#Mayer Justice Court

[dontmean2bepoliticalbut]

[odinsblog]

Scandal-plagued Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas isn’t doing himself any favors. Starting next term, one of his four new law clerks will be Crystal Clanton, a recently-minted law school graduate who was pushed out of a conservative youth organization in 2017 after a reporter uncovered virulently racist texts she sent to another employee.

The Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University, from which Clanton graduated in 2022 and which has cultivated extensive ties with the Supreme Court’s conservative justices, announced the hire on Friday.

The racist comments stem from Clanton’s work for the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, where she served as national field director until the summer of 2017. At the end of that year, New Yorker investigative reporter Jane Mayer unearthed a text from Clanton to another TPUSA employee in which Clanton wrote, “I HATE BLACK PEOPLE. Like fuck them all . . . I hate blacks. End of story.”

(continue reading)

[ridenwithbiden]

"The year was 2004. U.S. Senator John Kerry was the Democratic presidential nominee running to unseat President George W. Bush. The Iraq War was a major campaign issue and Sen. Kerry campaigned against it by accurately attacking his Republican opponent.

"Saying there are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq doesn't make it so. Saying we can fight a war on the cheap doesn't make it so. And proclaiming mission accomplished certainly doesn't make it so," Kerry declared upon accepting the Democratic nomination.

Backed by GOP donors, veterans – some with grievances against Kerry – formed a group called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth (SBVT), falsely attacking Kerry's Vietnam War record. It was a massively-funded multi-million dollar machine that helped President Bush win re-election by destroying Senator Kerry's military record, and the term "swiftboating" – an organized political and personal smear campaign leveling false accusations – came into being as a result.

It's first ad was released on August 4 or 5, 2004 – almost 20 years to the day when the Trump campaign began its attack on Governor Walz.

On August 31, 2020 Politico ran an exclusive report: "Swift Boat mastermind to launch massive super PAC to boost Trump."

"The new organization, Preserve America, is poised to begin a $30 million advertising blitz," Politico detailed, adding that it "will be overseen by Chris LaCivita, a veteran Republican strategist who orchestrated the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth takedown of John Kerry in the 2004 presidential race."

Today, Chris LaCivita is the top advisor to Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign.

On Thursday, amid the swiftboating of newly-minted Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, The New Yorker's award-winning Jane Mayer wrote: "Remember when John Kerry was Swiftboated by Chris LaCivita who is doing it to Tim Walz now? Guess who funded it? Harlan Crow, the billionaire who has been lavishing freebies on Clarence Thomas."

Back in 2004, that massively-funded multi-million dollar machine, or "millions of dollars in shadowy contributions," as New York Magazine explains it, spent $22,565,360, according to Open Secrets. (That's about $34 million in current U.S. dollars.)

One of Swift Boat's top donors was conservative GOP megadonor Harlan Crow, the Texas billionaire whose financial relationship with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has been the subject of numerous bombshell investigative reports. Recently, Senate Democratic Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden detailed some pf Crow's alleged gifts to Justice Thomas. Legal experts have called for Justice Thomas's resignation, and some legal experts have called for the U.S.. Dept. of Justice to open an investigation into Thomas.

(Crow's funding of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth was made via his privately-held company, Crow Holdings. According to Open Secrets, Crow has made 1193 donations to candidates, PACs, and political parties since 1989.)

Last year, the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) reported, "One of Crow’s first forays into large donations was by providing some of the initial financing of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, an organization that spent millions running attack ads in 2004 against Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry and was later fined nearly $300,000 by the Federal Election Commission for failing to register as a political committee."

"Even as the Supreme Court was deliberating Citizens United," CREW continued, "Crow reportedly provided the major funding for Liberty Central, another dark money group, this one with links to Justice Thomas."

Citizens United was the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court case that – in a 5-4 decision – declared, effectively, money is speech, opening the floodgates to dark money groups that have poured untold billions of dollars into U.S. politics.

"Liberty Central was a 501(c)(4) organization founded by [Justice Thomas's spouse] Ginni Thomas in late 2009 that counted Federalist Society co-chair Leonard Leo as a board member," CREW's report states. "Ms. Thomas served as president through November 2010 and was paid a salary of more than $120,000. According to Politico, of the $550,000 in anonymous start-up funds the group received in 2009, $500,000 came from Crow, who also held an event for the group at his Dallas home a few months after it launched."

"In helping bankroll the Republican network of dark money groups following Citizens United, Crow has taken full advantage of the diminishing transparency laws around our politics—which Justice Thomas has been instrumental in dismantling," CREW concluded.

In 2007, Newsweek published a deeply sourced, 7000-word report on what went on behind the scenes in the Kerry campaign and how it failed to adequately respond to the swiftboating. Essentially, the report suggests, the campaign reacted too slowly, tried too hard to play nice, and did not immediately attack with full force."

