This Day in History | 1960

The FDA approves the world’s first commercially produced birth-control bill–Enovid-10, made by the G.D. Searle Company of Chicago, Illinois.

Good morning Middle Americans, 

One thing that’s amazing about this Michael Flynn case is it’s ability to make the country go back in time politically. Our top story today is about President Obama, who is apparently incensed that the DOJ has decided to drop the charges against Gen. Michael Flynn.  Republicans are gearing up for deeper investigations of the Obama administration. While it’s important to make sure the FBI isn’t continuing to abuse its power, it’s also important that Congress get its arms around the pandemic response which isn’t going well. 

The pandemic response isn’t even going well inside the Oval Office. Eleven secret service agents have tested positive for the coronavirus, VP Mike Pence’s spokesperson has also tested positive for the disease. 

Finally today there are raw new questions about district attorney in Georgia who sat on murder charges against the father and son, accused now of shooting 25 year old Ahmaud Arbery. 

Read all about it. 

-Fraser Dixon

Obama: ‘Rule of Law Is at Risk’ in Michael Flynn Case

(Yahoo News) – Former President Barack Obama, talking privately to ex-members of his administration, said Friday that the “rule of law is at risk” in the wake of what he called an unprecedented move by the Justice Department to drop charges against former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn.

In the same chat, a tape of which was obtained by Yahoo News, Obama also lashed out at the Trump administration’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic as “an absolute chaotic disaster.”

“The news over the last 24 hours I think has been somewhat downplayed — about the Justice Department dropping charges against Michael Flynn,” Obama said in a web talk with members of the Obama Alumni Association.

Read more here

Eleven Secret Service Agents Test Positive for COVID-19

(The Hill) – Newly unveiled documents suggest nearly a dozen U.S. Secret Service members have tested positive for COVID-19, Yahoo News reports.

According to documents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that were obtained by Yahoo News, there were 11 active cases at the agency as of Thursday. On top of those currently infected, another 23 Secret Service members have reportedly recovered from coronavirus. Another 60 employees are allegedly self-quarantining. 

It’s not clear if any have recently been working at the White House or have had any contact with President Trump or Vice President Pence.

Read more here

GA Jogger Murdered: DA Blocked Arrests After Fatal Shooting

(Atlanta Journal Constitution) – Two Glynn County commissioners say District Attorney Jackie Johnson’s office refused to allow the Glynn County Police Department to make arrests immediately after the Feb. 23 shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery.

The GBI announced the arrests of Travis McMichael, 34, and his father Greg McMichael, 64, on Thursday – more than two months after the fatal shooting. They were denied bond Friday afternoon.

“The police at the scene went to her, saying they were ready to arrest both of them. These were the police at the scene who had done the investigation,” Commissioner Allen Booker, who has spoken with Glynn County police, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “She shut them down to protect her friend McMichael.”