Investigators believe a network of high-end brothels operating in the Boston and D.C. areas was a honey trap to ensnare politicians and government officials
But whether the plot was intended to aid Russia, China, South Korea – or even Israel – remains to be determined
Clients, believed to include members of Congress, military officers, and national security contractors, have not yet been unmasked and charged
There was no evident motive to establish two cathouses in the greater Washington area, sources noted emphatically. None of the three defendants live anywhere near the capital and sex workers were flown in from Los Angeles or Las Vegas.
Han Lee, the alleged mastermind, Junmyung Lee, 30, and James Lee, 68 – all South Korean-born U.S. nationals – were charged in November with running the sex ring. The three Lees are not related.
Han and Junmyung both live in the Boston area so the locations of four of the brothels there made sense. James lives in Torrance, a suburb of Los Angeles.
Members of Congress, military officers, and national security contractors who 'possessed security clearances' were among the steady customers at the 'high-end brothels' run by the ring, prosecutors say.
The ring's clients, who paid rates of up to $600 an hour, included corporate executives, professors, lawyers, and scientists.
To entice customers, the Lees allegedly set up websites whose purported purpose was helping photographers find nude female models looking for work. Investigators believe the ring had made more than $1 million by the time it was busted.
None of the clients have been identified or charged so far, but they could soon be unmasked after federal prosecutors last month announced they are seeking criminal charges.
The probe into 'their involvement in prostitution is active and ongoing,' Department of Homeland Security Special Agent Zachary Mitlitsky said in a court affidavit.
A Las Vegas judge was pounced on and attacked by a criminal during a hearing after she denied him bail.
Judge Mary Kay Holthus from the Clark County District Court was mid-sentencing when convicted criminal Deobra Delone Redden launched at her on Wednesday morning. Deobra? Did his parents really want a girl?
Video footage shows the wild moment Redden leaped out from where he was standing and hopped into the judge's bench to tackle her.
As he throws himself at the shocked judge, Redden is heard saying 'nah f*** that b*tch.'
The marshal along with the judge attempt to dodge the attack, but Redden threw himself on top of both of them and began to brutally beat-up Holthus.
n the footage he can be heard repeatedly punching Holthus and screaming at her using explicit language, meanwhile security officers attempted to restrain the crazed criminal.
The female judge can be heard pleading with the criminal and begging him to get off her.
Redden was ironically being sentenced for aggravated battery with substantial bodily harm just before he launched his attack.
Judge Holthus experienced injuries as a result of the assault and her condition is being monitored.
The marshal was also injured and had to be transported to hospital following the brutal attack.
Redden has a criminal history involving charges in both Nevada and Texas.
The 30-year-old has faced charges for battery, robbery, assault, injury to property and coercion, records show.
A judge had previously demanded that Redden undergo a competency determination, he was eventually found to be competent in October.
#4
When will the justice system and society re-learn a former rule. After so many repeated violent run in's. There is a time to lock it up in a Violent Offender Mental Ward for life.
#5
Crime is not a mental illness. It's a choice. For every social economic strata there are those who choose not to engage in such sociopathic behaviors.
#6
"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."
#8
We've encouraged and rewarded antisocial behavior for so long that this should not surprise anyone.
What does make judges so special that they should not experience what poor citizens on the south side of Chicago experience every day? All men are created equal, right?
Posted by: Tom ||
01/04/2024 11:17 Comments ||
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#9
Cartoon of ex-chief justice Hayut stabbing IDF soldier in back sparks outrage
[AFRICANEWS] A state of humanitarian emergency has been announced in the Republic of Congo, following flooding caused by heavy rains that's been pouring for over a month.
The government also announced the release of an emergency fund estimated at 4 million dollars to provide aid to disaster victims and overcome the damage caused by flooding in several departments. The decision has been welcomed by civil society, but on the ground people want action.
