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posttexasstressdisorder · 1 month ago

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The MAGA Attack on Justices

Wednesday, February 12

The legal battle against President Donald Trump’s sweeping and questionable executive orders is raging on, and with it looms a possible constitutional crisis. Also in this edition of Eye On The Right: Conservative media melts down over federal agencies paying for Politico Pro access and the legal challenges to Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), explained.

As always, thanks for reading.

— Matt Cohen, Senior Staff Writer

Elon Musk wasn’t elected, yet he’s using DOGE to take control of parts of our democracy. Over 20% of the lawsuits Democracy Docket is tracking are challenging DOGE — upgrade to our premium membership for $120/year to get crucial updates and analysis on these cases sent straight to your inbox.

An Attack on Justices

Since Trump returned to the White House and swiftly started dismantling democracy via an onslaught of executive orders, the courts have — to put it mildly — been busy. New lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of Trump’s orders — whether it is over birthright citizenship, cutting off crucial funding or DOGE’s attempt to access the most sensitive federal databases —are popping up almost daily.

So far, Trump is losing in the courts. Badly. Federal justices across the country are blocking the president’s orders — eight judges, according to Democracy Docket’s coverage of these lawsuits. It’s a clear sign that the checks and balances of our legal system are holding up and that Trump can’t just do whatever he wants with impunity.

And that’s starting to get under his skin, along with the rest of his acolytes. Hours after a federal judge blocked DOGE’s access to sensitive Department of the Treasury data and systems, Musk threw a tantrum on X. “A corrupt judge protecting corruption,” he posted. “He needs to be impeached NOW!” Hours later, Vice President JD Vance followed suit: “If a judge tried to tell a general how to conduct a military operation, that would be illegal,” he wrote. “If a judge tried to command the attorney general in how to use her discretion as a prosecutor, that's also illegal. Judges aren't allowed to control the executive's legitimate power.”

On TruthSocial — the president’s own social media platform that I’m still struggling to understand why it’s legal for him to own — the right-wing ecosphere is melting down over justices upholding the rule of law. “We need to impeach rogue judges,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green (R-Ga.) posted. “The Constitutional power of impeachment applies to federal judges. Just saying,” conservative provocateur Jack Posobiec wrote. Littered throughout TruthSocial is an army of MAGA followers falsely suggesting that unelected judges are betraying Trump and need to be removed from their post.

The cumulative effect of this seems to suggest a constitutional crisis. What happens if Trump defies these court orders? We’ll see.

The Right Melts Down Over Media Subscriptions

Last week, a handful of right-wing provocateurs on X discovered USASpending.gov, a government website where anyone can look up to see where unclassified federal spending goes. It’s a longtime tool that most journalists, or any people who like to track this kind of stuff, have used for years. But some conservatives who just found it for the first time melted down when they learned that the federal government apparently pays Politico several million dollars a year. Naturally, without any context or an attempt to learn how or why, the right flipped out over this revelation, alleging that the government has been funding Politico to, ostensibly, make Democrats look good. This was even flouted by Trump himself on TruthSocial:

“LOOKS LIKE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS HAVE BEEN STOLLEN AT USAID, AND OTHER AGENCIES, MUCH OF IT GOING TO THE FAKE NEWS MEDIA AS A ‘PAYOFF’ FOR CREATING GOOD STORIES ABOUT THE DEMOCRATS. THE LEFT WING ‘RAG,’ KNOWN AS ‘POLITICO,’ SEEMS TO HAVE RECEIVED $8,000,000. Did the New York Times receive money??? Who else did??? THIS COULD BE THE BIGGEST SCANDAL OF THEM ALL, PERHAPS THE BIGGEST IN HISTORY! THE DEMOCRATS CAN’T HIDE FROM THIS ONE. TOO BIG, TOO DIRTY!”

This is, of course, laughably and demonstrably false. The money toward Politico, as it was quickly revealed, was for subscriptions to Politico PRO from many different agencies, whose workers need access to it for their jobs. Nonetheless, the damage was done: "I was made aware of the funding from USAID to media outlets, including Politico, who I know has a seat in this room," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said. "I can confirm that the more than 8 million taxpayer dollars that have gone to essentially subsidize subscriptions to Politico on the American taxpayers' dime will no longer be happening."

The irony of this is too rich not to share: A handful of right-wing media personalities blew up over the news, calling it one of the biggest media scandals in history. And yet, as the Washington Post’s Will Sommer pointed out, some of these media personalities were also ensnared in a Department of Justice investigation that revealed they were secretly and illegally paid millions by Russia.

The Legal Challenges to Elon Musk’s DOGE, Explained

Ever since Trump announced he was creating DOGE, it’s drawn intense skepticism and scrutiny. For starters, a president can’t just create a new federal agency via executive order — that can only happen through an act of Congress. Then what is DOGE? In essence, what Trump did is rename the United States Digital Service — created within the Executive Office of the President under Barack Obama to improve all the federal and executive websites — into DOGE and retooled its mission to hunt down fraud and waste within federal agencies.

Naturally, chaos and uncertainty ensued. What authority does DOGE actually have? Are attempts to gain access to sensitive and classified data from federal agencies legal? And what can be done about it?

That’s the essence of a wave of lawsuits filed against DOGE and its attempts to access sensitive information from numerous federal agencies. So far, there have been lawsuits filed to block DOGE’s access to the Department of Labor, the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Education. In every case, federal judges have agreed to block DOGE’s access to requested information as they plan to look deeper into DOGE and if it has a constitutional right to access such data.

“The scale of the intrusion into individuals’ privacy is massive and unprecedented,” a lawsuit to block DOGE’s access to the Treasury read. “People who must share information with the federal government should not be forced to share information with Elon Musk or his ‘DOGE.’ And federal law says they do not have to.”

As of Tuesday at 6 p.m., two federal judges have blocked DOGE’s access to Treasury data after two different lawsuits were filed, including one by Democratic attorneys general from 19 states. In granting the plaintiffs a temporary restraining order, the judge wrote that the Trump administration’s new policy to grant DOGE access to the Treasury poses a risk “of the disclosure of sensitive and confidential information and the heightened risk that the systems in question will be more vulnerable than before to hacking.”

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leighsartworks216 · 2 months ago

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Top Surgery Scars

Miles Edgeworth & transmasc!Reader

This was written a LONG time ago but I never did post it. And I certainly could go back in and edit it but uhhh I didn't

Warnings: silly, trans phoenix wright, trans reader, day at the beach, scars, pov third person, so much Y/N use I'm sorry

Word Count: 1,451

Main Masterlist

AO3

Tag List Form

Miles liked to think he was knowledgeable in a wide variety of areas - and he was, to an extent. He knew plenty about blood splatter, how knives tore skin in different ways, entrance and exit wounds from different caliber guns, and much much more pertaining to investigations and surrounding his duty as a prosecutor. But every now and then, some things just elude him.

It was a hot day - one of the hottest this year so far. There were no cases (or at least nothing urgent or worth his time), and Phoenix called him complaining about his broken AC. When Maya complained in the background, whining about wanting to go to the beach, Miles was generous enough to offer renting a small portion of a private beach for them. And then Gumshoe got roped in. And his forensic investigator, Y/N. And Kay. Until he was reduced to being dragged along out of his nice, cool office and into the sun.

It wasn’t all bad, even though he preferred to sit under an umbrella with a towel protecting his feet from the hot sand. Phoenix was able to bring a cooler bottled water and juice, Y/N remembered to bring sunscreen and went around forcing everybody to put some on, Maya brought along plastic castle molds to teach her cousin Pearl how to build sandcastles, and Gumshoe brought an extra towel for Edgeworth even if he insisted he would not be getting in the water.

He watched from the shade as everybody enjoyed themselves. Most of the others ran directly into the water and were splashing each other, laughing loud enough that beach-goers miles away would hear them. Honestly, he was surprised when Y/N didn’t join them. He didn’t bother prying into the reason - he was sitting up there with them after all, but something caught his eye that sent his mind swirling with thoughts.

Faced with a bunch of shirtless peers he wasn’t used to seeing shirtless, it was only natural his eyes would glance at odd places. He looked away as quickly as possible, embarrassed enough as it was that he was looking in the first place, but he did a double take when he saw a faint reddish line across the investigator’s chest. When they caught him staring, they just smiled and offered him a spare book to read. He declined, but his mind wouldn’t stop seeing the mark.

He figured it was a scar - the general appearance as well as its uniformity suggested it was surgical as well. So, they had surgery.

