EFTA00040903.pdf

From: DOJ Digests To: Rendon DOJ Alert Desk a> Bcc: ' Subject: Morning Digest Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2020 11:53:06 +0000 Department of Justice Morning News Digest July 31, 2020 08:00 AM EDT TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Washington & DOJ Schedule 2. Network Evening News Lineup 3. Morning Headlines 4. COVID-19 5. Federal Law Enforcement Agencies 6. Operation LeGend 7. Portland, Oregon 8. National Security 9. Immigration & Border Security 10. US Supreme Court 11. Criminal Law 12. Civil Law 13. Civil Rights 14. Antitrust 15. Environment 16. Tax 17. Criminal Justice/Corrections 18. Native American Affairs 19. Marijuana Legalization 20. Administration 21. Congress WASHINGTON & DOJ SCHEDULE: JULY 31, 2020 DOJ • No scheduled events. NETWORK EVENING NEWS LINEUP: JULY 30, 2020 ABC: World News Tonight with David Muir CBS: Evening News with Norah O'Donnell NBC: Nightly News with Lester Holt EFTA00040903 • John Lewis was mourned, revered and celebrated as an American hero on Thursday at Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church, a sacred place for many of those who helped to shape civil rights history. Three former presidents joined in the eulogies after nearly a week of mourning that took him from his birthplace in Alabama to the nation's capital of Washington to his final resting place in his home of Atlanta. [ABC CBS NBC] • President Donald Trump suggested on Thursday that the United States would need to "delay the election," claiming that mail-in voting would make the results "the most inaccurate and fraudulent election in history." [ABC CBS NBC] • The epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the US showed signs of shifting to the Midwest on Thursday while Sunbelt states were hopeful that new infections and deaths were starting to decline. The COVID-19 outbreak was moving into Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska "because of vacations and other reasons of travel," Dr. Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, told Fox News in an interview. [ABC CBS NBC] • The US economy shrank by an annual rate of 32.9% between April and June, its sharpest contraction since the second world war, government figures revealed on Thursday, as more signs emerged of the coronavirus pandemic's heavy toll on the country's economy. [ABC CBS NBC] • Herman Cain, American businessman and former Republican candidate for president, has died after being hospitalized with COVID-19 for nearly a month, according to a post on his personal website and a source close to the White House. [ABC CBS] • Stella Immanuel, the doctor in the COVID-19 disinformation video endorsed by President Donald Trump, was accused of medical malpractice in a recent lawsuit over a patient's death. Citing court documents, the Houston Chronicle reported on Wednesday that Immanuel was sued in Louisiana after a woman died shortly after leaving Immanuel's care. [NBC] MORNING HEADLINES • "Trump suggests delaying November election — but it's not likely" [LAT, NYT, WaPo, WSJ] • "Coronavirus Live Updates: Drugmakers Make $2.1 Billion Vaccine Deal With U.S." [NYT, WaPo] • "Virus Surge Could Restrain Consumer Spending—and Recovery" [WSJ, WaPo] • "DHS had 'intelligence reports' on journalists covering Portland unrest" [WaPo] COVID-19 Law360: "Small Businesses Press For Chase Virus Relief Loans MDL," Jon Hill, July 30, 2020, 11:29 PM Small businesses that have sought coronavirus relief loans through the Paycheck Protection Program urged a federal judicial panel on Thursday to consolidate their lawsuits accusing JPMorgan Chase Bank NA of mishandling their applications, cases the bank countered are dwindling in number and too distinct to combine. [Continue Reading] Law360: "Arizona Universities Beat COVID-19 Class Refund Claims," Lauren Berg, July 30, 2020, 10:06 PM An Arizona federal judge on Wednesday tossed a putative class action filed by parents looking to get refunds after three public universities shut down their campuses and went online amid the coronavirus pandemic, saying they failed to notify the schools before filing their lawsuit as required by state law. [Continue Reading] KPRC-NBC (Houston, TX): "Here are COVID-19 scams you should avoid, according to Texas officials," Dennis Foley, July 30, 2020, 8:53 PM Texas officials are warning residents to be aware of COVID-19 scams that try to trick you out of your money or personal information. U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick and Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan EFTA00040904 are reminding residents about scammers, who are using fear of the coronavirus as a way to steam and defraud from people via emails, texts, phone calls and in person. [Continue Reading] KEYE-CBS (Austin, TX): "FBI investigating possible Chinese spying on UT's COVID-19 research," Jordan Bontke, July 30, 2020, 8:00 PM The FBI is reportedly investigating an attempt by the Chinese government to spy on COVID-19 research being performed by the University of Texas at Austin and other American universities. [Continue Reading] Law360: "MLB Says COVID-19 Ticket Refund Suit Should Be Out At 1st," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 7:56 PM Major League Baseball asked a California federal judge to dismiss claims against the league and its teams from fans alleging they are owed refunds for tickets purchased to games canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, arguing the claims are moot because refunds or credits have already been issued. [Continue Reading] WDBJ-CBS (Roanoke, VI): "Concerns mount over outbreak at central Virginia immigrant detention center," Elvia Malagon, July 30, 2020, 7:28 PM Governor Ralph Northam and U.S. senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner have urged President Trump to respond to the nation's worst coronavirus outbreak that has occurred inside an immigrant detention center. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said of the 312 detainees, 290 tested positive for COVID-19 and 262 undocumented immigrants are being monitored or isolated at the Farmville Detention Center. [Continue Reading] FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES KELO-AM (Sioux Falls, SD): "FBI spoofer steals thousands from local woman," Perry Groten, July 30, 2020, 11:05 PM A Minnehaha County woman is out several thousand dollars in a phone scam that law enforcement says has become all too common. The scammers use fear of arrest if the victim doesn't send them a large amount of money. This latest scam involving a caller claiming to be from the FBI. A woman who lives in rural Minnehaha County received a call this week from a spoofed phone number that showed up as coming from the FBI. The caller claimed to be a federal agent. [Continue Reading] KUSI-TV (San Diego, CA): "Drug Enforcement Administration warns public of scammers posing as agency employees," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 4:30 PM The DEA is urging the public to be on the look out of a new scam where people claim to be agency employees. Scammers have been calling people on the phone posing as DEAAgents in an attempt to defraud and extort money from victims. [Continue Reading] MassLive (Boston, MA): "DEA shuts down illegal marijuana growing operation in Monson, Palmer; 2 charged in federal court," Patrick Johnson, July 30, 2020, 3:00 PM Agents with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration on Wednesday executed search warrants at five locations in Monson and Palmer, shutting down what