Mississippi News
Mississippi sanctions former Trump lawyer over solicitation of donations
MS Secretary of State Watson sanctions former Trump lawyer over solicitation of donations
Secretary of State Michael Watson issued a consent order and fined “Defending the Republic,” a nonprofit run by former Donald Trump campaign lawyer Sidney Powell, for making false statements to solicit funds in Mississippi.
Texas-based DTR and Powell have come under federal and other states' scrutiny after the group raised nearly $15 million primarily using baseless claims about the 2020 presidential election being stolen. Powell could face further problems in Florida — where she was also cited for using deceptive solicitations — for failing to report the Mississippi action.
Powell is facing questions about how much money DTR had solicited and where the money was going. According to the Washington Post, many members of DTR's staff and board resigned in April, and in early December federal prosecutors subpoenaed financial documents from DTR and a PAC that Powell leads by the same name.
In June, Watson issued a cease-and-desist letter to DTR for falsely claiming it was registered with his office's Charities Division on billboards and its website soliciting donations in Mississippi. In early December, DTR entered a consent order with Watson's office. The group paid a $2,500 fine and is now legally registered to solicit donations in Mississippi.
Republican Watson, a Trump supporter, issued a written statement:
“After noticing a solicitation, the Mississippi Secretary of State's Office checked the charity and found it was illegally soliciting in our state in violation of the Mississippi Charitable Solicitations Act. This resulted in the imposed fine against Defending the Republic (DTR) in the amount of $2,500. In an effort to resolve the matter, DTR paid an administrative penalty and entered into a consent order providing it would comply with all of the laws regarding regulation of charitable solicitations. As always, I'm proud of my team for consistently and justly applying the law.”
Powell is a Texas lawyer who joined Trump's legal team as it unsuccessfully attempted to prove fraud cost him the 2020 presidential election. Powell, who vowed to “release the Kraken,” a phrase from the “Clash of the Titans” movie, made claims that China, Venezuela, Cuba, Antifa, the Clinton Foundation, the late Hugo Chavez and others conspired to steal the election from Trump. None of those allegations have been found to be true.
Trump disavowed Powell after she made claims that Georgia's Republican governor and secretary of state had been paid off to to help throw the election. Powell continued to independently file unsuccessful election lawsuits in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin.
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
Hinds County supervisor expelled after bringing gun to meeting
SUMMARY: District 2 Supervisor Tony Smith was expelled from a Hinds County Board of Supervisors meeting for carrying a firearm without a concealed carry permit. Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones discovered the weapon under Smith's jacket during a recess and questioned him. After confirming that Smith lacked an enhanced carry permit, the sheriff notified the Board. Following the sheriff's orders, the Board voted to expel Smith for the remainder of the meeting. Smith was escorted to his vehicle, and no charges have been filed against him. Attempts to contact Smith for comments have been unsuccessful.
The post Hinds County supervisor expelled after bringing gun to meeting appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
Volunteers travel miles to help Columbus man fix his home
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The post Volunteers travel miles to help Columbus man fix his home appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
Fun in the sun can lead to skin cancer without proper protection
SUMMARY: Dr. Phillip Hooker, owner of the Skin and Allergy Clinic in West Point, highlights the prevalence of skin cancer, which surpasses all other cancers combined. He emphasizes the importance of protection against sun exposure, such as wearing protective clothing and wide-brimmed hats, and using sunscreen, which only screens but doesn't block sun rays. Joe Miller, safety coordinator at 4-County Electric Power Association in Columbus, prioritizes sun safety for outdoor workers by providing protective gear. Regular self-evaluation for skin abnormalities is crucial. Sunburns significantly increase the risk of skin cancer, with melanoma being the most deadly form.
The post Fun in the sun can lead to skin cancer without proper protection appeared first on www.wcbi.com
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