Defense contractor ordered to pay former Abu Ghraib detainees $42 million
A federal jury has awarded three former Abu Ghraib prisoners, who were tortured at the hands of U.S. interrogators, $42 million. The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed on behalf of former detainees in 2008 against a Virginia-based defense company.
Earlier this year, a different jury couldn’t decide whether defense company CACI should be held liable for things its civilian interrogators, who worked alongside the U.S. Army in 2003 and 2004, did.
While they didn’t say the company’s interrogators explicitly inflicted the abuse themselves, the former detainees said the company was complicit because its interrogators conspired with military police to “soften up” detainees for questioning with harsh treatment.
This case marked the first time a U.S. jury heard claims brought by Abu Ghraib survivors in the 20 years since photos of detainee mistreatment — accompanied by smiling U.S. soldiers inflicting the abuse — shocked the world during the occupation of Iraq.
US National Guard member Jack Teixeira sentenced to 15 years in prison
In a criminal case prosecutors called “one of the most significant and consequential violations of the Espionage Act in American history,” a Boston judge sentenced Massachusetts Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira to 15 years in prison. This comes after he pleaded guilty to leaking top secret military documents about Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The 22-year-old Teixeira issued an apology before the sentencing, and claimed responsibility, telling the judge, “I’m at your mercy,” according to Boston journalist Bob Ward on the platform X.
Teixeira pleaded guilty in March to six counts of willful retention and transmission of national defense information. He admitted to illegally collecting and sharing classified military files with users on the social media platform Discord.
Teixeira’s attorneys argued he wasn’t trying to harm the U.S. but instead attempting to educate his friends about what he saw as “his generation’s World War II or Iraq.” They also described him as an autistic and isolated person spending most of his time online.
Prosecutors contended Teixeira still knew right from wrong, pointing to evidence Teixeira tried to cover up the crime by smashing his tablet, laptop and Xbox in a dumpster at his house.
Teixeira worked as a cyber transport systems support specialist and reportedly remains with the U.S. Air National Guard on an unpaid status, according to a U.S. Air Force official.
In the aftermath of Teixeira’s leak, the Pentagon has tightened controls on top secret information. The Biden administration was also left rushing to repair any damage to U.S diplomatic relationships and the military’s image.
Trump fills more White House roles with Rubio, Noem among likely next picks
From a new border czar to an EPA administrator to national security adviser, team Trump is taking shape. We’ve got a look at the latest names. And shareholders are suing a major restaurant chain accused of skimping on the portions. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024.
Trump fills more White House roles with Rubio, Noem among likely next picks
We are getting a clearer picture of what the incoming Trump administration will look like come January. After naming his chief of staff, border czar, and United Nations ambassador, the president-elect filled additional key roles on Monday, Nov. 11, as more names surface for other cabinet positions.
President-elect Trump tapped Stephen Miller as his deputy chief of staff of policy. Miller was a senior adviser during Trump’s first administration and is a staunch supporter of deporting undocumented immigrants.
Former New York Congressman Lee Zeldin is Trump’s pick for Environmental Protection Agency administrator. He also ran for governor in 2022.
In a post on X, Zeldin wrote, “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI. We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water.”
It is an honor to join President Trump’s Cabinet as EPA Administrator.
We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI. We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water. https://t.co/FQk9XPdgcw
Some of the other names who will reportedly be joining Trump’s White House include Florida Congressman and retired Army National Guard officer Mike Waltz as national security adviser. The war veteran would be responsible for briefing the president on important national security issues and coordinating with various agencies.
Senator Marco Rubio is reportedly in line for the position of secretary of state. Once formally announced, the Florida lawmaker would be the first Latino to serve as America’s top diplomat.
In May, a jury found Trump guilty in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election by paying a porn actor who claimed she had sex with trump to keep quiet. Now, Judge Juan Merchan must decide whether to uphold the conviction, order a new trial or dismiss the indictment entirely.
In July, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled presidents have broad immunity from criminal prosecution for “official acts,” though they did not specify what those acts include. While Trump was a private citizen when the so-called “hush money” payment was made, he had taken office by the time his then-lawyer Michael Cohen was reimbursed for the payment.
The judge was set to make the ruling in September but put it off to “avoid any appearance” he was trying to sway this year’s election.
If the verdict is upheld sentencing is set for Nov. 26.
Republicans make more gains as control of the US House remains undecided
That makes 214 Republican seats to the Democrats’ 203 with 18 races yet to be called. The magic number for either party is 218.
