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A formerly well-connected Republican donor goes on trial in Minnesota on Tuesday accused of sex trafficking minors. Anton “Tony” Lazzaro is charged with seven federal counts involving five minors ages 15 and 16 in 2020, when he was 30 years old. His indictment touched off a political firestorm that led to the downfall of Jennifer Carnahan as chair of the Republican Party of Minnesota. A co-defendant pleaded guilty to two counts last year and will testify against him. Lazzaro has denied the allegations. He says the government targeted him for political reasons. Prosecutors say it’s simply a sex-trafficking case.

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Republican lawmakers across the country are pushing to increase the use of cash bail and pretrial detention. Their efforts are a counter to Democratic measures that have sought to eliminate cash bail and ensure most defendants are released before trial in states such as Illinois and New York. GOP lawmakers in at least 14 states have introduced 20 bills to bolster cash bail since legislative sessions began anew in 2023. Criminal justice advocates say the measures would do little more than increase disparity in the justice system and favor wealthy defendants. Republicans argue they will protect the public from people accused of violent crimes.

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