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CBS News
a day ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Washington County coroner alleges DA pressured him to file false death certificate for political gain
The Washington County coroner alleges the county's district attorney pressured him to file a false death certificate in a case for political gain. For the past two years, Jordan Clarke has been in jail awaiting trial in the death of his 2-month-old son Sawyer. But in a special petition to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, an anti-death penalty group in Philadelphia is asking the case be thrown out, saying Clarke is being prosecuted for political reasons, something Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh denies. "This is a liberal Hail Mary and an absolute witch-hunt liberal smear against a Republican in Washington County, that isn't even close to Philadelphia," Walsh said. Three years ago, police found the baby unresponsive at the Clarke's Peters Township home, and the baby was taken to UPMC Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh, where he died. Allegheny County Medical Examiner Karl Williams conducted an autopsy, but ruled that the cause of death could not be determined. The Atlantic Center for Capital Representation, a non-profit organization that offers support for defendants in death penalty cases, in court papers produced an affidavit from Washington County Coroner Tim Warco, who says Walsh — who was up for election — pressured him to file a false death certificate, ruling it a homicide. Last week, the Atlantic Center for Capital Representation filed a petition against Walsh, claiming he's abused his power to seek the death penalty. "He says I need this to be a homicide, I need to win an election and has coroner Warco file a false death certificate listing a different cause and manner of death," Frances Harvey with the Atlantic Center for Capital Representation said. KDKA's Andy Sheehan asked Walsh, "Did you tell coroner Warco I need this to be a homicide, I need it to win an election?" "That's insane," Walsh said. "Coroner Warco's allegations are simply ludicrous." KDKA's Andy Sheehan asked, "Is he lying?" "Yes," Walsh responded. "For him to allege that, I question his mental fitness and his fitness for office." Reached by phone on Tuesday, Warco said the matter is before the court and declined comment. But attorney Bill Difenderfer, who is representing Clarke, says the case should be thrown out. "If true for personal gain in an election is not only prosecutorial misconduct, it's totally outrageous and very troubling," Difenderfer said. "The only political thing happening here is the same group is absolutely politically motivated because they're a liberal anti-death penalty group," Walsh said. "I don't know what other definition of politics you can have." It's not clear when or if the Pennsylvania Supreme Court will hear this petition, but Difenderfer says he'll be filing his own petition to have charges against Clarke thrown out.
San Francisco Chronicle
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Diddy's trial was the latest in a line of high-profile celebrity criminal cases
A New York City jury's decision Wednesday to convict Sean 'Diddy' Combs on prostitution-related offenses and acquit the music mogul on sex trafficking and racketeering charges was the latest in a line of high-profile celebrity criminal cases that garnered widespread attention. O.J. Simpson In 1995, football star and actor O.J. Simpson was acquitted of murder in the deaths of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman after the 'trial of the century.' Two years later, a civil trial jury found him liable for the deaths and ordered him to pay $33.5 million to relatives of Brown and Goldman. Simpson died in 2024 at age 76 of prostate cancer. Michael Jackson Michael Jackson was acquitted in 2005 of molesting a 13-year-old cancer survivor at his Neverland Ranch. The King of Pop was also accused of plying the boy with alcohol and conspiring to hold him and his family captive. Jackson had faced nearly 20 years in prison. Jackson died in 2009 at age 50 of an overdose of the anesthetic propofol. R. Kelly R. Kelly is serving time at a prison in North Carolina. This year, a federal appeals court upheld the Grammy Award-winning R&B singer's 2021 racketeering and sex trafficking convictions, along with a 30-year prison sentence. The court concluding that the singer exploited his fame for over a quarter century to sexually abuse girls and young women. Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of a 20-year sentence Kelly received after his 2022 conviction on child sex charges including charges of producing images of child sexual abuse in Chicago. Bill Cosby Bill Cosby was convicted in 2018 of sexual assault and sentenced to up to a decade in prison. But three years later the Pennsylvania Supreme Court said the district attorney who made the decision to arrest Cosby was obligated to stand by a predecessor's promise not to charge Cosby, though there was no evidence that agreement was ever put in writing. The former 'Cosby Show' star was the first celebrity tried and convicted in the #MeToo era and spent nearly three years at a state prison near Philadelphia before the higher court overturned his conviction and released him in 2021. Alec Baldwin Last year, a judge decided halfway through Alec Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter trial to dismiss the charge. Baldwin had been charged in the 2021 fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie 'Rust.' The judge dismissed the case on allegations that police and prosecutors withheld evidence from the defense. This year, Baldwin sued for malicious prosecution and civil rights violations. Baldwin also alleged defamation, saying that prosecutors and investigators intentionally mishandled evidence. A$AP Rocky A Los Angeles jury acquitted A$AP Rocky in February after a trial on