Of those still undecided races, 11 are considered key to controlling the House. Republicans currently lead the vote count in eight of them.
That puts Republicans within striking distance of controlling both chambers of Congress after the GOP flipped the Senate in last week’s election.
Democrats did score a win in the Senate Monday, though, with Ruben Gallego defeating Trump ally Kari Lake to become Arizona’s first Latino senator.
The Senate race in Pennsylvania remains the only one uncalled, though Republican Dave McCormick does have the slight lead over Democratic incumbent Bob Casey. McCormick declared victory, and some Republicans already said they’d to host him in Washington on Wednesday. Nov. 13, for orientation. Casey, however, said he wants every vote counted.
New Zealand’s leader apologizes to victims of state-run, faith-based abuse
New Zealand’s prime minister formally apologized to the country’s parliament Tuesday for the widespread abuse, torture and neglect of hundreds of thousands of children and vulnerable adults in state, foster and faith-based care.
It comes after a scathing report released in July detailed seven decades of “unimaginable” abuse, which disproportionately impacted the Māori, New Zealand’s indigenous people.
“Today, I stand before you as the representative of not only this government but of all the governments that have gone before us to offer a formal and unreserved apology for the abuse that you suffered while in state care, churches and other faith-based places,” Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said. “For many of you it changed the course of your life, and for that, the government must take responsibility.”
The report on the six-year investigation called the findings a “national disgrace” and for the first time, New Zealand’s government acknowledged the issues. Luxon said his administration is working on more than two dozen of the 138 recommendations that came from that report.
Richard Allen found guilty in 2017 murders of 2 teenage girls
Allen was arrested in 2022, five years after investigators found 13-year-old Abigail Williams and 14-year-old Liberty German dead near a trail.
The jury spent 19 hours deliberating before coming to its verdict on Monday.
The Associated Press has reported Allen could be sentenced to up to 130 years in prison. His sentencing is set for Dec. 20.
Shareholders sue Chipotle over damage from portion size controversy
Shareholders have sued the restaurant chain Chipotle after it failed to disclose the number of locations that were cutting portion sizes.
In the proposed class action suit filed in California Monday, shareholders claim the chain failed to disclose that customers were unhappy with the inconsistent portion sizes of its burritos and burrito bowls. It alleges once customers spoke out on social media and Chipotle had to correct the matter, it hurt margins causing the stock price to fall.
Shareholders are seeking unspecified damages for anyone who bought into the company between Feb. 8 and Oct. 29, 2024.
The suit was filed on the same day Chipotle named Interim Chief Executive Officer Scott Boatwright its permanent CEO.
Forced prison labor will stay in California after ballot measure fails
Californians rejected a state ballot initiative in which would have eliminated involuntary servitude for those serving prison sentences. Nearly 54% of voters rejected Proposition 6. The Associated Press reported that 72% of the vote has been counted so far.
Some residents refer to the conditions in the state’s prisons as modern-day slavery or forced labor.
Jobs given to prisoners may net them less than $1 an hour. Declining these jobs can even reportedly cause delays in parole eligibility or other severe consequences.
Instead of involuntary work assignments, Proposition 6 would have encouraged prisons to set up a volunteer work assignment program, taking time off sentences in the form of credits. Cities and counties would have also been encouraged to set up pay scales for inmates.
This proposition wasn’t the only reform initiative in front of voters on Election Day. Proposition 36, the “tough-on-crime” measure, voters overwhelmingly backed the legislation, passing with nearly 70% of voter’s support.
According to the California Legislative Analyst’s Office, Proposition 36 will change a number of things in the state. Some misdemeanors will become felonies for those with past convictions. The proposal will also lengthen some felony sentences, like theft or damage of property and some felonies are now required to be served in prison, such as sentences for selling certain drugs.
Advocates for Proposition 6 said voters were not educated enough about the measure and had a hard time separating it from Proposition 36. California would have joined 15 other states which have already closed forced labor loopholes.
Nevada voted to close the a loophole, with around 60% of voters supporting the measure on Election Day in 2024. It removed language from the state’s constitution, which allowed slavery and indentured servitude as a type of punishment.
DOJ indicts 48 suspected members of Sinaloa cartel after series of drugs raids
Federal authorities have seized tens of millions of dollars worth of methamphetamine in raids across California, Arizona and Nevada. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Wednesday, Nov. 7, that it has charged 48 suspected members of the Sinaloa cartel with distributing meth, fentanyl, heroin and cocaine.
