Category: Politics

Congress, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Justice, Politics, Society

Federal Court Rules Against Bush Administration on Subpoenas

For months, many experts (including myself) have been arguing that the Bush Administration’s claim of privilege in the congressional investigations (and the refusal to comply with subpoenas) is untenable, if not laughable. Nevertheless, Attorney General Mukasey has refused to allow a grand jury to see the evidence of the criminal contempt by Bush Administration officials. Now, a federal judge has ruled against the Administration. Judge John Bates has found that the Administration must comply with the subpoenas in the cases of he president’s chief of staff, Josh Bolten, and former legal counsel Harriet Miers on the firing of nine U.S. Attorneys. The decision not only puts pressure on Mukasey to stop his obstruction of the process, but it clearly reaffirms the view of many that Karl Rove is also in flagrant contempt.

Continue reading “Federal Court Rules Against Bush Administration on Subpoenas” →

Bizarre, Congress, Constitutional Law, Courts, Criminal law, Justice, Media, Politics, Society

Speaker Pelosi Declares That There is No Evidence of Any Crime by President Bush

After blocking any serious investigation or impeachment hearings on crimes committed by President Bush, Speaker Nancy Pelosi finally addressed the allegations of presidential crimes on that forum of deep intellectual and legal thought: the television show The View. She agreed to answer a question from Joy Behar, who will have to suffice as a substitute for Peter Rodino. In a perfectly bizarre moment, Pelosi stated that there is simply no evidence of any crime committed by the President despite the findings of the International Red Cross, various international groups, and a legion of constitutional experts. It seems that America has now had its impeachment hearing before the august body of Whoopi Goldberg, Barbara Walters, Joy Bahar, and Elisabeth Hasselbeck. If you feared that our democracy is de-evolving into a caricature of itself, just watch this video.

Continue reading “Speaker Pelosi Declares That There is No Evidence of Any Crime by President Bush” →

Constitutional Law, Politics, Society

High Caliber Entertainment: Disney Loses Challenge to Florida Gun Law: Employees May Start to Bring Guns to the Magic Kingdom

A federal judge in Jacksonville, Florida has ruled against Disney in its effort to block employees from bringing guns to work under a new state law. However, U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle did uphold the right of the company to bar customers from bringing guns. This means that Grumby can now pack a sidearm as the ultimate disgruntled employees arrives each morning for work.
Continue reading “High Caliber Entertainment: Disney Loses Challenge to Florida Gun Law: Employees May Start to Bring Guns to the Magic Kingdom” →

Criminal law, Justice, Politics, Society

Senator Ted Stevens Indicted — At Last

For many years, Ted Stevens has been the virtual symbol of corruption in Washington, making himself a multimillionaire while serving in Congress. Despite detailed accounts of the shady dealings of Stevens and his family, Alaskans continued to return him to Washington where he and colleagues like Don Young tarnished the reputation of both houses. He is now a criminally indicted defendant, though the current allegations constitute small change in comparison to some of the past controversies surrounding the Stevens clan. The Stevens indictment is below.

Continue reading “Senator Ted Stevens Indicted — At Last” →

Criminal law, Justice, Politics, Society

Federal Court Upholds Sentences of Border Agents Ramos and Compean

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has upheld the controversial sentences of former Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean for the shooting of an unarmed illegal immigrant and admitted drug smuggler — and then lying about the incident. While the court vacated the convictions on tampering with an official proceeding, it left the rest of the case intact — upholding the lengthy sentences for both men.

Continue reading “Federal Court Upholds Sentences of Border Agents Ramos and Compean” →

Criminal law, Justice, Politics, Society

Report: Bush Administration Officials Violated Federal Law and Politicized Hiring at the Justice Department

The Justice Department Inspector General Office has completed its review of allegations of violations of federal law by Bush officials in the hiring of prosecutors and immigration judges. The 140-page report found that former Alberto Gonzales aides Monica Goodling or former Gonzales chief of staff Kyle Sampson broke federal law and used politics rather than merit to select both attorneys and immigration judges. This will be the subject of my discussion tonight on MSNBC Countdown, click here.

Continue reading “Report: Bush Administration Officials Violated Federal Law and Politicized Hiring at the Justice Department” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, Justice, Politics, Society

Serbia Refuses to Extradite Basketball Star Accused of Brutal Assault on College Student

The United States Senate is getting involved in a growing conflict between the United States and Serbia over the unlawful flight of Miladin Kovacevic, a star basketball player who was on bail for an assault on college student, Bryan Steinhauer. Both were students at Binghamton College. Steinhauer has been in a coma since the attack and now weighs only 100 pounds.

