SMH America: General Information

Civil Unrest, Domestic Terrorism, General Information, General Public

Teen Who Turned in Rioter Dad: He ‘Absolutely’ Deserves His Long Sentence

General Information, General Public

New York City stores are locking up Spam and other foods amid shoplifting surge

General Information, Gun Violence, Political Figures

Katie Porter Weapons shouldn't have Fewer Safety features than Cell Phones

General Information, Trumps

Former Trump administration adviser says she found classified documents in ladies’ room

A former Trump administration staffer, Olivia Troye, revealed on MSNBC that she once found classified documents in a ladies' room in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building during the former President's tenure. Troye, who served as a counterterrorism adviser in the Department of Homeland Security and in the office of Vice President Mike Pence, reported the discovery to security after covering up the document and placing it in an unmarked folder. According to her, such security breaches were not uncommon in the Trump administration, with documents often carried around without proper pouches for secure storage.

This revelation comes in the wake of a recent FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago, where documents of multiple classification levels were reportedly discovered. Prior to the raid, photos were released showing fragments of presidential documents floating in toilets. Trump and his allies have been struggling to explain the presence of these documents at his property despite previous negotiations with the FBI to hand them over, including under subpoena. Their explanations range from claims that the documents were planted to claims that they were not sensitive or had already been declassified. None of these claims are backed by evidence and some blatantly disregard the legal requirements imposed on those who handle classified and secret government information. Troye has since become an outspoken critic of the former president and his administration and has testified before the 6 January select committee.

SMH America is a newly erected news and information platform which shines a light on the sheer stupidity of America and the American Culture in many aspects such as society, government, politics, policing, and much more. This platform is brought to you by The LAM Organization for Disaster Relief, a nonprofit organization that provides funding to disaster relief situations such as UNICEF and Saint Jude's Children's Hospital.

General Information, Gun Violence, Unbelievable

Man who was at Capitol on Jan. 6 is fatally shot after firing into an FBI field office

General Information

On January 1st, 2023, Illinois jails will turn many prisoners loose

Illinois will eliminate its cash bail system on January 1st, 2023, under a new criminal justice reform law. Certain felony suspects, including those charged with second-degree murder, aggravated battery, and arson, will be released without bail, freeing approximately 400 criminal defendants into communities across the state. The Pretrial Fairness Act is part of a larger police reform initiative known as House Bill 163. The act aims to free certain criminal offenders who cannot afford bond and must wait in jail for their court date. Advocates of the law argue that cash bail is a pillar of institutional racism within the criminal justice system. Instead of bail, judges will issue pre-trial release conditions for offenders, which local pastors have been pushing for to improve the criminal justice system. However, opponents of the law say it prohibits judges from considering each case on its own merits and applying the law accordingly. Additionally, the law restricts which crimes a person can be arrested for and frees those in custody for 12 offenses, including second-degree murder, aggravated battery, and arson, without bail. Meanwhile, Republicans are calling for stricter sentencing for violent offenders and the repeal of certain parts of the SAFE-T Act. Law enforcement agencies across the state are opposing the law's passage, and gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey (R) promised to repeal the law if elected. Illinois is the first state in the country to completely abolish cash bail.