President Joe Biden has signed an executive order to implement reforms passed by Congress that will significantly strengthen how the military handles sexual assault cases. The order transfers the decision to prosecute certain major crimes, including sexual assault, out of the chain of command and assigns them to independent military attorneys. It also requires the military to provide training to all personnel on the new system and to review and update policies and procedures to ensure that victims are treated with dignity and respect. This order is a major step forward in the effort to ensure justice for victims of sexual assault in the military and to hold perpetrators accountable.
Posts published in “Politics”
Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) is reportedly considering a long-shot primary challenge to President Joe Biden in 2024, meeting with donors in New York next week to discuss the possibility. Phillips, a moderate Democratic member of House leadership, has called for a contested primary featuring younger candidates rather than handing the 2024 nomination to the 80-year-old Biden. He is highly unlikely to mount a primary challenge unless Biden's health worsens or his political standing drops precipitously.
A third person has been charged in the federal case involving classified material taken from the White House to former President Donald Trump's Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago. Carlos De Oliveira, a Mar-a-Lago maintenance worker, is accused of helping Trump's aide Walt Nauta move boxes of classified documents stashed at Mar-a-Lago, and then lying to federal investigators about it. The charges against De Oliveira, Trump, and Nauta could have serious implications, and former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance believes that De Oliveira's charges could be the “final nail in the coffin” for Donald Trump if he flips.
Former President Donald Trump has been charged with three new felonies related to his handling of classified documents after leaving the White House, including two counts of ordering the deletion of a computer server and one count of willfully retaining documents. The Justice Department has opposed Trump's request to view and discuss documents at his Mar-a-Lago residence, and has filed a motion for a protective order to allow Trump and his attorneys to view and discuss documents only in a secure facility. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and the case is expected to move forward in the coming weeks.
Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) has criticized Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) for the state's new Black history curriculum, which requires students to teach students about the "benefits" of slavery. This has sparked debate over the role of slavery in American history and the role of the government in determining what should be taught in schools. Sen. Scott has argued that there is no silver lining in slavery and that everyone should appreciate this.
Former President Donald Trump has been hit with an additional charge of willful retention of national defense information as part of Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigation into Trump's handling of classified documents after leaving the White House. The indictment has swelled from 38 to 42 counts, including the new charge related to the Iran war plan document allegedly flaunted at Bedminster. Trump has denied the charges and called it "prosecutorial misconduct" while ordering the White House to release all documents related to the case.
Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) has criticized Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his state's new standards on how Black history is taught in middle school, which include instruction on how "slaves developed skills." Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) was compared to Vice President Kamala Harris for his criticism of the curriculum. Scott, the Senate's only Black Republican and presidential candidate, said that there is "no silver lining" in slavery and suggested Donalds should not "swing for the liberal media fences like Vice President Harris." The standards have been widely condemned by civil rights groups.
Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) has criticized Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over his state's controversial slavery curriculum, which suggests that enslaved people developed skills for their own benefit. The curriculum has been met with criticism from civil rights groups, prominent Black politicians, and conservative Florida Rep. Byron Donalds. The controversy has raised questions about the 2024 GOP presidential race, with Senator Scott as one of the contenders.