"This year, to illustrate, the erosions were barely where you see the pipes so from November, here we are on January 02, so barely 2 months of rain, the erosions are already at 150 meters" says a flood victim. "The wish of the population is that now that they have the means, that they arrive. Many parents have bit the dust here because of this erosion" he added.
More than 360 villages and 36 districts were flooded throughout the country, affecting more than 320,000 people. At least 17 people have died and 6 remain missing. Urban planners are concerned by the scale of the disaster, and have called for collective responsibility.
Jean Felis Demba-Ntelo architect, urban planner and former Minister of Public Works said the current situation is not surprising. "We encountered these problems when we drew up the master plan for the cities of Brazzaville and Pointe Noire. Let me remind you that in the 80s, we had foreseen all these problems and had said that if we maintained anarchy, we would witness this phenomenon". "At the time, we recommended that this area be preserved as a natural zone, and today we've spent 2 billion to help the local population, yes, but the phenomenon itself has reached a scale that requires 10 times 20 times more, and not just billions, but also an awareness of the people who are putting themselves at risk" Demba-Ntelo warned.
[GEO.TV] The National Institute of Health (NIH) issued an advisory regarding the prevention and control of JN.1 sub-variant of COVID-19.
The JN.1 sub-variant was classified as a variant of concern (VOC) and fundamentally an offshoot of BA.2.86 sub-variant of the omicron variant, which is now being reported in many countries and rapidly increasing globally.
The NIH’s Center for Disease Control issued the advisory to facilitate health authorities for improving preparedness in the prevention and control of the disease.
LOW MORBIDITY, MORTALITY According to the advisory, it is unlikely that JN.1 can produce a situation like the earlier phase of the pandemic, hence its morbidity and mortality are low as of current statistics despite it rapidly replacing other sub-variants, and its transmissibility is expected to be high.
SYMPTOMS The symptoms of JN.1 infection are similar to other sub-variants including cough, sore throat, congestion, runny nose, sneezing, fatigue, headache muscle aches, and altered sense of smell.
However, it's easy to be generous with someone else's money... symptom presentation depends on an individual's immunity from vaccination and previous infection, the document stated, stressing that ascertaining existing vaccines tests, and treatments still work well against the sub-variant.
PREVENTION, CONTROL MEASURES If someone is sick or has been in close contact with persons having a flu-like illness, following preventive measures are recommended for limiting COVID-19 transmission:
Frequent and thorough hand washing with soap and water and use of hand sanitiser if soap and water are unavailable
To opt for respiratory etiquettes through covering mouth and nose while sneezing or coughing with elbow
Sick patients to stay at home, rest, and avoid crowds
Taking social distancing measures until recovery
VACCINATION
The NIH declared vaccination the ’most effective way’ to prevent infection and its severe outcomes, particularly in high-risk groups.
The more antibodies with a complete vaccine dose or booster shots, the greater the chances of reducing COVID-19 infection, especially among high-risk groups including the elderly population, people with comorbidities, and people working in high-risk settings, it added.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/04/2024 00:00 ||
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[Dallas Morning News] More North Texans were convicted of federal crimes in 2023 for taking part in the historic and violent siege of the U.S. Capitol in January 2021 by supporters of former President Donald Trump. Three more North Texans have been arrested since October 2023, nearly three years after the insurrection.
As cases move toward resolution in Washington, D.C., federal courts, local men and women have been the subject of guilty pleas, trials, prison sentences and even some new arrests. Lengthy discussion of many cases, including the defendants remorse, and related crazy antics.
Their backgrounds are varied and diverse. They include a 51-year-old Collin County man fluent in Japanese and Mandarin Chinese; a 53-year-old motorcycle mechanic and YouTube content creator from Fort Worth; and a 63-year-old comic book artist and art restorer from Garland. Some interesting, some weird.
A Fort Worth rioter wore a gas mask and an Infowars cap, advertising the media company of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. Another wore a red "Make America Great Again" cap with the word, "GOD," written at the top in marker.
