SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A court in the Turks and Caicos Islands has sentenced former Premier Michael Misick to just over four years in prison after he was convicted in a landmark corruption case that had dragged on for years.
Misick was arrested in December 2012 in Brazil, after his application for political asylum was rejected there. He was accused of corruption, misusing public money and profiting from the sale of government-owned land to developers.
The verdict, handed down on Friday, sentenced Misick to four years and 26 days in prison. In early February, Misick was convicted on three counts of bribery. He has said that all the charges against him were politically motivated.
Former Cabinet minister McAllister Hanchell and attorney Thomas Misick — Michael Misick's brother — were also sentenced in the same case on Friday. Hanchell was sentenced to three years and Thomas Misick to four years. All three were taken into custody and are expected to appeal their sentences.
Michael Misick stepped down as premier in 2009, shortly after Britain temporarily took control of the territory’s government and suspended its constitution following allegations of rampant corruption. The period of direct rule ended in November 2012, when new elections were held.
FILE - Michael Misick addresses the crowd in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands on Aug. 15, 2003, after being sworn in as the Chief Minister Turks and Caicos Islands. (AP Photo/Courtney Robinson, File)
WASHINGTON (AP) — An upcoming celebration of America's 250th anniversary, “The Great American State Fair," recently had several musical guests back out partly over the event's ties to President Donald Trump. Now, Trump himself is slated to headline the festivities, the organizers said Saturday.
“I understand Artists are getting ‘the yips’ having to do with their performance,” Trump posted to his social media platform Truth Social Saturday, adding that he was thinking of bringing “the man who some say is the Greatest President in History (THE GOAT!), DONALD J. TRUMP, to take the place of these highly paid, Third Rate 'Artists.'”
The group organizing the June fair on Washington's National Mall, Freedom 250, confirmed the billing in a statement, writing, “we are excited to announce that President Trump will personally kick off this historic celebration on Wednesday, June 24.”
Trump's social media post twice referenced him holding a rally “Wednesday," without a specific date. The White House did not immediately clarify the discrepancy.
Danielle Alvarez, a spokesperson for Freedom 250, emphasized the broader fair that is scheduled from June 25 through July 10 includes an array of exhibits, family friendly attractions, musical performances, flyovers and more.
Freedom 250 is billed as nonpartisan, but was launched last year by Trump and is led by a former State Department appointee from Trump's first term. Several artists, including Bret Michaels, the Commodores and Martina McBride dropped out last week.
Michaels and other artists have said that they were misled about the theme of the shows or were otherwise wary of being caught up in a political fight. McBride, in a statement on Instagram, said she had been “presented with an opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event but that turned out to be misleading.”
Other artists plan to attend, including Flo Rida, Fab Morvan of Milli Vanilli and Vanilla Ice. The latter's representative previously said that the “Ice Ice Baby” rapper was “proud to help celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary!”
Associated Press writer Eric Tucker contributed to this report.
President Donald Trump looks out the window of his limousine at the construction in Lafayette Park as he departs the White House, Saturday, May 30, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
