Jeffrey Toobin called President Trump’s granting of clemency to Roger Stone ― who was soon set to begin a 40-month sentence for lying to Congress, witness tampering and obstructing the House investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election ― as “the most corrupt and cronyistic act in perhaps all of recent history.”
Why People Don’t Trust the Police
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Netanyahu’s Bribery Trial Begins
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is the first prime minister in Israel’s history to go on trial while in office at the Jerusalem district court, where he is facing charges of fraud, bribery and breach of trust,” the Jerusalem Post reports,
“Netanyahu tried to avoid having to attend the first day of the trial but the prime minister was compelled to attend by the court.”
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Blagojevich Loses His Law License
Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was officially disbarred on Monday, more than two months after a state panel recommended he lose his law license due to his conviction in an array of brazen corruption schemes when he was in office, the Chicago Tribune reports.
FBI Serves Warrant on Republican Senator
Federal agents seized a cellphone belonging to Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) as part of the Justice Department’s investigation into controversial stock trades he made as the coronavirus first struck the United States, the Los Angeles Times reports.
“Burr turned over his phone to agents after they served a search warrant… The seizure represents a significant escalation in the investigation into whether Burr violated a law preventing members of Congress from trading on insider information they have gleaned from their official work.”
“To obtain a search warrant, federal agents and prosecutors must persuade a judge they have probable cause to believe a crime has been committed.”
Justices Overturn ‘Bridgegate’ Convictions
“The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday tossed the federal government’s case in the infamous Bridgegate scandal, clearing the convictions of two allies of former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R),” Politico reports.
“In the unanimous ruling, which further chips away at the nation’s public corruption case law, the justices concluded that the two defendants — Bridget Anne Kelly and Bill Baroni — did not defraud the government of its ‘property’ by closing off two local access lanes to the George Washington Bridge over three days in September 2013.”
Brazil Launches Corruption Probe Into Bolsonaro
“Brazil’s Supreme Court launched an investigation on Monday into President Jair Bolsonaro for corruption and obstruction of justice after the country’s outgoing justice minister accused the president of attempting to interfere with federal police probes,” the Washington Post reports.
“The investigation plunges Brazil into a political crisis as the country struggles to contain Latin America’s largest coronavirus outbreak.”
Duncan Hunter Continued to Use Campaign Account
Two days after then-Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) announced he would resign from Congress after being convicted for misusing campaign funds, Hunter used his campaign account to pay a $137 bill at the Capitol Hill bar, Hawk ‘n’ Dove, Politico reports.
Collins’ Surrender Date Pushed Back Two Months
A federal judge ordered that former Rep. Chris Collins’ (R-NY) prison surrender date be delayed by two months, after defense attorneys said Collins has a high risk of contracting the deadly coronavirus, CNBC reports.
Duncan Hunter Sentenced to 11 Months In Prison
Convicted Ex-Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) was sentenced on Tuesday to 11 months in prison with three years of supervised probation after he pleaded guilty to a single corruption charge, NBC San Diego reports.
Billionaire Secretly Recorded Bribing State Officials
A secret recording caught a billionaire bribing North Carolina officials with millions of dollars in political money — funneled through a dark money group — in return for the removal of a regulator who was responsible for overseeing his companies, the Charlotte Observer reports.
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Ex-Baltimore Mayor Sentenced to Three Years
“Former Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh, who held elected offices in Baltimore for two decades and was elevated by voters to lead the city following the upheaval of 2015, was sentenced to three years in federal prison Thursday for a fraud scheme involving a children’s book series,” the Baltimore Sun reports.
Rod Blagojevich Adopts the Trump Playbook
Chicago Tribune: “In his winding ‘homecoming’ speech and various media interviews since having his sentence commuted Tuesday by President Donald Trump, Blagojevich has woven a web of half-truths and, to critics, hypocrisies around his newly found freedom. He has promoted unfounded conspiracy theories, attacked his former prosecutors and downplayed his own criminal behavior.”
“And as he has been since the moment of his arrest, Blagojevich remains unrepentant. If anything, a lengthy incarceration has only strengthened his belief that he is the victim of political corruption and not the perpetrator.”
“He also seems emboldened by Trump’s bombastic style, which drastically changed the political and cultural landscape while Blagojevich was behind bars. That new reality allows for hurling allegations regardless of their veracity, excoriating perceived opponents in the media and often shouting down the truth.”
We’re Witnessing the Corruption of Justice
Lawfare: “Corruption of the justice system has two major elements. The first—at issue in the Ukraine scandal—is the use of state power to go after one’s enemies. The other is the ability to restrain government power to reward one’s friends and allies.”
“A dramatic display of this latter power took place today, Feb. 11, when the U.S. Department of Justice, having articulated in court its view of an appropriate sentence for President Trump’s associate Roger Stone—convicted recently on multiple felony counts—confronted an angry presidential tweet and then meekly reversed course in a second filing.”
Kim Wehle: “Of course, this president’s abuse of the massive powers of his office will continue because he knows that there is no one within the federal government who is able or willing to stop him.”
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Ex-Congressman’s Son Avoids Prison
“The son of the disgraced former Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY) avoided his father’s fate, receiving a sentence of five years’ probation, including six months of home confinement, instead of federal prison for his role in an insider trading scheme,” the Buffalo News reports.
How Trump Has Fused His Business with Presidency
Politico: “Trump’s early decision to maintain his grip on his sprawling real estate empire — despite his pledge to put his business aside while in the White House — has created a vast web of potential conflicts of interest, accusations about his policies being driven by his business interests and even possible violations of the law.”
“Even as Trump kicks off his fourth year as president this week facing the stain of an impeachment trial, he has managed to skirt accountability for widespread possible conflicts of interest that critics say represent a blatant abuse of power and create dangerous risks to the integrity of the presidency.”
Chris Collins Sentenced to More Than Two Years
A federal judge sentenced former Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY) to 26 months in prison Friday on charges of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and lying to the FBI, the Washington Post reports.
“Collins sobbed in the courtroom while making an emotional statement to Broderick about the impact of his criminal conviction on himself and his family.”
Said Collins: “I have no excuse. I tarnished my reputation.”
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