Judge Dismisses Hammer Attacker Case Because Victim Wanted to Wear Covid Mask During Testimony

A judge in Oregon (of course) agreed to dismiss charges against a hammer attack suspect because the victim wanted to wear a Covid mask while testifying, and that is apparently a violation of the defendant’s right to face his accuser. Originally charged in 2015 for the incident, Pedro Sanchez Jr, now 59, was convicted of second degree assault in 2017 on a 10-2 jury verdict, and was sentenced to 6 years in state prison. But the Oregon Supreme Court overturned the ruling this past summer after the federal Supreme Court ruled that Oregon can no longer convict on 10-2 jury votes. The case was remanded to a retrial.

The victim, Heather Fawcett, had been in fear of Sanchez, as he had vowed to hunt her and her dog down. She cares for her senior parents, who are immune compromised, and she refuses to go anywhere without her Covid mask on. This came to a head when she informed the courts that she would testify while wearing the mask. Sanchez’s attorney, D. Olcott Thompson, filed a motion for dismissal, arguing that this violations Sanchez’s 6th Amendment rights

In response, deputy district attorney Michelle Enfield apparently did a craptastic job of explaining the situation, as Judge Jennifer Chapman, a former attorney for labor unions, granted the motion to dismiss the case, but then said she didn’t fully understand what was going on.

KGW reports:

Heather Fawcett is living in fear in Yamhill County. That’s because the man once convicted of hitting her in the head with a sledgehammer walked out of prison on Monday.

“Last thing he said to me was, ‘I’ll kill you and your dog someday,'” said Fawcett between tears. “I just have to be careful, be aware, carry mace and hope.”

Fawcett’s is a complicated case.

Its most recent twist wraps around defendants’ rights laws and COVID-19. Back in 2016, a Yamhill County jury voted 10-2 to convict Pedro Sanchez of second-degree assault in the alleged attack against Fawcett. He was sentenced to almost six years in prison. But last year, that conviction was overturned after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Oregon could no longer allow convictions on jury verdicts that weren’t unanimous. A retrial was scheduled for Monday, Jan. 25. Leading up to it, Fawcett said she made concerns over COVID-19 safety clear to Yamhill County Court officials.

“I told them four months ago I would not enter any courtroom without a mask on under any circumstances, no matter what happened,” Fawcett said.

Fawcett said Sanchez then filed a motion requesting Fawcett not wear a mask during the trial. The judge granted it under Sanchez’s right to meet his accuser face-to-face.

In a statement, Yamhill County Judge Jennifer Chapman told KGW she didn’t know Fawcett had safety concerns about testifying without a mask.

Fawcett, who cares for her parents who are both over 65, said she wouldn’t risk their health or hers by going mask-less in the courtroom. She also said the District Attorney’s office told her a clear mask wouldn’t arrive in time for the trial.

On Monday morning, when Fawcett didn’t show up to court, the state filed a motion to dismiss the case because of no witness availability. Judge Chapman granted the motion, but again said at the time she didn’t know why Fawcett was a no-show. Later that day, Pedro Sanchez walked out of prison.

It should also be pointed out that Governor Kate Brown’s mask order remains in effect.

Though it’s difficult to confirm if it’s the same guy, according to court records a Pedro Sanchez with the same birth year has had many previous run-ins with the law in Oregon, and happened to have no cases filed during the time he was serving his prison sentence:

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/02/judge-dismisses-hammer-attacker-case-victim-wanted-wear-covid-mask-testimony/

These are the words colleges don't want you to say

Amid a nationwide movement to remove statue and symbols in the name of social justice, colleges have begun banning certain words and phrases.

Campus Reform rounded up examples of the words and phrases that have been banned by some colleges.

Amid a nationwide movement to remove statues, symbols, and words in the name of inclusion, Campus Reform rounded up recent examples of words that have been banned on college campuses.

1. MSU eliminates the terms 'foreign' and 'alien'

Michigan State University announced it would no longer use the terms “foreign” and “alien” in order to create a more inclusive environment. In October, Provost Teresa Woodruff addressed the Associated Students of MSU general assembly to announce the new “non-pejorative” language. Woodruff stated that moving forward, international students should be referred to as “non-domestic” or “international” to help “create a culture of not us vs. them, but of each other.”