was called an illegal cultivation operation, seizing 4,100 marijuana plants and arresting two people. The facility had been operating illegally in four houses and a warehouse for more than a year, according to the office of U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Andrew E. Lelling. [Continue Reading] KFDA-CBS (Amarillo, TX): "DEA investigating after drugs, stolen gun found in search of hotel on West 1-40," Kaitlin Johnson, July 30, 2020, 12:49 PM An investigation is underway after the Potter County Sheriff's Office found meth and a stolen gun during the search of a hotel. The Potter County Sheriff's Office searched a hotel on West 1-40 on July EFTA00040905 24. During the search, officials say they found more than 400 grams of meth, a stolen gun and an illegal rifle. [Continue Reading] OPERATION LEGEND WLS-ABC (Chicago, IL): "Operation Legend ATF mobile ballistics van comes to Chicago," Chuck Goudie and Barb Markoff, Christine Tressel and Ross Weidner, July 30, 2020, 11:30 PM The ABC7 I-Team has the first up-close look at the new mobile ballistics van considered the cornerstone of Operation Legend, the federal law enforcement effort to curb Chicago's surge of gun violence. Even as hundreds of federal agents are deployed to several U.S. cities where violence is surging this summer, only Chicago is getting the coveted and brand new ballistics van from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). [Continue Reading] Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, NM): "Operation Legend prosecution underway in Albuquerque," Elise Kaplan, July 30, 2020, 11:00 PM The U.S. Attorney's Office is prosecuting what appears to be its first Operation Legend case in Albuquerque — charging a defendant with being a felon in possession of a firearm during an incident last month. Carlos Trevon Morris, 44, was arrested by federal officers on Tuesday. But the incident, a homicide, happened more than a month ago and federal agents have been investigating it for weeks. [Continue Reading] AP: "Activists Vow to Meet Arriving Federal Agents in Albuquerque," Neil Vigdor, July 30, 2020, 9:00 PM Activists in Albuquerque said Thursday they are preparing to greet federal agents coming to New Mexico's largest city with civil disobedience and peaceful protests. Gathering at a park and wearing masks, members of a coalition organized by the Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice vowed to resist any Portland-style "occupation" and any efforts to increase aggressive policing in a city that has seen clashes between demonstrators and police in recent years. [Continue Reading] PORTLAND, OREGON Politico: "Citing impostors, feds urge lifting of court order protecting journalists amid Portland protests," Josh Gerstein, July 31, 2020, 12:06 AM Federal officials responding to the long-running protests in Portland are asking that a court order protecting journalists be lifted on the grounds that some of those engaged in violence are masquerading as members of the press. Justice Department lawyers leveled the claims of misconduct by purported journalists in filings submitted Thursday to U.S. District Court Judge Michael Simon, who issued a temporary restraining order last week forbidding federal authorities from targeting the press. [Continue Reading] WaPo: "DHS compiled 'intelligence reports' on journalists who published leaked documents," Shane Harris, July 30, 2020, 9:57 PM The Department of Homeland Security has compiled "intelligence reports" about the work of American journalists covering protests in Portland, Ore., in what current and former officials called an alarming use of a government system meant to share information about suspected terrorists and violent actors. [Continue Reading] NATIONAL SECURITY The Columbus Dispatch: "Chinese national pleads guilty to stealing trade secrets from Nationwide Children's Hospital," Jim Woods, July 30, 2020, 6:10 PM EFTA00040906 A Chinese national admitted Thursday in federal court to stealing scientific trade secrets for personal gain and for her country while she worked as a researcher at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Li Chen, 47, who had lived in Dublin, Ohio, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit theft of trade secrets and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. [Continue Reading] IMMIGRATION & BORDER SECURITY Miami Herald (Miami, FL): "'License to live:' Florida quietly changed driver's license requirements for immigrants," Monique O. Madan, July 31, 2020, 6:00 AM Tens of thousands of undocumented immigrants who have been able to drive legally in Florida may be unable to get driver licenses again, after the state quietly its identification requirements for obtaining licenses. In May the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles tightened its document requirements that outline what some immigrants must provide in order to get their driver licenses. [Continue Reading] KOTV-CBS (Tulsa, OK): "Border Patrol Agents Arrest Immigrant With Oklahoma Warrant For Drugs," Clayton Cummins, July 31, 2020, 12:10 AM An illegal immigrant caught crossing the border in southern Arizona was arrested after he collapsed while going in and out of consciousness in the desert. Carlos Vargas-Verdin, 44, was rescued around 11 p.m. Monday. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents found Vargas-Verdin after he was caught on surveillance camera laying on the ground. [Continue Reading] WSYR-ABC (Syracuse, NY): "Traffic stops lead to arrest of 34 migrants crammed into two vehicles," Fernie Ortiz, July 30, 2020, 11:23 PM A pair of traffic stops led to the arrest of 34 undocumented immigrants on Tuesday near Douglas, Ariz., U.S. Customs and Border Protection said. The first stop involved 18 Mexican nationals crammed into a stolen Toyota Tundra that drove past Border Patrol agents. Agents said all 18 occupants, including the driver, were in the U.S. illegally. [Continue Reading] CNN: "ICE chief to depart agency," Priscilla Alvarez, Geneva Sands and Caroline Kelly, July 30, 2020, 11:00 PM Immigration and Customs Enforcement acting Director Matt Albence is retiring from the agency he has led since last year, according to a Department of Homeland Security official. A longtime career law enforcement official, Albence has filled the top spot at the agency multiple times during the Trump administration as leadership at ICE -- an agency under DHS -- has shifted. [Continue Reading] See also: Washington Examiner Law360: "Feds Fight Migrants' Class Cert. Bid In Asylum 'Turnback' Suit," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 10:06 PM A California federal judge appeared likely to allow migrants who claim they were denied access to the asylum system to proceed as a class, telling the objecting government lawyer at a Thursday hearing that his concerns would ultimately be resolved at trial. [Continue Reading] Law360: "Gov't Urges High Court Not To Block Border Wall Construction," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 9:59 PM The Trump administration has urged the U.S. Supreme Court not to lift a stay allowing for continued border wall construction, pushing back against environmental groups' argument that the project could be completed before the justices decide a related dispute. [Continue Reading] Law360: "Watchdog Tosses Prison Co.'s Protest To $2.6B ICE Contract," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 9:36 PM Prison company CoreCivic Inc. can't challenge missing out on a $2.6 billion contract after the U.S. Government Accountability