Authorities say that they found more than 8,000 pounds of methamphetamine with a street value reportedly around $72 million, in addition to firearms.
The DOJ says nearly 150 federal, state and local law enforcement officials arrested 25 suspects and performed 15 search warrants in Imperial County, California, Yuma, Arizona, and Las Vegas, Nevada. Law enforcement officials say that 23 of the suspects connected to the crimes are still on the loose.
Charges in the DOJ indictments include drug trafficking, conspiracy and bulk cash smuggling. If convicted, the charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life behind bars, in addition to a $10 million fine.
U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath said in a statement that the arrests and seizure of drugs is an extreme blow to a major drug-trafficking network.
The Sinaloa cartel is one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations and has long-controlled drug routes into the United States.
The branch of the Sinaloa cartel charged in the indictment is linked to a drug lord known as “El Mayo,” who is currently being held in New York, which operates out of Imperial Valley and Mexicali, Mexico.
Othel Moore’s family releases video showing his death in a Missouri prison
The family of Othel Moore released a new video Tuesday, Oct. 30, showing the last moments of his life before he died in a cell. Moore was incarcerated at the Jefferson City Correctional Center in Missouri, passing away in December 2023.
“We are here because on December 8, 2023, a 38-year-old Black man was unjustifiably killed at the Jefferson City Correctional Facility,” Andrew Stroth, Moore’s family attorney, said at a news conference Tuesday, Oct. 29. “Last Thursday, October 24, we filed an amended 15-count federal civil rights complaint detailing this unjustified and brutal murder of Othel Moore.”
In the video, Moore is restrained with a spit mask covering his face, his hands behind his back and his legs bound together. He is placed in a small cell while guards look on from outside. He sat motionless for about 10 minutes before a nurse checked on him.
Four prison workers have pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder. Stroth claims the prison workers sprayed Moore with pepper spray and forced him into a position where he suffocated to death. He compares Moore’s death to that of George Floyd, saying prison workers and inmates witnessed Moore crying out, “I can’t breathe.”
“Thirty agonizing minutes of Othel in a dry room or dayroom struggling to breathe,” Stroth said. “Struggling to survive for over 30 minutes.”
Stroth also criticized the medical staff for their lack of urgency in helping Moore.
“The other very disturbing aspect of this case is the lack of care by Centurion Health,” he said. “The medical staff that on every step in this situation failed to protect and preserve and respect the sanctity of Othel’s health.”
Moore’s family has filed wrongful death lawsuits.
The prison released a statement in June saying the restraint used on Moore was “designed to prevent injury to himself and others” and that the department has since “discontinued use of the restraint system in which Moore was held.”
“We have taken and will continue to take steps necessary to mitigate safety risks to everyone in our facilities,” the statement read.
Prison guards told investigators that Moore was not listening to commands and was spitting at them. At the time of his death, Moore was serving a 30-year sentence for domestic assault, drug possession, robbery, armed criminal action and violence against a Department of Corrections inmate or employee.
With six days until the election, former President Donald Trump stumped in Allentown, Pennsylvania as Vice President Kamala Harris delivered her “closing argument.” We have what each said about what’s at stake next Tuesday. Also, details on what happened after a gunman opened fire from a hotel in Atlanta. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
Harris gives closing argument as Trump addresses Biden’s comments
Some twists on the campaign trail with under a week to go now to Election Day and already more than 50 million ballots cast. Both presidential candidates gave dueling speeches Tuesday night, Oct. 29.
The Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris delivered what she described as her “closing argument” to the American people near the White House as the Republican nominee former President Donald Trump looked to court Latino voters in the battleground state of Pennsylvania.
During her address at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., the vice president emphasized its significance as the same site where former President Trump spoke to his supporters right before the riots on the capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
“So tonight, I will speak to everyone about the choice and stakes in this election,” she said. “Look, we know who Donald Trump is. He is the person who stood at this very spot nearly four years ago and sent an armed mob to the United States Capitol to overturn the will of the people in a free and fair election.”
The vice president also told voters she will seek common ground, saying she will give those who disagree with her a “seat at the table.”
“As Americans, we rise and fall together,” she said. “America, for too long, we have been consumed with too much division, chaos and mutual distrust. And it can be easy then to forget a simple truth: it doesn’t have to be this way. It doesn’t have to be this way. We have to stop pointing fingers and start locking arms.”
In Pennsylvania, former President Trump reached out to voters during a rally in the majority Hispanic town of Allentown.