[newhistorybooks]

"Greg Glasgow and Kathryn Mayer’s Disneyland on the Mountain is environmental history at its very best. The battle to save the sequoia groves in the High Sierras from a sprawling Disney resort ended as a victory for the conservation movement in the 1970s. The legal activist and Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, as portrayed in these pages, would’ve made John Muir proud. Highly recommend!"

[ms-cellanies]

Clarence Thomas should NEVER have been appointed to SCOTUS.

If you haven't read it yet you should DEFINITELY check out Jane Mayer's book: STRANGE JUSTICE: THE SELLING OF CLARENCE THOMAS. The book came out after the "hearing" of Anita Hill in 1995.

[notwiselybuttoowell]

I'm going to put a partial transcript to this interview, which will be lengthy and dense. But it is really worth reading or watching the video itself. I'd even venture to add a request that you do, because it is eye opening.

MAYER: [...] Even before the decision came down from the Supreme Court, you could hear during their arguments that the conservatives Brett Kavanaugh particular made a big point of saying, if we just send these issues, these hard issues like abortion back to the states, we can just let the people decide. And what I was hearing — and the reason I looked at Ohio, in particular, was I was hearing from someone who I’d interviewed named David Pepper, who’s written a book about Ohio, that in fact, it’s not really the people deciding when you can give these issues back to a state like Ohio. It’s the legislature that’s deciding. And the legislatures in a number of American states no longer reflect the will of the people. That’s why we talk about torching democracy. The people have one opinion, the general public, if you look at polls, feels one way. But the legislatures are way out of sync with what the population, in general, believes. And that’s true in Ohio and that’s what this man, David Pepper, was telling me who’s written a book that’s called, “Laboratories for Autocracy”. It’s a play on a phrase that came from Justice Louis Brandeis who called the state legislatures in America laboratories for democracy. And what he is saying is actually, this is where autocracy in America is growing and brewing. And it’s an attack on democracy taking place in these states. And Ohio typifies it. So, that’s why I went there.

MARTIN: In the piece, you site a political science professor at the University of Cincinnati. It sited, a 2020 survey indicating that less than 14 percent of Ohioans support banning all abortions without exceptions for rape and incest. But that’s not the direction of the Ohio legislature is heading in. In fact, I think the story that a lot of people may be familiar with is the story of this 10-year-old girl who was sexually assaulted by an adult male, became pregnant, and then had to go to Indiana to obtain an abortion because it was impossible in her home state of Ohio. So, how did it get to the point in a place like Ohio where there’s such divergence between what people say they want in matters of significant public concern and what the legislature is actually doing?

MAYER: It was actually a deliberate plan. And there aren’t that many things in American politics that really follow anybody’s plans because it’s a mess most of the time. But back in 2010, the Republican Party’s smartest operatives looked around and they were very distressed. Barack Obama had been elected in 2008. It was a shock to many white conservatives to have a black American president who was a liberal Democrat to some extent — liberal that is to some extent. And they had lost power in both Houses of Congress and the White House. And they were looking around the country to try to figure out, well, where can we take power? And the places that seemed to be easiest to capture were state legislatures. And so, there was this very interesting plan that was drawn up called Red Map by the Republican Party operatives. And they set out to very deliberately flip as many statehouses as they could into Republican control. And there was a year that 2010 was very much on their mind to do that year. Because that’s a census year, every 10 years there’s a U.S. census. And every time there’s a census, the statehouses get to reapportion the districts, both for Congress and for the statehouse. So, it gives the legislature special powers during those years. And they figured, if we can take the statehouses, you could redraw the lines and you could do it in such a way that you would totally advantage the Republican Party. And that’s exactly what they did in a bunch of states. They picked up an incredible number of statehouses that year. They flipped them to the Republican party, they took control of a number of them, and they set out to very systematically and scientifically redraw the district so that in many places Republicans — I mean, they can barely lose no matter what they do. And that’s what — that was — you know, more than 10 years ago, 12 years ago. What we’re now seeing, we’re seeing the consequences. This is like a science experiment in democracy. You’re saying, well, what happens when you make it so that people can’t lose their elections? What kind of behavior do you get in the statehouses? And what you get is really extremist legislation because the only pressure on these peoples’ lives in the Republican Party is that they might be facing primary challenges from candidates who are even more extreme than they are. And so, that’s those — who the people who come out to vote in primaries. That’s what they’re worried about. And they couldn’t care less about the opposing party’s point of views. So, they keep moving further and further to the extreme. And that’s what’s happened in Ohio.

MARTIN: So, as you said that this dates back to a strategy that was started being implemented in 2010. What were the Democrats doing during all this time? I mean, they had 10 years between 2010 and the 2020 census to intervene in this process or whatever. What were they doing all this time?

