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Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti says there's more than enough smoke to fire up impeachment hearings, because Donald Trump is neck deep in a massive cover-up.

We got hizzoner Thursday in WeHo and he's sure sounding like a 2020 Presidential candidate. He says he hasn't decided whether to throw his hat in the ring but our sources say it's a done deal ... he's running.

Garcetti says Michael Cohen has finally told the truth, which forced Trump's hand to come clean this week ... that he knew about the payout to Stormy Daniels, despite his denial on Air Force One months ago.

Garcetti clearly thinks Trump has committed either high crimes or misdemeanors -- the baseline for impeachment. He called back to what ultimately sunk Richard Nixon -- the cover-up.

TMZ Sports has obtained the Richie Incognito 911 call made by a funeral home staffer Monday who was clearly in fear for her life -- when the NFL star allegedly threatened to shoot the funeral director at a mortuary in Arizona.

The staffer made the call in secret because she didn't want to "escalate the situation" -- and while she's cool, calm and collected on the phone, it's obvious everyone inside the building was scared.

"We have somebody that we're very afraid of right now," the staffer told the 911 operator.

"He made a gesture at one of our funeral directors and told him he was gonna kill him."

The staffer also noted that Richie claimed to have guns in his truck.

The 911 operator said a squad of officers were racing to the scene and explained, "We're very familiar with [Richie]. We've been dealing with him for the last couple of days."

When cops arrived, Richie was arrested at gunpoint -- and officers DID find a cache of weapons and a silencer in his Ford Raptor.

Richie was at the funeral home to view his father, who had passed away suddenly.

Incognito's attorney has previously told TMZ Sports the death has been "traumatic" for Richie and the entire family.

Nicki Minaj wants this on the record -- she F****** LOVES Kylie Jenner (but not Travis Scott) ... and will NOT be playing into a catfight narrative!!! GOT IT?! Got it, Nick.

The NY rapper cleared the air Thursday on her 'Queen Radio' show over a vid TMZ posted showing Kylie trying to avoid Nicki on the VMAs red carpet this week, saying Kylie's nothing more than an innocent bystander in this clear beef between Nicki, Travis and the music biz.

Nicki says Kylie is doing what anyone would do -- standing by their man. That's a bit of a flip from what Nicki tweeted over the weekend, blaming Kylie and Stormi for pumping up Travis' album sales. Now ... she insists they're all good.

Angelina from 'Jersey Shore' ain't sweating a reboot of 'The Hills' ... 'cause, as far as reality TV reboots go, she's adamant the 'Shore' will leave 'em eating dust.

We got the cast of 'Jersey Shore' -- well, most of the cast -- leaving NBC Studios Thursday in NYC and our guy wanted to know ... is "The Hills: New Beginnings" gonna be better than 'Jersey Shore'?

'The Hills' has a tough hill to climb to get there. Remember ... the 'Jersey Shore' reboot was a monumental success for MTV with millions of viewers tuning in for some much needed GTL.

As far as Angelina's concerned, well, she's not. But, she does have a soft spot for Spencer Pratt. And, JWoww agrees. BTW ... noticeably absent from the bunch was Ronnie, who is still dealing with tons of baby mama drama. It was just a couple months ago when Jen Harley allegedly dragged him with her car ... leaving him bloody. He's tried working it out with Jen, but we've heard that before.

Ben Affleck wanted to get back on the sober train -- badly -- days before his estranged wife staged an intervention and drove him to a rehab facility ... TMZ has learned.

Turns out, Ben had been attending wellness classes at a Los Angeles wellness center as recently as a week before checking into a live-in facility.

The center specializes in "Buddhist ethics" ... meaning meditation with a focus on a healthy body, mind and spirit. Our sources say Ben went on his own accord several times last week ... well aware he had fallen off the wagon and into a downward spiral.

