A daring legal move has been made by an illegal immigrant convicted of a gruesome murder in Michigan. He is pressing charges against Donald Trump, challenging the former President over comments made during his campaign.

Brandon Ortiz-Vite, a 27-year-old from Mexico, is currently serving a sentence ranging from 39 to 100 years. His incarceration follows a guilty plea for the March 2024 murder of his girlfriend.

In a chilling act, Ortiz-Vite fatally shot 25-year-old Ruby Garcia multiple times in the head before discarding her body from a car onto Highway US 131 in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids.

Following the shocking incident, Trump, whose campaign heavily emphasized combating illegal immigration, addressed a rally in the very city where the crime took place. There, he pointed to Ortiz-Vite as a prime example of the nation’s issues.

Michigan Live reports that Trump also featured Ortiz-Vite’s mugshot in his campaign advertisements. His actions have sparked the current lawsuit, seeking considerable damages and potential citizenship status change.

Ortiz-Vite filed a lawsuit against Trump and White House communications director Steven Cheung seeking $75.5 million, a public apology and US citizenship, claiming the publicity caused him severe emotional anguish and forced him to take a plea deal. 

‘It all became clear to me when I first met with my court-appointed attorneys. They explained how my case had now gotten blown out of proportion and was now a high-profile case!’ he wrote in the court filing. 

‘The shock in their eyes and the tears from mine were a reaction to my realization that I was living everyone’s worst nightmare! To be publicly infamous – a target! To the United States of America, from here everything went downhill. I was now labeled a cold-blooded murderer in the eyes of the people of this nation.’ 

Ortiz-Vite entered the country illegally as a child and was allowed to stay in the US under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which expired on May 10, 2019.

However, the killer stayed in the country past his DACA expiration date and was deported in 2020 after he was arrested for drunk driving. It is unclear when he re-entered the country.

In his lawsuit, Ortiz-Vite claimed that Trump’s spotlight on his immigration status made him feel pressured to plead guilty.

‘I was put into a category. Who I was as a person no longer mattered! What only mattered was my race,’ Ortiz-Vite wrote.

‘My case and immigration status! Once again, it belittled me, shattered my dignity and what I was as a person.’

He claimed that the attention isolated him while behind bars and has made him a target for other inmates.

‘The shame it brought to my family name is a reality I have to live with now,’ he wrote.

‘I took full responsibility for my actions but for them to use my case for political gain on TV was unjust. Humiliating. When I thought it couldn’t get worse, it did. I was center stage in front of a nation, public scrutiny at its finest!’

Ortiz-Vite is seeking $75.5 million in punitive damages for himself and his family, a public apology from Trump and ‘naturalization to this beautiful country.’

He is representing himself in the lawsuit and filed it from his prison cell at the Chippewa Correctional Facility.

Former federal prosecutor Matthew Borgula told Fox News the case is unlikely to succeed.

‘Federal law requires courts to screen prisoner suits before anyone is served. This complaint will likely not survive that screening,’ Borgula said. 

‘Also, presidential immunity covers official acts, and campaign statements can fall outside it – but this suit fails for more basic reasons.

‘Being publicly embarrassed by a politician isn’t a constitutional violation. This case should end before it begins.’ 

The Daily Mail contacted the White House for comment. 

A group of hopeful cruise travelers found themselves diverted from a dream vacation to an unexpected detour at “Iron Bar Lodge,” as a Florida sheriff aptly described. At Port Canaveral, deputies apprehended six passengers, each with outstanding warrants or alleged probation violations.

In a whimsical nod to maritime mishaps, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey took to social media, posting about the day’s unusual flurry of law enforcement activity, humorously titled “Oh Ship!!,” capturing the bustling atmosphere at one of the globe’s most active cruise terminals.

Among the cases, the one drawing the most serious attention featured Martell Murray, a 24-year-old from Georgia. Authorities took him into custody under an out-of-state fugitive warrant tied to violations of his release conditions related to pending murder charges, according to insights from the sheriff’s office and Brevard County jail documents.

