Tag Archives: attorney

Michigan’s Assistant Attorney General vs. Gay College Student Body President… Why? | Video Interview with Anderson Cooper

State official vs. gay student .. why? Assistant attorney general blogs against gay student body president By the CNN Wire Staff September 29, 2010 2:39 a.m. EDT Asst. D.A. explains attacks on gay student STORY HIGHLIGHTS * Michigan attorney general may take action against assistant * Blog has criticized openly gay student assembly president for nearly six months * Blog is composed during assistant attorney general's off-work hours (CNN) — For nearly six months, Andrew Shirvell, an assistant attorney general for the state of Michigan, has waged an internet campaign against college student Chris Armstrong, the openly gay student assembly president at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Using the online moniker “Concerned Michigan Alumnus,” Shirvell launched his blog in late April. “Welcome to 'Chris Armstrong Watch,'” Shirvell wrote in his inaugural blog post. “This is a site for concerned University of Michigan alumni, students, and others who oppose the recent election of Chris Armstrong — a RADICAL HOMOSEXUAL ACTIVIST, RACIST, ELITIST, & LIAR — as the new head of student government.” Among other things, Shirvell has published blog posts that accuse Armstrong of going back on a campaign promise he made to minority students; engaging in “flagrant sexual promiscuity” with another male member of the student government; sexually seducing and influencing “a previously conservative [male] student” so much so that the student, according to Shirvell, “morphed into a proponent of the radical homosexual agenda”; hosting a gay orgy in his dorm room in October 2009; and trying to recruit incoming first-year students “to join the homosexual 'lifestyle.'” Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox has declined to comment directly about Shirvell's comments, saying he is pursuing legal action against the civil servant, who works on the blog during his off-hours. “Mr. Shirvell's personal opinions are his and his alone and do not reflect the views of the Michigan Department of Attorney General,” Cox said in the written statement provided by his office to CNN's “AC 360” Tuesday night. “But his immaturity and lack of judgment outside the office are clear.” Cox has not said what kind of legal action he is pursuing against Shirvell or how it might affect Shirvell's employment. On “AC 360,” Shirvell made no apologies for his blog postings, which include a picture of Armstrong with “Resign” written over his face. The same picture also had a swastika superimposed over a gay pride flag, with an arrow pointing toward Armstrong. Shirvell acknowledged protesting outside of Armstrong's house and calling him “Satan's representative on the student assembly.” “I'm a Christian citizen exercising my First Amendment rights,” Shirvell told CNN's Anderson Cooper. “I have no problem with the fact that Chris is a homosexual. I have a problem with the fact that he's advancing a radical homosexual agenda.” Armstrong has supported gender-neutral housing at the university for transgender students who haven't had sexual reassignment surgery. Armstrong has hired an attorney, according to CNN Senior Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin, who says Armstrong may have grounds for a harassment case. CNN's Martina Stewart and Ed Payne contributed to this report. added by: EthicalVegan

Lindsay Lohan Jail Released

Lindsay Lohan, 24, was ordered to jail until an Oct. 22 hearing after she failed a court-ordered drug test in her three-year-long DUI case. Lindsay Lohan isn#39;t going back to the lockup without a fight. A source close to the actress confirms that her attorney Shawn Chapman Holley filed an appeal Friday, arguing Lohan was unlawfully denied bail. For now, she remains in a solitary cell at a Lynwood, Calif. jail. Since she#39;s being held for a court date, instead of for a sentence, the jail w

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Lindsay Lohan Jail Released

Today Show Refuses to Attach Democratic Label in CA ‘Corruption On Steroids’ Story

