![\"James](\"https:\/\/news2.watchtowatch.top\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot_132-1763193875-q80-3.webp\")
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New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted on federal bank fraud charges after prosecutors alleged she lied on a mortgage application to obtain favorable loan terms on a Virginia property she later rented out.<\/p>\n
The indictment, returned by a federal grand jury, centers on a single-family home in Norfolk, Virginia, that James co-purchased in August 2020 for roughly $137,000. Most of the purchase was financed with a $109,600 loan that prohibited the home from being used as a rental or investment property, according to prosecutors.<\/p>\n
By misrepresenting the property as a second home, James received a lower interest rate and saved \u201capproximately $18,933 over the life of the loan,\u201d prosecutors said in a five-page filing.<\/p>\n
Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director William Pulte referred the case to the Department of Justice earlier this year, prompting a criminal probe that led to Thursday\u2019s indictment.<\/p>\n
According to financial disclosure forms reviewed by the\u00a0<\/p>\n
New York Post,\u00a0James repeatedly listed the Norfolk property as an \u201cinvestment\u201d from 2020 through 2023 in filings with the New York State Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government. In 2024, she changed the classification to \u201creal property,\u201d just weeks after the FHFA referral was made.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe indicted attorney general also estimated the value of the property anywhere between $150,000 and $200,000,\u201d the Post reported.<\/p>\n
Despite the loan\u2019s clear prohibition against rental use, prosecutors allege James used the property as a rental investment and earned thousands of dollars in income that she failed to report on multiple disclosure forms.<\/p>\n
In her 2020 disclosure, James did list an \u201cinvestment real property\u201d in Norfolk that generated between $1,000 and $5,000 in revenue, but it is unclear if that referred to the same home named in the indictment.<\/p>\n
According to prosecutors, James agreed to a \u201cSecond Home Rider\u201d when taking out the loan, which required her to occupy the home as her secondary residence and forbade any rental or shared ownership arrangement.<\/p>\n
\u201cDespite these representations,\u201d the indictment reads, \u201cthe Norfolk property was not occupied or used by James as a secondary residence and was instead used as a rental investment property.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prosecutors also said James made false statements on her homeowners\u2019 insurance application, claiming the home would be \u201cowner occupied,\u201d and on her federal tax filings, where she classified the house as \u201crental real estate\u201d and reported \u201cthousand(s) of dollars in rents received.\u201d<\/p>\n
The federal indictment charges James with two counts: bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution. If convicted on both counts, she faces up to 60 years in prison and fines totaling as much as $2 million.<\/p>\n
The judge presiding over James\u2019 mortgage fraud case on Friday rejected a motion seeking to compel federal prosecutors to maintain a log of all their communications with the media.<\/p>\n
Defense attorney Abbe Lowell had filed the request last week, following James\u2019 arraignment on charges of bank fraud and making false statements. The motion cited a report alleging that U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan exchanged a series of encrypted Signal messages with a reporter regarding the case,\u00a0<\/p>\n
the New York Post reported.<\/p>\n
\u201c[T]he defendant does not demonstrate that it is necessary for the Court to order the government to track communications with the media in any particular form,\u201d wrote US District Judge Jamar Walker in his six-page order.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe defendant\u2019s request that the government be required to keep a communication log is DENIED,\u201d the Biden-appointed judge ruled.<\/p>\n
Walker further wrote that while Halligan\u2019s Signal chat with Lawfare senior editor Anna Bower earlier this month was \u201cunusual,\u201d he nevertheless declined to offer an opinion \u201con whether they were improper in any sense, either legal or ethical.\u201d<\/p>\n
Halligan\u2019s Signal messages to the reporter were configured to automatically disappear after eight hours, The Post reported.<\/p>\n
The judge did not address whether Halligan\u2019s communications \u2014 which reportedly disputed a New York Times story revealing that James\u2019 grandniece told a grand jury she had never paid rent on the Norfolk, Va., property at the center of the case \u2014 constituted material subject to discovery requirements.<\/p>\n
James pleaded not guilty last week to one count of bank fraud and one count of making a false statement to a financial institution.<\/p>\n
House Republicans are exploring legal and constitutional strategies to block New York City mayoral front-runner Zohran Mamdani from being sworn into office if he wins Tuesday\u2019s election, citing the Constitution\u2019s post\u2013Civil War \u201cinsurrection clause,\u201d according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions.<\/p>\n
The effort,\u00a0first reported\u00a0by the New York Post, is being led in part by the New York Young Republican Club, which argues that Mamdani\u2019s past statements calling to \u201cresist ICE\u201d and his ties to left-wing organizations could qualify as \u201cgiving aid or comfort to the enemies\u201d of the United States \u2014 language drawn directly from Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.<\/p>\n