That in itself wasn’t unusual, and he didn’t truly know his subordinates well enough to think much of it. Except it’s placement still bothered him. It followed a clear path under their pectoral muscles. Miles could really only think of a few surgeries that would follow an incision like that.

His first thought was heart surgery, or even just open-chest surgery. Perhaps your heart wasn’t very strong and you needed a replacement, or you had surgery for a pacemaker. He considered this for a moment. Yet, all images he saw of heart surgery or open-chest scars, it was a small incision down the sternum. This didn’t match at all.

His second thought was cancer. The idea alone had him subconsciously furrowing his brow as he stared blankly at the shoreline. Gumshoe crossed his sight path, looking confused, and Miles schooled his expression back to its usual cool neutrality.

If they had breast cancer and went through a procedure to remove the affected tissue, certainly it would leave a similar scar-pattern. Double mastectomies weren’t uncommon. He was sure most women would rather have both removed in order to remain a semblance of balance, though he could not back this assumption up with his limited knowledge.

And yet, something within his logical reasoning didn’t feel like it added up quite right. His finger tapped against his arm, trying to work through the knot little by little.

“You’re not gonna get in, Edgeworth?”

Ripped from his deductive reasoning, Miles squinted to see Phoenix haloed by the too-bright sun. “No,” he shot down the mere thought. Phoenix stared for a minute, expecting an explanation. He huffed when he didn’t get one.

“A little salt water won’t kill you,” he scolded. He dug through the cooler for a second for a bottle of water and prepared to turn and join the others back at the water, but something stopped him. His eyes widened and he excitedly tapped the investigator on the arm to get their attention. Without any warning, he lifted his swim shirt just enough to reveal a barely-there scar along his pecks. A very similar scar to Y/N’s. “Hey, we match!”

Miles startled. He was prepared to interrogate Phoenix about his apparent run-in with cancer he’d never known about, or to scold the defense attorney for his crass remark on a situation Y/N may not have yet come to terms with. And then they laughed.

Y/N set their book aside and stood up, excitedly going into a round of rapid-fire questions back and forth with Phoenix. They stared and awed over each other’s chests.

“When did you have yours done?”

“When I was, maybe, 15? So 8 years ago? What about you?”

“Oh, just a couple years ago!”

“That’s so cool! They look like they’re healing great.” Phoenix blushed and scratched the back of his head. His spikes were severely deflated from the ocean water. “If you don’t mind me saying.”

Y/N laughed. “Not at all! It’s so cool to meet someone else in the wild! Who was your surgeon? What kind of procedure did they go for?”

“They did double-incision for me. I’m pretty sure they put my nipple on sideways, though,” Phoenix laughed.

Miles’ curiosity got the better of him. He stood up as well and cleared his throat. Both of them immediately turned to look at him. Yet, under their stares, he found he had to look away to get his question out. “Would you mind explaining what you’re talking about?”

Phoenix floundered for a moment trying to find a way to explain it. “We had a surgery done that removes our, uhm.” He gestured, but Miles just quirked a brow at him.

“Sir, how much do you know about transgender people?”

He tapped his finger on his arm, thinking. “Not much, I suppose.”

“Well,” they continued, “some people don’t feel comfortable in their bodies. There are surgeries they can undergo that help them feel like they belong in their skin. Mr. Wright and I both had top surgery, which flattens our chests so we look more masculine.”

Ah. So the inconsistency in his logic was due to his lack of knowledge. He blushed and bowed slightly. “I apologize if I came across as insensitive,” he said. “I… suspected you both had survived cancer.”

Phoenix chuckled, but it was not unkind. “Thankfully not.”

“NIIICK!” They all turned to look at the screaming spirit-medium. Gumshoe was struggling to stack pales of wet sand on top of each other while Kay cheered him on; Pearly sat a few feet away packing a castle-mold with sand that was definitely too dry. “We’re having a sand castle competition!”

“I’ll be right there!”

“Hurry up!!”

Phoenix smiled at his childhood friend and his new friend in the making. “I gotta run before Maya starts pelting me with sand. But if you ever wanna know more, you can always ask, okay, Edgeworth?”

“I appreciate the offer.”

“No problem!” Maya’s shouting followed Phoenix the whole time he ran across the hot sand to the shoreline. Miles did not envy the defense attorney as he was reduced to fetching water.

Y/N cleared their throat. It seemed while he was distracted watching the chaos, they had grabbed two juice boxes and were sitting down. They offered the second box to him once he was sitting back down.

“If there’s anything you want to ask about right now, I’d be happy to answer however I can.”

“I don’t want to intrude on your time.”

They smiled. “Not at all! I’d be happy to teach you more.”

Miles thought about the offer for a moment. Stiffly, he pulled the straw from the side and stabbed it into the little hole. He felt childish. “Could you… explain what Wright meant about a ‘double-incision’ procedure?”

“Absolutely!”

As Phoenix, Maya, and Pearl faced off against Gumshoe and Kay, arguing over who won their competition, and as the sun slowly lowered in the sky, Miles and Y/N sat together under their umbrellas, talking endlessly without a care in the world for the heat that drew them all out there in the first place.

---

Tag List:

@writeawaythepain @sleepyqueerenergy @marina-and-the-memes @islandfrogeery

#fanfic #fanfiction #miles edgeworth #miles edgeworth x reader #miles edgeworth & reader #ace attorney #transmasc reader #x transmasc reader #trans reader #x trans reader

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beardedmrbean · 6 months ago

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SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Three years after a former Georgia district attorney was indicted on charges alleging she interfered with police investigating the 2020 killing of Ahmaud Arbery, the case's slow progression through the court system has sputtered to a halt, one the presiding judge insists is temporary.

Jackie Johnson was the state's top prosecutor for coastal Glynn County in February 2020, when Arbery was chased by three white men in pickup trucks who had spotted him running in their neighborhood. The 25-year-old Black man died in the street after one of his pursuers shot him with a shotgun.

Johnson transferred the case to an outside prosecutor because the man who initiated the deadly chase, Greg McMichael, was her former employee. But Georgia's attorney general says she illegally used her office to try to protect the retired investigator and his son, Travis McMichael, who fired the fatal shots.

Both McMichaels already have been convicted and sentenced to prison in back-to-back trials for murder and federal hate crimes. So has a neighbor, William “Roddie” Bryan, whose cellphone video of the shooting triggered a national outcry over Arbery’s death. A court heard their first appeals six months ago.

The criminal misconduct case against Johnson has moved at a comparative crawl since a grand jury indicted her on Sept. 2, 2021, on a felony count of violating her oath of office and a misdemeanor count of hindering a police officer.

While the men responsible for Arbery's death are serving life sentences, the slain man's family has insisted that justice won’t be complete until Johnson stands trial.

“It’s very, very important,” said Wanda Cooper-Jones, Arbery's mother. “Jackie Johnson was really part of the problem early on.”

Johnson has pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing. After losing reelection in 2020, she told The Associated Press that she immediately recused herself in the handling of Arbery's killing because of Greg McMichael's involvement.

Johnson's case has stalled as one of her attorneys, Brian Steel, has spent most of the past two years in an Atlanta courtroom defending Grammy-winning rapper Young Thug against racketeering and gang charges. Jury selection in the case took 10 months, prosecutors began presenting evidence last November and they are still calling witnesses.

Senior Judge John R. Turner, who was assigned to Johnson’s case, insists there is nothing he can do but wait.

“If anyone’s concerned that the case is being shuffled under the rug, I can guarantee you it’s not,” Turner told the AP in a phone interview. “It’s moving at a snail’s pace, but it will move forward eventually.”

After Arbery was killed, Greg McMichael told police that he and his son had armed themselves and chased the Black man, suspecting he was a fleeing criminal. Bryan, who didn't know any of the men, made a similar assumption after seeing them pass his home and joined in his own truck.

The indictment against Johnson alleges she told police they shouldn't arrest Travis McMichael. It also accuses her of “showing favor and affection” to Greg McMichael by calling on George Barnhill, a district attorney in a neighboring judicial circuit, to advise police about how to handle the shooting.

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr appointed Barnhill four days later to take over as outside prosecutor. Carr has said he picked Barnhill without knowing he already had advised police that he saw no grounds for arrests in Arbery's death.

Barnhill stepped aside after a few weeks, but not before he sent a letter to police captain arguing the McMichaels acted legally and Arbery was killed in self-defense.

After Johnson was charged, she reported to jail for booking and was released without having to post bond. Her attorneys waived a formal reading of the charges before a judge and she has yet to appear in court. The judge denied legal motions by Johnson’s lawyers to dismiss the case last November. Court records show no further developments over the past 10 months.

