Mark Barnett of Florida, has been arrested for allegedly plotting to place 10 explosive devices inside Target stores along the East Coast, beginning in the Syracuse area. Mark C. Barnett, 48, of Ocala, was charged with possession of a firearm affecting commerce by a previously convicted felon, according to the Department of Justice.
Category: Criminal Defense Law
County officials launch campaign for sales tax
Chief Jon Belmar speaks at the Prop P kickoff event last week, surrounded by police officers and officials including county Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch, County Executive Steve Stenger and Deputy Chief Ken Cox. Photo by Gloria Lloyd.
UNC to reveal FATCA position
The Opposition United National Congress intends to meet in caucus to take a final decision on its position on the Foreign Accounts Tax Compliance Act ahead to today’s meeting of the Lower House of Parliament to discuss the report of the Joint Select Committee on FATCA. Political leader of the United National Congress, Opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar told the T&T Guardian that the party had taken no final decision on what its position would be regarding the Tax Information Exchange Agreements Bill.
Supreme Court nominee has defended free speech, religion
Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch has been a defender of free speech and a skeptic of libel claims, an Associated Press review of his rulings shows. His record puts him at odds with President Donald Trump’s disdain for journalists and tendency to lash out at critics.
FEC Commissioner to Trump: Prove Voter Fraud
A commissioner on the Federal Elections Commission called on President Trump to give proof of voter fraud, after he reportedly made further claims in a meeting with senators. Trump reportedly blamed voter fraud for why both he and former Sen. Kelly Ayotte lost in New Hampshire last November during a recent meeting with a bipartisan group of senators.
CCW Weekend: How To Search For A Self Defense Lawyer
If you’re going to have a gun in the home, or carry in a gun holster for defense of yourself, then you had better be prepared for what happens AFTER the shot. Some people have fantasies in their head about how they shall nobly shooteth the bad man, be feted by the press, get a garland of roses, a victory parade and many other accolades.
Elections official asks Trump for evidence of voter fraud
A member of the Federal Election Commission on Friday called on President Donald Trump to share any evidence he has to support a statement that voter fraud caused him and former Senator Kelly Ayotte to lose in New Hampshire in the 2016 U.S. election, Reuters reported. “The scheme the President of the United States alleges would constitute thousands of felony criminal offenses under New Hampshire law,” FEC Commissioner Ellen Weintraub said in a statement.
New orders by Trump make law and order a key priority
With Jeff Sessions sworn in as the nation’s attorney general, the Trump administration signaled some of its priorities for a revamped Justice Department in a series of executive orders aimed at reducing crime and drug trafficking and protecting police officers. One executive order announced Thursday directs the Justice Department to define new federal crimes, and increase penalties for existing ones, to further protect local and federal officers from acts of violence.
FEC commissioner to Trump: Show voter fraud evidence
A commissioner on the Federal Elections Commission says President Trump should provide evidence if he believes voter fraud cost former Sen. Kelly Ayotte FEC commissioner to Trump: Show voter fraud evidence Trump: Ayotte would have won Senate reelection if not for voter fraud Spicer: Trump has ‘no regrets’ over criticism of judges MORE Trump reportedly blamed voter fraud for why both he and Ayotte lost in New Hampshire last November during a recent meeting with a bipartisan group of senators. “The scheme the President of the United States alleges would constitute thousands of felony criminal offenses under New Hampshire law,” Ellen Weintraub said in a statement Friday.
FILE – In this Sunday, July 10, 2016 file photo, an FBI evidence…
In this Sunday, July 10, 2016 file photo, an FBI evidence response team works the crime scene, where five Dallas police officers were killed Thursday, in Dallas. As it swore in Jeff Sessions on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, as the nation’s attorney general, the Trump administration signaled some of its priorities for a revamped Justice Department in a series of executive orders aimed at reducing crime and drug trafficking, and protecting police officers.
FBI admits no arrest warrant signed when Duane Ehmer was arrested, contrary to agent’s testimony
FBI agents admit in court papers that they had no arrest warrant at the time they took Duane Ehmer into custody at a checkpoint outside the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge on Jan. 27, 2016, contrary to an agent’s testimony earlier this week. It wasn’t until the day after Ehmer’s arrest that a federal magistrate judge signed a criminal complaint against Ehmer based on an FBI agent’s probable cause affidavit.
Sessions Confirmed as Attorney General After Bitter Fight
Jeff Sessions, as attorney general after more than a day of contentious debate that took an unusual turn when Republicans silenced Democratic Senator Donald Trump’s Cabinet-level picks, a process that has dragged on as Democrats use delaying tactics but aren’t able to thwart the president’s choices. In more than 30 straight hours of debate, Democrats said the Republican from Alabama won’t be independent enough from Trump and won’t protect voting rights and civil rights.
Washington lawyer charged with trying to sell sealed lawsuit
A Washington lawyer from a major law firm was wearing a wig as a disguise when he was arrested last week trying to sell a copy of a secret lawsuit against a California technology security company for $310,000, according to a criminal complaint. Jeffrey Wertkin, a former U.S. Justice Department trial attorney who joined Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP as a partner last year, was charged in the complaint filed in federal court in San Francisco made public on Tuesday.
