Maxine Waters responds to accusations her office leaked GOP senators' information

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) has released a statement denied allegations claiming that a member of her staff was responsible for the release of personal information regarding U.S. senators. Read her statement below:

Rep. Waters Statement on False Allegations Regarding the Leak of the Personal Information of U.S. Senators

“Lies, lies, and more despicable lies. I am utterly disgusted by the spread of the completely false, absurd, and dangerous lies and conspiracy theories that are being peddled by ultra-right wing pundits, outlets, and websites who are promoting a fraudulent claim that a member of my staff was responsible for the release of the personal information of Members of the United States Senate on Wikipedia. This unfounded allegation is completely false and an absolute lie.

“The United States Capitol Police and our internal IT specialist have determined that the IP address in question does not belong to my office or anyone on my staff. The member of my staff – whose identity, personal information, and safety have been compromised as a result of these fraudulent and false allegations – was in no way responsible for the leak of this information. My office has alerted the appropriate authorities and law enforcement entities of these fraudulent claims. We will ensure that the perpetrators will be revealed, and that they will be held legally liable for all of their actions that are destructive and dangerous to any and all members of my staff.”

12-year-old DJ Tillman graduates Excelsior College

12 year old DJ Tillman of Chicago graduated Excelsior College in July! She wants to get her masters in environmental engineering, but will take a couple gap months before pursing that goal.

Georgia county swears in first elected black judge

The first African-American to be elected to any countywide position in Gwinnett County, Georgia, was sworn in as a judge Thursday afternoon.

Ronda Colvin-Leary, a Snellville attorney, won the seat in May. While multiple African-American judges have been appointed to serve on magistrate, juvenile and recorders courts, Colvin-Leary is the first to win an election for state court, the county’s Administrative Office of the Courts confirmed after her election.

Colvin-Leary has been a member of the Georgia bar since 2001, after earning a law degree from Florida Coastal School of Law and an undergraduate degree from Auburn University. Before her election, she was the solicitor for the city of Winder and ran her own law practice in Lawrenceville for more than a decade.

Gwinnett County State Court handles civil actions, misdemeanors and traffic violations. Colvin-Leary likes the court’s role in the judicial system because it can address more minor legal issues before they escalate, she told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution after her election.

“I love State Court because, for me, I like to think that … if you come to State Court we can try to address it before something else major happens and you wind up in Superior Court for a more serious offense,” Colvin-Leary said.

[SOURCE: WPXI]

Carolina Panthers sign Eric Reid although he is suing NFL over National Anthem protest

NFL safety Eric Reid signed with the Carolina Panthers Thursday, in a move that could complicate his suit against the league over his protests during the National anthem.

Reid, who was the first to join Colin Kaepernick in kneeling during the National Anthem to protest policy brutality and systemic racism, claims he lost his job with the San Francisco 49ers and was blackballed from the league over his protests.

"We made this decision based on the fact he's a good football player,'' Panthers owner Marty Hurney told ESPN. "He's played at a very high level the last few years. We think he can come in and help us win games.''

Kaepernick, who is more popularly associated with the protests, congratulated Reid on Thursday.

Congrats to my brother @e_reid35, all pro safety who should have been signed the 1st day of free agency, who has signed a football contract.

He was the first person to kneel alongside me. Eric is a social justice warrior, continues to support his family. and communities in need.

[SOURCE: THE HILL]

A tale of two Bill Cosbys in the black community

By George L. Cook III African American Reports

The fact that Bill Cosby has been sentenced to 3 to 10 years for sexual assault has set off a debate in the black community.

There are those who believe that all of the good that he has done outweighs what he was found guilty of, and those on the other side who say that the good doesn't exceed the bad he has done as a sexual predator.

The problem is that it's not that easy. It's rather complicated.

Many of those of those who believe that the bad outweighs the good want us who grew up with Bill Cosby and The Cosby Show to repudiate Cosby and pretend he hasn't helped thousands of black students attend college or at one time presented a positive image of black families when there were none out there.

But there are those who believe the fact that he did help HBCUs and black students should give the former comedian a "get out of jail free" card.

Both sides can be right.

We can at the same time remember the good Cosby has done while at the same time be disappointed and disgusted in his actions as a now convicted sexual predator, which is what I have chosen to do.

A word to both sides in closing.

To those who want to use Bill Cosby as an example of disparities for African Americans in the criminal justice system, stop it. Cosby had millions of dollars to defend himself and lost. Most black people that become entrapped in the system don't have that chance to at least put on a decent defense.

To those on the #MeToo side breaking their arms while patting themselves on the back too much for Bill Cosby being sentenced to prison, stop it. While yes Cosby is being punished for past crimes and his victims get the justice they deserve, getting an 81-year-old legally blind man off the streets is not going to make one woman safer. When the likes of Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, and Jeremy Piven are sentenced to prison, then something is really being accomplished.

Well that's my take on this issue and like I stated earlier, it's complicated.