Holder tells Russia US won’t seek death penalty for Snowden
Holder tells Russia US won’t seek death penalty for Snowden
WASHINGTON — Striving to get Edward Snowden back to America, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has assured the Russian government the U.S. has no plans to seek the death penalty for the former National Security Agency systems analyst.
In a letter dated Tuesday, the attorney general said the criminal charges Snowden now faces in this country do not carry the death penalty and the U.S. will not seek his execution even if he is charged with additional serious crimes.
Holder’s letter followed news reports that Snowden, who leaked details of top secret U.S. surveillance programs, has filed papers seeking temporary asylum in Russia on grounds that if he were returned to the United States he would be tortured and would face the death penalty.
Snowden has been charged with three offenses in the U.S., including espionage, and could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted.
Lincoln Memorial splattered with paint
WASHINGTON — Someone splattered green paint on the Lincoln Memorial early Friday, but the statue of the 16th president was reopened by nightfall after the paint was washed away.
The apparent vandalism was discovered around 1:30 a.m. Friday on the statue, the pedestal and the floor, U.S. Park Police said.
No words, letters or symbols were visible in the paint.
The marble Lincoln statute had green paint on its shin, coattail, chair and base, as well as paint on the floor of the memorial building.
Capt. Steven Booker said the paint spill “appears intentional based off of the splatter.” Police were reviewing security camera footage to try to identify possible suspects, he said.
No suspects had been identified by Friday afternoon.
Police officials said they would not release the security footage because the investigation is ongoing.
Millions rally in support of military in Egypt
CAIRO — Called out by the army, the largest crowds in 2 1/2 years of upheaval filled Egypt’s streets Friday, while ousted President Mohammed Morsi was formally placed under investigation on a host of allegations including murder and conspiracy with the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Morsi’s supporters also showed no signs of backing down, though they turned out in vastly smaller numbers.
The demonstrations in Cairo remained mostly peaceful into the night, but in the city of Alexandria seven people were killed and over 100 were injured, officials said.
Late Friday night in Cairo, police fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of Morsi supporters — a possible sign of a new intolerance for marches that block city streets.
The announcement by prosecutors of the investigation against Morsi, which is likely to pave the way to a formal indictment and eventually a trial, was the first word on his legal status since he was deposed by the military July 3. Since then, the Islamist leader has been held incommunicado in a secret location.
Spain train crash investigation
turns to driver
SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, Spain — Investigations into Spain’s deadliest train crash in decades have only begun, but already a key question has been answered: Experts said Friday that the driver, not a computer, was responsible for applying the brakes because no “fail-safe” system has been installed on the dangerous stretch of bending track.
The question of whether the brakes failed — or were never used — in the approach to Santiago de Compostela may remain open until police can question the injured driver and analyze the data on the train’s just-recovered “black box.”
By wire sources