Topic: Contempt Of Court

President Trump's pardon of former Sheriff Joe Arpaio has sparked outrage among Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee. Critics and media outlets like *Democracy Now* have labeled Arpaio a "notorious racist." The discussion compares Trump's early use of the pardon power to the high volume of pardons issued by Barack Obama and Bill Clinton at the end of their terms.

Police in Scotland are investigating "hateful" online comments regarding a fatal helicopter crash in Glasgow, treating them as criminal offenses. The UK Attorney General has begun publishing guidance for social media users to prevent "contempt of court" and other speech-related crimes. The hosts argue that these measures effectively end free speech on platforms like Twitter in the United Kingdom.

A BBC legal correspondent warned social media users in the United Kingdom that tweets and Facebook posts are legally considered "publications." Users can be prosecuted for libel or contempt of court for commenting on active criminal cases or revealing the identities of protected victims. The warning emphasizes that online speech carries the same legal weight as traditional book publishing.

Federal Judge Alvin Hellerstein declined to find the CIA in contempt for destroying videotapes of 9/11 detainee interrogations. The judge concluded that penalizing the agency would serve no beneficial purpose. The hosts interpret this as a sign of the intelligence community's untouchable status due to their control over the drone program.