International
The U.S. Supreme Court says that the Prosecutor’s Office overtooke itself by accusing the Capitol assailants
The United States Supreme Court decided this Friday that accusing the assailants of the January 6, 2021 Capitol of obstruction of justice was inappropriate and that the Department of Justice was overdone.
By six votes to three, the country’s highest court ruled that the Prosecutor’s Office went overboard by accusing hundreds of people who moted at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, of obstruction.
The decision implies that the lower courts will now apply that standard and will probably dismiss the charges against many defendants.
This ruling could also interfere in one of the judicial proceedings against former Republican President Donald Trump – that of his involvement in the assault on the Capitol and his alleged attempt to interfere in the elections – since special prosecutor Jack Smith included the obstruction of an official procedure among the four charges that weigh against him in this trial.
Although Smith, who carries out the investigation, alleges that Trump’s obstruction of the Congressional procedure is much broader than that of the assailants, it is likely that the legal team of the former president will try to take advantage of the Supreme Court’s decision.
That January 6, about 10,000 people – most of them Trump followers – marched towards the Capitol and about 800 broke into the building while Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 elections was being certified. There were five dead and about 140 officers injured.
Since then, more than 1,000 people have been arrested practically in the 50 states of the country for crimes related to the attack and more than 350 have been charged with assault or obstruction of law enforcement, according to data from the Department of Justice.
The Supreme Court decided this Friday that charges could be filed against the rioters if the prosecutors can prove that they were not only trying to enter the building by force, but also to prevent the arrival of the certificates that confirmed the results of the election.
The president of the Supreme Court, John Roberts, wrote the majority opinion, which included a liberal judge, Ketanji Brown Jackson.
Judge Amy Coney Barrett presented a dissident opinion that was joined by Judges Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.
The Supreme Court’s decision outraged the US Prosecutor’s Office, headed by Attorney General Merrick Garland, who claimed to be “disappointed.”
This limits “an important federal statute that the Department has tried to use to ensure that those primarily responsible for that attack face the appropriate consequences,” Garland said.
International
U.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute
The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday against a budget proposal in a move aimed at pressuring changes at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), following the killing of two civilians during a deployment of immigration agents in Minneapolis.
All Senate Democrats and seven Republican lawmakers voted against the bill, which requires 60 votes to advance, pushing the country closer to a partial government shutdown that would cut funding for several agencies, including the Pentagon and the Department of Health.
The rejection came as Senate leaders and the White House continue negotiations on a separate funding package for DHS that would allow reforms to the agency. Proposed measures include banning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing face coverings and requiring them to use body-worn cameras during operations.
The vote took place just hours after President Donald Trump said he was “close” to reaching an agreement with Democrats and did not believe the federal government would face another shutdown, following last year’s record stoppage.
“I don’t think the Democrats want a shutdown either, so we’ll work in a bipartisan way to avoid it. Hopefully, there will be no government shutdown. We’re working on that right now,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.
International
Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he secured a commitment from Russian President Vladimir Putinto halt attacks against Ukraine for one week, citing extreme weather conditions affecting the region.
“Because of the extreme cold (…) I personally asked Putin not to attack Kyiv or other cities and towns for a week. And he agreed. He was very pleasant,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting broadcast by the White House.
Trump acknowledged that several advisers had questioned the decision to make the call.
“A lot of people told me not to waste the call because they wouldn’t agree. And he accepted. And we’re very happy they did, because they don’t need missiles hitting their towns and cities,” the president said.
According to Trump, Ukrainian authorities reacted with surprise to the announcement but welcomed the possibility of a temporary ceasefire.
“It’s extraordinarily cold, record cold (…) They say they’ve never experienced cold like this,” he added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later commented on the announcement, expressing hope that the agreement would be honored.
International
Storm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power
Storm Kristin, which battered Portugal with heavy rain and strong winds early Wednesday, has left at least five people dead, while nearly half a million residents remained without electricity as of Thursday, according to updated figures from authorities.
The revised death toll was confirmed to AFP by a spokesperson for the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANPEC). On Wednesday, the agency had reported four fatalities.
Meanwhile, E-Redes, the country’s electricity distribution network operator, said that around 450,000 customers were still without power, particularly in central Portugal.
Emergency services responded to approximately 1,500 incidents between midnight and 8:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, as the storm caused widespread disruptions.
The Portuguese government described Kristin as an “extreme weather event” that inflicted significant damage across several regions of the country. At the height of the storm, as many as 850,000 households and institutions lost electricity during the early hours of Wednesday.
Several municipalities ordered the closure of schools, many of which remained shut on Thursday due to ongoing adverse conditions.
Ricardo Costa, regional deputy commander of the Leiria Fire Brigade, said residents continue to seek assistance as rainfall persists.
“Even though the rain is not extremely intense, it is causing extensive damage to homes,” he noted.
In Figueira da Foz, a coastal city in central Portugal, strong winds toppled a giant Ferris wheel, underscoring the severity of the storm.
U.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute
Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold
Storm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power
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