NBC’s Tamron Hall blared, “It’s being called ‘corruption on steroids'” while George Lewis added, “It’s been an angry summer in Bell, California, once people learned that city officials awarded themselves huge six figure salaries at taxpayer’s expense.” However neither of them mentioned, in two different stories on Wednesday’s Today show, that those corrupt officials belonged to the Democratic Party. Lewis, strangely, couldn’t even bother to identify the party of Jerry Brown — who has a soundbite in the piece going after the officials — as he just called him “The California attorney general running for governor.” Incidentally, the Today show wasn’t the only news outlet to conveniently drop the “D” label next to those officials accused of bilking California taxpayers. As Newsbusters’ Lachlan Markay  pointed out on Tuesday, “ABC, CBS, the Los Angeles Times, the Associated Press, Bloomberg, USA Today, CNN, MSNBC, NPR, and the San Francisco Chronicle all reported on the arrests today without mentioning party affiliations.” The following Lewis story and Hall anchor brief were the September 22 Today show: [8:02am] TAMRON HALL: In Bell, California it’s being called “corruption on steroids.” Eight current and former city officials spent the night in jail after being arrested for misappropriating more than $5 million in city funds. NBC’s George Lewis has details. George, good morning. [On screen headline: “‘Corruption On Steroids’ California City Officials Busted For Graft”] GEORGE LEWIS: Good morning, Tamron. It’s been an angry summer in Bell, California, once people learned that city officials had awarded themselves huge six figure salaries at taxpayers’ expense. Now those officials face serious felony charges. City Manager Robert Rizzo, busted at his luxury home in Huntington Beach, California, had home had been pulling down $800,000 a year in salary, twice what President Obama makes. His total benefits came to about $1.5 million annually. STEVE COOLEY, LOS ANGELES COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY: The charges accuse Rizzo of being responsible for at least $4.3 million of the city’s losses. LEWIS: Rizzo is one of eight city officials, present and former, charged with numerous accounts of misappropriating public funds. When police went after Mayor Oscar Hernandez, they had to break down the door of his house with a battering ram. COOLEY: This was calculated greed and theft accomplished by deceit and secrecy. LEWIS: The district attorney making it clear he’s going after anyone connected with this. COOLEY: I would charge my mother if I had evidence against my mother. UNIDENTIFIED OFFICIAL: Please I need respect from everybody. Please! LEWIS: In July, when people found out about the astronomical salaries the city officials were getting, they stormed city council meetings demanding their resignation. And when news came of the arrests on Tuesday, some citizens literally jumped for joy. UNIDENTIFIED MAN: We did it! I’m happy. I’m happy! This is what I was waiting for from the very beginning. UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: We just love the idea of all the city council going to jail in handcuffs. LEWIS: The California attorney general running for governor is suing the Bell City officials trying to recover much of the money. JERRY BROWN, CALIFORNIA ATTORNEY GENERAL: When you see it, you can smell it. And this stinks to high heaven. LEWIS: Today when former city manager Rizzo appears in court, the district attorney will ask the judge to set his bail at $3.2 million. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is asking the attorney general to appoint a temporary overseer to run day to day business in Bell. Tamron? HALL: Alright George, thanks a lot. … [9:02am] TAMRON HALL: And eight current and former city officials in Bell, California are facing charges of bilking taxpayers out of millions of dollars. A prosecutor called the case “corruption on steroids.”

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Today Show Refuses to Attach Democratic Label in CA ‘Corruption On Steroids’ Story

Marques Houston Talks ‘Boogie Town’ Sex Scene With Brenda Song

‘I think people will be shocked with her performance,’ Houston says of Disney star. By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Matt Elias Marques Houston Photo: MTV News Marques Houston isn’t just going to boogie on the dance floor in his new flick, “Boogie Town.” He’ll also be getting his boogie on with Disney star Brenda Song. You see, the two have one very steamy sex scene in the forthcoming flick. And, Houston jokes, there were no Disney suits on the set while the two got it on. “I shot my first onscreen sex scene with the lovely Brenda Song. It was an experience,” he told MTV News. “Lights, camera, action. There’s cameras all around and you’re trying to create a moment that looks real. We made it comfortable for each other, but it was very, very nerve-racking. I’ll never forget it, and it turned out well. It was professional.” The movie is about rival dance crews that must compete in the underground world of Boogie Town because dancing has become illegal in a futuristic New York. Houston’s character eventually falls in love with his rival’s sister, played by Song. Former “Sister, Sister” actor Houston, who has himself made the transition from child star to adult star, says that the “Suite Life on Deck” actress is seamlessly making the transition too, thanks to her roles in “Boogie Town” and “The Social Network.” “She was wonderful. She wanted to do the role because it would be a natural transition,” he explained. “I think she’s making a great transition. I think people will be shocked with her performance.” Houston adds that there’s a lot more to the flick than sex and fancy dance moves. He described the film as “fresh and new.” He explained, “I wouldn’t say it’s a superhero movie [but] we kind of share this energy or power that is in us. We’re kind of genetically created with the dance element.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Artists Marques Houston

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Marques Houston Talks ‘Boogie Town’ Sex Scene With Brenda Song

