One of the most interesting new disclosures today in the Comey hearing was the admission by former FBI Director James Comey that he intentionally used a “friend” on the Columbia law faculty to leak his memos to the media. Comey says that he did so to force the appointment of a Special Counsel. However, those memos could be viewed as a government record and potential evidence in a criminal investigation.
Continue reading “Did Comey Violate Laws In Leaking The Trump Memo?”
FBI director James Comey is the ice man cometh. Comey’s testimony is the most anticipated in this city since the Anita Hill testimony against Associate Justice Clarence Thomas. In a city where politics is our professional sport of choice, this is the Superbowl and World Series rolled into one. Bars are opening early to allow people to watch in the right atmosphere. The only thing missing is a Vegas betting line and bunting. No doubt children got up this morning screaming “it’s Comey day, it’s Comey day!”
The day however is not necessarily purely festive for Comey who is likely to face some tough questions on his own conduct. He is a seasoned operator in Washington so I expect him to do well, but the stakes are high.
Continue reading “Former FBI Director To Testify Before Congress”
British Prime Minister Theresa May has declared that she is prepared to dispense with human rights laws if they hinder her efforts to fight terrorism. The statement is a chilling example of how politicians are willing to take a hatchet to civil liberties and privacy in response to attacks. The more chilling fact is that many citizens will willingly part with their freedoms based on such promises of greater security. May has already pledged to curtail free speech on the Internet to fight extremists.
A Philadelphia reporter, Colleen Campbell, 28, is not only out of job but perhaps a profession after a video of her berating police officers went viral. Campbell is shown below in cuffs after being removed from the Helium Comedy Club on Sunday night. She was asked to leave for disrupting comedian Craig Robinson by her loud whispering. It then went from bad to worse (Warning: the video below contains foul language)
Continue reading “Philadelphia Reporter Fired After Caught On Videotape Abusing Police”
Donald Trump has made his selection for the replacement of former Director James Comey. He notably did not select an FBI career person but did go with a former Assistant Attorney General. He is Christopher Wray.
It appears that President Donald Trump’s instilled a virtually phobic reaction in former FBI Director James Comey after his allegedly inappropriate pitch to terminate the investigation of former National Security Advisor Micheal Flynn. According to the New York Times, Comey asked Attorney General Jeff Sessions not to leave him alone with Trump. If true, the request for a type of chaperone in the Oval Office would represent a new low for the White House. In the meantime (and equally embarrassing if true), ABC reports that Sessions actually asked Trump if he should resign due to his own deteriorating relationship with the President (who was reportedly still angry at Sessions for recusing himself from the Russian investigation). Notably, the White House declined to say whether Trump still has faith in Sessions at the White House press conference.
Continue reading “Report: Comey Asked Sessions Not To Leave Him Alone With Trump”
One can certainly understand if the media is a tad confused. This week, Presidential Counselor Kellyanne Conway chided media for taking President Donald Trump’s tweets so seriously and denied that tweets are one of his preferred methods of communication. Shortly thereafter White House press secretary Sean Spicer reminded media that Trump’s tweets are “official statements” and thus serious articulations of policy.
Below is my column in The Hill Newspaper on the impact of President Donald Trump’s latest tweets on the pending motion and appeal before the United States Supreme Court. My view expressed in the column is apparently shared by George Conway, the husband of Trump Adviser Kellyanne Conway. He tweeted “These tweets may make some people feel better, but they certainly won’t help (the Office of the Solicitor General) get 5 votes in SCOTUS, which is what actually matters. Sad.” Conway was once believed in line for a position as Assistant Attorney General. He has now decided to stay in private practice. Continue reading “Supreme Court Deliberates As Trump Becomes Witness Against Himself”
The latest data from the California Department of Education indicates that three out of four African-American failed to meet reading and writing standards. We have previously discussed how our schools continue to fail to educate minority students despite large budgetary allotments. The problem is clearly money. I have long advocated more funding but schools must also be held accountable for this appalling performance. These kids are entering society with a huge disadvantage in seeking employment and advancement.
Reality Leigh Winner, of Augusta, Georgia has the unfortunate distinction of being the first leaker caught by the Trump Administration. With members like Jason Chaffetz saying “I want to see people in handcuffs,” the 25-year-old federal contract worker could be facing some serious jail time. In addition, she seems to fulfill the image advanced President Trump as a liberal, anti-Trump advocate within the system. What will be interesting is the sentence sought by the Administration after high-ranking officials have been given no criminal charges or misdemeanors for removing classified information and other related charges.
Continue reading “NSA Contractor Had History Of Anti-Trump Comments”
Albany Law Professor Stephen Clark has taken on case with truly heroic dimensions. Clark has challenged the decision of Alamo Drafthouse to hold showings of the movie Wonder Woman in a female-only event. Clark, 48, has said that as a gay man he is sympathetic with efforts to help disadvantaged groups, but he viewed the event as per se unlawful.
Continue reading “Albany Law Professor Challenges Women-Only Screenings of Wonder Woman”
The NYPD has arrested Saul Nunez, 19, in a brutal and bizarre unprovoked attack. The videotapes show Nunez suddenly attacked Juan Llorens, 90, as the elderly man pushed a cart. The ease and sponteniety of the attack on the video is chilling. Nunez also assaulted a man who bravely stepped forward to stop the attack. Nunez has been charged with two counts of assault and criminal possession of a weapon.
Continue reading “NYPD Arrests Man Shown Beating 90-Year-Old Man”
Susanna Dawn Burhans, 47, allegedly took the whole mailman versus dog rivalry to a highly disturbing extreme. She is accused of feeding meatballs filled with nails to a dog in Madison County, Alabama.
Continue reading “Alabama Postal Worker Charged With Feeding Dogs Nail-Laden Meatballs”
This weekend I discussed how President Donald Trump’s own words had been the primary problem for lawyers seeking to advance his agenda. Trump’s comment and tweets have routinely undermined defenses and alienated allies. The column was prompted by Trump’s London tweets. While discussed for their triggering outrage across the political spectrum in Great Britain, one of the most controversial tweets also contained references to the immigration order as a “travel ban.” It was a remarkably ill-considered tweet. However, on Monday morning, President Trump doubled down and actually attacked his own lawyers at the Justice Department and directly contradicted their position in court. As I mentioned earlier, government counsel must feel like they have a daily Perry Mason moment with their client jumping up in court screaming incriminating things. The only logical conclusion that can be reached is that Trump really does not care if he wins the case. The problem is that there is a large and talented team at the Justice Department that is still laboring under the assumption that the President does want to prevail before the Supreme Court.