Category: Politics

Bizarre, Criminal law, Justice, Politics, Society

Detroit Descends into Chaos with New Criminal Charges and Investigations

Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac must be wondering why he bothered in 1701 to found the city. Detroit’s government continues its downward spiral toward collapse with new indictments, criminal allegations, and scandal. The federal prosecutors have introduced a superseding indictment alleging more lies from Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick about past affairs. In the meantime, city council members are now under criminal investigation for other crimes while they also engage in bizarre public arguments.

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Bizarre, Politics, Society

Politics of Adhesion: PM Gordon Glued to Glass in Plane Stupid Stunt

Dan Glass, a member of the appropriately named climate change pressure group Plane Stupid, unsuccessfully tried to superglue himself to Prime Minister Gordon at a Downing Street reception. He was unsuccessful and worse yet, the British allowed him to stay at the reception after laughing off the attempt.
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Criminal law, Justice, Politics, Society

FBI Accused of Trying to Bury Findings That Raised Questions Over DNA Claims

The FBI is accused of launching a coordinated effort to bury the results of a finding by an Arizona crime lab analyst, Kathryn Troyer, that individuals may have very similar DNA profiles. The finding throws into question the claims made in court about the unlikelihood of two individuals sharing such similarities. Where such matches have been portrayed as 1 in 113 billion — a virtual guarantee of conviction — it turns out to be more common. Rather than being concerned over past representations in court and the accuracy of its work, the FBI reportedly worked diligently to stop other analysts from performing the same tests and to discourage any citation to the study.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Media, Politics, Society

Television Anchor Charged with Federal Crime

In Philadelphia, former KYW-TV anchor and former “Access Hollywood” anchor Larry Mendte has been charged with federal crimes over his unlawful snooping into the e-mail of his former co-anchor, Alycia Lane. Mendte reportedly gained access into her e-mails hundreds of times and leaked personal information on her social life a Philadelphia Daily News reporter. Lane was eventually dismissed from the station.

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Courts, Justice, Lawyering, Politics, Society

Florida Judge Reprimanded for Statement in Court Opinion

A divided Judicial Qualifications Commission in Tallahassee has ruled to reprimand 1st District Court of Appeal Judge Michael E. Allen. For a prior entry, click here.
The panel also suggested an investigation into the subject of Allen’s criticism, fellow Judge Charles J. Kahn Jr. for participating in the appeal of the criminal case against former Senate President W.D. Childers.

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Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Justice, Politics, Society

Obama Adviser Cass Sunstein Rejects Prosecution of “Non-Egregious” Bush Crimes

With many Democrats still fuming over the refusal of Democratic leaders like Speaker Nancy Pelosi to allow even impeachment hearings into detailed allegations of crimes by President Bush in office, close Obama adviser (and University of Chicago Law Professor) Cass Sunstein recently rejected the notion of prosecuting Bush officials for crimes such as torture and unlawful surveillance. After Sen. Obama’s unpopular vote on the FISA bill, it has triggered a blogger backlash — raising questions about the commitment of the Democrats to do anything other than taking office and reaping the benefits of power.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Justice, Military, Politics, Society

Shock Video: Israeli Soldier Shown Firing a Rubber Bullet into Leg of Blindfolded Palestinian Prisoner at Close Range

A video has been released that shows an Israeli soldier filing a rubber bullet at close range into the leg of a Palestinian prisoner who is being held by another soldier. [Warning: The video linked below contains disturbing images]. The video was released by the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem. The victim is reportedly named Ashraf Abu Rahma, 27.

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Bizarre, Politics, Society

Zimbabwe Issues $100 Billion Note — Worth Half a Loaf of Bread

Zimbabwe has solved the current problem of people having to cart bags of money to the store to pay for food: it issued a $100 billion note, which will not even buy a loaf of bread in the country. The complete free fall of the Zimbabwe economy has become a textbook example of how government policy can destroy an entire country. In the meantime, farmers are being beaten by thugs associated with the government to sign over their land. Yet, Russia vetoed efforts to impose sanctions on the country and specifically its strongman ruler, Robert Mugabe.

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Criminal law, Justice, Politics, Society

Arab League Denounces Genocide Charges Against Sudan President Omar al-Bashir

In an act of self-condemnation, the Arab League has denounced the genocide charges and defended Sudan’s president Omar al-Bashir. Many of these 22 countries engage in rampant abuses and torture. While they expressed fears of danger to national sovereignty, there is no doubt a fair measure of concern over their own acts of abuses.
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Environment, Politics, Society

Less Bangs for Your Buck: Bush Administration Loses Effort to De-List and Allow Hunting of Gray Wolves

U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy has stopped the controversial hunt for gray wolves in Montana, granting a preliminary injunction restoring the wolves to the endangered list. Given the need to show a likelihood to prevail on the merits, it is an important ruling for environmentalists. The planned hunt was endorsed by the ironically named Ed Bangs, a federal biologist who declared the decision to delist wolves as “a very biologically sound package.” Obviously, a neutral federal judge disagreed with Bangs’ view.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Politics, Religion, Society

Pakistani Judge Rules that Kidnapped Girls Who Were Converted to Islam Cannot be Returned to Family — Including One Married Off at 13

Pakistani Judge Mian Muhammad Naeem has reportedly ruled that two Christian girls who were kidnapped and then converted to Islam cannot be returned to their family, including Saba Younas, aged 13, who was forced to marry the son of one of the kidnappers. Naeem ruled that the girls “have converted in a legitimate manner to Islam” and therefore cannot be “restored to their family of origin”.

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Bizarre, Politics, Religion, Society, Uncategorized

Sooner v. Satan: Oklahoma Commissioner Reduces Campaign to a Homophobic Comic

Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart is facing a tough election, so he has taken a page out of one of the oldest books of politics: he has demonized his opponents as “liberal good ol’ boys,” gays and tools of Satan. In this case, however, the book is a juvenile comic book that Rinehart has written and illustrated. He intends to send the comic book to voters depicting his opponents as Satan-following, Gay-loving liberals terrified of . . . you guessed it . . . Brent Rinehart.
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Congress, Criminal law, Justice, Politics, Society

Earning Your Bona Fides in the Bush Bada Bing Club: Administration Officials Pushed for Yoo to Head OLC Based on His Support for Torture

Congressional hearings have revealed that John Yoo was the favored candidate to lead the Office of Legal Counsel at the Justice Department based on a single resume item: his tolerance and support of torture. Alberto Gonzales and Cheney aide David S. Addington fought former Attorney General John Ashcroft, who submitted five names for the position that conspicuously omitted Yoo’s name.

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