Trump campaign marketing 'Not Guilty' mug shot T-shirts of ex-president to raise funds
New York (PTI): Donald Trump did not have his mug shot taken when he was arrested and arraigned at a Manhattan court, but his re-election campaign is using his indictment to raise funds by marketing T-shirts with a specially-created "Not Guilty" mug shot of the former US president.
Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection with USD 130,000 paid in hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 US presidential election campaign.
Trump, 76, was arrested Tuesday and arraigned before New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, as the global spectacle of the first criminal indictment ever of a former US President captivated audiences in America and around the world.
The former US president surrendered to the Manhattan district attorney's office on Tuesday afternoon and later appeared for his arraignment before Merchan where he entered the not guilty plea to the 34 felony counts in the indictment.
He was fingerprinted, like any other felony defendant, while he was in custody but he was not handcuffed and neither did he have his mug shot taken.
Trump and his aides are using his indictment and arraignment to bolster further support for his 2024 re-election campaign. His campaign claims to have raised more than USD 12 million since a grand jury voted to indict the former president last week.
Even though his mug shot was not taken when he was arrested, his campaign is using the opportunity provided by his arraignment to market T-shirts featuring his specially-created mug shot.
An email titled NEW ITEM: MUGSHOT" reads, "NOT GUILTY. Do you stand with President Trump, Friend? Please make a contribution of USD 47 or more to win in 2024 and we'll send you your very own "NOT GUILTY" T-Shirt for FREE.
The T-shirt shows a mug-shot of a formally dressed Trump, with the words Not Guilty' written in all caps black font.
On the mugshot letter board is written "President Donald J Trump 45-47 04 04 2023." The numbers 45-47 refer to Trump being the 45th President of the United States as well as the 47th if he is re-elected in the 2024 Presidential elections.
Joe Biden is the 46th and current president of the United States. The date '04 04 2023' refer to the historic day he was arrested and arraigned.
"Soros believes that with his hand-picked D.A. Alvin Bragg having ARRESTED President Trump for committing no crime, they can bleed our campaign dry by dragging us through witch hunt after witch hunt," the email further said, referring to billionaire philanthropist George Soros and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg who indicted Trump.
"But what better way to PROVE that our campaign will never surrender our country to the Left's tyranny than countless grassroots patriots proudly wearing their very own 'NOT GUILTY' T-Shirts," the Team Trump email said.
"Please make a contribution of USD 47 to help our campaign continue to surge at this pivotal moment in our nation's history and we'll send you your very own 'NOT GUILTY' T-Shirt for FREE," the email said.
Another email from the campaign signified the popularity of the Trump mug shot T-shirt as it stated: "Never has an item flown off the shelves of the Official Trump Store faster than our limited-edition NOT GUILTY T-Shirt"
"But never has a President of the United State been ARRESTED not for committing a crime but for putting the American people first. Because our records indicate you are one of President Trump's top supporters, we've reserved a shirt just for you until midnight tonight," the email read.
"Please make a contribution of USD 47 by 11:59 P.M. to help our campaign continue to surge at this pivotal moment in our nation's history and we'll send you your very own "NOT GUILTY" T-Shirt for FREE," the email added.
A post script adds: "The only photo certified by President Donald J. Trump."
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K'taka to convene inter-departmental meeting on food contamination
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government on Thursday said it would convene a meeting of all departments concerned and Bengaluru legislators to address concerns over rising food contamination, including chemicals and heavy metals found in vegetables, milk and poultry products.
Responding to a discussion in the Assembly, Forest and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre said the government recognises the seriousness of pollution affecting food, air and water, particularly in the state capital Bengaluru.
"There is pollution in food, in air, in water and even in milk. In Bengaluru the problem is increasing day by day," Khandre said, adding that the government will call a meeting -- possibly next week , after consulting deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to discuss the issue with legislators and experts.
He said pollution in water bodies and inadequate sewage treatment infrastructure were major causes. Bengaluru, with a population of about 1.4 crore, requires around 1,800 MLD (million litres a day) of sewage treatment capacity but currently has about 1,200 MLD, he said, noting that delays in building treatment plants and land constraints have worsened the situation.
The minister also pointed to issues such as solid waste management, untreated sewage flowing into lakes, construction-related pollution and the need for stronger public awareness on environmental protection.
The debate began after BJP MLA C N Ashwath Narayan raised concerns about food contamination, citing reports of high levels of heavy metals and pesticide residues being found in commonly consumed vegetables.
The Malleswaram MLA told the House that residues of more than 200 pesticides and over 11 heavy metals had been detected in vegetables and leafy greens.
"Levels of heavy metals like lead, chromium, copper and iron are more than 20 times higher than permissible limits in some samples, posing a serious threat to public health," Narayan, a former deputy CM, said.
According to him, vegetables such as beans, beetroot, cabbage, capsicum, chilli and cucumber showed alarming contamination levels.
The findings were based on studies conducted under directions from the National Green Tribunal and the Central Pollution Control Board, with participation from the state pollution control authorities and agricultural experts.
Leader of Opposition R Ashoka said food safety had become a serious public health concern in Bengaluru, pointing to a rise in lifestyle and organ-related diseases.
"Today milk, eggs, poultry and vegetables have all become a problem. We need a monitoring centre to test and regulate food quality," the BJP leader said.
Ashoka alleged that vegetables arriving from surrounding districts were often contaminated and said steroid use in poultry farming and polluted water used for fodder cultivation could also affect food safety.
He urged the government to create a monitoring mechanism involving departments such as agriculture, horticulture, veterinary services, health and the pollution control board.
Supporting the demand, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge said the issue could not be handled by a single department.
"Agriculture, horticulture, fisheries and veterinary departments all have to work together because the food consumed in Bengaluru is produced in rural areas," Kharge said.
He noted that pollution of soil, air and water, pesticide residues, veterinary drugs and chemicals migrating from plastic food packaging could all contribute to contamination.
The government, he said, had already begun issuing orders to curb unsafe practices in food outlets, such as the use of artificial colouring in 'Kebabs' and plastic materials in cooking.
Kharge added that the state was working on a circular economy policy that includes sustainable waste management, recycling and grey-water treatment, while also expanding solid waste management initiatives in rural areas.
During the discussion, Ashwath Narayan also suggested adopting advanced sewage recycling technologies and improving tertiary treatment of wastewater to reduce contamination risks.
Khandre assured the House that the government would study the reports cited by legislators and hold consultations with relevant departments to formulate guidelines and preventive measures.
