Ferguson #39;s racist and offensive emails released
The racist and offensive emails that resulted in three Ferguson, Missouri, city employees either resigning or being fired have been released. Eric Holder: Ferguson Police Created a #39;Highly...
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Ferguson's racist and offensive emails released - Video
Today Attorney General Eric Holder issued new guidelines to federal prosecutorstightening the rules for seizing assets for so-called structuring offenses.
Under the Bank Secrecy Act, structuring occurs when someone is suspected of arranging their financial transactions as to avoid triggering a report to the federal government by the financial institution. Some of civil asset forfeitures most egregious abuses are the result of federal prosecutors utilizing this nebulous statute to empty the bank accounts of unwitting citizens and small businesses who are never charged with any crime or even aware that their transactions are considered illegal.
The new rules require:
1. That structuring seizures against people for whom there is no criminal charge be based upon probable cause that the funds were either generated by unlawful activity or intended for use in anticipated unlawful activity. Alternatively, prosecutors must procure a warrant from a court and with the approval of either the U.S. Attorney (for Assistant U.S. Attorneys) or the Chief of the Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section (AFMLS) (for Criminal Division trial attorneys).
2. That when the prosecutor determines subsequent to a structuring seizure that the government lacks the necessary evidence to succeed at either a civil or criminal trial, the seizing agency must return the full amount.
3. That when a prosecutor seizes property pursuant to suspicion of structuring, the prosecutor must file either a criminal indictment or a civil complaint, or receive an exception from either a U.S. Attorney or Chief of AFMLS within 150 days or else return the seized assets.
4. That all settlements must be complete and in writing. Informal settlements are expressly prohibited.
Time will tell how impactful these reforms are, and they certainly stop well short of the abolition of civil forfeiture advocated by civil liberties advocates like Cato and the Institute for Justice. The reforms are also limited to seizures made under suspicion of structuring, which represent only a portion of civil asset forfeiture abuses.
However, much like Eric Holders previous reforms to the federal governments equitable sharing program, this memo can be taken as yet another signal that even the federal government is concerned about the increasingly publicized abusive nature of the governments asset forfeiture regime.In that sense, these common sense reforms represent another step in the right direction, toward a legal system that respects due process and property rights.
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Eric Holder Issues New Asset Forfeiture Restrictions for ...
Democrat Joe Sestak left Philadelphia in early March on a trek across Pennsylvania after announcing his desire for a rematch against Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey.
When he reached the Ohio state line four weeks and 422 miles later, Sestak still was the only challenger in a race national experts believe the right Democrat could win, putting the party a vital step closer to regaining control of the Senate.
Few see Sestak as the right candidate, even though the retired Navy admiral came within 2 percentage points of defeating Toomey in 2010.
And that's just one of the ironies in a 2016 Senate race that already is getting national attention.
Among the others:
Though state party leaders are less than enthused about Sestak, whom they view as uncooperative and lacking a strong message, they have yet to rally behind an alternative.
National electoral trends favor state Democrats in a presidential election year, yet up-and-comers within the party remain on the sidelines.
And legal troubles faced by marquee Democrats Kathleen Kane and Rob McCord may put alternative political jobs into play.
State and national Democrats are convinced they can defeat Toomey next year, yet other potential candidates including Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski, former U.S. Rep. Chris Carney of northeastern Pennsylvania, and Montgomery County commissioner Josh Shapiro so far have been noncommittal.
"People are dipping their toes in," Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chairman Jim Burn said in a recent interview. "They're just being quiet about it."
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As Mayor Ed Pawlowski ponders a U.S. Senate campaign, slim challenger field awaits Pat Toomey
Trump's new NYC public golf course open for business Trump's new NYC public golf course open for business
Updated: Saturday, April 4 2015 10:29 PM EDT2015-04-05 02:29:15 GMT
With the city skyline visible at nearly all 18 holes, the Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point is finally open. A windy first weekend didn't keep the golfers away.
With the city skyline visible at nearly all 18 holes, the Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point is finally open. A windy first weekend didn't keep the golfers away.
Updated: Saturday, April 4 2015 10:24 PM EDT2015-04-05 02:24:29 GMT
Hundreds gathered in Washington Square Park Saturday for the "10th Annual New York Pillow Fight" Day. People were encouraged to bring soft pillows so that they can swing and whack at other pillow-wielding assailants.
Hundreds gathered in Washington Square Park Saturday for the "10th Annual New York Pillow Fight" Day. People were encouraged to bring soft pillows so that they can swing and whack at other pillow-wielding assailants.
Updated: Saturday, April 4 2015 10:17 PM EDT2015-04-05 02:17:45 GMT
A fundraiser for the victims of the massive East Village explosion is getting some big star power behind it. Organizers say Sting and his wife have donated $36,000 dollars.
A fundraiser for the victims of the massive East Village explosion is getting some big star power behind it. Organizers say Sting and his wife have donated $36,000 dollars.
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GOP senators count budget gains in Democrat-dominated NY
Martin Bashir: Ted Cruz Is The David Koresh of the Republican Party
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Martin Bashir: Ted Cruz Is The David Koresh of the Republican Party - Video