Good morning, and welcome to The Epoch Times News Brief for Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. I’m Bill Thomas, we have some very intriguing stories to share with you today, and here are some of the big headlines.
A judge orders a prestigious university to provide Jewish students access to campus, former President Donald Trump has been dealt another setback in court, and nine states have sued the Biden administration to block a voter registration executive order. Also, a U.S. Army analyst pleads guilty to selling military secrets to a communist regime, and the World Health Organization has some startling news to share with us.
Court Orders UCLA to Stop Protesters From Blocking Jewish Students
A federal judge has ordered UCLA to stop protesters who prevent Jewish students from moving freely around campus during pro-Palestinian protests.The ruling came after three Jewish students sued UCLA for allowing protesters to block the center of the campus and establish barricades. They said they were targeted by activists who set up checkpoints near those barricades, only allowing those who condemned Israel to pass through.
Judge Mark C. Scarsi has issued a preliminary injunction, prohibiting the university from providing programs and access to buildings if Jewish students were blocked. He describes the situation as unimaginable and a violation of religious freedom.
UCLA acknowledged the exclusion, but said it is not responsible because the exclusion was done by third-party protesters.
Becket Law, which is the firm representing the students, welcomes the court order, saying that it marks the first time a court has ruled against a university for “allowing an antisemitic encampment.” Becket Law’s President Mark Rienzi calls on the university to protect the rights of its Jewish students.
A UCLA law student, who is also one of the plaintiffs in the case, says that he’s “grateful that the court has ordered UCLA to put a stop to this shameful anti-Jewish conduct.” He also says, “No student should ever have to fear being blocked from their campus because they are Jewish.”
UCLA is one of the many campuses in the United States where demonstrators set up encampments to protest the war in Gaza. Jewish students and faculty members at those schools have said that the protests often devolved into hateful, anti-Semitic rhetoric and even violence, making them feel unwelcome and unsafe.
Trump’s 3rd Motion for Judge Recusal in New York Case Denied
Trump’s third attempt to have Justice Juan Merchan recuse himself from overseeing the criminal case in the New York Supreme Court was denied earlier this week. In his recent motion, Trump again raised concerns about a conflict of interest involving the judge’s daughter benefiting financially from court decisions.In a letter to the judge, Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, said that since Vice President Kamala Harris is now running against Trump in the upcoming presidential election, they’ve become more concerned about the judge’s daughter, who had worked closely with Harris during her 2020 presidential campaign and had shown support for Harris on social media.
Merchan dismissed Trump’s motion as “nothing more than a repetition of stale and unsubstantiated claims,” and repeated his earlier view that there was no need for recusal.
The judge said in the latest ruling that the court had sought guidance from the Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics, which concluded that there was no ethical breach. Merchan emphasized his commitment to judicial integrity, and stated that he would base his rulings on evidence and law without bias.
Just to refresh your memory, this particular court case resulted in a unanimous jury verdict on May 30 that found Trump guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records.
Trump’s lawyers have also filed a motion to throw out his conviction following a Supreme Court ruling giving former presidents immunity from prosecution for official acts.
Merchan has said that he’ll make a decision on this issue by Sept. 16, just two days before the scheduled sentencing hearing date.
9 States Sue Biden Admin to Block Voter Registration Executive Order
Mississippi and eight other states have sued the Biden administration to stop an executive order that requires federal agencies to create plans to increase voter registration. These nine states say that the order is biased and promotes left-wing candidates and policies. They claim that the order oversteps federal authority and violates the rights of states to manage voter registration.The lawsuit claims that the executive order, known as EO 14019, turns federal agencies into voter registration entities, bypasses transparency, and is driven by partisan motives.
The legal action seeks to block the implementation of the executive order, saying that it failed to follow necessary procedures under the Administrative Procedure Act.
President Joe Biden signed the executive order in March 2021, directing federal agencies to explore ways to expand voter registration and participation. Various government agencies are launching campaigns to sign up new voters.
Some scholars argue that the order favors Democrats over Republicans by targeting welfare agencies serving left-leaning voters. A report by a number of groups spells out how well 10 federal agencies are doing in implementing the executive order and suggests ways to further improve voter registration efforts, including registering convicts and low-income individuals.