That provision, enacted in 1868, bars from public office any person who has \u201cengaged in insurrection or rebellion\u201d against the United States, or who has provided \u201caid or comfort\u201d to its enemies.<\/p>\n
The clause was originally intended to prevent former Confederate officials from holding office but has recently re-emerged in political debates over ballot eligibility.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a real and legitimate push to see the insurrectionist Zohran Mamdani either a) removed from the ballot or b) removed from office if he is to win on Tuesday,\u201d said Stefano Forte, president of the New York Young Republican Club.<\/p>\n
Several House Republicans are said to be reviewing whether the clause could be enforced through new legislation or congressional action following next week\u2019s election. The idea mirrors the legal arguments used in Colorado last year to try to disqualify former President Donald Trump from the state\u2019s ballot \u2014 a move the Supreme Court ultimately overturned, ruling that Congress, not individual states, has the constitutional authority to enforce Section 3.<\/p>\n
The Court\u2019s decision has emboldened some GOP lawmakers who believe the ruling effectively places responsibility for such enforcement in the hands of Congress, where Republicans currently hold a narrow 219\u2013213 majority in the House.<\/p>\n
According to two congressional aides, Republican leaders may consider holding a post-election vote to declare Mamdani ineligible for office under the clause. Such a measure would face significant procedural and legal hurdles, including a likely filibuster in the Democrat-controlled Senate and near-certain court challenges.<\/p>\n
In addition to the potential 14th Amendment challenge, House Republicans are pressuring the Justice Department to review Mamdani\u2019s path to U.S. citizenship, claiming he may have violated the terms of his naturalization oath.Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) sent a letter Monday to Attorney General Pam Bondi, urging her to investigate what he described as \u201cstatements inconsistent with the oath of allegiance required of new citizens.\u201d Ogles cited Mamdani\u2019s 2018 naturalization and accused him of \u201crefusal to disavow violent anti-American rhetoric.\u201d<\/p>\n
He reiterated those allegations in a post on X, claiming Mamdani \u201ccame to the U.S. from Uganda to turn America into an Islamic theocracy.\u201d<\/p>\n
In his letter, Ogles argued that Mamdani\u2019s past remarks and political affiliations amount to a \u201cbroader pattern of conduct inconsistent with the oath of allegiance.\u201d<\/p>\n
He urged the Justice Department to examine whether denaturalization proceedings are warranted, referencing existing immigration law that prohibits membership in communist or totalitarian organizations for new citizens.<\/p>\n
Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) also joined the campaign, accusing Mamdani of omitting material information from his citizenship application, including membership in the Democratic Socialists of America and comments defending the \u201cHoly Land Five,\u201d a group of Palestinian-American leaders convicted in 2008 for funneling money to Hamas.<\/p>\n
\u201cNew York City falls to communism next week, and they will have nobody but themselves to blame,\u201d Fine wrote on X, referencing the upcoming mayoral election.<\/p>\n
Mamdani, currently a member of the New York State Assembly representing Astoria, Queens, denied the accusations and said Republican lawmakers are trying to weaponize the law against a political opponent.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo matter how many times these Republican Congress members or the president of this country calls me a Communist, it doesn\u2019t make it true,\u201d Mamdani said in comments to The Post last weekend.<\/p>\n
A Justice Department spokeswoman confirmed receipt of Ogles\u2019 letter but said responses to congressional correspondence have been delayed due to the ongoing government shutdown.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Department does not comment on the status of ongoing or potential investigations,\u201d the spokeswoman said.<\/p>\n
Jennifer Lopez, widely known as J.Lo, has enjoyed an extraordinary career spanning music, film, television, fashion, and business. Even after more than thirty years in the spotlight, her influence continues to be significant. From headlining stadium tours to starring in major films and launching successful ventures, Lopez remains a prominent figure admired for her talent, style, and work ethic. Alongside her professional accomplishments, her personal life\u2014including her relationships\u2014often draws public interest.<\/p>\n
Recently, there has been public curiosity regarding Lopez\u2019s personal life, following her previous relationship with Ben Affleck. Observers have noted occasional sightings of Lopez in Los Angeles with companions, prompting discussions online. However, no official statements have confirmed any new romantic relationship.<\/p>\n
It is important to differentiate between casual public appearances and verified personal news. A coffee outing or being accompanied by security personnel does not constitute evidence of a romantic involvement. Lopez\u2019s bodyguards, like those of other global celebrities, perform professional duties rather than play personal roles.<\/p>\n
Lopez has openly shared her approach to love and independence in interviews, emphasizing self-fulfillment and personal growth. She has highlighted the importance of focusing on her own happiness and well-being, demonstrating that her priorities include family, creative projects, and personal development.<\/p>\n
