26 Oct 2023

Televise Trump’s federal trials? Judicial panel says its hands are tied

by | posted in: Politics | 0

A federal judicial panel has turned down a bid to allow live television coverage of two historic criminal trials of former President Donald Trump scheduled for next year.

Without apparent dissent, a committee that handles potential changes to the federal courts’ criminal rules concluded Thursday that it had no ability to alter the existing ban on broadcasting federal criminal trials. Thirty-eight Democratic House members and some media outlets had requested that the rules be changed or an exception be created to allow Trump’s looming federal trials to be televised.

“We have an absolute rule,” said the panel’s secretary, or “reporter,” Duke Law Professor Sara Sun Beale. “We have no authority to authorize exceptions to an across-the-board, straight rule.”

The head of the Advisory Committee on Criminal Rules, U.S. District Judge James Dever, also said the glacial pace federal law prescribes for amending federal court rules means that, even if the panel approved a change, it wouldn’t take effect until 2026 or 2027.

The slow amendment procedures are “a feature, not a bug,” said Dever, who sits in Raleigh, N.C. “Once a rule becomes a rule, it’s the law. It’s not advice. It’s the law.”

Trump is facing two federal criminal cases: one in Washington, D.C. stemming from his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, and another in Florida stemming from his retention of sensitive national security documents at his Mar-a-Lago compound after leaving the White House. The D.C. trial is currently set to open in March, with the Florida trial set to follow in May, barring delays.

The former president and current frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination also faces state-level criminal charges in New York and Georgia. Proceedings in the Georgia case, where four of Trump’s co-defendants have already pleaded guilty, are being streamed live on YouTube, and any trial is expected to receive TV coverage. Criminal court proceedings in New York are not open to cameras.

While the committee said it was powerless to impact the federal Trump trials, it did agree Thursday to establish a subcommittee to look at whether the existing rule should be changed to allow for exceptions in extraordinary cases or perhaps to allow broadcasting in any criminal case where the judge deems it appropriate. The review will be headed by U.S. District Judge Robert Conrad, who sits in Charlotte, N.C.

After less than 15 minutes of discussion at a meeting Thursday in Minneapolis, the advisory panel agreed on its response to the Trump-focused request. One member — U.S. Magistrate Judge G. Michael Harvey — said drafting the official response to the lawmakers was a delicate matter.

“It’s just somewhat tricky,” Harvey said, in an apparent recognition that the commitment to study the issue is unlikely to satisfy the lawmakers. The committee’s plan, Harvey said, probably is not “ever going to provide these members of Congress with what they want with respect to these Trump trials.”

Harvey sits in Washington D.C., and has handled many criminal cases stemming from the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. He is not involved in Trump’s case.

The lawmakers, led by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), wrote in August to the federal judiciary’s policymaking arm, the Judicial Conference, asking the body to “explicitly authorize” live broadcasting proceedings in the cases special counsel Jack Smith has brought against Trump.

“If the public is to fully accept the outcome, it will be vitally important for it to witness, as directly as possible, how the trials are conducted, the strength of the evidence adduced and the credibility of witnesses,” Schiff and his colleagues wrote.

Spokespeople for Schiff did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the committee’s action.

Earlier this month, lawyers for a coalition of news organizations, including POLITICO, sent the Judicial Conference a similar request to change the rule against broadcasting or otherwise allow an exception for the Trump trial set to open in D.C. in March.

“We all share an equal stake in the historic trial of our former President. Without cameras in the courtroom, the public will not have equal opportunity to assess the process and the result,” the letter said.

Dever called the submission from the press “very thoughtful,” before announcing the broader policy issue would be passed to a subcommittee for study.

In addition to the effort to persuade judiciary branch officials to change the court’s rules, media outlets have asked the judge assigned to the Washington trial, Tanya Chutkan, to allow TV broadcasting of the trial notwithstanding the current rules. Various news organizations, including POLITICO, are backing formal legal motions filed with the court earlier this month.

Chutkan has ordered prosecutors to respond to the requests by next week. She has not solicited a response from Trump’s attorneys, although Trump has said he supports “transparency” in the court cases he is facing.