Office ruled that it had received sufficient warning of its "unrealistically low" EFTA00040907 prices to deliver alternatives to detaining immigrants. [Continue Reading] Law360: "NJ AG Wins Fight Over Sharing Immigration Info With Feds," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 9:26 PM New Jersey's top federal judge has ruled that the state may decide how much its law enforcement agencies participate in enforcing immigration regulations, handing a victory to the state attorney general in suits from two counties challenging his directive barring agencies from sharing certain information with federal immigration authorities. [Continue Reading] Cincinnati Enquirer (Cincinnati, OH): "U.S. Customs: $24,000 worth of counterfeit Botox seized in Cincinnati," Madeline Mitchell, July 30, 2020, 8:57 PM Multiple packages of counterfeit Botox injections worth a total of over $24,000 were recently seized in Cincinnati, according to a release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Officers at a Cincinnati express consignment facility seized two shipments, both manifested as "beauty sample," that came from Slough, Great Britain. The packages were destined to private residences in Florida, the release states. [Continue Reading] Chicago Sun-Times (Chicago, IL): "Halt ICE 'Citizens Academy' in Chicago, immigration advocates say," Elvia Malagon, July 30, 2020, 8:14 PM Immigration advocates in Chicago are calling for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to stop plans to create a Citizens Academy that is expected to begin on the same day of the start of Hispanic Heritage Month. The academy, scheduled to start Sept. 15, will take place six days a week for six weeks and will give residents insight into the agency's operations. It will include a trip to one of the jails that contracts with ICE to hold people in immigration custody. [Continue Reading] Daily Beast: "'George Floyd All Over Again': ICE Guard Drove Knee Into Detainee," Spencer Ackerman, July 30, 2020, 8:00 PM An Immigration and Customs Enforcement guard at an immigration jail in Virginia knelt dangerously on the upper back of a man already bleeding from his head, two detained men who said they saw the disturbing incident told The Daily Beast. "It was like seeing George Floyd all over again," said one detainee, whom The Daily Beast will call Glenn. [Continue Reading] Law360: "New Rules Allow ICE To Refuse Sureties' Immigration Bonds," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 7:49 PM U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement finalized a policy Thursday that will allow the agency to refuse immigration bonds put up by surety companies with unpaid invoices, despite warnings from sureties that the changes raise serious due process concerns. [Continue Reading] WaPo: "Undocumented immigrant who worked for Trump's company facing deportation proceedings," David A. Fahrenthold and Joshua Partlow, July 30, 2020, 7:36 PM An undocumented immigrant who worked for President Trump's private company — and then spoke publicly about Trump's longtime reliance on undocumented workers - is facing deportation proceedings, her attorney said Thursday. Victorina Morales, 47, had asked the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to grant her asylum because of violence in her home country of Guatemala. [Continue Reading] KSTP-ABC (Saint Paul, MN): "USDA warns mystery seeds from China could be part of scam," Alex Jokich, July 30, 2020, 6:20 PM The mystery seeds being delivered to people across the country may be part of a "brushing scam," according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A brushing scam typically involves a foreign, third- party seller mailing unsolicited items and then writing a glowing review of the product online. Because the item was delivered through the mail, the review would show up as a "verified purchase" on sites like Amazon. [Continue Reading] EFTA00040908 KVEO-NBC (Brownsville, TX): "CBP officers seize $259K worth of cocaine at the Brownsville International Bridge," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 4:21 PM U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized narcotics at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge in two separate occasions , according to a news release. The first incident took place on Wednesday when a 30 year old woman was driving into the United States in a silver colored 2011 Ford Explorer. [Continue Reading] The Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA): "Feds search Bollinger Shipyards in criminal probe, arrest 19 unauthorized immigrants," Bryn Stole and David J. Mitchell, July 30, 2020, 3:05 PM Federal agents staged an extensive search of the Bollinger Shipyards facilities in Lockport on Tuesday as part of an "ongoing federal criminal investigation" led by the Department of Homeland Security and also detained several immigrants in the country illegally at the facility, authorities said. Continue Reading] US SUPREME COURT AFP: "Health of US Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg fuels anxiety, preparations," Charlotte Plantive, July 31, 2020, 1:00 AM Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a darling of the US left and an increasingly frail octogenarian, is taking center stage ahead of this year's presidential election, with the Supreme Court's balance hanging on her seemingly faltering health. Ginsburg's liver cancer -- and recent repeat trips to the hospital due to bile duct infection -- has Washington's political class on tenterhooks, with her every medical procedure causing major hand-wringing, not to mention a variety of contingency plans. [Continue Reading] See also: AP, CNN NPR WaPo Law360: "Justices Told Horizon's IP Loss 'Casts A Pall' On 32K Patents," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 9:47 PM Horizon is urging the U.S. Supreme Court to take up its appeal of a divided Federal Circuit decision that struck down part of its patented arthritis drug Pennsaid, saying the ruling "casts a pall of uncertainty" over the validity of tens of thousands of patents with similar phrasing. [Continue Reading] WSJ: [OPINION] "Freedom Beats Aid for Religious Schools," Avi Schick, July 30, 2020, 6:47 PM The last week of the recent Supreme Court term brought two important decisions for supporters of religious liberty in education. As is often the case in school, the more popular one isn't necessarily the most likely to succeed. Espinoza v. Montana was the long-awaited Blaine Amendment case. It held that a state constitutional provision excluding religious schools from programs that fund private schools runs afoul of the First Amendment's Free Exercise Clause. As Chief Justice John Roberts explained, "A State need not subsidize private education. [Continue Reading] AP: "Hawley draws hard line on Supreme Court nominees, abortion," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 5:00 PM Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley says he'll only vote to confirm U.S. Supreme Court nominees who say the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide was wrong. Hawley during a Thursday speech on the Senate floor said the decision is among of the worst miscarriages of justice in U.S. history. He compared it to the 1857 Dred Scott decision that declared African Americans couldn't be citizens. [Continue Reading] CRIMINAL LAW KMA (Shenandoah, IA): "Omaha man sentenced in Council Bluffs bank robbery," Ryan Matheny, July 31, 2020, 6:00 AM EFTA00040909 An Omaha man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for