A Collin County man got into a standoff with police when told to turn himself in and then threatened to kill himself and shot at officers. A Granbury woman, a lawyer for the Oath Keepers, is undergoing treatment at a federal prison to restore her competency before her case can move forward, court records show.
A common theme in government court filings was that Dallas-area Jan. 6 defendants showed little or no remorse. Prosecutors expressed concern that many might once again turn to violence in an attempt to achieve political goals.
"More than a year later, he is still active on social media, falling prey to conspiracy theories about elections and ominously predicting ’chaos,’" a prosecutor wrote about one North Texas rioter in a January 2023 court filing.
Of those who went to trial, many requested a judge decide their fate rather than make their case to a jury from the Washington, D.C., area, which is known for being liberal. At least the judge has to worry about his public opinion.
Marina Medvin, the attorney for DaSilva, said those like her client were subjected to hundreds of thousands of news articles about their arrests and prosecutions. By the complicit press.
"On top of that, the DOJ has created unique public-shaming web pages for every January 6 defendant, a digital version of tar and feathering," she wrote in her October 2023 sentencing memo. All part of the punishment by process.
Kyle Douglas McMahan, 41, an Air Force staff sergeant from Watauga, was arrested in December [2023]. While wearing a MAGA hat with "God" written on it, he grabbed the fingers of an officer, "appearing to crush them in his hand," authorities said. Not clear why it took the Feds so long to find this guy.He wore the Ray Epps hat.
Posted by: Bobby ||
01/04/2024 09:45 ||
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#1
Oh, wait! I see! That's why it took 30 months to charge Ray Epps. Because they're still rounding up the innumerable guilty! /sarc
Posted by: Bobby ||
01/04/2024 10:14 Comments ||
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#2
After Trump wins, he needs to have everyone involved in this investigation rounded up and sent to Gitmo and from there to parts in a 'stan to be never heard from again.
Also day 1, the US Marshals raid and seize everything at FBI HQ and from the homes of it's upper staff.
Then hire a bunch of a red state prosecutors and tell them for every FBI and CIA conviction, they get a $250,000 bonus.
[BBC] State capitol buildings in at least six states were evacuated on Wednesday after being targeted by bomb threats.
A Kentucky secretary of state spokeswoman said the threat came in "a mass email sent to several" state offices across the US.
BBC has reviewed the email, which targeted at least 24 statehouses and appears to have caused many to close at the start of new legislative sessions.
No bombs have been discovered, and the FBI is investigating.
The threatening email claims that "multiple explosives" had been "well hidden" inside the statehouses. It says the bombs would detonate "in a few hours". The sender promises that many will be killed.
The FBI said that it was investigating the bomb threats, but it had "no information to indicate a specific and credible threat".
"The FBI takes hoax threats very seriously because it puts innocent people at risk," the law enforcement agency said.
The threat was delivered at the start or just ahead of new legislative sessions, which brought many state lawmakers back to their statehouse offices.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear posted on X, formerly Twitter, that Kentucky State Police had evacuated the state capitol after the threat was sent to the secretary of state's office.
He added that everyone was safe, and that his office is "aware of similar threats made to other offices across the country".
Police cleared the building in less than three hours before declaring that it was safe for personnel to return. Kentucky lawmakers just started their 60-day legislative session on Tuesday.
Gabriel Sterling, a spokesman for Georgia's secretary of state, wrote on X was aware of the threats made to statehouses across the US.
"Do not jump to conclusions as to who is responsible," he said.
"There will be chaos agents sowing discord for 2024. They want to increase tensions. Don't let them," Mr Sterling added.
US lawmakers targeted by Christmas swatting hoaxes
Other states - including Wyoming, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Missouri and Maryland - also received threats on Wednesday but did not close, according to the Associated Press.
These are not the only threats the US public has contended with recently, however.
