I am often struck by old mugshots in their stark elements. I came across this mugshot recently of opium and cocaine dealer William Stanley Moore from 1926. The standing shot is a particularly gritty shot of a hardened criminal.
On Sunday,Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar joined the growing call for new regulation of Internet speech, including the imposition of fines on sites that fail to remove posters and comments of suspected “bots.” While the true impact of the Russian trolls and bots is being hotly debated (and I admit that I am skeptical), Democrats are calling for measures that worry many of us in the free speech community.
Below is my column in the Hill newspaper on the Gates plea deal and what Special Counsel Robert Mueller could be hoping to achieve beyond sealing the fate of Paul Manafort. In guaranteeing the testimony of Manafort’s close associate, Mueller may have practically limited the options to a plea or a pardon for Manafort. For the moment, Manafort seems more likely to wait for the latter than the former. He chastised his former aide as lacking “the strength to continue the battle to prove our innocence.” Perhaps, but Mueller clearly believes that whatever strength is lacking in Gates as a person will be made up as a witness facing 48-71 months in prison.
Here is the column:
Continue reading “The Gates Plea: Manafort’s Options May Now Run From Plea to Pardon To Prison”
There is an interesting ruling out of Oregon where Charles Hedgpeth was able to successfully challenge his drunk driving charge due to the delay in testing by the arresting officers. Coos County Circuit Judge Richard Barron was reversed in his conviction of Hedgpeth after the Oregon Court of Appeals ruled that the hour and 45 minute delay could have allowed more alcohol to enter his blood in pushing his blood alcohol content (BAC) to .09 — the legal limit is .08. This is a case where time was of the essence for conviction.
Continue reading “Behind The Times: Oregon DUI Conviction Thrown Out Due To Delay In Testing”
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting that a prominent lawyer and an animal shelter volunteer has been arrested in a bizarre bestiality case involving his Labrador Snoopy. Ivan DeVoren, 61, is charged with 10 felony counts of animal cruelty, 10 counts of sexual intercourse with an animal in addition to drug charges. After police found crack cocaine and other drugs in his home, they added possession charges.
DeVoren represents energy companies on regulatory challenges and compliance. He has described himself as a “lawyer and philanthropist” according to Heavy.com.
Continue reading “Prominent Pennsylvania Lawyer Charged With Bestiality”
Sheboygan driver, David Neese had a novel defense (and even more novel solution) to being arrested this month on suspicion of theft: he is an actor and would have to perform before surrendering. Neese, 61, proceeded to speed away from police, who clearly did not appreciate a claim of artistic license. He was charged with felony attempting to flee or elude a traffic officer and misdemeanor resisting an officer.
The father of a Florida teen is in a tough position after turning over the phone of his son in what he thought was an investigation into disturbing images of guns on Instagram and Snapchat. Police however arrested Sean Mesa, 18, a student at Dr. Michael Krop Senior High, not only for the improper display of a firearm but for the more serious change of possession of child pornography based on an examination of the phone.
Breana Rachelle Harmon, 19, has pleaded guilty to filing a false claim that she was kidnapped and raped by three black men Texas. The plea comes after being charged with three felonies and a misdemeanor following her arrest in March 2017.
Continue reading “Texas Woman Pleads Guilty To False Rape Claims”
Colton Haab, a survivor of last week’s mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., has appeared on national television to voice his allegation that CNN tried to get him to read a scripted question at the network’s recent Town Hall event with survivors and leading politicians. The allegation led President Donald Trump to tweet that CNN had been caught in an act of “fake news.” Now however CNN has posted the original email and accused Haab of “doctoring” the emails and lying about its exchange with its producer. If CNN is doctoring the emails (which is unlikely), Haab could sue for defamation. However, the network says that critical language was removed by Haab or his family.
Continue reading “CNN Accuses Florida Student Cited By President As Lying About Scripted Question”
The greatest beneficiary of the Gates plea may not be Rick Gates himself but Tony Podesta, the former head of the Podesta Group and the brother of John Podesta, the former head of the Hillary Clinton campaign. Tony Podesta recently resigned by the Podesta Group and has been cited as one of the Democrats who also engaged in work for Russian-backed interests in the Ukraine. Podesta suddenly registered as a foreign agent in the midst of the Russian investigation. (The Manafort-Gates indictments contained Foreign Agent Registration Act charges). Now, Special Counsel Robert Mueller may have given Podesta legal shelter from any charge in working for the same interests as Manafort and Gates. Buried in the Gates plea agreement is a key section that could have been written by Podesta counsel in establishing a defense to a future charge. While there is still the possibility of charges against Podesta or his former company, the filings strongly suggest that Manafort and Gates knowingly hid both critical facts and sources of payments from two lobbying groups including the Podesta Group. Mueller has been filing “speaking indictments” and these papers notably do not speak to any criminality on the part of Podesta.
This week was the 75th anniversary of a sad but inspiring moment. On this day, Sophia Magdalena Scholl and her brother Hans Scholl were executed by the Nazi regime on February 22, 1943. These young people were part of the White Rose movement of Germans who resisted Adolph Hitler. They put their lives at risk to oppose Hitler and, in giving their lives, stood for those Germans who refused to yield to madness of the Nazis.
The court order for Special Counsel Robert Mueller to share exculpatory evidence with former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn has raised intriguing questions about whether evidence might have been withheld from Flynn before his plea deal. As I stated on air, I do not believe that the issuance of this order by Judge Sullivan should be assumed as evidence of any second thoughts by Flynn. As I state in my column below in The Hill newspaper, I do not see a real option for Flynn in trying to undo his plea deal. However, the disclosure of the evidence could raise questions for Flynn.
Here is the column: Continue reading “Did Mueller Withhold Evidence From Michael Flynn?”
We previously We discussed recent publications by academics arguing that math is a form of white privilege and male domination. Now, Marci Bianco, the communications manager of Stanford University’s Clayman Institute for Gender Research, has found a new manifestation of patriarchy: space exploration. In the article on NBC.com, Bianco declares that “the patriarchal race to colonize Mars is just another example of male entitlement.” The efforts reveals a “Columbusing attitude.” The movie The Martian will now be renamed “The Patriarch.”
Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens is now the state’s chief executive and its most famous accused felon. On Thursday, the Republican governor was indicted for felony invasion of privacy in a truly bizarre affair from 2015. Greitens, 43, is accused of involuntarily restraining a woman in an affair and taking pictures of her naked as leverage over her. The indictment occurs when nude pictures are also being raised in Nashville as possible evidence against the Mayor Megan Barry, who is also embroiled in a scandal over an affair.
Continue reading “Missouri Governor Charged With Felony Invasion of Privacy In Bizarre Affair”
Troy Miller, 46, has a curious defense when stopped as a suspected car thief. He claimed to be actor Matthew McConaughey. The problem is two fold. First, he looks nothing like the actor and second McConaughey is also not allowed to steal cars.
Continue reading ““Matthew McConaughey” Found In Car After Breaking Into Home”