two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. The hip-hop star was accused of firing on a former friend in Hollywood in 2021. Rocky, who rejected a plea deal that would have involved very little jail time, opted not to testify at trial. Harvey Weinstein Former Oscar-winning movie producer Harvey Weinstein was convicted of rape and other charges in 2022 by a Los Angeles jury. He was sentenced then to 16 years in prison and is appealing that conviction. Weinstein, 73, also was found guilty last month during the retrial of a rape case in New York City. The charges against Weinstein have been pivotal for the #MeToo movement. The anti-sexual-misconduct campaign was fueled by allegations against him. Martha Stewart Homemaking icon and media personality Martha Stewart was convicted in 2004 of lying to the federal government about a 2001 stock sale. She served five months in prison. Her brand rebounded following her release. In 2023, at the age of 81, Stewart was chosen as one of Sports Illustrated's swimsuit cover models. Kevin Spacey In 2023, a London jury acquitted Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey on sexual assault charges stemming from allegations by four men dating back 20 years. Spacey had denied the allegations against him and told the jury how they had destroyed his acting career as the #MeToo movement gained momentum in the U.S. Spacey told British broadcast host Piers Morgan last year that he was millions of dollars in debt, largely because of unpaid legal bills.
Winnipeg Free Press
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Diddy's trial was the latest in a line of high-profile celebrity criminal cases
A New York City jury's decision Wednesday to convict Sean 'Diddy' Combs on prostitution-related offenses and acquit the music mogul on sex trafficking and racketeering charges was the latest in a line of high-profile celebrity criminal cases that garnered widespread attention. O.J. Simpson In 1995, football star and actor O.J. Simpson was acquitted of murder in the deaths of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman after the 'trial of the century.' Two years later, a civil trial jury found him liable for the deaths and ordered him to pay $33.5 million to relatives of Brown and Goldman. Simpson died in 2024 at age 76 of prostate cancer. Michael Jackson Michael Jackson was acquitted in 2005 of molesting a 13-year-old cancer survivor at his Neverland Ranch. The King of Pop was also accused of plying the boy with alcohol and conspiring to hold him and his family captive. Jackson had faced nearly 20 years in prison. Jackson died in 2009 at age 50 of an overdose of the anesthetic propofol. R. Kelly R. Kelly is serving time at a prison in North Carolina. This year, a federal appeals court upheld the Grammy Award-winning R&B singer's 2021 racketeering and sex trafficking convictions, along with a 30-year prison sentence. The court concluding that the singer exploited his fame for over a quarter century to sexually abuse girls and young women. Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of a 20-year sentence Kelly received after his 2022 conviction on child sex charges including charges of producing images of child sexual abuse in Chicago. Bill Cosby Bill Cosby was convicted in 2018 of sexual assault and sentenced to up to a decade in prison. But three years later the Pennsylvania Supreme Court said the district attorney who made the decision to arrest Cosby was obligated to stand by a predecessor's promise not to charge Cosby, though there was no evidence that agreement was ever put in writing. The former 'Cosby Show' star was the first celebrity tried and convicted in the #MeToo era and spent nearly three years at a state prison near Philadelphia before the higher court overturned his conviction and released him in 2021. Alec Baldwin Last year, a judge decided halfway through Alec Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter trial to dismiss the charge. Baldwin had been charged in the 2021 fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie 'Rust.' The judge dismissed the case on allegations that police and prosecutors withheld evidence from the defense. This year, Baldwin sued for malicious prosecution and civil rights violations. Baldwin also alleged defamation, saying that prosecutors and investigators intentionally mishandled evidence. A$AP Rocky A Los Angeles jury acquitted A$AP Rocky in February after a trial on two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. The hip-hop star was accused of firing on a former friend in Hollywood in 2021. Rocky, who rejected a plea deal that would have involved very little jail time, opted not to testify at trial. Harvey Weinstein Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. Former Oscar-winning movie producer Harvey Weinstein was convicted of rape and other charges in 2022 by a Los Angeles jury. He was sentenced then to 16 years in prison and is appealing that conviction. Weinstein, 73, also was found guilty last month during the retrial of a rape case in New York City. The charges against Weinstein have been pivotal for the #MeToo movement. The anti-sexual-misconduct campaign was fueled by allegations against him. Martha Stewart Homemaking icon and media personality Martha Stewart was convicted in 2004 of lying to the federal government about a 2001 stock sale. She served five months in prison. Her brand rebounded following her release. In 2023, at the age of 81, Stewart was chosen as one of Sports Illustrated's swimsuit cover models. Kevin Spacey In 2023, a London jury acquitted Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey on sexual assault charges stemming from allegations by four men dating back 20 years. Spacey had denied the allegations against him and told the jury how they had destroyed his acting career as the #MeToo movement gained momentum in the U.S. Spacey told British broadcast host Piers Morgan last year that he was millions of dollars in debt, largely because of unpaid legal bills.
