Fed Up Cops Have The Perfect Solution For People Who Leave Dogs In Hot Cars

When animals are exposed to high temperatures, they can experience irreparable organ damage or, in the worst cases, die, according to the Humane Society of the United States.

Even if the weather outside isn't extraordinarily hot, the temperature inside a car can rise surprisingly fast.

For example, if its 70 degrees Fahrenheit outside, the inside of a car can heat up to 104 degrees within an hour, according to Pet Plan, an animal insurance company. And when it's 80 degrees out, the car can heat up to nearly 100 degrees within 10 minutes.

The bottom line is this: Please, please, please don't leave your pets in the car this summer (or at all). That is, unless you want a free ride directly to jail, courtesy of the Pensacola PD.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Fed Up Cops Have The Perfect Solution For People Who Leave Dogs In Hot Cars

ACLU Blasts Orange County DA Office For Refusing To Release Public Records In Informant Scandal

LOS ANGELES -- The ACLU of Southern California is demanding that the Orange County District Attorney's Office turn over public records related to a jailhouse informant scandal, or the organization intends to take them to court, according to an ACLU letter sent Thursday to the OCDA's office.

A set of letters provided to The Huffington Post, the most recent from Thursday, reveals that the civil liberties organization is "deeply" troubled by the lack of accountability and transparency from the beleaguered OCDA office. 

"There is an overwhelming public interest in the information we requested," ACLU SoCal staff attorney Brendan Hamme writes in the letter. "It is, therefore, deeply troubling that your office refuses to make public the policies and practices that were in place and failed to prevent these constitutional violations from occurring, documents bearing on the scope of the violations, and the policies and practices that your office has pledged to adopt to prevent future violations."

In early March, the ACLU made a records request under the California Public Records Act for information stretching back 30 years, including about policies and procedures related to allegations of prosecutorial misconduct, disclosure of evidence, procurement of interviews with defendants who already had an attorney and use of informants, and policies and practices the DA's office says it has put in place in response to the allegations of misconduct. 

By the end of the month, Deputy DA Denise Hernandez and Assistant DA Ebrahim Baytieh responded to the ACLU letter. The office provided the ACLU with about 300 pages of materials, some already public, but largely rejected the civil rights organization's substantive requests for records linked to the informant scandal. They argued the request is "overbroad" as is, but also said that for some requests, either no records exist at all, they could violate copyright if released, or that they don't exist in a searchable or producible format. 

The ACLU, in today's letter, is demanding that the office turn over the records it has requested and has offered to engage in a dialogue with the OCDA regarding the request to help sort out any issues with the breadth of the request. But the organization says it will be "forced to litigate and a court will sort out properly exempted documents from those you are required by law to produce," if the OCDA simply further rejects the request.

The OCDA says it fully cooperated with the request and provided any and all records in its possession and subject to the state public records act to the ACLU.

The OCDA's office has been under fire for almost three years for its involvement in mishandling evidence produced from a secret jailhouse informant program that has allegedly violated the rights of countless defendants. Assistant Public Defender Scott Sanders, who first unearthed the informant network, has been arguing since 2013 that a tainted snitch network in county jails has existed in secret for decades. Sanders argues that county prosecutors and police have violated multiple defendants’ rights by illegally obtaining, and sometimes withholding, evidence gleaned from jail informants.

For years the OCDA's office has denied that an informant program existed in the county, but earlier this month they finally acknowledged that an informant program does indeed exist in the county, and sheriff's deputies actively "cultivated," "recruited" and "utilized" informants and rewarded them in exchange for their information. Additionally, a new trove of secret notes kept by sheriff's deputies about jail inmates and informants surfaced in recent months, shining new light on the informant program.

Across the country, law enforcement authorities deploy informants to help bolster a case — a tactic that’s perfectly legal, even when the snitch receives something in exchange. But Sanders alleges that in some Orange County cases, the sheriff’s jailhouse informants held recorded and unrecorded conversations with inmates who were already represented by lawyers — which is a violation of an inmate’s right to counsel. Prosecutors allegedly took damning evidence gathered by the informants and presented it in court, while withholding evidence that could have been beneficial to the defense — which is a violation of a defendant’s right to due process.

Sanders’ discoveries have caused multiple murder cases in the county to unravel, even resulting in some accused murderers having their sentences vacated. Last year, the misconduct from law enforcement and prosecutors in one high-profile case led to Superior Court Judge Thomas Goethals ejecting the entire DA office from the mass murder trial. He then turned the case over to California Attorney General Kamala Harris, who is still investigating the allegations of misconduct.

Earlier this year, a group of former prosecutors and legal experts called on the U.S. Department of Justice to conduct a full investigation of the DA’s office and the sheriff’s department over the informant program.

Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas has maintained that no one in his office intentionally behaved inappropriately in relation to the jailhouse informant program. He, too, has invited the DOJ to investigate his office’s practices in that area.

It remains unclear exactly how many cases may have been affected by tainted informant evidence, but Sanders has argued that every case involving a jailhouse informant in Orange County over the last 30 years deserves to be re-examined.

"Public trust in Orange County’s criminal justice system has been eviscerated by revelations of thirty years of systemic constitutional violations," Hamme told The Huffington Post. "The time has come and gone for the Orange County District Attorney’s Office to adopt transparency and accountability as its guiding principles, but their abysmal and evasive response to our Public Records Act request only raises further questions of exactly what they are hiding from the public."

Let's block ads! (Why?)

ACLU Blasts Orange County DA Office For Refusing To Release Public Records In Informant Scandal

Alleged Drug Bust Nets More Than $20 Million Cash Found In Miami Home’s Walls

It's Time To Do Something About Prosecutors Who Break The Rules

My name is John Thompson. I am the victim of an attempted murder in New Orleans. The authorities know who the person is who tried to kill me, but they've never tried to bring him to justice. The man was a prosecutor, Jim Williams. He knew I was innocent, but he tried me for murder and argued for my execution. I spent 14 years on death row because of him, and four more in prison before I was exonerated in 2003.

Williams worked for Orleans Parish District Attorney Harry Connick, Sr., who was the D.A. for decades. I was not the only one to suffer because of Williams' behavior -- he secured death sentences against six other men -- all of which were overturned, most because of prosecutorial misconduct. Connick's prosecutors sent scores of innocent Black men up the river to Angola prison -- either to die there or to live out our days on the plantation. Our lives didn't matter. They still don't. They wielded their prosecutorial power as they pleased, terrorizing the poor. They knew no one would care and no-one would pay attention. And they were right. No-one has ever tried to bring them to justice for it.

Jim Williams was so zealous in his pursuit of the death penalty that he even posed for a picture with the mini-electric chair on his desk on which he had taped the faces of the men that he had wrongfully sent to death row. The toy electric chair was his trophy for his kills. He posed with it like white men used to pose around the body of a Black man they had lynched. Proud. Defiant. The picture appeared in Esquire Magazine.

Williams could have been stopped. He could have been fired. He could have been brought to justice for what he did. But he wasn't.

Williams could have been stopped. He could have been fired. He could have been brought to justice for what he did. But he wasn't.

After some of the illegal behavior committed by prosecutors in the Orleans Parish District Attorney's office was exposed, Mr. Connick expressed concern to the public about what had happened on his watch, and named one of his loyal, young prosecutors, John Jerry Glas, as a special prosecutor to find out how these injustices had happened, and who was responsible. After looking into the misconduct, Glas told Connick that he was ready to indict Williams and possibly three others in the office, but Connick shut down the special grand jury.

Apparently, Connick wasn't willing to come clean about what had happened after all.

In shock, Glas resigned. But no one cared and nobody took any action to hold Williams or his colleagues accountable for their shameful actions, or to stop the bloodthirsty culture of cheating.

