Judge approves $16 million settlement for Riggs Bank over Pinochet accounts News
Judge approves $16 million settlement for Riggs Bank over Pinochet accounts

[JURIST] US District Judge Ricardo M. Urbina [official profile] on Tuesday approved a $16 million plea agreement between the Justice Department and Riggs Bank [corporate website] over Riggs' maintenance of secret accounts for South American dictators, including former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet. Urbina originally questioned whether the plea deal was not severe enough for Riggs, which he called a "henchman of dictators." Riggs pleaded guilty [JURIST report] to charges of money laundering over an eight-year period during which it maintained the accounts. A US Senate subcommittee investigation originally discovered the accounts [JURIST report] maintained by Riggs. Read a Riggs press release on the plea deal. The case against Riggs had thrown its purchase by PNC Financial Group into question until the deal was revised. Bloomberg has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

38 Santee Sioux hanged by US for rebellion

On December 26, 1862, 38 Santee Sioux men were hanged in a mass execution for their roles in a rebellion against US authorities in Minnesota which left hundreds dead and made refugees of some 40,000 white settlers. Government annuities promised under a treaty with the Sioux had failed to arrive on schedule and credit for purchases was not advanced in the meantime, threatening the tribe with starvation. The Santee Sioux Tribe's members were deported first to South Dakota and ultimately to Nebraska, where they remain today. Learn more about the 1862 Minnesota Sioux Rebellion.

Louis XVI put on trial during French Revolution

On December 26, 1792, Romain de Sèze, a defense attorney for deposed King Louis XVI, presented a defense of his client. The former King was on trial before a French Revolutionary court on thirty-three charges, including treason and other crimes against the state. He was convicted on January 15, 1793 executed by guillotine on the following January 21.