DOJ backs off from plan to spread its tax division across US
WASHINGTON, April 21 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Justice has backed away from a plan to break up its Washington-based tax division and send prosecutors to offices throughout the country, according to an internal email seen by Reuters.
A new plan would house tax attorneys within the DOJ's civil and criminal divisions, otherwise keeping intact the unit which specializes in enforcing the tax code. The initial plan to send tax attorneys to U.S. attorneys' offices was part of a broader proposed shakeup at the DOJ first reported by Reuters in March.
That plan drew criticism from dozens of former tax officials, including Rod Rosenstein, the second in command at the DOJ during the first Trump administration.
"If the goal is to increase efficiency and our return on investment, eliminating the Tax Division would be an epic failure," the officials wrote, saying that decentralizing the division would risk inconsistent application of tax law.
As part of President Donald Trump's bid to drastically shrink the U.S. government, the DOJ has been eyeing plans to streamline various functions. A proposal to merge the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives met with criticism from advocacy groups.
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Daily Record
28 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Scots social care worker sanctioned for 'crazy' remark while filming service user in distress
The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) found that Humphrey Ebowemen failed to stop recording the service user when asked on multiple occasions and said "you're crazy" and "are you mad" or words to that effect. A cruel Scots social care worker has been sanctioned after calling a vulnerable service user "crazy" and filming them while they were in a state of distress. The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) found that Humphrey Ebowemen's fitness to practice was "impaired" by his misconduct and fell below the standards expected of the role. The SSSC concluded that his actions were a "failure" to show respect and maintain the "dignity and privacy of the person in his care, placing him at risk of "unnecessary emotional harm". A warning was placed on his registration for a period of two years. Ebowemen, who no longer works within the social care sector, had previously worked in East Kilbride, Cambuslang and Glasgow. The Council heard that on or around April 8, last year while employed as a support practitioner by Glasgow-based The Richmond Fellowship Scotland Limited, Ebowemen, recorded a distressed service user, referred to as AA, with Cerebral Palsy and ADHD on his mobile phone. The report stated that Ebowemen failed to stop recording the service user when asked on multiple occasions and said "you're crazy" and "are you mad" or words to that effect. He then pointed at AA and said: "Look, look, any damage you make to my car you will pay for it. Trust me", or words to that effect. The council found that Ebowemen's actions caused further distress to AA and therefore his fitness to practise was "impaired" by his misconduct. In the report, the SSSC stated that: "Social service workers are entrusted to care for some of the most vulnerable members of society. "You recorded AA when he was in an already heightened and distressed state. You failed to stop recording AA when he asked you multiple times. Your actions were a failure to respect AA and his wishes, and to maintain his dignity and privacy. "You did not communicate in an appropriate and open way by saying to AA 'are you crazy' and 'are you mad' and pointing at him. Saying 'Look, look, any damage you make to my car you will pay for it. Trust me', suggested that AA would be held accountable for any damage to your car. "You used provocative language, which was inappropriate and unnecessary, all whilst recording AA. Your behaviour caused AA further distress and you placed him at risk of unnecessary emotional harm. Your behaviour fell below the standards expected of the role. "The behaviour was serious and took place inside your work and involved a supported person. You have admitted the behaviour and that it caused AA to feel vulnerable. You have offered no apology or regret for your actions. You placed AA at unnecessary risk of harm when he was displaying distressed behaviour, because you recorded him and did not stop when asked. "You have not demonstrated that you recognise the seriousness of your behaviour and what you should have done differently. You have failed to meet the relevant standards of practice and work in a lawful, safe and effective way. If your behaviour were to be repeated then people using services could be placed at risk of emotional harm." The SSSC added that Ebowemen had not provided any assurances that the behaviour would not be repeated in future. They said his behaviour demonstrated that he was unable to recognise heightened and distressed behaviour and how to respond to it appropriately. The report went on: "You should have encouraged AA to go to his sensory room and given him time and space to calm. Instead, you recorded him so that you could show your insurance company proof of any damage caused to your car. You continued to record AA even when he asked you to stop and communicated inappropriately with him. "You have not placed importance on the impact your behaviour had on those you care for. There are ongoing public protection concerns arising from this and a requirement to protect people using services and the wider public. "The public would expect the SSSC to make a finding that your fitness to practise is impaired and to mark conduct of this nature and unacceptable and that it must not happen again." A warning will stay on Ebowemen's registration for a period of two years and conditions imposed from June 14. The conditions are that he must provide the SSSC with evidence that his employer knows about the conditions on his registration, within three months of these conditions coming into effect, he must provide the SSSC with evidence that he has undertaken refresher learning. And within two months of meeting the second condition, he must provide a reflective account to the SSSC demonstrating an understanding of the impact of his behaviour on others, and the standards expected of him as a registered worker. *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here. And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook?
