US extradites former Mexico state governor for embezzlement and criminal association prosecution News
mediosaudiovisuales / Pixabay
US extradites former Mexico state governor for embezzlement and criminal association prosecution

The US government has extradited former governor of the state of Chihuahua in Mexico César Duarte to Mexico for prosecution related to the crimes of embezzlement and criminal association.

After extradition, Duarte “will be put at the disposal of the pre-trial judge of the Morelos Judicial District in Chihuahua[.]” The criminal process will also occur in Chihuahua.

The state of Chihuahua issued an arrest warrant for Duarte in October 2019 on embezzlement and criminal association charges. Specifically, Duarte “is accused of allegedly carrying out actions that diverted public resources totaling more than 96 million Mexican pesos between 2011 and 2014.” He could receive a sentencing enhancement for both crimes.

Along with the announcement of the extradition on Thursday, the Mexican government reiterated the following statement:

The Mexican government […] will continue to act decisively to achieve the arrest, prosecution and delivery of alleged criminals in order to strengthen national security and defend its sovereignty in strict adherence to international law and especially to the Mexico-US bilateral extradition treaty.

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.