January 1, Legal threats to Donald Trump ‘more serious than ever before’

Good morning Middle Americans,

Prosecutors in several states have investigations underway that could yield serious charges against former President Trump and his company. A district attorney in Georgia is leading a probe into Trump’s infamous January 2 phone call to Georgia’s secretary of state imploring him to “find 11,780 votes” in order to block Joe Biden’s election victory. Prosecutors in New York are investigating whether any of Trump’s businesses illegally benefited during his 2017 inauguration. Washington DC’s attorney general has taken legal action toward the inaugural committee, the Trump International Hotel in DC, and the Trump Organization for allegedly scheming to make “exorbitant and unlawful” payments to Trump’s hotel. Additionally, Trump could be roped into an ongoing federal criminal investigation of his former lawyer Rudy Giuliani. Meanwhile, the former president’s legal affairs don’t stop there, as he is also currently facing several civil lawsuits.

President Joe Biden referred to the nationwide GOP push for voting restrictions as “un-American” and “un-democratic” during a speech at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. Several states have enacted new voting restrictions in the wake of last year’s election kerfuffle. “No other election has ever been held under such scrutiny, such high standards,” the president said. Biden’s speech is said to be the start of a public pressure campaign, according to White House aides. “He will redouble his commitment to using every tool at his disposal to continue to fight to protect the fundamental right of Americans to vote against the onslaught of voter suppression laws,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said.

House Democrats adopted an amendment that would make visas available to those who had previously been denied entry to the US due to travel bans implemented during the Trump administration. New Yor Reps. Grace Meng and Adriano Espaillat introduced the amendment. “It is time for the U.S. to uphold the promise we made and mitigate the harm the Muslim ban has caused, therefore I urge the adoption of this amendment,” Meng said. The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program makes up to 50,000 visas available annually. “For many, a diversity visa represented hope for these individuals to escape war and impoverishment,” Mang said.

Setting a minimum age of 21 years old for purchasing handguns from licensed dealers violates the Second Amendment, a federal appeals court ruled on Tuesday. “Looking through this historical lens to the text and structure of the Constitution reveals that 18- to 20-year-olds have Second Amendment rights,” wrote Judge Julius N. Richardson, who penned the majority opinion. “Virtually every other constitutional right applies whatever the age. And the Second Amendment is no different.” The court’s decision was “surprising, in part, because this law has been upheld previously by courts,” said Adam Winkler, a University of California-Los Angeles law professor. Legal experts expect the Department of Justice to appeal the case.

Covid-19 cases surged nearly 50% in the US amid the spread of the Delta variant. As of Tuesday, the average number of new cases stands at 19,455 per day — a 47.5% increase from last week. A total of 43 states have seen an increase in the number of infections. “The emergence of the delta variant is going to mean for those areas with low rates of vaccination that they’re very much at risk to see significant increases in transmission, with potentially even exponential growth,” said Dr. David Rubic, director of PolicyLab at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

A salon owner in New Haven, Connecticut sold his business to an employee for $1. “She’s a good hairdresser, a good barber, she’s very nice,” Pio Imperati said. “I sold it to her for $1 so we would remain friends.” Imperati hired hairstylist Kathy Moura immediately after she finished schooling at a technical high school 15 years ago. Moura will pay rent to Imperati, but she avoids a heavy price tag for purchasing a salon for the equipment, supplies, and built-in clientele. “Eventually, it was a dream of mine come true to be able to turn the salon over to someone worthy.”

Be well,

Fraser Dixon

Sources

• Legal threats to Donald Trump ‘more serious than ever before’, experts say
• GOP state voting restrictions ‘un-American,’ Biden declares
• House Dems move to make visas available to immigrants denied by Trump travel bans
• Handgun sale ban to under 21-year-olds is unconstitutional, appeals court says
• COVID-19 cases are surging in almost every US state
• A Salon Owner Sold His Business To His Employee For $1