“Securing an indictment is just one step in our ongoing pursuit of justice for Ahmaud Arbery and his family," Carr said in a statement. "We have never stopped fighting for them, and we look forward to the opportunity to present our case in court.”

Johnson's attorneys, Steel and John Ossick, did not respond to emails and a phone message seeking comment. They have argued in court filings there is “not a scintilla of evidence” that she hindered police.

Prosecutors responded with a court filing that listed 16 calls between phones belonging to Johnson and Greg McMichael in the weeks following the shooting.

Two legal experts who aren't involved in the case said there is no deadline for Johnson to stand trial. She hasn't been jailed, so there is little pressure to expedite her case.

Steel's prolonged absence because of the Atlanta gang trial likely isn't the only factor slowing the case, Atlanta defense attorney Don Samuel said.

Courts remain saddled with a backlog of cases since the COVID-19 lockdowns, he said. And the attorney general's office has a limited staff of criminal prosecutors with their own busy caseloads.

Samuel also questioned whether prosecutors have a strong case against Johnson. Even if she opposed charging the McMichaels in Arbery's death, he said, prosecutors haven't accused her of taking bribes or similar blatant corruption.

District attorneys “have a huge amount of discretion to make decisions about what cases to pursue,” Samuel said. “The notion that we’re going to start prosecuting DAs for prosecuting or not prosecuting strikes me as really being on the edge of propriety.”

Danny Porter, the former district attorney for Gwinnett County in metro Atlanta, said prosecutors like Johnson have a legitimate role in advising police on whether or not to arrest suspects before an investigation is complete.

As for Johnson's recommendation in 2020 that the attorney general replace her with another prosecutor who concluded Arbery's killing was justified, Porter said: “I don’t think that’s a violation of the law, though it might have made them mad.”

#nunyas news

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mariacallous · 2 years ago

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Fake democracies take power by controlling who gives orders to public officials. During Hungarian elections, local polling station committees count the votes. Our research found that in 2018, committees that only had government members on them were far more likely to have irregularities in the count than those composed of both government and opposition. Surprising? Not especially. But it’s also the same reason that Israeli Justice Minister Yariv Levin wants to prevent the committee that appoints new judges from meeting. And it’s why the Israeli Supreme Court needs to hold the line to defend democracy.

In democracies, citizens elect people to make laws and also to supervise their execution. The catch is that in a parliamentary democracy, such as Israel’s, the same people take on both roles. When the people elected to make the law ignore that distinction and execute the laws they would like to have rather than the ones that exist, it amounts corruption or malpractice, and the judiciary is supposed to hold wayward officials to account. When the laws those officials would like to have concern the rules by which laws themselves are made—that is, when they are constitutional, or in the Israeli terminology, Basic Laws—conflating both roles threatens the survival of democracy itself.

Governments depend on appointed officials: civil servants, police, and soldiers to put laws into practice. These people depend for their livelihoods on a government paycheck and for promotion on a bureaucratic hierarchy. In a real democracy, their tasks are governed by the law, and they are protected from dismissal and reprisals if they follow it. In a fake democracy, the executive leadership takes control. That way, corrupt officials can intimidate opposition-aligned or simply foreign businesses (as happens in Hungary), or police officers taking orders from anti-democratic ministers can use excessive force against demonstrators (as they recently did in Israel).

Officials who don’t want to support the government line can resign, as Air Force reservists, soldiers, and even nuclear scientists have threatened to do in Israel. But resignations can never be enough because an honest official’s resignation gives the corrupt government a chance to appoint an obedient replacement. Officials who want to uphold democracy need to be able to do it when it matters—while they are still in their jobs.

The current crisis in Israel will come to a head in September, when the Supreme Court hears challenges to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s most recent judicial coup law. The law was written to change the way the Supreme Court interprets government actions by preventing it from blocking them by applying a test known as “reasonableness.”

Although Netanyahu—a man with a tenuous relationship to the truth—denies it, the new law would apply to decisions to fire the attorney general (Israel’s chief public prosecutor and an independent office, unlike in the United States) or not to convene the judicial appointments panel, where the government doesn’t have enough allies to exert control, or to dismiss the police chief on the grounds that he was insufficiently repressive.

The Supreme Court needs to be able to instruct officials not to obey illegal government orders, and to order security forces to protect officials from reprisals, which means the court needs to invalidate the law. (Such conflict is not unheard of in constitutional states: It nearly occurred in the United States under the administration of former President George W. Bush)

Unlike in Hungary, where constitutional weaknesses (the interaction of a majoritarian electoral system and the ability to change the constitution with a two-thirds majority of a unicameral parliament) gave Prime Minister Viktor Orban the formal constitutional authority to dismantle checks and balances, Israel’s constitution, like the United Kingdom’s, is uncodified. In Israel, the Supreme Court can test legislation against the country’s fundamental values (as expressed in the declaration of independence) and strike down incompatible laws.

In Hungary, the courts cannot review constitutional amendments, and European Court of Human Rights judgements, which are theoretically binding on Hungary, are often not implemented. The Hungarian judiciary did not ask the European Court of Justice to review Orban’s constitutional changes, even though the EU now thinks they have damaged judicial independence so much that it has demanded that Hungary undo them in order to be trusted with EU funds. Because of the timidity of the Hungarian judicial system, the EU had to wait several years, until the Polish government attempted a similar judicial coup, before it could develop the jurisprudence needed to stop takeovers of the judiciary.

Israel’s courts must not be so timid. Although it has never struck down a Basic Law, the Supreme Court has prepared the ground by developing jurisprudence that could be used to do so. It could question whether this reform really is a Basic Law or if it was just called one without justification. Alternatively, it could argue that the law breached the core values of the Israeli legal system by destroying the separation of powers. (Either something is so fundamental that it undermines the system; or it is only notionally, but not actually, fundamental. It can’t be both). In a tactic borrowed from major British constitutional cases, Israel’s court has now said it will meet as a full bench of 15 justices when it hears challenges to Netanyahu’s law.

Netanyahu has said that he would ignore the Supreme Court if it blocks the law. The court must not be deterred by his bluster. Indeed, this is the most serious constitutional crisis in Israel since June 1948, when the Irgun, a militia affiliated to those parts of the Zionist movement that would evolve into the Likud party, sought to import weapons on a ship called the Altalena for its own use in the War of Independence rather than channeling all military equipment to the recently established Israel Defense Forces.

After a tense standoff, then-Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion ordered the ship sunk. Future Prime Minister Menachem Begin, then the head of the Irgun who was aboard the ship as it was shelled, ordered his men not to fight back in order to prevent civil war from breaking out in the nascent Israeli state. Sixteen Irgun members and three Israel Defense Forces soldiers died.

Today, Israel faces another constitutional crisis. Justice Minister Yariv Levin is at the helm of an effort that threatens to splinter Israeli society just as the ship commanded by his great uncle Eliahu Lankin did in 1948.

The Supreme Court must command officials to disobey any attempts that Netanyahu or Levin might make to instruct them to ignore the court. Yoav Gallant, Israel’s defense minister and a Likud member, has made clear he would take inspiration from Begin’s statesmanship and “act according to law” if the Supreme Court strikes down Netanyahu’s legislation.

The power is in the court’s hands: When it hears the case, it will be the last constitutional bulwark of democracy in Israel. It is the court that must decide whether to hand over power to Netanyahu or order him to cease his attacks on Israeli democracy.

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grap3fru1t-b3ach · 2 years ago

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i am now compelled to make my account useful again. So have some apocalypse bitches that I love so goddamn much.

*SHARP INHALE*

Starting with:

VANQUISH they/them

° the most responsible of the crew, but also the snobbiest.

° arrogant af! Talk shit, get hit. (With an execution axe)

° judgmental (fitting for a corrupt judge)

° they run a little kangaroo court, where they see the jury and the prosecutors as little marionettes they can play with for their little sick, twisted, and unfair puppet show.

ILLNESS he/him

°feeshy 💚💜💚

°likes to sing, uses it to lure ppl in.

°plays the role of an "angel of mercy" (for those who don't know, that's a type of serial killer who kills people under their care who are very ill and are suffering from their illness, even if they can still be healed) except here, he's not actually sympathetic for you at all :)

° the tallest of the harebringers, and the most plump.

°makes his own special plagues himself. The one he's carrying rn doesn't have a name just yet, but it's his favorite by far.

°DON'T let those droopy eyes and soft voice fool you, he can lose his temper at the drop of a hat.

