Manhattan grand jury indicts Trump Organization and CFO Allen Weisselberg, sources say

Source: CNN

A Manhattan grand jury on Wednesday indicted the Trump Organization and its chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, according to people familiar with the matter.

The charges, which people familiar with the matter told CNN earlier Wednesday are related to alleged tax crimes in connection with an array of perks and benefits awarded to employees, are expected to be unsealed Thursday. It was not immediately clear how many charges are in the indictments.

Though former President Donald Trump faced multiple federal and state prosecutorial inquiries during his administration, the district attorney's indictment would be the first to charge his namesake company with criminal conduct.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/30/politics/trump-organization-charges/index.html

Supreme Court rules California farms can keep union organizers off private land

Source: LA Times

The Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down part of a historic California law inspired by Cesar Chavez and the farmworkers union, ruling that agricultural landowners and food processors have a right to keep union organizers off their property.

The justices by a 6-3 vote said the state’s “right of access” rule violates property rights protected by the Constitution. It says private property shall not be “taken for public use without just compensation.”

Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John G. Roberts said “the access regulation is not germane to any benefit provided to agricultural employers or any risk posed to the public.”

The three liberal justices dissented.

Read more: https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2021-06-23/supreme-court-says-california-farms-can-keep-out-union-organizers

Bragg Holds Lead in Manhattan District Attorney Primary

Dan Rather tweet

Former Secretary of State George Shultz dead at the age of 100

Source: CNN

Former US Secretary of State George P. Shultz died Saturday at age 100, according to the Hoover Institution at Stanford University where he served for over 30 years.

Shultz held four different federal Cabinet-level positions throughout his long career, one of only two Americans to do so.

Shultz is best known for serving as secretary of state under President Ronald Reagan, and played a key role in diplomatic relations during the Cold War. He also served as secretary of the Department of Treasury, secretary of the Department of Labor and director of the Office of Management and Budget during President Richard Nixon's administration.

He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1989.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/07/politics/george-shultz-former-secretary-of-state-dead/index.html

Senate confirms Lloyd Austin, making him the nation's first Black defense secretary

Source: USA Today

WASHINGTON – The Senate on Friday confirmed Lloyd Austin as the nation's first Black defense secretary, the second Biden nominee to be confirmed by the chamber.

Austin's confirmation process wasn't without bumps. Controversy flared over a law barring recently retired military officers from serving as the defense secretary, but top Democrats lined up behind Austin's nomination, citing the need for Biden to have his national security team in place after the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol. The law requires that troops be retired for seven years before taking the post.

The House passed a waiver from the law for Austin on Thursday afternoon, and the Senate followed suit shortly after.

Some lawmakers had expressed concern about granting another waiver for Austin after they had done so for Trump’s first defense secretary Jim Mattis, but they ultimately supported Austin. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith, D-Wash., said on the House floor he had “no concern whatsoever about Lloyd Austin upholding civilian control of the military.”

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/01/22/lloyd-austin-becomes-nations-first-black-defense-secretary/6661471002/

Melania is done. She walked off while Dotard was waving for the cameras.

Why is Ted Cruz at the inauguration?

Why isn’t that asshole off with Trump? Or even better, expelled and charged for inciting sedition.

He's preemptively taking credit for any of Biden's success

“I wish them success. We laid a great foundation, they have a great base to build on.”

Google suspends Parler from app store after deadly Capitol violence

Source: AXIOS

Google has pulled Parler, a social media app for conservatives and far-right extremists, from its app store following the company's role in the deadly U.S. Capitol siege this week.

What they're saying: “In order to protect user safety on Google Play, our longstanding policies require that apps displaying user-generated content have moderation policies and enforcement that removes egregious content like posts that incite violence," José Castañeda, a Google spokesperson said. "In light of this ongoing and urgent public safety threat, we are suspending the app’s listings from the Play Store until it addresses these issues.”

Read more: https://www.axios.com/capitol-mob-parler-google-ban-826d808d-3e06-4468-a7c6-6157557818b3.html