1. UPitt scraps “homecoming king” and “homecoming queen” titles

After the University of Pittsburgh’s Alumni Association called for a policy change to end the use of the terms “king” and “queen,” the university announced in October that it will no longer use the traditional titles. Vice Chancellor for Alumni Relations Nancy Merritt called the terms “antiquated” language. Instead, the school will provide a “Spirt of Pitt" award to homecoming royalty.

1. UC tells students ‘do not’ say ‘Chinese Virus' and do not allow others to say it

In March, the University of California’s Council of Chief Diversity officers released a “guidance document” regarding how to hold a “positive and inclusive” campus climate during the pandemic. The list tells students and faculty to “reject racism, sexism, xenophobia and all hateful or intolerant speech, both in person and online.” It also instructs students to not use terms such as “Chinese Virus” and to not allow the use of these terms by others.

1. UVA instructor wants to ban the term ‘student-athlete’

An instructor at the University of Virginia called to abolish the phrase “student-athlete," claiming it has "arguably racial" undertones. In an op-ed, Molly Harry defended calling the term racially charged by saying that “today, the majority of revenue-producing athletes in the sports of football and men’s basketball are Black. They are coached mostly by White men.” She also pointed out that the man who coined the term student-athlete was a White man.

1. Vanderbilt lists "sexual reassignment surgery" as an "outdated" term

In December, Vanderbilt University published a "Gender Affirmation Toolkit" for its employees in an effort to create a safe work environment. The toolkit explains how to properly use terms like "gender identity," "gender expression," and "sexual orientation.” It also listed "sexual reassignment surgery" on its list of "outdated" and "demeaning" words.

1. Leading ‘anti-racist’ prof calls the term ‘legal vote’ ‘racist’

In November, Boston University's Director of the Center for Anti-Racist Research Ibram Kendi said the phrase "legal vote" is racist. He said it is "as fictionally fraught and functionally racist as the terms 'illegal alien' and 'race neutral' and 'welfare queen' and 'handouts' and 'super predator' and 'crackbaby' and 'personal responsibility' and 'post racial."

"The misinformation of widespread voter fraud—or 'illegal voting' —in Detroit, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Phoenix where Black and Brown voters predominate is baked into the term 'legal vote,'" Kendi added. "No matter what GOP propaganda says, there’s nothing wrong with those voters and votes."

https://campusreform.org/?id=16731

https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1357025133219700737

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

@AOC

This is the latest manipulative take on the right.

They are manipulating the fact that most people don’t know the layout the Capitol complex.

We were all on the Capitol complex - the attack wasn’t just on the dome.

The bombs Trump supporters planted surrounded our offices too.

SPINELESS: Kevin McCarthy Says MTG Endorsed ‘Political Violence,’ ‘Anti-Semitic Conspiracy Theories,’ Caused ‘Deep Wounds To Many’

McCarthy "unequivocally" condemns statements by Marjorie Taylor Greene without specifying what those statements are

House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) villified Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) in a statement released Wednesday, “unequivocally” condemning her for statements about Democrat politicians that he claims “have caused deep wounds to many” and “do not represent the values or beliefs of the House Republican Conference.”

McCarthy’s statement comes as House Democrats push to oust Greene from her committee posts after taking offense at her political views, which are in alignment of with most of the 74 million Americans who voted for President Donald Trump.

“Past comments from and endorsed by Marjorie Taylor Greene on school shootings, political violence, and anti-Semitic conspiracy theories do not represent the values or beliefs of the House Republican Conference,” McCarthy’s statement declared. “I condemn those comments unequivocally. I condemned them in the past. I continue to condemn them today. This House condemned QAnon last Congress and continues to do so today.”

It is unclear what “anti-Semitic conspiracy theories” McCarthy is referencing, as National File could not uncover any statements of the sort made by Greene. Twitters users circulated the false rumor that Greene blamed wildfires on a “Jewish space laser” earlier this month, but Greene has never publicly used such language.