Continue reading “Serbia Refuses to Extradite Basketball Star Accused of Brutal Assault on College Student” →

Bizarre, Justice, Media, Military, Politics, Society

Outraged by Picture of Israeli Soldiers Shooting of Handcuffed Palestinian, Israeli Commentator Objects to Palestinians Being Given Cameras

Prominent journalist and radio host Uri Orbach has a curious sense of outrage. In a column, Orbach describes the outcry after the release of a recent picture of a handcuffed Palestinian being shot by an Israeli soldier with a rubber bullet at close range. Instead of decrying the need for better training or calling for justice, however, Orbach is infuriated that Palestinians have been given cameras to allow them to record such abuses.
Continue reading “Outraged by Picture of Israeli Soldiers Shooting of Handcuffed Palestinian, Israeli Commentator Objects to Palestinians Being Given Cameras” →

Constitutional Law, Politics, Society

McCain Proposes American Version of the Prime Minister Question Session

Sen. John McCain has proposed the adoption of an American version of the Prime Minister Question Session where he would appear before the Senate regularly for unscripted exchanges. I have long advocated such a tradition in the United States and it was the subject of a NPR story.

Continue reading “McCain Proposes American Version of the Prime Minister Question Session” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, Politics, Society, Torts

National Enquirer Reporters File Criminal Complaint in Edwards Controversy

National Enquirer reporters Alan Butterfield and Alexander Hitchen have filed a criminal complaint with the Beverly Hills Police Department against the security staff of the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The paper is also not backing off from its story — virtually daring Edwards to file a defamation lawsuit.

Continue reading “National Enquirer Reporters File Criminal Complaint in Edwards Controversy” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, Politics, Society

Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick Accused of Assault on Police Deputy

Detroit politicians continue their almost daily contributions to the criminal blogs and blotters. Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is now being investigated for allegedly assaulting a deputy accompanying an investigator for the Wayne County prosecutor at the home of the mayor’s sister. The officers were attempting to serve a subpoena on Bobby Ferguson, a city contractor and close friend of Kilpatrick. The mayor’s sister, Ayanna Kilpatrick, is married to Daniel Ferguson, a cousin of Bobby Ferguson.
Continue reading “Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick Accused of Assault on Police Deputy” →

Criminal law, Politics, Society

The Thin Blog Line: Memphis Police Chief Godwin Sues to Learn Identity of Anonymous Bloggers

Memphis Police Director Larry Godwin and the city of Memphis appear to have such excess of amounts of money and time that they have decided to pursue Internet bloggers critical of their work. They have filed to try to learn who has been filing critical entries under MPD Enforcer 2.0.
Continue reading “The Thin Blog Line: Memphis Police Chief Godwin Sues to Learn Identity of Anonymous Bloggers” →

Bizarre, Politics, Society, Torts

Rudy’s Son Demands a Mulligan: Andrew Giuliani Sues For Wrongful Dismissal From Duke Team

Andrew Giuliani, son of Rudy Giuliani, has gone to court to fight for his right to golf on teh Duke University team. He was recently thrown off the team with little notice or explanation by its coach, O.D. Vincent. The filing is based on a loose theory of contract, even though decisions of eligibility are generally viewed as matter of discretion for university staff.

Continue reading “Rudy’s Son Demands a Mulligan: Andrew Giuliani Sues For Wrongful Dismissal From Duke Team” →

Constitutional Law, Politics, Religion, Society

Federal Court Strikes Down Colorado Law Limiting College Scholarships to Exclude “Pervasively Sectarian” Schools

A very interesting decision has emerged out of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Former law school professor (and potential candidate for the Supreme Court) Michael W. McConnell wrote the opinion that the limitation to colleges other than those “pervasively sectarian” violates the Constitution as discrimination against certain religions.
Continue reading “Federal Court Strikes Down Colorado Law Limiting College Scholarships to Exclude “Pervasively Sectarian” Schools” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, Media, Politics, Society, Torts

Columnist Robert Novak Accused of a Hit and Run in Washington

Columnist Robert Novak has a reputation for being an aggressive and fast driver. It may now have put him into legal jeopardy. He is accused of hitting a man in his black Corvette who was lawfully crossing in a pedestrian walkway in Washington and then speeding from the scene — only to be stopped a block away by an attorney who chased him on a bicycle. Novak joked in 2001 about his hatred for jaywalkers and the option of running them over. A video of the aftermath is linked below.

Continue reading “Columnist Robert Novak Accused of a Hit and Run in Washington” →