Authorities said the warrant stemmed from an alleged violation tied to an existing murder case. The sheriff’s office did not identify the victim, disclose the jurisdiction handling the case or explain which release condition Murray had allegedly violated.

Murray’s getaway was sunk alongside his traveling companion, Kenderia Burney, 24, who was wanted on a violation-of-probation warrant, Ivey said.

“Luckily these two still got to vacation together at the Lodge even though they got accommodations with separate sleeping quarters,” Ivey quipped.

Both Murray and Burney were booked into the Brevard County Jail on July 17 and remained in custody without bond as of Wednesday, jail records showed. Murray was booked as an out-of-state fugitive, while Burney was being held on an out-of-county warrant.

The deputies’ catch of the day did not end there.

Veronica Hamlet, 38, of Tampa, was arrested on a failure-to-appear warrant, according to the sheriff. Brevard County jail records listed her charge as an out-of-county warrant and showed that she was released the following day after posting $1,000 bond.

James Otha Brewton, 66, of Allendale, South Carolina, was also taken into custody on a violation-of-probation warrant, Ivey said. Jail records showed Brewton was booked on an out-of-county warrant and released July 18 after posting $500 bond.

“It’s smooth sailing from there,” the sheriff said.

Two additional passengers also found trouble waiting for them after they returned from their cruise.

Deputies stopped the unnamed travelers as they disembarked and determined that both were on felony probation but allegedly had left the country without receiving permission from their probation officers, Ivey said.

The sheriff said the two would be enjoying stays at their respective “lodges” once probation officials completed the required paperwork.

Authorities did not identify those passengers or disclose the crimes for which they were on probation.

The sheriff’s office did not identify the ships or cruise lines connected to the six passengers.

“Whether you’re from Florida or Alaska, if you come to Brevard County and break the law…or in this case have a warrant…you better believe that we will lock you up!!” he said.

A coalition of New York City landlords has initiated a legal challenge against what they describe as Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s “rigged” rent freeze. They allege the decision relied on “manipulated data,” calling it a “sham” in a vigorous new lawsuit.

Filed in Staten Island Supreme Court, the lawsuit targets the city’s Rent Guidelines Board, challenging the legality of the board’s June 25 ruling that imposed a two-year rent freeze on one million stabilized housing units.

The landlords argue the board, consisting of nine members, skewed its data and neglected multiple economic factors. According to them, this led to a “predetermined” and “irrational result,” conveniently aligning with Mamdani’s campaign promise to “freeze the rent,” thereby securing a political triumph for him.

The lawsuit claims that the Rent Guidelines Board’s decision on June 25 was not only compromised but also reflects a process marred by “corruption” and “interference.” The filing emphasizes that statutory mandates were dismissed, the board’s independence was undermined, and the outcome was predecided from the very start.

According to the complaint, Mamdani achieved this by appointing tenant activists loyal to his cause onto the supposedly independent board. Furthermore, the lawsuit criticizes Mamdani for allegedly utilizing over $5 million in taxpayer money through his Office of Mass Engagement, aimed more at promoting the rent freeze than fostering unbiased civic involvement.

Mamdani — who appointed six of the current RGB members — has argued the board was independent.

The landlords, who together own over 100 rent-stabilized units, ask a state judge to block the freeze before it can take effect in October.

“If allowed to stand, Order #58 will impose severe, irreparable harm” on the plaintiffs “and similarly-situated landlords (who stand to lose their properties), while setting a dangerous precedent that the RGB’s independence can be cast aside by Mayoral fiat,” the suit states.

One landlord who is part of the suit, Violet Zharku, said the amount of money she makes from renting her 50 units will longer keep up with the costs of running and repairing the apartments, forcing her family to look for other income streams to keep the three fully stabilized buildings in minimum shape.

“Freezing the rent does not freeze my mortgage, property taxes, insurance, water and sewer bills, utility costs or the cost of repairs,” she said.

“We are losing $172,000 annually,” she previously told The Post, citing skyrocketing expenses.