So it was left to me to try. I sued the prosecutor's office for what they did to me. A jury in Louisiana awarded me $14 million dollars for the 14 years of living hell they put me through. The United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld my settlement, but the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the damages, ruling 5-4 that prosecutors can't be held liable for their misconduct, even when they deliberately cheat to convict an innocent person. Justice Clarence Thomas, who wrote the opinion, argued that prosecutorial ethics, education, and training, internal supervision, bar oversight, and even criminal sanctions are enough to make sure prosecutors behave properly. But he is wrong. Study after study, including one by the Yale Law Journal, has shown that prosecutors are almost never held accountable when they cheat or behave illegally. I helped to lead panel discussions across the country showing that the idea of accountability is a lie; a dangerous lie.

Prosecutors are almost never held accountable when they cheat or behave illegally.

I am one of many victims of this totally preventable crime. A new report released today by Harvard Law School's Fair Punishment Project shows that the prosecutors in the country who have sought the death penalty the most also committed misconduct at alarmingly high rates. Three of the top five deadliest prosecutors in America had misconduct found by courts in at least one-third of their death penalty cases. Four of the five deadliest district attorneys prosecuted, or oversaw the prosecution of, eight people who were later exonerated and released from death row. This total represents approximately one out of every 20 death row exonerations that have occurred nationwide.

My friend Glenn Ford was another one of the victims. He and I spent all 14 of my death row years together. He was exonerated in 2014 after 30 years on death row. He died a year later of cancer. A team of us cared for him around the clock in his final months. He was from Shreveport, one of the death penalty capitals of the South. He was prosecuted with the same kind of bloodthirsty lynch mob mentality that reigned in New Orleans in the 1980s and 1990s. Now they won't compensate his family.

I'm scared for others like me, who will be ripped to shreds by our system because they are poor and Black.

Jim Williams left me for dead. My family, my people, my community and I will never fully move on from that. No one could. I'm scared for others like me, who will be ripped to shreds by our system because they are poor and Black. Their rights don't matter. Their lives don't matter. But I am also scared for you and me -- neighbors in this city, this country where violent crime terrorizes us all too. For when prosecutors cheat with impunity, the wrong person goes to prison and the real perpetrators are out on the streets, free to commit more crimes. My family has been a victim of that kind of crime too. I don't want it any more than you do.

The only people who benefit from prosecutorial misconduct are the real perpetrators of crime who have escaped justice while innocent men and women are locked up for their crimes, those who abuse their prosecutorial power, and the politicians who want to keep it that way.

It's time for a change. Ideas have been proposed by New York Times editorial board and Mitchell Caldwell, a criminal law expert and professor at Pepperdine University School of Law.

The solution isn't simple, but I'm sick of being told there's no solution -- that the torture I endured is just an inevitable byproduct of our system. What happened to me was no ethical lapse or minor infraction, it was premeditated attempted murder, and it was a completely preventable crime.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

It's Time To Do Something About Prosecutors Who Break The Rules

CDC Official Exits Agency After Coca-Cola Connections Come to Light

A veteran leader within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced her immediate departure from the agency on Thursday, two days after it came to light that she had been offering guidance to a leading Coca-Cola advocate who was seeking to influence world health authorities on sugar and beverage policy matters.

In her role at CDC, Dr. Barbara Bowman, director of CDC's Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, has been involved in a range of health policy initiatives for the division charged with providing "public health leadership." She began her career at the CDC in 1992.

Bowman's boss, Ursula Bauer, Director, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, sent an email to staff members after my June 28 story in this blog revealed the Coca-Cola connections. In that email, she confirmed the accuracy of the report, and while she defended Bowman's actions, she said the "perception that some readers may take from the article is not ideal." She also warned employees to avoid similar actions, saying the situation "serves as an important reminder of the old adage that if we don't want to see it on the front page of the newspaper then we shouldn't do it."

Bowman's exit was announced through internal emails. Bowman told colleagues in a CDC email sent Thursday that she had decided to retire "late last month." She made no reference to the revelations about her connections with Coca-Cola or any other concerns.

Bauer sent a separate email applauding Bowman's work with CDC. "Barbara has served with distinction and has been a strong, innovative, dedicated and supportive colleague. She will be greatly missed by our center and CDC," Bauer said in the email.

Bowman's departure comes at a time when several questions about Bowman and her department are dogging the agency, according to sources inside the CDC. In addition to the questions about ties to Coca-Cola, which is actively trying to push back on policies regulating or reining in soft drinks, there are questions about the efficacy and transparency of a program known as WiseWoman, which provides low-income, under-insured or uninsured women with chronic disease risk factor screening, lifestyle programs, and referral services in an effort to prevent cardiovascular disease. The departure also comes a day after the organization I work for - U.S. Right to Know - filed another FOIA seeking additional communications.

The Coca-Cola connections date back decades for Bowman, and tie her to former top Coca-Cola executive and strategist Alex Malaspina. Malaspina, with Coca-Cola's help, founded the controversial industry group International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI). Bowman also worked early in her career as a senior nutritionist for Coca-Cola, according to sources, and she co-authored an edition of a book called Present Knowledge in Nutrition as "a publication of the International Life Sciences Institute."

ILSI's reputation has been called into question several times for the strategies it has employed to try to sway public policy on health-related issues.

Email communications obtained by U.S. Right to Know through state Freedom of Information requests revealed that Bowman appeared happy to help Malaspina, who formerly was Coca-Cola's top scientific and regulatory affairs leader, and the beverage industry cultivate political sway with the World Health Organization. The emails showed Malaspina, representing the interests of Coca-Cola and ISLI, complaining that the World Health Organization was giving a cold shoulder ILSI. The email strings include reports of concerns about Coca-Cola's new Coca-Cola Life, sweetened with stevia, and criticisms that it still contained more sugar than daily limit recommended by WHO.

The communications came as the beverage industry has been reeling from a series of actions around the world to rein in consumption of sugary soft drinks due to concerns about links to obesity and type 2 diabetes.

A critical blow came last June when World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Margaret Chan said the marketing of full-sugar soft drinks was a key contributor to rising child obesity around the world, especially in developing countries. WHO published a new sugar guideline in March 2015, and Chan suggested restrictions on sugar-rich beverage consumption.

Mexico already implemented its own soda tax in 2014, and many cities in the U.S. and around the world are currently considering such restrictions or disincentives, like added taxes, while others have already done so. The Mexican soda tax has correlated with a drop in soda purchases, according to research published earlier this year.

CDC spokeswoman Kathy Harben said earlier this week that the emails did not necessarily represent a conflict or problem. But Robert Lustig, Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology at the University of California, San Francisco, said ILSI is a known "front group for the food industry." And he pointed out that the CDC has yet to take a stance on limiting sugar consumption, despite the WHO concerns about links to disease.

The email exchanges show that Bowman did more than simply respond to questions from Malaspina. She also initiated emails and forwarded information she received from other organizations. Many of Bowman's emails with Malaspina were received and sent through her personal email account, though in at least one of the communications, Bowman forwarded information from her CDC email address to her personal email account before sharing it with Malaspina.

ILSI has had a long and checkered relationship with the World Health Organization, working at one time closely with its Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and with WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer and the International Programme on Chemical Safety.

But a report by a consultant to WHO found that ILSI was infiltrating WHO and FAO with scientists, money and research to garner favor for industry products and strategies. ILSI was also accused of attempting to undermine WHO tobacco control efforts on behalf of the tobacco industry.

