Welcome to verified live, three hours of breaking stories, and checking out the truth behind them. The former ceo of Global Fashion brand Abercrombie Fitch and his british partnerface allegations of exploitation from men recruited for sex events they hosted Around The World. A bbc investigation found a highly organised operation running the events, with a Middleman Finding Young Adult men for mikejeffries and his partner matthew smith. Jeffries is regarded as the modern day founder of abercrombie and fitch, which also owns the Hollister Brand. Eight men told the bbc they attended these events, some of whom alleged they were exploited or abused. Two former us prosecutors who independently reviewed evidence uncovered by the bbc have called for an investigation to determine whether charges for Sex Trafficking could be brought. Mrjeffries and mr smith did not respond to requests for comment. In the early to thousands, sexualised imagery and provocative billboards turned the teen retailer, which also owns the Hollister Brand into a multibillion Dollar Sensation the man behind the vision was then ceo mikejeffries. Mike was tireless. He ceo mike jeffries. Mike was tireless. ,. , tireless. He was very energetic and boisterous tireless. He was very energetic and boisterous. He tireless. He was very energetic and boisterous. He was tireless. He was very energetic and boisterous. He was incredibly tireless. He was very energetic and boisterous. He was incredibly big i boisterous. He was incredibly big personality. He would explode into a room. � � personality. He would explode into a room. . ,. ,. ,. , hihl room. Bbc panorama has uncovered a highly organised room. Bbc panorama has uncovered a highly organised International Highly organised International Operation recruiting young adult men for six with mikejeffries over several years when he was the ceo of the brand. This several years when he was the ceo of the brand. ,. , the brand. This experience broke me Mentally Messing the brand. This experience broke me Mentally Messing me the brand. This experience broke me Mentally Messing me up. The brand. This experience broke me Mentally Messing me up. Two the brand. This experience broke me Mentally Messing me up. Two men | the brand. This experience broke me Mentally Messing me up. Two men have aareed Mentally Messing me up. Two men have a. Reed to Mentally Messing me up. Two men have agreed to tell Mentally Messing me up. Two men have agreed to tell me Mentally Messing me up. Two men have agreed to tell me their Mentally Messing me up. Two men have agreed to tell me their accounts Mentally Messing me up. Two men have agreed to tell me their accounts on agreed to tell me their accounts on camera. They attended separate events hosted by mikejeffries in 2010 and 2011. Both men say they were recruited and auditioned by a middleman, james jacobson, known to the men asjin. David says to mr jacobson led him to believe he was pursuing a meddling opportunity. I was made to believe look, this is where everybody gets their start. This is where you went to get your start. It was like he was selling fame. And the price was compliance. David says compliance meant engaging in a sexual act with mrjacobson. Several more men ive spoken to say they also met with jen. Several more men ive spoken to say they also met withjen. The men Say Mrjacobson was part of a Well Oiled Machine which included recruiters, drivers and other staff. Mrjacobson told the bbc and he encounters were fully consensual, not co air set. He said he had no recollection of making promises of Modelling Opportunities and that everyone who he came into contact with you attended these events when in with their eyes wide open. This is the route the men will have taken on their way to the hamptons when they would go meet with mikejeffries. Once to the audition, the men would then go to an event hosted by mr jeffries and his british partner, matthew smith. Somewhere were held at their home here in the exclusive new york coastal community, the hamptons. Barrett said he was introduced to mrjacobson by an older model who he felt indebted to. New there would be some kind of sexual activity. New there would be some kind of sexualactivity. David new there would be some kind of sexual activity. David said he was not expecting six to take place the hamptons. I not expecting six to take place the ham tons. , not expecting six to take place the hamtons. ,. ,. ,. ,. , hamptons. I was chaperoned over to the main house hamptons. I was chaperoned over to the main house to hamptons. I was chaperoned over to the main house to the hamptons. I was chaperoned over to the main house to the door hamptons. I was chaperoned over to the main house to the door that the main house to the door that entered into the bedroom where everything was happening. And then told to disrobe. Told to disrobe. Barrett says he enuuaed told to disrobe. Barrett says he engaged in told to disrobe. Barrett says he engaged in intent told to disrobe. Barrett says he engaged in intent act told to disrobe. Barrett says he engaged in intent act with told to disrobe. Barrett says he i engaged in intent act with another man. David says mrjeffries had six at hand. I man. David says mrjeffries had six at hand. �. , at hand. I didnt feel safe to say no or i dont at hand. I didnt feel safe to say no or i dont feel at hand. I didnt feel safe to say no or i dont feel comfortable i at hand. I didnt feel safe to say i no or i dont feel comfortable with this. I dont really know what would have happened. I