MAYER: Well, in 2010 itself, I have to say, they were kind of asleep at the switch. They were not paying attention to the statehouses. There was a lot — there were a lot of other fires that the Obama White House was trying to put out in 2010. That was the rise of the Tea Party and all of that. And they really, I think, took their eye off the ball. The thing is, once these statehouses do flip as they have an Ohio, it’s very hard to flip it back. Because the districts are very carefully drawn with the aid of computers and all kinds of, you know, very detailed numbers. They’re drawn in a way that Democrats can’t really compete in them. And so, what’s happened in Ohio was it was so out of sync with the state. The state did would you would think would happen in democracy. They had a referendum that passed. They had two referenda, actually. It was in 2015 and 2018, the voters of Ohio overwhelmingly passed a change to the constitution in the state that said that the districts have to reflect the overall population’s point of view. So, they were supposed to do this under law and fit — they were supposed to fix it. And that’s what was going to happen this year. But the Republicans who are in power in the statehouse, and they had a supermajority, kept handing in maps that the courts kept striking down. It happened five times. The Supreme Court in the State of Ohio said five times to the Republicans who are drawing the maps, these don’t comply with the law. These are illegal districts. They are too slanted. You’ve got to have to do it again. And basically, what happened was the Republicans played out the clock. They hit the election calendar. There was no more time to come up with another map. And the federal courts said, all right, just use the illegal ones. And so, here we are. Another election with illegal districts.

MARTIN: How is that possible?

MAYER: I mean, it’s totally — it is completely shocking. It violates norms. It violates the rule of law. And this is one of the other reasons I went to Ohio, because it’s an outrageous story. But the truth is, it’s not unique. “The New York Times” had a story pointing out there are four states now where the same thing has been happening. The courts have struck down these districts in these states as illegal districts. They are too slanted, they don’t allow for Democratic elections, and these states are Georgia and Alabama, and Louisiana, and Ohio. So, four states, in each case, the courts have struck them down. Each case, these states are going with the elections anyway because they ran out the clock.

MARTIN: They just didn’t comply. And is there — there is no mechanism of accountability for this, is, I think, what I hear you saying?

MAYER: No. However, the Supreme Court talked about holding the Republicans in contempt, but the Supreme Court didn’t do it. And actually, the Supreme Court justices are now up for reelection. So, it may be that the Republican majority will get a Republican majority that’s in favor of them on the Supreme Court, in which case, that final check will be out the window.

MARTIN: Why is there not more — I don’t know what’s to say — outrage about this, even among partisans? I mean, it just seems — it seems like this would kind of cry out for a response. But why do you think it don’t? Is it just too abstract, people just can’t wrap their heads around it?

MAYER: People don’t pay attention to state legislatures. They — you know, they don’t know who their legislator is and people are busy, and these state legislators don’t get a lot of coverage from the news organizations, especially now that local news is really disappearing in a lot of places. So, they’re kind of getting away with it because no one’s — you know, no one’s that — paying that much attention. And then, these big, glamorous races are the ones that get the attention and the money. So, you know, there’s a very high-profile Senate race in Ohio that a lot of important party people on both sides are paying a lot of attention to, and a lot — putting a lot of money into. It’s the Senate race between J.D. Vance and Tim Ryan, and that — you know, that will get a lot of attention. But the legislature’s, they’re sort of seeing this second string, or at least they were, until the Supreme Court in overturning Roe said, we are throwing this back to the states, and they are going to throw other things back to the states. The states are getting more power. It’s almost a two-step with the conservative Supreme Court. They (INAUDIBLE) sent an issue back to the states where they know the states are on their side.

MARTIN: This sounds like, what you’re saying, is that one party is willing to cheat. Or does that sound right or is that overstating the phrase?

MAYER: Well, it’s kind of legal. Well, it’s not completely legal because the Supreme Court and the state said it wasn’t illegal. But then, the federal courts said it was. So, it’s in a gray zone. But what I am told, from the reporting I did, is that the Republican — the far-right Republican base is intimidating to moderates who are afraid they will lose. If they don’t go along, they are afraid to lose their seats. And we’ve seen this in courts in Congress with the same dynamic taking place, when people have tried to stand up to Trump. And the same thing is happening in Ohio. This is — it’s empowering extremists, far-right extremists, and the others are afraid of standing in the way because they will be defeated. And you can see it, in a way, this is a very good example, the governor of Ohio, Mike DeWine, was known as a moderate Republican for many years. And he actually was quite enlightened in the way that he started to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. But the sort of radical right in the statehouse, which has veto power, because it’s got such a super majority, the radical right rose up and opposed the kind of mask mandates and some of the other measures that Mike DeWine took in the beginning of the pandemic and they — the legislature fired the health commissioner for the state, and basically forced DeWine to retreat. And so, it’s very empowered. It’s a very intimidating group that has taken over these statehouses, and that’s certainly true in Ohio.

MARTIN: If the voters don’t agree, at some point, is there not a movement against that? I mean, at some point, if the voters say, this is not what we want, is — I guess what I’m saying, there is no mechanism now to resist these initiatives? Is there?

