Rhode Island

‘No kings in America’: Biden slams U.S. Supreme Court ruling granting Trump immunity • Rhode Island Current

Published

2 days ago

July 1, 2024

‘No kings in America’: Biden slams U.S. Supreme Court ruling granting Trump immunity • Rhode Island Current

Monday’s U.S. Supreme Court decision granting the presumption of criminal immunity for official actions taken by a president fundamentally altered U.S. democracy, President Joe Biden said from the White House Monday evening.

Speaking for less than five minutes, Biden said the 6-3 decision contradicted the spirit of the country’s founding — set to be celebrated nationwide this week on the Fourth of July — that no one is above the law.

Presidential immunity extends to some official acts, Supreme Court rules in Trump case

“This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America,” Biden said. “Each of us is equal before the law. No one — no one — is above the law, not even the president of the United States.”

The immunity decision, written by Chief Justice John Roberts for the court’s conservative majority, undermined that principle, Biden said.

Biden added that the decision would almost certainly mean a jury would not decide the criminal case accusing former President Donald Trump of conspiring to illegally overturn his 2020 loss before November’s election, which Biden called a “disservice to the American people.”

Roberts opinion

The ruling tasked a federal trial court with determining which actions then-President Trump took seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election were conducted as “official” acts of the president. Those actions are entitled to “the presumption of immunity,” Roberts wrote.

The ruling protected the power of an office that itself makes up an entire branch of government, Roberts said, and was consistent with the constitutional framers’ view that the president has broad powers and responsibilities.

“Accounting for that reality — and ensuring that the President may exercise those powers forcefully, as the Framers anticipated he would — does not place him above the law,” Roberts wrote. “It preserves the basic structure of the Constitution.”

But Biden called the decision “a dangerous precedent” that would give presidents nearly unrestrained power.

“The power of the president will no longer be constrained by the law, even by the Supreme Court of the United States,” he said. “The only limits will be self-imposed by the president alone.”

Biden invoked the example of George Washington, who he said restrained the power of the presidency, and pledged he would continue to “respect the limits of the presidential powers.”

But, he said, the ruling empowered future presidents, possibly including Trump, to ignore the law.

Jan. 6 attack

Biden said Trump was responsible for the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol that disrupted the certification of Biden’s defeat of Trump in the 2020 election. Trump’s efforts to undermine the election results, culminating in the Jan. 6 attack, are the subject of the federal indictment the former president challenged by asserting presidential immunity.

“Four years ago, my predecessor sent a violent mob to the U.S. Capitol to stop the peaceful transfer of power,” Biden said. “We all saw with our own eyes. We saw what happened that day … I think it’s fair to say it’s one of the darkest days in U.S. history. Now, the man who sent that mob to the U.S. Capitol is facing potential criminal conviction.”

Biden, whose reelection campaign was still reeling Monday from a debate performance against Trump last week described even by Democrats as poor, called on voters to “do what the court should have been willing to do but would not,” and reject Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, at the ballot box.

The president endorsed Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s forceful dissent in the case, quoting her phrase that the majority opinion fueled “fear for our democracy” and urging voters, too, to dissent.

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Rhode Island

Body Recovered Off Newport's Ocean Drive – Newport Buzz

Published

7 hours ago

July 3, 2024

Press Room

Body Recovered Off Newport's Ocean Drive – Newport Buzz

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management confirmed on Wednesday that a body was recovered off Ocean Drive in Newport, near Brenton Point State Park.

Authorities are awaiting identification from the state medical examiner to determine if the body is that of a 20-year-old East Providence man who went missing in the water in late June. The discovery of the body comes as part of an ongoing investigation by local law enforcement.

Further details will be released as they become available.

Like Newport Buzz? We depend on the generosity of readers like you who support us, to help with our mission to keep you informed and entertained with local, independent news and content. We truly appreciate your trust and support!

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Rhode Island

🎆 Rhode Island fireworks are the best fireworks – The Boston Globe

Published

14 hours ago

July 3, 2024

Press Room

🎆 Rhode Island fireworks are the best fireworks – The Boston Globe

Bristol: Tonight at 9:30 p.m.

