Catholic bishops call mandatory reporting law 'brazen act of religious discrimination'
Implementation of Washington's controversial law looms large this month, as it is slated to take effect on July 27.
Current law — which does not include clergy among the categories of people who are required to report child abuse — notes that people at a nonprofit or for-profit organization must report child abuse or neglect by an individual they supervise if that individual regularly has unsupervised access to kids in their role at the organization. But there is a carveout stipulating that reporting is not required when the information is fully obtained via privileged communication.
Catholic Bishops Vow To Resist Blue State Law Intruding On 'Sacred' Trust: 'Obey God Rather Than Men'
The new law includes that same language, but the carveout is preceded by the words, "Except for members of the clergy," indicating that the carveout does not apply to them.
The initial complaint in May from plaintiffs including Roman Catholic Archbishop of Seattle Paul D. Etienne and multiple other Catholic clergy members, asserted that "Washington is targeting the Roman Catholic Church in a brazen act of religious discrimination."
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A motion for preliminary injunction filed in June declared, "Plaintiffs respectfully request that this Court issue a preliminary injunction blocking the investigation and enforcement of RCW § 26.44.030, as amended by Senate Bill 3575, to the extent it applies to information learned by Catholic clergy through the Sacrament of Confession."
Catholic Church To Excommunicate Priests For Following Wa Law Requiring Child Abuse Confessions To Be Reported
The U.S. Justice Department has also taken aim at the state's new law regarding the issue of confessions.
"Senate Bill 5375 unconstitutionally forces Catholic priests in Washington to choose between their obligations to the Catholic Church and their penitents or face criminal consequences, while treating the priest-penitent privilege differently than other well-settled privileges. The Justice Department will not sit idly by when States mount attacks on the free exercise of religion," Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division said, according to a June press release.
Pope Demands Ceasefire After Gaza's Catholic Church Is Hit In Apparent Israeli Strike
The U.S. government filed a motion for a preliminary injunction last month.Original article source: Catholic bishops call mandatory reporting law 'brazen act of religious discrimination'
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DOJ shuts down dark web child abuse sites that had 120,000 members
When FBI agents arrived outside William Spearman's home in the quiet suburb of Madison, Alabama, in November 2022, they were prepared for danger. Their search warrant was so important to the bureau that it was approved by the FBI director himself. When the agents breached Spearman's door with tactical explosives, Spearman fought back, tussling with the agents as three of his handguns remained barely out of reach. The FBI managed to handcuff and arrest Spearman, a high-value arrest, in what a top Justice Department official called "one of the most successful" prosecutions of its kind. Spearman went by the nickname "Boss" and was labeled by the Justice Department as "one of the most significant" purveyors of child sex abuse material in the world. His arrest in 2022, his guilty plea a year later and his eventual life sentence were part of an unprecedented takedown of a prodigious child abuse network. Spearman is one of at least 18 people convicted so far of leading and utilizing the dark web to share hundreds of thousands of unlawful sexually exploitative images of children. The Justice Department calls the investigation and prosecutions Operation Grayskull; it helped secure those arrests and shutter four heavily trafficked dark web sites where violent and horrific images of child sexual abuse were traded and housed. The Operation Grayskull investigation launched in 2020, when law enforcement agents noticed a spike in traffic to a dark web site suspected of hosting child abuse material. The dark web child abuse sites eventually attracted more than 120,000 members, millions of files and at least 100,000 visits in a single day, according to an FBI official who spoke with CBS News. "Even for prosecutors, it is difficult to understand how pervasive this is," said Matthew Galeotti, head of the Justice Department Criminal Division. "Because it happens on the dark web, people aren't aware of it. It's extremely troubling," he told CBS News. Spearman's case has parallels to many of the others unearthed by Operation Grayskull. Spearman was accused of helping lead a dark web site with thousands of users and members. A sentencing memo submitted to the court said it was "no wonder" that he had tried to resist the FBI, rather than surrendering. "The devices at his desk contained massive quantities of evidence proving that he was the lead administrator of Website A," the memo said. "Unsurprisingly, the defendant's devices also contained an enormous collection of images and videos depicting the rape and abuse of children." Selwyn