“We can no longer invest in capital improvements or apartment renovations beyond critical repairs and we have no choice but to sell the buildings that we have spent generations maintaining,” Zharku said.

The landlords also seek an expedited discovery request for all communications regarding the RGB vote between the mayor and several of his offices — including the OME and one headed by tenant activist Cea Weaver.

“There is no actual basis for an across- the-board rent freeze here, and the Board’s decision must be overturned,” said attorney Randy Mastro, who represents the landlords and previously worked for then-Mayor Eric Adam’s administration.

“That is not the way government decisions by independent boards are supposed to be made,” he said, calling the suit “a check on the mayor’s abuse of power.” 

City Hall had no immediate comment.

A budget-friendly cruise missile, astonishingly equipped with engines sourced from landfills, is altering the landscape in Ukraine’s ongoing conflict against Kremlin forces. This innovative weapon is raising eyebrows for its ingenuity and effectiveness.

The FP-5 Flamingo missile empowers Ukrainian forces to reach deep into Russian territory—an unprecedented capability. Renowned foreign correspondent Chris Pleasance delves into this significant shift in the latest episode of the Daily Mail’s engaging War On Tape series.

The missile’s intriguing moniker comes from its early prototypes’ vivid pink paint, designed to facilitate easier retrieval. The initials “FP” also pay homage to its creator, Fire Point, marking a novel approach in missile technology.

Initially met with skepticism due to its extraordinary power and impressive range, the missile has since forced analysts to reassess its authenticity—and its potential to redefine conflict dynamics.

Measuring 45 feet in length and boasting a wingspan of 20 feet, the Flamingo stands as one of the most formidable cruise missiles ever engineered, both in size and impact. Its remarkable presence signals a new era in modern warfare.

The projectile weighs six metric tonnes, with a one-tonne warhead, and can fly at speeds of up to 600mph. It is likely its heaviness that gives the missile its signature ‘S’-shaped flight path.

But such power and speed also comes on a budget. Each Flamingo costs around $500,000.

The missile is powered by an Ivcheno AI-25TL engine, originally designed by the Soviets for their training aircraft. Many were scrapped at the end of their service life, so Ukraine bought them from landfill at a cut price. 

In comparison, America’s Tomahawk cruise missile is less than half that size, packs less than half the explosive payload, and costs almost four times as much.

The Flamingos are made of carbon fibre strands woven together by machines and so can be assembled quickly. 

Kyiv claims to be currently manufacturing three Flamingos a day, with the aim of increasing that to seven.

Pleasance said: ‘You can begin to see why this missile caused such a stir when it was first unveiled, and why some people refused to believe it was real. 

‘Because the Flamingo fills a large and sophisticated gap in Ukraine’s arsenal: long-range precision strike weapons.’

He added: ‘On a near daily basis, Russia pummels Ukraine with all manner of long-range precision weapons: cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles, even experimental missiles like the Oresnik. These are fast-moving, difficult to shoot down.

‘So there’s a whole domain of warfare in which Russia can cause immense damage to Ukraine, but in which Ukraine cannot damage Russia. At least that is until now. 

‘The Flamingo fills this gap in three ways. First, it has a very long range. Second, it has a very large warhead. And third, it is Ukrainian-made.’

The Flamingo has a range of 1,900 miles – significantly beyond America’s ATACMS, Britain’s Storm Shadow or France’s Scalp missiles. 

Pleasance said: ‘To say the Flamingo has a long range is perhaps understating things. It isn’t just comparable to the long-range Western weapons that Ukraine has been given in the past, it is significantly better.’ 

He added: ‘It is in an entirely different league, and puts virtually the entire western portion of Russia within striking distance. 

‘That means Ukraine can now hit strategically important factories, oil refineries, and military bases, large numbers of which are based in this region, and of course, both of Russia’s most important cities. Moscow and St. Petersburg.’ 

The Flamingo does not contain GPS or GNSS, or a terrain-scanning system like the Tomahawk, but has achieved remarkable military success during its short lifespan.