WHO eventually distanced itself from ILSI. But questions about ILSI influence erupted again this spring when scientists affiliated with ILSI participated in an evaluation of the controversial herbicide glyphosate, issuing a decision favorable to Monsanto Co. and the pesticide industry.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

CDC Official Exits Agency After Coca-Cola Connections Come to Light

Black Reporter Keeps Her Cool During Racist Attack Caught On Camera

A woman accosted a reporter and photojournalist in Boone, Iowa, on Tuesday, putting her hands on the reporter and hurling racial epithets and other profanity at her.

Emmy Victor, who is black, was reporting on the shooting death of Michael Disbrowe, 28, whom police killed Monday night in Boone. Victor, a reporter for the TV station KCCI, maintained her composure as a white woman -- later identified as Disbrowe's mother -- began swearing at Victor and calling her racial slurs.

"Ma'am, ma'am, don't ever," Victor says before the woman approaches her a second time and shoves her finger in Victor's face.

As the woman departs, she knocks over a tripod and can be heard cursing at photojournalist Zachary Hayes, who was with Victor on the assignment.

The reporters were unharmed in the confrontation. It's not clear who initially approached whom or what happened in the moments before the part of the encounter caught on film.

Michael Disbrowe was allegedly threatening other people with a gun Monday night. Police responding to a 911 call say they shot Disbrowe because he aimed a weapon at officers after ignoring instructions to drop it, KCCI reports.

Victor declined to comment to The Huffington Post about Tuesday's incident. In a statement, Brian Sather, KCCI's general manager, complimented Victor and Hayes for their poise. 

"The safety of our crews is critically important as they cover stories affecting our communities," Sather said. "This morning Emmy and Zach demonstrated the utmost professionalism in the face of a very difficult, emotionally-charged situation." 

Support for Victor poured in from other journalists and viewers:

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Black Reporter Keeps Her Cool During Racist Attack Caught On Camera

Adnan Syed Has Been Granted A New Trial

A Baltimore circuit court judge on Thursday vacated the murder conviction of Adnan Syed, the man whose trial for the murder of high-school student Hae Min Lee in 1999 was documented in Sarah Koenig's popular "Serial" podcast.

Syed's lawyer announced that he had been granted a new trial on Twitter:

In a copy of the Maryland court order obtained by The Huffington Post, Judge Martin P. Welch agreed with the defense’s claim that the lawyer in Syed’s initial trial provided ineffective counsel when she failed to cross-examine the state of Maryland’s cell tower expert about the reliability of key evidence. The state had argued that the cell tower data accurately placed Syed at the location near where Lee’s body was found.

“I had a feeling in my heart it was going to happen. We are just very happy,” Syed's brother Yusuf told the Baltimore Sun. “It’s not only a win for us but a win for a lot of people who’re stuck in the system because it opened a lot of people’s eyes about the justice system.”

While “Serial” drew massive attention to Syed’s case — it was the fastest podcast to reach 5 million downloads and streams in the Apple Store — it was the unofficial spinoff “Undisclosed” that unearthed crucial new evidence. “Undisclosed,” created by Syed family friend Rabia Chaudry, discovered a fax cover sheet from AT&T that noted the unreliability of cell tower information due to a technical glitch.

“Outgoing calls only are reliable for location status. Any incoming calls will NOT be considered reliable information for location,” the sheet read. Syed's original lawyer, Cristina Gutierrez, did not introduce the cover sheet at trial.

Kevin Sali, a criminal defense attorney in Portland, Oregon, who has followed the Syed case, noted that ineffective counsel claims are typically “very hard to win.”

“You basically have to show two things: That your lawyer’s performance fell below the constitutional minimum standard -- not that they did a bad job or could have done better. What makes that difficult is that a lot of things a lawyer will do or not do are considered judgement calls," Sali said. "You also have to show that if your lawyer had done a constitutionally competent job, the result of the case would have been different."

Thursday's ruling means Syed’s claim satisfied both prongs: the judge believed that Gutierrez was "constitutionally ineffective," and that cross-examining the witness may have affected the outcome.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Adnan Syed Has Been Granted A New Trial

Shania Twain Responds To Family's Plea For Help In Finding Missing Woman

A missing New York woman's family reached out to country music star Shania Twain to help bring attention to her case, and the star answered.

The woman, 24-year-old Rachael Mattice, was last seen on June 22 after leaving her parents' home in Johnstown. She was heading to the family's camp in Wells, a town over 50 miles away. She hasn't been heard from or seen since.

The family reached out to Twain because the young woman idolized her. 

The woman's mother, Wendy Mattice, described her daughter as "very loving" and that she had "no enemies," according to FoxNews.com.

Rachael Mattice was heading to Wells, which has no cell phone service, because she had recently moved to the area for work as a home health care aide.

The last Mattice's mother heard from her daughter was a text message that said: "I’m at the bottom of the hill. Goodnight and I love you." 

Authorities have been using helicopters and dogs to find Rachael Mattice, to no avail. Mattice's friend Cynthina Nellis took to Instagram to try to help, reaching out to Shania Twain.

"You are Rachaels favorite country artist. She absolutely adores you. Her parents use to call her Shania when she was little because she would sing your music all the time. She had every tape, cd, knows every lyric to every song," she wrote in the caption. "I'm reaching out to you in hopes that you can make one of Rachael's dreams come true by sending a message out to her."

Twain responded a day later with these messages: 

I've heard the story of Rachael Mattice & urge anyone with information to come forward to the police & help her return to her family. (1/2)

— Shania Twain (@ShaniaTwain) June 30, 2016

Thinking of you Rachael. (2/2)

— Shania Twain (@ShaniaTwain) June 30, 2016

In addition to Twain's support in finding the young woman, friends and family gathered for a vigil in Wells on June 29. 

Rachael Mattice is 5 feet 3 inches tall with brown hair and blue eyes.

Anyone with information on Mattice's whereabouts or tips in the case should contact Hamilton County Sheriff's Office at 518-548-3113. 

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Shania Twain Responds To Family's Plea For Help In Finding Missing Woman

Boy Spends His Allowance On Hundreds Of Books For Inmates

Bear Kills Mountain Biker Near Glacier National Park

A U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officer was mauled to death by a bear, believed to be a grizzly, while mountain biking Wednesday afternoon near Montana's Glacier National Park, authorities said. 

The victim, identified as 38-year-old Brad Treat, a native of Kalispell, was biking with a friend on U.S. Forest Service land near Halfmoon Lakes when the fatal attack occurred, the Flathead Beacon reports.

Authorities told the paper that an initial investigation suggests the bear took Treat off his bike after the two people spooked the animal. Treat died at the scene, while the second rider escaped without injuries. 

The Beacon reports that a search continued Thursday for the animal, which was initially identified as a grizzly.

"We are attempting to capture and/or confirm the identity of the offending bear," Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Warden Captain Lee Anderson told the paper. “When we have more information we will decide what actions to take.” 

In a statement Thursday, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said he was saddened to hear of Treat's death.

"My thoughts are with Officer Treat’s family and loved ones as they grapple with this tragic news and a devastating loss," he said. "We are grateful for Officer Treat’s selfless service and share in mourning a life that was taken too soon. The brave men and women of the U.S. Forest Service risk their lives every day in difficult and challenging circumstances, and today we are reminded of their incredible service to our nation."

If the bear involved is confirmed to be a grizzly, it would be the first fatal attack by one in Northwest Montana since 2001, according to the Beacon. Since 1910, there have been 10 bear-related fatalities within Glacier National Park, The Associated Press reports.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Bear Kills Mountain Biker Near Glacier National Park

'Nancy Grace' Is Going Off The Air

Nancy Grace is leaving her post at HLN and will move to a new media venture, the cable channel's sister network CNN confirmed Thursday. 

Grace will depart from the network in October, when her current contract expires. 