Rosenstein was sentenced to 28 years in prison in 2022, for operating a dark website for unlawful exploitative images. Prosecutors said the platform "was not simply a website; it was a large, active community of pedophiles and (abuse material) enthusiasts. And it existed in part because of the Defendant's criminal acts." Rosenstein possessed such a large quantity of abusive images, he needed to store some on a server he used to run his business, according to the Justice Department. Speaking from a second floor conference room at Justice Department headquarters in Washington last week, Galeotti told CBS News the members of these dark web child abuse sites often "earn" membership by paying a fee, "helping moderate the site" or contributing child abuse images or material. Galeotti said, "We luckily have very sophisticated prosecutors and agents who work specifically on this kind of thing. These are people who have a more of a technical understanding." "The defendants in this case, as sadistic as they may be, are somewhat sophisticated," and make use of encryption, he added. Operation Grayskull also secured the conviction of Matthew Garrell of Raleigh, North Carolina, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for operating on a dark web site for abuse material. "Garrell engaged in an extremely complex and technologically sophisticated conspiracy that far exceeds the typical child-exploitation offenses," prosecutors said. They argued in a court filing that Garrell possessed a predator's "handbook," with "detailed instructions" for grooming children for future abuse. The takedown of dark web leaders and users also included the convictions of men from Virginia, Maryland, Indiana, Texas, Washington, Arkansas, Michigan and Oklahoma. "They were part of an online community of hundreds of thousands of people, with leadership roles rules and a common dedicated purpose" said Chris Delzotto, an acting FBI deputy assistant director. Delzotto told CBS News, "Few people would have envisioned how (child abuse materials) would permeate the internet, the way it has today." The federal investigation which uncovered and shuttered the first dark web site, also led to the closure of three others. Abbigail Beccaccio, an FBI unit chief, told CBS News. "The leadership team that operated one of the sites also operated several of the others." The Justice Department is touting the shutdown of those sites as a victory to help deter future abuse or production of unlawful images. "This is one of the most successful of all time," Galeotti said. "We dismantled four websites that have not regenerated." "The Wizard of Oz" as you've never seen it before Tadej Pogačar wins his fourth Tour de France Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame
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Newsmax star defends Alex Acosta's sweetheart plea deal for Epstein — but ignores the network's conflict of interest
Newsmax may have its own Jeffrey Epstein problem. Over the course of the past week, its MAGA-boosting host Greg Kelly has repeatedly gone to bat for Alex Acosta, the former federal prosecutor who negotiated the secret so-called 'sweetheart' plea deal with Epstein in 2008 the Justice Department later said was made in 'poor judgment.' Throughout multiple primetime segments, Kelly has described Acosta – who resigned as President Donald Trump's Labor Secretary in 2019 amid renewed scrutiny of the Epstein plea agreement – as a 'nice guy' and 'great individual' who was only targeted by liberals to 'embarrass' Trump by 'rebooting' the Epstein story. Kelly on Monday night suggested Epstein's accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell didn't deserve her lengthy prison sentence while claiming Acosta was the victim of 'fake news' because 'it wasn't a sweetheart deal' he handed Epstein. Left unsaid in Kelly's efforts to rehabilitate Acosta's reputation, amid the current uproar over the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein case, is that the former secretary now sits on the board of directors for Newsmax. In a press release last month that was flagged by Media Matters, the MAGA network announced Ambassador Paula J. Dobriansky had been appointed to the company's board, and joined Acosta, who had joined as a board member following the closing of the network's initial public offering in March. 'We are delighted to officially welcome Secretary Acosta and announce the addition of Ambassador Dobriansky to our Board of Directors,' Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy said at the time. 