“I’m here today with a message of hope for all Americans,” he said. “With your vote this election — oh, do I look forward to this election. We — I’m going to say ‘we’ because we are going to do it as a group. We will end inflation. Wwe will stop the invasion of criminals into our country. And we will bring back the American dream. We’re doing it together, Pennsylvania.”
During his rally, the former president asked his supporters to vote and send in their mail-in ballots early, saying “they’ve already cheated” in the state — a reference to law enforcement in Lancaster County announcing they were investigating around 2,500 voter registration forms for alleged fraud.
Trump turned his attention to President Joe Biden after Florida Sen. Marco Rubio joined him on stage.
“I wasn’t going to say anything, but I have breaking news for you Mr. President,” Rubio told Trump. “You may not have heard this: just moments ago, Joe Biden stated that our supporters are garbage, are garbage. He’s talking about the border patrol, he’s talking about nurses, he’s talking about teachers, he’s talking about everyday Americans who love their country and want to dream big again and support you Mr. President.”
“Remember Hillary [Clinton], she said ‘deplorable’ and then she said ‘irredeemable,’ right?” Trump responded. “But she said ‘deplorable.’ That didn’t work out. Garbage, I think, is worse right?”
What they were referring to were comments made by President Biden during a Voto Latino campaign call Tuesday night. Biden spoke about the comedian who made controversial jokes about Puerto Rico during Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally over the weekend.
“Just the other day, a speaker at his rally called Puerto Rico a ‘floating island of garbage,’” the president said. “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters.”
The White House issued a statement saying, “The president referred to the hateful rhetoric at the Madison Square Garden rally as ‘garbage.’” President Biden himself followed up on his comments with a post on X saying, “Earlier today I referred to the hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico spewed by Trump’s supporter at his Madison Square Garden rally as garbage…the comments at that rally don’t reflect who we are as a nation.”
During an appearance on Fox News Tuesday night, Trump told host Sean Hannity nobody from his campaign vetted the comedian before the MSG rally.
As it pertains to the alleged voter fraud in Pennsylvania, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro told CNN there will be safe elections in the state and when asked about Biden’s “garbage” comment, Shapiro said, “It’s certainly not the words I would choose.”
Supreme Court rules RFK Jr. will remain on ballot in 2 swing states
It was unlikely the Supreme Court would have ruled in his favor, because voting is already underway in both states. Kennedy’s name also remains on the ballot in some other states, but he did not ask the Supreme Court to take it off anywhere but Wisconsin and Michigan in an apparent move to secure more voters for his ally Trump.
Steve Bannon spends first day out of prison stumping for Trump
Longtime Trump ally Steve Bannon wasted no time showing his support for the former president after being released from prison early Tuesday morning. Bannon just finished serving a four-month sentence for defying a subpoena from Congress during its investigation into the U.S. Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021.
Bannon’s first order of business was to resume his podcast “WarRoom.” He then held a news conference urging Republicans to turn out in droves to vote for Trump on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
“I’ve been empowered by my four months at Danbury Federal Prison,” Bannon said during the news conference.
He added, “Obviously with seven days or six days left, you have to have a convergence of the get out the vote effort. I am not a huge believer in our ability to actually participate in rallies or do rallies because right now I think President Trump does great and he has people long there are going to do rallies in the different states. Our focus is one thing to make sure that we get as many American citizens, either early voting when they can or to the polls next Tuesday.”
He has pleaded not guilty to money laundering, conspiracy, fraud and other charges. His trial in that case is scheduled to begin in December.
Paul Pelosi attacker sentenced to life term on state charges
A judge sentenced the man who broke into former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s northern California home and attacked her husband, Paul, with a hammer to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
David DePape, 44, was already serving 30 years in federal prison for the attack when a San Francisco jury found him guilty of multiple state charges in June.
Both the prosecution and defense said the life without parole sentence will be served concurrently with DePape’s federal sentence. It has not yet been determined where he will serve his punishment.
Suspect in custody after shots fired at Atlanta Four Seasons
A police officer and a suspected shooter are recovering after gunfire broke out at a building that houses a Four Seasons Hotel and residences in Atlanta Tuesday. The Atlanta police chief said the officer was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
UPDATE: Barricaded Gunman turned Active Shooter Situation Zone 5 at 75 14th Street Sound from Mayor Andre Dickens & Chief Darin Schierbaumhttps://t.co/TjSDcj3YTj
Authorities say the man fired at least once from the balcony of a residence on the 33rd floor of the 53-story high-rise building. They say he also shot through walls and doors, but no other injuries were reported.
