Key takeaways: The Supreme Court has agreed to take up two cases involving public officials who have blocked their critics on social media. The cases…
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Kim Potter, a white former police officer, was released from prison early Monday morning after serving 16 months of her two-year sentence for the 2021 killing of Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man. The Minnesota Department of Corrections released Potter at 4 a.m. local time out of security concerns, and her release comes as the trial of Derek Chauvin, the officer who killed George Floyd in 2020, enters its third week. Potter's release is likely to be met with mixed reactions, as many are still seeking justice for Wright and other victims of police brutality.
Adam Laxalt, a Donald Trump ally, has been appointed to lead a political action committee encouraging Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to seek the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. Laxalt was endorsed by Trump in the 2022 Senate race and chaired his 2020 campaign in Nevada, repeating false claims of fraud. He was also a public face of Trump's unsuccessful lawsuits challenging election rules and results. The appointment of Laxalt is seen as a sign of Trump's continued influence within the Republican Party, though it is unclear if the committee will be successful.
Dick Durbin, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has invited Chief Justice John Roberts to testify on Supreme Court ethics rules in light of reports of Justice Clarence Thomas' undisclosed acceptance of luxury gifts and real estate transactions. Durbin believes Roberts is an articulate and well-schooled man who would do well in responding to senators' questions, and that Thomas' reported conduct would amount to a violation of law if he were a circuit court judge. The hearing is expected to take place in early October.
Myles Cosgrove, a former Louisville Metro Police Officer who was fired in 2021 following the death of Breonna Taylor in 2020, has been hired by the Carroll County Sheriff's Office. Despite damning video footage and witness accounts, Cosgrove was never convicted and none of the three White officers who fired into Taylor's home were charged. His new job at the sheriff's department began on Thursday, with the hope that he will help reduce the flow of drugs and property crime in the area.
Ray Epps, a passionate Trump supporter, attended the Jan. 6, 2021 protest at the U.S. Capitol to support the former President. However, right-wing media, politicians and their followers have twisted his role in the attack, casting him as a government agent who incited an insurrection. Despite not being charged in connection to the attack, Epps has gone into hiding due to death threats, highlighting the power of right-wing media to shape public opinion and the danger of unchecked conspiracy theories.
Fox Corp. has agreed to pay Dominion Voting Systems $787.5 million to settle a defamation lawsuit, despite analysts believing the company can absorb the cost. This settlement serves as a reminder of the consequences of spreading false information, and the importance of accuracy in reporting.
President Joe Biden is set to appoint Julie Chavez Rodriguez, a senior West Wing official and longtime Democratic Party activist, as his 2024 re-election campaign manager. Chavez Rodriguez currently serves as a senior adviser and assistant to the president and director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, and has a long history of involvement in Democratic politics. The decision to appoint Chavez Rodriguez is expected to be formally announced in the coming weeks.