Friday, August 31, 2007

Key Point in Ravenel Plea: There's More Names To Come

Posted by Greg Hambrick on Fri, Aug 31, 2007 at 10:02 PM

In this week's issue, we noted that at least one more name is likely in the Ravenel cocaine indictment.

News of Ravenel's planned guilty plea next week provides more clues that the final curtain has not dropped on this story.

If Ravenel’s cooperation in the case leads to the investigation or prosecution of another person, prosecutors also will ask the judge to reduce his sentence further under sentencing guidelines, according to the agreement.

It's hard to believe that Ravenel was the little fish in this ordeal. That is, unless the big fish is really big.

Topics: Ravenel

Fred Thompson Backs Out on Charleston Stop

Posted by Greg Hambrick on Fri, Aug 31, 2007 at 2:17 PM

In the presidential campaign season, the field of candidates is represented by two separate and arguably unimportant groups: the candidates who fill the space between Rudy Giuliani's comments during debate after debate and the one candidate who makes the race for the GOP nomination interesting.

Yes, Fred Thompson, Mr. Never Too Late To Enter The Race, will be announcing his candidacy next week, but he has backed out of a Charleston visit after catching criticism for not visiting Greenville, the home planet of conservatives (or the nutty compound, depending on your politics).

Yesterday, Thompson announced that he'd be visiting Charleston and Columbia on the last two stops of his announcement tour. That move put Republican bloggers in a tizzy.

Rule No. 1 when trying to win the South Carolina primary as a Republican presidential candidate: If you do nothing else, you MUST campaign in Greenville and Spartanburg Counties.

Their emphasis, not mine. Well, the schedule has been changed. This late in the campaign, I'd say that Thompson needs to go anywhere that will offer him airtime.

UPDATE: Editing changs noted in comments. As Ana Marie Cox of TIme (formerly Wonkette) says, I've got editors — hundreds of them.

Mayor Says City Firefighters Will Be Sloven, Yet Safe

Posted by Greg Hambrick on Fri, Aug 31, 2007 at 1:19 PM

On Wednesday, the Post and Courier ran their latest article questioning City of Charleston fire policy following the June 18 Sofa Super Store fire that killed nine city firefighters. The gist of this one was that the city's polyester suits were dangerous. The story has prompted a response from the Mayor Joe Riley today that implies the paper didn't have its facts right — but the city is going to change the dress code anyway.

On Wednesday, August 29, 2007 the Post and Courier reported that a South Carolina OSHA official stated that the work uniforms that the City of Charleston Fire Department uses are not in compliance with State OSHA rules.  The City received a determination in 2004 that these uniforms were indeed in compliance with OSHA standards.  There has been no communication with the City since then, either written or verbal, to indicate otherwise.

I want to ensure that there is no question about the safety of our firefighters. Wednesday, I met with Chief Thomas and directed that we begin the process of acquiring new daily work uniforms.

But the best part is when the mayor gets all nostalgic about the polyester uniforms the department will be ditching.

The current uniform presents a crisp, professional appearance – the same reason our Army continues to use polyester uniforms.  Nevertheless, I believe it is important to allay any safety concerns with regard to these uniforms for our firefighters.

Topics: Sofa Store Fire

Fireworks Indeed

Posted by Greg Hambrick on Fri, Aug 31, 2007 at 12:23 PM

The indictment today of Ahmed Abdellatif Sherif Mohamed (I'm out of breath even writing that) accuses him of building explosive devices and teaching others how to build the devices in "an activity that constitutes a federal crime of violence." Mohamed was pulled over in Berkeley County in July. The officer asked if he could search the vehicle and was told there were "fireworks" in the trunk. Both Mohamed and fellow-traveler Youssef Samir Megahed (both South Florida students and Egyptian natives) were indicted on transporting an explosive devise across state lines. All of this is in the U.S. District Court in Florida.Mohamed could face a maximum of 30 years for the two charges against him if convicted, while Megahed would face up to 10 years.

From the indictment …

AHMED ABDELLATIF SHERIF MOHAMED,

the defendant herein, did teach and demonstrate the making and use of an explosive

and destructive device and distribute by any means, information pertaining to, in whole

and in part, the manufacture of a destructive device and did distribute by any means

information pertaining to, in whole and in part, the manufacture and use of an explosive

and destructive device, with the intent that such teaching, demonstration, and

information be used for, and in the furtherance of, an activity that constitutes a federal

crime of violence,

AHMED ABDELLATIF SHERIF MOHAMED

and

YOUSSEF SAMIR MEGAHED,

the defendants herein, not being licensees or permittees under the provisions of

Chapter 40 of Title 18 of the United States Code, did knowingly transport and cause to

be transported in interstate commerce explosive materials.

Breaking: Terror Charges in Trunk Explosives Case

Posted by Greg Hambrick on Fri, Aug 31, 2007 at 12:11 PM

Don't know if this is our local guys, but …

AP: Two University of South Florida men indicted on charges of carrying explosives across state lines; one indicted on terror charges.

UPDATE: From the indictment…

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