attorney general

US Justice Department finds that ex-New York Governor Cuomo sexually harassed employees

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US Justice Department finds that ex-New York Governor Cuomo sexually harassed employees

The U.S. Justice Department has agreed with the New York attorney general’s finding that former governor Andrew Cuomo violated federal law by sexually harassing female employees and retaliating against those who spoke out. The federal agency has signed a settlement with the New York Executive Chamber to approve reforms implemented by Cuomo’s successor, Kathy Hochul, to prevent and address misconduct. The settlement calls for the expansion of the human resources department, the addition of new avenues for reporting and resolving complaints involving high-level officials, and the implementation of new training and anti-retaliation programs. Cuomo’s attorney denies the allegations of sexual harassment.

Alabama will help bring nitrogen asphyxiation executions to other states

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Alabama will help bring nitrogen asphyxiation executions to other states

Alabama has offered assistance to other U.S. states seeking to carry out executions using asphyxiation by nitrogen gas. Kenneth Smith, a prisoner condemned for a 1988 murder, was the first to be killed using this method. Alabama’s Attorney General, Steve Marshall, stated that 43 other people on death row had chosen asphyxiation over lethal injections since the method was approved in 2018. The new method has been called “humane” by Alabama, but human rights groups have condemned it as cruel and torturous. Oklahoma and Mississippi have added nitrogen asphyxiation to their allowed execution methods but have not yet used it. Alabama has provided Oklahoma with its new protocol. Nearly half of U.S. states have abolished the death penalty, but for other states, lethal injections remain the main method. The asphyxiation method used on Smith was described differently by state officials and witnesses, with some witnesses stating that Smith remained conscious and struggled for several minutes after the nitrogen flowed. The American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International USA, and other rights groups have condemned the execution.

Court of Appeals upholds right of Attorney General to stop criminal prosecutions

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Court of Appeals upholds right of Attorney General to stop criminal prosecutions

The Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal of a civil lawsuit against the Attorney General of the Republic. The lawsuit claimed that the Attorney General’s decision to suspend two private criminal prosecutions without justification was invalid. The Court of Appeals stated that the Attorney General has unchecked authority to interrupt criminal procedures in the public interest, and this authority is not subject to judicial review. The court rejected all claims made by the plaintiff and awarded costs in favor of the Republic.