didnt feel like i had any choice stop at both men say they felt leaving didnt feel an option because mrjeffries private staff where supervising the event, including in the bedroom. They also say they were asked to sign Nondisclosure Agreements before hand and where not given any copies to take away. It and where not given any copies to take awa. And where not given any copies to take away take away. It felt like intimidation. Take away. It felt like intimidation. Both i take away. It felt like l intimidation. Both men take away. It felt like intimidation. Both men were take away. It felt like intimidation. Both men were paid after the events intimidation. Both men were paid after the events are intimidation. Both men were paid after the events are attended,. Intimidation. Both men were paid| after the events are attended, still hoping it may lead to modelling work, david went to further events with mrjeffries and mr smith, both in the us and Around The World. Two us lawyers who reviewed evidence uncovered by the bbc said prosecutors should investigate whether the allegations could amount to six trafficking. The bbc has made repeated attempts to contact that you contact mrjeffries and mr smith. They have not responded. Abercrombie and fitch told us it is appalled and disgusted by the allegations by the former ceos behaviour. It is a new executive Leadership Team that has transformed the brand and culture, adding the company has Zero Tolerance for abuse, harassment or discrimination of any kind. You can watch panoramas the abercrombie guys The Dark Side of cool at 9pm on bbc one and now on bbc iplayer. And listen to the Podcast Series World of secret season one the abercrombie guys on bbc sounds. To the uk, Downing Street insists no final decisions have been taken on the future of hs2. It says reports that rishi sunak has decided to scrap the birmingham to manchester leg of the high speed rail link are incorrect that question around hs2, despite what is on the official agenda, absolutely dominating day after day hs2. � ,. , absolutely dominating day after day h52. , h52. Absolutely right, matthew. Indeed, h52. Absolutely right, matthew. Indeed. Very h52. Absolutely right, matthew. Indeed, very similar h52. Absolutely right, matthew. Indeed, very similar figure h52. Absolutely right, matthew. Indeed, very similar figure i h52. Absolutely right, matthew. Indeed, very similar figure i spoke l indeed, very similarfigure i spoke to in government before i came here to in government before i came here to manchester if a decision wasnt taken before this conference and what should be the destination of phase two of hs2. It would actually dominate this conference and even if it isnt mentioned in official speeches, its mentioned on the french estimates mentioned amongst just about everyone that you speak to hear. Again, there are some people in government who are saying this leg from birmingham to manchester is all but dead. They simply needs to be an announcement telling people, giving them the certainty that this part of the scheme will at the very least be substantially scaled back. However Downing Street i say no official decision has been taken from of the same line from that chance or when he spoke to the bbc this morning. But it is the case that even conservative supporting Industry Figures are now getting very nervous, notjust about figures are now getting very nervous, not just about the decision itself, some of them are completely opposed to the scheme being scrapped, but the bigger question is the uncertainty. And as far as i am aware from discussions ive had here behind the scenes, discussions about whether the Prime Minister himself settles this issue this week. That is amongst settles this issue this week. That is amongst the settles this issue this week. That is amongst the prime settles this issue this week. That is amongst the Prime Minister and his closest team. What is the wider reaction as these rumours swirl around . ~. ,. , around . Well, certainly some of the com anies around . Well, certainly some of the companies have around . Well, certainly some of the companies have been around . Well, certainly some of the companies have been involved around . Well, certainly some of the companies have been involved in. Around . Well, certainly some of thel companies have been involved in h52 companies have been involved in hs2 that have supported the hs2 scheme. Disappointed with the insurgency, but if indeed it is scrapped, there will be even more disappointing because they think this is, to some extent, would to signify the country sending a signal out that would be unable to deliver and pick infrastructure projects. The earlier i spoke to Darren Kaplan from the Chief Executive for the Industry Association from around 300 of his members have been involved in each sto. And this is what they said. The members at sto. And this is what they said. The members at 350 plus across the Countrx Members at 350 plus across the country. Track train signalling to a consultancy. And of course, a lot of them consultancy. And of course, a lot of them welcome hsz the scheme are very concerned them welcome hsz the scheme are very concerned about what is going on at the moment. Gf concerned about what is going on at the moment concerned about what is going on at the moment. ,. , the moment. Of the momentum of the let the moment. Of the momentum of the leg between the moment. Of the momentum of the leg between manchester, the moment. Of the momentum of the leg between manchester, the the