MAYER: Well, it’s the same — I had exactly the same question when I went there, because it seems like inevitably, they will go too far right, they will do things that are so unpopular that a more rational kind of moderate Republican who is closer to where most people are in the state will win. That is what you would think. But it turns out that is not true. And people said to me, you might think that there’s the possibility that the extremists will go too far. And I was told over and over again, that is a false idea. You can’t go too far. And that was so fascinating. I mean, and scary because they really have legislated some incredibly extreme things, and there’s no accountability for it because they can’t lose. That’s the problem.

[sandboxer]

goodnight edgeworth’s cowlick. goodnight nick wearing one of those christmas sweater patterned suits to court. goodnight franziska using her whip as a belt. goodnight apollo justice. goodnight life sized gumshoe plush that plays john mayer songs when you squeeze its hand

[dailyworldwidenewsblog]

Justice Prevails: Verdict Reached in International Sweepstakes Scam Case

A notorious case of deception and exploitation has come to a head as the verdict was reached in the trial of a former Florida man. Jack Mayer, once an international fugitive, faced charges stemming from a sweepstakes scam that targeted vulnerable elderly individuals. The case shed light on a complex web of deceit that spanned multiple jurisdictions and left victims across the country devastated.

The former Florida man who spent time as an international fugitive due to his involvement in sweepstakes scam targeting elderly men and women, has been found guilty of theft and conspiracy charges in Common Pleas Court. A jury of eight men and four women deliberated about 21/2 hours on Wednesday before returning with its verdict against Jack Mayer, who the prosecution had described as a “money launderer” in the scheme. An East Caln man lost more than $260,000, and others from Indiana to Arizona lost thousands more. Mayer, 43, was found guilty of six counts of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, seven counts of theft by deception, six counts of receiving stolen property, two counts of operating a corrupt organization and related counts of conspiracy and criminal use of a communications facility. He faces a maximum sentence on the felony counts of more than 220 years in prison, although his actual sentence will likely be far less, given state sentencing guidelines. Judge Phyllis Streitel, who presided over the three day trial, ordered a pre-sentencing investigation be completed before she sentences Mayer. The defendant did not testify at the trial. He also faces extradition to England to begin serving a sentence for a similar conviction there. Assistant District Attorney Alexander Gosfield, who led the prosecution, expressed gratitude for the verdict.

“We are pleased the jury was able to see through the web of deception woven by the defendant and his co-conspirators and are grateful for their hard work in this case,” he said on Thursday. “This result proves that no matter how devious the criminal, a diligent and dedicated law enforcement officer can see that justice is done.” First Assistant Public Defender Nathan Schenker, who represented Mayer, declined comment on the verdict.

According to police records, in 2010 a caller using a false name contacted the victim by telephone and told him that he was the winner of a $3.5 million lottery prize. Police said the caller instructed the victim to send cashier’s checks to a bank account with “Private and Corporate Securities” to cover taxes and fees so the sweepstakes winnings could be released. According to a criminal complaint filed by investigators, the caller provided the victim with names and contact information of supposed representatives of the IRS and Federal Trade Commission and claimed to work for a sweepstakes company called Town & Country Inc., based in New York City. None of the names were real, and there is no sweepstakes company with that name. The victim, who was 86 years old at the time of the incident, sent a total of $262,035 to the account, but reported the activity to the Downingtown Police Department after the caller requested an additional $224,000. The man testified at the trial in a videotaped interview that was used because he suffers from medical problems.

Evidence presented at the trial by Gosfield included a series of stipulations, read by Downingtown Detective Paul Trautmann, that laid out how the money was deposited into a Citibank account that Mayer controlled in June and July 2010. Funds that mirrored the checks that the East Caln man sent to the address were shown coming into the account in July 2010, and later being dispersed. When he was interviewed by FBI agents in January, Mayer told them that he had agreed to accept the funds into his account in exchange for a 1 percent or 2 percent commission. “It’s like a bank,” he told the agents. “It’s (a) normal commission.” In a portion of the interview with the FBI, however, Mayer acknowledged knowing that the man he dispersed the funds to, identified as Luis Gasparini, was dishonest, and that he had worked with him previously in dubious activities. In his defense of Mayer, Schenker asked the jury to consider whether he would have used his own name to open the account if he were part of the complex scheme, unlike the caller who notified the victim of the sweepstakes prize and the other false identities given. He suggested that Mayer was an unwitting dupe of others involved in the scam.

In his response during closings, Gosfield pointed out that the scheme was designed to have multiple “fall guys,” so that all those involved could deny knowledge if they were ever caught. The amount of money flowing through Mayer’s account – almost a half million dollars – in such a short time span, combined with his admission to agents that he was sending the money to someone he knew was involved in illegal business dealings, made it impossible that Mayer could have been in the dark about this scheme. In his statement after the verdict, Gosfield paid tribute to Trautmann’s work to bring charges in the case. Once the victim reported the incident, Trautmann initiated an investigation and was able to freeze Mayer’s accounts and discovered multiple other elderly victims across the United States. Authorities said the other victims, included a 91-year-old man from North Carolina and an 88-year-old man from Texas, also fell prey to the same scheme.

