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LONDON — A woman who claimed mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor "brutally raped and battered" her in a Dublin hotel penthouse was awarded nearly 250,000 Euros ($257,000) on Friday by a civil court jury in Ireland. Nikita Hand said the Dec. 9, 2018, assault after a night of partying left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced the woman to do anything against her will and said she fabricated the allegations after the two had consensual sex. His lawyer had called Hand a gold digger. The fighter, once the face of the Ultimate Fighting Championship but now past his prime, shook his head as the jury of eight women and four men found him liable for assault after deliberating about six hours in the High Court in Dublin. He was mobbed by cameras as he left court but did not comment. He later said on the social platform X that he would appeal the verdict and the "modest award." Hand's voice cracked and her hands trembled as she read a statement outside the courthouse, saying she would never forget what happened to her but would now be able to move on with her life. She thanked her family, partner, friends, jurors, the judge and all the supporters that had reached out to her online, but particularly her daughter. "She has given me so much strength and courage over the last six years throughout this nightmare to keep on pushing forward for justice," she said. "I want to show (her) and every other girl and boy that you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you, no matter who the person is, and justice will be served." The Associated Press generally does not name alleged victims of sexual violence unless they come forward publicly, as Hand has done. Under Irish law, she did not have the anonymity she would have been granted in a criminal proceeding and was named publicly throughout the trial. Her lawyer told jurors that McGregor was angry about a fight he had lost in Las Vegas two months earlier and took it out on his client. "He's not a man, he's a coward," attorney John Gordon said in his closing speech. "A devious coward and you should treat him for what he is." Gordon said his client never pretended to be a saint and was only looking to have fun when she sent McGregor a message through Instagram after attending a Christmas party. He said Hand knew McGregor socially and that they had grown up in the same area. She said he picked her and a friend up in a car and shared cocaine with them, which McGregor admitted in court, on the way to the Beacon Hotel. Hand said she told McGregor she didn't want to have sex with him and that she was menstruating. She said she told him "no" as he started kissing her but he eventually pinned her to a bed and she couldn't move. McGregor put her in a chokehold and later told her, "now you know how I felt in the octagon where I tapped out three times," referring to a UFC match when he had to admit defeat, she said. Hand had to take several breaks in emotional testimony over three days. She said McGregor threatened to kill her during the encounter and she feared she would never see her young daughter again. Eventually, he let go of her. "I remember saying I was sorry, as I felt that I did something wrong and I wanted to reassure him that I wouldn't tell anyone so he wouldn't hurt me again," she testified. She said she then let him do what he wanted and he had sex with her. A paramedic who examined Hand the next day testified that she had never before seen someone with that intensity of bruising. A doctor told jurors Hand had multiple injuries. Hand said the trauma of the attack had left her unable to work as a hairdresser, she fell behind on her mortgage and had to move out of her house. Police investigated the woman's complaint but prosecutors declined to bring charges, saying there was insufficient evidence and a conviction was unlikely. McGregor, in his post on X, said he was disappointed jurors didn't see all the evidence prosecutors had reviewed. He testified that the two had athletic and vigorous sex, but that it was not rough. He said "she never said 'no' or stopped" and testified that everything she said was a lie. "It is a full blown lie among many lies," he said when asked about the chokehold allegation. "How anyone could believe that me, as a prideful person, would highlight my shortcomings." McGregor's lawyer told jurors they had to set aside their animus toward the fighter. "You may have an active dislike of him, some of you may even loathe him – there is no point pretending that the situation might be otherwise," attorney Remy Farrell said. "I'm not asking you to invite him to Sunday brunch." The defense said the woman never told investigators McGregor threatened her life. They also showed surveillance video in court that they said appeared to show the woman kiss McGregor's arm and hug him after they left the hotel room. Farrell said she looked "happy, happy, happy." McGregor said he was "beyond petrified" when first questioned by police and read them a prepared statement. On the advice of his lawyer, he refused to answer more than 100 follow-up questions. The jury ruled against Hand in a case she brought against one of McGregor's friends, James Lawrence, whom she accused of having sex with her in the hotel without consent. Get local news delivered to your inbox!go fish online casino 。

