National

The Southern Baptist Convention passed two reforms to address sexual abuse at its annual convention on Tuesday.   

Why it matters: The reforms follow a report that found SBC leaders mishandled sexual abuse claims and survivors were "met, time and time again, with resistance, stonewalling, and even outright hostility" from some within the SBC's Executive Committee.

The big picture: The report, which was conducted by an independent firm contracted by the SBC's Executive Committee, covers allegations of abuse at the SBC from the year 2000 to the present.

Clergy abuse allegations originally came to light in a joint 2019 investigative report by the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News.

Last month, the SBC published a list of hundreds of clergy and other church staff who've been "credibly accused" of sexual abuse 

The released list was a version of a previously secret document maintained for over a decade by executive committee staff.

Details:  The reforms passed on Tuesday include a "mechanism to track credible accusations against ministers and pastors," the Houston Chronicle reports. 

Top SBC leaders declined to consider the measure more than a decade ago, the Chronicle writes. 

The other reform passed was an "abuse implementation task force," the Tennessean reports. 

Between the lines: Voters overwhelmingly approved the recommendations, but some felt the recommendations would go against the Southern Baptist "belief in church autonomy," per the Tennessean. 

"It is an assault on our polity," messenger Mark Coppenger said, according to the outlet.

What they're saying: "Today we will choose between humility and hubris. We will choose between repentance or continually being passive in the Southern Baptist Convention," said Bruce Frank, chair of the SBC sexual abuse task force.

"Make no mistake, the time for action has come.”

Southern Baptist Convention passes 2 reforms on sexual abuse

The reforms passed include a "mechanism to track credible accusations against ministers and pastors."

This Feb. 12, 2019, photo shows a front-page Houston Chronicle story on alleged abuse in Southern Baptist churches. Photo: Loren Elliott/AFP via Getty Images

Religion

Politics & Policy

The ex-West Virginia legislator who filmed himself storming the U.S. Capitol during the insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, was sentenced to three months in prison on Wednesday. 

The big picture: Derrick Evans is one of more than 800 people charged in connection with the Jan. 6 insurrection, and among over 300 to have pleaded guilty. Hundreds more cases are still to come.

Flashback: Evans recorded himself breaching the Capitol with a mob of Trump supporters. He filmed himself saying, "We’re in, we’re in! Derrick Evans is in the Capitol!" according to charging documents.

Evans resigned from the state's House of Delegates shortly after the riot in January 2021, and then pleaded guilty last March. 

The Department of Justice recommended a three-month sentence for Evans, according to court documents. 

What they're saying: Judge Royce C. Lamberth said that he felt incarceration was necessary for Evans and was initially inclined to give the former legislator six months, NBC News reports. 

"I can't just give you probation in a case like this," Lamberth said, per CNN.  

"I have to send a message. I don't want another riot at the next election ... so I'm going to do what I can as a judge."

But the judge added he thought Evans could "live a good life again" after prison.

Ex-West Virginia lawmaker who filmed himself at Capitol riot jailed

Derrick Evans recorded himself breaching the Capitol with a mob of Trump supporters.

Photo: Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Jan. 6

The ex-West Virginia legislator who filmed himself <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="storming the U.S. Capitol" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/west-virginia-derrick-evans-resigns-capitol-riot-20925e03-9fb5-4b8e-a15b-f8c90a031a24.html" data-vars-content-id="7a63f061-3c40-434f-bcd4-8ba3a3f75d2e" data-vars-headline="Ex-West Virginia lawmaker who filmed himself at Capitol riot jailed" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/west-virginia-derrick-evans-resigns-capitol-riot-20925e03-9fb5-4b8e-a15b-f8c90a031a24.html" target="_self">storming the U.S. Capitol</a> during the insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, was sentenced to three months in prison on Wednesday. The big picture: Derrick Evans is one of more than 800 people charged in connection with the Jan. 6 insurrection, and among over 300 to have pleaded guilty. Hundreds more cases are still to come.

