World/Nation
Obama: Ferguson probe exposed broken, racially biased system
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Racial discrimination from police in Ferguson, Mo., was "oppressive and abusive," President Barack Obama said Friday as he called for criminal justice reform as part of the modern struggle for civil rights.
"It turns out they weren't just making it up. This was happening," Obama said during a town hall at South Carolina's Benedict College, the day before he prepared to commemorate a half-century since the historic civil rights marches in Selma, Alabama.
In his most expansive comments yet about the Justice Department's report on bias against blacks in Ferguson, Obama said it was striking that investigators merely had to look at email sent by police officials to find evidence. He said the city of Ferguson now must make a decision about how to move forward.
"Are they going to enter into some sort of agreement with the Justice Department to fix what is clearly a broken and racially biased system?" Obama said.
A Department of Justice investigation found patterns of racial profiling, bigotry and profit-driven law enforcement and court practices within the Ferguson Police Department. Ferguson city leaders are to meet with Justice Department officials in about two weeks to put forth an improvement plan.
Menendez: I've always behaved appropriately in office
NEWARK, N.J. - U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, under federal investigation for his relationship with a Florida doctor and political donor, defiantly said Friday he has always been honest in office even as a person familiar with the matter said he's expected to face criminal charges soon.
"Let me be very clear, I have always conducted myself appropriately and in accordance with the law," Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, said at a press conference in his home state. "Every action that I and my office have taken for the last 23 years that I have been privileged to be in the United States Congress has been based on pursuing the best policies for the people of New Jersey and this entire country."
The person who discussed the expected filing of charges against Menendez in the coming weeks did so on the condition of anonymity because the investigation is pending. Attorney General Eric Holder declined to say whether he has authorized criminal charges against the senator.
Menendez spoke in English and Spanish, chopping his hand down for emphasis and declaring he's "not going anywhere." He said he couldn't take questions "because there is an ongoing inquiry."
Menendez, who served for more than a decade in the House of Representatives before joining the Senate in 2006, is the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He has been critical of negotiations between President Barack Obama's administration and Iran on its nuclear program and outspoken in opposition to normalizing relations with Cuba.
Security provided for juror who voted to spare life of Arias
PHOENIX - Authorities were providing security Friday for the sole juror who voted to spare the life of convicted murderer Jodi Arias.
No threats had been reported against any of the 12 jurors, authorities said. However, the lone holdout on the death penalty had requested the security after her name was posted on social media.
Prosecutors also said they're examining whether the holdout disclosed that her husband had been prosecuted by the same county attorney who headed the case against Arias.
The 2013 trial of Arias became a global sensation with its revelations about her sexual relationship with the victim and that she had slit his throat so deeply that he was nearly decapitated.
She was convicted of murder but that jury deadlocked on her punishment.
Top U.S. general optimistic about outcome of Tikrit battle
The one-two punch of Iranian-back militias and Iraqi government troops is likely to prevail in the unfolding battle for Tikrit, but it would not have been possible if U.S. airstrikes had not tied down Islamic State fighters elsewhere in northern Iraq, the top U.S. general said.
Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was asked by reporters traveling with him from Washington to Iraq whether he believes the Islamic State group will be pushed from Tikrit.
"Yeah, I do," he said. "The numbers are overwhelming."
Dempsey said about 23,000 Iranian-based Shiite militiamen and Iraqi soldiers are involved in the offensive, compared to only "hundreds" of IS fighters.
The offensive is not what the Americans would consider textbook military tactics, he said, describing a hodge-podge of Iraqi Humvees, trucks and other vehicles surging toward Tikrit like rush hour on the Washington Beltway.
"I wouldn't describe it as a sophisticated military maneuver," he said.
Ex-Cabinet official Shalala to lead Clinton Foundation
WASHINGTON - Former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala has been tapped to run the Clinton Foundation as Hillary Rodham Clinton prepares for her expected 2016 presidential campaign and the philanthropy faces scrutiny of its fundraising practices.
Former President Bill Clinton said Friday that he had chosen Shalala, the outgoing president of the University of Miami, to serve as the next president and chief executive officer of the sprawling philanthropy. He announced his choice during a weekend meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative University in Coral Gables, Fla.
"I don't know in my long life that I ever worked with anybody who had quite the combination of policy knowledge and concern, political skills, a personal touch with people, a sense of innate fairness," the former president said. "She's a remarkable person."
Clinton said he would recommend Shalala's appointment to the foundation's board and that she had the full support of the Clinton family.
Shalala served as secretary of Health and Human Services under Bill Clinton for eight years and became the university's president in 2001. A prodigious fundraiser, she has raised nearly $3 billion during her 14-year tenure and is expected to begin leading the foundation in June. Her selection was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.
- The Associated Press