the change won’t take effect until Sept. 1.
Ohio’s Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose has stated that the discrepancy is not a problem, accusing Democrats of using Ohio as a scapegoat for their internal issues. However, Democrats worry that delaying Biden’s nomination could lead to litigation from Republicans, potentially jeopardizing his ballot access.
Some Democrats fear the virtual roll call is a strategy to shut down debates over Biden’s candidacy and secure his nomination. However, Biden holds significant control over the process, having won 99% of the pledged delegates during the primaries. His allies dominate the DNC, chosen for their loyalty.
Experts, including longtime DNC member Elaine Kamarck, suggest that Biden could still be replaced if he steps aside after the virtual roll call. “This doesn’t mean we’d be stuck with one person if that person isn’t willing to run,” Kamarck explained, noting that the Rules Committee could amend the process if necessary.
As the DNC moves forward with plans to confirm Biden as the nominee, the party faces internal debates and legal uncertainties. The upcoming meetings and the proposed virtual roll call will be crucial in determining the Democratic candidate for the November election against Trump.
Former President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are set to have a phone call on Friday, according to two sources familiar with the plans. This will be their first conversation since Trump left the White House and comes amid heightened concerns in Europe regarding Trump’s potential policies towards the Ukraine war if he were to win the presidential election in November.
BREAKING: Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have a phone call scheduled for Friday, according to sources.
One of the sources cautioned that schedules are subject to change frequently. Discussions have been ongoing about the appropriate timing for a call between the GOP nominee and the Ukrainian president, sources said.
Trump has frequently stated that he could resolve the Ukraine war in a day, though the specifics of his approach to peace remain unclear. In last month’s CNN debate with President Joe Biden, Trump rejected Putin’s terms for an agreement, which include Ukraine ceding the four territories currently occupied by Russia, labeling them “not acceptable.”
While Trump and his allies have criticized US military aid to Kyiv, his stance remains a topic of debate. Last week, during Zelensky’s visit to the US, he remarked that “everyone is waiting for November,” including Putin. Zelensky noted that despite Biden and Trump being “very different,” both support democracy, leading him to believe that “Putin will hate both of them.”
The scheduled phone call could mark the beginning of negotiations for a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. The dialogue between Trump and Zelensky may help set the stage for future discussions aimed at halting the conflict and establishing peace in the region.
Trump recently met Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for the second time in less than six months. This visit followed Orban’s meeting with Putin in Moscow less than two weeks prior. After their meeting, Orban informed European leaders that Trump is “ready to act as a peace broker” between Russia and Ukraine.
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