Police said the suspect lives in the residential portion of the building and was not a guest at the Four Seasons hotel portion.
Yankees deny Dodgers a World Series sweep with Game 4 win
Despite another Freddie Freeman home run — becoming the first player to homer in games 1, 2, 3, and 4 — the Yankees crushed the Dodgers 11-4 in Game 4 Tuesday night in the Bronx, highlighted by three home runs including a grand slam by shortstop Anthony Volpe.
The game also featured an odd moment when Yankees fans tried to pry a foul ball out of the glove of Dodgers’ Mookie Betts. The fans were escorted from their seats by stadium security after that play.
The 11 runs were the most by the Yankees in a World Series game since Game 5 of the 1978 series when they scored 12 against the Dodgers.
Now the Yankees are hoping to do what no other team has done in Major League Baseball history: come back from being down 3-0 in the Fall Classic to win it all.
The Dodgers still just need one more win to claim the championship.
Calif. proposal aims to ban involuntary servitude in prisons
A proposal on California’a ballot could end what critics call government-sanctioned slavery in prisons. The state is one of 20 where incarcerated people can be forced to do work ranging from kitchen and janitorial duties to fighting wildfires. They typically make less than $1 per hour.
California State Rep. Lori Wilson, D, and the state’s legislative Black caucus are behind Proposition 6, which would stop forced labor as a criminal punishment in the state’s prisons and prevent inmates who refuse to work from being penalized.
The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution did abolish slavery and involuntary servitude more than a century ago, but not for people who have been convicted of crimes.
Wilson’s proposal would allow inmates to choose their jobs and give them access to programs she says would help them thrive. Supporters of Proposition 6 say forcing inmates to work is both a moral issue and a public safety concern.
However, they’re struggling to explain the proposal to voters, as another crime-related measure, Proposition 36, gets a lot of attention. This other proposition would increase penalties for repeat offenders of certain theft and drug-related crimes.
While the two measures aren’t directly connected, backers of Proposition 6 are worried their measure will get lost in the tough-on-crime theme of the “Yes on 36” campaign.
Department of Justice launches operation at NYC jail housing Diddy
Federal investigators from two agencies reportedly launched an “interagency operation” on Monday, Oct. 28, at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Both Sean “Diddy” Combs and former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried are housed in the facility.
The agencies involved include the U.S. Department of Justice and the Bureau of Prisons, both revealing little about the reasons for the operation. They say that it is to ensure safety for both employees and inmates at the facility.
Federal authorities say the exact nature of the operation will not be revealed until it is complete, citing security interests. The agencies maintained that the actions were preplanned and there is “no active threat.”
The probe comes as the jail faces criticism for reportedly abhorrent conditions, widespread violence and multiple deaths. The DOJ and Bureau of Prisons previously vowed to fix the problems at the jail and enhance accountability.
Federal prosecutors charged nine inmates last month in connection with a series of attacks from April to August, including two inmates who were stabbed to death and another pierced through the spine with a makeshift icepick. Separately, a correctional officer is accused of shooting at a car during a high-speed chase that was unauthorized.
Prisoners have reportedly long complained over the conditions at the jail and claim they are barred from leaving their cells for showers, exercise, visits and calls. The facility is also reportedly plagued by rampant drug and contraband smuggling, sometimes organized by employees.
Egypt proposes cease-fire, prisoner swap to ease Gaza’s devastation
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has proposed a plan aimed at reducing violence in Gaza, calling for a brief truce, a prisoner exchange and renewed peace talks between Hamas and Israel. The proposal, announced by al-Sisi, includes releasing four Israeli hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
He suggested that broader cease-fire discussions could follow within 10 days of a temporary truce.
Hamas and Israel have not yet responded officially. However, sources close to the mediation effort indicate that while Hamas may consider the offer, it remains focused on securing an Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza.
The United Nations has described conditions in northern Gaza as “unbearable.” Officials pointed to severe shortages of food, medical supplies and essential services.
An Israeli airstrike on a refugee camp in Jabalia killed 20 people, according to officials. A different strike killed nine sheltering in a school.
According to Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry, the ongoing conflict has led to over 43,000 Palestinian deaths. About 90% of Gaza’s population has been displaced.
Egypt has been spearheading mediation efforts, with support from the United States and Qatar. The success of the proposal hinges on responses from both Israel and Hamas, as negotiators aim to establish a temporary cease-fire lasting up to a month, setting the stage for more permanent peace discussions.