Crime has spiked in Washington, DC, in recent months after Biden-appointed United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, Matthew Graves, refused to prosecute 67 percent of those arrested who would have been put on trial in the D.C. Superior Court, according to 2022 District statistics. Among those Graves declined to prosecute were some 52 percent of all felony arrests, along with 72 percent of misdemeanor arrests, the U.S. Attorney’s Office Annual Statistical Reports revealed. Graves, who was nominated by President Joe Biden on July 26, 2021, and confirmed on October 28, 2021, admitted to the Washington Post the lack of prosecutions has mostly applied to those arrests for gun possession, drug possession, and burglaries. He said he mostly prosecutes those who were charged with homicides, armed car-jackings, assaults with intent to kill, and first-degree sexual assault cases. As the Biden crime wave surges across the nation, police say a father was fatally shot … [Read more...] about Biden-Appointed DA Declined to Prosecute 67% of Those Arrested in DC
Arrested for protesting
Donald Trump’s bizarre Alvin Bragg baseball bat “threat” explanation
Donald Trump has denied he incited violence to be carried out against Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg in one of his recent Truth Social posts, blaming the outrage on "fake news media." On March 23, Trump shared an article on Truth Social that used an image of the former president holding a baseball bat next to a photo of Bragg, the prosecutor leading the Stormy Daniels hush money investigation in which the Republican faces a potentially historic indictment and arrest over. Hours later, Trump warned on Truth Social of the potential for "death and destruction" should Bragg's investigation result in a criminal charge against the former president, leading to accusations that Trump is inciting his supporters to carry out attacks and violent disorder with his social media activity. In an interview with Sean Hannity on Monday, the Fox News host asked Trump why he would "open yourself up to criticism" with his Truth Social posts. Trump said that he was unaware that … [Read more...] about Donald Trump’s bizarre Alvin Bragg baseball bat “threat” explanation
Obamacare Keeps Winning
The government benefits began their existence as objects of partisan rancor and harsh criticism. Eventually, though, they became so popular that politicians of both parties promised to protect them. It was true of Social Security and Medicare. And now the pattern seems to be repeating itself with Obamacare. Consider what has happened recently in North Carolina: Only a decade after the state’s Republican politicians described the law as dangerous and refused to sign up for its expansion of Medicaid, Republicans and Democrats came together to pass such an expansion . The Republican-controlled House in North Carolina passed the bill 87 to 24, while the Republican-controlled Senate passed it 44 to 2. “Wow, have things changed,” Jonathan Cohn wrote in a HuffPost piece explaining how the turnabout happened . Obamacare — the country’s largest expansion of health insurance since Medicare and Medicaid in 1965 — is still not as widely accepted as those programs. North Carolina … [Read more...] about Obamacare Keeps Winning
Reparations for Black Californians could top $800 billion
SAN FRANCISCO — It could cost California more than $800 billion to compensate Black residents for generations of over-policing, disproportionate incarceration and housing discrimination, economists have told a state panel considering reparations. The preliminary estimate is more than 2.5 times California’s $300 billion annual budget, and does not include a recommended $1 million per older Black resident for health disparities that have shortened their average life span. Nor does the figure count compensating people for property unjustly taken by the government or devaluing Black businesses, two other harms the task force says the state perpetuated. Black residents may not receive cash payments anytime soon, if ever, because the state may never adopt the economists’ calculations. The reparations task force is scheduled to discuss the numbers Wednesday and can vote to adopt the suggestions or come up with its own figures. The proposed number comes from a consulting team of five … [Read more...] about Reparations for Black Californians could top $800 billion
King and Queen Consort arrive in Berlin for first state visit
The King and Queen Consort are in Germany - the first state visit since the start of the new monarch's reign. The couple arrived at Berlin's Brandenburg Airport at about 1pm UK time, and visited the Brandenburg Gate, the first time the landmark has been used to welcome any visiting head of state. Day one of their three-day tour in one of the EU's leading nations will also include a state dinner with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The King took time to greet individuals who were waiting at the gate and spoke to a group of girls who had recently visited London, and a schoolchild who he asked: "No school today?" The King will head to the Presidential Palace, where he will learn what Germany is doing to support Ukraine, and address the German parliament, speaking in both English and German. It is rumoured that some of the King's German cousins have been invited to attend the event. One of these relatives include Prince Donatus of Hesse, who dined with the late Queen … [Read more...] about King and Queen Consort arrive in Berlin for first state visit
Trump lawyer claims hush money probe is “dead” as investigation continues