robbing a Council Bluffs bank. U.S. Attorney Marc Krickbaum says 41-year-old Brandon Bird was sentenced this week to 120 months in prison for bank robbery. He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release and pay $100 to the Crime Victims' Fund. [Continue Reading] WaPo: "Epstein accuser alleged in newly unsealed deposition that Ghislaine Maxwell was his partner in abuse," Rosalind S. Helderman and Shayna Jacobs, July 31, 2020, 12:01 AM A woman who has accused deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein of years-long abuse that began when she was a teenager alleged in a newly unsealed deposition that his former partner, Ghislaine Maxwell, was both his chief accomplice and a participant in the sexual abuse. Maxwell, who was arrested earlier this month and charged with trafficking minors, had fought unsuccessfully to keep the court documents under seal. She has pleaded not guilty. [Continue Reading] See also: Law360 Macomb Daily (Macomb, MI): "Feds: Clinton Township man stole nearly 4,000 pills from pharmacy," Norb Franz, July 30, 2020, 11:00 PM A Clinton Township man accused of stealing almost 4,000 pills with a street value of more than $100,000 from a Hamtramck pharmacy was arraigned Thursday on robbery and other charges, federal law enforcement officials said. Federal authorities allege Marcus McBride, 27, entered Hoover Pharmacy, on Holbrook Avenue in Hamtramck, on June 10 and waved a handgun while yelling "get down" at individuals inside. [Continue Reading] WSET-ABC (Lynchburg, VA): "Multi-agency investigation involving firearm possession send two men to prison," Sara Grace Todd, July 30, 2020, 11:00 PM Two men are now behind bars after an investigation involving multiple agencies discovered illegal possession of firearms. Robert Joseph, a convicted felon bought and delivered guns to Harold Gaines in Maryland. Gaines, previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to illegally possess firearms and was sentenced to 48 months in prison. [Continue Reading] See also: WHSV-ABC (Harrisonburg VA) CBS: "Los Angeles City councilman faces 34-count indictment in corruption probe," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 10:27 PM A federal grand jury on Thursday returned a 34-count indictment against Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar as part of an ongoing corruption investigation, CBS Los Angeles reports. Huizar, 51, has been accused of leading a criminal enterprise where prosecutors say he used his position at City Hall to enrich himself and his close associates. Huizar was charged last month with one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. Continue Reading] See also: KABC-ABC (Los Angeles CA) KCBS-CBS (Los Angeles CA) LAT NBC WSJ: "Former Mexican Police Officials Indicted in New York," Jose de Cordoba July 30, 2020, 10:02 PM Two former senior Mexican police officials, top aides of the man who ran the country's drug war for six years, were indicted Thursday in New York on charges of taking millions of dollars in bribes from the Sinaloa Cartel in exchange for protection and allowing tons of its cocaine to flow through Mexico unhindered. Luis Cardenas Palomino and Raman Pequefto were charged with three counts of cocaine trafficking conspiracy. [Continue Reading] Buffalo News (Buffalo, NY): "Falls man pleads guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm," Harold McNeil, July 30, 2020, 10:00 PM A Niagara Falls man Thursday pleaded guilty in federal court to being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Prosecutors said 31-year-old Jacob Taggart faces a maximum 10 years in prison when sentenced Dec. 3 before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra Jr. [Continue Reading] EFTA00040910 Law360: "Ex-Lawmaker Sentenced To 2 Years In Pot Bribery Scheme," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 9:44 PM A former member of Maryland's House of Delegates was sentenced Wednesday to two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to accepting bribes to support the expansion of the state's number of medical marijuana licenses, among other favors. [Continue Reading] WHBQ-Fox (Memphis, TN): Grand jury indicts Sen. Katrina Robinson on theft, embezzlement and wire fraud charges," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 9:08 PM A grand jury indicted Sen. Katrina Robinson on theft, embezzlement and wire fraud charges. Wednesday, Robinson was federally charged with theft and embezzlement involving government programs and wire fraud. [Continue Reading] See also: WMC-NBC (Memphis TN) WREG-CBS (Memphis TN) WBZ-CBS (Boston, MA): "Man Accused Of Firing At Police During Protests Faces Federal Charges," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 8:39 PM A man who allegedly fired a gun at 21 Boston Police officers during Boston's George Floyd protests is now facing federal charges. John Boampong, 37, of Dorchester, was charged with assaulting a federal officer, interfering with a law enforcement officer during the commission of a civil disorder, and being a prohibited person under felony indictment in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Continue Reading] See also: Washington Times WCVB-ABC (Boston MA) Columbia Missourian (Missouri): "Columbia man sentenced to 15 years in federal prison," Feiyu Su, July 30, 2020, 7:30 PM Matthew Alan Eads of Columbia, 38, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison without parole for holding firearms and methamphetamine illegally. In January, "Eads pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute," according to a Thursday news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Missouri. [Continue Reading] WHBQ-Fox (Memphis, TN): "Romanian man faces up to 40-year prison term after marijuana bust in Utah," Bob D'Angelo, July 30, 2020, 7:24 PM A federal grand jury in Utah returned a two-count indictment Wednesday against a Romanian man and a California woman, accusing them of attempting to distribute nearly 341 pounds of marijuana. Florin Daniel Goran, 36, and Claudia Maria De Marco of Hermosa Beach, California, were indicted by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Utah, according to a news release issued by the Department of Justice. [Continue Reading] See also: KUTV-CBS (Salt Lake City UT) Modesto Bee (Modesto, CA): "Federal grand jury indicts Modesto couple on meth and heroin trafficking charges," John Holland, July 30, 2020, 7:19 PM (EDT) A federal grand jury Thursday indicted a Modesto couple on charges of distributing methamphetamine and heroin. Jose Juan Garcia-Herrera, 59, and Lupe Aime Busio-Valencia, 41, are accused of trafficking 10 pounds of meth and close to 7 pounds of heroin. A news release from U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott said the offenses happened July 11 to 22, while the couple was under investigation. The Modesto Police Department worked the case with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. [Continue Reading] WHAM-ABC (Rochester, NY): "Utica man arrested after Thruway traffic stop pleads guilty to bank robberies," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 7:00 PM A Utica man has pleaded guilty to three federal counts of bank robbery. Nicholas Ferrone, 28, faces up to 20 years in prison for his role in three bank robberies, two of which took place in our area. Ferrone robbed the Bank of America on Broadway in Depew on August 20, 2019, the Chase Bank on Spencerport Road in Gates on October 31 and the M&T Bank on Panorama Trail in Penfield on December 17. [Continue Reading] EFTA00040911 