For years, many of us have raised concerns over the political weaponization of the New York legal system from the civil fraud case against the Trump company by New York Attorney General Letitia James to the criminal prosecution by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. The popularity of these lawfare warriors shows how a dual legal system has taken hold in the city. That was never more evident than in the decision of Bragg to drop the case against Brianna J. Rivers, 30, who assaulted a pro-life advocate in a case of political violence. While blamed on negligence within his office, the dropping of the prosecution of Rivers is only the latest example of enabling those who turn to violence in our political system. Continue reading “Bragg Drops Charges Against Woman Who Attacked Pro-Life Advocate”
Category: Criminal law
Below is my column in the New York Post on the indictment of James Comey. As I mentioned yesterday, the indictment seemed a bit disjointed in referring to “false statements” in the caption and the body, but only describing a single false statement. It appears that the grand jury did not return a “true bill” on one of the originally alleged false statements. That might have been the count related to Professor Daniel Richman, who appeared before the Grand Jury, but that is speculation at this point. However, as I noted, there appears to have been material removed from the original draft of the indictment.
Here is the column: Continue reading “Martyr or Liar? Comey Indicted on Two Counts”
In the midst of the flurry of activity on Capitol Hill and in the courts, a single subpoena from federal prosecutors last week went largely unnoticed by many in Washington. However, it could represent a significant development in the long-standing and unresolved questions surrounding the exit of James Comey as Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The subpoena was served on Columbia law professor Daniel Richman, a close friend of Comey’s who has been accused of serving as his conduit for leaks to the media. Continue reading “Comey Associate and Columbia Professor Daniel Richman Subpoenaed”
Below is my column in the Hill on the murder of Charlie Kirk, the latest victim of our age of rage. The evidence of Antifa scribblings and indoctrination of the shooter came as no surprise. For months, some of us have been warning Democratic leaders about their dangerous rhetoric and how it would be received by the most radical elements in the Antifa movement.
Here is the column:
It appears that words no longer matter to Nancy Pelosi. For years, Pelosi and other Democrats have blamed President Donald Trump and Republicans for their “inciteful rhetoric.” In seeking Trump’s impeachment, Pelosi bellowed that the use of “words such as a cry ‘to fight like hell'” produces violence and added, “words matter. Truth matters. Accountability matters.” No longer. After all, she explained, “we can’t take responsibility for the minds that are out there and how they hear it.” Continue reading “When Words No Longer Matter: Nancy Pelosi and Politics of Violence”
Yesterday, the United States entered a new and chilling stage of what I have called the “age of rage.” After two attempted assassinations of President Donald Trump, leading conservative leader Charlie Kirk, father of two, was gunned down at a campus event at Utah Valley University. I learned the news while I was in Prague to speak on my book,“The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage” and the growing attacks on free speech around the world. I never imagined that I would be speaking about Charlie’s murder and what it represents for free speech.
Continue reading ““Prove me Wrong”: Charlie Kirk’s Final Challenge on Free Speech”
District Court Judge Kristen D. Simmons has dismissed the criminal charges against 15 Republicans charged with falsely attempting to certify President Donald Trump as the winner of the 2020 election. It is a major loss for Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel (D) (shown left), who garnered public support in trying to prosecute the Michigan electors. Continue reading “Michigan Court Dismisses Charges Against 15 Republicans in Presidential Certification Case”
A federal grand jury has indicted Cal State University Channel Islands professor Jonathan Anthony Caravello for throwing a tear gas canister at federal agents during a raid at a Glass House Farms marijuana facility in Camarillo, CA. In addition to a large number of arrestees, the authorities found at least 14 child workers. Caravello has been defended by faculty at the university, but now faces charges under 18 U.S.C. 111 for “assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees.” Continue reading “Cal State University Professor Indicted for Assault on Federal Officers”
So an Alaskan bush pilot walks into the Supreme Court with a six-pack of beer. Sounds like the start of a good joke? Well, for Ken Jouppi, it is no laughing matter. Jouppi and his counsel at the Institute for Justice have just filed a petition for a writ of certiorari to appeal a decision from the Alaska Supreme Court that held the state could seize his $95,000 Cessna U206D airplane over a six-pack of beer found in a passenger’s bag of groceries.
It has been 157 years since the last ship taking convicts from the United Kingdom landed in Australia. Now, in a crushing historical irony, Australia is contracting with the small Pacific island of Nauru to resettle foreign-born criminals who the courts have ruled cannot be imprisoned indefinitely. The court rulings show how our allies are facing the same dilemma in dealing with people who enter the country illegally and then oppose efforts to deport them for years in litigation. Continue reading “The Return of “Transportation” Sentencing? Australia Seeks to Ship Illegal Aliens to Small Pacific Island”
Within minutes of the shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic Church Mass on Wednesday, politicians and pundits were calling for new gun control measures and blaming conservatives for the deaths of the children. These are the same calls that have emerged after past shootings for everything from a ban on “assault weapons” to a total ban on all guns. What the public is not being told is the limited range of options under existing constitutional precedent.
Continue reading “The Rhetoric and Realities of Gun Control”
In 1985, Sol Wachtler, the chief justice of New York’s Supreme Court, famously said, “Any good prosecutor can get a grand jury to indict a ham sandwich.” Perhaps, but it appears that indicting someone for throwing a ham sandwich may be tougher than it would appear. A grand jury has reportedly refused to indict Sean Charles Dunn, 37, shown on video shouting obscenities at Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents standing near 14th and U streets on Aug. 10. and then striking an officer with a wrapped sandwich. Continue reading “Grand Jury Refuses to Indict Sandwich-Throwing Former Justice Employee”
We have previously discussed the lack of a credible defense for Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan, who has been charged with facilitating the escape of an undocumented man being sought by federal officers in her courthouse. Indeed, despite having high-powered lawyers such as Paul Clement, her recent social media posts seem more like a pitch for jury nullification. One bright spot for Dugan was that she was assigned to U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman, a liberal Democrat who has run for prior office and has been accused of bias on the bench. However, Judge Adelman just delivered a blow to the defense by rejecting Dugan’s claim that she had judicial immunity in taking her actions.
We previously discussed the arrest of former Washington State University teaching assistant Patrick Mahoney and WSU research assistant Gerald Hoff for beating down engineering student Jay Sani for wearing a Trump hat. Notably, after the attack, Mahoney explained that, if you choose to wear a pro-Trump hat, “there’s gonna be a price to pay.” There is also a price for a beat down. He was just sentenced to one week in prison and a year’s probation. Continue reading ““There’s Gonna be a Price to Pay”: Former WSU Teaching Assistant Sentenced for Attack on Conservative Student” 
Below is my column in the New York Post on the appellate court decision to toss the entirety of the fine imposed against President Donald Trump in the civil action brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Here is the column:
Continue reading “The One That Got Away: Letitia James and the Perils of Trophy Fishing”