Bits n’ pieces from east, west and beyond – The Western News
East, west or beyond, sooner or later events elsewhere may have a local impact.
A recent sampling:
-Swedish manufacturer Modvion is making wind turbines out of wood. Their first prototype was 100 feet tall; theyre now working on a 300-foot model. Components include laminated veneer lumber. By not using steel
the lumber is expected to slash production of carbon emissions by 90%. The laminated boards are said to be better able to withstand high humidity, the Optimist Daily reported.
-A sketch of the third Jan. 6, 2021, House Committee hearing held June 16: an emphasis was laid on people in the U.S. have the right to choose their leaders; it is not made by just one person. Judge Michael Luttig, highly regarded in conservative legal circles, stated that Donald Trumps plan was to destroy democracy and overturn rule of law, and that danger has not passed.
Again, significant testimony came from within the ranks of those at elevated positions in Trumps administration. It revealed that instead of following the 1887 Electoral Count Act, Trump wanted Vice President Mike Pence to toss out votes for Joe Biden, under a plan developed by law professor John Eastman, [Eastman is a former clerk for Justice Clarence Thomas, the only Justice to support Trumps effort to withhold documents from the Jan. 6 committee; his wife has been asked to testify about her role in attempting to undo election results. The committee has an email between Ginni Thomas and Eastman].
Eastman himself called his own plan illegal (in October 2020), and told Trump it was (along with telling numerous others). A judge testified that the vice president did not have any right to throw state votes out by calling them disputed, and there was no historical or legal precedent that the vice president could instead certify any proposed alternative electoral slates.
Nonetheless, testimony revealed continuation of efforts to create a second slate of pro-Trump electors, despite numerous White House players calling Eastman crazy and his plan legally indefensible. A Trump attorney testified that Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani agreed the Eastman plan could not stand up in court.
Giuliani later told the crowd at the Capitol that the Eastman theory was correct, then falsely claimed Thomas Jefferson had even used it.
Trump pressured Pence to play along, Pence refused, then Trump tweeted that he and Pence were in total agreement about changing the election outcome, an effort to corner Pence. Trump continued to badger Pence, to which Pence responded that his oath to support and defend the constitution prevented him from determining which electoral votes should be counted and which should not. After violence broke out at the Capitol, Trump tweeted that Pence did not have the courage to do what needed to be done, and the violence increased. Pence and his family were evacuated.
A Proud Boy member testified that, had Pence been found, he would have been killed (a mob was chanting hang Mike Pence); they missed finding him by 40 feet. Eastman persisted with his election-altering plan even after Jan. 6, and was advised that he would need a great effing criminal defense attorney, at which time Eastman put it into writing that he wanted a pardon.
In front of the House committee he took the Fifth Amendment against self-incrimination over 100 times. The next day a member of the House Select Committee said new evidence is breaking every single day now. Suddenly, a lot of people want to tell the truth.
Former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos says in her upcoming book that she and other Cabinet members talked about invoking the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office, MSN reported. She resigned Jan. 7, stating Trumps rhetoric was at fault for the Jan. 6 riot that resulted in nine deaths.
-Ukraine-Russia headlines: US sending $1 billion more military aid to outgunned Ukraine; Russian journalist sells Nobel Prize for Ukrainian children; Kremlin claims captured American vets not protected by rules of war [which may mean the death penalty for firing at our military guys.]
-Blast from the past: 50 years ago this month a taped-open door led to the discovery of burglars in the
Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate building in Washington, D.C. The burglars were called plumbers, as in those who stop leaks; they were planning to install wiretaps. Then-President Richard Nixon was concerned about leaks. The plumbers were part of a crew who sought to control the political conversation by sabotaging opponents (such as planting fake letters in newspapers, placing spies in Democrats campaigns and wiretapping). It was pre-election, and the story gained no traction. Nixon won re-election.
But the story shifted when one of the burglars wrote to a judge that hed been pressured to protect government officials, and therefore lied. The judge made the letter public, White House counsel began cooperating with prosecutors, and by April three of Nixons top advisors resigned. Nationally televised hearings began, and it was revealed that, contrary to Nixons denial of involvement, he had discussed the burglary over 30 times.
Then the existence of White House tapes was discovered, which Nixon refused to share. Heads rolled, as in firings and resignations, but eventually the tapes were released.
Articles of impeachment were passed in late July of 1974 and in early August 1974 Nixon resigned. Gerald Ford became president and granted Nixon a pardon. Roger Stone, a Nixon operative and political advisor to Trump, has a portrait of Nixon tattooed on his back.
