Here’s your weekly quick look at few developing stories in the political arena:
- Attorney General Eric Holder this week traveled to Ferguson Missouri to meet with the family of Michael Brown, the black youth murdered by a Ferguson police officer. Holder told people in Ferguson that he understood their mistrust in police. Holder said, “I am the attorney general of the United States. But I am also a black man. I’ve confronted this myself.” Holder also met with local FBI agents and members of the Justice Department and promised the public a thorough federal investigation of the events that occurred.
- Texas Governor Rick Perry, a former (and possible future) Republican presidential nominee hopeful, was indicted this week on two felony counts of abuse of power. The charges stem from an incident involving Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg. Lehmberg was arrested on drunk driving charges, served jail time, underwent counseling, and later returned to her post. Rick Perry had called on her to resign and she refused. After her refusal, Perry vetoed $7.5 million in state funding for the public integrity unit overseen by Lehmberg. A grand jury found sufficient evidence to put Perry on trial on charges that his veto overstepped his legal authority. Perry, who has vowed to fight the charges, said, “This indictment is nothing short of a an attack on the constitutional powers of the office of governor. There are important fundamental issues at stake, and I will not allow this attack on our system of government to stand.” The two felony charges carry prison sentences of up to 100 years or more, if convicted.
- President Obama this week while on vacation held a news conference in Martha’s Vineyard where he discussed the execution of American journalist James Foley at the hands of the group ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria). President Obama said, “No just God would stand for what they did yesterday or every single day. People like this ultimately fail. They fail because the future’s won by those who build and not destroy. The world is shaped by people like Jim Foley.” ISIS slaughtered Foley to avenge airstrikes against ISIS targets in Iraq. The U.S. had earlier tried to secured the release of Foley but failed. After Foley’s gruesome beheading, ISIS threatened the life of another American hostage, Steven Sotloff, who went missing in August.
- And finally, just another reminder that news out of Washington may be a bit lighter during the next few weeks as Congress is on summer recess until September 9th.