We broke the story ... Ben's estranged wife, Jennifer Garner, staged an intervention Wednesday at his Pacific Palisades home and drove him to an L.A. County rehab facility where he will live for at least 30 days. We're told Ben didn't need much convincing because he knew he was in desperate straits.

We're told the trigger for Jen was on Monday, when she saw this pic (below) of Ben accepting delivery of a box full of beer and hard liquor.

The actor has been open about his struggles with sobriety over the years. After Ben completed his second stint at a rehab facility last year, he said, "I want to live life to the fullest and be the best father I can be. I want my kids to know there is no shame in getting help when you need it, and to be a source of strength for anyone out there who needs help but is afraid to take the first step."

He continued, "I'm lucky to have the love of my family and friends, including my co-parent, Jen, who has supported me and cared for our kids as I've done the work I set out to do."

Here's the reality ... most addicts relapse. It doesn't mean they can't eventually stay sober, but it's a long, difficult road and falling off the wagon is not necessarily game over. The most important thing ... it's clear Ben realized he had a problem and sought help, even before Jen staged the intervention.

8/24 -- The official document we received listed Gladys Knight as a performer at the memorial. A rep for Gladys tell us that there was a miscommunication ... she will not be performing, but she will be in attendance.

TMZ just got a list of the performers who will take the mic at Aretha Franklin's memorial next Thursday, and it's awesome!!!

Check this out:

The Four Tops
Gladys Knight
Johnny Gill
Ron Isley
Kiki Sheard
Kurt Carr
Jean Carne
Doug Carn
Ronnie McNeir
L.J. Reynolds
Tasha Page-Lockhart
Dee Dee Bridgewater
Dr. Bobby Jones
Jenifer Lewis
George Faison
Angie Stone
Raheem DeVaughn
Gracie Franklin
Eddie Franklin
Victorie Franklin
Santita Jackson
Ralphe Armstrong Band
Kern Brantley Band

Dr. Louis Farrakhan will be attending as a guest.

The event will go down at the Chene Park Amphitheatre in Detroit on August 30.

According to a doc obtained by TMZ, performances can be acoustic, track or with the Aretha Franklin combined band.

And, all artists will have to pay for their own air, ground and hotel accommodations.

As you know, Aretha died last week after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

Former "The Parkers" and "Moesha" star Countess Vaughn claims her longtime BF has been abusing her for years -- and most recently threw bleach in her face -- and it was more than enough for a judge to grant her an order of protection.

According to docs obtained by TMZ, the '90s sitcom star claimed David Benjamin Richard Whitten chucked bleach at her face back in June to keep her from working as an actress.

Countess says the BF has felt insecure anytime she moves up in her career, and she's endured a decade of physical, verbal and emotional abuse from him -- including alleged slapping, beating, strangulation and sexual assault.

She says Whitten has threatened to leak explicit videos of her and even threatened to kill her at times. She's got a couple kids -- one with Whitten -- and she fears for their safety if Whitten is allowed to have contact with them.

Drake and Odell Beckham Jr. watched as Kourtney's ex, Younes Bendjima, viciously beat a man outside a West Hollywood restaurant ... and TMZ has the video.

It went down March 24 at Delilah restaurant at 2:15 AM. Drake, Odell and at least a dozen other guys are leaving through the back door of the club when an employee throws open the door leading to the parking lot.

The employee mouths something to the group, which clearly pisses them off, and Younes delivers a flurry of punches to the employee's head. Another member of the crew jumps in and delivers his own series of punches as the victim appears to go down. Younes grabs the guy's hair and continues the assault.

A source who was there tells TMZ the victim "talked smack" as he opened the door for the group.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, the employee filed a police report, but changed his mind and decided not to pursue the matter.

Ed King -- a classic rocker best known as a guitarist for Lynyrd Skynyrd and co-writer of "Sweet Home Alabama" -- died Wednesday at his home in Nashville ... according to his family.