Bias-crimes sentencing bill advances
LaGrange Republican Sen. Sue Glick’s effort doesn’t create a separate crime as some states do.
Sedgwick County sheriff, jail are following the law
Extending the holding time of people in jail is illegal without a criminal charge, warrant or court order. And doing so exposes jails to lawsuits.
new Howard County debates becoming a sanctuarya county
Despite an executive order signed by President Donald Trump that threatens to pull federal funding from local governments that protect undocumented immigrants, Howard County in Maryland is set to make a controversial move related to the matter Monday. The Howard County Council plans to vote on whether to label the county a “sanctuary” jurisdiction that promises to shield and protect undocumented immigrants from federal law.
Your View: Civic groups oppose sheriff’s immigration decisions
Representatives of the undersigned community, religious, and labor organizations want to see Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson do the following: – Drop the proposal to send prisoners from the Bristol County House of Corrections to build President Trump’s wall at the Mexican border. - Rescind his agreement with Immigration Customs and Enforcement that will enable him to enforce federal immigration law to the detriment of residents here under the Department of Homeland Security’s 287 program.
Meet the Bush-appointed federal judge who halted Trump’s executive order
“The amicus law professors,” Robart said Friday, noting the many groups that waited in his Seattle courtroom to argue for or against a motion to halt President Donald Trump’s travel ban. “Sounds like the three amigos.”
Budget, teacher pay, Real ID face 2017 Oklahoma Legislature
Oklahoma lawmakers will be confronted by familiar issues Monday when they convene the 2017 Oklahoma Legislature: a nearly $870 million state budget shortfall, teacher salaries that have not been increased since 2008, complying with a divisive federal anti-terrorism law involving identification cards and relieving pressure on the state’s overcrowded prisons. Leaders of the Republican-controlled House and Senate say they will focus on their priorities during the four-month legislative session.
Arkansas’ latest anti-abortion law has a little bit of everything for misogynists
The “Unborn Child Protection From Dismemberment Abortion Act,” signed into law last week by Gov. Asa Hutchinson , bans dilation and evacuation procedures, in which the physician removes the fetus from the womb with surgical tools. D&E procedures are the safest and most common way women can end their pregnancies after 14 weeks of gestation, according to the American Medical Association.
Texas legislators seek funding ban for ‘sanctuary cities’
Gov. Greg Abbott talks with Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly before a briefing on border security Wednesday Feb. 1, 2017 at the Texas Department of Public Safety regional headquarters in Weslaco, Texas. Secretary Kelly and Abbott toured the Texas border with Mexico in a helicopter following the briefing.
California lawmakers eye immigration measures to fight Trump
Democrats in the California Senate ramped up their fight Tuesday against President Donald Trump, advancing bills that would create a statewide sanctuary for people in the country illegally, provide money to pay lawyers for immigrants facing deportation and hamper any attempt to create a Muslim registry. The moves in the nation’s largest state – home to an estimated 2.3 million immigrants without legal authorization – came days after Trump launched his crackdown on immigration and sanctuary cities across the nation.
Who is Sally Yates? Meet the acting attorney general Trump fired for…
Acting attorney general Sally Quillian Yates, a longtime prosecutor from Atlanta, began her tenure as an Obama appointee two years ago by saying that pursuing justice was more important to her than bringing federal cases in court. “We’re not the Department of Prosecutions or even the Department of Public Safety,” Yates said in May, 2015, the week after she was confirmed as Deputy Attorney General, the second-highest ranking position in the Justice Department.
Who is Jeff Sessions? Alabama Senator is poised to be Attorney General in Trump administration
The Senate Judiciary Committee will meet today to decide on the nomination of Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions to become the next U.S. Attorney General. The vote comes as the White House faces what could be a series of challenges over its controversial immigration order and just a day after President Donald Trump fired acting Attorney General Sally Yates after she refused to defend his directive.
Trump’s Immigration Crackdown is Dangerous for Workers
Relatives and supporters, left, of Swift & Co. meat processing plant workers, face off with Immigration Police at the entrance of a Swift & Co.
Logs: Trump supporters targeted nearly as much as Hillary Clinton backers
Contrary to expectations, state Attorney General Maura Healey’s hate crime hotline drew nearly as many complaints from backers of President Trump as it did from Hillary Clinton supporters in the first two weeks after the election, a Herald review found – with some using the phone number to troll Healey about her proposed assault weapons ban. Records for the first two weeks, released in response to a Herald request, show 21 complaints from people reporting threats or harassment from Trump supporters, while 15 people called to report incidents targeting Trump supporters, a review showed.
Trump administration expected to keep cracking down on nursing home fraud
Fraud within the skilled nursing sector is expected to remain a focus of the Department of Justice under President Donald Trump, according to experts. Attorneys and former DOJ officials interviewed by Bloomberg BNA predicted that the new administration is likely to preserve several Obama-era policies in place.
