VIRGINIA – Former Virginia governor Robert F. McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, were charged Tuesday with illegally accepting gifts, luxury vacations and large loans from a wealthy Richmond-area businessman who sought special treatment from state government.   [Read Indictment Here]

Authorities alleged that for nearly two years, the McDonnells hit up executive Jonnie R. Williams Sr. again and again, lodging near constant requests for large loans, clothes, trips, golf accessories and private plane rides.

In exchange, authorities allege, the McDonnells worked in concert to lend the prestige of the governorship to Williams’ struggling company, a small former cigarette manufacturer that now sells dietary supplements.

They said the first couple arranged access for the CEO to top state officials, allowed the historic governor’s mansion to be used for a launch party for his company’s new non-FDA approved pill and attended events designed to boost the company’s prestige with university scientists who might research the company’s product.

The two were charged with 14 felony counts, including wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, obtaining property under color of their official office and conspiring to the do the same. (more…)

Following our public records request (actually, on the same day) the Maryland Transportation Authority Police (MDTA) posted the following statement on their FaceBook Page:

In response to a recent complaint about the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) Police and a Jan. 12, 2014, Tampa Tribune article, a preliminary review indicates that all proper protocols were followed throughout the Dec. 30, 2013, 55-minute traffic stop on I-95, which was initiated for a speeding violation. The MDTA takes these allegations seriously and will continue to investigate this personnel matter. (link)

As we wait for the records of the incident it’s interesting to note the position of the MTA.

If “proper protocols were followed” then why did the MDTA Chief and Internal Affairs apologize to Mr. Filippidis?    Also, if “proper protocols were followed” then why then is this a “personnel matter“?

Apply logic between the parseltongue and you can come away with a possibility the MDTA wants attention on the officer rather than on the actual capability which allowed the officer to make his assumptions.

Their initial response reeks of similarity to James Clapper’s initial response when he was asked by congress if the NSA was collecting information on U.S. citizens.    Our curiosity is really peaked now because Occam’s razor would infer the MDTA wants to present this as a “personnel matter” for how an officer responded.   That’s not the real issue.

The bigger issue is what technology existed, which is used by MDTA, and spurred the officer to know Mr. Filippidis was a CCW holder.   THAT is the bigger interest.

It’s not what the officer DID with the information, it’s why the officer HAD the information to begin with.  In addition, did the fact the incident happened at one of the Federal Homeland Security sensitive site areas, the Fort McHenry Tunnel, have any bearing on the technology capability used by the state authority encountered.   (more…)

(Via CNN) A video surfaces threatening the Winter Olympics. Russia’s President vows the Games will be safe. Some U.S. lawmakers warn that they won’t be.   One thing was clear as debate over the situation surged on Sunday: security is a top concern, less than three weeks away from the competition…

…As a transcript of his interview with half a dozen national and international broadcasters was posted on the Kremlin website Sunday, a video that surfaced online again highlighted the security situation. (more…)

UPDATE: FULLERTON, Calif. — Thirteen people have been arrested while protesting the acquittal of two former California police officers charged in the beating death of a homeless man.

Police Sgt. Jeff Stuart says Saturday’s demonstration in Fullerton, which drew about 200 people, turned violent when someone assaulted a KCBS-TV camerawoman. Stuart says the camerawoman fled into her news van, and her crew called 911 when a group surrounded the van.

Stuart says officers in riot gear came to disperse the crowd, and arrested 10 for not complying.  Police also arrested a woman in the assault and two others for scrawling an obscenity and an anarchist symbol on police property.  (LINK)

Another Report from the LA Times HERE

HatTip Jello – CALIFORNIA – An Orange County jury Monday found two former Fullerton police officers accused of killing a schizophrenic homeless man, Kelly Thomas, not guilty.

The Police were convinced by his posture he was hiding drugs. So, against his will, they pinned him down and shoved exploratory probes up his butt and took x-rays – weeks later, he received a bill for $4,539. (settlement link)

(ORIGINAL STORY) Media Report by KOB New Mexico – On January 2, 2013, David Eckert was leaving Wal-Mart in Deming, NM and reportedly failed to make a complete stop at the stop sign. He was immediately pulled over by police. Law enforcement then asked Eckhert to step out of the vehicle.

According to reports Eckert appeared to be clenching his buttocks so law enforcement concluded that Eckert was hiding narcotics in his anal cavity. The officers detained Eckert and secured a search warrant allowing for an anal cavity search.

It gets worse. Much, much worse. Like, unbelievably, staggeringly worse. (more…)

(Via DC) The Chicago Fire Department rescued a very lucky dog after it fell through ice over Lake Michigan while walking with its owner.

“He was warmed up and returned to its owner,” Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford told the Chicago Tribune last Friday after the rescue. “This one just got a little too close.”

While attempting the rescue of the 50- to 60-pound animal one responder dived into the icy water himself, after which he held the dog while both were dragged to safety by rope.

“Its head was the only thing above water,” Langford said. “He or she was treading to hold on and the diver went in and got him or her.” (link)

Yesterday we spotlighted a story about a Florida family driving through Maryland and mysteriously being targeted for a police stop.  They were questioned about owning a gun, detained, searched, their car contents emptied – searched, and after approximately 90 minutes to 2 hours of detention during the search they were released.

Obviously for the driver, John Filippidis, and his family, this was alarming.   What would prompt the Maryland Transportation Authority Police (MTAP) to randomly select their vehicle?

Because the first question to Mr. Filippidis was about his gun ownership, and the police search for the gun was based on his gun ownership, the Florida CCW permit that Filippidis holds was identified as the most likely impetus for the stop, questioning and search.   [His firearm was locked in a safe in his Florida home]

This strikes us as highly alarming – so we contacted MTAP and we immediately filed public records requests to research what took place.

However, our interest has also spurred numerous contacts, tips and directions to help understand what’s going on.    We now know where else to look to find out what exactly is going on.   Mr. Filippidis’ experience is merely the tip of the iceberg.

What is written below explains how the family was targeted; why the family was targeted; and what intentions were behind the MTAP engagement. (more…)

Next up Mademoise-hell…   

Ms. Candy “reveals tender moments with Trayvon” ?    Mm-kay, that should be a short sentence. (more…)

UPDATE: We have submitted a public records request and received confirmation (see bottom)

TAMPA TRIBUNE  – John Filippidis, silver-haired family man, business owner, employer and taxpayer, is also licensed to carry a concealed firearm.

He’d rather he didn’t feel the need, “but things aren’t like they used to be. The break-ins, the burglaries, all the crime. And I carry cash a lot of the time. I’m constantly going to the bank.

“I wanted to be able to defend my family, my household and the ground I’m standing on. But I’m not looking for any trouble.”

Filippidis keeps his gun — a palm-sized Kel-Tec .38 semiautomatic, barely larger than a smartphone in a protective case — in one of two places, always: in the right-hand pocket of his jeans, or in the safe at home.

“There are kids in the house,” Filippidis says, “and I don’t think they’d ever bother with it, but I don’t want to take any chances.”

He’s not looking for any trouble, after all. (more…)