Category: Criminal law

Criminal law, International, Media

Terrorist Attack Kills Canadian Journalist Who Returned To Somalia To Show Its Beauty
YouTube Screenshot

There was an incredibly sad story last week. A terrorist attack in Somalia killed 27 people in the port city of Kismayo. Among the dead was Canadian-Somali journalist Hodan Nalayeh, who was an inspiration for not just Somalians but women around the world who have grown up in highly restrictive religious nations. Nalayeh dedicated her life to showing the beauty of her native country, which is all too often in the news for terrorist attacks and extremists. She moved back to Somalia to work to facilitate the continued development of Somalia.

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Bizarre, Criminal law

Court Denies Epstein Bail [Updated]

Jeffrey Epstein’s effort to be released pending trial took a major hit before a court ruled against bail. It was reported earlier that Epstein’s safe in his New York mansion was found with a huge amount of cash, diamonds, and a false passport. Now prosecutors have disclosed that Epstein actually used the passport to travel internationally. This follows a disclosure that Epstein was accused of “improper sexual contact” during his prior criminal sentence. That makes for a bad bail case that is steady getting far worse.

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Criminal law, Free Speech

Virginia Beach Employee Arrested For Telling Supervisor That She Is The Type Of Boss Who Pushes Employees To Violence

There is a disturbing case out of Virginia Beach where city employee Elizabeth Mann, 48, was fired and then arrested for telling Wendy Swallow, a supervisor, that she is the type of boss who pushes people to violence. She was referencing the recent shooting spree of DeWayne Craddock, 40, an engineer with the city’s Public Utilities division, that killed 12 people and wounded several others. It was a uniquely stupid thing to say but Mann’s arrest raises serious constitutional concerns.

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Criminal law, Media

Washington Attacker On Immigration Center Was An Antifa Member and Featured On CNN

Various news organizations are reporting that the man who threw “incendiary devices” at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington was an Antifa member and appears to have been featured on CNN’s “United Shades of America” with W. Kamau Bell as “one of the good guys.” Police shot and killed Willem Van Spronsen at the scene. However, there has been little coverage of his background or the CNN feature. That is curious given the steady coverage of how right-wing groups are being pushing to violence by the Trump Administration and “alt right” sites. This is not to say that CNN encouraged violence but rather that the level of coverage (and presumed connection with political or media sources) is different.

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Criminal law, Lawyering, Media, Torts

Dershowitz Moves To Dismiss Defamation Case Over Epstein Allegations

Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz is back in the news in connection to allegations that he was one of the men who had relations with underaged girls during trips with Jeffrey Epstein. New evidence has been released in the case that have rekindled the allegations against Dershowitz. Moreover, Dershowitz (who invited a defamation suit by the woman accusing him with having sex with her as a minor) is now seeking to dismiss the action and thus avoid discovery. Additionally, an early interview has been uncovered with what may be the single worst line since Bill Clinton’s “I experimented with marijuana a time or two, and didn’t like it. I didn’t inhale and I didn’t try it again.” When confronted on whether he did in fact accept a message from one of the women at Epstein’s mansion, Dershowitz admitted that he did but insisted “I kept my underwear on.”

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Bizarre, Criminal law, International

The Crime Of “Affecting Human Subconscious”: Russians Arrest Reporter For Referencing Orwell Under A Truly Orwellian Law

Even in the authoritarian era of Vladimir Putin, the arrest of Mikhail Romanov, a reporter for the Yakutsk Vecherniy, was notable.  Romanov has been accused of “controlling minds” by merely referencing George Orwell’s novel “1984.”

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Columns, Criminal law, Politics

SIX DEGREES FROM JEFFREY EPSTEIN: WASHINGTON GRAPPLES WITH A WEB OF EMBARRASSING ASSOCIATIONS

Below is my column on the charging of Jeffrey Epstein and the complex connections raised by his prosecution. Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta gave a press conference where he attempted to show that 2007 was a different century where victims rights did not exist and transparency was just a word used in window glazing. It was a ridiculous performance as Acosta sought to justify a sweetheart deal that has been universally condemned. Acosta attempted to shift the blame to state prosecutors who came out after the press conference to angrily contest his account. Previously, in 2011, Acosta insisted he yielded in the case because of  “a year-long assault on the prosecution and the prosecutors” by “an army of legal superstars” like Dershowitz and Starr.  He also wrote “The defense strategy was not limited to legal issues. Defense counsel investigated individual prosecutors and their families, looking for personal peccadilloes that may provide a basis for disqualification.”  That is bizarre. Most prosecutors would have the backbone to double their efforts in the face of such pressure. Instead, Acosta’s defense came off as a whining or whimpering excuse for letting these big bad lawyers scare him off.

