Last week, the Senate took an unprecedented step asking the Justice Department to investigate the possible criminal conduct of a House member. The subject of this ignoble moment is Rep. Don Young. For many, it was a well-earned distinction for Young, who is often cited as the face of earmark corruption. However, this is different. Young is accused of effectively stealing millions of dollars for a campaign contributor by changing the words of an appropriations bill after it was passed by his colleagues. Continue reading “Fraud by Write-Out? Don Young’s Extra Ordinary Earmark”
The Bush Administration has long had difficulty in terrorism, assembling the worst record of losses of an modern Administration. Now, in the Liberty City case of six defendants accused of plotting to try to blow up the Sears Tower in Chicago, they are going to try a THIRD time to get a jury to believe them. This is not a matter of the law of terrorism but the law of averages. Despite the strikingly similar reaction of the prior two juries, the Justice Department just hopes that it can still find people who will not question the unconvincing case against these individuals. Continue reading “Playing the Law of Averages: Justice Department to Try Sears Tower Defendants a Third Time”
Two individuals are locked away this week in a huge net benefit to our collective gene pool. One, Nicholas David Thompson, beat a kitten’s head on a wall for giggles while the other, Aaron Hunter, urinated on a three-old child because he was mad at his mother. Continue reading “This Week’s Selections of the Worst Humans On the Planet”
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled this week that border agents can search a person’s laptop without either probable cause or reasonable suspicion. In a sweeping decision that reversed the trial judge, Judge Diarmuid O’Scannlain and two other judges found no distinction in a search of luggage and actually reviewing the contents of a computer under the Fourth Amendment. The ruling went against Michael Arnold, who was arrested at the Los Angeles International Airport with child pornography. Continue reading “Ninth Circuit Rules that Borders Agents Can Search Computers Without Either Probable Cause or Reasonable Suspicion”
Now, here is an interesting potential torts lawsuit. Diane Sawyer interviewed a Manhattan prostitute for an ABC Special. She was assured that her identity would be concealed, but at least one person recognized her immediately: her mother. The prostitute details the accidental disclosure on her blog under the name “debauchette” Continue reading “Oops: ABC Mistakingly Outs Prostitute to Mother”
Muslim scientists and clerics have called for the replacement of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) with Mecca Mean Time given the more central location of the holy city on Earth. Of course, given yesterday’s report of the Human Rights Watch on Saudi treatment of women, here. MMT could mean making time move backwards. Continue reading “I’m Not Late, I’m On Mecca Time: Muslim Scientists and Clerics Call for Replacement of Greenwich Mean Time with Mecca Mean Time”
New Hampshire Superior Court Judge Patricia Coffey resigned after she was suspended for three years by the state Supreme Court for dealings considered fraudulent and dishonest by her colleagues. Coffey’s demise is tied to a fraudulent property transfer involving her husband, John Coffey was barred as an attorney over the controversy. Continue reading “New Hampshire Judge Resigns Under Allegations of Fraudulent Conduct”
In Tampa, Ahmed Mohamed and Youssef Megahed — the two former University of South Florida students — have been charged with terrorism counts stemming from a traffic stop in South Carolina. As with many such cases, the government made a great deal over the stop, suggesting a major terrorism coup that found explosive devices in their car near military facilities. As time went on, the allegations proved somewhat laughable as the government struggled to find any way to justify the original press. Continue reading “Government Charges Two Former USF Students With Terrorism Counts”
As Hillary Clinton is being criticized for running a commercial against Barach Obama featuring Osama Bin Laden, a church in South Carolina has put up a sign “Obama, Osama, hmmm, are they brothers?” It is only the latest intervention of a church in the election in violation of federal law and perhaps the most moronic. Pastor Roger Byrd of the Jonesville Church of God insists that he will not take down the sign, which is less of a problem. It is the tax-supported church behind the sign that need to be changed. Continue reading “Osama and Obama: Church Fuels Obama Muslim Rumors”
A Georgia military contractor, Pyrotechnic Specialties Inc. or PSI, is accused of a conspiracy to defraud the government and to sell defective stun (or “flashbang”) grenades to the military and both state and federal law enforcement officials. Not only were three FBI agents injured, but PSI is accused to luring federal officials with gifts at stripper joints and other perks. Officials are now facing charges of conspiracy, money laundering, mail fraud and defrauding the government. Continue reading “Criminal Charges in Defective Grenade Case”
State officials have begun giving DNA tests to 400 children. The testing is intended to help determine their parents and relatives — though it could become part of a criminal case raising some interesting issues. Continue reading “DNA Testing Begins on Polygamous Sect”
Human Right Watch has issued a detailed report of how Saudi Arabia keeps women in a state of “childhood,” dependent upon males for things ranging from medical care to driving. The report, “Perpetual Minors: Human Rights Abuses Stemming from Male Guardianship and Sex Segregation in Saudi Arabia,” is based on more than 100 interviews with Saudi women. Continue reading “Forever Children: Human Rights Watch Blasts Saudi Arabia on Treatment of Women”
Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine), a member of the House Armed Services Committee comes out in an article in the Los Angeles Times in favor of the Feres Doctrine — a controversial rule that has effectively stripped military personnel of their ability to sue for even the most gross negligent acts by military doctors and managers. The article reports growing demands for the long-awaited termination of the doctrine. Continue reading “Duncan Hunter Comes Out In Favor of Infamous Feres Doctrine”
Phillip Miles, of South Carolina, was sentenced by a Moscow court to more than three years in prison for smuggling hunting ammunition into Russia. He had brought a box of 20 rifle shells for a friend who had a Winchester rifle. Stupid to be sure, but three years? Continue reading “American Pastor Sentenced to Three Years in Russia for Smuggling Ammunition”
Scientology is again under criticism over the alleged pressure to remove the video below of Jason Beghe explaining why he left the church and how actors like Tom Cruise and John Travolta allegedly believe that they are now a new species. At the same time, the Internet has seen an explosion of videos alleging highly abusive uses of copyright laws by Scientology lawyers to harass and search leading critics. Continue reading “Scientology Accused of Pressuring Removal of YouTube Video and Abusive Searches of the Homes of Critics”