The US Supreme Court rejected an argument Monday that would have expanded a prisoner’s ability to file lawsuit without paying a filing fee. Prisoner litigants often bring lawsuits in forma pauperis (IFP), or without a filing fee. The Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) declares that prisoners are not able to acquire this status if they [...]
The US Treasury Department announced Tuesday that four companies have been blacklisted for aiding the Venezuelan regime’s efforts to transport oil to the US market. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) placed Adamant Maritime Ltd, Afranav Maritime Ltd, Sanibel Shiptrade Ltd and Seacomber Ltd on the specially designated nationals list. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin [...]
China introduced a controversial national security law Thursday that could place restraints on the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong. The law prohibits acts of “sedition, foreign interference, terrorism and secession.” China cited national security concerns for implementing the measure, but many warn the law will be interpreted broadly and cover protests. China’s legislature begins its [...]
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared an end to Palestinian commitments in the Oslo Accords in a meeting Tuesday in Ramallah. The Oslo Accords are a set of agreements designed to facilitate peace between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). Under the terms signed in the 1990s, Palestinians were granted self-governance in parts of the [...]
The Illinois Supreme Court on Monday disbarred former governor Rod Blagojevich. His law license had been suspended since 2011. The decision comes almost a decade after Blagojevich was convicted of corruption charges. The former governor was found guilty in 2011 of attempting to sell the vacant Illinois Senate seat held by Barack Obama before his [...]
US President Donald Trump threatened Monday to permanently end US funding for the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO is an international organization responsible for monitoring public health concerns and coordinating governmental responses. The US contributes between $400 and $500 million annually to the WHO. In a public letter to the director of the WHO, [...]
The US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit Thursday rejected President Donald Trump’s efforts to end litigation surrounding a potential violation of the emoluments clause. The case involves Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC. The state of Maryland and District of Columbia are asserting that when foreign officials stay and use the hotel, the [...]
The FBI served a search warrant Wednesday evening on North Carolina Senator Richard Burr in an investigation into his early 2020 stock sales. Reports indicate that Burr provided his cellphone to federal authorities. Officials are examining the communication between the North Carolina Senator and his stockbroker. The investigation stemmed from Burr’s stock sales earlier this [...]
The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the House subpoena of President Donald Trump’s financial documents Tuesday morning. The Supreme Court consolidated Trump v. Mazars USA, LLP and Trump v. Deutsche Bank AG, two cases that arose out of House Democrat efforts to subpoena Trump’s financial records from when he was a private citizen. [...]
Dr. Rick Bright filed a whistleblower complaint Tuesday, stating the administration removed him for opposing the use of COVID-19 treatments promoted by President Donald Trump. Bright joined the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) in 2010 and was appointed to lead the agency in 2016. He has worked on numerous viral outbreaks, including Zika, [...]
