US Coast Guard begins criminal investigation into California oil spill News
US Coast Guard begins criminal investigation into California oil spill

[JURIST] The crew of the Cosco Busan, which leaked some 58,000 gallons of fuel oil into the San Fransisco Bay [IndyBay report] after colliding with a bridge last week, is being held for questioning by federal investigators as a criminal investigation into the oil spill begins, the US Coast Guard [official website] said Sunday. Coast Guard Captain William Uberti said that a preliminary Coast Guard investigation indicated that the ship crashed into the Bay Bridge due to human error, possibly because of communications and management problems among the crew members [AP report]. An independent probe by the National Transportation Safety Board [official website], which began work Sunday, will also investigate the incident.

The Cosco Busan crashed [Chronicle report] into the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge last Wednesday, cutting a 100-foot gash into the side of the ship. The Coast Guard noted that there was heavy fog at the time, but some, including US Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) [official website], say that weather cannot excuse the accident. The Coast Guard has been criticized for its delayed response, but Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad Allen has promised a thorough investigation into the incident. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

UN Security Council called for Israeli withdrawal from territories occupied in Six Days' War

On November 22, 1967, the UN Security Council called for Israeli withdrawal from territories occupied during the Six Days' War, and for respect of the right of all States in the area to "live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries." Read Resolution 242, which remains a cornerstone of efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East.

President Kennedy assassinated, VP Lyndon Johnson sworn inin

On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. Later that day, Vice-President Lyndon Johnson was sworn in as the 36th President of the United States. Earl Warren, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, was later tasked with leading a commission to investigate the assassination. President Johnson received the final report of the Warren Commission on September 24, 1964. Read the Warren Commission Report.