Stolen Valor is Offensive, But Is It A Crime?

We have been following a number of “stolen valor” cases recently on this blog. The crime of falsely claiming medals and military service is all the rage. Even journalists have been implicated as with Darrow “Duke” Tully, publisher of Arizona Republic and close associate to Sen. John McCain. Tully resigned as publisher after it was learned that he did not fly 100 combat missions over Vietnam, crash a fighter in Korea, or receive the Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry. Indeed, he never served at all. Below is today’s column on the subject (which was the subject of this segment of NPR’s Talk of the Nation.
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Question of the Day: What Is Scarier Than An Enraged Rahm Emanuel Poking His Finger In Your Chest?

Answer: A naked enraged Rahm Emanuel poking his finger in your chest while you are taking a shower.

That is what outgoing Rep. Eric Massa (D, NY) says happened when he was taking a shower in the member’s club. Massa says that he was forced out because he planned to vote against the health bill.

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Milwaukee Police Sergeant Sentenced to Eighteen Months for Assault on Handcuffed Suspect

A former Milwaukee County sergeant was sentenced to 18 months in prison for assaulting a handcuffed suspect in a police cruiser. As shown in this video, former Milwaukee County Sergeant Scott Krause punched Ray Calderon several times after he kicked the patrol window and cursed at deputies.

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Got Milk? Inmate Charged With Third Degree Assault For Squirting Breast Milk on Guard

Inmate Toni Tramel will be the subject of new basis for an felonious assault on a prison guard: assault by breast milk. While Tramel claims it was an accident, a guard said that she was squirted in the face by Tramel on purpose when Tramel was being processed for public intoxication.
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Biting the Hand . . . : AIG Transcript Reveals Irate Employees Demanding Bonuses and Mocking The Public Over Bailout

There is a transcript from executives at the American International Group (AIG) that is likely to infuriate many Americans, still smarting over the $165 million in bonuses paid to executives after the huge federal bailout. Statements from a conference call reveal executives who express contempt for the public and bravado in their own business abilities. These include statements from employees hoping that the public loses a trillion dollars and blaming the problems on Congress, and the public rather than their own business decisions.

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Team of Scientists Affirm Giant Asteroid Theory . . . Despite Alleged Miscalculation of 64,994,999 Years

A leading group of scientists have concluded that a single giant asteroid killed off the dinosaurs 65 million years ago — finding overwhelming evidence to support the theory over alternative theories such as a massive earthquake or multiple asteroids. The team, however, failed to include a single creationist who could point out that, since the Earth is only 5000 years old, leading scientists like Sarah Palin have found that they are 64,994,999 years off.

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Loose Canonization: Nun’s Relapse Leaves the Late Pope John Paul II Short a Miracle for Beatification and Eventual Sainthood

It appears that the late Pope John Paul II may be short one miracle. Supporters of an expedited process for sainthood for John Paul suffered a blow this month with the news that accounts of Sister Marie Simon-Pierre’s recovery from Parkinson’s disease may have been premature. Three years ago, the sister explained how she regained her health after a night of prayer to John Paul. That miracle was the basis for the call for rapid canonization.

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West Virginia Woman Claims Trooper Raped Her — and Then Internal Affairs Told Her Not To Tell Alone

A West Virginia woman has accused a West Virginia state trooper of raping her and then internal affairs officers telling her to keep quiet about the crime. She has stated that the cruiser audio system captured part of the trooper’s assault. This is the second rape allegation against a trooper in 18 months.

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New York Times: Scientology Defectors Report Coercion, Beatings, and Threats After Seeking To Leave Church

The New York Times has a striking account today of Scientologists who allegedly faced threats and coercion in seeking to leave the church. Christie King Collbran and her husband, Chris, gave a detailed account of they were effectively raised to serve the ultra-secret Sea Organization, or Sea Org in the Church. After signing a “billion year contract,” they say that they were faced with fines and forced confessions in seeking to break free from the Church.

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International Hit and Run: Romanian Diplomat Flees Singapore After Triple Hit and Run

Romanian diplomat Dr. Silviu Ionescu fled Singapore after allegedly racking up three victims in two separate hit-and-run acidents on Dec. 15, 2009. He was seen fleeing from a black Audi belonging to the Romanian Embassy in Singapore. One of his victims, Tong Wai, 30, died on Christmas Day.

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Taking the Rap: Teenager Arrested for Playing Rap Music Degrading Toward Women

Nathan Michael Wilkie, 19, has a curious rap sheet that now includes the offense of listening to rap. He was charged under a new law for the offense of offensive behavior for listening to music by underground rapper Kid Selzy on his car stereo.

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Overdue and Overexposed: Michigan Police Arrest Man Who Stripped and Stole Children’s Book at Library

The police has arrested the man who was the subject of our prior competition to name the book that a naked man checks out of the library. He is Terrence Miles, 52, and he is accused of striping and stealing children’s book from a local library in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

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