°Can and will cry. Like, a lot.

°has his own diseases himself,but he's pretty immune.

°has pollen allergies.

HATRED she/it

°ANT LADY

°likes spreading rumors about ppl she finds "problamatic"

°will fight you with her bare hands if she finds you a nuisance

°her braid makes her explode like a bomb, but it doesn't hurt or kill her. (Not like any of them CAN die anyhow)

°axe crazy arsonist

°don't say shit bout her shit plzdontyouwilldiehorriblypleasedon-

WILT he/him

°can sap any energy from plants and crops for himself, yet he is unable to gain weight... Especially with how much he takes. (Daym)

°his ragdoll look is supposed to be some sort of irony, he's a toy himself, yet he sees the people around him as toys for himself.

°speaking of, he uses his ragdoll appearance to manipulate children into thinking he's a doll their parents secretly threw away years ago. (He usually does this to 4-9 year olds)

°he also manipulates authority figures and law makers into raising the prices of food and bevrages.

°like the others, his short tempered side comes to light when things don't go his way, but out of all of them, his tantrums are the most destructive.

°he's a bit insecure about his lazy right eye. (His right)

DECAY she/her

°gives souls who died in the hands of the others a little comfort before spiriting them away.

°LOVES animals! Especially cats and crows.

°Despite her being all sweet n cute n stuff, she also has a reputation of goading people into suicide at times.

°illness and hatred are VERY protective over her (they aren't her parents, they all treat each other like siblings) make her cry, see what happens. :)

°she complains about headaches alot. But she refuses to remove the knife from her head, she calls it her "good luck charm"

° can turn into a crow herself.

WORMWOOD he/them

°leader of the harbringers

° technically the harebringer of havoc?

° HAHAHA HOW ARW YOU THAT SHORT-

° he's kinda scary despite his tiny stature...

°heard some of yall like those stained glass angel wings, SAY NO MORE!

°one of the "cavern angels" which are basically evil angels that are like that naturally and haven't been cast aside like fallen angels.

° birch tree, worm, get it??? Ha! Haha, ha... I'm not funny :(

°BE AFRAID!

Height comparison!

congratulations on getting thus far! Have some lore as a reward!

So basically, wormwood was always very lonely, so he made these guys out of calamity energy, he also bosses them around quite a bit, so sometimes, they sneak off and do their own thing. (Usually ends in them getting in trouble) wormwood was feeling generous one day, and decides to conquer an island for his harebringers to rule over their own piece of land and make it to their liking! The harebringers had a fuckin field day with this, and used this as an advantage to leech off the residents' sufferings. So now, it's up to Elpis to save the residents and end wormwood's schemes once again. (I'll give y'all Elpis later tho, I'm still working on her)

That's everything, thanks for listening to me ramble about my children.🩷

TL;DR art of the 5 harebringers in my version along side wormwood! Including vanquish, illness, hatred, wilt and decay.

#horsemen of the apocalypse #Conquest horsemen #War horseman #Famine horseman #Pestilence horseman #Death horseman #wormwood #oc art #art dump #BK rambles

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ms-boogie-man · 29 days ago

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"As we speak, Andrew Tate and this brother Tristan are on their way from Romania to the US. The Tates are suspected of rape (including of minors), human trafficking and money laundering, not only in Romania but also in the UK. Despite the travel ban, they were able to travel to the US under pressure from the Trump administration. This is the kind of people the Trump administration, including their new saint Elon Musk, is protecting. Anyone who condemns abuse of women and minors is "a liberal" and "a retard". This isn't a conspiracy theory like Pizzagate, these criminals are for real. Anyone who corrects fake news, false information and lies by the president himself is a "liberal" and a "retard", even if they are famous historians. The Republican Party, which has become a cult, wants to re-write history for the next generations to come. As far as Imane Kheilif is concerned, she was born as a woman and is still a woman. She may not be the prettiest woman on earth for some and that may trigger real Adonises like Trump and Musk, of course."

@musicandoldmovies … your comment 👆🏼 in the Notes landed in my Activity Monitor so I assume you are speaking to me I will try to keep this short. If not, that will be the only thingy I fail at in here

The Tate brothers are suspected — your wording — of rape, human trafficking, and money laundering. From what I know of the case, there are accusations only, no actual proof has been produced. Too, from what I have heard, the accusations come from corrupt people. Meaning, the accusations began with officials, then the 4 women were produced. That is a little suspect IMO… this coming from a female yo I am not siding with the Tate bros, nor will I argue their case any further until that case has been seen thru to completion. If that never happens, the case never was to begin with. HERE is something though. In this article, 4 women accused the Tate bros. For some reason, the case was thrown back to the prosecutors. That is a bold move by anyone in any country. There must be a reason for it. In the meantime, if it is understood by the brothers that they will return if the case resumes, why should they observe a travel ban? That travel ban is just law-fare, simple. And… it looks to me like the case itself might have been Pizza-gate, on the other hand, is a fact. Every item in the scandal has been proven out as fact. There is not any conspiracy theory to it… only conspiracy fact. There is a mountain of physical, factual evidence. I myself researched this and dug up facts in the matter as far back as ‘013/014… and that is before Trump even announced his first run for president, and that is back then Elon Musk was still a liberal darling to you all The Republican Party (GOP) does not apply here. The GOP is compromised and run by the same people who run the majority of the DNC… also proven fact. Too, re-writing history is the territory of the DNC, so like many other thingys, you have that backwards. We in the MAGA movement are constitutional republicans (lowercase ‘r’) and that means we are of and for the constitutional republic, and not part of the current GOP. Full Stop. We are not a cult. And the facts are on our side. Deal with it

Re: Imane Kheilif… this person’s history and record are built on claims. Even wiki resorts to word salad and virtue signaling to speak of this person, and it all seems to be an attempt to win sympathy while skirting actual issues. Stating someone was born and raised a girl does not prove anything. I can walk out my front door this morning and tell everyone I was born and raised as a dragon … this does not mean anything. You would look at me like, Angie, sorry, you are just a little girl *I find it a little odd that you are siding with 4 women and their allegations of rape — which have remained unproven over the course of several years, then turning on your heel and siding against women when experts have accused a man of getting in a boxing ring and putting a beating on them. When it comes to fact checking services siding with this person, Imane Kheilif and their XY issue, every one of those services has sided with establishment lies in the past and I would not take their word for anything at this point

M&OM, you may want to consider just sticking to the original premise of your blog-thingy: music and old movies. You are good at that. Your jump into the political, socio-economic, and cultural realm is based in about as much fact as those old movies… which are just amusing little stories Too, if you wish to return here and debate me … I assure, you will get much, much more than you bargained for yo

Angie's Current Player Rating Power Exerted: < 25% Accuracy: 100% Damage To Opponent: 75-80% Angie's Life Level: 100% Mode: > BOSS

I am undefeated, on and off Tumblr too, btw

🦇🙃

(bat smiles)

MANIFEST

#> Boss

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justinspoliticalcorner · 2 months ago

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Alex Bollinger at LGBTQ Nation:

The Justice Department dropped charges against a doctor who was facing four felony counts after he allegedly shared transgender patients’ private medical information with rightwing activist Christopher Rufo.

Houston surgeon Eithan Haim gave internal documents that he had access to at the Texas Children’s Hospital in 2023 to Rufo. The records allegedly showed that several minors were receiving gender-affirming care, which Haim claimed was “child abuse” even though all major medical associations in the U.S. support gender-affirming care as a safe and effective way to treat gender dysphoria. Prosecutors during the Biden administration said that Haim gave Rufo the medical records with “intent to cause malicious harm” to the Texas Children’s Hospital. He pled not guilty and said that he would fight the charges “for whistleblowers everywhere.”

Making medical records public is a violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the federal law that protects patients’ medical privacy. Still, many on the right defended Haim’s actions, arguing that stopping gender-affirming care is more important than medical privacy. Now the charges have been dropped in a motion signed by U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery. No reasoning is given in the motion. Prosecutors believe that Haim had access to Texas Children’s Hospital records even though he didn’t work there because he had previously done part of his residency there. He asked the hospital to reactivate his login and accessed the medical records of children not under his care. This happened after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton declared gender-affirming care a form of child abuse in a nonbinding opinion.

The Trump DOJ drops charges against patient privacy-violating Texas Children’s Hospital “Dr.” Eithan Haim, who shared trans patients’ private medical information with far-right influencer Christopher Rufo.