Hindustan Times
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Diddy's trial was the latest in a line of high-profile celebrity criminal cases
A New York City jury's decision Wednesday to convict Sean 'Diddy' Combs on prostitution-related offenses and acquit the music mogul on sex trafficking and racketeering charges was the latest in a line of high-profile celebrity criminal cases that garnered widespread attention. Diddy's trial was the latest in a line of high-profile celebrity criminal cases In 1995, football star and actor O.J. Simpson was acquitted of murder in the deaths of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman after the 'trial of the century.' Two years later, a civil trial jury found him liable for the deaths and ordered him to pay $33.5 million to relatives of Brown and Goldman. Simpson died in 2024 at age 76 of prostate cancer. Michael Jackson was acquitted in 2005 of molesting a 13-year-old cancer survivor at his Neverland Ranch. The King of Pop was also accused of plying the boy with alcohol and conspiring to hold him and his family captive. Jackson had faced nearly 20 years in prison. Jackson died in 2009 at age 50 of an overdose of the anesthetic propofol. R. Kelly is serving time at a prison in North Carolina. This year, a federal appeals court upheld the Grammy Award-winning R&B singer's 2021 racketeering and sex trafficking convictions, along with a 30-year prison sentence. The court concluding that the singer exploited his fame for over a quarter century to sexually abuse girls and young women. Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of a 20-year sentence Kelly received after his 2022 conviction on child sex charges including charges of producing images of child sexual abuse in Chicago. Bill Cosby was convicted in 2018 of sexual assault and sentenced to up to a decade in prison. But three years later the Pennsylvania Supreme Court said the district attorney who made the decision to arrest Cosby was obligated to stand by a predecessor's promise not to charge Cosby, though there was no evidence that agreement was ever put in writing. The former 'Cosby Show' star was the first celebrity tried and convicted in the #MeToo era and spent nearly three years at a state prison near Philadelphia before the higher court overturned his conviction and released him in 2021. Last year, a judge decided halfway through Alec Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter trial to dismiss the charge. Baldwin had been charged in the 2021 fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie 'Rust.' The judge dismissed the case on allegations that police and prosecutors withheld evidence from the defense. This year, Baldwin sued for malicious prosecution and civil rights violations. Baldwin also alleged defamation, saying that prosecutors and investigators intentionally mishandled evidence. A Los Angeles jury acquitted A$ Rocky in February after a trial on two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. The hip-hop star was accused of firing on a former friend in Hollywood in 2021. Rocky, who rejected a plea deal that would have involved very little jail time, opted not to testify at trial. Former Oscar-winning movie producer Harvey Weinstein was convicted of rape and other charges in 2022 by a Los Angeles jury. He was sentenced then to 16 years in prison and is appealing that conviction. Weinstein, 73, also was found guilty last month during the retrial of a rape case in New York City. The charges against Weinstein have been pivotal for the #MeToo movement. The anti-sexual-misconduct campaign was fueled by allegations against him. Homemaking icon and media personality Martha Stewart was convicted in 2004 of lying to the federal government about a 2001 stock sale. She served five months in prison. Her brand rebounded following her release. In 2023, at the age of 81, Stewart was chosen as one of Sports Illustrated's swimsuit cover models. In 2023, a London jury acquitted Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey on sexual assault charges stemming from allegations by four men dating back 20 years. Spacey had denied the allegations against him and told the jury how they had destroyed his acting career as the #MeToo movement gained momentum in the U.S. Spacey told British broadcast host Piers Morgan last year that he was millions of dollars in debt, largely because of unpaid legal bills. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Supreme Court declines to hear GOP request to review Pa. provisional ballot ruling
