BREAKING NEWS ~ Abramoff pleads guilty to conspiracy, fraud charges News
BREAKING NEWS ~ Abramoff pleads guilty to conspiracy, fraud charges

[JURIST] AP is reporting that, as anticipated [JURIST report], Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff [JURIST news archive] has pleaded guilty to conspiracy, tax evasion and mail fraud charges. The US Department filed a criminal information [PDF text; press release] Tuesday morning in federal court in Washington, DC and a hearing in front of Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle followed.

1:22 PM ET – In addition to the guilty plea on the new charges [AP summary], Abramoff will also plead guilty to two charges pending in Florida stemming from the 2000 purchase of SunCruz Casinos [corporate website] by Abramoff and partners. Abramoff initially pleaded not guilty to those charges in August, and a change of plea hearing is scheduled for Wednesday. AP has more.

2:36 PM ET – The plea agreement [PDF] is now available online, via FindLaw.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Laws of Burgos put into effect

The Spanish Crown put the Laws of Burgos into effect on December 27, 1512. These laws governed the relationship of Spanish settlers with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The laws established the encomienda system of labor, promoted conversion to Catholicism, and safeguarded the indigenous peoples from physical abuse.  However, historians argue that the laws were ineffective at protecting the rights of the indigenous population. Learn more from the Library of Congress.

Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public bar smashing

On December 27, 1900, militant Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public smashing of a bar, at the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Nation argued that destroying bars was an acceptable means of battling the liquor trade since the Kansas Constitution prohibited alcohol. Learn more about Carrie Nation.

World Bank created

On December 27, 1944, the World Bank was created during the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. Learn more about the history of the World Bank.