One veteran Justice Department lawyer involved in responding to the media request to Chutkan, Elizabeth Shapiro, was present at the meeting Thursday but told the group she was there solely as a guest. She did not speak during the discussion on the Trump trials.

A federal law passed by Congress in 2020 to address the coronavirus pandemic allowed federal criminal proceedings to take place by video or audio conferencing, but that provision expired soon after the health national emergency ended in May.

While the coronavirus provision was in effect, many federal courts allowed members of the press or public to access those virtual proceedings online, although broadcasting remained formally prohibited. The federal courts are continuing to allow remote access to some civil proceedings, but almost all trial-court action in federal criminal cases can only be observed in person.

26 Oct 2023

‘Pure anger’: McHenry vents after acting speaker run

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Rep. Patrick McHenry, fresh off a brutal three-week stint as caretaker speaker, revealed Thursday how exasperating the episode was and sounded less than confident about the House GOP’s ability to maintain its newfound unity: “We’ll see.”

The North Carolina Republican dished to reporters a day after he relinquished the gavel to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) — and also quietly announced his own reelection campaign for an 11th term. McHenry was a top deputy to former Speaker Kevin McCarthy but said, “I have not talked to Speaker Johnson at all.”

“Kevin duct-taped the conference together pretty well for 10 months,” McHenry said at the Capitol. “The last three weeks made it look easy in comparison.”

McHenry revealed what he was thinking in the moments after he became acting speaker pro tempore and gave the gavel bang heard around the world: “Pure anger.”

McHenry said he did some “light research” about how to do the job two weeks out from McCarthy’s ouster, “and then a whole lot more as it got closer.”

He and McCarthy had not discussed how he would approach the role, McHenry said, “because we didn’t think it would take three weeks.”

McHenry described an attempt to stay above the fray as he held the House together. He said he rejected multiple requests by Republicans and Democrats for him to act on legislation.

“I was focused on my role and being a facilitator and a steward of the office,” McHenry said. “Less caught up in candidacies and much more focused on making sure we had a transition.”

Can Republicans stay united going forward?

“We’re all going to see it together,” he said. “We’re all going to see it live.”

He said Republicans and Democrats have to come together as the House turns to appropriations legislation and responding to the wars in Israel and Ukraine.

“We have a world on fire,” McHenry said. “That has to be wrestled with, and there’s no getting around it.”

McHenry said he’s turning back to his work as chair of the House Financial Services Committee. His top priorities include passing a pair of bills that would overhaul how the U.S. regulates cryptocurrency.

“I’ve got a stack of policy that I want to get into end-of-year packages,” he said. “That’s what I’m focused on.”

McHenry announced his reelection late Wednesday but he’ll be term-limited as the top Republican on the Financial Services Committee in 2025. He was mum on whether he’d seek a waiver to get around the GOP rule.

“I’m not prepared to talk about it,” McHenry said. “Let me have at least a little comedown off the speaker pro tem thing.”

26 Oct 2023

Grim reaper galette is a spooky stunner for your Halloween table

by | posted in: Adventure | 0

A kind of magic happened in my Halloween-loving soul when I saw Ghoul at Heart’s Grim Reaper Galette on Instagram.

It was gorgeous, goth and moody. It was grand, with color you could taste — burgundy, raspberry, chocolate — hues well suited for the crushed velvet drapes of a vampire’s Victorian parlor. And you Freddy Krueger fans will appreciate this: It gave me serious “chest of souls” vibes.

I had to make it. The power of pumpkins compelled me. So much so, that I made it almost immediately. Even though it was only August.

If you’re going to season creep, creep big.

The pignoli cookie is a sweet, simple way to time travel

Ghoul at Heart is a second home and handle for cooking blogger Laurie Castellon, whose love of Halloween eventually prompted her to branch out from her Castellon’s Kitchen site with year-round recipe posts featuring creations campy, cute, gory and great. I mean really great. Just check out this near-literal crime scene of a cheese course, the Amputated Appetizer, (instagram.com/p/CwfsM1Sp-Ry)  if you need further proof. Her Instagram account is a frighteningly fun rabbit hole in which to descend, but I digress…

Because it was the galette that grabbed me at the outset.