'Their exceptional backgrounds in public service, regulatory policy and international affairs will provide valuable perspectives as we continue to execute our growth strategy and deliver trusted news to the American people and countries around the world.' Besides noting Acosta's time as Secretary of Labor during the first Trump administration, the network's press release also highlighted his time as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, which is where he struck the controversial plea deal with Epstein. Under the 2008 non-prosecution agreement – also known as an NPA – Epstein pleaded guilty to state charges in Florida of soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution. That allowed him to avert a possible life sentence, instead serving 13 months in a work-release program. He was required to make payments to victims and register as a sex offender. A Newsmax spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on Kelly's lack of disclosure about Acosta's role with the company. Following the DOJ's two-page July 6 memo concluding that Epstein died by suicide and didn't keep a 'client list' to blackmail prominent figures, the administration has faced a MAGA uproar and continuing calls for the full release of the so-called Epstein files. This has also resulted in a divide within right-wing media on how to best cover the ongoing fallout. After the president began ordering his 'boys' and 'gals' to stop focusing on the late sex predator because the Epstein case was a 'hoax,' Fox News pulled back on its coverage. Newsmax then poked fun at what it called the 'terrified' network for not wanting to 'p*ss off' Trump while claiming the Murdoch-owned channel has 'been essentially mandated not to talk about' Epstein. As the network's hosts have mocked Fox for appearing to ignore the Epstein affair, especially now the president is suing Rupert Murdoch over the Wall Street Journal's bombshell report claiming Trump wrote a 'bawdy' birthday card for Epstein, Kelly has crafted his own counter-narrative to downplay the dead sex offender's crimes. And this has resulted in the pro-Trump anchor running a defense for the network's board member. Trump has strongly denied he ever wrote or drew anything for the Epstein card. After spending the first few days of the current Epstein saga pondering whether 'Epstein is a patriot' and if this was the reason Acosta negotiated a non-prosecution agreement that saw the financier serve just 13 months in jail while shutting down an FBI probe into more potential sex crimes, Kelly began suggesting Acosta was unfairly maligned. Kelly has claimed Julie K. Brown, the Miami Herald reporter whose deep-dive investigation into Epstein in 2018 and the 'deal of a lifetime' he received from Acosta brought renewed interest in the case, 'rebooted' the story in an effort to take down Trump. 'The Epstein story was rebooted because they wanted to embarrass the Labor Secretary,' he stated last Monday. 'You remember it was anything, anything you could get on Trump.' After saying that Epstein was 'not the only one who got a sweetheart deal,' Kelly would later move the goalposts and declare that the light sentence the convicted sex offender received actually wasn't abnormal at all. 'Alex Acosta was gone; he had to resign because that was the game the Deep State was playing,' Kelly bemoaned on Wednesday before adding: 'President Trump won't let that happen again and it's kind of awesome to see!' During a lengthy segment on Monday evening, Kelly spun an intricate tale that not only saw Acosta as a full-fledged victim but also suggested both Maxwell and Epstein were essentially railroaded. 'Well, that's horrible and wrong and disgusting, but also happened a very long time ago. 2002 to 2005. This is in 2019 when he was arrested,' Kelly said, describing the DOJ's 2019 charges against Epstein. 'And if anybody actually looks at the indictment, it's suspiciously a long time ago.' Saying it's 'not the case' that Epstein was 'running a sex operation', Kelly then said about Maxwell's 20-year prison sentence: 'Maybe she deserves it. Maybe she doesn't.' He then turned back towards Acosta's role in the plea bargain and argued that he acted appropriately. 'There had to be a Trump angle. Acosta was appointed Labor Secretary by President Trump. He was in a courtroom in 2008 with Epstein,' he proclaimed. 'I already went through it. It wasn't a sweetheart deal, not compared to similar sex crimes.' Kelly also insisted that Acosta didn't resign 'in disgrace,' asserting that Trump knew his departing secretary 'was getting screwed' and that he liked that the president 'showed up' for Acosta. At the time of his resignation, Acosta defended his work as the federal prosecutor in Florida's southern district, saying in his 'heart we were trying to do the right thing for these victims' and that 'we believe that we proceeded appropriately.' In a televised appearance alongside Acosta, Trump stated that the secretary had called him and offered to resign, claiming the controversy had become a distraction for the administration. 'He made a deal [with Epstein] that people are happy with, and then 12 years later, they are not happy with it. You'll have to figure all of that out,' Trump declared, calling him a 'fantastic secretary of labor.' One network staffer told The Independent that it wasn't shocking to see the lengths that Kelly would go to rehabilitate the image of the former Trump administration official and current Newsmax board member. 'After all, this is now the Trump network,' the staffer snarked, referencing the recent announcement that Newsmax had partnered with Trump Media & Technology Group to launch a TV streaming platform. 'Some people are very upset about partnering with Trump,' another Newsmax insider noted. 'Even the most conservative people at Newsmax think it's a terrible look and they feel like state-run media.'
