Gonzales rejects Democrat call to recuse himself from Abramoff investigation News
Gonzales rejects Democrat call to recuse himself from Abramoff investigation

[JURIST] US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales [official profile] Thursday rejected a call [letter, PDF; JURIST report] from thirty-one Senate Democrats to recuse himself from the ongoing investigation of Jack Abramoff [JURIST news archive] because he was too close to the President and other top officials associated with the lobbyist. In January, Gonzales similarly rebuffed a call from Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY) [official website] and Ken Salazar (D-CO) [official website] for the appointment of a special prosecutor [JURIST report] in the case.

Gonzales told Fox News Radio that the career prosecutors handling the investigation were not motivated by any political agenda. A spokesperson for the US Department of Justice [official website] said all departmental guidelines were being followed and there was no need for Gonzales to recuse himself at this time.

Despite calls for information about the President's relationship with Abramoff, the White House has thusfar said little. Bush has admitted that Abramoff attended several White House functions, and apparently was photographed with him, but denies knowing him. According to the Washingtonian, Abramoff claims a closer connection. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Knights Templar arrested in France on false charges

French members of the Crusade-era chivalric order the Knights Templar, including Grand Master Jacques de Molay, were arrested upon the orders of King Phillip IV of France on October 13, 1307. The group was baselessly accused of multiple offenses, including idolatry and homosexual acts. The Templars would be tried for these offenses before being disbanded officially by Pope Clement V in 1312. Learn more about the Knights Templar.

Rosenbergs' espionage appeal denied by Supreme Court

On October 13, 1952, the US Supreme Court announced that it had declined to grant certiorari in the appeal of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, condemned to death for conspiracy to commit atomic espionage for the Soviet Union. Justice William O. Douglas eventually granted a stay of execution on June 17, 1953, but that order was vacated by the full Court and the Rosenbergs were executed on June 19, 1953. Learn more about the Rosenbergs' case from the Eisenhower Presidential Library.

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On October 13, 1884, Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) was declared universal time by the International Meridian Conference, a gathering of 25 nations from around the globe.
Read the proceedings of the International Meridian Conference from Project Gutenberg.