Elmer Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the far-right Oath Keepers, was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison on Thursday for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Prior to his sentencing, Rhodes delivered a 20-minute-long diatribe in which he called himself a “political prisoner” and said his only crime was trying to stop politicians from “destroying” America. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta delivered a searing rebuke to Rhodes before handing down the longest sentence yet to any of the more than 400 people charged in connection with the attack.
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Steve Bannon, former chief strategist of President Donald Trump, will stand trial in May 2024 on charges of fraud related to a fundraiser for a wall along the U.S. southern border. The fundraiser, which raised more than $25 million, is accused of being "based on false promises" by the Manhattan District Attorney's office. Bannon has denied all the charges against him and the trial is seen as a test of the legal system's ability to hold powerful people accountable.
A Florida judge has released a letter written by Brian Laundrie's mother to her son, which was potentially "damning" evidence in the civil trial between the two families next year. The letter was written months before Gabby Petito's death and could provide insight into the events leading up to her death. The judge's decision to release the letter is significant as it could be evidence that the Laundries knew Gabby had been killed and hid that information while helping their son evade authorities.
Geraldine Tyler, a 94-year-old Minneapolis resident, won a unanimous Supreme Court ruling in her claim that Hennepin County violated the Constitution when it sold her condominium and kept the entire $40,000 profit. The Court agreed that the county had taken her property without paying "just compensation" and that she can pursue her argument that the county violated the Constitution. This ruling sets a precedent for other cases involving the takings clause of the Fifth Amendment.
After 34 years, the San Diego County Sheriff's Office has identified the remains of a woman found near campsites in Warner Springs, California in 1986 as Claudette Jean Zebolsky Powers. DNA testing and genetic genealogy were used to identify Powers, who had been living with her husband in Washington state before moving to San Diego in 1983 or 1984. The Sheriff's Office is now hoping to identify both Powers' killer and the male victim who was also found murdered nearby. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff's Department or Crime Stoppers.
Former President Donald Trump has welcomed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to the Republican presidential race with a series of posts on his social media channels, including a video mocking DeSantis' entry via a glitchy Twitter event hosted by Elon Musk and a video attacking DeSantis as an ingrate. Trump's posts have been met with enthusiasm from his allies, and are seen as a sign of his continued influence in the Republican Party.
The Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of an Idaho couple in a landmark case that weakens the Clean Water Act. The Sacketts had challenged the EPA's compliance order claiming their land was subject to the law, arguing that their land did not contain wetlands subject to federal oversight. The decision is a major victory for property rights advocates and a setback for environmental groups, and will likely have far-reaching implications for the scope of the law and the ability of the EPA to regulate water pollution.
The U.S. Treasury Department has warned that the government could run out of money to meet all its obligations as soon as June 1 due to House Republicans' efforts. Secretary Janet Yellen says the workarounds to keep the government paying its bills will be exhausted in the coming week, and the Bipartisan Policy Center warns that Social Security recipients, seniors and people with disabilities will likely be the first groups affected. Congress must act quickly to avoid a potential financial crisis and ensure the government can meet its obligations.