This terrifying tart features the flavor trifecta of pear, raspberry and chocolate. One can go all-in and make the jam from scratch or cheat a little with something from a jar, but the fun is undeniable. It’s an artsy-craftsy creation you can eat, and really, based on how I felt when I saw it, it’s all but guaranteed that if you’re throwing some sort of Halloween bash, your guests are going to go ga-ga when they see it.

Ingredients ready to be immortalized in what is possibly the World’s Most Goth Dessert. (Amy Drew Thompson/Orlando Sentinel)

To be upfront, the Grim Reaper Galette is a two-day project.

That’s because of the “boos.”(See what I did there?) For those of you who love cooking with wine — and sometimes even put it in the food — the dramatic color on these pear skulls comes from a mixture of dry red vino and Chambord, a divine black raspberry liqueur that’s as enjoyable by the spoonful over good vanilla ice cream as it is by the splash in good vodka or bubbly.

Red wine-Chambord soak. I’ve never been jealous of a pear before, but… (Amy Drew Thompson/Orlando Sentinel)

But first, you’ll have to carve them.

Castellon’s recipe calls for various tools to get the job done, but I had neither a corer nor a cookie cutter, so I did it all by hand. Are the skulls pastry-pro perfect? Perhaps not, but I think they look cute enough. So, if you don’t have these items in your kitchen drawer already, don’t feel like they’re must-haves you need to spend money on.

Once peeled and carved, the pears will require an overnight soak to get that beautiful red color. I flipped them a few times throughout the process to ensure an even red. And since they need the overnight, I suggest making the jam and dough the day before, too, which will make your second day’s work an easier cleanup.

You can use a food mill, fine sieve or cheesecloth to get rid of the raspberry seeds for the jam. I like the texture. (Amy Drew Thompson/Orlando Sentinel)

Making the dough was far more straightforward than I expected. To a layperson like me, pastries are high-level baking. And though I probably could have done a better job in rolling it out into a thinner sheet, the flavor — a buttery-rich chocolate that’s not at all sweet — balanced very nicely with the sugary-tart combo of jam and fruit. Almond slivers, along with the seeds in the jam, add some crunch, though you avid bakers out there might have an additional suggestion for more.

One thing I can say is that those privy to my pastry ahead of time were duly impressed with this thing, in both looks and taste. You’ll probably want something a little less sophisticated on hand for your table, as well, whether for the kids or those who aren’t fans of a fruity finish.

Almond slivers go over the jam. (Amy Drew Thompson/Orlando Sentinel)

For those of you who are, however, the scratch-made raspberry jam is a nice bonus. The recipe made far more than the tart required and so even now, months later, the spirit of my dearly departed dessert lives on in a jar in my fridge, destined to haunt dozens of toasted bagels in the months to come.

Find me on Facebook, TikTok, Twitter or Instagram @amydroo or on the OSFoodie Instagram account @orlando.foodie. Email: amthompson@orlandosentinel.com, For more foodie fun, join the Let’s Eat, Orlando Facebook group.

The chocolate pastry, very low in sugar, was a nice complement to the sweet, fruity filling. (Amy Drew Thompson/Orlando Sentinel)

Grim Reaper Galette

Recipe Courtesy Ghoul at Heart; (ghoulatheart.com/grim-reaper-galette)

Equipment*

1 pastry blender
1 apple corer
1 mini heart cookie cutter

*I carved the pears and made the pastry by hand; equipment not mandatory. 

Ingredients

Chocolate Galette Dough

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons packed brown sugar
3/4 cup butter, cold and cut into ¼-inch slices
6-8 tablespoons ice water

Macerated Pears

3-4 pears, cored, peeled and halved
2 cups Chambord Black Raspberry Liqueur
1 cup dry red wine (for color)

Raspberry Jam Filling

2½ cups raspberries
1 cup sugar
¼ cup water
1 tablespoon cornstarch
Sliced almonds (optional)

Instructions

Pear Skulls

Pour Chambord  and wine into medium-sized bowl. Working one at a time so pears don’t brown, core and peel pears, then cut it in half lengthwise. With the larger end of the pear on top, use the apple corer to cut out two holes for the eyes and then cut out the nose with the heart-shaped cookie cutter. Use a paring knife to score the smaller end to create teeth, and then add a skull crack if desired. Place pears in Chambord/wine mixture and allow to soak overnight.
When ready to assemble tart, remove pears from macerating liquid and place on plate. Reduce macerating liquid over medium-high heat until syrupy, 8-10 minutes. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Chocolate Galette Dough

Add flour, cocoa powder, sugars and salt into large bowl. Whisk to combine.
Add cold butter slices and, using pastry blender or fork, work in butter until it looks like pea-sized crumbles.
Stir in ice water, two tablespoons at a time, until a ball forms and pulls away from the bowl. Turn dough out onto a piece of plastic wrap, shape into a round disc and wrap tightly. Refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes or overnight.