Ed played guitar and bass for the Southern rock band from 1972 to 1975 and again from 1987 to 1996. He co-wrote one of Skynyrd's most legendary hits with Ronnie Van Zant and Gary Rossington ... none of whom were actually from Alabama.

A rep for King's family tells us Ed was first diagnosed with lung cancer but it later spread through his body.

King was not with the band in 1977 when Van Zant and 2 other members were killed in a plane crash. He rejoined Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1987, but was reportedly forced to leave the band again in 1996 due to congestive heart failure.

Ed was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 along with all of the other former members of the band. He was featured in the recently released Lynyrd Skynyrd documentary, 'If I Leave Here Tomorrow' as well.

King was also one of the founding members of Strawberry Alarm Clock, formed in L.A. in the mid-1960s.

We're told the Hermitage Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens in Nashville will be handling the arrangements for Ed -- he'll be cremated and no ceremony is planned.

He was 68.

Justin Bieber is one step closer to being a pro jockey ... dude just bought a crazy huge $5 MILLION mansion in Ontario, Canada with it's own private horse racing track.

The property is 101 ACRES -- a skosh smaller than the size of Vatican City (for real, look it up) -- and this place has it all!!!

Private lake access? Check. Two story temperature controlled wine room? Check. Private gym? Check. Heated floors? YOU KNOW BIEB'S GOT HEATED FLOORS!!

Oh, and did we mention ... the place has its own private equestrian facility with stables and a 5/8 mile race track!!!!

The living space is 9,000 square feet -- with 4 bedrooms, 6 baths, 3 fireplaces, game room and movie theater (obvi). It's also got a 3 car garage.

We're told Bieber closed on the place on Monday -- no word on when he plans on moving in ... but the sooner, the better.

Unclear if Bieber plans to make the home his main residence with fiancee Hailey Baldwin -- or just a place to get away and hang by the lake.

Either way, it's another baller piece of real estate Bieber can add to his portfolio.

Lamar Odom got emotional while wishing happy 40th birthday to Kobe Bryant Thursday -- thanking his good friend for sticking with him through thick and thin ... even during his darkest hours.

Remember, Kobe was one of the first people who rushed to the hospital to meet with Lamar following his overdose at a Nevada brothel back in 2015.

In fact, Kobe bolted from a Lakers preseason game early right when he heard the news and was with Lamar hours after the incident.

Kobe continued to support Odom during and after his recovery -- and Odom hasn't taken his friendship for granted.

"There are no words in this world that can describe the mad love I have for you," Lamar wrote.

"I appreciate you Bean, you have been there for me in my most dark times until today and I hope till the end of times."

"We shined together in my most glorious times and those are like a tattoo in my heart . I can never repay you back for the unconditional love but I can tell you how much I appreciate you."

Is that Gina Gershon or Melania Trump???

Gina gave us a spot-on impression of the First Lady in NYC Tuesday during a preview of The 1st Annual Trump Family Special.

And, you gotta see the video!!!

Not only does Gina LOOK like Melania, she's also nailed the accent ... and it seems she's totally channeled into the mind of Donald Trump's 3rd wife.

Melania, excuse us, Gina expects YUGE ratings for the special -- a satirical musical comedy playing Thursday nights at the Triad Theatre beginning September 13 and running through December 6.

Gina is truly a Trumper ... 'cause she takes shots at the fake news media.

Gina has played Melania before -- on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" -- and she seems completely at ease in the role.

8/23 -- The photo above is Affleck at Jack in the Box, where he stopped before arriving at the rehab center.

8/22 7:20 PM PT -- We've learned Ben has arrived at a live-in rehab facility and will check in for an extended period of time.

Jennifer Garner has staged an intervention to help Ben Affleck, and TMZ has learned Ben wanted the help and agreed to go to rehab.

Jennifer went to Ben's Pacific Palisades home Wednesday afternoon to sit down with her estranged husband, begging him to get help. We've learned Ben didn't need begging ... he knows he needs help and was receptive.