"This fall, I'll be leaving HLN, my longtime TV home, with a full heart and endless gratitude," Grace said in a statement Thursday. "The network has been my extended family for nearly a dozen years, and I am proud of the amazing work we've produced together."

She has hosted her eponymous true crime show, one of the network's most popular programs, on HLN since 2005. Before that, she served as a legal commentator for Court TV and in Atlanta as a prosecutor -- a career she pursued after her fiancé was murdered when she was 19.

She's not leaving the media spotlight anytime soon though.

"I will continue my fight for justice across a variety of traditional and new media, where victims' voices can reach an entirely engaged audience," she said.

She elaborated a bit on her next move in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

"I will always be wedded to a traditional platform — which is TV, God help me," she said. "My plan is to merge those two in an effective way, in my voice, the 'anti-crime' voice. Our show has never really been about me. It has been about the stories that we tell and the people we talk about and the mysteries we try to solve and the children we try to bring home."

On Court TV and on her current show, Grace has covered major crime events and is well-known for her coverage of the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping, Duke lacrosse rape allegations and Casey Anthony murder allegations. She's faced criticism for aggressively going after suspects in those cases and painting them as guilty before they faced trial.  

She's also been a vocal opponent of marijuana legalization, often twisting the facts to present it as a violence-inducing drug. 

Let's block ads! (Why?)

'Nancy Grace' Is Going Off The Air

Man Filmed Stuffing Feces Down Woman's Shorts In Sickening Attack

In a vile attack that happened in broad daylight, a man stuffed feces down an unsuspecting woman's shorts in New York City on Monday before running away, police said.

Surveillance video captured the suspect following the woman along East 74th Street in Manhattan around 6 p.m., before he grabbed her from behind by her waist.

During a brief struggle, police said the man shoved his hand down her shorts and smeared the feces onto her buttocks. As he ran away, he discarded a rubber glove that he apparently used to hold the waste.

A witness said the woman was too terrified to speak after she fled into the parking garage where he works.

“She was shaking. She couldn’t even call 911. She tried twice,” Felix Martinez told the New York Daily News.

Martinez said that the woman’s mother and boyfriend showed up with clean clothes for her to change into. 

As of Thursday, police were still searching for the suspect. Police described him as a 40-year-old black man around 6 feet and 200 pounds. They said he frequents the area.

Anyone with information is urged to contact NYPD’s Crime Stoppers at 1800-577-TIPS (8477).

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Man Filmed Stuffing Feces Down Woman's Shorts In Sickening Attack

Top Democrats Defend Bill Clinton Meeting With Loretta Lynch

WASHINGTON -- Democrats suffered heartburn thanks to Bill Clinton Thursday, when they were forced to defend a private meeting between the former president and Attorney General Loretta Lynch, whose Justice Department is investigating Hillary Clinton's use of a private email system.

The would-be First Laddie sat down with Lynch on a plane during an apparently chance encounter when they were both at an airport in Phoenix on Monday.

Lynch later told reporters the discussion was primarily about Clinton's grandchildren and golf.

"There was no discussion of any matter pending for the department or any matter pending for any other body," she said, according to several reports.

Republicans have called for an independent prosecutor to look into Clinton's email use. The FBI is investigating whether the then-secretary of state's personal home-based email server could have exposed classified material, and whether any laws were broken.

The meeting also came a day before the Select Committee on Benghazi released its long-awaited report on the 2012 attacks in Libya that killed four Americans, finding no new blame be leveled against Hillary Clinton.

But it's the same committee that first revealed Clinton conducted her State Department business on an email server located in her New York home.

Clinton's Republican rival for the White House, Donald Trump, was quick to slam the meeting as terrible judgement, and evidence of the "rigged system."

"It is an amazing thing,” Trump said Thursday when he was asked about the meeting in a radio interview on the "Mike Gallagher Show". "That’s terrible. And it was really a sneak. It was really something that they didn’t want publicized as I understand it."

"Wow, I just think it’s so terrible, I think it’s so horrible,” he added.

At least one Democrat, Sen. Chris Coons (Del.), said the meeting looked bad, telling CNN Lynch should have begged off. "I think she should have said, 'Look, I recognize you have a long record of leadership on fighting crime but this is not the time for us to have that conversation,'" Coons said Thursday, although he said he believed Lynch would remain objective.

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) offered a more full-throated defense of Hillary Clinton and Lynch.

"Loretta Lynch is one of the most outstanding human beings I've ever known. Her ethics is above reproach. No one could ever question her strong feelings about the rule of law," Reid told reporters on Capitol Hill.

"She's an honorable person. She has said that nothing was discussed related to the investigation," Schumer said. "So you have two choices: to say this didn't matter, or she's lying. I think it didn't matter. I don't think she's lying."

Pressed on whether the meeting played into a GOP portrayal of the Clintons as people who think they can play by their own special rules, Reid shot back that the entire discussion about Clinton and Benghazi was whipped up by Republicans and their biggest donors.

"Let me tell you about special rules. Hillary Clinton has put her soul out working on the campaign trail for more than a year now, in spite of the fact that the Koch brothers have spent $30 million trying to make something out of Benghazi, which even Republicans in a report said amounted to nothing," Reid said. "The email thing is also something drummed up by people who have been trying to denigrate her for years now."

Reid also took the opportunity to contrast Clinton with Trump.

"She takes questions from press, not afraid to answer questions," Reid said, although Clinton has not spoken much to the press in this campaign. "And look at the other side. You've got this Donald Trump. So we're satisfied with our candidate. I think she's pretty damned good."

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Top Democrats Defend Bill Clinton Meeting With Loretta Lynch

Christy Sheats Killed Daughters To Make Husband ‘Suffer,’ Sheriff Says

Naked Man In Times Square Yells 'Donald Trump,' Jumps From Ledge (NSFW)

A naked man atop a ledge in New York City's Times Square Thursday morning screamed “Donald Trump, where are you?” and jumped, injuring himself, reports say. 

The man, who has not been identified by police, was in stable condition, the New York City Police Department told The Huffington Post. He was taken to NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue for evaluation. 

[UPDATES] Naked Man Taunts Cops In Times Square, Jumps Off TKTS Roof https://t.co/2y96hskd8l http://pic.twitter.com/SyPR13epAC

— Gothamist (@Gothamist) June 30, 2016

The man climbed up the steps of the popular TKTS booth, where discounted Broadway tickets are sold, and taunted officers in a lengthy standoff, about 16 feet above the street, the New York Post reported.

He demanded a meeting with Trump, proclaimed he was a virgin and declared "I love fashion!" according to the tabloid.

The naked man is dancing as police try to get him down from the Times Square staircase https://t.co/vDv6OeOrKbhttps://t.co/rEoN2CRfnU

— New York Post (@nypost) June 30, 2016

Police set up an airbag in case the man jumped, but when he did, he missed the bag, the New York Daily News reported.

Gothamist reported that paramedics immediately began treating the man and he could be seen being placed on a stretcher.

Here's a Periscope of the incident:

Check out more photos below:

Suggest a correction

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Naked Man In Times Square Yells 'Donald Trump,' Jumps From Ledge (NSFW)

Spooky Side-By-Side Photos Teach A Quick Lesson About Car Seat Safety

A Nebraska mom's spooky Facebook post is enlightening parents about the simple yet important details in car seat safety.

Last week, Ashley Kulm posted side-by-side photos of a small decorative Halloween skeleton sitting in her daughter's car seat -- along with a safety message for parents and caregivers.

The captions reads:

A nice visual as to WHY chest clip placement is so important. Mr. Bones here is demonstrating on the left why his chest clip sucks. He would have internal bleeding to his vital organs. Mr. Bones on the right has the chest clip properly placed and his organs protected by his rib cage. Please place your child's chest clip properly with the top of the chest clip being at armpit level.

