J's Cafe Nette

Archive for June 20th, 2007

Republican S.C. state treasurer Thomas Ravenel has been suspended over an indictment accusing him of distribution of cocaine.

The investigation started before Ravenel was elected, but State Law Enforcement Division officers didn’t have enough evidence yet to charge him.

He is accused of purchasing drugs from Michael Miller and wasn’t selling the drugs, but rather, was giving them away.

A quote from Governor Mark Sanford, also a Republican:

“Given the grave nature of these charges and what is alleged in this indictment, we’re left with no choice but to suspend Treasurer Ravenel immediately,” Governor Mark Sanford said in a written release. “These are obviously very serious allegations that we’re constitutionally bound to act upon, and they’ll ultimately be decided by the courts.”

The governor quoted Article VI, Section 8 of the South Carolina Constitution, giving him the power to suspend statewide, county or city officials indicted on criminal charges for crimes of “moral turpitude,” generally understood to mean crimes that involve acts of fraud, deception or other morally culpable conduct.

Sanford said he plans to make a decision on an interim appointment as soon as possible.

The Ravenel name is well-known in the Palmetto state, as I remember hearing the name in elections going back to when I moved here.

Ravenel was Giuliani’s campaign manager in South Carolina.

A comment from the Republican party spokesperson:

State Republican Party Chairman Katon Dawson released the following statement:

“The charges brought against State Treasurer Thomas Ravenel today are very serious. This is a personal matter that will be dealt with through appropriate legal channels. We hope this unfortunate situation is resolved quickly.”

Here is the Democratic party’s response:

“In only a few months, Thomas Ravenel has gone from spoiled rich kid buying his way into office to common street criminal. He is an embarrassment to the state and an embarrassment to the Office of Treasurer. It’s a shame that Grady Patterson – an absolutely honorable man and a true patriot – was replaced by Thomas Ravenel as State Treasurer.”

Note to the Democratic Party: He may very well be found guilty in court, but at this time our constitution presumes him innocent until proven guilty and you should correct your statement to reflect that.

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Fleeing Gazans, trying to get to the Israeli side of the border, have been holed up in a tunnel of two walls ten feet apart.

On one end are the Hamas and on the other are the Israeli soldiers. They are in what is really known as a no-man’s land.

Living conditions are horrible, as people are using the walls for toilets, nerves are frayed and they are fighting over food.

About 200 Gazans, petrified by the chaos in the Hamas-controlled coastal strip, have been camped out for six days in a tunnel reeking of trash, urine and sweat on the Palestinian side of the Erez crossing with Israel, pleading with Israeli authorities to grant them safe passage to the West Bank.

Hamas’ defeat of security forces from the rival Fatah faction has left many Gazans anticipating further chaos and violence. Some in the tunnel feared for their lives because of their Fatah loyalties; others sought a better life than volatile Gaza can offer.

Among them were people wounded in gunbattles between the rival factions.

On Wednesday, Barak instructed officials to let in “humanitarian cases” at the crossing, the Defense Ministry said.

No numbers were specified, and specific guidelines for determining urgency were not released.

On one end is freedom; on the other is oppression by their own countrymen.

Ehud Barak has agreed to allow foreign nationals and Gazans who need medical attention to enter Israel for humanitarian purposes.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak ordered the army on Wednesday to allow into Israel any of the hundreds of Gazans holed up at a fetid crossing who might desperately need medical treatment.
A teenager with leukemia was on his way through shortly after, the military said. Additionally, Israeli officials allowed all foreign nationals in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip to cross over to Israel.

In related news, Israel’s Supreme Court was hearing a petition Wednesday by a human rights group, demanding that Israeli authorities offer immediate medical treatment to 26 critically ill Palestinians hospitalized in Gaza.

I pray the Israeli government is as compassionate as possible and will allow those they determine not to be a risk to their safety into their country.

Guss Adds: If roles were reversed, I wonder how many Israelis would be let into Gaza.
This is a very interesting story that I am following with enthusiasm, just to see how things are going to turn out.

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Yahoo News is reporting the sheriff went to Mike Nifong’s house Tuesday to relieve Mr. Nifong of his office keys and badge to get into the prosecutor’s office in Durham, NC.

There is probable cause to believe that Nifong “has engaged in willful misconduct in office and conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice, which brings the office into disrepute,” Superior Court Judge Orlando Hudson wrote in his order.

Durham County Sheriff Worth Hill went to Nifong’s house with a deputy to serve the order Tuesday morning.

“We took his keys and his badge that gave him access to the building,” Hill said. “We’ll make arrangements to help him get his personal belongings later.”

There is speculation the formerly accused Duke lacrosse players will bring suit against Mr. Nifong, but what they will get is questionable since he has nothing but his home, some land in western North Carolina and his retirement.

There is also speculation Mr. Nifong will be brought up on criminal charges for what he did during this terrible time.

Is jail appropriate? He’s already lost his livelihood and the biggest part of his income. When his pension kicks in is something I don’t know. Maybe immediately or maybe when he reaches a certain age.

We do need to consider the fact he was willing to send three innocent people to jail for a crime that was not committed, and if the DNA case hadn’t fallen apart by accident, they would have gone to jail.

So, should he go to jail for his legal malpractice and malicious prosecution, or should he be allowed to remain free on probation for his acts?

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