KATV-ABC (Little Rock, AR): "Former Arkansas prison guard sentenced to prison for smuggling contraband," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 7:00 PM A former Arkansas prison guard was sentenced to federal prison on Thursday for smuggling contraband into the Federal Correctional Complex in Forrest City where he worked. Josue Duane Garza, 42, of Wynne was sentenced to a year and one day in federal prison for smuggling tobacco and cellphones into the facility. [Continue Reading] WHAM-ABC (Rochester, NY): "Central NY man pleads guilty to bank robberies in Brighton, Buffalo," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 7:00 PM It's no longer "Speaker" Larry Householder. In a 91-0 vote, House A Central New York man has pleaded guilty to two federal counts of bank robbery and one account of attempted bank robbery in connection with a series of crimes — including one in Brighton. Michael Tyo, 32, robbed a bank in Brighton, one in Buffalo and attempted to rob a third in Niagara Falls, all in a span of four days in August 2019. [Continue Reading] WDAM-NBC/ABC (Hattiesburg, MS): "Laurel man pleads guilty to possessing bomb," Luke Smith, July 30, 2020, 6:32 PM A Laurel man accused of building a bomb pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court. Brian Richard Sanders, 66, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of an explosive destructive device not registered in the national firearms registration and transfer record in Hattiesburg before U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett. [Continue Reading] WAJR-AM (Morgantown, WV): "Former tenured WVU professor sentenced for fraud against the university, federal government," Mike Nolting, July 30, 2020, 6:00 PM Former WVU professor, Dr. James Patrick Lewis, of Fairview, has been sentenced to three months in prison for fraud involving West Virginia University, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Lewis was also fined $9,363 for the cost of the incarceration and ordered to pay $20,189 in restitution to WVU, which is paid in full. [Continue Reading] East Idaho News: "Idaho Falls man pleads guilty to concealing assets in a bankruptcy proceeding," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 5:58 PM Andrew Welch, 46, of Idaho Falls, pleaded guilty to knowingly and fraudulently concealing assets in a bankruptcy proceeding and agreed to immediately forfeit $25,000 to the United States, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced Thursday. Welch was indicted by a federal grand jury in Pocatello on Aug. 27, 2019. Sentencing is set for Oct. 14 before U.S. District Judge David C. Nye at the federal courthouse in Pocatello. [Continue Reading] Cincinnati Enquirer (Cincinnati, OH): "Former Justice Bob Cupp replaces Larry Householder as Ohio House speaker," Anna Stayer, July 30, 2020, 5:47 PM It's no longer "Speaker" Larry Householder. In a 91-0 vote, House members removed the newly indicted Glenford Republican from one of the most powerful government posts in Ohio. He was replaced by Rep. Bob Cupp, R-Lima, in a 55-38 vote following hours of private debate by House Republicans on who should be the next leader. [Continue Reading] KTSA-AM (San Antonio, TX): "San Antonio woman pleads guilty to stealing $470,000 from Schertz employer," Dennis Foley, July 30, 2020, 5:39 PM A San Antonio woman pleaded guilty Thursday to defrauding her Schertz employer out of more than $470,000. Federal prosecutors say 47-year-old Deanna Bates Wehde worked at Stone Care of Texas as a business manager from May 2016 to September 2018. In her guilty plea, Wehde admitted that she would use company credit cards issued in the names of former employees — who had used them for business-related travel — to make unauthorized purchases and cash withdrawals for her own personal use and benefit. [Continue Reading] EFTA00040912 KBZK-CBS (Butte, MT): "Ennis pharmacist pleads guilty to opioid distribution," Jos6 de Cordoba July 30, 2020, 5:16 PM An Ennis pharmacist accused of diverting opioids admitted Thursday, July 30, 2020 to unlawfully dispensing an opioid and obtaining personal opioid prescriptions by fraud or forgery, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Bradley John Stoick, 70, of Hailey, Idaho, pleaded guilty to dispensing a controlled substance by a practitioner and to acquiring or obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception, or subterfuge. [Continue Reading] KRCR-ABC (Redding, CA): "Two men plead guilty to filing false FEMA claims for Camp Fire benefits," Ashley Gardner, July 30, 2020, 5:00 PM Federal prosecutors have announced a pair of guilty pleas from men accused of filing false claims for FEMA benefits designed to help those impacted by the Camp Fire. According to prosecutors, Daniel Connelly, 55, Forest Ranch, pled guilty to filing an application for FEMA benefits claiming he lived in a home damaged by the Camp Fire. Connelly had left the home months before the fire after a bank had initiated eviction proceedings. [Continue Reading] Patch (New York City, NY): "NYC Construction Magnate Cheated Union Funds Out Of $1M: Feds," Matt Troutman, July 30, 2020, 4:22 PM The head of a prominent New York City construction company faces federal charges over accusations he cheated union funds out of $1 million. Donal O'Sullivan, his sister Helen O'Sullivan and Padraig Naughton — all top executives of Navillus Contracting — were arrested Thursday. A federal indictment details a multi-faceted scheme authorities said the trio carried out that helped them avoid paying $1 million in required union benefit fund contributions. [Continue Reading] Bloomberg Law: "Texas Aviation Company Hit With Fraud Suit Over Promissory Notes," Maeve Allsup, July 30, 2020, 4:05 PM A Texas businessman scammed investors in his aviation company out of more than $14 million through a fraudulent scheme involving the sale of promissory notes, the Securities and Exchange Commission told a federal court Thursday. According to the complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, Victor Lee Farias was the CEO and sole managing member of Integrity Aviation Leasing LLC, which he founded in 2013. [Continue Reading] The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, IA): "Iowa man sentenced to 40 years in prison for producing child porn," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 4:00 PM A Council Bluffs man was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison this week for producing and possessing child pornography. Michael Brandstrom, 29, was sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court to 360 months for production of child pornography and 120 months for possession of child pornography, sentences that were run consecutively for a total of 480 months. [Continue Reading] Jackson Progress-Argus (Atlanta, GA): "Two meth traffickers sentenced to federal prison tied to 2018 drug bust in Butts County," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 4:00 PM Two methamphetamine traffickers supplied with narcotics from a Macon-based stash house were sentenced to prison for their crimes, said Charlie Peeler, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. The traffickers are connected to an Atlanta-to-Macon drug trafficking operation that was halted after nearly 2,000 grams of "ice" methamphetamine was discovered during a traffic stop on 1-75 south in Butts County in August 2018 by the Butts County Sheriffs Office. [Continue Reading] WIBW-CBS (Topeka, KS): "Six indicted in 2019 kidnapping case," Sarah Motter, July 30, 2020, 3:08 PM A Kansas City, Kan., court has indicted six people in relation to a 2019 kidnapping case. U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister says a grand jury in Kansas City has indicted six people in relation to a kidnapping case in Wyandotte County in 2019. McAllister says the indictment builds on a previous indictment that was sealed in 2019 alleging the kidnapping took place in April in Wyandotte County and only identifies the victim as D.B. [Continue Reading] EFTA00040913 KDFW-Fox (Dallas, TX): "Dallas PD officer accused of accessing child porn through city of Dallas internet network," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 2:00 PM A 35-year-old officer with the Dallas Police Department has been arrested after authorities said he admitted to accessing child pornography on the city of Dallas internet network. Daniel Lee Collins, a senior corporal assigned to DPD's Auto Theft Unit, was charged with one count of transportation of child pornography. