Washington
U.S. Senate approves resolution probing Putin for war crimes
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Senate unanimously approved a resolution late Tuesday seeking investigations of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his regime for war crimes over the invasion of Ukraine.
The bipartisan measure from Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., says the Senate strongly condemns the “violence, war crimes. crimes against humanity” being carried out Russian military forces under Putin’s direction. It encourages international criminal courts to investigate Putin, his security council and military leaders for possible war crimes.
“These atrocities deserve to be investigated for war crimes,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
The measure was approved swiftly and without dissent as lawmakers in Congress continue to muscle a bipartisan show of force against the Russian war in Ukraine. First introduced almost two weeks ago, the Senate resolution would not carry the force of law, but is another example of Congress providing the Biden administration political support to take a tough line against Putin’s aggression.
Last week, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris embraced calls for an international war crimes investigation of Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, citing the “atrocities” of bombing civilians, including a maternity hospital.
Speaking alongside Polish President Andrzej Duda at a press conference in Warsaw, Harris stopped short of directly accusing Russia of having committed war crimes.
“Absolutely there should be an investigation, and we should all be watching,” said Harris, noting that the United Nations has already started a process to review allegations.
The International Criminal Court had earlier announced it has launched an investigation that could target senior officials believed responsible for war crimes and other violations over the war in Ukraine.
The resolution approved by the Senate has been embraced by senators from both parties, Republicans and Democrats.
It says the Senate condemns Putin, the Russian Federation, the Russian Security Council, members of the Russian military and others of committing flagrant acts of aggression and other atrocities that rise to the level of war crimes.
The resolution calls for the U.S. and others to seek investigations of Putin and his regime at the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice for potential war crimes.
Virginia
Appeals court sends election lawsuit to lower court
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A federal appeals court on Tuesday sent a lawsuit seeking to force Virginia to hold House elections this year back to a lower court, instructing it to decide whether the Democratic activist who brought the suit has legal standing to sue.
Paul Goldman, a former state Democratic party chair, argues that House members elected in 2021 must run again in 2022 under newly redrawn maps that properly align legislative districts with population shifts. But the state Attorney General’s Office argued last week before the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that the 2021 election was “perfectly constitutional.”
On Tuesday, a three-judge panel of the 4th Circuit said the lower court — U.S. District Court — should decide the question of standing.
The November 2021 House elections were supposed to be the first held under constitutionally required redistricting under the 2020 census. But because the census results were delayed, the state held elections under the existing legislative boundaries because new lines had not yet been drawn.
Goldman’s lawsuit argues that new elections must be held under new maps that were approved by the Supreme Court of Virginia in December.
Former Attorney General Mark Herring attempted to have the lawsuit thrown out on sovereign immunity grounds. U.S. District Judge David Novak dismissed claims against former Gov. Ralph Northam and several other defendants, but did not dismiss claims against state elections officials.
The 4th Circuit panel said it will retain jurisdiction on the appeal filed by the attorney general’s office on the issue of sovereign immunity.
Democrats held a 55-45 majority in the House of Delegates until Republicans took control of the chamber in the 2021 elections. Republicans now hold a 52-48 majority.
If Goldman loses, elections won’t be held until 2023.
Maine
Chief justice delivers bleak assessment of trial backlog
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The number of pending court cases in Maine has increased about 45% compared to pre-pandemic levels, and there’s little hope of eliminating the backlog anytime soon, Maine’s chief justice told lawmakers on Tuesday.
Entering the third year of the pandemic, Maine’s court system is better adapted to hold trials and ensure prompt bail hearings for people facing criminal charges, Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Valerie Stanfill said in her State of the Judiciary address.
But the “uncomfortable reality” is that the state’s legal system lacks the ability to hear more cases with its existing resources, making it difficult to get caught up on pending cases, she said.
“We have yet to be able to cut the backlog in any meaningful way. But we are holding steady,” she said.
She said that the judicial branch is facing the same hiring and recruitment challenges as the private workforce. She noted that there are more vacancies but the judicial branch isn’t giving up.
“For two years now we have been struggling to carry out our mission and to serve the citizens of Maine, but our commitment to do so is unwavering,” Stanfill said.
Wisconsin
Man gets probation in Jan. 6 Capitol riot
MILWAUKEE (AP) — A Wisconsin man will spend three years on probation for participating in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich in Washington, D.C., sentenced Kevin Daniel Loftus of Eau Claire to three years’ on probation on Tuesday, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.
Loftus, who served six years in the U.S. Army, was arrested Jan. 11, five days after the riot. He pleaded guilty in October to a misdemeanor charge of parading, picketing or demonstrating in the Capitol building.
Prosecutors argued that Loftus deserved 30 days in jail but his attorney argued other Jan. 6 defendants who were in the building only briefly didn’t get jail time. The judge noted that Loftus didn’t assault anyone, didn’t plan to break into the building, didn’t have any weapons beyond a U.S. flag on a 6-foot pole and cooperated with the FBI after he was identified.
Loftus wrote in a letter to Friedrich that he was remorseful and the professionalism and respect for rights that authorities have shown him have changed how he views government “180 degrees.” He added he plans to stay out of politics and protests going forward.