Police alleged that Mayer left his Florida home and fled the country after his accounts were frozen and charges were filed. Officials said law enforcement reports indicated he surfaced in England, France and the Dominican Republic. After learning of Mayer’s whereabouts, Chester County law enforcement authorities contacted federal government officials stationed in the Dominican Republic and had him deported back to the United States in May 2013. “With little more than a telephone and the internet, Detective Trautmann exposed an international fraud scheme and brought down one of its principal players,” Gosfield said. “When criminals prey on the citizens of Chester County, they can run half a world away, but Chester County law enforcement will find them and bring them to justice.”

The conviction of Mayer, who faces the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence, marks a significant victory for law enforcement and the victims affected by his actions. The tireless efforts of investigators, particularly Detective Paul Trautmann, uncovered the extent of the scheme and ensured that justice prevailed. As Mayer awaits sentencing and extradition proceedings, this case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance against fraud and the dedication of those who work to combat it.

[woioblog]

Unveiling the Web of Deception: Conviction of International Scammer Reveals the Fight Against Financial Fraud

Financial fraud, especially those targeting the elderly, is a pervasive issue that requires constant vigilance and swift action from authorities. Despite advancements in technology and awareness campaigns, scammers continue to find new ways to exploit unsuspecting individuals, leaving devastating financial and emotional consequences in their wake. As society grapples with evolving forms of deception, law enforcement agencies remain at the forefront, employing investigative techniques and collaboration to bring perpetrators to justice

The former Florida man who spent time as an international fugitive due to his involvement in sweepstakes scam targeting elderly men and women, has been found guilty of theft and conspiracy charges in Common Pleas Court. A jury of eight men and four women deliberated about 21/2 hours on Wednesday before returning with its verdict against Jack Mayer, who the prosecution had described as a “money launderer” in the scheme. An East Caln man lost more than $260,000, and others from Indiana to Arizona lost thousands more. Mayer, 43, was found guilty of six counts of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, seven counts of theft by deception, six counts of receiving stolen property, two counts of operating a corrupt organization and related counts of conspiracy and criminal use of a communications facility. He faces a maximum sentence on the felony counts of more than 220 years in prison, although his actual sentence will likely be far less, given state sentencing guidelines. Judge Phyllis Streitel, who presided over the three day trial, ordered a pre-sentencing investigation be completed before she sentences Mayer.

The defendant did not testify at the trial. He also faces extradition to England to begin serving a sentence for a similar conviction there. Assistant District Attorney Alexander Gosfield, who led the prosecution, expressed gratitude for the verdict. “We are pleased the jury was able to see through the web of deception woven by the defendant and his co-conspirators and are grateful for their hard work in this case,” he said on Thursday. “This result proves that no matter how devious the criminal, a diligent and dedicated law enforcement officer can see that justice is done.” First Assistant Public Defender Nathan Schenker, who represented Mayer, declined comment on the verdict. According to police records, in 2010 a caller using a false name contacted the victim by telephone and told him that he was the winner of a $3.5 million lottery prize. Police said the caller instructed the victim to send cashier’s checks to a bank account with “Private and Corporate Securities” to cover taxes and fees so the sweepstakes winnings could be released. According to a criminal complaint filed by investigators, the caller provided the victim with names and contact information of supposed representatives of the IRS and Federal Trade Commission and claimed to work for a sweepstakes company called Town & Country Inc., based in New York City. None of the names were real, and there is no sweepstakes company with that name. The victim, who was 86 years old at the time of the incident, sent a total of $262,035 to the account, but reported the activity to the Downingtown Police Department after the caller requested an additional $224,000.

The man testified at the trial in a videotaped interview that was used because he suffers from medical problems. Evidence presented at the trial by Gosfield included a series of stipulations, read by Downingtown Detective Paul Trautmann, that laid out how the money was deposited into a Citibank account that Mayer controlled in June and July 2010. Funds that mirrored the checks that the East Caln man sent to the address were shown coming into the account in July 2010, and later being dispersed. When he was interviewed by FBI agents in January, Mayer told them that he had agreed to accept the funds into his account in exchange for a 1 percent or 2 percent commission. “It’s like a bank,” he told the agents. “It’s (a) normal commission.” In a portion of the interview with the FBI, however, Mayer acknowledged knowing that the man he dispersed the funds to, identified as Luis Gasparini, was dishonest, and that he had worked with him previously in dubious activities. In his defense of Mayer, Schenker asked the jury to consider whether he would have used his own name to open the account if he were part of the complex scheme, unlike the caller who notified the victim of the sweepstakes prize and the other false identities given. He suggested that Mayer was an unwitting dupe of others involved in the scam.