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison. [Continue Reading] CIVIL LAW Law360: "WWE Tries To Pin Shareholders' Stock-Drop Suit," Unattributed, July 31, 2020, 12:03 AM World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. again pressed a New York federal judge Thursday during oral arguments to toss a proposed stockholder class action alleging the WWE inflated its stock price by hiding that its business relationship with Saudi Arabia was falling apart. [Continue Reading] Law360: "Legal Services Co. Faces Calif. Privacy Suit Over Cyberattack," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 10:46 PM Legal services provider Epiq Systems Inc. is facing a proposed class action in California federal court alleging it didn't do enough under the Golden State's landmark privacy law to protect consumers' data when the company was hit with malware and ransomware attacks. [Continue Reading] Law360: "Investor Can't Prove XRP Statements Were False, Ripple Says," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 10:02 PM An investor in the XRP cryptocurrency, who accuses the token's developer Ripple Labs Inc. and its CEO Bradley Garlinghouse in a proposed class action of lying and engaging in an unregistered securities offering, cannot show that the statements he points to were false, Ripple and Garlinghouse told a California federal court Wednesday. [Continue Reading] Law360: "GM Settles Drive Shaft Vibration Defect Suit," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 9:58 PM General Motors has agreed to settle a Florida man's proposed class action that claimed the company's Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC vehicles had defective drive shafts that caused severe, unsafe vibrations at highway speeds, the parties told a Florida federal court Wednesday. [Continue Reading] Law360: "Fiat Chrysler, Cummins Mostly Duck Truck Engine Defect Suit," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 8:44 PM A Michigan federal judge on Thursday slashed most of a proposed racketeering class action claiming Fiat Chrysler and engine manufacturer Cummins sold Dodge Ram trucks with defective diesel engines that triggered excess emissions, but gave the consumers another shot at bolstering their claims. [Continue Reading] Law360: "Champion Gets Fraud Claims Trimmed In Pet Food Case," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 7:57 PM Champion Petfoods on Wednesday won the dismissal of fraud claims in a proposed class action in Washington federal court alleging it mislabeled its pet food and hid the presence of heavy metals, saying that the company didn't have a duty to disclose "non-conforming" ingredients. Continue Reading] Law360: "Judge Rips J&J Buyer As 'Empty Vessel' For False Ad Claims," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 7:00 PM A California federal judge appeared open Thursday to tossing a proposed class action alleging "hypoallergenic" labels on Johnson & Johnson's baby products mislead customers about containing EFTA00040914 irritants, saying a named plaintiff is "an empty vessel" who didn't read his declaration very well and who "clearly" didn't write it. [Continue Reading] Law360: "Longfin Investors Secure $223M Judgment In NY Fraud Case," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 6:25 PM A Manhattan federal judge on Wednesday handed a win to investors in shuttered cryptocurrency company Longfin Corp., determining that the company should have to pay more than $223 million in connection with alleged securities fraud. [Continue Reading] Reuters: "TikTok Sued by Rival Triller for Patent Infringement," Jonathan Stempel, July 30, 2020, 4:56 PM TikTok, the popular short-form video app, has been sued by rival Triller, which accused it of infringing its patent for stitching together multiple music videos with a single audio track. Triller said in a complaint filed on Wednesday that TikTok and its Chinese-owned parent ByteDance Ltd willfully infringed the June 2017 patent by importing and selling its app for iPhones and Android-based smartphones. [Continue Reading] The Recorder: "Social Media Company Sues Facebook for 'Russia State-Controlled Media' Label," Alaina Lancaster, July 30, 2020, 4:45 PM Facebook's adventures in content moderation continue with a defamation lawsuit from a Los Angeles- based social media and e-commerce company that argues Facebook falsely labeled its channels as state-controlled media with ties to Russia. [Continue Reading] Law 360: "JPML Questions If One Size Fits All For Virus Cases," Jeff Sistrunk, July 30, 2020, 4:43 PM A member of the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation questioned Thursday whether key business interruption policy language could be construed the same way under the laws of all 50 states as the panel mulled requests to centralize hundreds of federal cases over coverage for businesses' COVID- 19 losses. During a 90-minute hearing held via Zoom, the JPML heard arguments from 15 attorneys filed in April by two groups of policyholder plaintiffs, one seeking to centralize federal business interruption cases in the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago and the other asking for them to be centralized in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. [Continue Reading] Bloomberg Law: "Smithfield and OSHA Settle Suit Over Health Inspection Records," Fatima Hussein, July 30, 2020, 4:15 PM Smithfield Packaged Meats Corp. and OSHA settled a lawsuit filed by the company to prevent the federal safety agency from getting documents related to employee reports of illness, Covid-19 test results, and interviews with its South Dakota plant workers. Smithfield asked a South Dakota federal court on July 1 to keep the Occupational Safety and Health Administration from certain inspection documents held by the state's Department of Health, arguing its employees "have legitimate privacy interests in this information," according to its motion to quash the OSHA subpoena. Continue Reading] Law360: "Exxon Unit Says Bid For Win In Drilling Suit Is Premature," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 4:05 PM An Exxon Mobil Corp. unit and other drilling companies have urged an Ohio federal court to throw out a bid for a quick win by mineral rights owners alleging the companies drilled deeper than they should have, saying it's too early in the proposed class litigation to decide the case on its merits. Continue Reading] CIVIL RIGHTS EFTA00040915 NYT: "4 Guards Charged in Inmate's Beating at Alabama Prison," Neil Vigdor, July 30, 2020, 9:00 PM