A lawyer for Donald Trump has claimed the hush money investigation into him is "dead," one week from the day the former president claimed he would be arrested as part of the probe. Trump attorney Lindsey Halligan told Newsmax that the "weak" case against the former president is ending with no indictment for the Republican. Halligan's claim appeared to be more of a suggestion rather than an indication from authorities, adding that if Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg 's inquiry is not "dead" then "it should be." Trump made an uncorroborated claim that he would be arrested in New York on Tuesday, March 21 , as part of the investigation into whether the $130,000 he arranged to be paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels to keep an alleged affair the pair had a secret before the 2016 election amounted to a campaign violation. Trump has denied any wrongdoing, and denies having an affair with Daniels in 2006. It is widely believed that a grand jury in New York who have … [Read more...] about Trump lawyer claims hush money probe is “dead” as investigation continues
Grand jury schedule sparks new speculation about Trump indictment
Former President Donald Trump is facing a possible indictment in connection with his involvement in an alleged hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 campaign. Close attention is on the Manhattan grand jury's schedule in the case, with speculation growing that an indictment could come this week. However, in Florida the Palm Beach County state attorney said that people are reading too much into the grand jury's schedule. A Manhattan grand jury considering evidence related to Donald Trump 's alleged hush money payment to an adult film star won't meet Wednesday , which has generated online speculation about when a possible indictment could be issued. The former president has been investigated by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg in the case, which concerns a payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels of $130,000 during Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. Trump has denied all the allegations, including Daniels' claim that they had an … [Read more...] about Grand jury schedule sparks new speculation about Trump indictment
How victim’s brother in Adnan Syed case turned trial upside down
The Adnan Syed case, popularized by the podcast Serial , has been forever changed thanks to an appeal launched by the victim's brother. Syed was convicted of the murder of his then-girlfriend Hae Min Lee, who died in January 1999. He was found guilty of a number of charges in 2000 and sentenced to life in prison plus 30 years, though he always maintained his innocence. In 2014, the murder of Min Lee and Syed's trial was the subject of the first season of the podcast Serial . Eventually, new evidence in the case was unearthed and by September 2022 all charges against Syed had been dropped . A court in Maryland recently reinstated the murder conviction of Syed, but the ruling suggests Syed will not remain convicted for long, as another hearing is needed to remove the reinstatement. The conviction was reinstated after the victim's brother, Young Lee, filed an appeal in December 2022, arguing that prosecutors violated a state law requiring them to give sufficient notice of … [Read more...] about How victim’s brother in Adnan Syed case turned trial upside down
Amsterdam tells British men who want a ‘messy night’ to ‘stay away’ from the city
Amsterdam has launched a digital campaign telling British tourists who want a "messy night" to "stay away". The online initiative is aimed at men aged 18 to 35, warning they face a fine alongside a criminal record and "fewer prospects" if they "misbehave and cause nuisance" in the Dutch city . The warning videos will be triggered when people in Britain enter specific terms into search engines, including "cheap hotel Amsterdam", "stag party Amsterdam", and "pub crawl Amsterdam". Footage shows men being arrested in the street, having their fingerprints and mugshots taken, and being locked in a police cell. The clip warns: "So coming to Amsterdam for a messy night? Stay away." The city's council has launched the scheme as part of efforts to improve Amsterdam's reputation amid continuing complaints by residents over the noise, drunkenness and misbehaviour. Deputy Mayor Sofyan Mbarki said: "Visitors will remain welcome but not if they misbehave and cause nuisance. … [Read more...] about Amsterdam tells British men who want a ‘messy night’ to ‘stay away’ from the city
Chun Doo Hwan grandson heads straight to Gwangju after release
Chun Woo-won speaks to reportrers after being released from police custody at the Seoul Mapo Police Station on Wednesday. [YONHAP] Chun Woo-won, grandson of former president Chun Doo Hwan, immediately left for Gwangju on his release from police custody on Wednesday. He said he will continue to apologize to the people of Gwangju regarding the atrocity committed by his grandfather during the pro-democracy uprising in 1980. “There is a low possibility that my family will cooperate,” Chun said regarding his family member confessing to the various crimes that he had accused recently through his Instagram and YouTube videos. “They will try to hide whatever crime that they had committed,” Chun said in front of the Seoul Mapo Police Station surrounded by reporters. “And I will apology for my family. “I thank the citizens of Gwangju for accepting this sinner.” He said he decided to expose the dark secrets of his family and close friends including the hidden wealth, drug abuses and … [Read more...] about Chun Doo Hwan grandson heads straight to Gwangju after release