A doctor who is a leader in the anti-vaccine movement was sentenced to two months in prison on Thursday for storming the U.S. Capitol, according to the Department of Justice. 

The big picture: Simone Gold was sentenced to two months in jail and one year of supervised release for her role in the attack on Jan. 6, 2021, and was ordered to pay a $9,500 fine and $500 restitution. 

Gold, who is from California, delivered speeches to rioters that day, according to court documents. 

She had traveled to Washington D.C. from Tampa, Florida the day before to speak out against COVID-19 lockdowns and to promote the use of hydroxychloroquine. 

What they're saying: Gold told the judge that she regrets her actions that day and had not intended to get involved in something that was “so destructive to our nation," AP reports. 

"It's the opposite of who I am," she said, adding that her reputation was "utterly shredded."

Flashback: After the Jan. 6 riot, Gold told the Washington Post that she didn't witness any violence at the Capitol and she didn't think she was breaking any laws.

"I can certainly speak to the place that I was, and it most emphatically was not a riot," Gold said. 

Washington D.C.

D.C. Alerts

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Washington, DC. Written by Chelsea Cirruzzo, Cuneyt Dil and Paige Hopkins.

Axios D.C.

Axios D.C. Thought Bubble

Anti-vaccine doctor sentenced to 2 months for storming the Capitol

Simone Gold delivered speeches to rioters before entering the Capitol.

Photo by Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post via Getty Images

A doctor who is a leader in the anti-vaccine movement was sentenced to two months in prison on Thursday for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="storming the U.S. Capitol" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/01/06/capitol-riot-january-6-anniversary" data-vars-content-id="83886468-3129-4a94-b82e-2b667a2627ad" data-vars-headline="Anti-vaccine doctor sentenced to 2 months for storming the Capitol" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/01/06/capitol-riot-january-6-anniversary" target="_self">storming the U.S. Capitol</a>, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the Department of Justice." data-vars-click-url="https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/defendants/gold-simone-melissa" data-vars-content-id="83886468-3129-4a94-b82e-2b667a2627ad" data-vars-headline="Anti-vaccine doctor sentenced to 2 months for storming the Capitol" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/defendants/gold-simone-melissa" target="_blank">the Department of Justice.</a> The big picture: Simone Gold was sentenced to two months in jail and one year of supervised release for her role in the attack on Jan. 6, 2021, and was ordered to pay a $9,500 fine and $500 restitution.

The Supreme Court has asked Maryland officials, including Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, to enforce state and county laws that prohibit picketing at private homes after protests started outside of the Supreme Court Justices' homes last month, NBC News reports. 

The big picture: Demonstrations began after the draft Supreme Court abortion decision was leaked in May, and have continued on since the court overturned Roe v. Wade last month. 

At the time, Hogan said he was “deeply concerned” that hundreds of people were picketing outside the homes of some justices, according to NBC.  

What they're saying: Protests at and threatening activities at justices’ homes have increased, Supreme Court marshal Gail Curley said in a letter to Hogan and a letter to Marc Elrich, the executive of Montgomery County, NBC News writes.

According to Curley, 75 protesters “loudly picketed at one justice’s home in Maryland for 20-30 minutes in the evening, then proceeded to picket at another justice’s home for 30 minutes, where the crowd grew to 100, and finally returned to the first justice’s home to picket for another 20 minutes.” 

Maryland law prohibits assembling “with another in a manner that disrupts a person’s right to tranquility in the person’s home," she added. 

"This is exactly the kind of conduct that Maryland and Montgomery County laws prohibit," Curley wrote. 

Flashback: Nicholas John Roske was charged with attempted murder after he allegedly told detectives he traveled from California to Maryland intending to kill Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Law enforcement officials found a black tactical vest and tactical knife, a pistol with two magazines and ammunition, pepper spray, zip ties, a hammer, screwdriver, nail punch, crow bar, pistol light, duct tape and hiking boots with padding on the outside of the soles in Roske's backpack.

