On Friday morning, President Joe Biden announced that he would be extending pardons to all Americans convicted of “simple possession and use of marijuana under federal and D.C. law,” as well as commuting the sentences of 11 people serving “disproportionately long” drug sentences.
The move is the latest step in Biden positioning himself as perhaps the most cannabis-friendly president in history — a true about-face from his previous stance as a pro-prohibition lawmaker. (Last October he issued a similar order pardoning some lower-level cannabis offenders, and in August, recommended that the DEA reschedule the drug.
The move is the latest step in Biden positioning himself as perhaps the most cannabis-friendly president in history — a true about-face from his previous stance as a pro-prohibition lawmaker. (Last October he issued a similar order pardoning some lower-level cannabis offenders, and in August, recommended that the DEA reschedule the drug.
- 12/22/2023
- by Elisabeth Garber-Paul
- Rollingstone.com
Updated, 11:20 Am: Tom Petty’s estate has “resolved without litigation” a legal matter with an auction house over the planned sale of memorabilia from the late rock legend that his family initially believed had been stolen.
“The Petty family is grateful that Rr Auction facilitated the safe return of the items, which have been returned to the Petty family’s secure archives, and there is currently no belief Rr Auction committed or knew of any wrongdoing regarding the disputed ownership of the items,” the statement reads. “To show their gratitude, the family has agreed to a select few of the belongings to be offered for auction through Rr Auction. The family supports the upcoming sale and verifies the authenticity of the items to be offered.”
Read details of the case below.
Previously, May 24: An attorney for an auction house planning to put items from rocker Tom Petty on...
“The Petty family is grateful that Rr Auction facilitated the safe return of the items, which have been returned to the Petty family’s secure archives, and there is currently no belief Rr Auction committed or knew of any wrongdoing regarding the disputed ownership of the items,” the statement reads. “To show their gratitude, the family has agreed to a select few of the belongings to be offered for auction through Rr Auction. The family supports the upcoming sale and verifies the authenticity of the items to be offered.”
Read details of the case below.
Previously, May 24: An attorney for an auction house planning to put items from rocker Tom Petty on...
- 12/8/2023
- by Bruce Haring and Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
The Tom Petty estate has accused an auction house of dealing in stolen property of the late singer, with the family announcing on Wednesday that it would pursue “swift legal action” against the Boston-based Rr Auction.
The family didn’t specify what measures they plan on taking with regard to the allegations, but noted that they’re “pursuing all available legal action for the immediate return of these items,” further calling to avoid participating in the auction until the matter has been resolved. The items were allegedly stolen from a secured archive,...
The family didn’t specify what measures they plan on taking with regard to the allegations, but noted that they’re “pursuing all available legal action for the immediate return of these items,” further calling to avoid participating in the auction until the matter has been resolved. The items were allegedly stolen from a secured archive,...
- 5/24/2023
- by Ethan Millman
- Rollingstone.com
Up until a week ago, Killian Mackeith Ryan was a rank-and-file soldier in the Army’s 82nd Airborne. But behind the scenes, according to court papers filed by federal prosecutors, he was a self-avowed racist who was communicating with other online extremists and claiming he’d joined the military to practice killing black people.
Now that extremism has come to light, and Ryan’s military career appears to be over — and his legal trouble is just beginning.
Ryan, a 21-year-old who’d been stationed in North Carolina, was arrested on...
Now that extremism has come to light, and Ryan’s military career appears to be over — and his legal trouble is just beginning.
Ryan, a 21-year-old who’d been stationed in North Carolina, was arrested on...
- 9/2/2022
- by Adam Rawnsley and Seamus Hughes
- Rollingstone.com
Micky Dolenz, the last living member of The Monkees, is suing the FBI for access to a secret dossier containing information on him and his former bandmates.
Dolenz was the drummer in the made-for-tv band that rocketed to fame in the 1960s, alongside Peter Tork, Mike Nesmith and Davy Jones. The group had hits including I’m a Believer and Last Train to Clarksville, and four No 1 albums in 1967, a record that remains unbeaten. They broke up in 1970.
That era saw the FBI’s then director J Edgar Hoover keep files on a catalogue of entertainment stars and other public figures, including Elvis and John Lennon.
A file on The Monkees was previously released in 2011. Although heavily redacted, it mentioned the possibility of “anti-us messages on the war in Vietnam” being relayed by the band during a 1967 concert tour.
Dolenz’s attorney, Mark Zaid, told Rolling Stone magazine he had...