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Donald Trump says Beyoncé should be 'prosecuted' for alleged Harris endorsement payment
Donald Trump still has a political bone to pick with Queen Bey. The president, who has previously voiced criticism of celebrities who showed support for his election counterpart, Kamala Harris, took to social media on Saturday, July 26, to renew his unfounded claim that pop star Beyoncé was allegedly paid $11 million to endorse Harris' presidential bid. In the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election, the "Cowboy Carter" songstress made her endorsement of Harris official when she appeared at the former vice president's abortion rights rally in her hometown of Houston in October. She also cleared the usage of her 2016 song "Freedom" for Harris, and the tune became the Democratic nominee's official campaign song. "I'm looking at the large amount of money owed by the Democrats after the presidential election and the fact that they admit to paying, probably illegally, $11 million dollars to singer Beyoncé for an ENDORSEMENT (she never sang, not one note...)," wrote Trump in a fiery Truth Social post, also citing alleged endorsement payments to media mogul Oprah Winfrey and civil rights activist Al Sharpton. USA TODAY has reached out to a representative for Beyoncé for comment. "Can you imagine what would happen if politicians started paying for people to endorse them. All hell would break out!" Trump concluded. "Kamala and all of those that received endorsement money BROKE THE LAW. They should all be prosecuted! Thank you for your attention to this matter." Trump's digital tirade comes just two months after he accused the Grammy-winning singer and other celebrities of being paid to publicly support Harris' candidacy. In a May Truth Social post, the GOP president announced plans for a "major investigation" into the Harris campaign's celebrity endorsements. Catch up: Trump calls Beyoncé's endorsement of Kamala Harris 'illegal' Did Beyoncé receive payment for Kamala Harris endorsement? At the time of Trump's original allegations in May, the Federal Election Commission had no record of an $11 million payment to Beyoncé from Harris' presidential campaign. Additionally, the agency does not have rules explicitly prohibiting candidates from paying for endorsements. It is unclear where Trump got the unsubstantiated $11 million figure. The Harris campaign last year rejected a rumor that it paid Beyoncé $10 million for her endorsement that spread on social media shortly after the music star's October 2024 appearance with Harris. Beyoncé's mother, Tina Knowles, also pushed back at the $10 million rumor in a November 2024 Instagram post, calling it "false information" and a "lie." She added that the singer "actually paid for her own flights for her and her team." Oprah Winfrey says she was not paid a 'personal fee' for Kamala Harris rally What has Beyoncé said about Kamala Harris campaign? During her October 2024 appearance at Harris' rally, Beyoncé, who was joined by fellow singer and Destiny's Child alum Kelly Rowland, said "It's time for America to sing a new song" when describing Harris' presidential bid. "I'm not here as a celebrity. I'm not here as a politician. I'm here as a mother," the pop star added. "Your freedom is your God-given right, your human right." Harris has long been a fan of Beyoncé. The California-born politician attended the singer's Renaissance World Tour in 2023 just outside of Washington, D.C., after she gifted Harris tickets. Contributing: Caché McClay, Joey Garrison and Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA TODAY
