I just posted a column detailing why I am “skeptical” of collusion theories against President Donald Trump, a view that the President recently tweeted. CNN Legal Analyst and former White House ethics attorney Norm Eisen responded yesterday to my quote in the Trump tweet with his own analysis that the criminal case for collusion is now “devastating” and that Trump is “colluding in plain sight.” His evidence? Trump’s failure to respond sufficiently to Russian attacks. It does not seem to factor into Eisen’s analysis that the government is responding on various levels, imposed some sanctions, and that the specific means used to combat the Russians is a discretionary policy question that balances a wide array of technical, legal, and diplomatic factors. Nevertheless, Eisen assured the public that the criminal case is now devastating.
Month: February 2018
Special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigators are reportedly looking into allegations of possible Russian blackmail or “kompromat” over Donald Trump from his prior business dealings and work in Moscow during the Miss America Pageant. Notably, he is also exploring when Trump started to consider his run for President and whether such plans may have started as earlier as 2014 — around the time of the formation of the Russian election operation. Other reports indicate that Mueller is pursuing inquiries into Trump knowledge or relationship with Wikileaks and when he first became aware of the hacking of emails.
During the campaign, President Donald Trump was roundly criticized for his comments about the ethnicity of a judge who was presiding in a case involving his now defunct Trump University. He argued that, because of the Mexican heritage of U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel (who was actually born in Indiana), the judge was biased against him and referred to him as a “hater.” That “hater” however just handed down a major 101-page ruling in favor of Trump’s signature policy: the wall with Mexico. President Trump did not mention the controversy in his tweet praising the decision.
Continue reading “Judge Once Maligned By Trump As A “Hater” Rules In Favor Of Border Wall”
We have previously discussed the unparalleled bravery of the women fighting discriminatory Islamic law requiring them to wear veils and limiting their freedoms due to their gender. This is particularly true of the women engaged in protests over compulsory headscarves in Iran. Now however the Islamic regime is cracking down and not just arresting women but charging them with “inciting prostitution.” It is the perfect sexist charge to go with deeply sexist legal system. A woman who asserts her most basic right to expression and religious choices is treated by the Islamic government as fostering prostitutes.
In Chongping, China, a CCTV camera caught a boy urinating on elevator buttons as a disgusting prank. However, he ended up shorting out the controls and become trapped in the elevator in a case of poetic justice.
Continue reading “Urine A Lot Of Trouble: Chinese Teen Trapped in Elevator After He Pees On Buttons”
The Supreme Court turned down the effort of the Trump Administration to circumvent the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and hear the challenge over the termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The decision not to grant review is clearly a victory for challengers of the Trump policy but it is also important not to read too much into the decision given the procedural posture of the appeal. Notably, on Tuesday the Supreme Court ruled in another immigration case and adopted the type of narrow interpretation sought by the Administration in the DACA litigation. In its decision in Jennings v. Rodriguez, the Court overturned the Ninth Circuit and rejected the right to twice-a-year bond hearings. Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr ruled that “[t]he meaning of the relevant statutory provisions is clear—and clearly contrary to the decision of the Court of Appeals.”Continue reading “Supreme Court Declines To Hear DACA Appeal”
Michael Wolff, the author of “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House” , is under fire this week after being accused of faking audio problems and then walking off a set of the Australian Today morning show on Sunday. Journalists were suspicious that Wolff was having no difficulty with his audio until he was asked about his conflicting statements on whether President Donald Trump is currently having an affair. After Wolff left, the show publicly stated that there was nothing wrong with Wolff’s audio.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is reviled throughout the world for his autocratic rule and denial of the most basic civil liberties. He consolidated power by dismantling secular traditions and interjecting Islamic policies into the government. His latest outrage was caught on tape as he explains to a crying 6-year-old girl that she is expected to die as a martyr and covered with a Turkish flag at her death. The video below captures Erdoğan’s Islamic extremism and his utter lack of empathy in dealing with the child.
I am often struck by old mugshots in their stark elements. I came across this mugshot recently of opium and cocaine dealer William Stanley Moore from 1926. The standing shot is a particularly gritty shot of a hardened criminal.
On Sunday,Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar joined the growing call for new regulation of Internet speech, including the imposition of fines on sites that fail to remove posters and comments of suspected “bots.” While the true impact of the Russian trolls and bots is being hotly debated (and I admit that I am skeptical), Democrats are calling for measures that worry many of us in the free speech community.
Below is my column in the Hill newspaper on the Gates plea deal and what Special Counsel Robert Mueller could be hoping to achieve beyond sealing the fate of Paul Manafort. In guaranteeing the testimony of Manafort’s close associate, Mueller may have practically limited the options to a plea or a pardon for Manafort. For the moment, Manafort seems more likely to wait for the latter than the former. He chastised his former aide as lacking “the strength to continue the battle to prove our innocence.” Perhaps, but Mueller clearly believes that whatever strength is lacking in Gates as a person will be made up as a witness facing 48-71 months in prison.
Here is the column:
Continue reading “The Gates Plea: Manafort’s Options May Now Run From Plea to Pardon To Prison”
There is an interesting ruling out of Oregon where Charles Hedgpeth was able to successfully challenge his drunk driving charge due to the delay in testing by the arresting officers. Coos County Circuit Judge Richard Barron was reversed in his conviction of Hedgpeth after the Oregon Court of Appeals ruled that the hour and 45 minute delay could have allowed more alcohol to enter his blood in pushing his blood alcohol content (BAC) to .09 — the legal limit is .08. This is a case where time was of the essence for conviction.
Continue reading “Behind The Times: Oregon DUI Conviction Thrown Out Due To Delay In Testing”
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting that a prominent lawyer and an animal shelter volunteer has been arrested in a bizarre bestiality case involving his Labrador Snoopy. Ivan DeVoren, 61, is charged with 10 felony counts of animal cruelty, 10 counts of sexual intercourse with an animal in addition to drug charges. After police found crack cocaine and other drugs in his home, they added possession charges.
DeVoren represents energy companies on regulatory challenges and compliance. He has described himself as a “lawyer and philanthropist” according to Heavy.com.
Continue reading “Prominent Pennsylvania Lawyer Charged With Bestiality”
Sheboygan driver, David Neese had a novel defense (and even more novel solution) to being arrested this month on suspicion of theft: he is an actor and would have to perform before surrendering. Neese, 61, proceeded to speed away from police, who clearly did not appreciate a claim of artistic license. He was charged with felony attempting to flee or elude a traffic officer and misdemeanor resisting an officer.
The father of a Florida teen is in a tough position after turning over the phone of his son in what he thought was an investigation into disturbing images of guns on Instagram and Snapchat. Police however arrested Sean Mesa, 18, a student at Dr. Michael Krop Senior High, not only for the improper display of a firearm but for the more serious change of possession of child pornography based on an examination of the phone.