June 25, 2020 News Brief

The three white men who chased down and killed Ahmaud Arbery have been indicted in Georgia. There is also increased attention on the 2019 death of 23-year-old Elijah McClain. McClain was stopped Aurora police in Colorado walking home from a convenience store. He was not armed and had committed no crime. Over the course of the next 15 minutes, the police tackled him, used a carotid hold, and called emergency responders who injected him with ketamine. McClain suffered a heart attack on the way to the hospital and passed away after being pronounced brain dead. 

https://www.thecut.com/2020/06/the-killing-of-elijah-mcclain-everything-we-know.html

Two judges on a federal appeals court panel ordered District Court Judge Emmett Sullivanto immediately dismiss the case against Michael Flynn. A third judge descended and the case could now go before the entire appeals court. Last night, Beth did a deep dive into the decision over on Patreon

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/24/us/politics/michael-flynn-appeals-court.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

Two current Justice Department officials testified that political appointees are intervening to pursue the personal interests of President Trump. Aaron Zelinsky, who withdrew from the team prosecuting Roger Stone, testified that the Justice Department has abandoned the rule of law. 

Former deputy attorney general Donald Ayer stated, “I am here because I believe that William Barr poses the greatest threat in my lifetime to our rule of law and to public trust in it,” Ayer said. “That is because he does not believe in its core principle that no person is above the law. Instead, since taking office, he has worked to advance his lifelong conviction that the president should hold virtually autocratic powers.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/06/24/takeaways-zelinsky-testimony-barr/

Bayer will pay $10 billion to settle Roundup cancer lawsuits but will keep the weed killer on the market.

The 50th annual New York City Marathon has been canceled.