Her past relationships\u2014including those with Sean Combs, Cris Judd, Ben Affleck, and Marc Anthony\u2014have been well-documented and shaped public perception of her life. However, Lopez continues to redefine her own path, balancing her career, family responsibilities, and personal autonomy.<\/p>\n
The public\u2019s fascination with her love life reflects her iconic status and relatable experiences. Yet Lopez maintains clear boundaries between her professional achievements and private life, choosing to share selectively. Her focus on inner peace, creativity, and family underscores her dedication to authenticity.<\/p>\n
At this stage, whether Lopez is pursuing a new relationship or embracing singlehood, her fans continue to support her. Her story demonstrates resilience, growth, and a commitment to living life on her own terms\u2014qualities that remain at the heart of her public and personal journey.<\/p>\n
Their romance started nearly two decades ago<\/p>\n
Before there were\u00a0Marc Anthony\u00a0and\u00a0Alex Rodriguez, before Jennifer Garner and\u00a0Ana de Armas, there was Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck.<\/p>\n
Bennifer was\u00a0the<\/em>\u00a0It couple of the early \u201900s. Though the two went their separate ways in 2004, 17 years later they resurrected one of Hollywood\u2019s favorite romances. After being spotted on multiple loved-up outings and at red carpet appearances together, they finally got married in 2023.<\/p>\n Ahead, we take a stroll down memory lane and track Ben and Jen\u2019s relationship history, from how they met to the stunning pink diamond Affleck proposed with in 2002\u2014and the new love story they\u2019re creating now that they\u2019re together again.<\/p>\n The Hollywood actors\u2014then at arguably the height of their fame\u2014first met on the set of 2003 rom-com\u00a0Gigli<\/em>. Not helped by its strange title (pronounced JEE-lee), the movie flopped, but sparks flew between the leading stars.<\/p>\n At the time, J.Lo was\u00a0still married\u00a0to her second husband, dancer Cris Judd; she and Affleck went public with their relationship soon after her divorce from Judd. (The divorce was finalized in 2003.)<\/p>\n In 2016, the actor and singer reflected on the beginning of her relationship with Affleck in an interview with\u00a0People<\/em>.\u00a0\u201cWe didn\u2019t\u00a0try<\/em>\u00a0to have a public relationship,\u201d she said. \u201cWe just happened to be together at the birth of the tabloids, and it was like \u2018Oh my God.\u2019 It was just a lot of pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n She also revealed her first impression of Affleck. \u201cI felt like\u200a\u2026\u200a\u2018Okay, this is it,\u2019\u201d she said. \u201c[But] sometimes I feel like what you think people are and how you see them when you love them is different than when they reveal later.\u201d<\/p>\n The now-iconic music video features a steamy moment from Bennifer. With J.Lo in a hot-pink bikini and Affleck in a white tank, the lovebirds sunbathe on a boat while the\u00a0Good Will Hunting<\/em>\u00a0writer and star lovingly\u00a0engages in some PDA with J.Lo\u2019s bottom (a part of her body the media obsessed over back then). The video also made tongue-in-cheek reference to the tabloids\u2019 obsession with the relationship, including surveillance camera footage and pap photos of the two.<\/p>\n In 2010, J.Lo talked about the pressures the media put on their relationship during a guest appearance on\u00a0The Graham Norton Show.<\/em>\u00a0\u201cI love Ben, he\u2019s a great guy, but it was a lot for both of us to be under that type of siege for two years straight,\u201d she said. \u201cWe were on the cover of every magazine, every week, it was just a weird thing. \u2026 Our relationship, I think, did suffer because of that. That\u2019s not the only reason\u200a\u2026\u200abut I think it definitely played a part in the dynamic of our relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n J.Lo confirmed the happy news in an interview with\u00a0Diane Sawyer. \u201cIt\u2019s the most magnificent thing I’ve ever seen,\u201d she said of the 6.1-carat pink diamond from Harry Winston that Affleck gave her. The rock reportedly cost him\u00a0$2.5 million.<\/p>\n J.Lo played the dead wife of Affleck\u2019s character in\u00a0Jersey Girl<\/em>,<\/em>\u00a0a dramedy that was slated for a 2003 release, but got pushed to the following year. Also starring Liv Tyler, the film ultimately underperformed at the box office, grossing only $36 million.<\/p>\n Days before the two were set to officially tie the knot, they released a\u00a0joint statement\u00a0announcing the ceremony\u2019s postponement:<\/p>\n On January 22, 2004, the two ended their engagement. J.Lo confirmed the sad news through her spokesperson.<\/p>\n \u201cI am confirming the report that Jennifer Lopez has ended her engagement to Ben Affleck,\u201d the statement said at the time, per\u00a0MTV.\u00a0\u201cAt this difficult time, we ask that you respect her privacy.\u201d<\/p>\n In June of 2004, the \u201cLet\u2019s Get Loud\u201d singer married singer-songwriter and longtime friend Marc Anthony. The two welcomed twins, daughter Emme Mu\u00f1iz and son Max Mu\u00f1iz, in 2008. They separated in 2014.<\/p>\n In her 2014 book,\u00a0True Love<\/em>,<\/em>\u00a0J.Lo reflected on the turbulent period between announcing her split from Affleck and marrying Anthony. \u201cBen and I split up at the moment when I thought we were committing to each other forever, it was my first real heartbreak, it felt like my heart had been torn out of my chest,\u201d she wrote, per\u00a0Page Six. \u201cI sought out comfort in another person, tried to find someone who could make me feel loved and wanted in my loneliest hour. \u2026 Marc came back into my life three days after I should have been at the altar saying \u2018I do\u2019 to another man.