House ethics committee finds no violations in Foley case News
House ethics committee finds no violations in Foley case

[JURIST] The US House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct [official website] concluded Friday that although Republican leaders did not break any ethics rules [PDF report] in addressing the misconduct of disgraced ex-Congressman Mark Foley [Congressional profile], they nonetheless failed to protect young pages from inappropriate communications. Following an investigation [JURIST report], the panel found that House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) [official website] most likely received at least two emails detailing Foley's abuses, but did not act on the claims for fear of creating scandal.

Committee leaders Rep. Doc Hastings (R-WA) and Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA), said the report reflects the bipartisan conclusions of a four-member investigative panel. Foley's behavior is currently the subject of a Florida criminal investigation [JURIST report]. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Justice Department brings anit-trust action against AT&T

On November 20, 1974, the Department of Justice filed its final anti-trust suit against AT&T. United States v. AT&T was ultimately settled out of court with an agreement that the corporation would break up its monopoly on phone service throughout the country.

Nuremberg war crimes trials began

On November 20, 1945, the war crimes trials of Nazi World War II leaders began in the German city of Nuremberg. Review the Nuremberg Tribunal's Charter and the verdicts and sentences handed down on major war figures.

Winston Churchill born

On November 20, 1874, Sir Winston Churchill was born in Woodstock, England. He would go on to lead the United Kingdom as Prime Minister through World War II. Toward the end of the war, Churchill worked with US President Franklin D. Roosevelt to craft the treaties and accords that have defined the world since WWII. A 2002 poll by the BBC declared Churchill the Greatest Briton of all time.

New Jersey ratifies Bill of Rights

New Jersey ratified the Bill of Rights, a set of 10 fundamental amendments to the US Constitution, on November 20, 1789, becoming the first state to do so. The state also ratified an amendment on federal representation which ultimately failed. Additionally, New Jersey rejected an amendment on congressional salaries, which would eventually become the 27th Amendment more than 200 years later. Read the articles ratified by New Jersey.