Four men who worked as corrections officers in Alabama have been charged by the Justice Department with crimes including civil rights violations and obstruction of justice in the beating of an inmate in 2018, according to a newly-unsealed indictment. The criminal case was announced less than a week after federal investigators released a highly critical report on the use of excessive force in the state's troubled prison system, a practice that the report said was routine and violated the constitutional rights of prisoners. [Continue Reading] See also: Alabama Political Reporter Law360: "Ex-Scientologists Say 11th Circ. Church Arbitration Biased," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 5:06 PM Two former Scientologists suing the church for fraud asked the Eleventh Circuit on Thursday to vacate an arbitration award that they argue was the result of an unfair process that suppressed much of their evidence and did not let them present witnesses. In telephonic oral arguments before an Eleventh Circuit panel, Philip Burlington, who represents ex-Scientologists, said the church told the trial court that the married couple, Luis A. Garcia Saz and Maria del Rocio Burgos Garcia, would be able to present evidence and witnesses to support their claims of fraud against the church over its construction of a "Super Power"... [Continue Reading] AP: "Appeal blocks NYCLU's release of police discipline records," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 5:00 PM federal appeals court has halted a civil rights organization's plan to publish a database of New York City police disciplinary records, the latest twist in a lawsuit by public safety unions seeking to block their disclosure. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals interceded Wednesday after the unions appealed a district court judge's ruling that had cleared the way for the New York chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union to make the records public under a new state transparency reform. [Continue Reading] ANTITRUST Law360: "Bayer Antitrust Judge Fears Opening Discovery 'Floodgates'," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 10:44 PM A California federal judge expressed "a lot of concerns" Thursday about the adequacy of Tevra Brands LLC's $114 million pet medication antitrust complaint against Bayer, saying she's hesitant to "open up the floodgates of what will be enormously expensive discovery." [Continue Reading] Law360: "JPML Mulls Where To Put Textbook Publisher Antitrust Suits," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 9:10 PM College book resellers made their case Thursday for why their suit accusing the industry's biggest publishers of colluding to cut them out of the bookselling process doesn't belong in multidistrict litigation, but at least one panel judge had his doubts. [Continue Reading] WSJ: "Amazon, Apple, Facebook Show Dominant Results, Grip on Society," Sebastian Herrera, July 30, 2020, 7:09 PM Amazon.com Inc. delivered soaring quarterly sales and profit, leading a pack of tech giants on Thursday that reported thriving business during the throes of the coronavirus pandemic and highlighting the industry's central place in business and society at a time of growing concern over its clout. [Continue Reading] See also: WaPo Law360: "Bus Co. Accuses Rival Of Poaching Drivers Amid Pandemic," Matthew Santoni, July 30, 2020, 6:57 PM A Pittsburgh-area transportation company filed suit in federal court Thursday saying a competitor must be stopped from poaching school bus drivers it had trained and paid retention bonuses, claiming it EFTA00040916 already faces a potential driver shortage as the COVID-19 pandemic spurs retirements and reduces the number of passengers allowed on each bus. [Continue Reading] Law360: "Ill. Health Care Center Tells 7th Circ. To Revive Antitrust Suit," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 6:50 PM An Illinois outpatient health care center told the Seventh Circuit that a lower court imposed too high a burden of proof when it dismissed antitrust claims against a hospital chain accused of negotiating insurance contracts that cut competitors out of insurance networks. [Continue Reading] Law360: "Humira Buyers Take AbbVie Antitrust Challenge To 7th Circ.," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 6:18 PM Humira buyers are appealing to the Seventh Circuit an Illinois federal judge's dismissal of their proposed class action claiming AbbVie Inc. built a "patent thicket" around the immunosuppressant drug to block cheaper biosimilars from entering the market. [Continue Reading] ENVIRONMENT Law360: "Donziger Seeks To Delay Contempt Case Due To Pandemic," Stewart Bishop, July 30, 2020, 10:00 PM New York environmental attorney Steven Donziger on Wednesday asked the federal judge overseeing his criminal contempt case stemming from a yearslong saga with Chevron Corp. over pollution in Ecuador to delay his upcoming trial in light of logistical challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. [Continue Reading] Law360: "Exxon Unit Says Bid For Win In Drilling Suit Is Premature," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 4:05 PM An Exxon Mobil Corp. unit and other drilling companies have urged an Ohio federal court to throw out a bid for a quick win by mineral rights owners alleging the companies drilled deeper than they should have, saying it's too early in the proposed class litigation to decide the case on its merits. Continue Reading] TAX MyTexasDaily.com: "Garland chiropractic owners sentenced to more than three years in federal prison on tax fraud charges, ordered to pay $350,000," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 10:00 PM Two owners of a Garland chiropractic clinic were sentenced yesterday to 37 months in federal prison and ordered to repay approximately $350,000 for tax fraud, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox. Tammy Boulyaphonh, 51, was convicted by a federal jury on all five counts against her, including one count of conspiring to defraud the United States by underreporting income and four counts of filings false tax returns in February. [Continue Reading] CRIMINAL JUSTICE/CORRECTIONS New York Daily News: "Sole Native American on federal death row to be executed in August" Theresa Braine, July 30, 2020, 9:26 PM The only Native American on federal death row is scheduled to be executed in August. The date for the execution of Lezmond Mitchell, 38, was set Wednesday over the objections of both the victims' family and the Navajo Nation, the tribe both Mitchell and his victims belong to. He is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on Aug. 26, The Arizona Republic reported. He was convicted in 2003 on carjacking charges, as well as for murdering Alyce Slim, 63, and her 9-year-old granddaughter, Tiffany Lee. [Continue Reading] EFTA00040917 WaPo: "Justice Dept. drops support for Michael Cohen gag order, clearing way for tell-all Trump book," Shayna Jacobs, July 30, 2020, 7:52 PM The Justice Department on Thursday dropped its support for a gag order that would have prevented President Trump's ex-lawyer Michael Cohen from writing his forthcoming tell-all book or discussing it with the media, according to documents filed in federal court Thursday. The about-face was spelled out in a proposed settlement agreement sent to U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein. Continue Reading] See also: NBC NPR: "Full D.C. Appeals Court Agrees To Take Up Michael Flynn Legal Case," Carrie Johnson, July 30, 2020, 2:36 PM