On Wed. April 3, defendants Lori Loughlin, Felicity Huffman and other lesser known celebrities and parents will appear in a federal court in Boston to appear before a judge at their preliminary hearing. The two actresses along with more than 30 other individuals are charged with crimes of using money to gain admission to elite colleges for their children in amounts up to over $1 million. In some alleged instances, the defendants paid a bogus charity to fake athletic activities, cheat on college entrance exams and through other nefarious means to gain college acceptance. The old fashion way of study hard, get good grades and/or work hard at athletics wasn't working for them. So they chose the side door entrance. It’s one thing for actors to use celebrity status and money to gain admission into exclusive parties and events via the side door. It’s quite another thing to use celebrity status and money to fake their children’s test scores and school activities to gain admission into … [Read more...] about College Admissions Scandal Goes to Court
Legal
WUSA 9 Interviews Debbie Hines on Mueller Report
Alas, the long awaited Special Counsel Robert Mueller report was released to Attorney General William Barr. Although the report reportedly contained over 700 pages, Attorney General Barr wrote a 4 page summary of its contents. To say that wasn't scratching the surface would be a severe understatement. The American people deserve to see its full contents. The report looked into two questions--whether there was a conspiracy or coordination between Trump, the Trump campaign and the Russian government during our 2016 presidential election; And whether there was an obstruction of justice by Donald Trump into the Russian investigation. Until the report is released, we cannot speculate about its contents. We are just as in the dark as before the report was released. WUSA 9 anchor Bruce Johnson interviewed me on my take on the Mueller report. … [Read more...] about WUSA 9 Interviews Debbie Hines on Mueller Report
College Cheating Scam and White Privilege
The largest college cheating admissions scam was announced today by the U.S. attorney's office in Massachusetts with over 50 persons being charged including actress Felicity Huffman, college coaches, SAT administrators, exam proctors and 33 parents. Parents involved paid upwards of over $6.5 million for their children to be admitted to various elite schools including Yale, Georgetown, Wake Forest and others. It was the ultimate example of wealth and privilege being used to secure the futures of the teens involved. The end result is what many minorities and persons of color expected for a long time. The system is rigged in terms of wealth and privilege. Every parent should teach their children to refrain from lying, cheating and stealing. When the parents lie, cheat and steal for their children to gain admission to prestigious U.S. schools with or without the child’s knowledge, it shows what many persons of color have already suspected all along—that some white privileged children … [Read more...] about College Cheating Scam and White Privilege
R. Kelly May Be Flying to Jail Soon
R. Kelly has long avoided prosecution and conviction for his allegedly long known sex crimes against minors and young women. On Oscar weekend, in a made for TV movie moment, his free time may soon be coming to an end. In a surprise move, according to the Chicago Sun Times, today the Cook County state’s attorney charged R. Kelly with 10 counts of aggravated sex abuse. A Cook County Grand Jury indicted Kelly. The charges stem from 4 victims who were under age and involve incidents that occurred between 1998 and 2010. Aggravated criminal sex abuse is a felony which carries a range of 3-7 years if convicted. R. Kelly has avoided conviction in a past trial but the tide may be changing. His time may soon be up. He is the sex pied piper of young underage girls of lewd sex acts and alleged imprisonment, according to many reports and a recent documentary, Surviving R. Kelly. Despite past allegations, women of all ages still flock to his concerts. And his song, I Believe I could Fly is … [Read more...] about R. Kelly May Be Flying to Jail Soon
Will All Black Face Wearing Politicians Stand?
In the few days since we discovered that VA Governor Ralph Northam wore black face in a 1984 medical school year book photo while standing next to a costumed KKK member, VA Attorney General Mark Herring admits to wearing black face in college. Herring apologized. As an African American, I know this racist problem is something that is not indicative of just Virginia politicians, Democrats or Republicans. It is indicative of white America. While many white Americans may not have worn black face, many still do not understand the pain it causes for many African Americans. And the racial backlash against African Americans continues today, without one having to wear black face. The fact that whites believe it is appropriate to post photos wearing black face whether in college, medical school or elsewhere shows the race divide in America. These photos cut to the core of emotional pain for many African Americans. While for many white Americans, wearing black face is hilarity at the expense … [Read more...] about Will All Black Face Wearing Politicians Stand?
My Top Ten Wishes (Satirical) For the Fake SOTU
Donald Trump gives his second State of the Union Address (“SOTU”) tonight. I look forward to the Democratic rebuttal to be given by Stacey Abrams. Abrams who ran for governor of Georgia is the new face of the Democratic party. Black women have supported the Democratic party by overwhelmingly voting in higher numbers than any other group in 2016, 2012 and 2008. Yet, the Democrats have often ignored Black women while trying to win back those whites who left the Democratic party beginning with President Lyndon Johnson in the 1960’s and have yet to return. As I look forward to hearing Stacey Abrams tonight, I also wanted to share my satirical top ten wishes for the fake SOTU. In my David Letterman voice, here goes the top ten in reverse order beginning with number 10. 10. The wall becomes a non-issue and all federal government workers rejoice without the threat of a pending shutdown hanging over them. 9. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg arrives in her workout attire and begins her workout … [Read more...] about My Top Ten Wishes (Satirical) For the Fake SOTU