West Point’s 1820s time capsule turns out to have some treasure in it after all – National & International News – FRI 1Sep2023

West Point’s 1820s time capsule turns out to have some treasure in it after all.

Lawsuits brewing to keep Trump off state ballots.

Canada issues travel advisory to LGBT citizens visiting the US.

NATIONAL NEWS

West Point’s 1820s time capsule turns out to have some treasure in it after all

A few months ago, workers removing a statue of Revolutionary War General Tadeusz Kosciuszko from the West Point military academy campus discovered a lead box buried underneath. The time capsule was likely buried around the time the statue was erected in 1829.

After months of speculation and excitement about what might be in the box, West Point decided to livestream its opening. The event was anticlimactic to say the least. When the box was unsealed, all that could be seen inside was a sludgy mud. Some commentators even compared it to the opening of “Al Capone’s vault” in 1986, presented on live television by Geraldo Rivera. When the vault was opened, all that was inside was some dirt and some empty bottles.

Despite the initial disappointment, technicians took the box to a conservation lab and carefully removed the mud. Their work and patient paid off after they did find 6 American silver coins dating between 1795 and 1828. They also found a commemorative medal celebrating the opening of the Erie Canal in 1826. West Point archeologist Paul Hudson says he will continue examining the mud in hopes of uncovering clues about what else might have been in the box that didn’t survive.

It’s possible that the box and its contents are connected with one of West Point’s most famous, and controversial, graduates: future Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. During his time at West Point, Lee was one of five cadets on the committee that dedicated the Kosciuszko statue. We’ll never know for sure since there’s no documentation from the time about the placement of the time capsule.

Click here for the full story (opens in new tab).

Lawsuits brewing to keep Trump off state ballots

Secretaries of State in several states say they are preparing for incoming legal and procedural arguments for and against barring Trump from their state ballots in 2024. Constitutional and legal scholars, including prominent members of the conservative Federalist Society, have advocated for disqualifying Trump from appearing on state ballots, citing Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution. This passage disqualifies from office any person who has taken an oath to defend the Constitution and who then engages “in insurrection or rebellion against” the United States, or gives “aid or comfort to the enemies thereof”.

On these grounds, some groups now say they plan to sue in certain states, which they have not disclosed, if those states put Trump on their ballots. This will present a huge legal quagmire, and more than a few procedural headaches, for election officials in these states.

The controversy also promises to make the 2024 elections even more complicated, since it appears one of the potential candidates for President will be undergoing criminal court proceedings (and facing possible prison sentences) at the same time voters across the country are going to the polls.

Are these suits likely to succeed?

The short answer is that it is unlikely, but not impossible.

These legal challenges will unquestionably create a lot of chaos. However, scholars and state officials are divided on the potential for these suits to succeed. Firstly, there is disagreement on who will have standing to sue – that is, who can bring a suit demonstrating they will be harmed if Trump appears on the ballot.

Secondly, there is considerable disagreement about applying this federal statute at the state level.

Thirdly, as of this writing, no court has convicted Trump for insurrection. In fact, although Trump is facing 91 felony charges across various jurisdictions, none of these charges pertains to insurrection against the United States. 

Fourthly, any such legal challenge will almost certainly be countered by a suit from the Trump camp, which will take ages to play out in the courts. Not only that but, for now at least, Trump may have best factual argument against barring him from the ballot for insurrection. Shortly after Jan. 6, 2021, the House of Representatives voted to impeach Trump for insurrection. A conviction in the Senate would have immediately barred Trump from holding any public office in the future. However, the Senate fell short of the necessary 60 votes to convict.

Click here for the full story (opens in new tab).

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Canada issues travel advisory to LGBT citizens planning to visit the US

The Canadian government has issued a travel advisory warning that LGBT+ Canadians may be at risk when visiting the US. The advisory warns that urges members of the community to check state and local laws in the US destinations they plan to visit.

A statement from the Canadian government’s Global Affairs department specifically pointed to laws passed in numerous states targeting transgender people or drag shows. “Since the beginning of 2023,” the statement says, “certain states in the US have passed laws banning drag shows and restricting the transgender community from access to gender affirming care and from participation in sporting events”.

Click here for the full story (opens in new tab).