Judge in Jan. 6 Case

Trump Demands Removal of Black Female Judge in Jan. 6 Case

Guide to Essential Financial Resources in Times of Crisis

on July 25, 2023 in Washington, DC. Former President Donald Trump has said he’s been informed that he is the target of an investigation by a grand jury examining Jan. 6 and efforts to overturn the 2020 election led by special counsel Jack Smith.

The Electors

ABOVE: U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan (Credit: Diego M. Radzinschi/ALM)

Former president Donald J. Trump has pled not guilty to all charges for his role in the January 6th insurrection. Inside E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, Trump stood before Magistrate Judge Moxila A. Upadhyaya, who oversaw the roughly half-hour hearing. She ordered Mr. Trump not to talk about the case with any witnesses, except through counsel.

When his trial begins on Aug. 28, Trump will face a judge who represents everything he seems to hate: Judge Tanya Chutkan, a Black female judge appointed by President Barack Obama to the United States District Court of Washington, D.C. in June 2014. Trump, who has a history of attacking judges and prosecutors (especially Black ones), is already demanding she be removed from the case. But he may want to rethink any attacks on Judge Chutkan — an experienced judge who plays no games.

Background

Trump was indicted by a grand jury on August 1 in Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into January 6th. Trump faces four counts, including obstruction of an official proceeding and conspiracy to defraud the United States.

The indictment opens by saying that Trump lost the 2020 election. “Despite having lost, the Defendant was determined to remain in power. So for more than two months following election day on November 3, 2020, the Defendant spread lies that there had been outcome-determinative fraud in the election and that he had actually won. These claims were false, and the Defendant knew that they were false. But the Defendant repeated and widely disseminated them anyway,” the indictment says, adding that doing so helped “create an intense national atmosphere of mistrust and anger.”

The indictment also says that Trump “pursued unlawful means of discounting legitimate votes and subverting the election results. In so doing, the Defendant perpetuated three criminal conspiracies:

A conspiracy to defraud the United States by using dishonesty, fraud and deceit to impair, obstruct and defeat the lawful federal government function by which the results of the presidential election are collected, counted, and certified […]

A conspiracy to corruptly obstruct and impede the January 6 congressional proceeding […] A conspiracy against the right to vote and to have one’s vote counted, in violation of 18 U.S.C.”

WASHINGTON, DC – JULY

25: The E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. District Court House is seen

The results of a presidential election are collected, counted, and certified through a process established by the Constitution and the Electoral College Act (1887). We Americans do not elect the president directly. They don’t just count up all the votes and see who wins. Rather, votes are counted by state. The winner of the state is awarded the state’s “electors” — a group of designated people who get the final say.

Each state (except Maine and Nebraska) has a “winner-takeall” system: whoever gets the popular vote in a state gets all that state’s electors. (Each state gets a number of electors equal to its number of representatives. So if Texas has two senators and 36 House reps, it gets 38 electors.) After Election Day, each state decides who its electors will be.

“Finally, the Constitution and ECA required that on the 6th of January […] the Congress meet in a Joint Session for a certification proceeding, presided over by the Vice President,” the indictment says.

California Study: Most Black Women Voters Are Financially Insecure

Antonio Ray Harvey| California Black Media

A study released last week by the California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute (CBWCEI) presents a grim picture of the financial stability of Black women voters in the state.

A total of 1,258 women participated in the poll used in the study. Their answers give insight into the web of challenges Black women across California confront daily.

“Black women in California and around the country are struggling socially and economically while serving as primary breadwinners of their households,” said Kellie

Todd Griffin, President and CEO of CBWCEI. “The results are sobering and paint a picture of the pressures that threaten Black women’s stability and financial security. This data is a call to action for meaningful change to policymakers, advocates and community leaders to address these pressing issues and disparity gaps.” The survey conducted by EVITARUS, a Black-owned public opinion research and public policy consulting firm based in Los Angeles, provides an in-depth analysis of Black women’s opinions about state and federal elected officials.

