NEWS OF THE DAY
From Across the Nation
Proof of citizenship: Emboldened both by President Trump’s claim that millions of noncitizens voted in 2016 and by his creation of a panel to investigate the alleged fraud, lawmakers in several states want to require people registering to vote to provide proof of their citizenship — even though federal registration forms don’t require it. This year at least four states — Kansas, Maryland, Texas and Virginia — considered proof of citizenship measures, according to the Brennan Center for Justice in New York. That means residents must provide documentation such as a passport or birth certificate when registering to vote.
Transgender ruling: A second federal judge blocked a proposed ban on transgender troops Tuesday, saying President Trump’s announcement of the ban in a series of tweets this summer was “capricious, arbitrary, and unqualified.” In a preliminary injunction, Judge Marvin J. Garbis of the U.S. District Court for Maryland halted a policy that would have discharged all transgender troops and barred prospective ones from enlisting, saying it likely violated equal protection provisions of the Constitution. Garbis’ order went further than a similar ruling last month by another federal judge, which also said the ban likely violated the Constitution. Garbis’ order blocks a policy prohibiting gender-reassignment surgery for service members at the government’s expense.
HBO extortion: U.S. prosecutors say a member of an Iran-based hacking group tried to extort HBO out of $6 million in digital currency by stealing unaired episodes and scripts of hit shows like “Game of Thrones.” An indictment unsealed Tuesday in federal court in Manhattan accuses Behzad Mesri of hacking into the cable network’s computer system in New York. It says he stole episodes from “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” ‘’The Deuce” and other series, along with scripts of “Game of Thrones.” Prosecutors say Mesri threatened to delete data on HBO’s computer system or release the stolen material unless he received $6 million in Bitcoin. Mesri is believed to be overseas, not in custody. Missing state seals: The first legal challenge has been filed following the discovery that more than a hundred South Carolina laws are missing the state seal. Greenville attorney Joshua Hawkins filed a lawsuit on Monday seeking confirmation to determine whether two tort reform bills passed in 2005 and 2011 have the state’s Great Seal. If not, Hawkins says the laws would be invalid, as the South Carolina Constitution requires the mark for acts to be officially law. Secretary of State Mark Hammond said moving forward he’d make sure the seal is on all acts. Manhunt ends: Tips from informants helped lead law enforcement to the man accused of fatally shooting a rookie police officer in suburban Pittsburgh during a traffic stop, officials said Tuesday. A SWAT team arrested Rahmael Sal Holt, 29, at a Pittsburgh home Tuesday after a four-day manhunt. He is accused of killing New Kensington Officer Brian Shaw during a traffic stop Friday night. Holt was arraigned Tuesday on charges including murder of a law enforcement officer and held without bail at the Westmoreland County Prison.