The mom's informative post reached over 20,000 shares, inspiring her to create "Mr. Bones Safety" -- a Facebook page dedicated to educating parents and caregivers about the proper use of car seats. 

Kulm told The Huffington Post that her passion for car seat safety began around the time her now-3-year-old daughter Violet was born. "I had a friend from work tell me about the Car Seats for the Littles website, and from there I absorbed every single piece of information on safety that I could get my hands on," she said. "From that moment on, I wanted to share my knowledge with friends and family as best I could."

One day, the mom hopes to get her Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) license, but for now, she is a devoted advocate who keeps up with the latest information from Car Seats for the Littles, The Car Seat lady and conversations with other child passenger safety experts. 

"I have learned a lot of valuable information that every parent, family member, care giver -- anyone who is transporting your child -- should know," said Kulm.

The mom said she purchased "Mr. Bones" at a party supply store for Halloween a few years ago, before her daughter was born. 

The idea for the side-by-side photos came when she was preparing to transport the skeleton to her office for a themed event. "He’s been through many Halloweens and has been a guinea pig for a lot of stunts, so he’s kind of falling apart now which is why one will notice his duct-taped leg," Kulm explained.

"So, as I was loading my car up with supplies for our event, I thought to myself 'what better way to transport a skeleton then my daughter’s Clek Foonf car seat?'" she added.

As the mom was buckling in the skeleton, she realized Mr. Bones offered a great visual for proper chest clip placement and took the two photos to post on Facebook. At the urging of friends and family who wanted to share the photos with their social networks, Kulm made the post public, and watched it spread from 40 shares to over 20,000 in the less than a week.

"I hope that people are able to take away the understanding of why car seat safety is so important," the mom told HuffPost, adding that there are so many other important factors beyond chest clip placement. Kulm says she urges parents to educate themselves about the proper use of car seats by reading their car seat manuals, as well as car manuals.

"An accident can happen in the blink of an eye," the mom explained, noting that car accidents are a leading cause of death for children in the U.S. 

"Nobody is a perfect parent, and it takes a village to raise a child," she added. "Together each of us can make a life saving impact on the children we love, and even the ones we do not know." 

H/T BabyCenter

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Spooky Side-By-Side Photos Teach A Quick Lesson About Car Seat Safety

Active Shooter Reported On Air Force Base In Maryland

U.S. Joint Base Andrews in Maryland was on lockdown Thursday after reports of an active shooter.

On its Twitter account, the military base reported that first responders were on the scene at the Malcolm Grow Medical Facility, and told personnel to shelter in place.

The incident was ongoing as of 9:30 a.m.

“The base was scheduled to conduct an active shooter exercise, however, reports of a real-world active shooter situation were reported at Malcolm Grow medical facility,” the base said on Twitter. 

The base was scheduled to conduct an active shooter exercise, however, reports of a real-world active shooter situation were reported.

— Joint Base Andrews (@JBA_NAFW) June 30, 2016

The incident is ongoing at the Malcolm Grow Medical Facility. First responders are on-scene now. All personnel continue to shelter in place

— Joint Base Andrews (@JBA_NAFW) June 30, 2016

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Active Shooter Reported On Air Force Base In Maryland

How to Protect Your Identity While You're Out of Town

While it's important to do everything you can to protect yourself from identity-related crime when you're traveling, it's equally important to do everything you can to protect your home and the breadcrumbs of your identity that you leave behind.

Every possible kind of identity-related crime exists in a dormant state in your home. In more forms and places and files than you can possibly remember, sensitive personal information stays behind, and only you can protect it.

Identity theft is a pandemic, and it can happen to you or your kids. Depending on how prepared you are, resolution can be as simple as a few phone calls to the identity theft service organization provided by your insurance company, financial services institution or employer, or it can take a lot longer. If you decide to go it alone, bear in mind that it's no easy task to prove you were scammed to a retailer, a credit reporting agency, a bank investigator, a debt collector, a medical provider, a judge, the IRS or local or federal authorities.

So before you leave for a ride on the EuroRail or hit the links, campground or mountain trail, be sure you aren't sharing your credit cards, identity, finances or medical files with a stranger.

What Identity Theft Looks Like

Your personally identifiable information is a basic ingredient in all stripes of identity-related crime. In the night kitchen of data crime, it's flour, and the thief's ingenuity is the yeast. The rising and baking process happens wherever your information is used to commit fraud -- a thief opens up accounts in your name with banks, credit card companies, etc. -- and the cooling rack is when a fraudulent account winds up in debt collections.

The latest report from the Federal Trade Commission provides a breakdown of the most common kinds of identity-related crime. Tax and wage-related fraud led the way last year, followed by credit card fraud and a cattle call of other crimes.

Child identity theft is another major worry. Because child ID theft takes advantage of a financial nonentity and monitoring the credit reports of minors isn't standard practice or even on the radar of most parents, it can take a long time to discover -- a fact that fraudsters literally bank on. Their information must be secure at all cost.

Before You Travel

Notify your bank, credit union and credit card providers that you are going away. This will keep your card from being frozen when you attempt to make a purchase or ATM transaction in a place outside your usual flight path. It also might help protect against invasions of your various accounts.

Since caller ID is one authentication factor used by many institutions, if a scammer has access to your home line and some of your records, they may be able to access your cash or credit. Sign up for transactional monitoring programs offered by your financial institutions so that you're notified any time there is activity in your bank or credit accounts.

Also consider freezing your credit accounts so that no one, including you, can access your credit unless you thaw it.

Make sure the post office and your newspaper delivery service know that you will be out of town, and fill out the proper forms to suspend any deliveries while you are away. Overstuffed mailboxes are thief magnets.

It's crucial to let your family members, close friends, doctors and lawyers know you will be on vacation. Folks need to know how and where to contact you if there is an emergency.

It's also a good idea to provide copies of pertinent documents to those you trust in case your sensitive personal information is stolen while you are away. Alternately, you could can scan sensitive identification documents like passports and licenses and store them on an encrypted, password-protected thumb drive, which you must keep very close. Then the only issue is remembering the (hopefully) long and strong password you use to access the data it contains.

Tell your home security company that you'll be out of town, if you use one. They need to be even more sensitive to any activity around your home. If you invite someone to stay there in your absence, alert the security company of their presence.

While You're Away

There are plenty of strategies you can implement to protect your home while you're away. Set lights on timers or find a trusted house sitter. But bear in mind, a significant percentage of identity thieves are related to or know the victim well.

Regardless if there is someone staying there or not, make sure that every document containing sensitive personal information is filed in a completely secure environment (for example, a safe) or in a safe deposit box at your bank. While this should be part of your normal best practices, it is even more important when you are not around.

If you have reason to believe you've been a victim of fraud, be sure to monitor your credit for signs of identity theft. You can view your free credit report summary, updated each month, on Credit.com.

While doing these things may seem like a great deal of work at a time when your head is in vacation mode, don't forget that no one has a greater interest in your personal and financial security than you.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

How to Protect Your Identity While You're Out of Town

Driver Cuts Off Motorcyclist, Gets Exactly What She Deserves

Share the road, folks. Especially when you don't have the right of way. 

In the clip above, a female driver can be seen rushing to beat a motorcyclist to a merge point in South Windsor, Connecticut. Instead of yielding, she drives right into the biker's lane.

With the whole thing caught on video and a cop nearby, you can see where this is going.

"The cop said he gave her two tickets; passing on the right and unsafe lane change. Somewhere between $200 to $300," the user who posted the video, crashtestdavey, wrote on reddit. "I'm more than happy with that result as she can't really fight them as they have the video too."