In his response during closings, Gosfield pointed out that the scheme was designed to have multiple “fall guys,” so that all those involved could deny knowledge if they were ever caught. The amount of money flowing through Mayer’s account – almost a half million dollars – in such a short time span, combined with his admission to agents that he was sending the money to someone he knew was involved in illegal business dealings, made it impossible that Mayer could have been in the dark about this scheme. In his statement after the verdict, Gosfield paid tribute to Trautmann’s work to bring charges in the case. Once the victim reported the incident, Trautmann initiated an investigation and was able to freeze Mayer’s accounts and discovered multiple other elderly victims across the United States. Authorities said the other victims, included a 91-year-old man from North Carolina and an 88-year-old man from Texas, also fell prey to the same scheme. Police alleged that Mayer left his Florida home and fled the country after his accounts were frozen and charges were filed. Officials said law enforcement reports indicated he surfaced in England, France and the Dominican Republic. After learning of Mayer’s whereabouts, Chester County law enforcement authorities contacted federal government officials stationed in the Dominican Republic and had him deported back to the United States in May 2013. “With little more than a telephone and the internet, Detective Trautmann exposed an international fraud scheme and brought down one of its principal players,” Gosfield said. “When criminals prey on the citizens of Chester County, they can run half a world away, but Chester County law enforcement will find them and bring them to justice.”

The case of Jack Mayer underscores the importance of proactive measures in identifying and thwarting fraudulent activities. While Mayer's conviction represents a significant milestone in holding criminals accountable, it also highlights the need for ongoing education and support for vulnerable populations. As communities unite against financial exploitation, initiatives aimed at raising awareness, enhancing safeguards, and strengthening legal frameworks become essential pillars in safeguarding individuals' financial well-being. By fostering a culture of vigilance and resilience, we can collectively combat financial fraud and protect the most vulnerable among us.

[imagodeiinitiative]

Prayer for our country

In these trying days, for our seemingly fragile democracy, a prayer for our country:

"O Lord our Governor, bless the leaders of our land, that we may be a people at peace among ourselves and a blessing to other nations on the earth. Lord, keep this nation under your care.

"To the President and members of the Cabinet, to Governors of States, Mayers of Cities, and to all in administrative authority, grant wisdom and grace in the exercise of their duties. Give grace to your servants, O Lord.

"To Senator and Representatives, and those who make our laws in States, Cities, and Towns, give courage, wisdom, and foresight to provide for the needs of all our people, and to fulfill our obligations in the community of nations. Give grace to your servants, O Lord.

"To the Judges and officers of our Courts give understanding and integrity, that human rights may be safeguarded and justice served. Give grace to your servants, O Lord.

"And finally, teach our people to rely on your strength and to accept their responsibilities to their fellow citizens, that they may elect trustworthy leaders and make wise decisions for the well-being of our society; that we may serve you faithfully in our generation and honor your holy Name. For yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are the exalted as head above all. Amen."

[Prayer #22, pp. 821-822, the Book of Common Prayer]

[blgriffith]

Prayer for our country

In these trying days, for our seemingly fragile democracy, a prayer for our country:

"O Lord our Governor, bless the leaders of our land, that we may be a people at peace among ourselves and a blessing to other nations on the earth. Lord, keep this nation under your care.

"To the President and members of the Cabinet, to Governors of States, Mayers of Cities, and to all in administrative authority, grant wisdom and grace in the exercise of their duties. Give grace to your servants, O Lord.

"To Senator and Representatives, and those who make our laws in States, Cities, and Towns, give courage, wisdom, and foresight to provide for the needs of all our people, and to fulfill our obligations in the community of nations. Give grace to your servants, O Lord.

"To the Judges and officers of our Courts give understanding and integrity, that human rights may be safeguarded and justice served. Give grace to your servants, O Lord.

"And finally, teach our people to rely on your strength and to accept their responsibilities to their fellow citizens, that they may elect trustworthy leaders and make wise decisions for the well-being of our society; that we may serve you faithfully in our generation and honor your holy Name. For yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are the exalted as head above all. Amen."

[Prayer #22, pp. 821-822, the Book of Common Prayer]

[masterofd1saster]

CJ court watch - the white supremacist - antifa case

In United States v. Rundo, 18-cr-759 (C.D. Cal. Feb. 21, 2024), the defendants are "members of the Rise Above Movement (“RAM”), a group of far-right, white supremacist nationalists, who attended several rallies and protests during which they engaged in violent acts." On 21feb24, J. Cormack J. Carney dismissed the charges for selective prosecution.

RAM's idea was to attend Trump rallies in California and to oppose antifa attacks on the Trump ralliers. Apparently RAM's only involvement was a Trump rallies. When antifa shows up, you know there will be violence.