Here is the column:

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Bizarre, Criminal law

Illinois Woman Arrested After Driving With Two Children In An Inflatable Pool On Car Roof

 

(Dixon PD)

Jennifer A. Janus Yeager, 49, may have the distinction of the most reckless driving incident in recent memory.  She was pulled over in her Audi Q5 at Dixon, Illinois with an inflatable pool having two children inside.  When asked to explain herself, Yeager said that the two children were helping hold the pool to the top of the car.

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Courts, Criminal law, Lawyering, Media, Politics, Society

Flynn Takes Sudden Turn Against Government In Pending Case

440px-Michael_T_FlynnWhile the headlines have been occupied with the Epstein matter and the other news, there is something curious happening in federal court with Michael T. Flynn, the former national security adviser.  Flynn was just listed as an unindicted co-conspirator by the Justice Department. That itself is odd since Flynn is a cooperating witness facing sentencing before a fairly hostile federal judge.  Nevertheless, Flynn now says that the government was trying to get him to give false evidence in the the trial of a former business partner, Bijan Kian, who is accused of violating foreign lobbying disclosure laws.  The move by Flynn (following his replacement of counsel) could indicate an “all in” position for a pardon.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Media, Politics, Torts

Clinton Challenged On Denial Of Epstein Flights and Knowledge Of Crimes

225px-Bill_ClintonMany people were surprised yesterday when former President Bill Clinton finally made a public statement after over a decade on his relationship with convicted felon and billionaire Jeffrey Epstein.  Epstein was charged this week with sex trafficking and conspiracy.  Clinton has long been connected with over two dozen flights on Epstein’s place, often called the “Lolita Express” for its reputation for underaged girls and orgies.  Clinton also reportedly told the Secret Service not to accompany him on some flights with Epstein.  Clinton now denies ever traveling without the Secret Service and claims that he only flew with Epstein four times on routine flights. Various people are challenging that account including the journalist, Conchita Sarnoff, who previously wrote on the flight logs and records showing Clinton’s trip. Continue reading “Clinton Challenged On Denial Of Epstein Flights and Knowledge Of Crimes” →

Bizarre, Criminal law

Alabama Woman Mistakenly Shoots Husband In Head During Road Rage Incident

190708140002-erica-cole-alabama-road-rage-exlarge-169Erica Cole just may have the worst criminal defense other than a confession.  She shot her husband Nicholas Cole in the head but insisted that she was really trying to shoot someone else in a road rage incident. It is not much an improvement.  She is charged with attempted murder, second-degree assault and reckless endangerment.

The road rage incident reportedly occurred on the highway near Dodge City, Alabama.  The cars then continued the confrontation at a home on a local road. 
The “I meant to shoot the other guy in the head” claim will not take you very far at trial. Nicholas Cole is still recovering in the hospital.
Criminal law, Politics

Jeffrey Epstein Arrested In New York

Jeffrey_Epstein_mug_shotNotorious billionaire Jeffrey Epstein has been arrested on sex trafficking charges in New York.  The arrest comes after months of litigation linked to Epstein’s controversial plea bargain over a decade ago.  Ongoing litigation over sealed records recently led to an order to unseal, including material linked to Harvard Professor Alan Dershowitz who has denied allegations that the underaged girls were ordered to sleep with him.  Epstein is accused of trafficking dozens of minors in New York and Florida between 2002 and 2005. He will appear in court in New York on Monday, Continue reading “Jeffrey Epstein Arrested In New York” →

Bizarre, Criminal law

Manhunt For The “Lufkin Licker” Identifies Suspect

download-2She is called the “Lufkin Licker” and could face both state and federal charges.  The woman posted a video of herself opening a container of Blue Bell ice cream at a Walmart store and licked the top . . .  then put the top back on and returned the ice cream.  according to Fort Worth’s KTXA-TV. the disgusting act led police to scour stores for security tapes and they have now zeroed in on this woman from a security tape in Lufkin, Texas. Continue reading “Manhunt For The “Lufkin Licker” Identifies Suspect” →

Animals, Bizarre, Criminal law

Attack Squirrel: Menace or Myth?

downloadAlabama police have finally apprehended Mickey Paulk, the man accused of feeding methamphetamines to a pet squirrel to create a vicious “attack squirrel.”  Paulk denies the allegation and complained that his pet squirrel would likely die after being released into the wild. After all, he noted, if the squirrel were a meth addict, the release was a cruel act: “So they let a meth addicted attack squirrel go on the public. how you like that people?”

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