moment. Of the momentum of the leg between manchester, the council l leg between manchester, the council say no official decision has been taken. In your discussions with Government Ministers and government advisers, do you have a clear sense of this . Bill advisers, do you have a clear sense of this . �. , advisers, do you have a clear sense ofthis . � advisers, do you have a clear sense ofthis . � , advisers, do you have a clear sense ofthis . ~ ,. , of this . All i can say is there have been a sense of this . All i can say is there have been a sense of of this . All i can say is there have been a sense of total of this . All i can say is there have been a sense of total chaos been a sense of total chaos today when been a sense of total chaos today when it been a sense of total chaos today when it comes to policymaking. Ive talked when it comes to policymaking. Ive talked to when it comes to policymaking. Ive talked to stakeholders, journalists, no one talked to stakeholders, journalists, no one seems to know what is going on. No one seems to know what is going on some no one seems to know what is going on. Some people say it will definitely be scrapped about scrapping hsz definitely be scrapped about Scrapping H52 and replacing those schemes Scrapping H52 and replacing those schemes. Others say its all speculation, nothing is going to happen speculation, nothing is going to happen. We are obviously very concerned happen. We are obviously very concerned because our members and best people, time, machinery and projects. Best people, time, machinery and projects, and if they dont know what projects, and if they dont know what is projects, and if they dont know what is going on from its a waste of their time what is going on from its a waste of theirtime and what is going on from its a waste of their time and they could end up having their time and they could end up having job their time and they could end up having job losses and much more negative having job losses and much more negative consequences, so a bit of certainty negative consequences, so a bit of certainty from government wouldnt io certainty from government wouldnt go amiss is effectively saying this is something that has real big life consequences. This is something which he thinks the government needs to be much clearer on, from his Point Of View he would want that project to go ahead. Interesting, also, somebody else would like to see it going ahead would be the Conservative Majer of the West Midlands, anti street. Hes been arguing that it is bizarre because it looks like hst will definitely go between london and birmingham, but he thinks the project will be relatively useless unless that goes all the way to manchester, and in the next hour, i think he is also going to be making his clear white man thinks they match from inside the conference hall. Those are the pictures where in is the conference hall. Those are the pictures where i pictures where in is talking about the West Midlands pictures where in is talking about the West Midlands majer, the West Midlands majer, anti street, do to express his view on this ongoing saga about the future of hs2. So that is that camera shot, we are expecting to hear from andy street. The shop all lined up, so as soon as their movement they are, we will carry that light. Now to new york where former us President Donald Trump is again sitting in an American Court room hearing further claims against him. This time, it is a civilfraud trial. Hes accused of inflating the value of his assets by billions of dollars to secure better loan and insurance terms. Before entering court, mr trump berated the us Justice System and the new York Attorney general who is bringing the case. He described Letitia James as racist and a horrow show, and he dismissed the case as a sham and a scam. He also denied the claims against him. We have a great company. I built a great we have a great company. I built a great companv its got tremendous value. Its got some of the greatest real estate assets in the world. And now i have to goi before a rogue judge, as a continuation of russia, russia, russia, as a continuation of the greatest witch hunt. Of all time, and i dont think the people of this country are going to stand for it. I if i werent leading in all the polls, or if i werent running, i wouldnt have any of these cases, i wouldnt be seeing you this morning. | but ill be seeing a lot of you, | because this is a horrible thing thats happening to our county and weve got to get it straightened away. So well go in and see our rogue. Judge and well listen to this man, and i think most people get it. People are getting it. I can tell you, the voters are getting it, because every time they give me a fake indictment, i i go up in the polls and thats. Never happened before. But this is a disgrace. The new York Attorney general Letitia James also spoke as she arrived at court. Donald trump and the other defendants have committed persistent and repeated fraud. Last week, we proved that in our motion for summaryjudgment. Today, we will prove our other claims. My message is simple. No matter how powerful you are, no matter how much money you think you may have, no one is above the law. And it is my responsibility and my duty and myjob to enforce it. The law is both powerful and fragile. And today, in court, we will prove our case. I thank you all for being here and, again, justice will prevail. Thank you. Live now to new york and our correspondent, nada tawfik. Lets start by talking about what actually happened in