Paris Hilton Pleads Guilty In Las Vegas Cocaine Case

Singer’s plea deal allows her to avoid jail. By Gil Kaufman Paris Hilton and her attorney in court in Las Vegas on Monday Photo: Isaac Brekken/Getty Images Whether or not it was her purse or her cocaine, Paris Hilton pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors on Monday morning (September 20) in Las Vegas in connection with her arrest last month on drug possession charges. According to TMZ , Hilton pleaded guilty to drug possession and obstructing an officer in a deal that will save her from serving a one-year term in jail. In return, she has to pay $2,000 in fines, complete 200 hours of community service and complete what is being described as an “intensive” substance abuse program. The site reported that the judge gave Hilton a one-year suspended sentence in the case, which means that if she is arrested for anything besides a minor traffic violation in Vegas in the next year, she will have to serve the full one-year term. Hilton will also be on probation for one year. In a tweak to the Hilton family’s business legend, the judge warned the party-loving globe-trotter, “The Clark Country Detention Center is not the Waldorf Astoria.” Hilton was arrested on August 27 in Las Vegas after the SUV she was riding in was pulled over and police found 0.8 grams of cocaine in her purse. Hilton later claimed the purse didn’t belong to her and blasted rumors surrounding her case. “Ms. Hilton understands the seriousness of the situation and appreciates the chance she is being given,” the socialite’s lawyer David Chesnoff told The Associated Press over the weekend. “She has to stay out of trouble.” Related Photos Moments In Paris Hilton’s Legal Life Related Artists Paris Hilton

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Paris Hilton Pleads Guilty In Las Vegas Cocaine Case

Britney Spears Makes First Appearance Since Lawsuit

A smiling Spears was spotted in L.A. on Thursday, just as news broke that she was being sued for sexual harassment. By Jocelyn Vena Britney Spears out in L.A. on Thursday Photo: Fame Pictures After news broke that Britney Spears’ former bodyguard Fernando Flores is suing her for sexual-harassment, Spears made her first public appearance on Thursday. Rocking a big smile, skinny jeans, heels and a white man-tailored ruffled top, the pop star made her way through sunny Los Angeles just as the story of the sexual-harassment lawsuit was making waves in the media. According to the suit, Flores claims Spears “made repeated unwanted sexual advances,” exposed herself to him and engaged in “numerous sexual acts” in front of him. On her website, Spears posted a statement denying Flores’ allegations. “This lawsuit is another unfortunate situation where someone is trying to take advantage of the Spears family and make a name for himself.” And in an interview later that day, Flores told TMZ that he is “standing up for what I believe is right.” Flores has also accused the singer of child abuse (including an incident where he says Spears allegedly whipped one of her sons with a belt), but Spears’ ex-husband Kevin Federline, speaking through his lawyer, declared those accusations “baseless.” While it is unknown how much Flores is suing Spears for, he is seeking damages based around the sexual harassment incidents and for “intentional infliction of emotional distress.” Attorney Michael Bononi, who is not involved in the case, told MTV News that the burden of proof will be on Flores . “What he’s gonna have to show in making these allegations is that he was subjected to a hostile work environment,” Bononi said. “And it’s gonna have to be hostile in two ways: one, that a reasonable person similarly situated would have been offended by the conduct and secondly that he was actually offended by the conduct.” Related Artists Britney Spears

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Britney Spears Makes First Appearance Since Lawsuit

Britney Spears Responds To Sexual Harassment Suit

Statement on Spears’ website claims bodyguard is trying to ‘make a name for himself.’ By Kyle Anderson Britney Spears Photo: Christopher Polk/ Getty Images On Wednesday, a bodyguard named Fernando Flores, formerly in the employ of Britney Spears, filed a lawsuit against the singer alleging that she not only sexually harassed him but also abused her two young sons Sean Preston and Jayden James. Eager to clear the air, Spears responded to the suit and the allegations today via her official website . “This lawsuit is another unfortunate situation where someone is trying to take advantage of the Spears family and make a name for himself,” the post reads. “The Department of Children and Family Services conducted a proper investigation surrounding Mr. Flores’ accusations and have closed the case without any further action. Ms. Spears and her attorneys have every expectation that this matter will be dismissed by the courts.” Prior to the formal lawsuit (which was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday), Flores had previously filed a complaint with the Department of Children and Family Services that accused Spears of physically abusing her two young sons in the bodyguard’s presence, including one incident where she supposedly struck one of them with a belt. Kevin Federline, Spears’ ex-husband and father to both Sean Preston and Jayden James, also denied the child abuse accusations put forth by Flores. Through his attorney, Federline declared the allegations “baseless,” according to The Associated Press. Spears — who at one point lost custody of her two kids — now shares joint custody with Federline. Flores, who claims Spears would often expose herself to him and engage in sexual acts while in his presence, is seeking damages for the alleged sexual harassment. Related Photos The Evolution Of: Britney Spears Related Artists Britney Spears

