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House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik filed an ethics complaint against Judge Juan Merchan for an alleged conflict of interest pertaining to his daughter’s role at a firm known for representing Democratic politicians. Merchan, an acting Supreme Court justice in New York, is presiding over the unprecedented criminal trial against former President Trump stemming from charges brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Stefanik, R-N.Y., filed the complaint with the New York State Commission on Judiciary Conduct, warning that Trump, who pleaded not guilty to all 34 counts of falsifying business records, faces "a maximum of 136 years’ imprisonment" if...

The Georgia criminal defense attorney who alleged an “improper” relationship between Fani Willis and Nathan Wade called out the Fulton County District Attorney over a speech she made claiming “Jesus” told her to prosecute Trump. Ashleigh Merchant, who filed a bombshell motion alleging Willis’ relationship with Wade, whom she appointed special prosecutor on the case, appeared on Megyn Kelly’s show Tuesday where she told the host that she “still [hasn’t] gotten over the church remarks.” “When someone says that Jesus himself told them to prosecute this case, how do you defend against that?… That’s insane. I’ve never dealt with that…...

Court proceedings in the motion to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from the election interference case against Donald Trump in Georgia may be on hold while Judge Scott McAfee weighs his decision, but we continue to learn more about the affair between Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade. Ashleigh Merchant, the defense attorney for Trump co-defendant Michael Roman who filed the motion in January, appeared before the Georgia State Senate on Wednesday as part of an investigation into Willis and revealed how she found out about their romantic relationship. In a special bonus episode of The Megyn Kelly...

Who Will Be The Next MARAD Chief? John Konrad Total Views: 212 June 23, 2021 Share this article by Captain John Konrad (gCaptain) Last November, Forbes published a series of articles claiming that the most critical nomination Biden will make for the future of our ocean, climate, and society is that of the US Maritime Administrator. Seven months later, the White House has failed to make that appointment, but several candidates have emerged including a popular and young minority female with high ambition. Could she become the Lina Khan of the maritime industry? Or will she run into trouble for...

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A centennial commemoration event for World Ward One kicked off Sunday at Aloha Tower. Military members, veterans and civilians gathered for the event. The ceremony at the Aloha Tower Marketplace commemorated the sinking of the merchant ship, the S.S. Aztec, which was a factor in the decision of the U.S. Congress to declare war on Germany and their Allies. Six merchant mariners from Hawaii died in the attack by a German U-boat in the Atlantic.

One of the great benefits of attending the US Merchant Marine Academy is the experience of going out to sea on US-Flag merchant ships. This is called ‘Sea Year’. While the state schools primarily rely on school ships, USMMA Midshipmen are sent, generally two at a time, to commercial vessels trading around the world. That is until now — if the following information released by the USMMA Alumni Association is to be believed: Please see the following announcement from the Academy concerning Sea Year: While the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Maritime Administration (MARAD), and the United States Merchant Marine...

<p>Thomas Jefferson and his pals could never have envisioned this legal battle when they wrote the Bill of Rights: Does the First Amendment cover a street vendor's right to sell condoms in wrappers bearing the president's image?</p> <p>José Andujar, 43, was busted last Friday in Times Square for selling his "Obama" condoms -- his third arrest in a year for unlicensed peddling, cops said.</p>

Merchant ships need guns to fight pirates. Seven months ago, Somali pirates attacked the Maersk Alabama and held its captain hostage. Pirates attacked the Maersk Alabama again this week but were repulsed because the Maersk Shipping Line put armed guards on its ships. Pirates successfully attacked another unarmed ship on Monday, leaving 28 members of its crew dead. On Tuesday, 36 crew members of a Spanish ship were released only after pirates were paid a $3.3 million ransom. But when the pirates got within 300 yards of the Maersk Alabama, the ship tried evasive maneuvers and its security team successfully...

But there is a broader issue that warrants consideration at the highest levels--excessive U.S. reliance on foreign-flagged ships and foreign crews for routine international trade and even for defense work. Foreign-flagged cargo ships now carry better than 97 percent of U.S. commercial imports and exports. Many of these ships are registered in unaccountable flag of convenience countries like Liberia (which has been said to use ship registry revenues to help finance a brutal rebel faction in neighboring Sierra Leone) and Panama (awash in fraudulent seafarer certificates and licenses for sale

A discount tobacco store owner shot and critically wounded a would-be robber after he took money from the proprietor at gunpoint Friday night, Fort Wayne police said. The gunman, whose name was withheld, approached the owner at his business, the Smokehouse Tobacco Outlet, 2217 S. Lafayette St., at 7:41 p.m., demanding money, Fort Wayne police spokeswoman Robin Thompson said. The proprietor gave the man cash, then pulled a gun while the would-be robber was walking away from the counter. The proprietor fired several shots, hitting the intruder, Thompson said. The would-be robber, who is in his 20s, was taken to...

<p>WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Maritime authorities worldwide are increasingly anxious about terrorist attacks on ports and ships. Anxiety has been heightened by recent press reports about al-Qaida merchantmen, but intelligence is vague, with estimates of al-Qaida's "fleet" varying from 15 to as many as 300 ships of all shapes and size.</p>