See Also:

The Advocate: Feds drop charges against Texas-based Dr. Haim, who leaked gender-affirming care info to far-right extremist Rufo

#Eithan Haim #Christopher F. Rufo #Gender Affirming Healthcare #Transgender Health #Transgender #Texas Children's Hospital #Ken Paxton #HIPAA #Texas Medical Board #Anti Trans Extremism #US Department of Justice #Patient Privacy

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cyberbenb · 12 days ago

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Suspect pleads guilty to murder of Odesa activist Demyan Hanul

Serhii Shalaiev, the man detained and charged with the killing of Ukrainian activist Demyan Hanul, pled guilty to the murder in a closed court hearing on March 16, according to regional prosecutor Ruslan Veremchuk.

Hanul, 31, was shot dead in central Odesa on March 14. Hanul was well-known for his public activism, including his participation in Ukraine’s EuroMaidan Revolution and the May 2 clashes against pro-Russian forces in Odesa.

The suspect, 46-year-old Serhii Shalaiev, pleaded guilty to Hanul’s murder in a closed court session, the news outlet Suspilne reported, citing Veremchuk. Shalaiev was detained hours after the shooting and identified as a deserter by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).

Prosecutors charged Shalaiev with premeditated murder committed under order and illegal handling of weapons.

Veremchuk, deputy head of the Odesa Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Defense of the Southern Region, said the hearing was held in a closed session to protect the identities of testifying witnesses. He also said investigators are still working to determine who else may have been involved in Hanul’s murder.

“The perpetrator of this crime has been detained,” Veremchuk said.

“One of the versions of the investigation is that it was a contract killing. Measures are being taken to identify the customer and other accomplices in the crime."

Shalaiev has been wanted for military desertion since February 23, according to the SBU. He reportedly served as commander of a platoon in the 28th separate mechanized brigade.

The court has imposed a pre-trial detention order on Shalaiev, who will be held in custody for 60 days without possibility of bail.

Andrii Nebytov, deputy head of the National Police, previously said during a television broadcast on March 15 that investigators were considering three possible versions of the crime: a contract killing linked to Hanul’s political activism, a crime of personal animosty, and an assassination linked to Russia.

Hanul was a public figure and blogger who founded the Street Front NGO. He was active in rallies supporting Ukraine, charity fundraisers for the military, and campaigns to dismantle the city’s Soviet and imperial monuments.

The activist had previously reported threats against his life. In July 2024, Hanul claimed Russian sources had leaked personal information about his relatives and that a $10,000 bounty was offered for an attack on him.

In reaction to the murder, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that dozens of law enforcement officials are involved in the investigation.

“I have instructed the interior minister, the head of the Security Service, the acting prosecutor general to throw all the necessary forces and means to establish all the facts,” Zelensky said.

‘Everyone is really shocked and upset’ — Trump administration puts Voice of America journalists on leave, cuts funding to Radio Free Europe

The Trump administration on March 15 followed up a on an executive order signed a day earlier by President Donald Trump vowing to gut funding for the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). As a

The Kyiv IndependentDmytro Basmat

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tala-bez-i · 3 months ago

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At first sight II Chapter Twenty-One

(m!reader x Bonten!Haruchiyo Sanzu)

Fluff/slash/reader is male/cursing/BontenTimeline/drugs and alcohol mentioned/violence/blood/death

All characters that appeared in the Tokyo Revengers manga and anime belong to Ken Wakui.

Words: 4124

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You sat at the table, repeating in your head everything you knew about Junko Yoshioka’s Blossom. It all still looked and sounded like a scenario from one of those twisted yaoi mangas that tempted you from the shelves in various stores selling such things.

Maybe if you were a teenager living in the current times, you would buy them like crazy until your own mother would give you a hard time about the shrinking living space, but no. You were a grown man, already approaching thirty, and your poor brain was not necessarily able to register all of it, process it, and spit out feedback containing a simplified description of the whole situation.

"What don't you understand?" The dark-haired woman who sat across from you and worked on her notebook asked calmly.

"Please don't get upset." You answered her, stroking the rim of your cup, in which you still had your cappuccino. "It's just that this is all so absurd that I need more time to be able to understand it. I thought things like this only happened in... What's it called? Fanfiction?"

Tomoko let out a short, quiet laugh and tore her eyes away from the screen for a moment to look at you.

"I had the same thing two days before we took over the boy from them." She answered you and went back to her work. Her fingers moved efficiently and quickly over the keyboard, causing a pleasant, quiet clicking of the keys. "The boy didn't have an easy life, and it won't get any easier now. He's currently in a safe facility for young people from, let's call it, difficult families." You watched every slight change in her facial expression and had to admit that your sister really didn't look her age. She looked a few years younger than she actually was. "We generally suspect that the youngster may have a lot of knowledge about various things that interest us, and that could mean that..."

“He’s up for questioning.” You finished for her and took a sip of your coffee.

“Yeah.” Tomoko looked up at you again. “I think he knows more about Takenaka.”

“If so, he’ll need protection. You know Nagasawa’s dead?”

The woman's fingers froze over the keyboard and that glint appeared in your sister's eyes, suggesting attention and increased focus.

"When did this happen and under what circumstances?" Tomoko's tone of voice suggested that she was in cop mode, so you lowered your voice, just to be safe, so the information wouldn't reach the wrong ears.

“Yesterday morning. They found him hanging from his own bedsheet.”

“How do you know that?”

“I went to the facility with Okumura today to talk to him again. The guard was confused by the whole situation.”

"Why?"

“Two hours before we got there, we got permission to re-interview him from the prosecutor, who had supposedly been briefed on the situation the day before.”

Tomoko closed her notebook and leaned forward. “The guy’s name.”

“I think you know who I’m talking about, Tomoko.” You replied, not wanting to risk saying his name out loud.

Your sister’s dark eyes scanned your face carefully and slowly, as if searching for the slightest sign of a lie, but when she looked into your eyes, you knew she knew who you meant.

“He has too many connections.” She said quietly, and you knew perfectly well that she was referring to Bonten.

“I wonder if they know anything.”

“About his interest in the brothel, yes.” She told you calmly. “But about him having a conflict with Takenaka, I don’t think so. I can’t vouch for that.”

“They didn’t mention anything?”

“No.” She sighed quietly and looked towards the cafe’s window. “It would be best if you tried asking them yourself. You have a deal with them, and as long as you’re working on solving the Takenaka case, they’ll be able to give you some information. You just have to ask them. They won’t hand you anything on a silver platter.”

“I know, I know…” You frowned slightly. “The question is, who should I go to first?”

“I would say Sanzu, since he’s number 2, but it would be better if you tried contacting Kakucho. Out of the two of them, he’s the more sensible one.”

“And Mochizuki?”

"He won't have time for you. Why did he come to your mind?"

“Because last time he was the one who contacted me.” Tomoko looked at you in surprise, waiting for further explanation. "They were going to do something that would make my and Okumura's colleagues' work harder, so we could go back to this case."

"And what?"

"He said it was all sorted. Later it turned out that the daughter of one of those detectives was kidnapped..."

"Yeah, yeah... We're working on it." Tomoko nodded, but the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.

"Okumura heard a rumor that Bonten had nothing to do with it." You added, feeling that the matter had a deeper meaning.

“Oh, they do and they don’t.” The woman’s smile grew significantly, sending a shiver down your spine.

“Can you tell me more?”

“Absolutely not.” She made a serious face, though there was still amusement in her eyes. “As I mentioned, we’re working on the case.”

"Tomoko, please. I won't interfere."

The woman sighed quietly, but a smile appeared on her lips again.

"The girl is with someone in the syndicate, that's true. What's not true is that she was kidnapped. Let's say she got invited to the party of her life and decided it would be a sin to refuse." She lifted her cup to her lips and took a sip of black coffee. “She's in no danger until she starts freaking out about something. Let's just say that the young lady isn't necessarily a good girl and loves to raise her old man's blood pressure."

"Something, like you?" escaped your lips and the woman regarded you with a slightly colder gaze.

"The pot calling the kettle black." She mumbled and you gently bit the inside of your cheek. "Stop doing that." She nudged your ankle with her booted foot. Your dentist must think you have mental problems, seeing all these scars.”

You shrugged, dropping your gaze to the cup you were holding in both hands. Your mother always scolded your father for this habit too. Gently and politely, but still.

„Tomoko…”

„Hmm?”

“Have you ever heard of Haji?”

“The one from Nagasawa’s brothel? No. I only know about him from what Wada and Riku told me.” Your sister replied, turning her gaze back to the window. “He’s quite polite towards customers, but from what I’ve gathered, he’s set to take over Nagasawa and Takenaka’s entire business.”