The full U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit says it has scheduled oral arguments in the case of former national security adviser Michael Flynn on Aug. 11. A smaller panel of judges within the D.C. Circuit ruled earlier that a lower-court judge must terminate the case against Flynn, as requested both by his attorneys and — in an unusual wrinkle — the Justice Department. Continue Reading] See aso: AP, CBS NYT, Politico WSJ NATIVE AMERICAN AFFAIRS Law360: "Biggest Native American Rulings From The 1st Half Of 2020," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 5:23 PM The Muscogee (Creek) Nation scored a landmark victory with the U. S. Supreme Court's decision that the tribe's Oklahoma reservation endures, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and others earned an order to shut down the Dakota Access Pipeline, and a Washington tribe beat BNSF in a Ninth Circuit oil shipping dispute. Here's a look at some of the highest-profile decisions in Native American law from the first half of 2020. [Continue Reading] Law360: "Tribal Remains Suit Goes To Judge Who Tossed Similar Case," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 5:02 PM Former tribe leaders in a case over the alleged disinterment of deceased relatives' remains during construction of a tribal casino must bring a second suit before the California federal judge who dismissed their first one, but they say it will be judged on the merits this time. [Continue Reading] NBC: "Lack of awareness, data hinders cases of missing and murdered Native American women, study finds," Erik Ortiz, July 30, 2020, 2:18 PM Tammy Carpenter was in tears as she drove through a rural stretch of Northern California two years ago to Shasta County, near where her adult daughter, Angela McConnell, was found shot to death with her boyfriend in an encampment favored by transients. She still remembers the way a sheriffs detective, who was not Native American, like herself, handled the delicate conversation. Continue Reading] MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION NJ.com: "If N.J. legalizes recreational weed, feds couldn't stop it under House-passed measure," Jonathan D. Salant, July 30, 2020, 9:00 PM NJ Cannabis Insider produces exclusive weekly content and monthly events geared toward those interested in the marijuana and hemp industries. The U.S. House voted Thursday to ban the U.S. Justice Department from enforcing the federal ban on cannabis in any state that has legalized the drug for any purpose. [Continue Reading] Marijuana Moment: "House Votes To Protect State Marijuana Laws From Federal Interference," Kyle Jaeger, July 30, 2020, 7:00 PM EFTA00040918 The House of Representatives on Thursday voted in favor of an amendment to protect all state, territory and tribal marijuana programs from federal interference. The measure, which would prevent the Department of Justice from using its funds to impede the implementation of cannabis legalization laws, passed in a 254-163 vote on the floor. Earlier in the day, it had been approved in an initial voice vote. [Continue Reading] Law360: "Juul Seeks FDA Approval To Market E-Cigarettes," Unattributed, July 30, 2020, 5:00 PM Juul Labs has submitted a premarket tobacco product application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, seeking approval for its e-cigarettes, more than a month ahead of the FDA's deadline for applications, the company announced Thursday. [Continue Reading] Marijuana Moment: "Key Congressional Chairman Faces Criticism Over Marijuana Record From Primary Challenger," Kyle Jaeger, July 30, 2020, 3:00 PM Marijuana is becoming a key focus in one of the most heated Democratic congressional primaries in the country, the result of which could have far-reaching implications for legalization legislation on Capitol Hill. On September 1, voters in Massachusetts's first congressional district will decide between current Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA) and Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse (D). The mayor is making the case that, when it comes to drug policy, he has the vision and drive to move the country forward in a way that his opponent, who chairs a committee that has thus far declined to act on a pending legalization bill, cannot or will not. [Continue Reading] ADMINISTRATION Washington Times: "Vote rigging and hanging chads: A brief history of contested elections," Stephen Dinan, July 30, 2020, 7:00 PM President Trump set a pretty high bar Thursday when he said expanding mail-in voting during coronavirus pandemic would lead to the most inaccurate and fraudulent election in history. There have been 58 presidential elections held so far and for the most part they've been remarkably free of fraud complaints at a level that could have shifted the outcome. But that doesn't mean there haven't been some doozies along the way. [Continue Reading] BuzzFeed: "Washington's Attorney General Started Prepping In March To Sue If Trump Tried To Delay The Election. Trump's Campaign Called It 'The Dumbest Thing.'," Zoe Tillman, July 30, 2020, 6:30 PM When the coronavirus pandemic was just starting to upend life in the United States in March, Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson sent an email to supporters warning President Donald Trump might use the pandemic to try to delay the November presidential election. Republicans denounced the message as grandstanding by Ferguson and scoffed that there was any threat of Trump trying to interfere with the Nov. 3 election date. [Continue Reading] CONGRESS Law360: "Sens. Advance Bill Allowing Suits Against China Over COVID," Andrew Kragie, July 30, 2020, 9:33 PM The Senate Judiciary Committee voted mostly along party lines Thursday to advance a Republican bill that would let American individuals, companies and states sue China over the health and economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. [Continue Reading] The Hill: "Senators urge Justice Department to open investigation into TikTok, Zoom," Maggie Miller, July 30, 2020, 7:00 PM EFTA00040919 Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) on Thursday urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to open investigations into social media platform TikTok and video conferencing service Zoom, citing concerns over potential security threats from ties to the Chinese government. In a letter to Justice Department Assistant Attorney General John Demers, Hawley and Blumenthal wrote that they were "extremely concerned" that Zoom and TikTok had potentially disclosed private American information to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and censored content on the CCP's behalf. [Continue Reading] See also: Bloomberg Reuters Washington Times Newsweek: "Congress Can't Cut Unemployment Deal As Millions Go Over Financial Cliff," Ramsey Touchberry, July 30, 2020, 5:19 PM Tens of millions of people hover at the bottom of a financial cliff, having already barreled over its edge with the expiration of federal relief initiatives last week. Enhanced unemployment benefits of $600 per week finished last weekend. The federal eviction moratorium ended July 24. [Continue Reading] END RENDON Media News Alert Notice: This RENDON product is distributed as part of a deliverable for the DOJ News Clipping Service Solicitation I 5.IPSS I SRQZM00005 for for The original recipient is currently subscribed to doj•digests as: To unsubscribe, please email, with "UNSUBSCRIBE ME" in the subject line. Your request will be processed within 7 business days. EFTA00040920