”Tied to the rich history of the seemingly year-round, nonstop celebration of patriotism in the town which boasts the oldest continuous 4th of July parade in the USA, Bristol’s fireworks are the kind that George Washington, Ben Franklin, and all the other guys dreamed of when they signed the Declaration of Independence.” – Ben DeCastro

Bonus: Don’t miss Scott MacKay’s lovely reflection on the civic pride in Bristol.

East Providence: Tonight at Pierce Memorial Stadium

“It’s difficult to compete with Bristol’s fireworks, but EP punches above its weight. The celebration begins at 6 p.m. with plenty of live music and food.” – Dan McGowan (hey, that’s me).

Coventry: July 4 around 9:30 p.m.

”Coventry can make a great case for being a fireworks destination around the Independence Day holiday! The town puts on a 25 minute-plus display to cap off its annual Summer Festival, which includes local food trucks, kids games, and live music from Rhode Island-based artists the last week in June.” – Councilwoman Hillary Lima

Jamestown: July 7 at 9 p.m.

”You can have your weekday fireworks, but Jamestown saves the best for last.” – Wendy in Jamestown

Newport: July 4 around 9:15 p.m.

”From Fort Adams to our Colonial downtown, public parks to rooftop restaurants, Newport has countless great vantage points from which to watch our fireworks. The spirit of America runs strong through our City by the Sea, where Washington once walked the streets, and where much of the Navy still calls home.” – Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong

This story first appeared in Rhode Map, our free newsletter about Rhode Island that also contains information about local events, links to interesting stories, and more. If you’d like to receive it via e-mail Monday through Friday, you can sign up here.

Dan McGowan can be reached at dan.mcgowan@globe.com. Follow him @danmcgowan.

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Rhode Island

Anthony’s Seafood—R.I.’S best kept secret – Cranston Herald

Published

21 hours ago

July 3, 2024

Press Room

Anthony’s Seafood—R.I.’S best kept secret – Cranston Herald

Restaurant Review by DON FOWLER

It is time for me to let you in on Rhode Island’s best kept secret for fresh fried seafood.

Anthony’s Seafood at 963 Aquidneck Rd. (Rt.138A) in Middletown is the place where Aquidneck Island natives go for their fresh seafood.

The inconspicuous location, on the way to the beaches and Cliff Walk, offers perfectly cooked meals and sandwiches at competitive prices, with no fringes.

On weekends, the lines spill out into the overflowing parking lot. A sign tells you that there are two lines, one for the market and one for the restaurant. For the dining area, place your order with the cashier, pay for it, take a number and find a table. If there are two or four in the party, don’t sit at the tables for six. An employee will bring your food to the table and clean up after you.

Ice cold water is available as you enter the dining room.

Anthony’s menu is limited to the seafood basics: Lobster, shrimp, calamari, whole belly clams, scallops and cod, with salmon and swordfish sandwiches also available.

They do have hot dogs, hamburgers and chicken fingers for the fussy kids and that rare adult who doesn’t eat fish.

Joyce and I don’t have to look at the menu. We know what we want.

We start off with Kung Po Calamari ($14), a generous plate of tender squid with a sweet plum chili sauce, peanuts, scallions and hot peppers. We know of no other place that has calamari prepared in that manner.

We share the Fisherman’s Platter ($39), which is listed as enough for two people, and it is.

The fried clams are the highlight. Tasty and tender, the whole belly clams are without a doubt, the best in Rhode Island.

Added to the platter are large sea scallops, calamari, shrimp, a huge piece of fried cod (or flounder) and fries, accompanied by tartar sauce, shrimp sauce and cole slaw.

Believe us, it’s as good as it gets.

Anthony’s hasn’t changed since our early days of attending the music festivals every summer in Newport.

Ocean Drive is a short distance from the restaurant. A relaxing trip from Bellevue Ave. to Fort Adams, with a stop overlooking the ocean, is a must.

Take the trip east on Route 195 to Exit 14 (MA 24S) to Exit 1 (Rt. 138S), right on Turnpike Ave Rt. 138) and left on Rt. 138. You avoid all tolls and are in for a pleasant ride. It is worth the stop-and-go traffic on the Washington Bridge.

Anthony’s phone number is 846-9620. They are open every day from 11:00 a.m. to 7 or 8 p.m. (closed Wednesday). Go around 4 p.m. to avoid the crowds.

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