"Nothing stands in his way now. The owners are dead..."

"He still has to convince the bosses. Taking over a gang business isn't as easy as it seems, brother. If someone discovers in advance any connection between the guy and the deaths of the previous owners of a brothel, nightclub or other place run by trusted people of the syndicate, he himself will end up much worse than he would like."

“He needs to have someone to protect him.” You said and looked at Tomoko. “Like Uncle Shou.”

“Like Uncle Shou.” The woman repeated with a nod. “I won’t deny it. The guy has some pretty solid connections with Bonten. I think you’ve connected the dots by now, right?”

“Yeah. Okumura and I figured it out.”

“Excellent. Did you report it further?”

“We don’t have any solid evidence.” Other than the tapes…

“Okay. You have to catch him red-handed somehow. You have to have tapes of him confessing. Fuck, any connection to these cases.”

“To Takenaka and Nagasawa.” You said, just to make sure, and the woman held up a single finger.

"And Riku. Remember, Blossom is still Uncle Shou's favorite."

Fuck. You forgot about him.

You pressed your lips into a thin line and nodded. "When can we talk to him about this?"

"I have no idea. Find clues with Okumura that Riku is involved and you'll get permission to interrogate the boy." Tomoko said, finishing her coffee.

You watched as she put her notebook in her purse and quickly finished your cappuccino.

“Just one more question, Ko-chan.” Your sister looked at you, slightly surprised. “Can you think of anything why I should be careful with Sanzu now?”

Tomoko ran a hand through her tied-up dark hair and raised an eyebrow.

“All I know is that he’s planning some big surprise.”

“What do you mean?”

“I have no idea, Y/n. It's a surprise.” She started to leave the cafe and, passing the counter where the barista was standing, added. “The gentleman's coffee is on me.”

“I'll pay for myself!” You followed her, but your sister disappeared through the door, and the woman who worked for you in another reality smiled apologetically.

“Too late. When Mrs. L/n gives an order like that, you have to listen.” She said calmly and pointed to a piece of paper with empty spaces for stickers. “I can recommend our regular promotion for that. Mrs. L/n doesn't collect stickers, but you can give her a small gift.”

You looked at the small colorful piece of paper and felt your ears start to get warm.

"But wouldn't that mean she made the gift herself?" You asked quietly, feeling embarrassed.

The woman laughed quietly. "Yes, that's true, but..." She turned the coupon over. "This time, our promotion is combined with this one." You looked at a series of discount codes for various products from a drugstore that Tomoko liked to shop at. "All we have to do is secretly refill the stickers and..."

“That’s very kind of you, but I have to decline.” You interrupted her. “If my sister doesn’t want something, it’s best not to force it on her.”

You said goodbye to the petite woman and left the café. You stood on the sidewalk for a moment, looking first to the right, then to the left, and headed back to the police station, wondering if Okumura had managed to get anything done.

You were halfway there when a car pulled up next to you and the window was rolled down.

“Get in, L/n.” You heard your partner’s voice and did as you were told. “You were right. The old man said that Kitagawa made a simple mistake by giving us permission to talk to Nagasawa.”

You fastened your seatbelt, listening to what the man had to say.

"He said he would try to sort it out with him today and that we shouldn't worry about it. The prosecutor has had a lot of open cases on his plate for some time now and he had the right to make a mistake."

"Tomoko suggested trying to contact someone from Bonten HQ to explain his connection to what happened to Takenaka."

"And who's supposed to do that? L/n, she's the one who does that, not us. We don't have any other contacts with the syndicate like her, Wada, Riku, and the older Takenaka." Shinji answered you, pulling into the traffic that had decreased at the moment. "If she doesn't give us anything, then we can cross the rest out, at least for now. Wada gave us the footage from the brothel's cameras, Takenaka confirmed some information, and we don't currently have access to the young one."

“Until we get something that clearly indicates that he has more knowledge about Jun’s business with Uncle Shou… Or their conflict in general, we won’t be allowed to talk to the boy.”

“Are you kidding?” Okumura gave you a quick look. “I thought that just being interested would be enough. Besides, if we don’t ask him the right questions, we might not find out what the boy knows and what he doesn’t.”

“True, but you know who all this can bring down and unless we actually get something in a roundabout way…” You shrugged. "No questioning."

The dark-haired detective cursed under his breath and there was silence for a moment.

"Where are we going?" You asked when you noticed the familiar buildings and despite the fact that you had only been there once, you started to guess where you were going.

"Someone left us information about who Haji was doing business with behind Nagasawa's back." He answered you in a rather light tone and you looked at him with interest.

"Pink Cloud Host Club?"

"Uh-huh." The man confirmed and you felt a pleasant shiver of excitement run down your spine. "We got a tip that the owner, Kanata Nishitani, is currently there and this is our chance to have some kind of conversation with him."

"I suspect his wife would be more willing to talk." You said trying to sound calm but feeling excited just thinking about Rosie, it wasn't easy.

"Hmm, tell me, L/n. Was that the first time you saw her?" Okumura asked carefully, and for a split second you held your breath. "Not that it was anything, but you were acting pretty weird back then. It was the first time you pulled such a stunt, like from a romantic series..."

"Yeah, the first time." You interrupted him, feeling the irritation rising inside you. "Let's not go back to this topic, please. Let's focus on what needs to be done, okay?"

"Sure, no problem." He said, lightly lifting his fingers from the steering wheel, then added. "Do you think her husband makes her serve some customers? She only mentioned helping run the club, but..."

"What does that have to do with anything?" You asked, looking at the man carefully. "We received information about Haji's alleged cooperation with, I assume, Nishitani. The woman doesn't need to know about it. Yes, she did mention helping her husband, but she can only deal with the girls they employ."

“Right.” Okumura parked in the same parking spot as last time and you had to walk the rest of the way.

The temperature didn’t seem to be any lower than before, and the groups of people passing by, most of whom were very cheerful, gave you a false sense of extra warmth. You frowned slightly, having the impression that Kabukicho was a bit more crowded than last time.

This caused memories from your youth, when the area wasn’t as colorful as it was now, to briefly flash through your mind.

"Hey, L/n..." One of your companions pulled you closer with his arm. "If you rob that businessman over there..." He pointed to some guy who seemed to be intoxicated. He was leaning his hand against the wall of a building, and on either side of him two laughing prostitutes were talking to him. "I'll buy you a round at the brothel."

"Come on..." Your second companion spoke up, pulling the first one away. "He's a waste of whores. You see what a weakling he is. If he can't get himself a pussy, don't waste your money on him."

It wasn't very nice, but by then you were used to this type of teasing from your Valhalla colleagues. You didn't even pay much attention to it.

"L/n." You heard Okumura's voice next to you, and it was only then that you realized that you were standing in front of the illuminated window of the host club, staring at the photo of the guy you helped in the park not so long ago. Under his photo was a large sign announcing that he was temporarily unavailable in the club's offer. Like a note apologizing in a store for the lack of a certain product."

"I'm coming, I'm coming. Sorry." You answered him and stood next to him as close as the narrow entrance to the building would allow.

The man pressed the videophone button and almost immediately a small light came on, signaling that the camera was on.

"How can we help?" A male voice came through the speaker, the sound of which froze you for a moment. "The club opens in less than an hour..."

"Mr. Nishitani?"

"Yes. What is it?"

"I'm Detective Okumura and this is Detective L/n. We wanted to talk, if it's not too much trouble." Your partner explained.

You knew that voice. You had heard it before, more than once, but you couldn't place it with any face. You didn't know any Nishitani, not in this reality or the previous one, but a huge red flag started to grow in your head.

"Ah, my wife mentioned that you were here. Of course, please come in." The owner of the host club said, and a soft sound was heard, signaling the release of the door lock.

You followed Okumura inside and in the lobby you were greeted by one of the girls who was an employee of the host club and after greeting you politely, she showed you the way to the owner's office, which you had already been to once.

As soon as you entered the room, you were greeted from behind the desk by a man you recognized immediately. Hideki Nagano. Sitting in front of you was fucking Hideki Nagano.

The name Uchiyama immediately popped into your head, and in your mind's eye you saw Emiko's face. Your memories from before the time-leaps appeared one after another, even touching on your son, whom you will never have...

"My partner and I have a few questions and we would appreciate it if you would agree to cooperate with us." Shinji's words tore you from your thoughts and you began to look closely at the man sitting there.

In this reality, his hair was neatly trimmed and you could bet a small amount of money that his wife, Rosie, was responsible for it. If indeed the woman was his wife of her own free will.

