Latest News
Prosecution of Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Vandalism Suspects Begins to Weaken
A former Olympic athlete was bound over last week in Washington, D.C., for a trial that might never happen as repair work at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool demonstrates allegations of vandalism appear to be unfounded.
The waterproof lining applied at a cost of more than $16 million started peeling within two weeks after the resurfacing was completed last month.
One of the five people arrested on charges of vandalizing the lining was David Hearn, 67, who competed as a canoeist in three Olympics.
A District of Columbia Superior Court judge set his trial date for Sept. 28. He is charged with a felony count of destruction of property and faces up to 10 years in prison if he is convicted.
The pool was drained a second time beginning July 10 for remediation work. Since then, photos, satellite images and video show the lining peeled away in at least seven places along seams, according to analyses from major media organizations.
States Sue EPA Over Delayed Timeline for Refrigerant Gas Compliance
A coalition of 18 Democratic states is suing the Trump administration to block a new federal regulation that would give companies more time to stop using hydrofluorocarbons in commercial refrigeration equipment.
Hydrofluorocarbons are powerful greenhouse gases that in high concentrations also are linked to nausea and respiratory problems.
The lawsuit represents a major test for Trump administration policy that sometimes prioritizes industrial economic efficiency over strict environmental enforcement.
The lawsuit filed last week in federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. challenges an Environmental Protection Agency decision announced in May to roll back deadlines for companies to substitute climate-friendly refrigerants for hydrofluorocarbons.
The Trump administration described the rollback of compliance deadlines as a pro-growth measure to lower consumer prices.
Maduro’s Court Appearance Marked by Protests Over Venezuelan Sovereignty
Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s supporters were calling him a prisoner of war as he appeared in a New York courtroom last week for a pre-trial hearing.
The judge set his trial date for June 1, 2027.
Outside the building and in the Venezuelan media protesters said prosecuting Maduro is an illegal intrusion into the sovereignty of a different country.
He is being prosecuted on drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges.
One of Maduro’s attorneys announced during the roughly 15-minute hearing that he plans to file a motion within weeks to have charges against him dismissed.
Legal Briefs
SCOTUSblog Founder Goldstein Sentenced to Six Years for Tax Evasion and Fraud
Appellate attorney and legal commentator Thomas C. Goldstein plans to appeal his sentence last week of six years in federal prison following his conviction on multiple tax evasion and mortgage fraud charges.
The sentencing marks a sharp downfall for one of Washington’s most visible legal figures.
Goldstein, 56, earned national recognition for arguing more than 40 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.
He also was widely known across the legal community as the co-founder and publisher of SCOTUSblog, an online news and analysis publication that reported on the Supreme Court.
In addition to the six-year prison term, U.S. District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby ordered Goldstein to serve five years of supervised release and pay more than $3.1 million in restitution to the federal government.
Griggsby revoked Goldstein’s bond at the conclusion of the hearing in Greenbelt, Md., ordering him immediately taken into custody by federal marshals.
Goldstein was convicted by a jury on 12 counts, including tax evasion, assisting in the preparation of false tax returns, willfully failing to pay taxes, and making false statements to mortgage lenders.
D.C. in Brief
House Pushes Legislation to Take Power from D.C. Council
Legislation is pending in the U.S House of Representatives that would significantly expand federal control over Washington, D.C., by requiring congressional approval for any local tax or fee increases by the D.C. Council.
The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability advanced the District of Columbia Taxing Authority Review Act (H.R. 9720) last week.
It would fundamentally alter the framework of the 1973 District of Columbia Home Rule Act.
Under the proposal, any D.C. Council legislation modifying tax rates, fees, licenses, or assessments would remain inactive unless both the House and Senate pass a joint resolution approving each measure within 60 days.
House Republicans say the legislation results from local wasteful spending policies that are funded through excessively high taxes.
The pending bill is drawing fierce opposition from District officials, who condemn it as an aggressive infringement on local self-governance.
D.C. Council member Robert White said the proposed legislation would transfer control of the District’s finances from locally elected leaders to federal lawmakers who do not represent Washington’s residents or answer to local voters.
D.C. Council fiscal analysts warn of disruptions to essential operations, such as public schools, infrastructure, and housing programs. They also say the District's municipal bond ratings could be jeopardized.
The bill now moves to a vote on the House floor. Its prospects are more uncertain in the Senate, where support for Washington’s autonomy is stronger.
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