Jerry Boylan, the captain of the scuba dive boat Conception, has been found guilty of one count of misconduct or neglect of ship officer by a federal jury in Los Angeles in relation to the 2019 fire that killed 34 people. This is the deadliest maritime disaster in recent U.S. history and has prompted changes to maritime regulations, congressional hearings, and a National Transportation Safety Board investigation. Boylan is the only person to face criminal charges connected to the tragedy, and the NTSB has issued 25 safety recommendations to the Coast Guard and other federal agencies in response.
Posts published in “US”
Senate Republicans have proposed a one-page plan to President Biden, calling for stricter immigration laws as part of an emergency funding package. The plan includes raising the “credible fear” standard for asylum-seekers, curtailing officials’ ability to grant humanitarian parole, toughening penalties for illegal border crossings, and creating a new “border security trust fund” to pay for additional personnel and technology at the border. The proposal has been met with criticism from some immigration advocates, and it is expected to be a major point of contention in the negotiations over the emergency funding package.
The Republican National Committee has announced the five candidates for the third Republican primary debate of the season, hosted by NBC News. Former President Donald Trump is not participating, instead holding a counterprogramming event, while Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders is expected to endorse Trump's presidential bid during the debate. The debate is sure to be a heated one, as the five candidates battle it out for the nomination, with Sanders' endorsement of Trump adding to the drama.
The Republican National Committee (RNC) has announced that five GOP presidential candidates have qualified for the third presidential debate in Miami. The RNC required candidates to have at least 4% polling support in two national polls or one national and one early-state poll, as well as 70,000 unique donors. The debate will be hosted by NBC News, MSNBC, and Telemundo and will be moderated by Lester Holt, Savannah Guthrie, and José Diaz-Balart, among others. It will be broadcast live from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. EST on Wednesday, June 26.
A Denver-area jury has found Aurora Police Officer Nathan Woodyard not guilty of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain. The verdict comes after protests over the 2020 killing of George Floyd sparked renewed outrage over McClain's death. The jury's decision brings the case to a close, but the impact of McClain's death will continue to be felt for years to come.
Former President Donald Trump is facing four federal charges in Washington, D.C. for attempting to overturn valid election results and illegitimately retain power. Special Counsel Jack Smith has argued that Trump's attempts to have the case dismissed are without precedent in American history, and the outcome of the case could have major implications for the former president and the future of American politics. The case is currently being heard by federal Judge Tanya Chutkan, who will decide whether or not to dismiss the charges against Trump.
A Colorado jury has found Aurora police officer Nathan Woodyard not guilty of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain. Randy Roedema was convicted of criminally negligent homicide and third-degree assault, while Jason Rosenblatt was acquitted of reckless manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and assault. The verdict is seen as a major setback for those calling for justice for McClain and his family, and is likely to reignite the debate over police reform and accountability.
Bhagavan "Doc" Antle, owner of an exotic animal safari in South Carolina and featured in the Netflix documentary series "Tiger King," pleaded guilty to wildlife trafficking and money laundering. He admitted to overseeing the sale or purchase of protected species between 2018 and 2020, and will pay a $100,000 fine and serve three years of probation. He will be sentenced in January 2021.