Of the 20 people arrested at the April 2017 Berkeley rally, the government charged only Defendants and other members of RAM under the Anti-Riot Act. (Dkt. 281 at 17.) The government charged no members of Antifa, BAMN, or other far-left groups under the Anti-Riot Act for their use of violence to shut down the rally.*** “In our criminal justice system, the executive branch has broad discretion to decide whom to prosecute. However, prosecutorial discretion is not unfettered, and selectivity in the enforcement of criminal laws is subject to constitutional constraints.” United States v. Culliton, 328 F.3d 1074, 1081 (9th Cir. 2003) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). “[A]n indictment that results from selective prosecution will be dismissed.” United States v. Mayer, 503 F.3d 740, 747 (9th Cir. 2007). “To establish a claim of selective prosecution, a defendant must show both discriminatory effect and discriminatory purpose.” United States v. Sellers, 906 F.3d 848, 852 (9th Cir. 2018). A defendant “must demonstrate that (1) other similarly situated individuals have not been prosecuted and (2) his prosecution was based on an impermissible motive.” United States v. Sutcliffe, 505 F.3d 944, 954 (9th Cir. 2007). Impermissible motives “includ[e] the exercise of protected statutory and constitutional rights.”*** The government denies selectively prosecuting Defendants *** focuses on three individuals, J.A., J.F., and J.M.A., which it asserts are the only relevant comparators to Defendants in assessing discriminatory effect because they are the only individuals who have a connection to the Central District of California. (Dkt. 307 at 15.) Even accepting the premise of the government’s argument as true, the government’s failure to prosecute J.A., J.F., or J.M.A. still demonstrates discriminatory effect.*** the government asserts that it did not prosecute Defendants for their beliefs and protected speech but rather “because they engaged in repeated acts of coordinated violence.” (Id. at 25; see also id. at 29 [referencing “Defendants’ violent and coordinated conduct”].) But this completely ignores that Antifa and related far-left groups did precisely the same thing. What is more, Antifa and related far-left groups attended pro-Trump or far-right political events to disrupt protected political activity. Defendants did not attend a Trump rally at Huntington Beach to shut down the rally—it was J.F., J.A., and J.M.A. who intended to disrupt the rally, following Antifa’s playbook.*** the government provides many facially neutral reasons why it pursued prosecutions against RAM members such as Defendants. But when examined, each of those reasons apply, often to a greater extent, to Antifa and related far-left groups.***

The gov't has appealed this ruling to the 9th Circuit. https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/8209295/united-states-v-rundo/ has a handy docket for the case.

[brookstonalmanac]

Birthdays 10.16

Beer Birthdays

Santiago Graf (1845)

Five Favorite Birthdays

Flea; rock bassist (1962)

Bob Mould; rock guitarist, singer (1960)

Tim Robbins; actor (1958)

Noah Webster; lexicographer (1758)

Oscar Wilde; Irish writer (1854)

Famous Birthdays

Arnold Böcklin; Swiss artist (1827)

Rembrandt Bugatti; sculptor (1884)

Michael Collins; Irish activist (1890)

Barry Corbin; actor (1940)

Linda Darnell; actor (1924)

William O. Douglas; U.S. Supreme Court justice (1898)

Adrianne Frost; comedian (1972)

Goose Goslin; Washington Senators LF (1900)

Gunter Grass; German writer (1927)

Bert Kaempfert; musician (1923)

Angela Lansbury; actor (1925)

Melissa Lauren; French porn actor (1984)

John Mayer; pop singer (1977)

Tim McCarver; St. Louis Cardinals C (1941)

Nico; German model, singer (1938)

Eugene O'Neill; playwright (1888)

Benjamin Russell; artist (1804)

Suzanne Somers; actor (1946)

Paul Strand; photographer (1890)

C.F. Turner; rock musician (1943)

Albrecht von Haller; Swiss anatomist, physiologist, naturalist (1708)

Bob Weir; rock singer, guitarist (1947)

Wendy Wilson; pop singer (1969)

David Zucker; film director (1947)

[liesmyteachertoldme]

RANDOM THOUGHTS

“If tyranny and oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy.” --- James Madison

“The spirit was freedom and justice, and it's keepers seem generous and kind, it's leaders were supposed to serve the country, but now they won't pay it no mind, 'cause people grew fat and got lazy, and now their vote is a meaningless joke, they babble about law and order, but it's all just an echo of what they've been told.” --- Steppenwolf

“Government is not reason, it is not eloquence. It is force, like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action.” --- George Washington

“What good fortune for governments that people do not think. --- Adolf Hitler

“Watson, is it not elementary to ask: Who, What, Where, How, When, and Why?” ---- Sherlock Holmes

“Our job is to give people not what they want, but what we decide they ought to have.”  --- Richard Salant, former President of CBS News

“We seek the free flow of information…a nation that is afraid to let people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation afraid of its people.” --- John Kennedy

“I believe that if the people of this nation fully understood what Congress has done to them…they would move on Washington; they would not wait for an election.  It adds up to a preconceived plan to destroy the economic and social independence of the United States.” ----George W. Malone, U.S. Senator from Nevada, 1957

“The high office of President has been used to foment a plot to destroy American’s freedom, and before I leave office I must inform the citizen of his plight.” ---John F. Kennedy at Columbia University, 12th November, 1963 --- 10 days before his murder on November 22, 1963.

