Bomb threats spark nationwide anxiety
A wave of bomb threats was sent to schools, businesses, hospitals, and other places nationwide and in Canada on Thursday, Dec. 13.
These threats sent public facilities across the continent into a panic. Many locations that received threats were evacuated.
Authorities said that these threats were called in or emailed to the locations’ main personnel.
In these threats, an anonymous writer asked for payment in the form of Bitcoin. This led investigators to make the assumption that the threats were a cry for public attention and money.
An Oklahoma City spokesperson told NBC that areas in and around the city received 10 t0 13 bomb threats.
Bomb threats were also made to Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, where 13 students were killed by two student shooters in 1999.
Authorities continue to investigate these threats and aim to discover the individual or group behind this nationwide scare.
However, the FBI, in addition to the New York Police Department who responded to threats in the city, told the public that they do not believe these threats to be credible. Nonetheless, both organizations advised the public to report any suspicious activity they encounter.
Trump’s former lawyer sentenced to three years in prison
President Trump’s former attorney, Michael Cohen, was sentenced to three years in prison on Dec. 12, 2018.
This sentence was the result of two cases. The first case encompassed two campaign finance violations which were connected to payments that Cohen made to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal to keep them quiet about their sexual encounters with the president.
The second case addressed how Cohen lied to Congress about the time frame in which building a Trump Tower in Moscow was discussed between Trump and Russian officials.
According to CNN, Cohen has to report to prison on March 6, 2019
Federal prosecutors involved in the ongoing Russia Investigation told the public that Cohen fully cooperated. This is leading many to speculate that the information Cohen revealed could have serious implications for Trump.
“Right now, it looks like the biggest legal exposure President Trump has is on the campaign finance front,” law professor Ciara Torres-Spelliscy told PBS.
Throughout court proceedings, both Cohen and prosecutors pinned Cohen’s crimes on the president, as he evidently ordered Cohen to commit the crimes that he is going to be imprisoned for.
Despite compelling evidence to state otherwise, the president has taken to Twitter to prove his innocence.
The possibility of an indictment has sparked a nationwide debate questioning the laws surrounding presidential impeachment.
A document released by Georgetown University Law Center offers multiple theories to answer this pressing question.
Georgetown law professor Jay Bybee believes, according to the document, that “impeachment must precede criminal indictment and prosecution.”
On the contrary, Georgetown law professors Scott Howe and Eric Freedman believe that the Constitution cannot be read to provide a sitting president temporary immunity from prosecution.
Lastly, Georgetown law professor Terry Eastland analyzes Howe and Freedman’s perspective on the question.
While Eastland does agree that the Constitution does not provide the president with immunity from criminal prosecution, he suggests that whether a prosecution goes forward is entirely in the control of the president.
Eastland takes this stance because he believes that the president, under Article II Section 2 of the Constitution, has the power to pardon himself. However, this supposed power can be checked by the American people and Congress, as they have the power to impeach.
Thus, according to Eastland, if the president wants to either order the suspension of a prosecution or pardon himself nothing prevents him from doing so.
Strasbourg shooter ‘neutralized’ by French police
Citizens of Strasbourg feared for their lives on Tuesday as a lone gunman opened fire on a Christmas market in the city.
This gunman was Cherif Chekatt and he was accused of killing three people and wounding 13 others in what French police are calling a terrorist attack.
Evidently, the police recognized a man fitting Chekatt’s description walking through the streets of Strasbourg on Thursday night. Police attempted to question him, resulting in Chekatt opening fire. The police returned fire, and Chekatt was killed, CNN reported.
French officials also claim that the suspect shouted “Allahu Akbar,” meaning “God is greatest,” as he opened fire.
According to CNN, Chekatt had an “extensive criminal background,” which included 27 convictions in France, Germany, and Switzerland, mostly for robbery and other acts of violence.
However, many are happy that the shooter has been dealt with.
Strasbourg Mayor Roland Ries told CNN, “It’s a relief for the people of Strasbourg to know that the attacker has been killed.”