Roske allegedly told detectives that he was upset about the leak of a Supreme Court draft decision that would overturn Roe v. Wade and the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

SCOTUS asks Maryland officials to stop protests outside justices' homes

Demonstrations began after the draft Supreme Court abortion decision was leaked in May, and increased when the court overturned Roe v. Wade last month.

Supreme Court justices

The Supreme Court has asked Maryland officials, including Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, to enforce state and county laws that prohibit picketing at private homes after protests started outside of the Supreme Court Justices&#x27; homes last month, NBC News reports. The big picture: Demonstrations began after the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="draft Supreme Court abortion decision" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/03/supreme-court-leak-roe-v-wade" data-vars-content-id="8ea7289d-59b6-4707-8d01-3d52b5107389" data-vars-headline="SCOTUS asks Maryland officials to stop protests outside justices&#x27; homes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/03/supreme-court-leak-roe-v-wade" target="_self">draft Supreme Court abortion decision</a> was leaked in May, and have continued on since the court <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="overturned Roe v. Wade " data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/06/24/roe-wade-decision-abortion" data-vars-content-id="8ea7289d-59b6-4707-8d01-3d52b5107389" data-vars-headline="SCOTUS asks Maryland officials to stop protests outside justices&#x27; homes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/06/24/roe-wade-decision-abortion" target="_self">overturned Roe v. Wade </a>last month.

Ford is recalling 2.9 million vehicles due to a rollaway risk, per AP.

Why it matters: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received multiple reports of property damage and injuries potentially related to the problem.

The big picture: The cables in the cars can detach or degrade over time, which can lead to vehicles not shifting into the intended gear, according to documents from the NHTSA.

The cars might not shift into the correct gear and could move in an unintended direction, CNN writes. 

Details: The recall covers certain 2013 to 2019 Escape, 2013 to 2018 C-Max, 2013 to 2016 Fusion, 2013 to 2021 Transit Connect and 2015 to 2018 Edge vehicles.

Ford currently has over 1,600 warranty reports and 230 complaints about the problem, per AP. 

Ford recalls 2.9 million cars due to rollaway risk

The NHTSA has multiple reports of property damage and injuries potentially related to the problem.

Photo: Indranil Aditya/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Ford Motor Company

Transportation

Ford is recalling 2.9 million vehicles due to a rollaway risk, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="per AP" data-vars-click-url="https://apnews.com/article/trending-news-c350a00418fb8911b4617a4a8ec3752f" data-vars-content-id="dc774e90-778c-41e4-967a-ac74739936bb" data-vars-headline="Ford recalls 2.9 million cars due to rollaway risk" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://apnews.com/article/trending-news-c350a00418fb8911b4617a4a8ec3752f" target="_blank">per AP</a>.Why it matters: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="multiple reports" data-vars-click-url="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2022/RCLRPT-22V413-2380.PDF" data-vars-content-id="dc774e90-778c-41e4-967a-ac74739936bb" data-vars-headline="Ford recalls 2.9 million cars due to rollaway risk" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2022/RCLRPT-22V413-2380.PDF" target="_blank">multiple reports</a> of property damage and injuries potentially related to the problem.

After a record economic expansion, the coronavirus pandemic sent the U.S. economy into a recession as unemployment soared to staggering heights. The country now faces urgent questions about how much stimulus is needed for reeling consumers and businesses, and what a recovery might look like.

Economy & Business

Ominous forecasts about the impact of climate change serve as the backdrop for the world — led by U.S. lawmakers and companies — to debate big action on the problem, which could upend energy systems and our way of life.

Sections

Axios Local

Axios gets you smarter, faster with news & information that matters.

About

Subscribe

TuAnh Dam

Stories

SCOTUS asks Maryland officials to stop protests outside justices' homes

Ex-West Virginia lawmaker who filmed himself at Capitol riot jailed

Anti-vaccine doctor sentenced to 2 months for storming the Capitol

Ford recalls 2.9 million cars due to rollaway risk

Southern Baptist Convention passes 2 reforms on sexual abuse