Sunday Toons of the Orwellian Moment
Scientists warn of nukes, climate change and Trump. So do we. Also: Bannon tells press to ‘keep its mouth shut’ and still more dangerous ‘voter fraud’ bufoonery from the Liar-in-Chief… It begins: Trump re-launches controversial pipelines, imposes lock downs on science- based federal agencies; PLUS: New US Amb.
Bathroom bill’ repeal in doubt
North Carolina’s governor says there are enough votes to kill the state’s ”bathroom bill,” but a survey shows less than a third of lawmakers are willing to publicly commit to that stance. Only 12 of 50 state senators and 40 of 118 House members said they support abolishing the law, nearly all of them Democrats.
U.S. brings charges over Ponzi scheme, ‘Hamilton’ tickets fraud
U.S. authorities on Friday unveiled criminal charges against two men accused of helping operate a hedge fund as a Ponzi scheme and of swindling investors in a ticket-reselling business for popular events, including the smash Broadway musical “Hamilton.” Joseph Meli, who ran the ticket business, and Steven Simmons, the head of an alternative investments at Sideris Capital Partners, were arrested on Friday on securities fraud and wire fraud charges brought by Manhattan federal prosecutors.
‘Fatal Vision’ doctor claims innocence in family’s slaying
A former Army surgeon who has always insisted he was wrongly convicted of slaughtering his pregnant wife and their two young daughters nearly 50 years ago won’t give up, even if his latest appeal fails to clear his name, his lawyer says. Jeffrey MacDonald is “going to keep fighting and will continue to maintain his innocence until the end of his days,” Attorney Hart Miles said after a hearing at the 4th U.S. District Court of Appeals on Thursday.
Verizon Seen Winning Approval for Charter With Trump in Power
A Verizon Communications Inc. takeover of Charter Communications Inc. could probably win the blessing of regulators in Washington, where the new Republican administration may be warm to deals, lawyers and analysts say.
What Are the Possible Motives Behind Donald Trump’s Voter Fraud Lie?
By “propagating the myth of his stolen popular vote,” Trump has attacked both the democratic process and the press, which, in its ideal, is free and independent, writes Amherst College law professor Lawrence Douglas at The Guardian. “The impulse to heap all of Trump’s lies together or to puzzle over his unusual psychology threatens a to deflect our attention from the politics of this particular claim, which contains two separate falsehoods: first, that immigrants robbed him of the popular vote; and second, that the media has conspired to suppress the story.
Why police worry about Trump’s ‘sanctuary cities’ crackdown
President Trump’s call for police to help crack down on illegal immigration might be seen as a clear nod to law and order. But many police aren’t seeing it that way.
Ballot selfies one step closer to legalization
House Bill 1014 would allow people to take selfies with their completed ballot and share it on social media, which proponents say would encourage voting and allow the exercise of First Amendment rights. “Believe it or not showing someone your completed ballot and taking a photo of it and posting it on social media is currently a crime in Colorado,” said Democratic Rep. Paul Rosenthal of Denver and Republican Rep. Dave Williams of Colorado Springs.
‘UNBELIEVABLE’ Secret Service vet shocked agent won’t die for Trump
“It is unheard of and unbelievable that someone at her level would comment publicly on being unwilling to protect the president,” said Byrne, author of “Crisis of Character,” a book that came out during the presidential campaign that was highly critical of Hillary Clinton. “Everyone has their own personal political opinions, but this job is not personal.
Draft White House order calls for review of both CIA interrogation…
The CIA could potentially restart an interrogation program that was dismantled in 2009 after using methods widely condemned as torture. An executive order drafted by the Trump administration calls for a policy review that could authorize the CIA to reopen “black site” prisons overseas and potentially restart an interrogation program that was dismantled in 2009 after using methods widely condemned as torture.
Drug Dealer Goes Free: DEA Illegally Tracked Cell Phone
Agents with Drug Enforcement Administration illegally located Raymond Lambis’ cellphone, then arrested him for drug possession. Thanks to a resounding victory handed down in court by New York Federal Judge William H. Pauley who delivered a scathing ruling that the Fourth Amendment against ‘unreasonable search and seizure’ had been violated by agents in Lambis’ cocaine case.
Anti-immigration groups are troubled that Trump backed off pledge to deport Dreamers
Immigration hawks are pressuring President Donald Trump to stick by his pledge to end legal protections for some 750,000 immigrants who came to the U.S. illegally as children, while the immigrants themselves are cautiously relieved that he appears to be backing off. Trump promised on the campaign trail to “terminate immediately” a program started by President Barack Obama to temporarily protect these young people from deportation and offer them two-year renewable work permits.
Trumpcare’s Cruel Magic ThinkingBy David Cay Johnston
On day one of his presidency, President Donald Trump took over ownership of the mess that is America’s healthcare system. Both politically and practically Trump’s action placed full responsibility for improving on the Affordable Care Act , aka Obamacare, on his administration and the Republican-controlled Congress.