Ukraine’s first Flamingo strikes took place in late August 2025 and targeted an outpost in Crimea, around 65 miles behind the front line.

Three missiles were launched, two arrived on target, and one scored a hit, satellite images later revealed.

While the target held little value in and of itself, it proved the Flamingo’s capabilities beyond doubt. 

The next strike came a little over three weeks later, in September 2025, when a Flamingo missile hit a factory in Belgorod, Russia, around 40 miles from the front line, which makes components for Russian fighter jets.

Four missiles were launched. All four arrived on target, and photos from the scene showed fires inside the factory, suggesting significant damage was caused.

Russia then claimed two further attacks took place in October. It seems one failed when the missiles were shot down, while it is unclear where the other missile landed.

In November, the missiles were used again, this time against the Oryol power plant, more than 100 miles behind the front. 

Four were launched, all four arrived on target, but all of them were shot down during the final phase of the attack, raining fiery debris on the city. 

Further strikes in December and January saw Flamingos fired almost 400 miles behind the front line, one of which struck the firing range that Russia uses for its Oresnik missiles. 

The pattern appears to be that each strike pushes slightly further into Russian territory, testing the Flamingo’s range. 

Two more strikes took place in February, and both scored hits, destroying two significant facilities in the process. 

First, the Kotlaban ammunition storage, a little over 300 miles from the front was blown up, and then the Votkinsk missile factory was also badly damaged. 

The second strike was particularly significant because it occurred more than 800 miles from the front line, much further than Ukraine has been able to strike ever before, even with Western weapons. 

A further strike in March targeted the Chebyevsk ammunition factory, more than 600 miles away. And while two missiles arrived on target, neither of them hit it. 

The last reported strike occurred in May, targeting the Cheboksari factory that makes navigation components for Russian military vehicles. 

Six missiles were launched, and one landed a hit on the factory, but the extent of damage remains unknown.

Pleasance said: ‘Overall, the hype is very real. Flamingos exist and are broadly capable of everything Ukraine said they would be capable of doing. 

‘They have been used in at least eight strikes over the last nine months, of which five caused significant damage. For the first time since the war began, Ukraine now has a long-range precision strike weapon in its arsenal over which it has full control. 

‘Russia can no longer launch missiles into Ukraine with impunity. Kyiv can and will hit back. The tide of this war is slowly but surely beginning to tilt back in Ukraine’s favour.’ 

Authorities are delving into a shocking incident described as a “random” attack, where a woman was tragically stabbed to death in the parking lot of a shopping center in a quaint California beach community.

The victim, identified as 73-year-old Rachell Summers, hailed from Capitola. She was found suffering from numerous stab wounds near the food court entrance at the Capitola Mall, with the brutal attack occurring just before 1 p.m. on Monday.

This tragic event unfolded in a location not far from Capitola Beach, a cherished retreat site situated a little over a mile away in the Santa Cruz region.

The Capitola Police Department announced suspect Tyler Leibelt, 19, was arrested on charges related to the knife attack.

Police said, “Based on the investigation, detectives continue to believe this was a random act of violence, and there is no indication that the suspect knew the victim prior to the attack.”

According to court records, Leibelt is charged with murder, among other felonies.

One of the charges listed, “PC667.5(C)-ENH-VIOLENT FELONY ALLEGATION” or California Penal Code 667.5, which reveals the suspect may have been charged in a previous felony case.

That means Leibelt, if convicted in this case, may be subject to substantially longer incarceration times and stricter rules.

As for the victim, Summers was a local artist who managed the Art of Santa Cruz art gallery, which is now closed for the remainder of the week, the New York Post reports.

“Our hearts remain with Rachell’s family, friends, and all those affected by this tragic and senseless act of violence,” the police department said in a social post.

The investigation is ongoing.

Lloyd’s of London recently revealed that its former CEO, John Neal, neglected to disclose a significant personal relationship with Rebekah Clement, a colleague he had promoted. The insurance powerhouse stated that this conduct tarnished its interests and fell substantially short of the high standards expected from its senior leaders.