Pair of original MLS clubs to play for Cup title

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MADRID (AP) — Real Valladolid beat Valencia 1-0 and rose off the bottom of La Liga on Friday. Moroccan forward Anuar scored with a solo effort after 19 minutes. “It’s a sense of relief because we needed the three points,” Anuar said on broadcaster DAZN. “It was like a final, and fortunately, we managed to come out on top.” Valladolid’s Juanmi Latasa was sent off 12 minutes from time after a video review showed he used an elbow, but the home side managed to hold on for the win against a toothless rival. It was a welcome three points for caretaker coach Álvaro Rubio and his first since replacing Paulo Pezzolano, who was fired at the start of December. Valencia replaced Valladolid on the bottom of the table. Valencia has only two wins in 15 league games, but two games in hand. ___ AP soccer:None

On pardons, Biden weighs whether to flex presidential powers in broad new ways

By MARY CLARE JALONICK and MATT BROWN WASHINGTON (AP) — Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Defense Department, said he had a “wonderful conversation” with Maine Sen. Susan Collins on Wednesday as he pushed to win enough votes for confirmation. He said he will not back down after allegations of excessive drinking and sexual misconduct. Related Articles National Politics | Donald Trump will ring the New York Stock Exchange bell. It’ll be a first for him National Politics | The Trump and Biden teams insist they’re working hand in glove on foreign crises National Politics | ‘You don’t know what’s next.’ International students scramble ahead of Trump inauguration National Politics | Trump is threatening to raise tariffs again. Here’s how China plans to fight back National Politics | Trump won’t be able to save the struggling US beef industry Collins said after the hourlong meeting that she questioned Hegseth about the allegations amid reports of drinking and the revelation that he made a settlement payment after being accused of a sexual assault that he denies. She said she had a “good, substantive” discussion with Hegseth and “covered a wide range of topics,” including sexual assault in the military, Ukraine and NATO. But she said she would wait until a hearing, and notably a background check, to make a decision. “I asked virtually every question under the sun,” Collins told reporters as she left her office after the meeting. “I pressed him both on his position on military issues as well as the allegations against him, so I don’t think there was anything that we did not cover.” The meeting with Collins was closely watched as she is seen as more likely than most of her Republican Senate colleagues to vote against some of Trump’s Cabinet picks. She and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a fellow moderate Republican, did not shy from opposing Trump in his first term when they wanted to do so and sometimes supported President Joe Biden’s nominees for the judicial and executive branches. And Hegseth, an infantry combat veteran and former “Fox & Friends” weekend host, is working to gain as many votes as he can as some senators have expressed concerns about his personal history and lack of management experience. “I’m certainly not going to assume anything about where the senator stands,” Hegseth said as he left Collins’ office. “This is a process that we respect and appreciate. And we hope, in time, overall, when we get through that committee and to the floor that we can earn her support.” Hegseth met with Murkowski on Tuesday. He has also been meeting repeatedly with Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, a military veteran who has said she is a survivor of sexual assault and has spent time in the Senate working on improving how attacks are reported and prosecuted within the ranks. On Monday, Ernst said after a meeting with him that he had committed to selecting a senior official to prioritize those goals. Republicans will have a 53-49 majority next year, meaning Trump cannot lose more than three votes on any of his nominees. It is so far unclear whether Hegseth will have enough support, but Trump has stepped up his pressure on senators in the last week. “Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!” Trump posted on his social media platform last week.