\u201d<\/p>\n She added that their romance may have been her attempt at a quick fix for her heartbreak. \u201cThinking back, maybe deep down I knew that this was a Band-Aid on the cut, that my wound hadn\u2019t been stitched or healed,\u201d she wrote. \u201cBut I pushed all that to the back of my mind. Because life takes unpredictable twists and turns, right? And you\u2019ve just got to go with what you feel is best in the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n Affleck, too, soon moved on. He married Garner in 2005, and the new Hollywood couple welcomed three children together over the years: daughters Violet and Seraphina Affleck, and son Samuel Affleck. The couple divorced in 2018.<\/p>\n After J.Lo\u00a0ended her engagement to Alex Rodriguez\u00a0and Affleck split from Ana de Armas, the two were spotted\u00a0hanging out again.\u00a0Page Six\u00a0reported on April 30 that Affleck was photographed visiting Lopez\u2019s Los Angeles home multiple times.<\/p>\n \u201cSecurity picks him up at a nearby location and drops him off after spending a few hours at her house,\u201d said a source, who insisted on the platonic nature of Affleck\u2019s visits. \u201cThey are friends,\u201d the insider said. \u201cThey\u2019ve never not been.\u201d<\/p>\n Nearly two decades after they called it quits, Lopez and Affleck headed to Montana for a weeklong vacation. This\u00a0followed\u00a0their appearances together at Lopez\u2019s L.A. mansion the day of their departure, and at Global Citizen\u2019s Vax Live benefit concert, per\u00a0People.<\/em><\/p>\n An insider confirmed the getaway to\u00a0E! News<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cThey really care for each other and they picked up right where they left off,\u201d a source\u00a0told E!<\/p>\n \u201c[Jennifer] spent several days with Ben out of town,\u201d another source added. \u201cThey have a strong connection. It\u2019s all been quick and intense, but\u00a0Jennifer is happy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey have been in touch here and there throughout the years,\u201d said an additional insider close to the singer. \u201cBen reached out to her to see how she was doing and they had dinner together a few times within this last month. It\u2019s natural between them and the chemistry is unreal. They picked up where they last left off and are enjoying each other\u2019s company right now.\u201d<\/p>\n People\u00a0<\/em>reported that Lopez and Affleck were determined not to let distance affect their reunion and that Lopez seemed to be in a good place following her recent split from Alex Rodriguez. \u201cJennifer is doing well. She seems very happy and excited about her future,\u201d a source told the outlet.<\/p>\n According to\u00a0People<\/em>, the singer flew out to Los Angeles to spend more time with her former fianc\u00e9. \u201cJennifer was just in Los Angeles for a couple of days,\u201d said the source. \u201cShe spent time with Ben. They have kept in touch every day since their Montana trip\u200a\u2026\u200a It\u2019s a tricky situation since they live so far from each other, but they both seem committed to making things work.\u201d<\/p>\n Weeks later, Affleck also reportedly took a flight to J.Lo\u2019s residence in Miami to spend more cozy, quality time with her.\u00a0A separate source told\u00a0E! News<\/em>\u00a0that Affleck\u2019s demonstrated investment toward their rekindling romance amid both stars\u2019 work obligations and coastal commutes had been nothing short of impressive to Lopez, even adding that such efforts by Affleck had made her feel \u201cgiddy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c<\/em>It\u2019s comforting to her and she is smitten,\u201d said the insider. \u201cThey are giddy together and you can tell she\u2019s really happy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBen has been making the effort to make it work with their schedules. He\u2019s really making a huge effort,\u201d the source added. \u201cJ.Lo thinks Ben has really stepped up and loves this version of him.\u201d<\/p>\n Lopez and Affleck let fans know they were in it for the long haul. Per\u00a0People<\/em>,<\/em>\u00a0Bennifer began \u201cslowly starting to talk about the future\u201d a few months after their reunion.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is not a casual relationship,\u201d a source said. \u201cThey are taking it seriously and want it to be long-lasting.\u201d<\/p>\n The pair were also determined to make the long distance work, the source said. Affleck was based in Los Angeles at the time, while Lopez often worked out of Miami.<\/p>\n \u201cThey will continue to travel back and forth between Los Angeles and Miami,\u201d the source said. \u201cThey are very happy together.\u201d<\/p>\n Entertainment Tonight<\/em>\u00a0reported that\u00a0Lopez and Affleck were feeling positive about their choice to romantically reunite.<\/p>\n \u201cJ.Lo and Ben are very much a couple and have been telling friends that they’re together,\u201d a source told the outlet. \u201cWhen they first reconnected, they had to see if the spark was still there because it had been a while. It was, so now they are both fully in it.\u201d<\/p>\n Apparently, the two had also talked through their past.<\/p>\n \u201c[They] talked about the past and why things didn\u2019t work out,\u201d the source said. \u201cThey are both hopeful about their relationship this time around and putting the effort in. They have both matured and are on the same page and it has been easy.\u201d<\/p>\n Unlike in Lopez\u2019s relationship with Alex Rodriguez, this time around, the superstar opted to keep her professional and personal lives separate.