Scottish Sun
42 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Inside Trump's $4.5bn flagship supercarrier USS Nimitz rushing to flashpoint Middle East armed to the teeth with F-35s
Trump has threatened Iran would feel the 'full force' if they attacked the US THE BIG GUNS Inside Trump's $4.5bn flagship supercarrier USS Nimitz rushing to flashpoint Middle East armed to the teeth with F-35s Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AMERICA is sending the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier to the Middle East as the conflict between Israel and Iran escalates. The hulking $4.5billion nuclear-powered supercarrier, nicknamed Old Salt, is the flagship of the deadly Carrier Strike Group 11. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 12 Sun reporter Ryan Parry on board the USS Nimitz Credit: John Chapple 12 The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz is heading for the Middle East 12 Sun reporter Ryan Parry below deck with a fighter jet Credit: John Chapple The strike group includes Carrier Air Wing Seventeen and Destroyer Squadron Nine - a potent combination of military hardware that will strike fear into Iran. The Nimitz left the South China Sea Monday morning heading west towards the Middle East, where it will be stationed. The move comes amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran and question marks over whether the West will become embroiled in the conflict. Donald Trump has warned Iran it would experience the "full force" of the US military if it attacked US interests. Read more on world news GUN TRAGEDY Horror moment boy, 2, shoots his mum dead after picking up his dad's gun And Sir Keir Starmer has sent more RAF jets to the Middle East, including Typhoons and air-to-air refuelers, as tensions mount. The USS Nimitz will provide a major boost to US military presence in the region. And The Sun knows first hand of the true might of this awesome 100,000 ton warship. I spent two days on board the USS Nimitz during a training exercise. The massive vessel is 1,092ft long and 252ft wide and consists of 117,000 sq ft. The flight deck is four and a half acres and boasts four aircraft catapults to propel F/A-18 Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers and F-35C stealth strike fighters into the sky. Iran launches 3rd night of strikes as Netanyahu warns war could lead to 'regime change' in Tehran Four giant elevators bring the aircraft from the hangar in the guts of the carrier. I stood just feet away as F-35 Lightning II fighter jets were catapulted from the deck with an ear-splitting blast, before disappearing off the bow of the ship in a haze of steam. The violent rumble of the jet engines shook my bones to the core. A Seahawk helicopter circled nearby in case of any accidents. The F-35C is designed for long-range stealth strike missions and is built explicitly for US Navy carrier operations. The flight deck of the Nimitz was awash with dedicated crewmen wearing different coloured 'jerseys' whose job is to tow the aircraft into position before the pilots ready the jets for take off. Green jerseys operate the jet blast deflectors (JBD), aircraft handlers wear yellow jerseys, blue jerseys work in the hanger bay and purple jerseys refuel the aircraft, while red jerseys handle aviation ordinance and crash and salvage. The whole manic scene - described by those on board as a choreographed ballet - is watched over by white jerseys. 12 A F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jet lands on the deck of the USS Nimitz Credit: Reuters 12 Fighter jets on board the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz's flight deck Credit: AFP 12 I stood behind a yellow jacket, also known as a shooter, one of several catapult officers responsible for the safe and efficient launch of the ship's aircraft. She threw a shooting sign to tell the jet to take off. 'Stay behind me,' she screamed as we ducked under the afterburners of a Super Hornet. 