Republican cracks of support for Donald Trump became apparent when Trump announced withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria. These actions unilaterally left the Syrian people faced with hostile take- over, displacement and killing of Kurds by Turkish military forces. This set of circumstances led Trump to reconsider his impulsive move. Vice President Pence announced a cease fire agreement on Thursday, October 17. Less than 24 hours later, Turkey resumed business of firing as usual. Up to now, Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell’s iron hand kept Republican Senators in line with protecting Trump. Could these new events be the straw that helps break the GOP’s elephant back? There is also something known as karma—what comes around goes around. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R. KY) once declared that his main goal was to make President Obama a one-term president. He failed to succeed. He did succeed on his promise to deny a Supreme Court seat vacancy to President Obama as a … [Read more...] about Mitch McConnell’s Chickens may be Soon Coming Home to Roost
LegalSpeaks Blog
Confessions of a Corrupt President by His Chief of Staff
Acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney spoke during Thursday's White House briefing about Donald Trump’s phone call to the Ukrainian president. Mulvaney made it clear that Donald Trump demanded information or an agreement to investigate the Biden’s, Hunter and Joe Biden, in exchange for the release of U.S. aid monies to the Ukrainian people. Mulvaney almost seemed defiant in the remarks stating “Get over it. There’s going to be political influence in foreign policy.” Mulvaney spoke better about Trump's corruption and abuse of power than Richard Nixon did during Watergate. Mulvaney confessed openly and proudly. I know an admission or confession from my days as a former prosecutor. And Mulvaney’s remarks amount to a confession of wrongdoing by Donald Trump. He stated Trump froze aid to the Ukrainian country in exchange for an investigation to find dirt on Hunter Biden and Joe Biden. The remark shows there was a quid pro quo by the Trump administration. No … [Read more...] about Confessions of a Corrupt President by His Chief of Staff
My Tribute on the Passing of Rep. Elijah Cummings
I woke up early today to a text message on the sad news that Rep. Elijah Cummings (D. MD) passed early this morning. Elijah was a husband to Maya Rockeymoore, father, brother, lawmaker and friend to many persons, including myself. Just about everyone in Baltimore has an Elijah Cummings story. I am no exception. Many persons call Rep. Cummings by first name as he gave the impression that he was everyone’s friend. For this article, I will refer to him as I knew him—simply as Elijah. I first met Elijah when I graduated from law school. I didn’t know lawyers with whom I could seek advice. I personally didn’t know any lawyers. Elijah was a family friend who agreed to meet with me to discuss preparing for the Maryland bar exam and on becoming a lawyer. I expected it to be a one- time meeting. However, it turned into a lifetime of mentorship to me. He assisted me with tips on taking and passing the bar exam. I believe that due to his mentorship, I passed the Maryland bar on the first try. … [Read more...] about My Tribute on the Passing of Rep. Elijah Cummings
Atatiana Jefferson Deserves Justice
The murder of Atatiana Jefferson, cut me through the core. It was the most recent killing of an African American by a white police officer while relaxing in her Forth Worth, Texas home playing video games with her 8 year- old nephew. I had hardly recovered from the trial of Amber Guyger murdering Botham Jean in his Dallas home when this incident occurred. In the early morning hours on October 5, a police officer, now fired, went to Jefferson’s home to do a wellness check at the bequest of her neighbor. Instead of checking on her well-being, the officer shot her to death. If the officer had been a drug dealer or a burglar peering through her window and firing at her, it would be considered an assassination. I consider the cowardly act of this police officer to be an assassination of an innocent young woman, not yet 30 years old. We can’t continue to have black lives taken at the hands of trigger- happy police who fear African Americans. There must be accountability both before an … [Read more...] about Atatiana Jefferson Deserves Justice
N.Y. Judge Orders Release of Trump Tax Returns
A federal judge rejected Donald Trump’s claim that he is immune from an investigation surrounding a subpoena for his tax returns from 2011 to the present. It may be the beginning of the end of Trump’s denials on releasing his tax returns. During the 2016 presidential campaign and afterwards, Trump asserted that an IRS audit prevented him from releasing his tax returns. In September 2019, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance subpoenaed eight years of Trump’s tax returns prepared through his accounting firm. A Grand Jury sought the returns to ascertain whether Trump committed any violations of New York law in relation to 2016 hush money repayments stemming from the Stormy Daniels payments by former attorney Michael Cohen. Trump filed a lawsuit to block any actions to obtain his tax records, including the Grand Jury subpoena of his accounting firm and the Trump Organization. Trump’s asserts that as president of the U.S., absolute immunity prevents any criminal investigations … [Read more...] about N.Y. Judge Orders Release of Trump Tax Returns
SCOTUS May End Abortion, DACA and LGBTQ Rights
The Supreme Court announced that it will hear several controversial and highly political cases during its upcoming term. These cases include abortion rights, employment rights for LGBTQ persons, immigration rights under “DACA” (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and gun rights/gun control. In weighing the outcomes on these issues, the Supreme Court may vote along political party lines. Trump’s nominations and appointment of Justices Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh to the conservative block may determine the fate of these issues. The justices will hear a Louisiana abortion case as the first case among the recent conservative abortion restriction cases—in the early 2020 term. Among the many recent conservative/restrictive abortion laws passed, it will be the first test abortion test case to be decided with the all new majority of Supreme Court conservative justices appointed by Trump. The Louisiana law would require that a doctor performing an abortion have admitting privileges to a … [Read more...] about SCOTUS May End Abortion, DACA and LGBTQ Rights