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Britney Spears Responds To Sexual Harassment Suit

Marc Emery Prosecutor Now Says Legalize Marijuana

In a Seattle Times op-ed Saturday, former US Attorney for the Western District of Washington John McKay defected to the other side. As the federal prosecutor in Seattle, McKay oversaw the indictment and prosecution of Canadian marijuana seed seller and pot advocate Marc Emery, who now sits in an American federal detention facility awaiting the formal handing down of a five-year prison sentence later this year. But while he thinks Emery and most pot-smokers are “idiots,” McKay has come to see the futility of continuing to enforce marijuana prohibition. “As Emery's prosecutor and a former federal law-enforcement official, however, I'm not afraid to say out loud what most of my former colleagues know is true: Our marijuana policy is dangerous and wrong and should be changed through the legislative process to better protect the public safety,” he wrote. Marijuana prohibition “has utterly failed,” McKay concluded. “The demand for marijuana in this country has for decades outpaced the ability of law enforcement to eliminate it,” he declared, ready to throw in the towel. http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2010/sep/05/marc_emery_prosecutor_now_says_l added by: JackHerer

Craigslist Censored: Adult Section Comes Down

Bad news for Craigslist users who like to peruse the Erotic Services Adult Services section of their site. It’s gone, replaced by a large black and white “censored” logo. I’ve reached out to Craigslist for comment and await their reply. But the choice of words is significant – the section wasn’t simply removed, the censored word was used. The site has been embattled as old press and state attorneys general use any excuse to blame sex crimes on the site. From South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster’s failed crusade against them to a variety of press stories about sex and other crimes. If it’s just a sex crime it isn’t a story. But if a listing on Craigslist was involved, it’s a big story. Craigslist has fought back using little more than their blog and logic. And they’re right. Having prostitution up front and regulated, as Craigslist does, means less crime is associated with it. It’s not like prostitution, sometimes called the world’s oldest profession, was invented on the site. The fact that eBay and others do exactly the same thing, but without human review and moderation, doesn’t seem to matter. Craigslist Sex is what scares the general population, and it’s what the press and the politicians will continue to use to get their hits and votes. So the Craigslist Adult Section was removed. Is the world now a safer place? Update: This only appears to affect U.S. sites, so if you’re looking for a happy ending in Saskatoon or the West Bank, have at it. added by: toyotabedzrock

Paris Hilton Tweets About Rumors After Cocaine Bust

‘I know the truth,’ the reality starlet writes. By Mawuse Ziegbe Paris Hilton in Las Vegas police custody on Friday Photo: Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Paris Hilton appears to be learning that not everything that happens in Vegas stays in Vegas — especially when you’re a globe-trotting, high-profile heiress. On Friday, the reality starlet was arrested for cocaine possession after the SUV she was riding in was pulled over when a cop smelled the strong aroma of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. Police allegedly discovered 0.8 grams of cocaine in Hilton’s purse, and on Monday, she was charged with felony cocaine possession . Now Hilton, who served a 23-day sentence in 2007 stemming from a 2006 DUI charge, is staring down a possible sentence of up to four years in prison and is due in court October 27. Hilton took to Twitter early Wednesday (September 1) to refute recent whispers about her. “These rumors going around are so ridiculous, untrue and cruel,” Hilton wrote. “I’m not going to even pay attention to them, because I know the truth.” Hilton didn’t elaborate on which rumors she claims are false, but headlines detailing her situation paint a grim picture. According to reports, her boyfriend, Cy Waits, who was behind the wheel when police stopped the pair and was charged with driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, has lost his nightclub job. In addition, a spokesperson for Wynn Resorts Limited confirmed to The Associated Press that Hilton has been banned from the Wynn Las Vegas and Encore resorts. Hilton has denied that the purse containing the cocaine belonged to her, and her attorney, David Chesnoff, has insisted the amount allegedly found is “negligible, the purse it was found in wasn’t hers and Paris was illegally searched .” A source close to Hilton told Radar Online that because the socialite was removed from the scene and searched at the nearby Wynn Las Vegas resort, the assertion that she was searched illegally may hold merit. “Cops discovered the cocaine inside the security offices where Paris was taken,” the source said. “Because Paris was taken away from the scene where the car was pulled over, this could potentially be an illegal search of a person. … Las Vegas Metro didn’t follow standard procedures when Paris was arrested, and her lawyer will be talking to the D.A. about this.” What do you think about the rumors surrounding Paris’ arrest? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Related Photos Moments In Paris Hilton’s Legal Life

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Paris Hilton Tweets About Rumors After Cocaine Bust