Defense Department General Counsel William Haynes has resigned after a disclosure by the former chief prosecutor for the Guantanamo military commissions, Col. Morris Davis, involving Haynes’ view of the true function of the military trials: to blindly impose guilty verdicts. Davis revealed that Haynes insisted that the military tribunals only produce convictions and no acquittals — leading to the demand of various military lawyers to be transferred. Haynes is the very same person that the White House and GOP fought to be made a federal judge. Continue reading “Top Bush Official Resigns After Reports that He Demanded Only Convictions from the Military Tribunals”
Category: Criminal law
Police in Florida have arrested Moses Rogers, Jr., 28, with cruelty to animals charge for yelling at a police dog in a patrol vehicle. It appears that the dog was deeply offended or agitated by the encounter. Continue reading “Asinine with Canine in the First Degree: Man Charged with Animal Cruelty for Swearing at Police Dog”
Zacarias Moussaoui is back. The self-confessed terrorist has filed an appeal with the United States Court of Appeal for the Fourth Circuit, contesting the trial court’s refusal to give him his choice of lawyers and the denial of information to him in his defense. While it is extremely unlikely that he will prevail in the Fourth Circuit, the arguments being made by Arnold and Porter are not nearly as crazy as their client. Continue reading “Moussaoui Returns: Appeal Claims Violations of His Sixth Amendment Rights”
After proclaiming that the nation’s security was in imminent danger due to the refusal to give telecommunication companies immunity, the Bush Administration has backed off the claim and now says that there has been no interruption in intelligence. Nevertheless, the Administration has continued to argue that that it is ultimately a choice between giving financial protection to corporations or risk a massive terrorist attack. Continue reading “Administration Backs Off Claim of Imminent National Security Threat in Bid to Get Immunity for Telecom Companies”
Angela Nellany has pleaded no contest to assault with a deadly weapon in California . The alleged weapon: a can of wasps. Despite the testimony of a man who alleged that Nellany tried to hire her to kill her estranged husband, Paul Nellany, and testimony on the attempt to use a can of wasps (Paul is highly allergic), she did not admit guilt in her plea and will receive only a few more months of prison on a two-year sentence. Continue reading “Wife Pleads Guilty in Case of Assault by Wasp Case”
The fact that Jamie Lee Spears became pregnant as a minor is generally treated as an entertainment story rather than a case of child molestation for her adult boyfriend. However, even minors are now being subject to registration as sexual predators for fondling and other sexual acts with other minors under a federal law passed with the support of various members, including disgraced ex-Rep. Mark Foley (R. Fla). It is the called the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 and various states are now being compelled to put juvenile names into the system over the objections of many child advocates. Continue reading “Federal Law Compels States to Register Minors on Sex Offender Registry”
U.S. District Judge suspended the trial date for U.S. Rep. William Jefferson pending his appeal. Jefferson has filed a novel challenge over the use of privileged material in the grand jury that led to his indictment on corruption charges. Continue reading “Jefferson Trial Suspended Pending Appeal”
Despite confirmation of waterboarding by the Administration and the existence of a torture program, Attorney Michael Mukasey continues to refuse to acknowledge that waterboarding is a crime and has blocked any criminal investigation that would implicate the President in the commission of a war crime. Now, Democrats are heralding an internal investigation that promises nothing beyond a low-grade ethics review with no likely action against individual lawyers. Continue reading “No Crime, Just Bad Counsel? Justice Department Conducts Internal Ethics Review on the Torture Memos”
The police department in Cookeville, Tennessee, is facing a very serious charge in a lawsuit alleging that its officers first used a police dog to attack a suspect, Carlos Ferell, without cause and then plant drugs on him. The scene is captured on this video — as well as officers mocking Ferell once the drugs are pulled from his pocket. Continue reading “Video Allegedly Show Police Planting Drugs on Suspect After Allowing Dog to Attack Him Without Cause”
An eleven-year-old boy may have just struck out pitching legend Roger Clemens. Photos have surfaced from a party given by Jose Canseco in 1998 — taken by one of the children. They purportedly show Clemens at the party, which Clemens vehemently denied in sworn testimony in hearings on the use of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball. Baseball legend Jose Canseco may also be at risk in this disclosure. Continue reading “Beware of 11-Year-Olds with Cameras: Pictures Reportedly Contradict Testimony of Roger Clemens”
GOP Rep. Rick Renzi (Ariz.) has been indicted on charges of fraud in questionable land deals as well as money laundering. The former member of the House Intelligence Committee faces a very stiff challenge given the specificity of this indictment. Continue reading “Arizona Rep. Rick Renzi Indicted for Fraud and Other Charges”
Arkansas Lt. David Mitchell is accused of filmed himself using a stun gun on a cow as his colleague laugh at the abuse of the animal. He will not be criminally charged. Continue reading “Arkansas Police Officer Allegedly Films His Use of a Stun Gun on Cow”
In a surprising decision, convicted attorney Mary S. Roberts received no jail time for her convictions of theft in a sordid sex/blackmail scheme with her husband, lawyer Ted H. Roberts. She received 10 years probation despite the fact that her husband received five years and she faced a maximum of 20 years in prison. The sentence seems rather inconsistent with her husband and a bit light given the multiple count conviction in this case. Continue reading “Disgraced San Antonio Lawyer Mary Roberts Avoids Jail in Sex-Blackmail Case”
It can be honestly said that the apple did not fall far from the tree in the case of father and son team Paul M. Crowell, 22, and his father, Paul J. Dupey, 41. Both demonstrated a room temperature IQ when they first stole allegedly stole a police taser gun and then took turns stunning each other for a YouTube video. They are now facing criminal charges. Continue reading “Why Subintelligence and High Voltage Do Not Mix: Wisconsin Father and Son Arrested After Police View YouTube Video of Them Stunning Each Other with Stolen Police Taser”
Rep. William Jefferson filed an appeal on Wednesday to the Fourth Circuit to challenge 14 of 16 charges against him. The appeal could delay the prosecution for months. Continue reading “Rep. Jefferson Files Appeal to Challenge Counts in His Criminal Indictment”