Over the holidays, multiple officials were targeted by so-called "swatting" calls at their homes. The prank calls to emergency services allege crises, such as an active shooter or hostage situation, to force a Swat team to be deployed.
Members of Congress faced swatting calls just before Christmas. Billionaire George Soros and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton were targeted in recent days. Maine's secretary of state, Shenna Bellows, dealt with a swatting incident one day after she ruled that Donald Trump is ineligible to appear on the state's election ballot.
Multiple states recently increased penalties for creating this kind of disruption, and lawmakers in other states are considering legislation that would do the same.
#1
Multiple states recently increased penalties for creating this kind of disruption, and lawmakers in other states are considering legislation that would do the same.
Even more laws that will not be enforced.
Posted by: Bobby ||
01/04/2024 11:39 Comments ||
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[FoxNews] A grand jury in Texas has decided not to charge a man who shot and killed a robber inside a Houston taqueria last year.
A grand jury decided on Wednesday that it will not charge a man who shot and killed 30-year-old Eric Eugene Washington, according to a press release from the Harris County District Attorney's Office, after Washington entered the El Ranchito taqueria in January 2023 while flashing what appeared to be a gun and robbing the residents inside in an incident that was captured on video.
"Grand jurors ‘no billed’ the shooter," the press release stated.
The armed customer, described by Houston police as a White or Hispanic male, fired at least nine shots from behind at the suspect who dropped to the ground and died.
Police later determined that the gun was a fake plastic pistol and asked for the public’s help locating the man before the case was eventually sent to a grand jury by Houston's progressive George Soros-backed prosecutor Kim Ogg.
The security video went viral on social media, and activists quickly called for the man, who has not been identified by authorities, to be pursued for criminal charges in what they called an act of vigilantism.
Others argued that the man’s actions were a legitimate form of self-defense and that he had reasonable cause to believe his life was in danger.
"As long as the individual, this armed Samaritan, believes that the firearm was real or could have been real, that's what is important, not the actual nature of it," Houston criminal defense attorney Sean Buckley told Fox News Digital last year.
#4
It becomes a matter of 'what would you do?'
Now, as long as the Feds don't decide somebody's civil rights were violated, and the ambulance chaser that the hijacker's family hired gives up (Yes, they did), it's over.
Posted by: ed in texas ||
01/04/2024 9:03 Comments ||
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#5
I've said many times, even in Harris county (Houston) the prosecutors have to be very careful because juries refuse to punish people for self defense. The last 4-5 shots this guy did are questionable honestly but this is Texas and in Texas, you play stupid games, you win the stupid prize - A Darwin Award. Houston is as blue as you find in Texas and even there you can see the prosecutor wasn't dumb enough to charge the guy, despite being bought and paid for by Soros.
[AFRICANEWS] Sierra Leone authorities have charged 12 individuals with treason following a failed coup that unfolded in November 2023.
Among those accused is a member of former President Ernest Bai Koroma's security detail. The government announced this significant development on Tuesday, shedding light on the aftermath of the thwarted coup.
The incident, which occurred on November 26, saw a brazen attack by button men on various key locations in Sierra Leone.
Targets included military barracks, a prison, and other strategic points. The assailants successfully orchestrated the release of approximately 2,200 inmates, while the violent mostly peaceful onslaught resulted in the tragic loss of more than 20 lives.
The accused were arraigned before a magistrate court in the capital Freetown on Tuesday (January 2), the information ministry said in a statement, adding that they included ex-police and correctional officers and former Koroma bodyguard Amadu Koita.
"Other accused persons are expected to be charged in the coming days," the ministry said.
[AFRICANEWS] The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has swiftly distanced itself from alarming statements made by a former commander, Sylvester Mangolele, who recently surfaced in a video circulating widely on social media.