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Bits n' pieces from east, west and beyond - The Western News
- Actions of federal government are upending the due process of the Fifth Amendment [letter] - LancasterOnline - August 24th, 2025 [August 24th, 2025]
- WATCH: Second Biden official invokes the Fifth Amendment during House deposition - InsideNoVa.com - August 1st, 2025 [August 1st, 2025]
- Biden officials are hiding behind Fifth Amendment to avoid incrimination, congressman says - MSN - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Another Biden aide invokes Fifth Amendment in deposition before House panel - Rural Radio Network - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Third Biden aide invokes Fifth Amendment in House probe of former president's cognitive decline - alphanews.org - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Bernal invokes Fifth Amendment, refuses to testify in Biden's mental health in probe - KOKH - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Bernal invokes Fifth Amendment, refuses to testify in Biden's mental health in probe - WPEC - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Another Biden aide invokes Fifth Amendment in deposition before House panel - Good Morning America - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- House Republicans face mounting resistance as third ex-Biden WH aide pleads Fifth Amendment - AOL.com - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- House Republicans face mounting resistance as third ex-Biden WH aide pleads Fifth Amendment - Fox News - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Biden aides look to Fifth Amendment as autopen probe widens - The Washington Post - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- WATCH: Second Biden official invokes the Fifth Amendment during House deposition - The Center Square - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Trumps FBI Director Grilled on What He Thinks Fifth Amendment Says - MSN - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Annie Tomasini Invoked Her Fifth Amendment Right in Response to Questions - themercury.com - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Annie Tomasini Invoked Her Fifth Amendment Right in Response to Questions - Purdue Exponent - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Bernal invokes Fifth Amendment, refuses to testify in Biden's mental health in probe - WPDE - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Biden doctor Kevin OConnor invokes Fifth Amendment when asked if he lied about ex-prezs health - MSN - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Third Biden witness invokes Fifth Amendment during House deposition - Iosco County News Herald - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- FNF: Anthony Bernal Invoked His Fifth Amendment Right in Response to Questions - WV News - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Another Biden aide invokes Fifth Amendment in deposition before House panel - MSN - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- FNF: Anthony Bernal Invoked His Fifth Amendment Right in Response to Questions - Purdue Exponent - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Bernal invokes Fifth Amendment, refuses to testify in Biden's mental health in probe - KFOX - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Bernal invokes Fifth Amendment, refuses to testify in Biden's mental health in probe - WOAI - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Fmr. Jill Biden aide pleads the fifth amendment - LiveNOW from FOX - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Second Biden official invokes the Fifth Amendment during House deposition - Read Lion - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- FNF: Anthony Bernal Invoked His Fifth Amendment Right in Response to Questions - Citizen Tribune - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Trumps history with the Fifth Amendment still isnt doing his allies any favors - MSNBC News - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Requiring man to unlock phone with fingerprint violated Fifth Amendment, court says - Oswego County News Now - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Former White House Physician Pleads the Fifth Amendment at House Hearing - The Presidential Prayer Team - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Maddow Blog | Trumps history with the Fifth Amendment still isnt doing his allies any favors - Yahoo News - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Broadcaster and commentator Josh Bernstein criticises a former White House doctor who treated former US President Joe Biden, after the doctor invoked... - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Alert: Biden's former doctor refuses to answer questions in House testimony, citing patient privilege and the Fifth Amendment - Connecticut Post - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Biden's former doctor refuses to answer questions in House testimony, citing patient privilege and the Fifth Amendment - Yahoo - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Trumps FBI Director Grilled on What He Thinks Fifth Amendment Says - The New Republic - May 11th, 2025 [May 11th, 2025]
- 'Turtleboy' blogger invokes Fifth Amendment in connection with Karen Read case - WCVB - April 18th, 2025 [April 18th, 2025]
- Woman accused of performing illegal abortions invokes Fifth Amendment right, posts bond - KHOU.com - March 28th, 2025 [March 28th, 2025]
