Deportation hearing starts for former CIA operative News
Deportation hearing starts for former CIA operative

[JURIST] An immigration judge held a hearing Monday to determine if former anti-Castro CIA operative Luis Posada Carriles [Wikipedia profile] should be granted asylum to the US after illegally entering through Mexico [JURIST report] earlier this year. Venezuelan officials have requested the Cuban citizen's extradition to their country [JURIST report] so that he can face charges regarding his alleged involvement in the 1976 bombing of a Cuban plane. Also at issue in Carriles' immigration hearing is whether his role in the 1961 Bay of Pigs Invasion [Wikipedia backgrounder] of Cuba to overthrow Fidel Castro [Wikipedia profile] was a terrorist act. Carriles denies involvement, despite CIA documents which indicate he was trained to participate. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Charlemagne crowned Holy Roman Emporer

On December 25, 800 A.D., Charlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III in Rome, Italy. During his lifetime, Charlemagne united most of Western Europe for the first time since the fall of the Western Roman Empire. He is credited with spreading the rule of law throughout his dominions as well as starting the French and German monarchies.

President Andrew Johnson pardoned Confederates

On December 25, 1868, President Andrew Johnson granted an unconditional pardon to all who had been involved in "insurrection or rebellion" during the US Civil War.