High court denies bid by men in Ghosn case
BOSTON — The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way Saturday for the extradition of an American father and son wanted by Japan in the escape of former Nissan Motor Co. boss Carlos Ghosn.
Justice Stephen Breyer denied a bid to put the extradition on hold to give Michael and Peter Taylor time to pursue an appeal in their case challenging the U.S. officials’ plans to hand them over to Japan.
Michael Taylor, a U.S. Army Special Forces veteran, and his son are accused of helping Ghosn, who led the Japanese automaker for two decades, flee the country last year with Ghosn tucked away in a box on a private jet.
The flight went first to Turkey, and then to Lebanon, where Ghosn has citizenship but which has no extradition treaty with Japan.
Lawyers for the Taylors argue the men can’t legally be extradited and will be treated unfairly in the Japan. Their lawyers told the Supreme Court in a brief filed Friday that the men would face harsh treatment in the Japanese criminal justice system.
U.S. authorities had said they would not hand the men over to Japan while their bid for a stay was pending before Breyer, an attorney for the Taylors said.
Michael Taylor said in an interview that he feels betrayed that the U.S. would try to turn him over to Japan after his service to the country. Taylor refused to discuss the details of the case because of the possibility that he could be tried in Japan, but he insisted his son had no involvement.
Ghosn was out on bail at the time of his escape and awaiting trial on allegations that he underreported his income and committed a breach of trust by diverting Nissan money for his personal gain.
ACQUITTING DONALD TRUMP Voting 57 for and 43 against,
the Senate on Saturday failed reach a two-thirds majority needed to convict former President Trump on an article of impeachment charging him with “incitement of insurrection” for his role in prompting a deadly assault on the Capitol Jan. 6 by a mob of his supporters. All members of the Democratic caucus and seven Republicans voted to convict Trump.
The Republicans were Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Richard Burr of North Carolina, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Mitt Romney of Utah. A yes vote was to convict Trump.
Yes: Pat Toomey, R; Bob Casey, D
ALLOWING WITNESS TESTIMONY
Voting 55 for and 45 against, the Senate on Saturday allowed witness testimony in the Donald Trump impeachment trial. This followed disclosures about a telephone conversation Trump had with Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., the House minority leader, as the Capitol attack raged. Trump reportedly belittled McCarthy’s request that he call off the rioters, according to notes taken by Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Wash., when she discussed the call with McCarthy. House managers originally said they wanted to depose Herrera Beutler to shed light on Trump’s frame of mind during the riot, but then asked only that her account be admitted as written evidence, which then occurred. A yes vote was to open the trial to witnesses.
Yes: Casey
No: Toomey
AGREEING TO RULES FOR IMPEACHMENT TRIAL
Voting 89 for and 11 against, the Senate on Tuesday approved rules agreed to by both parties to govern the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump starting that day. In part, the framework allowed four hours’ debate on a Republican challenge (below) to the constitutionality of the trial. A yes vote was to establish trial rules.
Yes: Toomey, Casey
REJECTING CONSTITUTIONAL OBJECTION
Voting 56 for and 44 against, the Senate on Tuesday agreed to a motion that the second impeachment trial of Trump is constitutional. This dispensed with a Republican argument that Trump, who was impeached by the House while still in office, could not be tried by the Senate because he was a private citizen. Democrats said that under that logic, presidents could commit high crimes and misdemeanors in their last days in office and escape accountability. They noted that the presidential oath of office, which is written into the Constitution, forbids the commission of impeachable offenses on all days of a presidential term. The oath requires presidents to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” Democrats also cited a letter debunking the GOP argument signed by more than 150 constitutional scholars and judges of all ideologies. A yes vote was to establish the trial as constitutional.
Yes: Toomey, Casey
CONFIRMING DENIS MCDONOUGH AS VETERANS SECRETARY
Voting 87 for and 7 against, the Senate on Monday confirmed Denis R. McDonough, 51, as secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, making him the second nonveteran to fill the post. He had been former President Barack Obama’s chief of staff and deputy national security adviser. A yes vote was to confirm the nominee.
Yes: Casey
Not voting: Toomey
— Thomas Voting Reports Inc.