Check out the full incident in the clip above, but beware of some mild situation-appropriate swearing.

(h/t Mashable)

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Driver Cuts Off Motorcyclist, Gets Exactly What She Deserves

These Are America's 'Deadliest' Prosecutors

Youtube Star Calum McSwiggan Charged With Faking Own Arrest

By Maane Khatchatourian

An openly gay YouTube star was charged with filing a false police report after he claimed he was beaten outside a gay nightclub in Los Angeles, which he characterized as a hate crime.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department disputed Calum McSwiggan's claims of assault on Tuesday, saying that the vlogger injured himself in prison after being arrested on suspicion of vandalism.

The self-proclaimed LGBT lifestyle YouTuber wrote on Instagram and Facebook that he was brutally beaten by three men in West Hollywood after visiting gay club The Abbey following VidCon. He claimed he was left with three broken teeth and six stitches in his forehead.

"The authorities should have been there to help and protect me, but instead they treated me like a second-class citizen," he captioned a photo of himself bandaged in a hospital bed. "I've never felt so terrified to be a gay man in the public eye."

The L.A. County Sheriff's Department said in a statement that deputies who responded to the scene of the alleged hate crime early Monday morning "were unable to substantiate the assault."

They said McSwiggan was later arrested around 2:30 a.m. "after deputies observed him vandalizing a car." He "had no visible injuries" when he was booked for vandalism (for property damage greater than $400).

"Mr. McSwiggan's booking photo was taken prior to deputies seeing Mr. McSwiggan injuring himself," according to the sheriff's department statement. The photo shows no visible injuries.

The 26-year-old "was then observed injuring himself with the handle and receiver to a payphone" alone inside his jail cell at the West Hollywood Station. He was taken to the hospital for treatment, sheriff's officials said in a statement, and eventually released on $20,000 bail.

"I've been told to say nothing before court tomorrow, but staying silent here is killing us. If you're a friend, just DM me for the truth," McSwiggan tweeted on Tuesday.

I've been told to say nothing before court tomorrow but staying silent here is killing us. If you're a friend just DM me for the truth.

— Calum McSwiggan (@CalumMcSwiggan) June 29, 2016

On Wednesday, McSwiggan provided more detail about the alleged attack. 

"He said something about my friend Melanie and then punched me in the mouth. I blacked out quickly after this but remember being kicked in the body multiple times, I believe by all three men," McSwiggan wrote.

"In a moment of devastation, anger and blind rage I kicked the wing mirror of the attacker's car until it broke and then ripped it off with my hands. I also scratched the front of the car with the broken wing mirror before returning back to The Abbey for help."

McSwiggan was charged with the single count of falsifying a police report on Wednesday. He faces a maximum of 364 days in jail if convicted.

HuffPost contributed to this article.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Youtube Star Calum McSwiggan Charged With Faking Own Arrest

Activists Say Judge's Sentence In Immigrant's Sexual Assault Case Shows He Needs To Be Fired

Activists on Wednesday rallied outside of a meeting by the California Commission on Judicial Performance in San Francisco, demanding that Judge Aaron Persky be removed from the bench and saying a sentence he handed down to an immigrant pleading guilty to sexual assault proves Persky is unfit to remain in his job. 

Persky is facing intense scrutiny after he gave former Stanford University student Brock Turner a six-month jail term for three felony sexual assault convictions. On Monday, the Guardian reported that Persky is overseeing a plea deal that will provide a three-year prison sentence to Salvadoran immigrant Raul Ramirez for a felony charge of sexual penetration by force.

Unlike Turner, Ramirez has admitted guilt.

Several sexual assault survivors at the rally shared their stories to help explain why Persky undermines public faith in the judicial system. 

A lenient sentence, like that given to Turner, sends a message "that the system doesn't care about us," a survivor named Lindsey said.

"It's not right a black man can get 25 years or so for rape and a white man can get six months," said Tess Weleorn, who disclosed at the rally she was assaulted years ago in one of her first jobs. "We need to have equal justice and equal protection for all rape victims."

[Related: How A Former Indiana University Student Got Probation After Being Charged With 2 Rapes]

Part of the reason for the sentencing difference between the cases of Turner and Ramirez is that current California law treats a sexual assault by force of a conscious person as a more serious crime than the same attack on an unconscious person. Turner's victim was unconscious at the time.

A bill to make those two crimes of equal severity passed committee in the California legislature this week. 

"If being drunk means you deserve to be raped, then a lot of people have a serious problem," said Rachel Graff, a woman from San Diego who said at the event that a man attempted to rape her while she was unconscious shortly after she graduated from the University of California, Merced.

Wednesday's rally was organized by the women's activist group UltraViolet.

UltraViolet collected over 1,000 signatures from Stanford alumni on a letter calling for the Commission on Judicial Performance to remove Persky from the bench, and delivered more than 1.2 million signatures to the commission asking for the judge to lose his job. 

[Related: Proposed Law Inspired By Brock Turner Case Would Require Prison Time For More Rapists]

However, dozens of public defenders in the Bay Area signed an open letter last week defending Persky and saying he was doing his job under what was available to him under current state law.

An Associated Press analysis of Persky's cases concluded he often follows the sentencing recommendation of the Santa Clara County Probation Department in most cases he oversees in criminal court in Palo Alto.

The probation department report did not recommend prison time in the Turner case; it recommended a "moderate county jail sentence, formal probation, and sexual offender treatment," according to documents obtained by The Huffington Post.

______

Tyler Kingkade is a national reporter focusing on sexual violence and higher education. You can reach him at tyler.kingkade@huffingtonpost.com, or find him on Twitter: @tylerkingkade.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Activists Say Judge's Sentence In Immigrant's Sexual Assault Case Shows He Needs To Be Fired

Police Officer Jumps Out Of Helicopter To Tackle Suspect After Absurd Chase

A Texas police chase went full Hollywood when a helicopter crewman leaped out of his aircraft and dramatically tackled a suspect.

A local TV crew was flying overhead when they filmed one of two burglary suspects trying to run across a field Tuesday, Houston police said.

The suspect, identified by KPRC-TV as Henriearl Hill, was seen trying to dodge a police helicopter as well as a police SUV while on foot.

The SUV charges at him, knocking him to the ground. But the suspect gets back up and starts running again, only to be hunted down by a man in a dark jumpsuit and white helmet running from the direction of the helicopter. 

Pilot Jeff Serpas told KPRC-TV the helicopter was "maybe 2 to 3 feet off the ground" when tactical flight officer Steven Borgstedte jumped out.

Borgstedte said he was just following the plan when he carried out the Schwarzenegger-like stunt. "I directed the officer to put the helicopter down, that we were going to go get the suspect," he told KPRC-TV.

After knocking the suspect to the ground, both men get back up and Borgstedte appears to raise his fists as if ready for a fight.

The suspect instead tries one more time to run, but Borgstedte knocks him to the ground again as other officers arrive.

"My goal is, we have a suspect, a bad guy, we do whatever it takes to get them into custody," Borgstedte told The Associated Press.

The astonishing video has since gone viral and has been featured on news sites around the world.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Police Officer Jumps Out Of Helicopter To Tackle Suspect After Absurd Chase

Former Youth Inmates Proof Juvenile Reforms Work

Sang Dao and Noah Schultz were both sentenced to years in prison at 17 years old, under mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines. Fortunately for them, both had access to mentors, role models and educational opportunities - and were inspired to turn their life around and make the most of the opportunities many others don't have.

Sentenced to serve time at Oregon Youth Authority Maclaren Youth Correctional Facility, Dao took the opportunities offered by mentors and supportive staff to participate in vocational programs, as well as a research internship focused on youth rehabilitation. He also completed a Bachelor's Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Portland State University. While incarcerated, Dao acted as a mentor, including to Schultz, who was sentenced to the same facility a year later.

