Tag: Justice Department

Trump’s Final Days of Rage and Denial

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Trump’s Final Days of Rage and Denial

He has been enabled by Republican leaders unwilling to stand up to him, even if many privately wish he would go away sooner rather than later. After being called “profiles in cowardice” by an ally of the president, 75 Republican state legislators from Pennsylvania on Friday disavowed their own election and called on Congress to reject the state’s electors for Mr. Biden. Only 25 of 249 Republican members of Congress surveyed by The Washington Post publicly acknowledged Mr. Biden’s victory.

Related:

Trump demands names of the congressional Republicans who said they recognize Biden as winner

New records show Trump’s DOJ rushed a no-bid contract for lethal injection drugs

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

New records show Trump’s DOJ rushed a no-bid contract for lethal injection drugs

Since then, DOJ has continued full steam ahead despite public resistance and legal challenges, and conducted its business largely in the dark. So far, eight people have been executed since the Trump administration resumed the federal death penalty in July, and five more executions are scheduled before the start of the Biden administration. Rushing these executions in a pandemic has made matters worse: only two of the first seven men put to death had their attorneys present at United States Penitentiary, Terre Haute, where executions are being held, during their execution. At least 19 BOP staff and prisoners have contracted COVID-19, as well as two lawyers representing Lisa Montgomery, who is scheduled to be executed on December 8th (a judge has temporarily halted the execution in response). Documents obtained by the ACLU show that the rush of executions likely caused a COVID-19 spike. In July, the ACLU sued to delay the executions, arguing that they were superspreader events. DOJ proceeded anyway.

Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against Facebook for Discriminating Against U.S. Workers

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against Facebook for Discriminating Against U.S. Workers

Lawsuit Alleges Facebook Favors H-1B Visa Workers and Other Temporary Visa Holders over U.S. Workers

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Fairness for High Skilled Immigrants Act exposes Silicon Valley’s hollow diversity slogans

This bill is great for Silicon Valley, but bad for high-skilled American workers. As OpenSecrets reported, “a significant portion of the lobbying done in favor of” the bill “was bankrolled by tech companies.” With this act, foreign-born workers would make up an even greater share of the tech workforce, for haf the pay, and Americans with STEM degrees would get the short end of the stick.

Trump Associates Said to Have Been Scrutinized in Suspected Pardon Scheme

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Trump Associates Said to Have Been Scrutinized in Suspected Pardon Scheme

Presidents have unchecked authority over clemency, and there is a history of donors or their family members getting pardons. No law bars people from lobbying for pardons, nor is it necessarily illegal to give a donation to a president after receiving a pardon. But bribery laws prohibit explicitly predicating donations or other gifts of value to the granting of a pardon.

Related:

Disgraced Republican Financier Accused of Secretly Lobbying for China

White House Weighs Pardon Blitz Before Trump’s Exit

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

White House Weighs Pardon Blitz Before Trump’s Exit

So far, Mr. Trump has granted 28 pardons, which wipe out convictions, and 16 commutations, which reduce prison sentences. The combined total is the lowest so far for any president since at least William McKinley, who took office in 1897, according to an analysis by the Pew Research Center.

Related:

Trump Says He Pardoned Michael Flynn, Ex-National Security Adviser

JPMorgan Chase Is Under a New Federal Investigation, One Month After Getting Slapped with Its 4th and 5th Criminal Felony Count

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

JPMorgan Chase Is Under a New Federal Investigation, One Month After Getting Slapped with Its 4th and 5th Criminal Felony Count

“JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. has been advised by one of its U.S. regulators of a potential civil money penalty action against the Bank related to historical deficiencies in internal controls and internal audit over certain advisory and other activities. The Bank already has controls in place to address the deficiencies related to the proposed penalty. The Firm is currently engaged in resolution discussions with the U.S. regulator. There is no assurance that such discussions will result in resolution.”