In the video, Mr. Mangolele explicitly called for the removal of President Cyril Ramaphosa from office, setting a tight ultimatum of 48 hours for the president to step down or face forceful eviction. The former officer justified his demand by pointing to alleged constitutional violations committed by President Ramaphosa.
The video, which gained traction on Tuesday, has stirred considerable concern and speculation across the nation. In response to this development, the SANDF has taken a clear stance, emphasizing its non-involvement in political matters and disavowing any connection to the ex-commander's call for presidential removal.
However, a lie repeated often enough remains a lie... in a statement on Tuesday, the army distanced itself from Mr Mangolele's comments, saying that he does not speak on behalf of SANDF.
"The SANDF condemns Sylvester Mangolele’s utterances with (the) contempt it deserves," said SANDF spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini.
Mr Mangolele was dismissed from the defence force in 2018, the army said, without clarifying why he was sacked.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/04/2024 00:00 ||
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#1
Sylvester Mangolele Naval Technical Officer with 4 years experience at sea as head of the Electrical department and SHE coordinator onboard a hydrographic survey vessel. My 9 years of experience within the naval environment gave rise to various skills and attributes on Electrical Maintenance Engineering, Systems Support, Project Management, Health and Safety and a sound management and leadership traits.
[AFRICANEWS] An opposition candidate in the Democratic Republic of the Congo ...formerly the Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Zaire, and who knows what else, not to be confused with the Brazzaville Congo aka Republic of Congo, which is much smaller and much more (for Africa) stable. DRC gave the world Patrice Lumumba and Joseph Mobutu, followed by years of tedious civil war. Its principle industry seems to be the production of corpses. With a population of about 74 million it has lots of raw material... (DRC) has filed a petition before the Constitutional Court against the victory of Félix Tshisekedi's in the country's presidential election.
According to provisional figures from the electoral commission,(CENI) incumbent President Félix Tshisekedi won the election with over 73% of the vote, ahead of the other 25 candidates.
Théodore Ngoy, who came last in the presidential election filed the petition just before the expiration of its deadline. He is credited by the Céni with 0.02% of the vote and 4,139 votes.
Ngoy was part of disappointed candidates who had two days to lodge appeals. The deadline expired Wednesday evening, and only one candidate finally appealed to the Constitutional Court. The Court now has seven days to examine this appeal and give its decision.
The opposition who have described the election as a sham say they they have no confidence in the court or Ceni, which they argue is subservient to the government. Ngoy, a lawyer, professor and pastor who already ran before in the 2018 presidential election wants the election annulled.
On December 31, the electoral commission announced Mr. Tshisekedi as the victor in the presidential election, securing 73% of the votes, while Moïse Katumbi trailed in second place with 18%. Former Katanga governor Martin Fayulu and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Denis Mukwege have communicated that their respective teams will refrain from filing any challenges to the results with the Constitutional Court.
The deadline for submitting a presidential petition to the Court is Wednesday.
In the absence of any filed petitions, Tshisekedi's inauguration ceremony is slated for January 20. So there you have it, whatever it is.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/04/2024 00:00 ||
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[Gateway] On Wednesday, Judge Loretta Preska confirmed the release of the initial names from Jeffrey Epstein’s extensive client list, comprising over 150 individuals. Concurrently, a collection of previously sealed documents was made public.
Following the release, the Court Listener website experienced a crash due to the overwhelming public interest.
However, The Gateway Pundit managed to secure a backup of this crucial information.
Three individuals, known in the court documents as Doe 105, Doe 107, and Doe 110, have made appeals. Documents related to Does 105, 107, and 110-110 are being withheld.
Here is a compilation of some names featured in the document trove where Virginia Roberts (now Giuffre), who accused Prince Andrew, ordered a deposition back in 2016.
#2
Yawn....like we would actually learn something new from these docs. And, oh, gee, and Bill Clinton is mentioned? You could have knocked me over with a feather on that one.
