Illinois Supreme Court upholds assault weapons ban
The Illinois state Supreme Court on Friday, in a 4-3 ruling, upheld the state’s assault-style weapons ban. Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the bill into law in January. To date nine other states have also banned assault weapons: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Washington. The Illinois law was crafted in […]
Merrick Garland appoints David Weiss special counsel in Hunter Biden case
On Friday, Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed career prosecutor and U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware David Weiss as special counsel to investigate “allegations of certain criminal conduct” by Hunter Biden, the President’s son. Garland said he had notified the designated members of Congress about Weiss’ appointment, adding that he had begun his investigation […]
Biden asks for additional $24 billion in funding for Ukraine
President Biden on Thursday asked Congress to approve about $40 billion in additional spending, including $24 billion in funding for Ukraine and other international needs. The $40 billion request also includes $4 billion related to border security and $12 billion for disaster relief. The White House said the Administration was hopeful that an agreement could […]
Ecuador arrests 6 Columbians in assassination of presidential candidate
Authorities in Quito, Ecuador on Thursday arrested six Columbian men related to the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. The 59-year-old anti-corruption crusader was shot and killed while leaving a campaign event at a stadium in Quito on Wednesday. His suspected assassin died in police custody following an exchange of gunfire with security personnel. Current President […]
Biden pledges federal disaster assistance to victims of Maui wildfires
President Biden on Thursday approved a major disaster declaration for Hawaii, amid deadly wildfires in Maui aggravated by hurricane-force winds. At least 55 people had been killed as of Friday morning, but with potentially 1,000 still missing that number was expected to continue to rise. The flames first erupted early Tuesday. Fueled by a dry summer […]
Judge rules on Special Counsel request for protective order in Trump case
U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan said on Friday that she would adopt the Trump team’s scope for a protective order that was requested by Special Counsel Jack Smith’s office barring the former President from publicly disclosing evidence in the 2020 election interference case. In Chutkan’s ruling, non-sensitive material won’t be covered by the order, […]
Supreme Court blocks Purdue Pharma settlement over Sackler family immunity
The Supreme Court on Thursday blocked Purdue Pharma from a bankruptcy settlement because it would have immunized the Sackler family from future opioid-related lawsuits. The Biden Administration had called the terms of the bankruptcy reorganization deal for the OxyContin manufacturer “unprecedented.” In a brief order with no dissenting votes noted, the Justices blocked an appeals court decision […]
Prosecutors seek January 2 trial date in Trump 2020 election case
Prosecutors in the office of Special Counsel Jack Smith on Thursday requested a January 2, 2024 trial date in the case into alleged criminal wrongdoing by former President Trump surrounding the 2020 election. The prosecution’s request was filed with U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, and is in line with Smith’s vow to seek a speedy […]
Ukraine announces new Black Sea “humanitarian corridor”
Ukraine on Thursday announced a “humanitarian corridor” in the Black Sea to allow the release of cargo ships that have been trapped in its ports since Russia invaded in February 2022. Humanitarian corridors, or “safe passages,” are essentially agreements between two parties in an armed conflict that can allow civilians to evacuate, aid workers to […]
Four wrongfully detained Americans in Iran moved to house arrest
Four Americans who have been wrongfully detained in Iran have been moved from Evin Prison and are now under house arrest at an Iranian hotel, CNN reported Thursday. “The move by Iran of the American hostages from Evin Prison to an expected house arrest is an important development,” said Jared Genser, pro bono counsel to […]
Tagged Adrienne WatsonAmerican prisonersCNNEmad ShargiEvin PrisongovernmentHuman RightsIranJared GenserMorad TahbazNational Security CouncilOffice of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage AffairsPrisoner SwapSiamak NamaziU.S. State Departmentwrongfully detained