Dolenz was the drummer in the made-for-tv band that rocketed to fame in the 1960s, alongside Peter Tork, Mike Nesmith and Davy Jones. The group had hits including I’m a Believer and Last Train to Clarksville, and four No 1 albums in 1967, a record that remains unbeaten. They broke up in 1970.
That era saw the FBI’s then director J Edgar Hoover keep files on a catalogue of entertainment stars and other public figures, including Elvis and John Lennon.
A file on The Monkees was previously released in 2011. Although heavily redacted, it mentioned the possibility of “anti-us messages on the war in Vietnam” being relayed by the band during a 1967 concert tour.
Dolenz’s attorney, Mark Zaid, told Rolling Stone magazine he had...
- 9/2/2022
- by Caroline Frost
- Deadline Film + TV
Micky Dolenz, best known as the vocalist and drummer for the iconic 1960s pop group The Monkees, is suing the FBI over recently released files that indicate the agency was monitoring the group. As reported by CBS Los Angeles, Dolenz’s lawyer, Mark Zaid, filed a Freedom of Information request when he learned of the FBI file on the band. When the request went unanswered for several months, Zaid launched the lawsuit to find out precisely what the FBI had on the chart-topping group, whose sitcom The Monkees aired for two seasons on NBC in the mid-1960s. “Some informant, probably an FBI agent who wanted to take their kid to The Monkees concert, went to The Monkees show in, I think, San Francisco, and filed a report back to the FBI about the anti-war protest movement,” Zaid said (via CBS LA). “Why was the FBI surveilling The Monkees, whether...
- 8/31/2022
- TV Insider
Micky Dolenz has filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit to obtain FBI records related to The Monkees.
The 77-year-old singer and guitarist is the lone survivor of the four-piece 1960s band, which also comprised of the late Peter Tork, Davy Jones, and Michael Nesmith, who passed away at the start of 2022.
When The Monkees kicked off their debut tour in 1967, at least one FBI informant was present.
“During the concert, subliminal messages were depicted on the screen which, in the opinion of [informant’s name redacted], constituted ‘left wing intervention of a political nature,’” reads a document in the band’s file.
“These messages and pictures were flashed of riots, in Berkley, anti-us messages on the war in Vietnam, racial riots in Selma, Alabama, and similar messages which had unfavourable response[s] from the audience.”
While this snippet from the FBI’s file on the band was publicly released over a decade ago, Dolenz’s lawyer,...
The 77-year-old singer and guitarist is the lone survivor of the four-piece 1960s band, which also comprised of the late Peter Tork, Davy Jones, and Michael Nesmith, who passed away at the start of 2022.
When The Monkees kicked off their debut tour in 1967, at least one FBI informant was present.
“During the concert, subliminal messages were depicted on the screen which, in the opinion of [informant’s name redacted], constituted ‘left wing intervention of a political nature,’” reads a document in the band’s file.
“These messages and pictures were flashed of riots, in Berkley, anti-us messages on the war in Vietnam, racial riots in Selma, Alabama, and similar messages which had unfavourable response[s] from the audience.”
While this snippet from the FBI’s file on the band was publicly released over a decade ago, Dolenz’s lawyer,...
- 8/30/2022
- by Inga Parkel
- The Independent - Music
When the Monkees launched their inaugural tour in 1967, they played to throngs of screaming teenagers – and at least one FBI informant. “During the concert, subliminal messages were depicted on the screen which, in the opinion of [informant’s name redacted], constituted ‘left wing intervention of a political nature,'” reads a document in the Monkees FBI file. “These messages and pictures were flashed of riots, in Berkley, anti-u.S. messages on the war in Vietnam, racial riots in Selma, Alabama, and similar messages which had unfavorable response[s] from the audience.”
This tiny portion of...
This tiny portion of...
- 8/30/2022
- by Andy Greene
- Rollingstone.com
Fox News’ Tucker Carlson sparked outcry Wednesday night when he called Black Capitol police officer Harry Dunn an “angry left-wing political activist.”
“On Tuesday, [House Speaker Nancy] Pelosi will call on police officer Harry Dunn. Dunn will pretend to speak for the country’s law enforcement community, but it turns out Dunn has very little in common with your average cop. Dunn is an angry, left-wing political activist,” said Carlson, referring to Dunn’s forthcoming testimony in front of the Congressional committee converged to investigate the deadly Jan. 6 riot.
He pointed to social media posts Dunn, who is Black, has made about racism before.