A GOP challenge to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's ruling on provisional ballots is dead after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case. The high court's rejection June 6 means county boards of elections must count provisional ballots cast by voters who find out their mail-in ballots have been rejected under the state Supreme Court's decision in October. The case at issue, Faith Genser et al vs. the Butler County Board of Elections, stemmed from a lawsuit filed after the 2024 primary election by two Butler County voters. They claimed they were disenfranchised when the board refused to count provisional ballots the voters cast on Election Day, after learning their mail ballots were disqualified for missing dates. Pa. politics: Erie County Democrats have slimmest voter registration edge in decades The board of elections reasoned the Pennsylvania Election Code says provisional ballots from voters whose mail-in ballots are 'timely received' can't be counted, even if the voters' mail-in ballots are rejected. In its 4-3 decision, the state Supreme Court found the Elections Code requires county elections officials to count provisional ballots if no other ballot is attributable to the voter, and as long as there are no other issues that would disqualify their provisional ballot. The U.S. Supreme Court did not explain its decision not to hear the appeal. Attorneys for the RNC and Republican Party of Pennsylvania did not respond to an email requesting comment. 'Republicans don't think every rightful vote should count. We disagree, and now, the Supreme Court has sided with us. Pennsylvanians deserve to have their say in every election ― full stop,' Democratic National Committee Chairperson Ken Martin said in a statement. The case is one of many involving 'paperwork errors' on vote-by-mail-ballots, since absentee voting without an excuse became an option in 2019 with the passage of Act 77. 'Every election, thousands of Pennsylvania mail ballots are voided due to common technical mistakes made by voters,' Rich Ting, senior staff attorney at the ACLU of Pennsylvania, said. 'Thanks to Faith Genser and Frank Matis fighting for their right to vote, all Pennsylvania voters who make those mistakes are guaranteed the right to vote by provisional ballot as a failsafe.' The ACLU of Pennsylvania and the Public Interest Law Center with pro-bono counsel from Dechert LLP represented Genser and Matis in their lawsuit. 'The Supreme Court's determination not to hear this case means that Pennsylvanians who make a technical mistake with their mail-in ballots will have a way to fix the mistake instead of losing the opportunity to vote,' Ben Geffen, senior attorney at the Public Interest Law Center, said. In its petition to the U.S. Supreme Court, the GOP argued the state Supreme Court usurped the Pennsylvania Legislature's authority to set the 'times, places and manner' for congressional elections, leaning on a premise known as the 'independent state legislature theory.' That theory asserts that the U.S. Constitution reserves the authority to set the times, places and manner of elections exclusively for state legislatures. In opposition, the DNC and Pennsylvania Democratic Party asserted that the U.S. Supreme Court lacks jurisdiction, because the case falls outside the limited circumstances in which it can review the judgment of a state's highest court. Such appeals are allowed only when a federal law is in question, a state law is claimed to conflict with federal law or 'where any title, right, privilege, or immunity is specially set up or claimed under the Constitution.' The June 6 decision is the second time the U.S. Supreme Court has passed on reviewing the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's decision. In November it refused to place a stay on enforcement of the ruling days before the presidential election. The Pennsylvania General Assembly has taken steps to pass amendments to clarify the vote-by-mail law in recent weeks. House Bill 1396, sponsored by Speaker Joanna McClinton, D-Philadelphia, would give election workers up to a week before Election Day to prepare to count mail-in ballots, a process that has been a bottleneck for election results in parts of the state, and has provided fodder for election deniers. The measure would remedy other ambiguities in Act 77, such as making clear that county election officials must notify voters if their mail ballots are rejected. It passed the House with a 102-101 vote along party lines May 13. Peter Hall has been a journalist in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for more than 20 years, most recently covering criminal justice and legal affairs for The Morning Call in Allentown. Pennsylvania Capital-Star is part of States Newsroom, the nation's largest state-focused nonprofit news organization. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Supreme Court won't hear GOP challenge to PA provisional ballot ruling