The historic marketplace, which has been shaping the insurance landscape for centuries, conducted an investigation that revealed Neal’s association with Clement, who was the former Chief Corporate Affairs Officer. The inquiry determined that their connection during their tenure at Lloyd’s could be perceived as a potential conflict of interest, challenging the integrity of the organization.

Nevertheless, despite these findings, the investigation, as reported by the Financial Times, concluded that there was “no conclusive evidence” of a romantic involvement between Neal and Clement. It also indicated that her appointment process to her role was carried out appropriately.

These revelations bring an end to several months of intense scrutiny, which had ultimately derailed Neal’s anticipated transition to a pivotal role at insurance behemoth AIG.

Earlier, The Wall Street Journal had detailed Lloyd’s probe into allegations surrounding an affair between Neal and Clement. Additionally, it was reported that there were employee grievances concerning alleged favoritism towards Clement, who had been promoted to a newly-created position — a role reported directly to Neal and surrounded by controversy.

Neal, who ran Lloyd’s for more than six years, was just two weeks away from starting as president of Manhattan-based AIG when the insurer abruptly announced in November that he would no longer join the company.

Lloyd’s said neither Neal nor Clement disclosed the close relationship, depriving the company of the chance to address the perceived conflict.

Following the probe, Lloyd’s said Neal’s conduct had been “detrimental” to its interests and “fell significantly below the standards of judgment, transparency and accountability expected of a Lloyd’s chief executive.”

The investigation reportedly involved nearly 40 interviews and found Neal failed to respond adequately when colleagues raised concerns about the relationship, according to Reuters and other reports published Wednesday.

Investigators also examined Lloyd’s handling of whistleblower reports submitted in November 2023 and found failings in the way those concerns were addressed.

The company has informed Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority of the findings and tightened its internal governance rules, including adding a duty of candor for its chief executive, Reuters reported.

Clement’s lawyer ripped the investigation and said she was considering legal action against Lloyd’s.

“Rebekah is hugely disappointed with Lloyd’s conduct over the course of this investigation, the nature and length of which have caused her unnecessary stress and significant reputational damage relative to its ‘findings,’” the lawyer said.

Her attorney said Lloyd’s found no evidence of an inappropriate relationship with Neal or any failure in her promotion, but still ruled against her based on “perception” fueled by “rumor, gossip and innuendo.”

Neal also rejected the adverse findings while welcoming the investigation’s conclusion that it had not established an inappropriate relationship.

“I am pleased, but not at all surprised, that the investigation found there was no inappropriate relationship,” Neal said in a statement.

“I would have hoped less time and resource had been spent in reaching a conclusion on the central question that was, in truth, never in doubt. I am disappointed with the other findings and do not accept them but I’m glad that all parties are now able to move on.”

Asked by the Financial Times whether he had had a romantic relationship with Clement, Neal declined to answer.

“I think Lloyd’s are using language that justifies a long and expensive investigation,” he told the newspaper.

Clement was elevated in 2023 to a newly created role overseeing corporate affairs, government policy and media relations, and she reported directly to Neal.

She also sat on Lloyd’s executive committee and previously worked for the prime minister of New Zealand.

Employees complained to Lloyd’s governing council about what they viewed as favorable treatment of Clement, according to the Journal, which reported that concerns were also raised about Neal’s daughter working in the company’s communications operation.

Lloyd’s was been abuzz about the closeness between Neal and Clement, who frequently traveled together, people familiar with the company told the Journal.

Clement left Lloyd’s in May 2025, and her position was not filled by Neal’s successor.

The Post has sought comment from AIG.

LeBron James won’t be making a grand return to Miami’s South Beach—or at least, not just yet.

Speculation erupted online Tuesday after the Miami Heat’s official YouTube channel uploaded a video titled “LeBron James Introductory Press Conference,” tagged with the future date of July 27, 2026.

However, the Miami Heat have since clarified this mix-up. In a conversation with the Miami Herald, they reported that the erroneous post stemmed from a mistake by their social media team. The staff were making preparations for a potential signing of James—who will be a 41-year-old free agent—when a premature thumbnail slipped onto their YouTube channel.