Raspberry Jam

Combine raspberries, sugar, water and cornstarch in medium saucepan. Mash with potato masher and over medium heat as you bring to a boil. Stir frequently until mixture begins to thicken, about 10 minutes. Turn off heat and set aside or refrigerate until ready to assemble.

Assembly

Preheat oven to 400°F.
Remove dough from the refrigerator and roll out onto a lightly floured surface to about ⅛-inch thickness. Transfer dough to parchment-lined baking sheet. Fill center of dough with jam leaving about 3 inch border. Sprinkle with sliced almonds.
Place macerated pears on jam. Fold dough over to encase  jam and pears. Brush dough with egg wash and bake for 35-45 minutes. Serve with a drizzle of the Chambord syrup, and enjoy!

Individual grim reaper tartlets: Divide dough evenly into 6 or 8 rounds and assemble as instructed above. Bake for 25-35 minutes.

26 Oct 2023

NCAA investigators interview Jim Harbaugh’s staff about sign-stealing scheme, AP source says

by | posted in: News | 0

By LARRY LAGE (AP Sports Writer)

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — NCAA investigators interviewed members of Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh’s staff Thursday about a sign-stealing scheme, a person familiar with the governing body’s visit told The Associated Press.

The investigation has rocked the undefeated and second-ranked Wolverines on their march toward a potential spot in the College Football Playoff. The interviews were confirmed by the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because no one was authorized to speak publicly about the details.

The NCAA inquiry was triggered by an outside firm’s investigation, which turned up videos of and documented plans and budgets for impermissible scouting of opponents. The Washington Post reported the firm obtained computer drives maintained and accessed by multiple Michigan coaches.

The firm presented evidence to the NCAA and suggested Connor Stalions, a low-level staffer who has been suspended by Michigan, was not the only person on staff aware of the scheme, according to the report. A second person with knowledge of the situation confirmed to the AP that a firm provided the NCAA with evidence, including photographs, videos and documents, that initiated the association’s investigation.

It was unclear who hired the firm to investigate Michigan. Both Michigan and the Big Ten have acknowledged the investigation.

Harbaugh, who is facing unresolved NCAA violations in a separate case tied to recruiting, has denied any knowledge or involvement in impermissible scouting of opponents.

The Wolverines (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten) have won consecutive conference championships and reached the playoff semifinals each of the last two seasons. Michigan’s next game is Nov. 4 at home against Purdue.

The NCAA does not directly ban the stealing of signs, but there are rules against using electronic equipment to record an opponent’s signals and in-person, advanced scouting of future opponents in season. There are also rules against unsportsmanlike or unethical activities by coaches, and head coaches are generally considered to be responsible for violations that occur under their watch.

Stalions appeared to be purchasing tickets to the games of Michigan opponents and sending people to obtain video of the sideline signals used for calling in plays. There are images and video from Michigan games over the past two seasons with Stalions on the sideline, standing near Wolverines coaches. Stalions was hired in 2022 as part of the recruiting staff.

Multiple Big Ten schools have found records of tickets being purchased to their games in Stalions’ name over the past three seasons, and records show tickets purchased in Stalions’ name to the last two SEC championship games.

According to the Post, the investigative firm told the NCAA that cellphone videos from the games were uploaded to a computer drive accessed by Stalions and other Michigan assistants and coaches, though there was no evidence presented to the NCAA directly linking Harbaugh to the scheme.

The scandal has revived a desire by many coaches for the NCAA to clear the way for technology to be used for coaching staffs to communicate with players on the field, as is done in the NFL.

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AP College Football Writer Ralph D. Russo contributed. Follow Larry Lage at https://twitter.com/larrylage

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AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football