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Judge Refuses Trump Request To Block Jan. 6 Records

Published

3 years ago

November 12, 2021

Editor

A federal judge rejected former President Donald Trump’s request to block the release of documents to the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

In denying a preliminary injunction, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan said Tuesday that Congress had a strong public interest in obtaining records that could shed light on a violent insurrection mounted by the former president’s supporters. She added that President Joe Biden had the authority to waive executive privilege over the documents despite Trump’s assertions otherwise.

Barring a court order, the National Archives plans to turn over Trump’s records to the committee by Friday. But Trump’s lawyers swiftly promised an appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

The case probably will eventually head to the U.S. Supreme Court. Chutkan late Wednesday denied another request from Trump’s attorneys to order the National Archives not to turn over records while an appeal is pending.

“At bottom, this is a dispute between a former and incumbent President,” Chutkan said in her Tuesday order. “And the Supreme Court has already made clear that in such circumstances, the incumbent’s view is accorded greater weight.”

Trump “does not acknowledge the deference owed” to Biden’s judgment as the current president, Chutkan said. She noted examples of past presidents declining to assert executive privilege and rejected what she said was Trump’s claim that executive privilege “exists in perpetuity.”

“Presidents are not kings, and Plaintiff is not President,” she said.

According to an earlier court filing from the archives, the records include call logs, drafts of remarks and speeches and handwritten notes from Trump’s then-chief of staff, Mark Meadows.

There are also copies of talking points from then-press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and “a draft Executive Order on the topic of election integrity,” the National Archives has said.

Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., who leads the House committee, said in a statement after the ruling that the records are crucial for understanding the attack and “in my view, there couldn’t be a more compelling public interest than getting answers about an attack on our democracy.”

On CNN, Thompson said Trump should stop behaving like a “spoiled brat.”

The nine-member committee is investigating not just Trump’s conduct on Jan. 6 — when he told a rally to “fight like hell” shortly before rioters overran law enforcement — but his efforts in the months before the riot to challenge election results or obstruct a peaceful transfer of power.

The committee has interviewed more than 150 witnesses and issued more than 30 subpoenas, including ones announced Tuesday to McEnany and former top White House adviser Stephen Miller. It is unclear whether the lawmakers will eventually seek to have Trump testify.

Trump has attacked the committee’s work and continued to promote unfounded conspiracy theories about widespread fraud in the election, despite the fact that Biden’s victory was certified by all 50 states and his claims have been rebuked by courts across the country.

In suing to block the National Archives from turning over documents, Trump called the House committee’s request a “vexatious, illegal fishing expedition” that was “untethered from any legitimate legislative purpose.” Allowing the House to get access to his records would also damage executive privilege for future presidents, Trump’s lawyers argued.

But Chutkan said the “the public interest lies in permitting — not enjoining — the combined will of the legislative and executive branches to study the events that led to and occurred on January 6, and to consider legislation to prevent such events from ever occurring again.”

Trump spokesperson Taylor Budowich tweeted late Tuesday that the case “was destined to be decided by the Appellate Courts.” He added that “Trump remains committed to defending the Constitution & the Office of the Presidency, & will be seeing this process through.”

The White House said Chutkan’s opinion “is consistent with what the President has already said” about the riot. “It is absolutely vital for there to be a full accounting of the events on that day to ensure that something like that never happens again,” spokesman Mike Gwin said.

Headline

JUST-IN: 34 Dead, 16 Missing In Indonesia Floods

Published

6 hours ago

May 12, 2024

Editor

At least 34 people have died and 16 more were missing after floods on Sumatra island in western Indonesia, the spokesperson for the West Sumatra disaster mitigation agency said Sunday.

“Until now our data shows that 34 people died: 16 in Agam and 18 in Tanah Datar. At least 18 others are injured. We are also still searching for 16 other people,” Ilham Wahab told AFP, referring to two districts in West Sumatra province.

