We previously discussed the wisdom of Brazil spending billions on the 2016 Olympics when its country was struggling with serious economic and social problems including rampant corruption. Now, in a loss for the entire world, Rio de Janeiro’s 200-year-old National Museum has been reportedly gutted in a catastrophic fire. According to reports, the museum has begged the federal government for funding of the aging building, including the need for a fire prevention system. Continue reading “Rio Spends Billions On Olympics . . . Then National Museum Burns Due To Lack Of an Adequate Fire Prevention System”
If Paul Manafort needed any further indication of his rapidly reducing future, it came in a new filing in New York last week. No it was not Special Counsel Robert Mueller, it was his daughter Jessica Manafort, 36, who wants now to be known as Jessica Bond. Continue reading “The Name Is Bond, Jess Bond . . . And Definitely Not Manafort”
A curious thing happened this Labor Day weekend when one of Robert Mueller’s most recent cooperating witnesses may have burst into flames on national television – but no one seemed to notice. Former Republican lobbyist and Paul Manafort associate, Sam Patten, only pleaded guilty on Friday, but on Sunday a world leader leveled a serious allegation of criminal conduct committed after his plea bargain. Obviously, this is only one side and Patten could well deny either the email or its meaning. However, the implications of the allegations aired on national television are very serious not only for Patten but Mueller. Update: a complaint has now reportedly been made to the FBI. Continue reading “Mueller Witness Accused Of Blackmailing World Leader After Plea Agreement [Updated]”
Below is my column in The Hill newspaper on the departure of White House Counsel Don McGahn. Trump is now strongly suggesting that he may allow Attorney General Jeff Sessions to remain but only until after the approaching November elections. At that point, the situation could change rapidly and dangerously with a divided Congress. With the expected departure of both McGahn and Sessions, the next chapter appears a paraphrase of Dick the Butcher in Henry VI ”The first thing we do, let’s kill fire all the lawyers.” Obviously, much will depend on their replacements but Sessions’ removal (and the reason for the removal) is far more problematic. Continue reading “In Search Of The “Happier Prospect”: Trump Moves Toward The Removal Of McGahn and Sessions”
In San Antonio, a man appeared intent on answering the most obvious question of “ax versus train.” He found out when his ax bounced off the train and injured him. Continue reading “Man Throws Ax At Train . . . Train Wins”
As I always do, I watched my Chicago Cubs play last night against the Phillies. In the Eighth inning with the game all but over with a 5-1 Cubs lead, a curious thing happened. Third base umpire Joe West came out as Addison Russell was batting. He called out Phillies pitcher Austin Davis for something that was not clear — something that brought out manager Gabe Kapler. It turned out that Davis was using a crib sheet or scouting card and pulled it out to check out the stats on Russell who was brought in to pinch hit for Kyle Schwarber. That was in violation Rule 6.02(c)(7) and the sheet was taken away. Now, the Phillies are seeing a convoluted way to try to negate the one-sided loss. It is my dream come true: law has finally made it into an actual baseball game. Before I address the legal issue, I simply want to repeat my willingness to suit up as the Cubs pinch lawyer to call all future legal hits, strikes, and balls. Since I am already responsible for winning the 2016 World Series (and I clearly already have a uniform), I think that this is a signing that needs to happen this season. Joe Maddon, I am ready to start as the designated lawyer. Send me in, coach.
Continue reading “Foul Play: Phillies Protest Decision Not To Expel Its Own Pitcher[Updated]”
According to filings in federal court, former campaign adviser George Papadopoulos claims Donald Trump approved his proposal of a meeting with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin ahead of the 2016 presidential election. I still do not see that effort as particularly sinister or incriminating. Bach channels have long been established in politics. What is most notable is that he states that Attorney General Jeff Sessions also approved the trip. That fact only reaffirms the clearly correct decision that Sessions made to recuse himself despite the President continued attacks on Sessions. Indeed, the account of the Papadopoulos testimony could conflict with Sessions’ testimony before Congress – making recusal all but inevitable. Continue reading “Papadopoulos Claims Trump and Sessions Approved His Outreach To The Russians”
Joseph Sireci, 47, in St. Lucie County, Fla., is facing a curious charge after he was arrested and alleged to have given his girlfriend a “wet willy.” The incident occurred after Sireci allegedly spent a day drinking and acting in a belligerent fashion. Continue reading “Florida Man Charged With Giving Girlfriend Wet Willy”
Brown University is under fire this week for an act of censorship that undermines its status as a leading academic institution. The university removed an article discussing a peer-reviewed article that ran in PLOS One by Lisa Littman, an assistant professor in behavioral sciences at Brown. The article discusses “rapid-onset gender dysphoria” and how this transition toward transgender status is influenced by social media and online videos. That nexus was immediately flagged by activists as not fitting the narrative that such gender decisions are predetermined and pressure was put on Brown University to act. Bess Marcus, dean of Brown’s School of Public Health, explained that the article was removed because ” the study could be used to discredit efforts to support transgender youth and invalidate the perspectives of members of the transgender community.” Instead, Marcus and the university discredited its entire academic institution by engaging in censorship and attacking academic freedom principles. Rather than simply allowing an opposing academic viewpoint to be heard, the university removed a story on research by popular demand. Continue reading “Brown Under Fire After Censoring Article On Research Because It “Might Invalidate The Perspectives Of The Transgender Community””
We recently discussed the latest destruction of a statue in North Carolina and I expressed my skepticism over the inaction of police as well as the absence of significant arrests for a crime committed openly in public while surrounded by officers. Now, WRAL-TV obtained text messages and emails that showed Chapel Hill Police Chief Chris Blue actually ordered his officers to back off as protesters were destroying a century-old statue. Continue reading “Report: Chapel Hill Police Chief Ordered Officers To Stay Back As Protesters Tore Down Confederate Statue”
Kenneth Ray Couch, 35,has been accused of a curious crime where he allegedly faked a heart attack to get away from a crime scene and then went straight to the hospital cafeteria to grab a bite to eat.
CNN is facing rising questions over its refusal to correct its earlier bombshell story entitled “Cohen Claims Trump Knew In Advance Of 2016 Trump Tower Meeting.” As I discussed recently, Cohen’s attorney Lanny Davis now admits that he was the anonymous source for that story (after publicly denying that he was the source) and that he has no information to support the allegation. Cohen himself testified to Congress that he had no such information. One would think that the denial of both Cohen and his lawyer (and original source) would alter that story that “Cohen claims Trump knew . . . ” CNN however says that it had multiple sources for the story and sticks with the reporting by Jim Sciutto, Carl Bernstein and Marshall Cohen. Continue reading “CNN Sticks With Story That Cohen Alleges Trump Knew Of Trump Tower Meeting Despite Cohen and His Lawyer Denying The Story”
Below is my column in The Hill newspaper on the recent admission by Michael Cohen’s lawyer that he was the source on what appears a false story on the meeting at Trump Tower with Russians and Trump officials. Davis also admitted that he lied to the media in denying that he was the source of the story. It may be too early to predict the demise of Davis. We discussed earlier the controversy surrounding former CNN commentator and DNC official Donna Brazile lied to the public about being the author of hacked emails giving Hillary Clinton debate questions in advance. She is back as a commentator on various networks.
Here is the column: Continue reading “Lanny Davis And The Year Of Lawyers Living Dangerously”
This week represented a milestone for California in the criminal justice system when Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday signed legislation eliminating cash bail in the state. Starting in October 2019, a system of risk assessment will replace cash bail — a move deemed more fair to defendants with little ability to pay bail.