Senate committee approves EPA nominee News
Senate committee approves EPA nominee

[JURIST] Stephen Johnson [EPA profile], President Bush's nominee to head the Environmental Protection Agency [official website], received approval from the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee [official website] Wednesday. The committee's 17-1 vote in favor of Johnson's nomination sends the nomination to the full Senate for consideration. Sen. Thomas Carper, D-Del., the lone dissenter in Wednesday's vote, has said that he is contemplating trying to block a Senate vote on Johnson's nomination. After facing a contentious first nomination hearing [JURIST report], Johnson has been working to alleviate concerns over the administration's environmental policies. Last week, Johnson cancelled [JURIST report] the CHEERS [EPA study website] program, which involved examining the effects of pesticides on children. Carper voted against Johnson's nomination [Carper press release] and is considering blocking the nomination on the Senate floor in protest over the administration's refusal to conduct studies on how to cut pollution from power plants. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

38 Santee Sioux hanged by US for rebellion

On December 26, 1862, 38 Santee Sioux men were hanged in a mass execution for their roles in a rebellion against US authorities in Minnesota which left hundreds dead and made refugees of some 40,000 white settlers. Government annuities promised under a treaty with the Sioux had failed to arrive on schedule and credit for purchases was not advanced in the meantime, threatening the tribe with starvation. The Santee Sioux Tribe's members were deported first to South Dakota and ultimately to Nebraska, where they remain today. Learn more about the 1862 Minnesota Sioux Rebellion.

Louis XVI put on trial during French Revolution

On December 26, 1792, Romain de Sèze, a defense attorney for deposed King Louis XVI, presented a defense of his client. The former King was on trial before a French Revolutionary court on thirty-three charges, including treason and other crimes against the state. He was convicted on January 15, 1793 executed by guillotine on the following January 21.