TALKING TRASH: LUCKY ENERGY DEBUTED AT ART BASELA MASKED thug has been filmed brandishing two huge "zombie knives" at passersby outside a school. The yob, dressed in a dark tracksuit and balaclava , was spotted walking around residential streets holding a pair of black, machete-like weapons . A clip taken by a pedestrian posted on X showed the knifeman being confronted by a pair of brave bystanders on the street. The heroic Brits yelled at him to "put it away", saying: "Look at you. "Think you're a f****** hard man with a knife ? "Get gone." READ MORE UK NEWS The thug seemed to lunge at the pair with his weapons before saying something in reply, but it was muffled by his mask. He then turned to walk away, placing both knives in one hand so he could make an obscene gesture with the other. The person holding the camera shouted after him: "I'd f*** off and all. "P**** Most read in The Sun "F*** off." The video has been heavily circulated on social media , with the man attracting universal scorn from commenters. One person claimed on Facebook that the incident had taken place outside their grandchildren's school and that pupils had been sent home for the day. Another wrote: "He intimidated nobody. "Nottingham folk don’t fear b*******." And a third added: "How are these [knives] getting into the country?" The Sun has contacted Nottinghamshire Police for comment.Arsenal up to second after Kai Havertz goal sees off struggling Ipswich

NonePISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Luke Altmyer found Pat Bryant for a catch-and-run, 40-yard touchdown pass with 4 seconds left, sending No. 24 Illinois to a wild 38-31 victory over Rutgers on Saturday. Illinois (8-3, 5-3 Big Ten) was down 31-30 when it sent long kicker Ethan Moczulski out for a desperation 58-yard field goal with 14 seconds to go. Rutgers coach Greg Schiano then called for a timeout right before Moczulski’s attempt was wide left and about 15 yards short. After the missed field goal was waved off by the timeout, Illinois coach Bret Bielema sent his offense back on the field. Altmyer hit Bryant on an in cut on the left side at the 22, and he continued across the field and scored untouched in a game that featured three lead changes in the final 3:07. Rutgers (6-5, 3-5) gave up a safety on the final kickoff return, throwing a ball out of bounds in the end zone as players passed it around hoping for a miracle touchdown. Altmyer was 12-of-26 passing for 249 yards and two touchdowns. Bryant finished with seven receptions for 197 yards. Altmeyer put Illinois in front with a 30-yard TD run with 3:07 to go. He passed to Josh McCray on the 2-point conversion, making it 30-24. Rutgers responded with a 10-play, 65-yard drive. Athan Kaliakmanis had a 15-yard run on fourth down. He passed to running back Kyle Manangai for a 13-yard TD with 1:08 remaining. Illinois then drove 75 yards in eight plays for the unexpected win. Kaliakmanis was 18 for 36 for 174 yards and two touchdowns. He also had 13 carries for 84 yards and two TDs. Monangai had a career-high 28 carries for 122 yards. Kaliakmanis found Ian Strong for a 2-yard touchdown in the final seconds of the first half, and he scored on a 1-yard run to lift Rutgers to a 24-15 lead early in the fourth quarter. Illinois responded with Aidan Laughery’s 8-yard TD run, setting up the roller-coaster finish. The start of the second half was delayed because of a scrum between the teams. There were no punches thrown and the officials called penalties on both schools. Monangai become the third player in Rutgers history to rush for 3,000 yards when he picked up 4 on a third-and-1 carry early in the second quarter. The defending conference rushing champion joins Ray Rice and Terrell Willis in hitting the mark. Illinois: The great finish keeps the Illini in line for its first nine-win season since 2007 and a prestigious bowl game this season. Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights were seconds away from their first in-conference three-game win streak since joining the Big Ten in 2014. Illinois: At Northwestern next Saturday. Rutgers: At Michigan State next Saturday. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-pollBaijiayun Announces Up To $15 Million Convertible Promissory Notes And $50 Million Standby Equity Purchase Agreement

Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Roughly two months after barring parents who wore "XX" wristbands during a high school soccer game against a transgender athlete, a school district is confident in its decision to do so. Anthony Foote of Bow, New Hampshire, told the New Hampshire Journal he had received a notice of trespass from Bow and Dunbarton School Districts Superintendent Marcy Kelley after he had worn armbands in support of biological girls-only sports to his daughter’s high school soccer game back in September. Foote, his wife Nicole, Kyle Fellers, and Eldon Rash then filed a federal lawsuit against the Bow School District, Superintendent of Schools Marcy Kelley, Principal Matt Fisk, Athletic Director Mike Desilets, Bow Police Lieutenant Phil Lamy and soccer referee Steve Rossetti several days later. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM A group of New Hampshire parents sued a school district over their removal from a girls' soccer game for protesting against participation by a transgender player. (Getty Images) The "silent protest" at Bow High School, the lawsuit says, intended to "show solidarity" with the Bow team and oppose a policy that allowed a transgender girl to play on Plymouth's team. Fellers and Foote testified Thursday that they hadn’t intended to harass or otherwise target a transgender player on the opposing team, but the school district said differently. Kelley and Desilets believed that the protest wouldn't stop at just wristbands, saying they had received strongly worded emails from Foote in which he called himself a "real leader" who was prepared to take action. They also said Foote urged others to attend the game on social media. In the days leading up to the game, another parent told school officials that she had overheard others talk about showing up to the game wearing dresses and heckling the transgender player. "When we suspect there’s some sort of threat . . . we don’t wait for it to happen," Kelley said on Friday. The "silent protest" at Bow High School, the lawsuit says, intended to "show solidarity" with the Bow team and oppose a policy that allowed a transgender girl to play on Plymouth's team. PRO SOCCER PLAYER BLASTS MEDIA FOR PRAISING MEGAN RAPINOE WHILE BLASTING CHRISTIAN PULISIC FOR TRUMP DANCE Kelley also pushed back on the idea that the plaintiffs were simply expressing support for their daughters and the girls' teammates in general, noting that they had chosen the one game involving a transgender player to begin wearing the wristbands. "This was organized and targeted," she said. "If we were to allow harassment, we’re liable." A federal judge in the case, Steven McAuliffe, pushed back on the parents for repeatedly referring to the athlete as a boy on Thursday. "You seem to go out of your way to suggest there’s no such thing as a trans girl," McAuliffe said during the hearing. The transgender player in question, Parker Tirrell, and another student athlete are challenging the state law that bans transgender athletes in grades 5 to 12 from playing on teams that align with their gender identity. A federal judge ruled in their case that they can play sports during the ongoing lawsuit that seeks to overturn the law. The Bow School District defended its decision to bar those who wore "XX" wristbands at the game. (Friedemann Vogel/Getty Images) CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Gov. Chris Sununu, who signed the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act into law in July, has said that it "ensures fairness and safety in women’s sports by maintaining integrity and competitive balance in athletic competitions." Fox News' Paulina Dedaj, Landon Mion, Jackson Thompson, and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X , and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter .Published 20:15 IST, November 23rd 2024 Kalpana Soren, wife of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, has emerged as a powerful force in the party that revitalised the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). Ranchi: Kalpana Soren, wife of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, has emerged as a powerful force in the party that revitalised the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). Her political journey, which was never her initial choice, began in earnest after her husband's arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on January 31 in connection with a money laundering case tied to an alleged land fraud. Despite the personal and political challenges posed by her husband's legal battles, Kalpana has proven to be a resilient and dynamic leader. She became a vocal figure in the opposition to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing the party of being a "tyrannical force" targeting the opposition INDIA bloc. Her leadership became especially prominent during the Lok Sabha elections, where she campaigned vigorously and led the JMM’s efforts in Jharkhand, gaining the support of tribal communities and others. Kalpana’s political rise gained significant momentum after her husband's release from jail and his subsequent return to office as Chief Minister in July. She emphasised that tribals, by their very nature, do not bow to oppression, a sentiment that has resonated with many in the state. Her message has been clear - she stands firm against injustice and dictatorial forces, taking inspiration from her husband’s refusal to compromise on his principles. Kalpana's political journey began on March 4 at the JMM's 51st Foundation Day celebration in Giridih district, where she claimed that a conspiracy had been orchestrated by opponents since the Hemant Soren coalition government came to power in 2019. Hemant Soren was arrested by the ED on January 31 in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land fraud. He resigned from his post before the arrest. Kalpana has been a prominent figure in INDIA bloc rallies in Jharkhand and campaigned for the alliance in the state. She