“The real rulers in Washington are invisible and exercise power from behind the scenes.” ---- Felix Frankfurter, U.S. Supreme Court Justice

“Give me control of a nation’s money and I care not who makes the laws.” ---- Mayer Rothschild

“We have in this country one of the most corrupt institutions the world has ever known.  I refer to the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Reserve Banks, hereinafter called the FED.  They are not government institutions.  They are private monopolies which prey upon the people of these United States for the benefit of themselves and their foreign customers…” --- Louis McFadden, U.S. Congressman, 1932

“…the best way to destroy the Capitalist System was to debauch the currency.  By a continuing process of inflation, governments can confiscate, secretly and unobserved, an important part of the wealth of their citizens.” ---statement by Lenin

“The power to tax involves the power to destroy.” --- Supreme Court Chief Justice, John Marshall, 1819

“We contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.” --- Winston Churchill, 1903

“We shall have World government, whether or not we like it.  The only question is whether World government will be achieved by conquest or consent.” --- James Warburg, (Rothschild agent, speaking to a Senate Subcommittee, 1950

“The Trilateral Commission is international and intended to be the vehicle for multinational consolidation of the commercial and banking interests by seizing control of the political government of the United States.  The Trilateral Commission represents a skillful, coordinated effort to seize control and consolidate the four centers of power—political, monetary, intellectual and ecclesiastical.” --- U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater

Since the beginning of recorded time men have tried to dominate other men.  There has never been a period of history when some individual, group or race was not planning, conspiring or actively working to take advantage of another individual, group or race.  Yet, many Americans actually ridicule the idea that an international cadre of very powerful placed people would “conspire” to dominate our nation’s banking, media, and government. The Elite have done a masterful job of creating the paradigm that to speak of conspiracy is politically incorrect and something to be dismissed as not relevant.

“There is nothing more terrifying than ignorance in action.” --- Goethe

“Oh mortal man, is there anything you cannot be made to believe?” --- Adam Wieshaupt (founder of the Illuminati, 1776)

The Elite know that they have to break the economic, social and political structure of America if they are going to achieve their goal of a One World Government.  This is certainly not pleasant to think about, and it is much easier to ignore this information.  If we want a nation where our generation and our children enjoy freedom and equality of justice, then we have to wake up and take corrective action.  As Benjamin Franklin said, “Make yourself sheep and the wolves will eat you.”

“The only thing necessary for evil to triumph  is for good men to nothing.” --- Edmund Burke

[timomaraus]

May 17, 2023

Washington Post A new Iranian cookbook puts the spotlight on yogurt and whey (Editor's Note: The curds are jealous. And the Kurds aren't very happy either.)

Washington Post GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamy wants the voting age to be 25 (Editor's Note: Driving at 16? Of course. Buy guns and join the military at 18? Sure thing. Drinking at 21? You bet. Voting before 25? ARE YOU CRAZY? That's too dangerous!)

CNN Bolton: I believe foreign leaders think Trump is a laughing fool (Editor's Note: Bolton has expertise in this area, because a lot of foreign leaders think he's a fool, too.)

CNN The joke that cost $2 million: China imposes huge fine for comedian's army-themed quip (Editor's Note: Military spending is so out of control even the jokes cost millions.)

CNN See the 'woke' Miller Lite commercial that has critics calling for boycotts (Editor's Note: First Bud Light, now this? Are we sure people aren't just boycotting bad beer?)

CNN Chef attempts to cook for 100 hours to set record. See what happened (Editor's Note: Well for starters, there was some seriously over-done steak.)

CNN Sherpa breaks record with 27th Mount Everest summit (Editor's Note: A few more trips and he should be just about finished building his cabin up there.)

CNN Arnold Schwarzenegger says his 'I'll be back' tagline was an 'accident' (Editor's Note: Turns out he didn't realize the cameras were still running. He just needed a bathroom break.)

CNN Oscar Mayer's Weinermobile is getting a new name (Editor's Note: After the company wisely rejected Anthony Weinermobile, they finally settled on the John Mayer Mobile. That's right, those hot dogs are going to be singing a whole new tune.)

NY Times Wildfires in Canada that drove thousands from their homes are also striking the heart of oil and gas country. (Editor's Note: Climate karma.)

NY Times Montana Governor Signs Total Ban of TikTok in the State (Editor's Note: Going forward, it's unclear how Montana will tell time.)

NY Times Study Offers New Twist in How the First Humans Evolved (Editor's Note: A new twist? I guess yoga has been around for even longer than we thought.)

NY Times Prince Harry and Meghan Say They Were in a Car Chase Involving Paparazzi (Editor's Note: It was not immediately clear why the prince and his wife were chasing paparazzi.)

NY Times Bard President Received $150,000 From Foundation Created by Jeffrey Epstein (Editor's Note: This guy's in real trouble. The only chance he could get away with that kind of unreported gift would be if he was a Supreme Court justice.)

NY Times What Therapists Don't Say (Editor's Note: "Sure we can go another half-hour. It's on me.")