Dec 8, 2017

U.S. Court of Appeals judge accused of sexual harassment

Judge Alex Kozinski, of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Photo: Paul Sakuma / AP

A former chief judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit is being accused of sexual misconduct by former clerks, according to a Washington Post report.

Why it matters: While sexual harassment allegations have touched every industry (media, entertainment, sports, politics, and more) this is the first allegation against a judge. Kozinski said in a statement he "would never intentionally do anything to offend anyone."

The allegations:

One clerk, Heidi Bond, told the Post that Judge Alex Kozinski invited her into his office with images of porn pulled up on his computer, and asked her if it "aroused her sexually."
Another woman, Emily Murphy, who clerked for Judge Richard Pez, said Kozinski steered a group conversation towards the idea of her exercising in the 9th Circuit gym naked.

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Rebecca Falconer

Updated 40 mins ago - World

China says U.S. is "endangering peace" with high-level visit to Taiwan

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar during a June briefing in Washington, DC. Photo: Joshua Roberts/Getty Images

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar announced Tuesday night he will lead a delegation to Taiwan "in the coming days."

Why it matters: It's the highest-level visit by a U.S. cabinet official to Taiwan since 1979. Azar is also the first U.S. Cabinet member to visit the island state in six years. The visit has angered China, which views Taiwan as part of its territory. Chinese officials accused the U.S. Wednesday of "endangering peace" with the visit, AFP reports.

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Axios

Updated 1 hour ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Global: Total confirmed cases as of 3:30 a.m. ET: 18,543,662 — Total deaths: 700,714 — Total recoveries — 11,143,031— Map.
U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 3:30 a.m. ET: 4,771,236 — Total deaths: 156,807 — Total recoveries: 1,528,979 — Total tests: 57,543,852 — Map.
States: New York City health commissioner resigns in protest of De Blasio's coronavirus response — Local governments go to war over schools.
Public health: 59% of Americans support nationwide 2-week stay-at-home order in NPR poll.
Politics: Trump's national security adviser returns to work after coronavirus recovery — Republicans push to expand small business loan program.
Sports: Indy 500 to be held without fans — Rafael Nadal opts out of U.S. Open.

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Dave Lawler

Updated 3 hours ago - World

At least 100 killed, 4,000 injured after massive explosion rocks Beirut

Photo: Anwar Amro/AFP via Getty Images

A major explosion has slammed central Beirut, Lebanon, damaging buildings as far as several miles away and injuring scores of people.

Driving the news: At least 100 people have been killed and over 4,000 injured in the blast — and the death toll is likely to rise, the Lebanese Red Cross said, per AP. Prime Minister Hassan Diab said the explosions occurred at a warehouse that had been storing 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate for the past six years.