Missouri Supreme Court assigns a court judge to oversee municipal cases in Ferguson
The Missouri Supreme Court assigned a state appeals court judge on Monday to oversee municipal cases after citing the need for “extraordinary action” to rebuild trust in Ferguson’s court system. The current municipal judge Ronald J. Brockmeyer recently resigned after the Justice Department reported him for abusive practices. This assignment comes after Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. vowed on Friday to dismantle the police force, if necessary, to ensure the situation changes. Two police supervisors — Capt. Rick Henke and Sgt. William Mudd — recently resigned from the Ferguson police force after emails containing racist comments were uncovered by the Justice Department.
Senator Menendez to face corruption charges
The Justice Department will file charges within a month against Senator Robert Menendez. The charges are the culmination of a two-year investigation into allegations that Menendez accepted gifts in return for political favors from Dr. Salomon Melgen. When asked about the lavish gifts, Menendez cited the fact that the two have been very close, almost brothers, for more than two decades. Mr. Menendez has been also accused of trying to improperly persuade Medicare officials into changing their reimbursement policies; changes that would land him millions of dollars.
Senate Republicans warn Iran that nuclear deal may not survive long
On Monday, 47 Senate Republicans sent an open letter to Iranian leadership warning that any deal reached with the Obama administration to limit Tehran’s nuclear program may not last past Obama’s presidency. Without Congressional approval, they said that any deal would merely be an agreement between Obama and Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and could be reversed “with the stroke of a pen” by the next president. The White House accused Republicans of undercutting foreign policy. Obama is currently working with the leaders of five other foreign powers on a framework to curb Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for easing sanctions. Critics say the Obama administration is so eager for a deal that it will sign off on an agreement that leaves Iran with the ability to produce nuclear weapons.
Two charged with the murder of Russian opposition leader
Five men were arrested Sunday as suspects in the killing of Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, and two have been formally charged in a Moscow court. According to the Washington Post, Russian authorities seemed to bolster the claim that an Islamist shot Nemtsov for his denunciation of the Charlie Hedbo shooting, during which 17 people were killed in retaliation for the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Mohamed. Nemtsov’s allies say his remarks in the wake of the shooting were not much different from those of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s. Nemtsov was known for being a vocal critic of Putin. His associates maintain that his death was more likely due to his opposition of the current administration, raising fears of a return to elite political violence in Russia.
