All articles tagged with #prosecutions
Donald Trump called for investigations and prosecutions of Democrats and celebrities like Beyoncé, Oprah, and others, claiming they illegally received payments for endorsements, though fact-checkers found no evidence supporting these claims.
Donald Trump falsely accused Democrats of leaking an intelligence report about US strikes on Iran's nuclear sites, calling for prosecutions, while officials defended the strikes' success and denied evidence of uranium removal. The article also covers various political and legal developments, including Senate rulings, vaccine panel decisions, and legislative challenges.
Investigations and prosecutions in swing states such as Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Arizona, and Wisconsin are gaining ground as charges have been brought against individuals who posed as electors for Donald Trump in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election results. The cases focus on the deployment of fake electors and highlight divisions among Trump advisers, with some cases even bringing charges against Mr. Trump himself and his advisers.
Fujitsu has issued a formal apology for its involvement in the wrongful prosecutions of Post Office workers, acknowledging its role in providing the flawed Horizon IT system. The company expressed deep regret and promised to learn from the experience, as it faces ongoing scrutiny and legal action related to the scandal.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case that will determine whether the government can charge defendants involved in the Capitol attack under a federal law that makes it a crime to obstruct an official congressional proceeding. The ruling could impact the prosecution of former President Donald Trump and hundreds of others charged in connection with the January 6th assault. The decision may delay Trump's trial and potentially limit efforts to hold him accountable for the violence. It could also invalidate convictions already secured against rioters. Defense lawyers argue that the obstruction charge has been overused and improperly applied to the Capitol attack. The Supreme Court's ruling, expected in June, could have significant implications for the ongoing cases.
San Francisco has experienced a significant decrease in car break-ins following an aggressive crackdown on thefts, including the use of bait cars, plainclothes officers, and video surveillance. Between September and November, the city recorded 3,399 smash-and-grab reports, compared to 6,703 during the same period in 2022. The drop in crime has been attributed to targeted police efforts, vigorous prosecutions, and a hard-line messaging approach. City leaders and law enforcement officials hope that the decline in auto burglaries will continue.
The Attorney General's office in Michigan has officially ended its pursuit of criminal prosecutions related to the Flint water crisis, after seven years without any convictions. This decision comes after the Michigan Supreme Court rejected an attempt to revive charges against former Governor Rick Snyder. The prosecution team, led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Fadwa Hammoud and Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, stated that the Flint water cases are now "closed." The Supreme Court's decisions were based on procedural flaws rather than the merits of the prosecution. A full report on the prosecutorial efforts will be released in 2024.
Former Trump campaign lawyer Sidney Powell's guilty plea in the Georgia election subversion case will have significant implications for ongoing state and federal prosecutions against Donald Trump. Powell's plea deal requires her to testify truthfully against her co-defendants, including Trump himself. This breakthrough for prosecutors could potentially hurt Trump's defense and implicate others who worked with Powell to overturn the election. Powell's admissions could also strengthen defamation allegations against right-wing media figures and provide new evidence for federal investigators. Additionally, Powell's status as an unindicted co-conspirator in Trump's federal indictment puts her at risk of potential federal charges.
Attorney General Merrick Garland discussed the process behind the federal prosecutions of former President Donald Trump and explained that the timing of the investigations is determined by the evidence and not influenced by partisan considerations. Garland also addressed the special counsel investigations into President Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, emphasizing that he has not interfered with the investigations and has committed to providing the necessary resources. He reiterated that he is not the president's lawyer and would resign if asked to take action regarding the Trump investigation. Garland emphasized the importance of trust in the Department of Justice's longstanding rules and norms.
As criminal cases against former President Donald Trump move forward, there is growing concern about threats and potential violence from his supporters. Law enforcement authorities, judges, and elected officials have reported receiving harassment and threats, prompting increased security measures. The indictments against Trump have been identified as a significant driver of political violence, with some individuals believing that the use of force is justified to restore him to the presidency. While there is debate about the extent of the increase in support for violence, scholars and experts warn about the potential for lone-wolf attacks or riots fueled by the heated rhetoric. The Justice Department has charged several individuals with making threats, and there have been instances of political violence against Republicans in the past. Critics place blame on Trump for his aggressive language and his followers' willingness to engage in violence, while others emphasize the need to mobilize opposition to political violence and protect democratic institutions.
More than a dozen people have been charged by a justice department unit for threatening election workers, as violent and graphic threats against those who count and secure the vote continue to rise. Experts attribute the increase in threats to false claims by Donald Trump and his allies about the 2020 election being stolen. The justice department hopes that these prosecutions will deter others from making similar threats, but experts fear that the situation could worsen in the 2024 election. The taskforce has filed 14 cases so far, resulting in two prison sentences, and more guilty pleas are expected. However, there is concern that there haven't been enough prosecutions and states haven't taken sufficient action to protect election workers.
Former Alaska governor and Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin warned that a second US civil war is "going to happen" if state and federal authorities continue to prosecute former President Donald Trump. Speaking to right-wing network Newsmax, Palin expressed frustration with what she sees as a two-tier system of justice and suggested that continued prosecutions could lead to violent conflict. Trump currently faces multiple criminal charges and investigations related to election subversion, defamation, and business affairs. Experts have previously warned of the potential for Trump to incite violence, and Palin's remarks reflect growing concerns about political extremism within the Republican Party.
Threatening emails and social media posts have become the new normal for elections officials in Arizona, especially those in swing states such as Maricopa County. Since the county became a frequent target in 2020 after Trump lost both it and the state, the county has worked to catalogue and respond to threats to protect its employees and try to hold the people making these threats accountable, creating one of the most robust threat monitoring and response systems in the nation. The number of threats against Maricopa county elections officials increased in 2022 compared with 2020, though the county improved and perfected the way it catalogued threats, making a direct comparison difficult.
Top House Republicans are considering legislation to protect current and former presidents from "politically motivated prosecutions" in response to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's investigation into former President Trump. The letter is the latest volley in their back-and-forth with Bragg, who has refused to comply with their request for records related to his probe. Republicans have attempted to paint Bragg's actions as an abuse of prosecutorial authority.
The Justice Department has warned Washington, D.C. courts to expect up to 1,200 more prosecutions relating to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riots. This comes in addition to the nearly 1,000 people already arrested for Jan. 6 offenses. Some Republicans, including Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and James Comer, are becoming increasingly vocal in their opposition to prosecutions of Jan. 6 participants and plan to visit Jan. 6 defendants being held in the Washington, D.C., jail in the near future. The DOJ has already prosecuted over 1,000 Jan. 6 participants.