Critics also raise concerns about federal agencies partnering with private groups for voter registration efforts on federal agency premises.
For example, Stewart Whitson, legal director of the Foundation for Government Accountability, has raised concerns over compliance with state laws and transparency regarding these types of partnerships.
US Army Analyst Pleads Guilty to Selling Military Secrets to China
According to the Department of Justice, a U.S. Army intelligence analyst, Sgt. Korbein Schultz, pleaded guilty this week to charges of selling military secrets to China for $42,000.Schultz was based at Fort Campbell on the Kentucky-Tennessee border and had top-secret clearance. He was recruited by an individual who lived in Hong Kong, only known as “Conspirator A,” who allegedly has ties to the Chinese regime.
The indictment says that the conspiracy started in 2022 and lasted until the time of his arrest in March this year. The two communicated through encrypted methods, with Schultz providing sensitive military documents on helicopters, fighter aircraft, missiles, and defense systems. Conspirator A also requested information on hypersonic equipment.
Schultz supplied a document discussing lessons learned by the U.S. Army from the Ukraine war that it would apply in the defense of Taiwan, a self-ruled island that China seeks to control.
Schultz also passed on several documents relating to military exercises and the U.S. military forces in South Korea and the Philippines, a document related to U.S. military satellites, as well as a document about China’s military tactics and another about China’s Liberation Army Rocket Force.
Schultz recruited another soldier, “U.S. Person 1,” to provide information to Conspirator A regarding the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, such as documents on the command’s studies of the Ukraine war and Taiwan.
In August last year, Schultz and Conspirator A discussed a case involving two U.S. Navy sailors, who were arrested for allegedly passing sensitive military information to China. At that time, Conspirator A told Schultz that they needed to be more careful with security.
Schultz is set to be sentenced on Jan. 23 next year. His lawyer, Mary Kathryn Harcombe, declined to comment on the case.
World Health Organization Declares Mpox Outbreak in Africa a Global Health Emergency
The World Health Organization (WHO) just declared the outbreak of mpox in Africa a public health emergency of international concern due to an increase in cases and deaths in recent months. More than 14,000 cases and 524 deaths have been reported this year, and officials say a new strain is emerging.Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a virus that occurs in animals and humans. Mpox can spread between people and causes an illness that typically manifests with a rash and resolves in a few weeks—but some cases can lead to death.
Mpox predominantly affects men who have sex with other men.
The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also declared a public emergency over the mpox outbreak and is working to secure more vaccines.
A new variant, clade 1b, was found in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and clade 1b cases have been identified in other African countries, including Kenya and Uganda.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, all clade 1 cases have been identified in Africa, meaning the risk in the United States is low. European authorities have also assessed their risk as low. But officials are warning doctors to be on the lookout for cases among people who have recently been to Congo or neighboring countries.
The WHO is on the ground in Africa working with affected countries, providing support and resources. The organization estimates the work will cost $15 million and is seeking donations to cover a portion of the expenses.
It’s a story with global implications and one that we’ll be keeping a very close watch on.
And now, looks like our time is just about up for today, so we’re going to call it a wrap for the Thursday edition of The Epoch Times News Brief.
Thanks for sharing some time with us today, and please invite your friends, family, and co-workers to join our always-expanding News Brief family. As you know, we are very inclusive and everyone is welcome to stop by, take a break, and check out the program.
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And finally, as we do each and every day on this program, we wrap everything up with a very notable quote, and this one comes to us from Neil deGrasse Tyson, who says: “For me, I am driven by two main philosophies: know more today about the world than I knew yesterday and lessen the suffering of others. You'd be surprised how far that gets you.”
Neil deGrasse Tyson is an American astrophysicist, author, science communicator, and so much more.
Before we go, today is National Lemon Meringue Pie Day, and it’s also National Relaxation Day—a day where we’re all encouraged to slow down and unwind. It’s a day to focus on taking care of ourselves and to simply relax.
For all of us here at The Epoch Times News Brief, I’m Bill Thomas.
Thank you for making us your one-stop source for a concise, accurate, and unbiased daily synopsis of many of the news stories you need to know about.
Enjoy the remainder of your Thursday, and we’ll see you right back here next time for another edition of The Epoch Times News Brief. Let’s all continue to watch out for one another, and have a superb day today! Bye for now.