Schultz earned not only his high school diploma, but a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Sciences, and a B.S. in Sustainability. Both men are now free after serving their sentences, Dao having been issued clemency because of his many accomplishments, and both are now working toward juvenile justice reform.

Dao has been a program aide and Juvenile Court Counsellor Assistant for the Multnomah County Department of Community Justice Juvenile Services Division, and Schultz has been involved with the Community Peace Collaborative Forum, and is also a spoken word poet, dealing with issues around violence and prison. The Community Peace Collaborative Forum holds biweekly meetings to develop solutions, interventions, and prevention strategies to reduce violence and crime in Oregon's Multnomah County.

Both Dao and Schultz advocate for justice reform because keeping teens locked up isn't the solution, nor is the branding of teen offenders, which can be detrimental to rehabilitation, and reduction of recidivism. Juvenile offenders need mentors and educational and occupational opportunities inside corrections facilities. Schultz also outlines how juveniles need to be treated as such - not as adult offenders being pushed through the system.

Dao and Schultz are great examples of not only the factors than can lead to youth ending up in the system - difficulties at school, cultural barriers, exposure to gangs and violence - but also of how important rehabilitation and educational opportunities for incarcerated individuals are.

Currently, not all youth have the same opportunities offered to Dao and Schultz - Maclaren Youth Correctional Facility not only offers high school education, workshops, mentorship, vocational programs such as welding and woodcrafting, but also participated in Project Pooch, which sees incarcerated youths paired with a shelter dog, training them and finding them new homes.

Through such programs the Oregon Youth Authority not only gives opportunities and builds skills, but reduces recidivism and sees a return on investment. For each $1 spent on treatment in life skills training, $25 in returns is seen, and the more education a youth receives, the less likely they are to reoffend. It only makes sense, from all angles, that these programs, and other forms of support, are established. And as Dao and Schultz have shown, give the opportunities, and they will be taken.

Christopher Zoukis is the author of College for Convicts: The Case for Higher Education in American Prisons (McFarland & Co., 2014) and Prison Education Guide (Prison Legal News Publishing, 2016). He can be found online at ChristopherZoukis.com, PrisonEducation.com and PrisonLawBlog.com.

This Blogger's Books and Other Items from...

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Former Youth Inmates Proof Juvenile Reforms Work

India's Supreme Court Refuses To Hear Gay Sex Ban Challenge

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's Supreme Court refused on Wednesday to hear a petition challenging a law criminalizing gay sex, a setback for gay rights activists battling in the country's courts to get the ban overturned.

A number of well-known lesbian, gay and bisexual Indians had argued that Section 377 of India's penal code, which prohibits "carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal", undermined their fundamental rights by failing to protect their sexual preferences.

"The Supreme Court refused to hear the matter and asked the petitioners to approach the Chief Justice of India," Arvind Dattar, a lawyer for one of the petitioners, told Reuters.

India's chief justice is already hearing a separate case to strike down the ban, and India's top court has previously argued that only parliament has the power to change Section 377.

The decision is the latest setback India's gay community has faced in its fight to get a prohibition on homosexual sex overturned ever since the Supreme Court reinstated a colonial-era ban in late 2013.

That ban ended a four-year period of decriminalization that had helped bring homosexuality increasingly out into the open in a deeply conservative society.

Discrimination faced by homosexual communities across the world was thrown into sharp relief again this month after a gunman slaughtered 49 people at a gay nightclub in Florida.

Some Western countries have pressured India to overturn its ban on gay sex and respect human rights regardless of sexual orientation.

This month U.S. Ambassador Richard Verma's residence in New Delhi's leafy diplomatic quarter was lit in the colors of the rainbow in a gesture of solidarity towards victims of the Orlando massacre.

Violation of the Indian law on gay sex can result in a prison sentence of up to 10 years.

(Reporting by Tommy Wilkes and Suchitra Mohanty; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)

Let's block ads! (Why?)

India's Supreme Court Refuses To Hear Gay Sex Ban Challenge

Ex-Teacher Aide Accused Of Filming Kids Indicted On 270 Child Sex Charges

Man Accused of Tweeting Threats, Judge Orders Him To Never Tweet

Delete your account.

A Virginia judge ordered that Kyler Schmitz, an Uber driver from Virginia, "not tweet at all for any reason to anyone" after he tweeted threats to at least two U.S. senators, according to court documents filed on Monday.

Schmitz allegedly was upset by the Orlando shootings and via Twitter threatened to shoot Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.). The tweet said:

@RoyBlunt I'm going to shoot you in the head for allowing someone to murder my loved ones. http://pic.twitter.com/76Lcc6xctj

Schmitz's Twitter account -- which is now suspended -- also included tweets saying: “I am literally going to buy a gun shoot you in the face I watch your brains splat (sic)” and “I am coming for you." These messages were directed at Blunt and Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.).

The judge told Schmitz that he didn't know "how to read these tweets in any way but as threatening" and ordered he "not tweet at all for any reason to anyone." 

NEW: Judge orders Va man NOT to "tweet at all for any reason to anyone" - Man charged w/ Twitter threats at Senators http://pic.twitter.com/5O5euP4uwu

— Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) June 28, 2016

Schmitz also tweeted at the GOP's House and Senate accounts, “I can’t wait to shoot you in the face one by one,” Gawker reported.

Outside of the messages to senators, Schmitz also sent inquiring tweets (not shown here because his account is suspended) to gun shops. Their responses to him are still available online: 

@Chirperson do we deliver you the best range & shop you will ever visit then YES. If you mean do we do home delivery then sadly no.

— Bill's Gun Shop (@billsgs) June 14, 2016

Schmitz also incited a debate with the Alexandria Police Department:

@Chirperson @L Not at all. APD is the only PD that answered your numerous tweets. You control your actions and words.

— Alexandria Police (@AlexandriaVAPD) June 17, 2016

@Chirperson @L We did answer. We cannot give you a list of what & what not to say. APD doesn't censor.

— Alexandria Police (@AlexandriaVAPD) June 17, 2016

Despite Schmitz acknowledging that he did in fact send the tweets, his fiance, Paul Cianciolo, said they were meant as satire, according to an NBC affiliate.  

Schmitz's defense attorney deemed the messages as "inartful political discourse" on the issue of gun control, while U.S. Capitol Police said in a court filing that Schmitz intentionally made a "direct threat" to a U.S. senator.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Man Accused of Tweeting Threats, Judge Orders Him To Never Tweet

Hunt Underway For 10-Foot Snake Seen Feeding Near Maine Playground

Maine authorities have been searching day and night for a giant snake -- reportedly the length of a truck -- that they spotted slithering near a park and playground.

A patrolling police officer last saw the serpent, dubbed "Wessie" by locals, near Westbrook’s Riverbank Park at around 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday, the Westbrook Maine Police Department said.

“The snake was eating a large mammal, possibly a beaver (not joking),” the department posted on Facebook.

“A second officer arrived and they both watched it swim across the river to the Brown Street side of the Presumpscot River where it disappeared in the thick underbrush. They estimated its length to be at least 10 feet,” the post read.

Police noted that the snake is not native to the area, and suspect its former owner released it.

The creepy sighting came nearly a week after someone reported seeing a snake “as long as a truck” with a head “the size of a small ball” near a playground in the same area.

The officer who spotted the reptile on Wednesday wasn't able to get a good picture of it because it was so early in the morning. Fortunately, creative members of the public have stepped in to provide their own drawings and alerts.

God I think I ate too much for breakfast. Going to take about a two day nap. Hissssssssssssss.#westbrooksnake 🐍🐍🐍

— Wessie P. Thon (@WessieThon) June 29, 2016

Police say members of the public should not try to capture the snake themselves if they see it.