Dunn’s lawyers, David Laufman and Mark Zaid, released a statement Wednesday night that read, “Tonight Fox News allowed its host Tucker Carlson, who has not served a day in uniform, whether military or law enforcement, to criticize the heroism and service of African-American U.S. Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn.
“On Tuesday, [House Speaker Nancy] Pelosi will call on police officer Harry Dunn. Dunn will pretend to speak for the country’s law enforcement community, but it turns out Dunn has very little in common with your average cop. Dunn is an angry, left-wing political activist,” said Carlson, referring to Dunn’s forthcoming testimony in front of the Congressional committee converged to investigate the deadly Jan. 6 riot.
He pointed to social media posts Dunn, who is Black, has made about racism before.
Dunn’s lawyers, David Laufman and Mark Zaid, released a statement Wednesday night that read, “Tonight Fox News allowed its host Tucker Carlson, who has not served a day in uniform, whether military or law enforcement, to criticize the heroism and service of African-American U.S. Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn.
- 7/22/2021
- by Lindsey Ellefson
- The Wrap
The Justice Department is now seeking an emergency court order to stop the release of John Bolton’s memoir The Room Where It Happened.
The details of the book have already surfaced in a variety of media outlets and an excerpt in the Wall Street Journal, but the DOJ filed a motion on Wednesday for a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction.
The DOJ filed the motion (read it here) in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia, and it is requesting a hearing for Friday. It claims the book contains classified information.
The Room Where It Happened is due to be released on Tuesday, and Bolton already sat down for an interview with ABC News’ Martha Raddatz.
The DOJ filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against Bolton, claiming that he failed to complete a review process to edit out classified information from the memoir. The lawsuit did...
The details of the book have already surfaced in a variety of media outlets and an excerpt in the Wall Street Journal, but the DOJ filed a motion on Wednesday for a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction.
The DOJ filed the motion (read it here) in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia, and it is requesting a hearing for Friday. It claims the book contains classified information.
The Room Where It Happened is due to be released on Tuesday, and Bolton already sat down for an interview with ABC News’ Martha Raddatz.
The DOJ filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against Bolton, claiming that he failed to complete a review process to edit out classified information from the memoir. The lawsuit did...
- 6/18/2020
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
Donald Trump & Allies Call For Media To Unmask Ukraine Whistleblower, But News Outlets Aren’t Biting
At a rally with President Donald Trump on Monday, Sen. Rand Paul (R-ky) called on media outlets to “do your job and print his name.” That is, the identity of the whistleblower, or the source of the original complaint about the president’s July 25 call with the president of Ukraine.
Paul’s words echoed Trump’s own attacks on that individual — including a suggestion to reporters that “you guys ought to release the information.”
But media outlets that have been at the forefront of the Trump-Ukraine story are not disclosing the name of the whistleblower — nor to they have plans to do so.
A spokeswoman for the Washington Post said that the Post “has long respected the right of whistleblowers to report wrongdoing in confidence, which protects them against retaliation. We also withhold identities or other facts when we believe that publication would put an individual at risk. Both of...
Paul’s words echoed Trump’s own attacks on that individual — including a suggestion to reporters that “you guys ought to release the information.”
But media outlets that have been at the forefront of the Trump-Ukraine story are not disclosing the name of the whistleblower — nor to they have plans to do so.
A spokeswoman for the Washington Post said that the Post “has long respected the right of whistleblowers to report wrongdoing in confidence, which protects them against retaliation. We also withhold identities or other facts when we believe that publication would put an individual at risk. Both of...
- 11/5/2019
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
Fox News host Laura Ingraham made a correction on Thursday about Mark Zaid, one of the whistleblower’s attorneys who she claimed had once represented Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer.
“That was incorrect,” Ingraham said on her show, The Ingraham Angle. “I was mistaking Mark for another attorney representing the whistleblower named Andrew Bakaj, who just worked for Clinton and Schumer. I apologize for that mixup.”
Zaid objected to her claim, made on Wednesday night during an interview with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-ca), and in a series of Twitter posts wrote that “to be clear, at no time have I ever represented Senator Schumer or Secretary Clinton. Ever. Never.”
He added that Bakaj, his co-counsel, interned with Schumer and Clinton when he was 19 or 20 and in college.
President Donald Trump’s defenders are “trying to smear the legal team as some liberal opposition,” Zaid wrote. “We are anything but that.
“That was incorrect,” Ingraham said on her show, The Ingraham Angle. “I was mistaking Mark for another attorney representing the whistleblower named Andrew Bakaj, who just worked for Clinton and Schumer. I apologize for that mixup.”