“About Onikawa, right?” He leaned back in his chair, his eyes flicking from your partner to you. “What else do you want to know? Rosie gave you all the information, and so did Onikawa. I have nothing more to add.”

“We understand, and please don't worry, we're not here in this case.”

“Oh?” The man whose nose you would have loved to bust tilted his head slightly to the side.

"Can you tell us anything about the man who goes by the name Haji?" Okumura said and you didn't miss the subtle change in the club owner's face, suggesting some concern.

"Excuse me, who?" He asked with a slight smile.

"Haji. He works at the sex house owned by Jin Nagasawa and Junko Yoshioka." You said, trying to keep your voice calm and professional.

"I recognize Nagasawa and Takenaka, but this is the first I've heard of someone named Haji." Nishitani shrugged, trying to look relaxed again. "Maybe you should talk to the owners of other brothels?"

"Are you suggesting anyone in particular?" Okumura asked, pulling out his small notebook.

"Hachirou Kuroda." He said, pouting out his lower lip slightly. His tone sounded so nonchalant that it didn't match his suddenly harder gaze. The combination intrigued you greatly.

"Kuroda? Who is he?" Okumura asked, and your interlocutor licked his lips.

"The owner of the brothel two blocks away. He owns the entire building, so his girls don't have to leave their workplace." He began to explain, and you could clearly hear the irritation in his voice. “The guy exploits girls and women without caring about anything.”

Because you happen to be interested in anything more than profit. - You thought, but a small voice in your head told you that despite a certain amount of insincerity on his part, this time there might actually be something to it. And that was hard for you to accept.

"Uh-huh, so Kuroda might know more about Haji, right?"

You looked at Shinji and saw some tension on his face. Had he heard about the guy before?

"I heard things have changed in the Nagasawa brothel." Nishitani announced, getting up from his chair. His hands began to pick up his phone and cigarette case from the desk, which he calmly put into the pockets of his clean, evenly ironed pants. "Girls like to gossip, do you know, gentlemen detectives? It doesn't matter what brothel they're from, they like to spread gossip among themselves. Mainly to damage the competition, but there are also some who shit in their own nest." He looked from your partner to you, and this time his eyes met yours. "You know what I mean. Not every pimp tolerates such behavior in his host club, brothel, house of pleasure. Call it whatever you want. Some like it when girls compete with each other for a client, but when knives or scissors are used and the value of one of the whores drops..." He smiled crookedly. "That's not tolerated here, and my sweet wife keeps order. Fuck, I'm glad I found her. A woman with a heart of gold."

“Which building is this?” Okumura asked and the man gave the address from memory, not once stuttering, which piqued both your interest and distrust.

“Thank you for your help and if you hear any rumors about Haji, please contact us.” Shinji put his notebook in the pocket of his coat and you and the man left the room that served as the owner's office.

"Of course, Detective Okumura. I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything." Nishitani announced as you walked down the short hallway towards the front door.

A few girls passed you on the way, rushing to finish getting ready for their work, and for a split second you thought you saw Rosie herself in one of the rooms you passed, helping some girl with her hair.

"In case you gentlemen are looking for some nice company..." The owner of the Pink Cloud began and smiled seeing the significant look from the black-haired detective. "Of course, gentlemen. I am absolutely not encouraging you to do anything. Have a nice evening."

"We didn't even think about it." You said and as soon as you stood on the already quite crowded sidewalk again, the building doors closed behind you with a quiet click.

"God." Shinji sighed, pulling out a pack of cigarettes. "Let this end, because as patient as my Princess is, her hormones are starting to get the better of her more and more often."

"Oh?"

The man took a deep drag on his cigarette, exhaled smoke, and leaned toward you, inhaling deeply through his nose.

You looked at him, completely surprised, not fully understanding what he was doing.

“Yes, if I can smell it from you, then she can smell it from me too.” He grumbled, heading in the direction where you left the car. "Last time I saw her sniffing the collar of my shirts for two nights in a row, searching for the scent of a woman's perfume. I didn't say anything to that, and she doesn't say anything either, knowing full well what case we're working on, but..." Okumura shook his head. "She knows what I'm capable of, and even though I've been refraining from using the services of girls for a long time now, Mimiko is increasingly worried that I'll cheat on her."

“She's understanding…” You started truthfully, but as soon as your friend looked at you from the corner of his eye, you nodded. “I know what you’re talking about, Okumura. Mimiko is a good woman and she understands your job. She knows what you’ve done before, but you gave her your word that you wouldn’t do it again, and believe me or not, she trusts you. The fact that she’s checking your shirts… I think it’s just a reflex.”

“A reflex?” The detective snorted, taking an even deeper drag on his cigarette. “What fucking reflex?”

You sighed and gently bit the inside of your cheek.

"Listen. We have to visit brothels, saturated with women's perfumes and sometimes other scents. You spend relatively less time at home than before and for several months there has been no intimacy between you and your wife..." You looked at him uncertainly. "Right? Or... Or maybe something happened?"

"With two kids who won't leave my side when I come home? Fuck, L/n..." He sighed, but the corners of his mouth turned up slightly. "I know what you're getting at. You're a good friend, L/n. Thanks."

"You're welcome. Maybe try spending more time with Mimiko in the near future?" You raised one hand, seeing his expression that suggested an upcoming protest. "The only thing we can do now is check Kuroda. If he doesn't contribute anything, there's no point in hanging around brothels. In the meantime, we might as well work from our homes."

"Ah, fuck. Working from home with my two rascals." Okumura grumbled quietly. "I wouldn't dream of anything else..."

#tokyo revengers #tokyo revengers x y/n #male reader #tokyo revengers haruchiyo sanzu #haruchiyo sanzu #haruchiyo sanzu x reader

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rlyehtaxidermist · 1 year ago

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I've talked about the polygraph a couple of times on this post, though I admit that the plants thing is new to me.

Technically, the polygraph isn't used in the US legal system - polygraph tests are almost never admissible in court. The Supreme Court, in US v. Scheffer, called the device unreliable but left it to individual jurisdictions to decide whether to use it; most ban it outright, some allow it only if the defense and prosecution both assent to the procedure.

The primary users of it are law enforcement, especially for employee screening; usage of polygraphy outside these sorts of positions is illegal under the Employee Polygraph Protection Act. However, the government still prosecutes people who claim to know how to "beat" a polygraph - and while it may be inadmissible, it's often used by prosecutors to attempt to force people to sign admissible confessions based on the results of the polygraph, as part of the general fuckedupedness of the US's plea deal based criminal courts.

My go-to piece on the polygraph is the HSCA testimony of CIA director Richard Helms, who is perhaps a bit more honest than he should have been about why he thinks the polygraph works:

Mr. HELMS - ...we discovered there were some Eastern Europeans who could defeat the polygraph at any time. Americans are not very good at it, because we are raised to tell the truth and when we lie it is easy to tell are lying. But we find a lot of Europeans and Asiatics can handle that polygraph without a blip, and you know they are lying and you have evidence that they are lying.

Chairman STOKES - I am advised that the CIA used polygraph tests on all its employees. Mr. HELMS - It works very well with Americans.

He later clarifies

Mr. HELMS - What I, in effect, was trying to say was that there is an occasional individual who lives in that part of the world who has spent his life lying about one thing or another and therefore becomes so good at it that he can pass the polygraph test. But this would be 1 individual in maybe 1 million or a 100,000, something of that kind. I imagine Americans, if they set their minds to it, could do it as well. I meant no offense to Eastern Europeans as a category or any individual Eastern European.

which just goes to show that cops have been using the same I'm-not-racist-but line for fifty years

one of the best academic paper titles

#we all know they've been using it for longer this is just SO similar

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gabrieloraiz · 4 months ago

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Article 67. The agreement to revive the former property regime referred to in the preceding Article shall be executed under oath and shall specify:

(1) The properties to be contributed anew to the restored regime;

(2) Those to be retained as separated properties of each spouse; and

(3) The names of all their known creditors, their addresses and the amounts owing to each.

The agreement of revival and the motion for its approval shall be filed with the court in the same proceeding for legal separation, with copies of both furnished to the creditors named therein. After due hearing, the court shall, in its order, take measure to protect the interest of creditors and such order shall be recorded in the proper registries of properties.

The recording of the ordering in the registries of property shall not prejudice any creditor not listed or not notified, unless the debtor-spouse has sufficient separate properties to satisfy the creditor's claim. (195a, 108a)

Maquilan vs. Maquilan

G.R. No. 155409

Jun 8, 2007

Austria-Martinez, J.