<\/p>\n \u201cJ.Lo and A-Rod were always investing together and mixing business with their relationship, and Ben is less into that,\u201d the source added. \u201cThey are just genuinely enjoying each other\u2019s company and having a great time. Jen is very supportive of Ben and his career, but she is also connected, successful, and has her own life.\u201d<\/p>\n Lopez\u2019s and Affleck\u2019s families began to bond more, according to\u00a0E! News<\/em>. Following weeks of rendezvouses between the pair, Affleck finally joined Lopez and her children at a family birthday party, and the two brought their kids together for\u00a0a trip to Universal Studios. Over the July 4 weekend, Affleck also joined Lopez and her teenaged twins for some \u201clow-key\u201d time at her Hamptons home.<\/p>\n \u201cJ.Lo and Ben seemed to enjoy being on the East Coast and spending time at her beautiful home,\u201d a source told\u00a0E! News<\/em>. \u201cIt was a nice change of scene for them and a great time with friends and family.\u201d<\/p>\n By now, Bennifer were moving full speed ahead with their romance. According to\u00a0Entertainment Tonight,<\/em>\u00a0close friends of the pair said they \u201cwouldn\u2019t be surprised\u201d if the rekindled power couple \u201cmove in together and ultimately end up together.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re spending all of their free time together and making each other a priority. J.Lo falls hard and has certainly done the same with Ben again this time around,\u201d a source told\u00a0ET<\/em>. \u201cBen is a guy\u2019s guy and does his own thing, which J.Lo loves. He has his own life and is famous in a different way than she is and is not trying to compete with her by any means. They just support and love each other.\u201d<\/p>\n In photographs obtained by\u00a0Page Six,<\/em>\u00a0Affleck was seen glancing at engagement rings while popping by a Tiffany & Co. jewelry store at a local shopping mall. Affleck was joined by his son, Samuel Affleck, and his mother, Chris Boldt, for the shopping excursion. The actor\u2019s outing came after spending more time not just with Lopez, but with her children and his, as they slowly worked to blend their families.<\/p>\n \u201cSince Jennifer and Ben are in it for the long run, it\u2019s just a natural step that they all spend time together with the kids,\u201d a source told\u00a0People<\/em>.<\/p>\n In an exclusive video published in her personal fan newsletter, Lopez announced that she and Affleck had\u00a0gotten engaged, a year after reuniting. Per\u00a0People<\/em>,<\/em>\u00a0the video featured Lopez beaming as she showed off her new engagement ring\u2014an emerald-cut, pale green diamond. Fans also quickly took to\u00a0social media\u00a0sharing the news and congratulating Bennifer 2.0.<\/p>\n In addition to posting a teaser clip with the caption \u201cMajor Announcement!!!!\u201d Lopez also added a diamond ring emoji to her\u00a0Twitter name.<\/p>\n In a new edition of her newsletter,\u00a0On the JLo<\/em>, Lopez\u00a0revealed\u00a0that Affleck proposed to her for the second time while she was taking a bubble bath.<\/p>\n \u201cDid you ever imagine your biggest dream could come true?\u201d she wrote. \u201cSaturday night while at my favorite place on earth (in the bubble bath), my beautiful love got on one knee and proposed. I was taken totally off guard and just looked in his eyes smiling and crying at the same time trying hard to get my head around the fact that after 20 years this was happening all over again, I was quite literally speechless and he said, \u2018is that a yes?\u2019 I said YES of course that\u2019s a YES.\u201d<\/p>\n Lopez and Affleck tied the knot in a surprise Las Vegas wedding at midnight on July 17. The singer\u00a0confirmed the news on her newsletter,\u00a0On the JLo<\/em>, saying that a low-key ceremony in a chapel was exactly what the two wanted.<\/p>\n She also confirmed the\u00a0changed her last name to match her husband\u2019s\u00a0and shared a sweet photo of her in bed with\u00a0her wedding band.<\/p>\n \u201cThey were right when they said, \u2018all you need is love\u2019. We are so grateful to have that in abundance, a new wonderful family of five amazing children and a life that we have never had more reason to look forward to,\u201d Lopez wrote in her post. \u201cStick around long enough and maybe you\u2019ll find the best moment of your life in a drive through in Las Vegas at twelve thirty in the morning in the tunnel of love drive through, with your kids and the one you\u2019ll spend forever with. Love is a great thing, maybe the best of things-and worth waiting for.\u201d<\/p>\n The pair jetted off to Paris for a sunny summer holiday after their surprise nuptials, and brought along their kids\u2014Lopez\u2019s twins Max and Emme, and Affleck\u2019s daughters, Violet and Seraphina.<\/p>\n The new Mr. and Mrs. Affleck were seen enjoying\u00a0romantic park walks\u00a0and intimate dates throughout their stay in the city.<\/p>\n Just a few weeks after their\u00a0whirlwind Vegas nuptials, the couple tied the knot in a\u00a0second wedding party, a private ceremony on the\u00a0Good Will Hunting<\/em>\u00a0star\u2019s Riceboro, Georgia estate, per\u00a0Page Six.<\/p>\n Celebrity guests included Affleck\u2019s longtime collaborator and close friend Matt Damon and his wife, Luciana Barroso; and director Kevin Smith and actor Jason Mewes. In photos obtained by Page Six, guests appeared to all be dressed in white for the lavish nuptials.<\/p>\n Lopez and Affleck embarked on a\u00a0honeymoon in Italy, where they visited Milan and Lake Como. They were \u201creally soaking up\u201d the sites and \u201cwalking around, mingling, walking in and out of shops and of course [giving] lots of loving attention to each other,\u201d an insider told\u00a0People<\/em>. \u201cEvery day, they are more in love.