It also reveals CBWCEI’s top policy priorities for enhancing the well-being of women and girls in California.

Top among the issues Black women face are racial discrimination, lack of opportunities for career advancement, adverse mental and physical health conditions, pay inequity, parenting challenges, among other serious issues.

EVITARUS Managing Partner Shakari Byerly served as the principal investigator and lead researcher on the study. She said the survey reveals the financial and economic burdens that Black women confront as they contribute to their families, communities and the state.

In times of crisis, whether it’s a global economic downturn, a natural disaster, or a personal financial emergency, having access to financial resources becomes crucial. These resources not only provide stability during difficult times but also offer opportunities for recovery and resilience. Here are some essential financial resources that individuals and businesses can utilize during times of crisis.

Insurance Coverage Insurance plays a vital role in mitigating financial risks during a crisis. Health insurance covers medical expenses, protecting individuals and families from significant financial burdens. Homeowner’s or renter’s insurance safeguards against property damage or loss due to unforeseen circumstances such as fires, floods, or theft. Additionally, life insurance provides financial security to loved ones in case of the policyholder’s untimely demise. Other insurances to consider are home warranties for your appliances and pet owners to cover the cost of accidents.

Government Assistance Programs

During times of crisis, governments often implement assistance programs to help individuals and businesses navigate challenging economic conditions. It is essential to stay informed about such programs and take advantage of them if eligible. Local government websites, social service agencies, or community organizations can provide information on available resources.

These programs may include:

Unemployment Benefits. Unemployment benefits provide financial assistance to individuals who have lost their jobs and are actively seeking new employment. These benefits typically include a portion of the individual’s previous earnings for a specified period, helping them cover basic living expenses while they search for work. Some states may also offer educational opportunities, including vocational job training or workshops to improve resume writing, interview skills, networking, and job search techniques.

Food Assistance Programs. Government programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the United States and similar initiatives in other countries provide food assistance to low-income individuals and families. Eligible participants receive financial aid to purchase groceries and essential food continued on page 2

Covid Makes a Comeback, But New Vaccines Are Around the Corner

By Sunita Sohrabji

The US is experiencing a summer swell of infections, though hospitalization rates remain relatively stable. Three eminent experts conclude that Covid-19 will continue to pose a health threat over many years, as it continues its evolution. But updated vaccines are expected to mitigate the severity of infections. CDC photo via Unsplash)

Griffin, Byerly, Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City), and Dr. Thomas A. Parham, President, California State University Dominguez Hills held a virtual media briefing on Aug. 8 to discuss the study’s results.

“This type of project is exactly why the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) pushed to have the California Black women think tank funded through the legislature,” said Wilson, who chairs the CLBC. “California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute received $5 million in funding from Gov. (Gavin) Newsom to launch this first-ever think tank to focus on Black women in California.”

Covid-19 cases are rising once again, possibly fueled by the emergence of the EG.5 variant. Hospitalization rates jumped by 12.5% nationwide in July, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This uptick comes even as the public health emergency has ended, taking with it free testing and therapeutics. And Covid fatigue has set in. People no longer wear masks in public, and a study has determined that the majority of Americans will forego new boosters, which will be available this fall.

At an Aug. 11 panel discussion organized by Ethnic Media Services, three eminent Covid experts examined the rise in cases, the new variant, and the new monovalent vaccine which will be available this fall.

Panelists included:

Dr. Peter Chin-Hong,

Associate Dean for Regional Campuses, University of California, San Francisco and Medical Educator, specializing in treating infectious diseases

Dr. Benjamin Neuman, Professor of Biology and Chief Virologist, Global Health Research Complex, Texas A&M University

Dr. William Schaffner, Professor of Preventive Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

What are the origins of the EG.5 variant? Does it differ substantially from its predecessors?