- Are Your BYOD Policies Fifth Amendment-Ready? The Growing Tension Between Biometrics & Individual Rights - Corporate Compliance Insights - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- Patel Invoked the Fifth Amendment in a Case Tied to Trump - The New York Times - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- Trump says he took the Fifth Amendment in NY investigation - Central Oregon Daily - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- Travis Kelce avoids answering the most compromising question about Taylor Swift and pleads the fifth amendment - Marca English - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- Do presidential pardons remove the Fifth Amendment rights of recipients? - National Constitution Center - January 26th, 2025 [January 26th, 2025]
- Biden preemptively pardons Fauci, creating Fifth Amendment trouble for him - MSN - January 22nd, 2025 [January 22nd, 2025]
- Biden preemptively pardons Fauci, creating Fifth Amendment trouble for him - Washington Examiner - January 22nd, 2025 [January 22nd, 2025]
- Ex-IU doctor Brad Bomba Sr. invoked Fifth Amendment 45 times in deposition over alleged abuse - Yahoo! Voices - December 18th, 2024 [December 18th, 2024]
- President Muizzu ratifies the fifth amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act - The Edition - December 18th, 2024 [December 18th, 2024]
- Doctor accused of abusing Indiana University athletes repeatedly invokes Fifth Amendment in deposition - NBC News - December 16th, 2024 [December 16th, 2024]
- Ex-IU doctor Brad Bomba Sr. invoked Fifth Amendment 45 times in deposition over alleged abuse - The Herald-Times - December 16th, 2024 [December 16th, 2024]
- The Constitution: The Twenty-Fifth Amendment - Houston Public Media - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- Karen Read accused of weaponizing Fifth Amendment by seeking to delay civil trial - CBS Boston - October 31st, 2024 [October 31st, 2024]
- Mother and grandmother of Willacy County murder victim invoke Fifth Amendment during trial - KRGV - August 20th, 2024 [August 20th, 2024]
- This Is What the Twenty-fifth Amendment Was Designed For - The New Yorker - July 4th, 2024 [July 4th, 2024]
- Young Thug trial: State witness held in contempt, taken into custody - The Atlanta Journal Constitution - June 12th, 2024 [June 12th, 2024]
- That's Not How Pleading The Fifth Works - Above the Law - June 12th, 2024 [June 12th, 2024]
- Why was Lil Woody arrested? Rapper invokes Fifth Amendment against self-incrimination to avoid testifying in Young ... - Sportskeeda - June 12th, 2024 [June 12th, 2024]
- New Ad Taunts Trump: 'Take the Stand, Donald, or Admit You're a Coward' - The New York Times - May 18th, 2024 [May 18th, 2024]
- How Democrats In Arizona Are Damaging The Fifth Amendment - The Daily Wire - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- Social Media Platforms Have Property Rights Too - Reason - April 16th, 2024 [April 16th, 2024]
- Utah high court rules suspects don't have to provide police with phone passcodes - The Record from Recorded Future News - December 21st, 2023 [December 21st, 2023]
- Utah Supreme Court says accused don't have to share cellphone passwords with police - Salt Lake Tribune - December 21st, 2023 [December 21st, 2023]
- High court must uphold constitutional taking clause to protect ... - The Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting - November 9th, 2023 [November 9th, 2023]
- Jump Crypto chief pled Fifth over alleged backroom Do Kwon deal - Protos - November 9th, 2023 [November 9th, 2023]
- Donald Trump civil trial in Manhattan: Maybe he's not trying to win ... - Slate - November 9th, 2023 [November 9th, 2023]
- Commission weighs whether to discipline Illinois judge who ... - St. Louis Post-Dispatch - November 9th, 2023 [November 9th, 2023]
- Smith Sentenced To Probation In Break-In At Sheriff's Residence - wkdzradio.com - November 9th, 2023 [November 9th, 2023]
- SCOTUS accepts 43 cases this term; 20 scheduled for argument so ... - Ballotpedia News - November 9th, 2023 [November 9th, 2023]
- Movie Review - Anatomy of a Fall | The-m-report | wboc.com - WBOC TV 16 - November 9th, 2023 [November 9th, 2023]
- Another Result Before It Happens: The Trump Civil Case In New York - Above the Law - November 9th, 2023 [November 9th, 2023]
- The inherent American rights involved during and after an arrest - FOX 29 - June 15th, 2023 [June 15th, 2023]
- She was killed walking home. Two men are now on trial for her ... - CBS 6 News Richmond WTVR - June 15th, 2023 [June 15th, 2023]
- Are Abortion Bans Takings? - Reason - June 15th, 2023 [June 15th, 2023]
- Ex-San Francisco Official Offers Alibi for One of Series of Bear-Spray ... - The San Francisco Standard - June 15th, 2023 [June 15th, 2023]
- Road project threatens preserved farmland | News | dailycourier.com - Front Page - June 15th, 2023 [June 15th, 2023]
- Teacher, accused of seven felonies, pleads his case to Grand Island ... - Grand Island Independent - June 15th, 2023 [June 15th, 2023]
- "That is a crime of cinema": After Saving Vin Diesel's Career With an ... - FandomWire - June 15th, 2023 [June 15th, 2023]
- There Is No 'Moving On' From Corruption, by Laura Hollis - Creators Syndicate - June 15th, 2023 [June 15th, 2023]
- Left-wing Democrats Running Roughshod Over Constitutional ... - The New York Sun - June 15th, 2023 [June 15th, 2023]
- Tether SEC Action? USDT Selling Floods Liquidity Pools in Wake of ... - CCN.com - June 15th, 2023 [June 15th, 2023]
- Essential Education: Professor, attorney discuss importance of ... - LA Downtown News Online - June 4th, 2023 [June 4th, 2023]
- Inside The Murder Of Kristin Smart And How Her Killer Was Caught - All That's Interesting - June 4th, 2023 [June 4th, 2023]
- Louisiana's Sabine River Authority Not Entitled To Sovereign Immunity - The Energy Law Blog - May 27th, 2023 [May 27th, 2023]