Details later…

AFP

Headline

Failure To Prosecute Deborah’s Killers Two Years After, Reinforcement Of Impunity – Amnesty International

Published

9 hours ago

May 12, 2024

Editor

Amnesty International has condemned the Nigerian authorities for their failure to bring the murderers of Deborah Samuel to justice.

Deborah, a Christian and a second-year student of Home Economics at Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, was lynched by Islamic extremists and subsequently set ablaze on May 12, 2022.

This occurred after she had advised her classmates against posting religious materials on their WhatsApp page.

In a press release made available to newsmen on Saturday, the director of the human rights organisation, Isa Sanusi, stated that the failure to bring Deborah’s killers to justice serves as a reinforcement of impunity.

Sanusi said, “On the day Deborah was killed, in a flagrant show of utter disdain for the sanctity of life and impunity, a video footage of a raging fire and a man facing the camera, bragging that he killed and burnt Deborah Samuel — while also brandishing a matchbox — was widely shared on social media.

“Even though the suspects were arrested but in what appears to be an encouragement for impunity suspected killers were not properly charged and were ultimately set free — going away with blood on their hands.

“By failing, again and again, to ensure that those suspected of responsibility of killing(s) over alleged blasphemy are brought to justice, the Nigerian authorities continue to create a permissive environment for brutality.”

Sanusi emphasised that the reluctance of the government to address violence perpetrated in the name of religion has effectively conveyed the message that individuals can commit egregious abuses under the guise of religion and evade accountability.

“It is never too late for the Nigerian authorities to rearrest those suspected of killing Deborah Samuel and ensure that they face justice through fair trial.

“Nigerian authorities have an obligation under Nigerian and international human rights law to protect lives and to uphold the rule of law,” Sanusi added

Headline

Nine-year-old Stabs Pupil,10, To Death On While Returning From School In South Africa

Published

1 day ago

May 11, 2024

Editor

A nine-year-old boy stabbed a 10-year-old boy to death after they got into a fight while on their way home from school in Brandfort, Free State, South Africa.

South African Police Service (SAPS) Free State spokesperson, Captain Stephen Thakeng, who confirmed the incident on Friday, May 10, 2024, said the nine-year-old boy went to his house to retrieve a knife, returned and stabbed the deceased to death.

“It is alleged that two schoolboys, from different schools, were on their way to their respective homes on 08 May 2024 at about 16:00 when a fight reportedly broke out between them,” he said.

“Preliminary investigations reveal that the nine-year-old boy went to get a knife from his home nearby and returned, stabbing the 10-year-old boy.

“Police were informed about the incident and upon arrival, found a 10-year-old boy still in school uniform lying inside the ambulance with a stab wound on the left side of his chest.

“The paramedics pointed out a silver stainless steel knife with a black handle on the ground.

“The boy was certified dead at the scene in one of the streets of Nomzamo Park, Majwemasweu, Brandfort. The mother identified the deceased as her son.

“Both are Grade 4 learners in different primary schools in Brandfort. An inquest has been registered and the nine-year-old child was handed over to his parents to be referred to social workers.” he added.

Also confirming the incident, the Free State Education MEC, Makalo Mohale, identified the deceased as Kamogelo Leepile, a learner at WSM Malotle Primary School in Brandfort.

This incident happened in full view of other learners who were on their way home.

Mohale said that Kamogelo Leepile was stabbed three times by the grade 4 learner from Monamodi Primary School.

The Free State Education Spokesperson Howard Ndaba said the suspect who according to his mother, has complained of consistent bullying by the deceased and his brother was taken to the police station on Thursday morning 9 May.

MEC Mohale has called on schools to be safe spaces for both learners and teachers.

Mohale said the incident can only be described as “ abhorrent and travesty “.’

“We strongly condemn any acts of learner misconduct including bullying and relentlessly appeal to parents in assisting to enforce discipline in and outside the school environment.”

Psycho-social services have been sent to both schools to provide counselling.