was one of the key speakers at the 'Ulgulan Nyay' rally in Ranchi, attended by leaders of 28 parties on April 21. She won the Gandey bypoll, held in June along with Lok Sabha polls by 27,149 votes over her nearest BJP rival Dilip Kumar Verma and ever since has not looked back. Through her about 200 rallies in assembly elections this time, Kalpana has infused new blood in the party and has emerged as a powerful face. Kalpana, 48, holds engineering and MBA degrees. "I will fight against injustice and dictatorial forces as bowing is not in tribal DNA. I will follow my husband's footsteps. He chose to court imprisonment rather than compromise his values. I am his better half and will see to it that tyrannical forces get a befitting reply," Kalpana emphasises. She terms her husband's arrest by the ED as politically motivated and part of a plan to coerce him to join the BJP. "His arrest was part of a plan by the central government to browbeat, intimidate, and humiliate him, but they will get a befitting reply in the elections," she had said. Kalpana completed her schooling in Baripada in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district and obtained her engineering and MBA degrees in Bhubaneswar. Speculation regarding Kalpana's candidacy arose following the resignation of Ahmad in December, with the BJP claiming it was to facilitate her candidacy in case the ED issued summonses to her husband. The BJP in the state has been attacking Kalpana, saying that Champai Soren was a "caretaker and puppet chief minister" while she was the "centre of power" in Jharkhand. "All of you have reached this far in this great election campaign by shedding your blood and sweat. Every vote is precious for us. That is why we have to maintain our passion and fighting spirit until we get the certificate of victory," she emphasises. Now her luck is sealed in the EVM as she once again contested from Gandey. Kalpana has been making headlines now as Hemant finds himself increasingly facing heat from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a case pertaining to an alleged land scam. As the ED turns up the heat on the CM, Kalpana is set to remain in the limelight. With PTI Inputs Get Current Updates on India News , Entertainment News along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world. 20:15 IST, November 23rd 2024

Members of former Special Counsel Jack Smith’s prosecution team are reportedly hiring lawyers and preparing for possible legal action by incoming President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice, according to the Rolling Stone . The magazine reported this week: According to two sources with knowledge of the matter and a former Justice Department official, several attorneys and staffers who were on the special counsel’s Justice Department team, or had done work for its criminal investigations into Trump, have already sought legal counsel or retained personal lawyers — in case the former and now future president and his incoming administration follow through on his desire to probe or even prosecute his enemies. ... One of the sources with knowledge of the situation tells Rolling Stone that multiple people who worked with Smith and his core team have preemptively reviewed their private and professional communications, to make sure they hadn’t written anything that could be subpoenaed, publicly revealed, and used against them to paint a narrative of alleged misconduct or supposed anti-Trump bias. Some federal investigators, including more junior staff, have talked to attorneys and legal groups about possible ways a rejuvenated Trump Justice Department could try to make their lives hell, what precautionary measures they should take, and even how to avoid going bankrupt if the revenge probes come in full force, the sources add. Independent reporter Julie Kelly, who has documented the abuses of power by the Department of Justice in cases involving the Capitol riot of January 6, 2021, noted on X that the “hunter” had become the “hunted.” Trump told NBC’s Kristen Welker in an interview earlier this month that he was not interested in retribution — at least against President Joe Biden: I’m really looking to make our country successful. I’m not looking to go back into the past. I’m looking to make our country successful. Retribution will be through success. If we can make our success — this country successful, that would be my greatest, that would be such a great achievement. However, many conservatives have argued that Trump has a legal cause of action to investigate, and perhaps sue or prosecute, those who participated in abusive “lawfare” against him. Joel B. Pollak is Senior Editor-at-Large at Breitbart News and the host of Breitbart News Sunday on Sirius XM Patriot on Sunday evenings from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET (4 p.m. to 7 p.m. PT). He is the author of The Agenda: What Trump Should Do in His First 100 Days , available for pre-order on Amazon. He is also the author of The Trumpian Virtues: The Lessons and Legacy of Donald Trump’s Presidency , now available on Audible. He is a winner of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak .

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A Georgia sheriff was sued last week for allegedly blocking critical comments on his office’s social media account after videos spread of him calling deputies to a Burger King that botched his order. David Cavender, who lost the Cobb County sheriff’s race to incumbent Craig Owens Sr. this month, sued Owens weeks after kicking off a stream of online ridicule against the sheriff by accusing him of “Whoppergate.” In mid-October, Cavender’s campaign published body-camera footage of a March 2023 incident where Owens, who was not in uniform, called three deputies to a Mableton, Georgia, Burger King and asked them to collect the names of the store’s manager and owner so he could lodge a complaint with the restaurant. Cavender accused Owens of misusing public resources. He and others blasted the sheriff in the comments of the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook posts. On Oct. 29, a week before the election, Owens restricted comments on several posts on the page, according to Cavender’s complaint. The lawsuit, filed Nov. 13 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia by Cavender and two other plaintiffs critical of Owens, accuses the sheriff of violating their constitutional rights to free expression and speech. The accusation echoes similar lawsuits against higher-profile public officials, including then-President Donald Trump and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York), for blocking critics on social media. Attorneys for Owens did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday evening on the lawsuit or the Burger King incident. The Cobb County Sheriff’s Office declined to comment. The sheriff’s office said in a Nov. 1 Facebook post that it had restricted comments on its page to “keep our posts focused on community safety updates and educational info.” Owens called three officers to the Burger King after the restaurant botched his wife’s Whopper order, according to the body-camera footage first published by Cavender’s campaign and later obtained by local news outlets. Owens was not in uniform and appeared to be driving a personal truck. “Do me a favor,” Owens asks a deputy on the video. “All I need is the owner name ... or the manager. We ordered something, the food was wrong.” Owens told his deputy that the restaurant’s staff disputed that they served the wrong order and declined to refund him, according to the video. He said he wanted the name of the restaurant’s owner to file an official complaint. Video shows the deputies approach the Burger King to find the doors locked. An assistant manager told the deputies that staff had locked the doors because they felt threatened by Owens after previous experiences with angry customers, according to Atlanta-area TV station 11Alive, which viewed unpublished portions of the video showing the interaction. “You didn’t tell him who I was, did you?” Owens asks his deputy after the officers return and tell him that the staff felt threatened, according to the footage. The deputy says he didn’t. Cavender’s campaign published the body-camera footage on social media on Oct. 11 and said Owens had abused his position and wasted county resources by calling deputies to the scene. Owens apologized and said he had made the same kind of request over a business dispute that any citizen could make, and that he did not identify himself as the sheriff to the Burger King staff, Atlanta-based TV station WSB-TV reported. Comments on the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page ridiculing Owens - including images of the sheriff in a Burger King hat - soon followed. In Facebook comments, Cavender also leveled criticism at Owens over other controversies, including the death of an inmate at the Cobb County Jail, according to his lawsuit. On Oct. 29, the sheriff’s office began restricting comments on several recent Facebook posts that had been swamped with criticism, according to the lawsuit. It limited comments on new posts going forward and deleted many of the critical comments left on the old posts, the lawsuit alleges. Cavender’s lawsuit also accuses Owens of pushing the policy to hide negative comments on posts lauding the department’s work. It further alleges that Owens published laudatory posts about the sheriff’s office in October to bolster his reelection chances. Owens, a Democrat, defeated Cavender, a Republican, in November. Cobb County, a suburban county near Atlanta, has reliably leaned blue in recent election cycles. The lawsuit alleges that Owens violated Cavender’s First Amendment rights by blocking him from commenting and removing his previous comments. Similar cases brought in 2019 against Trump and Ocasio-Cortez, both of whom blocked critics on social media, led the officials to backtrack and remove the blocks. But the question of whether any public officials are allowed to censor critical voices online remains a subject of legal controversy; two other First Amendment cases involving local officials in California and Michigan went all the way to the Supreme Court. The high court wrote in March that public officials retain the constitutional right to maintain private social media accounts and block critical voices on them, but can still be sued for blocking users if they purport to exercise their authority to “speak on the state’s behalf” or carry out official business on those accounts - a standard some legal experts said was unclear, The Post reported. Owens told WSB-TV he could have handled the Burger King dispute differently. “In hindsight, I probably should have just drove off and took the bad service and left and came back another day,” he said.