“I understand that Marjorie’s comments have caused deep wounds to many and as a result, I offered Majority Leader Hoyer a path to lower the temperature and address these concerns,” McCarthy added.

The backlash from House Democrats’ desperate attempt to have Greene stripped of her committee assignments has resulted in a similar campaign by Republicans to remove Rep. Ilhan Omar (R-MN) from her respective committee posts, citing Omar’s history of making historically ignorant and false statements.

McCarthy has previously defended Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) who has been censured in her home state for supporting a bizarre impeachment attempt against a President who is no longer in office.

Despite his condemnation of Greene, McCarthy stated that he would be pursuing disciplinary actions against her, much to the dismay of House Democrats.

https://nationalfile.com/spineless-kevin-mccarthy-says-mtg-endorsed-political-violence-anti-semitic-conspiracy-theories-caused-deep-wounds-to-many/

Iran’s Foreign Minister Applauds Iraq’s Arrest Warrant for Trump Over Soleimani Killing

Tensions between the US and Iran has been high since the US assassinated top Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC) Quds Force, in Iraq on January 3, 2020.

In a recent statement, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif commended an Iraqi court’s decision to order the arrest of former US president Donald Trump for the assassination of top Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, an Iraqi leader and commander of the Popular Mobilization Committee, who was also assassinated on January 3, 2020, by the US.

“Putting an end to the presence of US forces in the region would be the best response to this terrorist act,” Zarif is quoted as saying during a Wednesday meeting with Iraqi Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein in Tehran, PressTV reported.

Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), also applauded the arrest order issued by the Iraqi court for Trump on Wednesday.

“We must not allow the blood of the martyrs Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and Qassem Soleimani to go in vain, and organizers as well as perpetrators of this terrorist crime must be prosecuted and severely punished,” Ali Shamkhani said in a meeting with the Iraqi foreign minister in Tehran.

The arrest warrant against Trump was issued by a judge in Baghdad’s investigative court on January 7, AP News reported at the time.

Under the Iraqi penal code, those who commit premeditated murder may face the death penalty.

According to the Supreme Judicial Council, the decision to issue the warrant was made “after the judge recorded the statements of the claimants from the family of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis,” AP reported.

Relations between Israel and Iran have also been particularly poor after top Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was killed, reportedly by a remote-controlled machine gun, east of Tehran on November 27, 2020.

According to Iran’s Supreme National Security Agency, Israeli spy agency Mossad and the People's Mujahedin Organization, an Iranian political-militant organization, were involved in Fakhrizadeh’s killing. Israel, however, has not claimed responsibility for Fakhrizadeh's death.

https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/202102031081973701-irans-foreign-minister-applauds-iraqs-arrest-warrant-for-trump-over-soleimani-killing/

US State Department Says Disturbed by Reports About Systematic Rape in China’s Xinjiang

The US Department of State has expressed its disturbance over the reports about systematic rape and sexual abuse in camps for Uyghurs and other Muslims in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

“We are deeply disturbed by reports, including first-hand testimony, of systematic rape and sexual abuse against women in internment camps for ethnic Uyghurs and other Muslims in Xinjiang. People’s Republic of China (PRC) authorities should allow for immediate and independent investigations by international observers into these shocking allegations, in addition to the other atrocities being committed in Xinjiang,” the department said in a statement on late Wednesday.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has once again described the situation in Xinjiang as genocide.

“The United States calls upon the leaders of the PRC to immediately release all arbitrarily detained people and abolish the internment camps; to cease enforced sterilizations; to end all torture; and to stop persecuting Uyghurs and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang,” the statement said.

The department also vowed to discuss the situation in Xinjiang with foreign partners, condemn the alleged atrocities in the region and promote accountability for those responsible for them.

The Chinese central government has repeatedly denied reports of human rights violations and forced labor in Xinjiang.

https://sputniknews.com/asia/202102041081974718-us-state-department-says-disturbed-by-reports-about-systematic-rape-in-chinas-xinjiang/

>>12815103

>Why would Ezra retweet this tool?