The Fair Sentencing Act would end the 100-to-1 ratio between crack and powder cocaine penalties enacted during the crime wave of the 1980s.
Stories Tagged ‘Sheldon Whitehouse’
Antitrust Division Wades Into Health Care Battle
Assistant Attorney General Christine Varney joined Senate Democrats today in calling for an end to antitrust exemptions for health insurance companies.
R.I. U.S. Attorney Corrente Announces Resignation
Rhode Island U.S. Attorney Robert Corrente will step down from his post at midnight on June 26 to join a private law firm, according to a news release from his office today.
Durbin To Focus On Common Ground With GOP On Human Rights Panel
Assistant Majority Leader Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) has been a passionate critic of Bush-era detention policies. But he won’t use his new chairmanship of a Senate Judiciary human rights subcommittee to criticize Republicans.
Senate Passes Amendment To Strip Funds For Gitmo Closure
The Senate overwhelmingly voted today to approve an amendment that would remove the $80 million in the wartime spending bill that was requested to close the Guantanamo Bay military prison. The amendment also prohibits the use of funds to be used for the transfer of Guantanamo Bay detainees to the United States.
Rhode Island Senators Submit U.S. Attorney Recommendation
Democratic Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse recommended federal prosecutor Peter Neronha to replace Robert Corrente as the next U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island, The Associated Press reported last night.
Former Bush Official, Ex-FBI Agent Stand Against Harsh Interrogation
Ex-FBI interrogator Ali Soufan and a former State Department counselor Philip Zelikow told the Senate Judiciary administrative oversight and the courts subcommittee that the harsh interrogation methods used against terror suspects were abusive and did not help in the battle against al Qaeda.
Whitehouse Ready to Fight for Johnsen
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) said he is ready to fight for Dawn Johnsen if Republicans attempt to filibuster President Obama’s pick to lead the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel, Talking Points Memo reports.
Senators Press OPR on Torture Memos
Two senators on the Judiciary committee, Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) have sent a letter to Marshall Jarrett, head of the Office of Professional Responsibility seeking answers regarding the OPR draft report strongly criticizing Jay Bybee, John Yoo, and Steven Bradbury (covered here). The letter requests an update, by no later than next Monday, answering [...]