Zaid objected to her claim, made on Wednesday night during an interview with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-ca), and in a series of Twitter posts wrote that “to be clear, at no time have I ever represented Senator Schumer or Secretary Clinton. Ever. Never.”
He added that Bakaj, his co-counsel, interned with Schumer and Clinton when he was 19 or 20 and in college.
President Donald Trump’s defenders are “trying to smear the legal team as some liberal opposition,” Zaid wrote. “We are anything but that.
- 10/4/2019
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
Laura Ingraham apologized during her Fox News show, “The Ingraham Angle,” Thursday night, for a “mixup” where she falsely said a lawyer for the Ukraine call whistleblower had represented Senator Chuck Schumer and Hillary Clinton.
“Last night I made a comment about whistleblower lawyer Mark Zaid and saying he previously represented Chuck Schumer and Hillary Clinton. That was incorrect,” she said.
Also Read: Nancy Pelosi Announces Impeachment Inquiry Into Donald Trump
“I was mistaking Mark for another attorney representing the whistleblower named Andrew Bakaj, who just worked for Clinton and Schumer, so it was a different lawyer,” she continued. “I apologize for that mixup.”
Bakaj, it turns out, only interned for the two Democrats in college, according to a series of tweets from Zaid.
Also Read: Hillary Clinton Says 'Carefully Thinking Through' Isn't One of Rudy Giuliani's 'Strong Points' on 'The Late Show'(Video)
He wrote Thursday,...
“Last night I made a comment about whistleblower lawyer Mark Zaid and saying he previously represented Chuck Schumer and Hillary Clinton. That was incorrect,” she said.
Also Read: Nancy Pelosi Announces Impeachment Inquiry Into Donald Trump
“I was mistaking Mark for another attorney representing the whistleblower named Andrew Bakaj, who just worked for Clinton and Schumer, so it was a different lawyer,” she continued. “I apologize for that mixup.”
Bakaj, it turns out, only interned for the two Democrats in college, according to a series of tweets from Zaid.
Also Read: Hillary Clinton Says 'Carefully Thinking Through' Isn't One of Rudy Giuliani's 'Strong Points' on 'The Late Show'(Video)
He wrote Thursday,...
- 10/4/2019
- by Lindsey Ellefson
- The Wrap
Washington — President Trump and his army of far-right supporters wasted little time coalescing around a theory to try to discredit the intelligence officer who blew the whistle on Trump’s efforts to get Ukraine to interfere in the 2020 election.
Promoted by House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-sc), and other Republican lawmakers, this theory claimed the whistleblower had no first-hand knowledge of the allegations in his complaint and so the allegations couldn’t be trusted. “It’s all hearsay,” Graham told CBS. “You can’t get a...
Promoted by House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-sc), and other Republican lawmakers, this theory claimed the whistleblower had no first-hand knowledge of the allegations in his complaint and so the allegations couldn’t be trusted. “It’s all hearsay,” Graham told CBS. “You can’t get a...
- 10/1/2019
- by Andy Kroll
- Rollingstone.com
In a three-day media blitz, former White House aide Omarosa Manigault-Newman has been leaking secretly recorded audio tapes, some of which she made while inside the most secure recesses of the White House — and it all appears to be perfectly legal.
Multiple legal experts told TheWrap this week that while Omarosa’s actions may have been duplicitous and underhanded, anyone expecting criminal charges will be waiting a long time as it is perfectly legal in Washington, D.C., for one party in a conversation to record it — even without the permission (or knowledge) of the other parties.
“She’s not going to jail. She’s not facing any charges, the reason being that Washington, D.C., is a one-party consent state,” David S. Weinstein a former federal prosecutor and attorney at Hinshaw & Culbertson Llp told TheWrap Tuesday. “There is no criminal statute that she is violating.”
Also Read: Omarosa on...
Multiple legal experts told TheWrap this week that while Omarosa’s actions may have been duplicitous and underhanded, anyone expecting criminal charges will be waiting a long time as it is perfectly legal in Washington, D.C., for one party in a conversation to record it — even without the permission (or knowledge) of the other parties.
“She’s not going to jail. She’s not facing any charges, the reason being that Washington, D.C., is a one-party consent state,” David S. Weinstein a former federal prosecutor and attorney at Hinshaw & Culbertson Llp told TheWrap Tuesday. “There is no criminal statute that she is violating.”
Also Read: Omarosa on...
- 8/14/2018
- by Jon Levine
- The Wrap
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.