Facts:

Virgilio Maquilan (petitioner) and Dita Maquilan (respondent) were once happily married and had a son. Their marriage deteriorated when Virgilio discovered Dita's affair, leading to her conviction for adultery along with her paramour. Both were sentenced to imprisonment ranging from one year, eight months to three years, six months, and twenty-one days. Subsequently, on June 15, 2001, Dita filed a Petition for Declaration of Nullity of Marriage, Dissolution and Liquidation of Conjugal Partnership of Gains, and Damages, citing psychological incapacity on Virgilio's part. During pre-trial, the couple entered into a Compromise Agreement detailing the division of their conjugal properties, which the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Nabunturan, Compostela Valley approved. Virgilio later filed an Omnibus Motion to repudiate the agreement, claiming his lawyer had not properly informed him of its effects. The RTC denied his motion and subsequent motion for reconsideration. Virgilio then filed a Petition for Certiorari and Prohibition with the Court of Appeals (CA), which dismissed his petition. Virgilio brought the case to the Supreme Court, arguing that the Compromise Agreement was void due to Dita's adultery conviction and lack of participation by the Solicitor General or Provincial Prosecutor.

Issues:

Can a spouse convicted of adultery still share in the conjugal partnership?

Is a Compromise Agreement giving a convicted spouse a share in the conjugal property valid and legal?

Ruling:

The Supreme Court denied the petition and affirmed the CA's decision, with the modification that the Compromise Agreement is valid without prejudice to the rights of all creditors and other persons with pecuniary interest in the properties of the conjugal partnership of gains.

The Supreme Court held that the conviction for adultery does not automatically disqualify Dita from sharing in the conjugal property, as the penalty for adultery (prision correccional) does not include civil interdiction. Articles 43 and 63 of the Family Code, which pertain to the effects of a nullified marriage and legal separation, do not apply because the petition for declaration of nullity of marriage was still pending. The Compromise Agreement was a voluntary separation of property allowed under Article 143 of the Family Code and was validly entered into by both parties.

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drinkdrivingoffence · 11 months ago

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Navigating the Consequences: Understanding Drug Driving Charges

In the realm of road safety, the focus has traditionally been on preventing accidents caused by drunk driving. However, with the increasing prevalence of drug use, particularly among younger demographics, drug driving has emerged as a significant concern. The consequences of driving under the influence of drugs can be severe, ranging from legal penalties to life-altering accidents. In this article, we delve into the nuances of drug driving charges, exploring the legal framework, potential consequences, and ways to navigate this complex issue.

Understanding Drug Driving Laws

Drug driving laws vary across jurisdictions, but they generally prohibit operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs. Unlike alcohol, which has standardized blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limits, determining drug impairment can be more challenging. Law enforcement typically relies on field sobriety tests, drug recognition experts, and chemical tests to detect drug-impaired drivers. These tests may involve assessing physical symptoms, such as dilated pupils or lack of coordination, as well as conducting blood or saliva tests to identify specific substances.

Commonly Detected Drugs

The drugs that contribute to drug driving charges encompass a wide range of substances, including illegal drugs like marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamine, as well as prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs. Even though some medications are legally prescribed, they can still impair driving ability and lead to charges if used improperly or in excessive quantities. It's crucial for drivers to be aware of the potential side effects of any medication they are taking and to heed warnings regarding driving or operating machinery while under its influence.

Legal Consequences

The legal consequences of drug driving can be severe and may vary depending on factors such as the driver's prior offenses, the presence of aggravating circumstances (e.g., accidents or injuries), and the type and amount of drugs involved. Penalties typically include fines, license suspension or revocation, mandatory drug education or treatment programs, community service, and even imprisonment in serious cases. Moreover, drug driving convictions can have long-term ramifications, such as higher insurance premiums, difficulty obtaining employment, and tarnished reputations.

Navigating the Legal Process

If you find yourself facing drug driving charges, it's essential to understand your rights and options. Seeking legal representation from an experienced attorney specializing in traffic or criminal law can greatly assist in navigating the legal process. A knowledgeable lawyer can review the evidence against you, challenge the legality of the traffic stop or arrest, negotiate with prosecutors for reduced charges or penalties, and represent you in court if necessary. Additionally, they can advise you on how to interact with law enforcement and the judicial system to protect your interests and ensure a fair outcome.

Prevention and Education

Preventing drug driving starts with raising awareness about the dangers of driving under the influence of drugs and promoting responsible behavior among motorists. Public education campaigns, school programs, and community outreach efforts play a crucial role in informing individuals about the risks associated with drug-impaired driving and encouraging them to make safer choices. Moreover, healthcare professionals have a responsibility to educate patients about the potential effects of medications on driving ability and to prescribe them judiciously.

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jandrewnelson-blr · 1 year ago

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The Fallout of Falsehood: Brazil's Ex-President Accused of Faking COVID-19 Vaccination

The COVID-19 pandemic has tested the resilience and leadership of nations worldwide, and Brazil has been no exception. With over 600,000 lives lost and millions infected, the country has struggled to contain the virus and protect its citizens. Amidst this crisis, former President Jair Bolsonaro's response to the pandemic has been a subject of intense scrutiny and criticism. Now, a new chapter in this saga has emerged, as Bolsonaro faces formal accusations of falsifying his COVID-19 vaccination status, along with 16 others. This stunning development has not only called into question the former president's integrity but also highlighted the deep divisions within Brazilian society and the challenges that lie ahead in rebuilding trust in the nation's institutions.

In a nation still reeling from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, a shocking accusation has emerged that threatens to shatter the public's trust in their former leader. Jair Bolsonaro, the ex-president of Brazil, now stands accused of falsifying his vaccination status, a revelation that has sent shockwaves through the country's political landscape and raised serious questions about the integrity of those in power.

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro Accused of Falsifying COVID-19 Vaccination Status

In a shocking turn of events, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been formally accused of falsifying his COVID-19 vaccination status. The indictment, which also includes 16 others, alleges that Bolsonaro and his associates inserted false information into a public health database to appear vaccinated, despite the former president's open criticism of vaccines during the pandemic.

Throughout his term, Bolsonaro consistently downplayed the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and openly expressed skepticism about the efficacy and safety of vaccines. He even went as far as ignoring offers to purchase vaccines for Brazil, putting the lives of millions of citizens at risk. This stance drew heavy criticism from health experts, opposition politicians, and the international community.

The accusations against Bolsonaro and his associates are serious, as falsifying vaccination records not only undermines public trust in the healthcare system but also puts the lives of others at risk. If proven guilty, this act of deception could have far-reaching consequences for the former president and his allies.

The final decision to file charges against Bolsonaro now lies with Brazil's prosecutor-general's office. While Bolsonaro's lawyer has called the indictment "absurd" and denied any wrongdoing, the evidence presented in the case will ultimately determine the outcome.

This indictment is not the only legal challenge facing the former president. Bolsonaro is also under investigation for allegedly smuggling jewelry into the country and selling luxury watches received as gifts during his tenure. These multiple investigations paint a picture of a leader who may have abused his power and engaged in unethical practices.

As the news of the indictment spreads, reactions from Bolsonaro's supporters and opponents have been polarized. Supporters view the accusations as politically motivated attacks designed to tarnish the former president's reputation, while opponents see them as a step towards holding Bolsonaro accountable for his actions during his time in office.

The case against Bolsonaro has the potential to set a significant precedent in Brazil's political landscape. If the charges are proven, it could demonstrate that even those in the highest positions of power are not above the law and must face consequences for their actions. On the other hand, if Bolsonaro is acquitted, it may embolden his supporters and raise questions about the impartiality of the justice system.

As the legal proceedings unfold, the Brazilian people will be watching closely, hoping for justice to be served in the various cases against the former president. The outcome of these investigations will not only impact Bolsonaro's personal future but also shape the political discourse and public trust in the country's institutions for years to come.

- Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been formally accused falsifying his COVID-19 vaccination status

- The indictment alleges that Bolsonaro and 16 others inserted false information into a public health database to appear vaccinated

- Bolsonaro openly criticized vaccines during the pandemic and ignored offers to purchase them for Brazil

- The final decision to file charges against Bolsonaro lies with Brazil's prosecutor-general's office

- Bolsonaro's lawyer called the indictment "absurd" and denied any wrongdoing

- Other investigations targeting Bolsonaro include allegations of smuggling jewelry into the country and selling luxury watches received as gifts

- Supporters and opponents of Bolsonaro have differing views on the indictment and hope for justice in various cases against him

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