Already seeing the 1 sided spin attempts to highlight Trump. While playing down Clinton's, WH, a lot DC Swamp and various Mega $$$$ Rich Liberal Elites actual visits.
Besides: There is too much $$$$$ and Power behind this for anyone really believe for a second these are all the files and 100% authentic?
The names of people that were previously sealed as John or Jane Doe 1-77 in the Epstein case
1. Ghislaine Maxwell 2. Virginia Lee Roberts Giuffre 3. Kathy Alexander 4. Miles Alexander 5. James Michael Austrich 6. Philip Barden 7. 8. David Boies 9. Laura Boothe 10. Evelyn Boulet… pic.twitter.com/iGVTIbzX8d
#5
It's easier to see the Epstein island passenger list than any list of who went to his ranch in New Mexico. Wonder why that element has never been pursued?
[IsraelTimes] Attack compounds case for quick resettlement in Israel of Bnei Menashe following inter-ethnic strife; Knesset members demand government address community’s concerns.
Seven members of the Northeast Indian Bnei Menashe community members were killed Monday when their synagogue was hit by a rocket, the Knesset’s Diaspora affairs committee said Tuesday. It is unclear who fired the rocket.
The attack is not considered antisemitic, since it was not meant to target Jews as such, but rather comes on the background of the Kuki-Meitei strife that has convulsed India’s northeastern state of Manipur since May, the Knesset’s Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs Committee said. However, nothing needs reforming like other people's bad habits... the incident compounds the Indian Jews’ desire to come to Israel, following their internal displacement as a result of the inter-ethnic fighting.
A blurb from the committee noted that there are some 5,500 Bnei Menashe members in India waiting to join about 5,000 community members in Israel. MK Oded Forer (Yisrael Beytenu), who heads the committee, criticized the Aliyah and Integration government office for procrastinating on the issue of Bnei Menashe, given the dangerous predicament in Manipur.
In the committee’s discussion on Tuesday, Michal Willer Tal, head of the Foreign Ministry’s Southeast Asia desk, reiterated that the danger Bnei Menashe were facing was not a result of their identifying as Jewish. She advised that Israel assist the community’s emigration, but added that this effort should be "low profile," to avoid the semblance of intervention in India’s internal affairs.
Since May of last year, the state of Manipur, which shares a border with Bangladesh, has been rocked by violence between the Christian-majority Kuki and Hindu-majority Meitei tribal umbrellas, with the Jewish community of Bnei Menashe aligning with the former. According to Rooters, at least 180 people have been killed since the start of hostilities. Early in the conflict, Meitei hard boyz burned down two synagogues, killing a Bnei Menashe community member.
The inter-ethnic strife began when some 50,000 Kuki members protested the Indian government’s intention to grant Scheduled Tribe status to the Meitei, which would give them reserved quotas for government jobs and college admissions. The Kuki, who are a Scheduled Tribe, oppose granting the privilege to the Meitei, claiming that the latter tribe, which makes up some 53% of Manipur’s population, is already overrepresented in the state.
Bnei Menashe is a community in northeast India that claims descent from the ancient Israelite tribe of Manasseh, which, according to the biblical story, was among the first Hebrew tribes to be exiled. Over the past two decades, their immigration to Israel has been encouraged and subsidized by the Israeli government, in cooperation with two non-governmental groups, Shavei Israel and Degel Menashe.
Though their Judaism claim was endorsed in 2005 by then-Sephardic chief rabbi Shlomo Amar, Bnei Menashe community members have been required to undergo an Orthodox conversion ritual in order to be resettled in Israel.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
[GEO.TV] The National Institute of Health (NIH) issued an advisory regarding the prevention and control of JN.1 sub-variant of COVID-19.
As cases move toward resolution in Washington, D.C., federal courts, local men and women have been the subject of guilty pleas, trials, prison sentences and even some new arrests.
...formerly the Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Zaire, and who knows what else, not to be confused with the Brazzaville Congo aka 