Jen and Ben drove off at around 6 PM PT from the house ... and sources say the destination is a rehab facility. Our sources say Ben will enter a facility in L.A. County. We just found out they stopped at a Jack in the Box en route to the rehab place.

We're told Ben fell off the wagon a while ago, and has gotten progressively worse.

Our sources say the tipping point came 2 days ago when Jen saw a pic of Ben grabbing a box from a delivery man ... a box filled with beer and liquor.

Ben has been to rehab before ... back in 2001 for alcohol abuse. He also went back to rehab last December.

Jen filed for divorce in April, 2017 ... 2 years after they announced their split. The former couple remained close -- partly for their 3 kids -- and they are still not officially divorced.

Ben showed signs of excessive drinking when he took his date Playboy Playmate Shauna Sexton to Nobu in Malibu last week. His face was blotchy and he looked disheveled.

Roger Federer vs. Serena Williams. Who wins?

We got Fed outside UNIQLO in NYC on Wednesday and asked him straight-up.

Obviously, Federer told us he's betting on himself ... but it begs the question, could Serena -- the greatest female tennis player of all time -- REALLY compete with Fed in a serious tennis showdown?

Remember ... Serena's been engulfed in this Battle of the Sexes subject for years. John McEnroe says he was once offered $1 MILLION by Donald Trump to do battle with her. Billie Jean King also threw herself into the conversation by saying there's no way in hell Serena would win a match with a man.

As for Serena's side on all of this ... her most recent comment on the issue came in the form of a tweet to McEnroe after he said "she'd be like 700 in the world" on the men's circuit.

"Dear John, I adore and respect you but please please keep me out of your statements that are not factually based," Serena said.

"I've never played anyone ranked 'there' nor do I have time. Respect me and my privacy as I'm trying to have a baby. Good day sir."

As for UNIQLO and why Fed was there rehashing the whole issue among so many wild fans -- the Swiss star just broke up with Nike to ink a $300 MILLION deal with the Japanese apparel giant -- and he was there to promote his new gear with the people.

Ex-Ohio State WR coach Zach Smith blew stacks at a strip club with another OSU coach and at least 1 high school coach during a recruiting trip in 2014 ... and afterwards, Urban Meyer threatened his job.

It's all in the Ohio State investigation report detailing Meyer's history with Smith ... who was fired in July after a series of incidents stemming from domestic violence allegations.

In the report, investigators say, "In May 2014, in connection with an out-of-town recruiting trip to Florida, Zach Smith ran up a significant bill at a local strip club along with another OSU football coach and one or more high school coaches."

Smith spent at least $600 in the club -- which investigators say came from "personal funds."

Urban Meyer later learned about the incident and told Smith that, if it happened again, he would be fired.

Meyer also changed up the 2014 coaches manual to include a “morality clause,” telling staff to avoid strip clubs "or venues that would embarrass The Ohio State University."

The revised manual also prohibited coaches from having porn on any university-issued computer, phone, iPad, etc.

Of course, that part is relevant because Smith took penis pics while at the White House on the official Ohio State trip to D.C. to meet President Barack Obama in April 2015.

He also took explicit pics of himself in various OSU football facilities.

Unclear why Smith wasn't punished for violating the terms in the 2014 manual.

Simon Cowell had lots to celebrate this week -- a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a new deal with 'AGT' -- and he did it in true Simon fashion, which is why we love the guy.

Simon was having himself a little soiree Wednesday night at his favorite restaurant -- Ago in WeHo -- to ring in his two newest achievements in Tinseltown -- a permanent place on Hollywood Blvd. and a contract extension with NBC that'll keep him judging folks for years to come.

When we asked him about what was next, he replied in the purest SC way -- cold, brief, British and snarky ... just like he's been on TV for more than a decade. Classic! His t-shirt was a bit snug on him too, so he hasn't changed much in that department either.