Abramoff will plead not guilty to fraud charges, lawyer says News
Abramoff will plead not guilty to fraud charges, lawyer says

[JURIST] Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff [Wikipedia profile], indicted by a federal grand jury [JURIST report] on bank fraud charges last week, will plead not guilty, according to a statement made by his lawyer Neal Sonnett Thursday. The charges allege he defrauded two lenders of $60 million to buy San Cruz Casino from Konstantinos "Gus" Boulis, who was murdered in 2001. Sonnett also stated Abramoff will participate in the investigation [JURIST report] of the murder, and that Abramoff "looks forward to defending himself" on the current charges. Abramoff is also involved in the investigations [JURIST report] of US House Majority Leader Tom DeLay [official website] and is currently under investigation for lobbying work done for an Indian tribe. The lobbyist appeared before US Magistrate Stephen Brown Thursday but was asked not to enter a plea. His arraignment on the fraud charges has been postponed until August 29 because he does not yet have a full-time attorney. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Indian National Congress founded

The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded on December 28, 1885 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. In subsequent decades, the so-called Congress Party would advocate for Indian independence from the UK, which was eventually achieved in 1947. The first Prime Minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was elected as a member of the INC. Learn more about the history and founding of the Indian National Congress.

Congress recognized Pledge of Allegiance

On December 28, 1945, Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance and encouraged its recitation in schools. The Pledge was supposedly written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus Day. The words “under God” were added by Congress in 1954. The revised version of the Pledge was the subject of litigation before the United States Supreme Court originally brought by Michael Newdow, a parent who unsuccessfully objected to his daughter's school district policy requiring daily recitation of the Pledge. The court ruled that Newdow had no standing.

Nepal ends monarchy, establishes republic

On December 28, 2007, the Kingdom of Nepal's interim parliament ended the country's monarchy and established the Republic of Nepal. Free elections were held on April 10 of the following year to elect a Constituent Assembly.

Learn more about the rise of democracy in Nepal.