Justice Department won't charge Gaetz in sex-trafficking probe, report

The Justice Department on Wednesday reportedly decided to not charge Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz with any crimes after a years-long sex-trafficking probe.

The federal agency told the lawyers of one witness that it will not bring charges against the congressman, a person familiar with the matter told CNN.

The decision comes after prosecutors in September recommended not charging Gaetz last year over concerns about witness credibility.

https://justthenews.com/government/congress/justice-department-decides-against-charging-matt-gaetz-sex-trafficking-probe?utm_source=tw&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=twjtn

Charges dismissed against reporter arrested at Ohio train derailment

Charges dismissed against reporter arrested at Ohio train derailment

Posted/updated on: February 15, 2023 at 12:09 pm

Ilkay Dede / EyeEm/Getty Images

(EAST PALESTINE, Ohio) – Trespassing and resisting arrest charges were dismissed Wednesday against NewsNation reporter Evan Lambert, who was arrested at a press conference last week about the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment.

"My office has reviewed the relevant video and documentary evidence, and is dismissing the charges against Evan Lambert as unsupported by sufficient evidence," Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced Wednesday.

"While journalists could conceivably be subject to criminal charges for trespassing in some situations, this incident is not one of them. The reporter was lawfully present at a press conference called by the Governor of the state. His conduct was consistent with the purpose of the event and his role as a reporter," Yost added.

Lambert had been charged with resisting arrest, a second-degree misdemeanor, and criminal trespassing, a fourth-degree misdemeanor.

According to NewsNation, Lambert was doing a live report while Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine spoke at a press conference about the cleanup efforts following a train derailment in a small Ohio village, prompting law enforcement to ask Lambert to be quiet. NewsNation said that Lambert concluded the segment before being asked to leave.

Multiple videos from the incident show officers arresting and subsequently forcibly removing Lambert.

"I’m still processing what was a traumatic event for me, in the context of a time where we are hyper aware of how frequently some police interactions with people of color can end in much worse circumstances. That is not lost on me," Lambert said in a statement.

He continued, "At the same time, as a journalist who has spent more than a decade covering crime, courts and more recently federal law enforcement, I have great respect for the officers who do their jobs each day with integrity, civil rights, justice and safety at the core of their mission."

DeWine's office said he did not see the incident but heard a "disagreement," according to his press secretary.

"Regardless of the intent, arresting a journalist reporting at a press conference is a serious matter," Yost said. "Ohio protects a free press under its constitution, and state officials should remember to exercise a heightened level of restraint in using arrest powers."

ABC News' Peter Charalambous and Will McDuffie contributed to this report.

https://ktbb.com/post/?p=1202780Ilkay

>>18352732

>>18352800

Just practicing their 3-5 second rushes.

>>18352912

Could you point me to where this is in Revelation please?

>>18352970

Ok, but that is all in the book of John. You said in Revelation.

[Rev 19:7-21 KJV]

7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed [are] they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See [thou do it] not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

12 His eyes [were] as a flame of fire, and on his head [were] many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

13 And he [was] clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

14 And the armies [which were] in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

16 And he hath on [his] vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;

18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all [men, both] free and bond, both small and great.

19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.

20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which [sword] proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

Reason I ask is I am curious who you think is being talked about here.

Tunisia Arrests Raise Opposition Fears of Wider Crackdown

By Reuters

Feb. 14, 2023, at 10:23 a.m.

By Angus McDowall and Tarek Amara

TUNIS (Reuters) - Coordinated arrests of political and media figures represent a new phase in Tunisian President Kais Saied's struggle with a fragmented but emboldened opposition, raising fears of a wider campaign to quell dissent.

Since Saied shut down parliament 18 months ago, moving to rule by decree before rewriting the constitution, security forces had moved only sporadically against opponents who accuse him of an undemocratic coup.

Saied has denied a coup, saying his actions were legal and necessary to save Tunisia from chaos. He promised to uphold rights and freedoms won in the 2011 revolution that brought democracy.

However, the wave of arrests since Saturday represents a tough new move against his critics and an escalation from the campaign of pressure that has built over recent months with travel bans and investigations.

Police have detained opposition politicians, an influential businessman, the head of Tunisia's most important independent news outlet, two judges and an official from the powerful labour union.

While authorities have not yet commented on the arrests, lawyers for some of those detained have said they were accused of conspiring against state security.

A lawyer for Noureddine Boutar, the head of Tunisia's main independent news outlet Mosaique FM, said he had been questioned about his radio station's financing and editorial policy, including how it chose guests.

"What happened is dangerous… The authorities' message to journalists who do not enter a state of obedience is that this will be your fate," said Mahdi Jlassi, head of Tunisia's journalists' syndicate.

KEY MOMENT

The arrests come at a sticky moment for Saied.

An ultra-low turnout of 11% in elections for a parliament that is part of his new political system was ridiculed by the opposition as evidence that the president's changes lack popular support.

The powerful UGTT labour union has threatened direct action against Saied over his economic plans, his rejection of its proposals for a political dialogue and last month's arrest of one of its senior officials.

Efforts to secure a foreign bailout for state finances have stalled, with ratings agencies saying Tunisia risks default even as an economic crisis has caused shortages.

Internationally, Tunisia has rarely looked more isolated, with Western aid reduced, no sign of Gulf support and a new spat last week with main ally and neighbour Algeria.

Meanwhile parts of the long-fractured opposition are starting to talk about ways to put aside their old enmities to coordinate action against Saied, leading opposition figure Nejib Chebbi told Reuters.

SECURITY

Critics of Saied fear the arrests mean his fiery rhetoric decrying foes as traitors is sliding into hard action facilitated by his accumulation of powers - including his assumption last year of ultimate authority over the judiciary.

They are worried by his apparent moves to bring the military closer into government, as was evident in his appointment of a senior army official as agriculture minister last month.

"The president's use of military institutions in political life is harmful to the country and to the army's neutrality and high reputation," Chebbi said.

Critics also cite the authorities' increased use of military courts to try political cases since Saied's seizure of powers in 2021. Previous governments also used military courts but less often.

However, analysts and diplomats say there are no signs that the military is actively seeking a political role.

A more immediate concern for the opposition is the security forces - the police and other internal agencies responsible for the arrests since Saturday.

Many Tunisians still recoil at the memory of the fear of voicing public criticism, and of the abuses meted out to dissidents, before the 2011 revolution.

In a statement on Tuesday, four political parties, Attayar, Ettakatol, the Workers' Party and Qotb, warned that the arrests indicated "a dangerous shift from authoritarian populism towards dictatorship".

(This story has been corrected to rectify the party's name in final paragraph)

(Reporting by Angus McDowall and Tarek Amara; Writing by Angus McDowall; Editing by Nick Macfie)

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2023-02-14/analysis-tunisia-arrests-raise-opposition-fears-of-wider-crackdown