March For Our Lives

Ken AshfordCrime, Gun ControlLeave a Comment

More than one million students all over the country staged a walkout at 10:00 am (in their respective time zones) and held vigil for the 17 students killed in Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. It was, many thought, the largest student walkout since the days of the civil rights demonstration MSNBC devoted the full hour to the protest, … Read More

Breaking: Package Bombs in Austin Texas

Ken AshfordBreaking News, CrimeLeave a Comment

This morning, a package exploded inside of an Austin home, killing a teenager and wounding a woman. The woman is expected to survive. Austin police believe the explosion was linked to a similar bombing on March 2, when a 39-year-old man was killed when a package exploded.  All the victims were black. As this news was coming out, yet a THIRD … Read More

Breaking: Shots Fired At Yountvile (Napa Valley, California) Veterans’ Home; Hostages Taken

Ken AshfordBreaking News, Crime, Gun Control, Military IssuesLeave a Comment

Here we go again: The time of those tweets (2:18 pm, 2:16 pm, and 2:04 pm) are EST (my time), but it is 3 hours earlier in California where this is taking place. Here are the early details: YOUNTVILLE (KRON) – The Veterans Home of California Yountville is on lock down Friday morning after reports of an active shooter who is holding 3 … Read More

Ken AshfordCrime, Cybersecurity, Election 2018, Science & Technology, Wiretapping & SurveillanceLeave a Comment

This is torn from the blog of John Bambenek, a security analyst and Republican candidate for Illinois State Senate, about his conversations with Guccifer 2.0 (G2).  The post is entitled MY CONVERSATIONS WITH GUCCIFER 2.0 & THE SURPRISING ELECTION INFLUENCE OPERATIONS. As attention turns to threats facing 2018’s midterm elections, we’re learning hard lessons from what went down in 2016. (Plus, … Read More

Unauthorized Use Of Presidential Seal Is Illegal

Ken AshfordCrime, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

In recent weeks, the Trump Organization has ordered the manufacture of new tee markers for golf courses that are emblazoned with the seal of the president of the United States. Under federal law, the seal’s use is permitted only for official government business. Misuse can be a crime under 18 U.S. Code § 713. Past administrations have policed usage vigilantly. … Read More

The Wild West Of The West Wing

Ken AshfordBreaking News, Corporate Greed, Crime, L'Affaire Russe, Occupy Wall Street, Republicans, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

It is the first day of March 2018. I wrote a lot of posts yesterday, and I didn’t even it HALF of the things going on. The breaking news that would be major scandals in any other White House. It was insane. Here’s what happened JUST YESTERDAY: Hope Hicks — without question, the aide (family aside) with whom Trump is closest … Read More

High School Shooting: The Aftermath

Ken AshfordCrime, Gun Control, YoutubeLeave a Comment

I feel like I can go back to the last mass shooting and cut and paste. With 17 dead (so far), the “day after” talk surrounding yesterday’s shooting is all too predictable. We learn about heroes: We learn details: ATF: Cruz bought assault rifle in Feb. 2017 — Justin Miller (@justinjm1) February 15, 2018 And graphic video [WARNING] — And … Read More

Breaking: School Shooting in Florida [UPDATE: 17 Dead]

Ken AshfordBreaking News, Crime, Gun ControlLeave a Comment

3:15 pm ET – Shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland Florida. Broward County Sheriff Office saying 20-50 hurt. Students and teachers told to barricade although some are evacuated. SWAT team present.  Shooter(s) unknown and at large. 3:25 pm — Reports are that the police know who the shooter is, but not saying anything until confirmed. He is a student. … Read More

Newtown: Five Years Later

Ken AshfordCrime, Gun Control, HistoryLeave a Comment

Five years ago today, a gunman went into Sandy Hook elementary school and opened fire. I covered it on this blog, as the day unfolded. And I visited Newtown two weeks after the event — the town was still reeling. In the five years since the Sandy Hook shooting, Congress has enacted strong legislation to prevent the use of AK-47’s … Read More

Justice Served

Ken AshfordCourts/Law, Crime, Racial HomicidesLeave a Comment

It has been two and a half years since Walter Scott’s death.  I wrote about it here… but basically, he was running from a cop and was shot IN THE BACK AS HE WAS RUNNING AWAY.  The video makes this crystal clear: Well, good news: Michael Slager, the former South Carolina police officer who shot and killed Walter Scott, was … Read More

News Stories You Don’t Hear

Ken AshfordCrime, Rightwing Extremism/ViolenceLeave a Comment

More like this please: JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 69-year-old Jacksonville man has been arrested for allegedly planning a mass shooting at an Islamic Center on St. Johns Bluff Road, according to several law enforcement agencies. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, along with the FBI of Jacksonville, started investigating in October Bernandino Gawala Bolatete after a source tipped JSO. The source told police … Read More

USA Breaks Record For Mass Deaths By Gun Shooting

Ken AshfordCrime, Disasters, Gun ControlLeave a Comment

And here we go again. Politicians will send thoughts and prayers and… My warmest condolences and sympathies to the victims and families of the terrible Las Vegas shooting. God bless you! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 2, 2017 … right… condolences and sympathies, etc… and then nothing will be done. So here’s what happened. There are now at least … Read More

Breaking: Mueller Empanels DC Grand Jury

Ken AshfordCourts/Law, Crime, L'Affaire Russe, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

In a piece by Del Quentin Wilber and Byron Tau of the Wall Street Journal, just published: Special Counsel Robert Mueller has impaneled a grand jury in Washington to investigate Russia’s interference in the 2016 elections, a sign that his inquiry is growing in intensity and entering a new phase, according to two people familiar with the matter. The grand jury, which began … Read More

Can A Sitting President Be Indicted?

Ken AshfordConstitution, Crime, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

The conventional wisdom has always said that a sitting president cannot be indicted. Under current law, a President is immune from civil lawsuits in federal court, when it comes to his official acts as president.  This is because of Nixon v. Fitzgerald, a 1982 Supreme Court ruling.  There, the Supreme Court wrote: “The ‘singular importance of the President’s duties’ warrants a stay … Read More