'The heat from those engines will take your skin off.' Beneath deck is a massive floating city where 5,000 US Navy personnel carry out their duties like worker bees in a hive. Inside the ten floor, 3,000 room hull, life is one slick operation. There are several cafeterias, gyms, a Starbucks coffee shop and 'luxury' state rooms for 'Distinguished Visitors'. Since it is nuclear-powered, the Nimitz – call sign NMTZ - can operate for up to 20 years without refuelling. Capable of reaching 30 knots (35mph) the ship is one of ten nuclear-powered aircraft carriers in the US Fleet. I joined the ship off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, for a routine five-day training mission which saw the F-35C put through its paces. The ship raised its two 60,000lb anchors and set sail from Naval Air Station North Island, in Coronado, San Diego. 12 The USS Nimitz during a drill in the South China Sea in 2020 Credit: EPA 12 Sun man Parry said the carrier operates like a beehive Credit: John Chapple 12 There is even a Starbucks on board Credit: John Chapple Walking around the vast warship you're struck by the sheer number of young faces walking the narrow corridors and stairways - the backbone of the US Navy. The average age of sailors on board is 25 and often you'll find a teenager fresh out of high school steering the warship out of port. During my time onboard I was also taken up to the bridge, the heart of the ship's operation, where the Captain sat on a raised chair surrounded by his team of navigators, officers and the rest of the watch team charged with keeping the ship away from hazards. The mission of many of the Nimitz sailors will be to take off and land dozens of fighter jets, helicopters and planes, sometimes within less than 60 seconds of each other. The crew often work 12-hour shifts, six days a week. The busy ship goes through around 500 cans of energy drink Monster a day purchased from the ship's store. The Nimitz entered service in 1975 but has undergone dozens of refurbishments and upgrades since. It is the lead ship of her class, one of the largest warships in the world, second only to the USS Gerald R Ford. The Nimitz's homeport is Naval Base Kitsap in Washington and the vessel is named for legendary fleet admiral Chester W. Nimitz (1885–1966), who helped the US defeat the Japanese Navy in World War II. Its deployment to the Middle East will likely be its last mission as it marks 50 years of service. The ageing warship is set to be replaced by the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) later this year. 12 The USS Nimitz is covered in US patriotism on board Credit: John Chapple 12 On board sit special US Navy missiles Credit: John Chapple
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
At least 14 die in Russian strikes on Kyiv in ‘one of most horrific attacks' of Ukraine war
Update: Date: 2025-06-17T07:26:29.000Z Title: Morning opening: 'Horrific' attacks on Kyiv Content: At least 15 people were killed in Russian strikes on Kyiv overnight with nearly 100 wounded in what was named as 'one of the most horrific attacks' on the capital. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that 'such attacks are pure terrorism.' Posting just hours before he is scheduled to take part in a G7 summit in Canada, he said: 'The whole world, the United States, and Europe must finally respond as a civilized society responds to terrorists.' 'Putin does this solely because he can afford to continue the war,' accusing the Russian president for wanting 'the war to go on.' 'It is wrong when the powerful of this world turn a blind eye to it. We are in contact with all partners at every possible level to ensure an appropriate response. It is the terrorists who must feel the pain, not innocent peaceful people,' he said. But US president Donald Trump will no longer be there at the summit when Zelenskyy joins the leaders, as he left the summit early to attend to other issues. Separately, later today, the EU is set to present detailed plans on how to phase out Russian fossil fuels by 2027, but is expected to face opposition from Hungary and Slovakia. Elsewhere, EU foreign ministers will also have a call on the worsening situation in the Middle East, with the bloc's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas expected to debrief the media early lunchtime. Lots to cover. I will bring you all the key updates here. It's Tuesday, 17 June 2025, it's Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live. Good morning.