\u201d<\/p>\n While shopping at the city\u2019s bevy of luxury stores\u2014like Cartier, Bottega Veneta, and Valentino\u2014the source said, \u201cThey were very kind and available with all their fans.\u201d<\/p>\n A source opened up to the\u00a0Daily Mail<\/em>\u00a0about the status of the couple\u2019s relationship, months after they officially became husband and wife.<\/p>\n \u201cBen and Jen are still in their honeymoon phase,\u201d the insider said. \u201cThey are very head over heels for each other.\u201d<\/p>\n The source added that their union has only strengthened their existing relationship. \u201cBecoming husband and wife hasn\u2019t changed their relationship much, except for the fact that it solidified what they had,\u201d they said. \u201cThey\u2019re looking at homes to purchase together and hoping to find one they\u2019re both happy with. It\u2019s been an ongoing process.\u201d<\/p>\n Affleck was taking care of their blended family while Lopez tackled a new project. \u201cJen is hard at work filming, and Ben has been taking over daddy duty and helping out with the kids a lot,\u201d the insider explained. \u201cShe adores the fact that he is such a great father and she can always rely on him. He\u2019s been very supportive of her and has visited her on set, which she loves.\u201d<\/p>\n The kids also \u201cenjoy spending time together as an entire family.\u201d<\/p>\n Ahead of the release of her forthcoming album,\u00a0This Is Me\u200a\u2026\u200aNow<\/em>, and in honor of the 20th anniversary of her third studio album,\u00a0This Is Me \u2026 Then<\/em>, Lopez sat down with Zane Lowe for Apple Music to talk about her latest musical venture. During their conversation, she\u00a0opened up\u00a0about how Affleck inspired her to get into the recording studio in both instances\u201420 years ago and now.<\/p>\n \u201cThat album,\u00a0This Is Me\u200a\u2026\u200aThen<\/em>, really captured a moment in time where I fell in love with the love of my life. It\u2019s all just right there on the record and I didn\u2019t even realize what was happening or what I was doing. It was just everyday going from the set to the recording studio, doing the thing, being in love, him coming into the studio,\u201d she reflected. \u201cWhen I listen to the lyrics now, I didn\u2019t even realize that I was writing some of our story that would happen, which was sick. \u2026 I didn\u2019t even realize it was kind of prophetic in a way.\u201d<\/p>\n She added, \u201cWhen he came back into my life, again the same thing happened where I felt so inspired and so overtaken with emotion that it was just pouring out of me. When I feel good, I write music. And I wrote music and I got in the studio in I think May, and by August when we got married, it was done.\u201d<\/p>\n Lopez also spoke candidly about her initial breakup with Affleck back in 2004. \u201cIt was so painful after we broke up. Once we called off that wedding 20 years ago, it was the biggest heartbreak of my life. And I honestly felt like I was gonna die,\u201d she said. \u201cIt sent me on a spiral for the next 18 years where I\u200a\u2026\u200acouldn\u2019t get it right. But now, 20 years later, it does have a happy ending. It has the most, would-never-happen-in-Hollywood ending. They would be like, \u2018That would never happen so we\u2019re not gonna write that because nobody would believe it\u2019 ending.\u201d<\/p>\n Speaking with\u00a0Today<\/em>, the singer described the milestone year that was her 2022.<\/p>\n \u201cWe moved in together, the kids moved in together, so it\u2019s been like a really kind of emotional transition,\u201d she\u00a0said. \u201cBut at the same time\u200a\u2026\u200aall your dreams coming true, it\u2019s just been a phenomenal year.\u201d<\/p>\n She added that 2022 was the \u201cbest year, I think, since my kids were born.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr. and Mrs. Affleck arrived at the\u00a065th Grammy Awards\u00a0in elegant coordinating ensembles. The \u201cLet\u2019s Get Loud\u201d singer looked dazzling in a navy and silver crystal-embellished gown by Gucci and matching accessories. The actor, next to her, looked dapper in a classic black suit, vest, crisp white shirt, and black tie.<\/p>\n During a guest appearance on\u00a0Live With Kelly and Mark<\/em>, the \u201cLet\u2019s Get Loud\u201d singer\u00a0opened up\u00a0about her and her husband\u2019s\u00a0blended family.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s almost five teenagers. The youngest is 11, so he\u2019s not quite [a teen], but preteen,\u201d Lopez said, referring to Affleck’s son Samuel, whom he shares with ex-wife Jennifer Garner. \u201cHe\u2019s an angel.\u201d<\/p>\n She added, \u201cThe teenage years are tough. They start challenging you and everything. You have this baby for a while and then it\u2019s like your best little friend who loves being with you all the time, and all of a sudden they\u2019re like, \u2018Get out of my room.\u2019\u200a\u201d<\/p>\n Still, Lopez described the teen years as a period of required growth for their kids.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the time when they are individuating and they are challenging everything you say and everything you do and everything you are. And that\u2019s what it is. And you have to kind of just ride the waves,\u201d she said. \u201cI feel like it\u2019s like surfing. I\u2019m just riding the waves\u2014whoops, just got knocked over<\/em>. Now, I\u2019m back! I\u2019m back!\u201d<\/p>\n Jennifer Lopez opened up about her marriage to Ben Affleck at the\u00a0premiere of her film\u00a0The Mother<\/em>. \u201cThis whole entire year has been so special, since getting married last year and having a lot of firsts this year together so, it\u2019s been beautiful,\u201d she told\u00a0Access Hollywood<\/em>\u00a0on the red carpet.