The Heat’s readiness for a hypothetical LeBron return isn’t without precedent. Back in 2010, when James initially joined Miami, the basketball star provided the team scant notification before announcing his decision on national TV, as reported by the Herald.

Despite the team’s attempt to set the record straight, betting enthusiasts couldn’t resist speculating on the future of James. The miscommunication fueled a flurry of wagers in prediction markets, showcasing the persistent magnetism of LeBron’s next potential move.

On Polymarket, where Miami had a 17-percent chance of landing the ex-Lakers star on July 17, the Heat were suddenly a heavy favorite at 50.1 percent on Wednesday morning.

‘Holy s*** it’s actually real guys,’ one eager Heat fan wrote on X. 

‘It’s real lol this is crazy,’ another added. 

Polymarket, which profits on customers’ transaction fees, did its part to fuel that perception online. 

‘The Miami Heat YouTube channel might have accidentally leaked LeBron signing there,’ read a post on the prediction market platform’s X page. ‘The video was immediately unlisted and privated.’

An earlier Polymarket X post read: ‘The Miami Heat LeBron introductory video is, in fact, real. Woah.’

Those posts ignited a wave of conspiracy theories, many of which were tied to existing suspicions about prediction markets.

‘Wild that a leaked, unlisted video can move a market before anything’s official,’ one basketball fan wrote on X. ‘Book says one thing, front office says another.’

‘It’s amazing how far we will go to manipulate prediction markets,’ another added.

Some bought Miami’s excuse, as unforgivable as it may have seemed.  

Social media expert Jack Appleby described this as an ‘all-time mistake… literally affecting billions of dollars of industries between the NBA, gambling, & basketball merchandise.’

He added: ‘It actually gets 100x worse if LeBron DOESNT sign with the Heat.’

Others, including many Miami fans, insisted the YouTube post was a genuine clue that James is returning to South Florida to join Giannis Antetokounmpo and the new-look Heat. 

‘Heat just accidentally leaked the script LeBron to Miami 2.0 incoming,’ read one post on X. ‘South Beach about to eat again.’

But to scores of fans who have grown frustrated with the prediction markets, the entire saga was a warning about information in the new age of gambling.  

‘This has to be illegal,’ one person wrote on X. ‘Polymarket themselves just posted a supposed “leak” that revealed LeBron James going to the Heat

‘They are a platform where you can bet money on where he goes,’ they continued.

‘Why in the world would they post this unless they are trying to get people to lose more money so that they profit from it[?]

‘Pure evil.’

The Daily Mail has sought comment from Polymarket spokespeople.  

One of the company’s X accounts has since posted an update referencing the Heat’s explanation. 

‘The odds of LeBron signing to Miami drop below 50%, after the Miami Heat’s correction stating their announcement was a “mistake,”‘ read the post.  

Regardless, the conspiracy theories have continued unabated.  

Several fans believe the Heat’s errant YouTube post was a red herring aimed at deceiving gullible gamblers.

‘Gonna be hilarious when people use this information to bet money on him going back to Miami… …just for him to sign elsewhere,’ one fan wrote on X. 

Users also noticed that the Heat were hiring a Director of YouTube Strategy, which many took as a sign that the team had fired social media staff over the miscue. However, that job position was originally listed by the team on July 1 – well before this week’s erroneous YouTube post. 

Of course, Polymarket wasn’t the only platform pushing conspiracy theories about the video. Scores of websites and influencers have also seized on the story, which they’ve used to promote betting lines or their own related content.

For his part, James’ agent Rich Paul has not given any indication about where his client will sign, although he has named the Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers as contenders. 

And while NBA commissioner Adam Silver is admittedly impatient for James to sign so the league can finalize its 2026-27 schedule, James is working on his own timeline.

‘I don’t know when his choice is going to be made,’ Paul told Max Kellerman on their podcast this week. ‘It could be 48 seconds, it could be 48 minutes, I don’t know. Again, you can’t make somebody know something they don’t know.’