Lamar Johnson, who has been serving a life sentence for nearly 28 years for a killing he has always said he didn't commit, was granted exoneration on Tuesday by a Missouri Circuit Court Judge. The ruling was based on constitutional error and clear and convincing evidence of Johnson's innocence. Johnson's legal team expressed relief and joy at the ruling, which is a major victory for Johnson and a step towards justice for other wrongfully convicted individuals.
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A new report released by the Conflict Observatory has revealed the extent of Russia's efforts to relocate, re-educate, and sometimes militarily train or forcibly adopt out Ukrainian children. The report documents around 6,000 Ukrainian children being taken from their homes and states that these actions constitute war crimes and could provide evidence of genocide. It calls for an immediate investigation into the camps and for the children to be returned to their families, and for the international community to take action to ensure the children are protected and the perpetrators held accountable.
Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania underwent a successful surgery for prostate cancer on Tuesday, with no further treatment required. His office has expressed gratitude for the well-wishes and support from the Commonwealth, and Senator Casey is looking forward to returning to a normal schedule after a period of rest and recovery.
Former Vice President Mike Pence is expected to fight a subpoena issued by Special Counsel Jack Smith, who is investigating former President Donald Trump's post-2020 election activities. Pence will argue that he is protected by the Constitution's Speech and Debate Clause due to his role as president of the Senate. He is expected to announce his decision to fight the subpoena during a pre-campaign stop in Iowa on Wednesday. The legal battle is likely to be a long one, as Smith's office is expected to challenge Pence's argument.
U.S. intelligence officials have confirmed that the spy balloon shot down earlier this month was launched from the south coast of China and drifted east towards Guam and Hawaii before entering U.S. airspace. The State Department has released a statement that the balloon contained unspecified items, and the Washington Post is now examining the possibility that the People's Liberation Army simply lost control of the balloon. The incident has caused a scramble of jet fighters over Canada and the far North of the United States, and U.S. officials are continuing to investigate.
Adam Frisch, a Colorado Democrat, has announced his intention to run against far-right Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert in 2024. Frisch lost to Boebert in the 2022 election by a slim margin of 546 votes and is now hoping to unseat her in the next election. Boebert has not yet announced her reelection bid, and her office has not commented on the announcement.
Special Counsel Jack Smith is taking an aggressive legal strategy in the investigation into former President Donald Trump's handling of classified documents, asking a judge to allow prosecutors to invoke the "crime fraud" exception to sidestep attorney-client privilege protections. Prosecutors allege in writing to the judge that Trump used his attorney in furtherance of a crime or fraud, and are now seeking to compel Corcoran to provide additional testimony before a grand jury. The outcome of this motion is still unclear, and its implications for the former president remain to be seen.
US Military Shoots Down Unidentified Flying Objects Off East Coast, Sparking Speculation and Mystery
US Military Shoots Down Unidentified Flying Objects Off East Coast, Sparking Speculation and Mystery
US military aircraft have shot down three unidentified flying objects off the East Coast in the past few days, sparking speculation about what they were used for. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has stated that there is no indication of aliens or extraterrestrial activity related to the objects. The type and origin of the objects remain unknown, and experts say it’s unlikely that they were weather or scientific balloons.