<\/p>\n A source opened up to\u00a0Entertainment Tonight<\/em>\u00a0about the couple\u2019s relationship as they approached their one-year wedding anniversary.<\/p>\n \u201cBen and Jen are doing phenomenally. They are closer than ever before, and both of them are elated. They\u2019re feeling united and are in very positive spirits,\u201d the source said. \u201cBen loves how talented, intelligent, and loyal Jen is. They lean on each other and are supportive of one another.\u201d<\/p>\n The insider also spoke about their plans for the summer, adding that the stars had been coordinating their kids\u2019 schedules ahead of the season. \u201cBen and Jen Garner are figuring out their kids\u2019 upcoming schedules,\u201d the source said. \u201cAs for Jen and Marc Anthony, there are no issues when it comes to co-parenting.\u201d<\/p>\n During a\u00a0press conference\u00a0for forthcoming movie musical, inspired by the songs from her ninth studio album of the same name, Lopez discussed how Affleck helped boost her confidence and pushed her to finish the script.<\/p>\n \u201cI was like, \u2018I don\u2019t write, I don\u2019t do this.\u2019 He was like, \u2018You do, you write, you direct, you produce, you choreograph, you do all the things. Start stepping into that, start owning a little bit of who you are,\u2019\u200a\u201d she said.<\/p>\n She added that her rekindled romance with Affleck was what inspired her to get back in the studio. \u201cWhen Ben and I got back together, it was just like, \u2018I want to make music again, I want to get back in the studio,\u2019\u200a\u201d she\u00a0said. \u201cI was very, very inspired.\u201d<\/p>\n She continued, \u201cIt ended this 20-year journey about a lot of questions that I had about love and being myself, a hopeless romantic, and what it means to really enter into a kind of healthier, more self-accepting phase for myself. Now what will happen from that, I hope, will be even more wonderful things that I have been so privileged to live up until this point.\u201d<\/p>\n In Lopez\u2019s Amazon Prime documentary,\u00a0The Greatest Love Story Never Told<\/em>, she and Affleck open up about their initial breakup and what they\u2019ve learned to compromise on in the years since.<\/p>\n \u201cBen and I broke up three days before our wedding, and we crumbled under the pressure. You think you\u2019re doing okay, so you shrug it off,\u201d Lopez says. \u201cI had a broken heart once I lost the love of my life, my best friend, and I couldn\u2019t talk for so many years, and that was the hardest part.\u201d<\/p>\n Elsewhere in the doc, Lopez tells Affleck, \u201cI think I was angry at you for a long time. But that heartbreak set both of us on a course to figuring ourselves out, to being better people. I think I\u2019ve forgiven you all the way. I think I need to forgive myself [for] some things.\u201d<\/p>\n When they eventually reunited in 2021, Affleck says, he initially asked that their relationship not appear on Lopez\u2019s social media at all.<\/p>\n \u201cGetting back together, I said, \u2018Listen, one of the things I don\u2019t want is a relationship on social media,\u2019\u200a\u201d he says. \u201cThen I sort of realized it\u2019s not a fair thing to ask. It\u2019s sort of like, you\u2019re gonna marry a boat captain and you go, \u2018Well, I don\u2019t like the water.\u2019\u200a\u201d<\/p>\n Lopez adds, \u201cI don\u2019t think [Ben] is very comfortable with me doing all of this. But he loves me, he knows I\u2019m an artist, and he\u2019s gonna support me in every way he can, because he knows you can\u2019t stop me from making the music I made\u200a\u2026\u200ahe doesn\u2019t want to stop me. But that doesn\u2019t mean he’s comfortable being the muse.\u201d<\/p>\n The two make a low-key appearance at a school play to support their kids, marking their first public appearance together in 47 days. (They were last sighted holding hands in New York City on March 30.) In a video published by\u00a0In Touch<\/em>, Lopez wears a beige button-down, frayed wide-leg jeans, and large gold hoop earrings. Meanwhile, Affleck can be seen opening the car door for her from the driver\u2019s seat.<\/p>\n The appearance comes amid widespread rumors that the two have separated, with some outlets even alleging that Affleck has moved out of their shared home. Reps for the couple did not respond to\u00a0People\u2019<\/em>s request for comment.<\/p>\n Multiple sources tell\u00a0People<\/em>\u00a0that the two are currently living under separate roofs, with Affleck staying at one of their other properties as he films\u00a0The Accountant 2<\/em>. Over the weekend, paparazzi photos showing Affleck\u00a0without his wedding ring\u00a0fuel the separation rumors.<\/p>\n Amid continued widespread speculation over the status of their marriage, the two\u00a0head to a movie theater\u00a0in Los Angeles to attend a film event with Jennifer Garner and their mixed brood, including Affleck\u2019s kids Violet, 18, Fin, 15, and Samuel, 12, as well as Lopez\u2019s 16-year-old Emme, per the\u00a0Daily Mail<\/em>.<\/p>\n The two celebrate the national holiday\u00a0on opposite sides of the country, with Lopez vacationing in the Hamptons and Affleck remaining in Los Angeles. Of how Lopez is faring, a source tells\u00a0People<\/em>, \u201cShe seems fine.\u201d<\/p>\n Lopez rings in her milestone birthday (which actually falls on July 24) with an\u00a0extravagant\u00a0Bridgerton<\/em>-themed bash\u00a0in the Hamptons with her close friends and family, including her mom\u2014but Affleck fails to show up,\u00a0People<\/em>\u00a0reports.