“We ask the public to be mindful of the snake’s presence in the area and immediately report any sightings so we can remove the animal from the river,” the police department stated.

Because the animal just polished off a large meal, it’s expected to remain dormant for a few days.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Hunt Underway For 10-Foot Snake Seen Feeding Near Maine Playground

Benghazi Committee Is STILL Doing Stuff

WASHINGTON -- A day after releasing an 800-page report that failed to pin any fresh blame on Hillary Clinton, the House Select Committee on Benghazi was back to work Wednesday, interviewing a man who allegedly used the hashtag "#ifyouvoteforhillaryyouarebeyondstupid."

The report the committee released Tuesday was not necessarily the final product, as it has a working session and a vote on whether to adopt it set for July 8.

That means there is still time for the committee to get in another interview, and Wednesday it has one with an Air Force mechanic who posted material about the Benghazi, Libya, attacks on his Facebook page, arguing that planes from his base in Europe could have intervened in time.

A spokesman for the committee said in a statement that they requested that military officials make the witness available in February, but they only did so Tuesday, leading to the late interview.

“The committee will not allow the Defense Department’s needless delays to stop it from interviewing a witness it sought to speak with several months ago," said Matt Wolking, the spokesman. "The committee’s proposed report can be updated with any new testimony when it is marked up and voted on. Chairman [Trey] Gowdy intends to release this and other witness interview transcripts once the administration clears them for public release."

Besides a hashtag condemning Clinton, Democrats on the committee say the post declared jets were not scrambled to protect Benghazi because "we have a corrupt government with disregard to human life, that looks at us as tools on the physical side of their political battles."

Republicans say the hashtag never existed. Democrats say it was removed later.

In any case, the top Democrat on the committee, Rep. Elijah Cummings (Md.), hammered the new interview as more evidence Republicans are trying to use the deaths of the four Americans killed in the 2012 attacks in an attempt to tarnish Clinton.

"Republicans are addicted to Benghazi and to exploiting this tragedy for political reasons," Cummings said in a statement. "If we needed any more evidence that this investigation was a partisan charade, now we have it. "

"One day after issuing their 'final' report, Republicans are requiring yet another witness to be flown to Washington so they can investigate his postings on social media," Cummings added. "Why in the world should the American taxpayers be forced to continue paying millions of dollars for Republicans to chase down unsubstantiated conspiracy theories against Secretary Clinton?"

The Department of Defense had objected to bringing in the airman, saying higher-ranking officers had already addressed anything he could talk about. The cost of the committee, which launched more than two years ago, is around $7 million. 

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Benghazi Committee Is STILL Doing Stuff

Orlando, We Are With You

I was in Orlando, Florida yesterday. I was there giving a morning keynote to the American Library Association convention. Because I knew I was going to be in Orlando, I reached out to the HRC who have been wonderful advocates and leaders in the immediate aftermath to see if I could be of service to the city. I wanted to thank the first responders for all for their hard, hard work, their bravery, their sacrifice.

Jennifer Foster, a longtime HRC supporter and proud member of the LGBT community in Orlando, arranged it all, and I had the privilege of meeting with Mayor Buddy Dyer, Chief of Police, John Mina, Chief of Staff, Frank Billingsley, city CFO Chris McCullion, City Council members, including openly gay Commissioner Patty Sheehan who has served as a a fierce advocate for her community, and various divisions of law enforcement -- SWAT, police, the fire department, first responders and dispatch. I was also able to go to the Orlando United Assistance Center which was set up immediately after the shooting as a place of comfort, advocacy, and resources for victims and their families. There I met with family members who still have loved ones in hospital, many in ICU, people who lost their loves and the many volunteers who are donating their time to give gentle care and get victims answers and services.

The city of Orlando will be remembered and known as a city of love, inclusion, and community.

I told them that I was speaking for all of you who are reading this. That they are loved and supported around the world. That we know of their service, sacrifice and bravery, and that the city will slowly recover, and that it will recover. That the city of Orlando will be remembered and known as a city of love, inclusion, and community. That this hateful act will NOT define them or their city but the loving response to this hatred WILL.

In fact, Orlando has had an "Ambassador of Love" for over 10 years now. They have been a leading city in diversity and tolerance so it is more shocking that this attack occurred here.

No one involved ever imagined they would be in this situation -- from the victims, their families, the volunteers and all law enforcement. The whole city feels this. The way that Orlando has come together, uniting as one, supporting each other and taking care of the fallen and their families confirms everything I have always hoped about humanity, strength and the tenacity of the human spirit.

The way that Orlando has come together confirms everything I have always hoped about humanity, strength, and the tenacity of the human spirit.

They have set up the OneOrlando Fund, info@oneorlando.org Please send a donation made out to OneOrlando Fund and mailed to OneOrlando, PO Box 4990, Orlando, FL 32802-4990 or text ORLANDO to 501501 to donate $10 to help the victims and families.

Please show your support and join me and the world when we say, we are with you, we care and most importantly, love conquers hate! #OrlandoUnited

The HRC has made this video. Please watch it and share it.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Orlando, We Are With You

Ex-TV Reporters Charged After Their Baby Tests Positive For Cocaine

Ex-Manson Follower Leslie Van Houten Should Be Denied Parole: Prosecutor

Former 'Law & Order' Director Gets 10 Years Probation For Child Pornography Charges

Jason "Jace" Alexander, a television director who worked on "Law & Order," has been sentenced to 10 years probation on child pornography charges, the Associated Press reports. 

Alexander, who was facing up to seven years in prison, received his sentence in New York on Tuesday after pleading guilty to promoting a sexual performance by a child and possessing an obscene performance by a child. 

According to a statement from the district attorney's office obtained by People, prosecutors found incriminating files on the 52-year-old's computer; the files showed minors engaged in sex acts. 

As a result of his sentencing, the director must now register as a sex offender in New York, according to the AP. 

Alexander pleaded guilty to both charges earlier this year and was released on $10,000 bail. 

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Former 'Law & Order' Director Gets 10 Years Probation For Child Pornography Charges

Suspect In Murder Of Pregnant Mother Added To FBI's 'Most Wanted' List

A Wisconsin woman suspected of fatally shooting a pregnant woman who was just days away from giving birth was added to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list, the agency said on Tuesday.

A reward of up to $100,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest of Shanika Minor, 24, who is wanted for murder in the shooting of the 23-year-old expectant mother early on the morning of March 6 in Milwaukee, the FBI said.

It said the incident began with Minor confronting the woman, who was the neighbor of Minor's mother and identified by local police as Tamecca Perry, over playing loud music at night.

During the initial confrontation, Minor brandished a gun and fired a shot into the air before leaving in her car. Minor returned hours later and sparked another confrontation at the back door of the victim's home, the FBI said.

Minor's mother stepped between her daughter and the victim, pleading with her to stop, when Minor reached over the mother's shoulder and shot Perry in the chest, the FBI said.

Perry, who was a former high school classmate of Minor, retreated into her home, where she died in front of her two children, the FBI said. The agency said the unborn child also died before paramedics arrived.

Minor then fled and has not been seen since. The FBI said Minor had no known reliable employment and is likely being helped by friends.

"Our hope is that whoever is assisting her will find the potential reward more attractive than protecting a person wanted for first-degree murder," FBI Special Agent Chad Piontek said in a statement.

"This was a senseless crime," Piontek said. "And we believe Minor is capable of more violence."

Minor is the tenth woman to be placed on the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list since its establishment in 1950, the FBI said. 

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Suspect In Murder Of Pregnant Mother Added To FBI's 'Most Wanted' List