<\/p>\n While no explanation is given for the actor\u2019s absence, we do know that Affleck has recently passed on attending major events like the Met Gala and the premiere of her J.Lo\u2019s film\u00a0Atlas<\/em>\u00a0due to production on his upcoming film The Accountant 2\u2014reportedly the same reason he has been living in a Los Angeles rental without his wife.<\/p>\n Days after Affleck\u00a0reportedly bought a new estate\u00a0in Los Angeles, Lopez is spotted house hunting\u2014this time looking for a place by herself.<\/p>\n A source tells\u00a0People<\/em>\u00a0that Lopez \u201chasn\u2019t seen Ben for weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re moving on separately. Jennifer is trying to find a new home to start fresh,\u201d the insider says. \u201cConsidering everything that\u2019s going on, Jennifer is having a good summer. She\u2019s been off and able to focus on what\u2019s next. She\u2019s enjoyed spending time with her kids, family and friends.\u201d<\/p>\n They add, \u201cShe always has good attitude even when things are not perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n TMZ\u00a0reports that Lopez\u00a0filed for divorce\u00a0from Affleck in L.A. County Superior Court, citing April 26, 2024 as the date of separation.<\/p>\n In a candid chat with comedian Nikki Glaser for\u00a0Interview<\/em>\u00a0magazine, Lopez opens up for the first time about her divorce from Affleck, and how she\u2019s come to the realization that she would rather be single.<\/p>\n \u201cThe pain you just went through, you do not regret,\u201d Glaser says to Lopez.<\/p>\n \u201cNot one second. That doesn\u2019t mean it didn\u2019t almost take me out for good. It almost did. But now, on the other side of it, I think to myself, \u2018Fuck, that is exactly what I needed. Thank you, god. I\u2019m sorry it took me so long. I\u2019m sorry that you had to do this to me so many times. I should have learned it two or three times ago. I get it. You had to hit me really hard over the head with a fucking sledgehammer. You dropped the house on me. Don\u2019t have to do it again,\u2019\u201d the singer and actor says.<\/p>\n \u201cYou finally got it,\u201d Glaser responds.<\/p>\n \u201cI finally got it! And by the way, that doesn\u2019t mean I have everything figured out,\u201d Lopez continues. \u201cNow I\u2019m excited, when you say you\u2019re just going to be on your own. Yes, I\u2019m not looking for anybody, because everything that I\u2019ve done over the past 25, 30 years, being in these different challenging situations, what can I fucking do when it\u2019s just me flying on my own? What if I\u2019m just free?\u201d<\/p>\n Elsewhere in the interview, J.Lo says she finally learned her lesson when it comes to romantic relationships, and she would rather follow her dreams by herself, and make herself happy, than put herself through more pain just because she feels like she needs a man to grow old with.<\/p>\n In a new\u00a0interview<\/u>\u00a0with Amazon\/MGM, Jennifer Lopez shares that she had to \u201clet go of her ego\u201d while playing character Judy Robles in her latest film,\u00a0Unstoppable<\/em>. The sports biopic, produced by Lopez\u2019s ex-husband Ben Affleck (as well as Matt Damon), follows the success of wrestler Anthony Robles, who was born with one leg.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was an honor to be a part of Anthony\u2019s story and to play Judy,\u201d Lopez says in the interview, wearing a satin beige blazer. \u201cI approached the role with a complete lack of ego where you have to go in there and have so much respect for the person you are playing because it\u2019s her story.\u201d<\/p>\n According to the actor, there was \u201cno J.Lo\u201d on set. \u201cI disappeared, there was no Jennifer, no J.Lo\u2014that person on the screen is just Judy,\u201d she adds. \u201cLuckily I got to spend time with her and see who she was alone and as a mother.\u201d<\/p>\n In a very rare, candid interview for\u00a0GQ<\/em>\u2019s April 2025 issue, Affleck said that he does not want to explain why he and Lopez split, as it feels \u201cembarrassing.\u201d<\/p>\n The actor insisted \u201cthere\u2019s no scandal, no soap opera, no intrigue\u201d behind the breakup\u2014some things simply don\u2019t work out, no matter how much people want them to.<\/p>\n \u201cThe truth is, when you talk to somebody, \u2018Hey, what happened?\u2019 Well, there is no, \u2018This is what happened,\u2019 \u201d he noted. \u201cIt\u2019s just a story about people trying to figure out their lives and relationships in ways that we all sort of normally do.\u201d<\/p>\n Affleck said that as he gets older, he realizes that \u201cthere is no \u2018So-and-so did this\u2019 or \u2018This was the big event.\u2019 \u201d Instead, him trying to rationalized the split wound sound \u201cmore like a couple\u2019s therapy session, which\u2014you would tune out of someone else\u2019s couple\u2019s therapy after a while.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFor one thing, you start going, \u2018Okay, clearly this person has got\u00a0these<\/em>\u00a0issues. Clearly they have\u00a0these<\/em>\u00a0issues.\u2019 And the reason I don\u2019t want to share that is just sort of embarrassing. It feels vulnerable,\u201d Affleck added.<\/p>\n Affleck and J.Lo still remain on friendly terms, and have often reunited at events to support their kids.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted on federal bank fraud charges after prosecutors alleged she lied on a mortgage application to obtain favorable loan terms on a Virginia property she…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12957,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12958","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hot-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t