Manssor Arbabsiar, Texas used car dealer charged with in a murder for hire plot to kill the Iranian ambassador, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. The Government alleged the Iranian military used him to hire a Mexican drug cartel to carry out the assassination.

Arbabsiar had approached someone he thought was a member of Los Zetas. He turned out to be a government informant.

Marcy at Empty Wheel has been following this story. Her post today on the sentencing is here.

Yesterday, George Zimmerman's lawyer posted and tweeted the defense fund was out of money and desperately in need of $75,000 to $150,000 for experts, deposition transcripts and other expenses.

Since then, they have raised $12,000. Some of the donors have explained why their are contributing.

“I don't know if George Zimmerman is guilty or not, but he deserves the ability to defend his self in court as best he can. This donation wouldn't be necessary if certain individuals and organizations hadn't attempted to act as his judge, jury, and executioner in the wake of that terrible night. Good luck, and may the truth prevail, whatever it may be.”

[More...]

Abdulbaki Todashev, the father of Ibragim Todashev, is demanding an investigation into his son's shooting death by the FBI. Holding a picture of his dead son that shows his autopsy scars, he accuses the FBI of murder.

“I want justice. I want an investigation,” he said at a Moscow news conference. “They come to your house like bandits, and they shoot you.”

It now appears his son was unarmed when agents and or cops blasted him with 7 bullets (six shots to the body and a “control” shot to the back of the head.) Of course, other unnamed officials continue to say he had a weapon. The disparity alone this long after the shooting shows something is askew. They can't even get their stories straight.[More...]

I'm short on time today. Here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

Michelle Bachman is not running for reelection. I can't think of any reason to care. I've never devoted even a single brain cell to thinking about her. Sounds like it's time for her to retreat into the obscurity from which she came. Unless she gets indicted, she's now less than a footnote in the history of national affairs.

If anyone wants to discuss her, here's a thread to do so.

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper has signed the six bills regulating recreational marijuana passed by the legislature. They go into effect July 1.

The bills are House bills 1042, 1238, 1 317, 1318 and 1325, and Senate Bill 283. A short synopsis is here.

When asked about when a response on the new laws would come from the Feds, Hickenlooper says he thought it would be soon, but he really didn't know. Then he quipped, "They've been kind of busy." [More...]

Lulzec/Anti-Sec hacker Jeremy Hammond pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday to the Stratfor hack. He did not cooperate for a lesser sentence, and faces up to 10 years in prison. Had he gone to trial and lost, his sentencing guidelines exceeded 30 years. The Government has agreed not to bring additional cases against him.

Jeremy released this statement after his plea.

[E]ven if I was found not guilty at trial, the government claimed that there were eight other outstanding indictments against me from jurisdictions scattered throughout the country. If I had won this trial I would likely have been shipped across the country to face new but similar charges in a different district. The process might have repeated indefinitely. Ultimately I decided that the most practical route was to accept this plea with a maximum of a ten year sentence and immunity from prosecution in every federal court.

He says it's a relief to admit his actions. As to his hacking activities, he says "I did what I believe is right." [More...]

I've been working all weekend on my powerpoint for my talk on Email and Social Media Evidence: Uploading Guilt, Downloading Impeachment. I have to have it done by Weds when i leave for Aspen and NORML's Legal Seminar.

I'm sure there will be news, so here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

A pre-trial motions hearing begins at 9:00 am in the George Zimmerman case.

Here's a link to watch live.

You can read all the pleadings on the Zimmerman web site. For analysis and discussion, visit DiWataman.

Here's a thread to discuss the proceedings.

Enjoy the holiday everyone. This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

It's Champion League Final Day!

Bayern Munich vs. Borussia Dortmund (or BVB for those in the know) in an all German club final.

I invested in Dortmund at the quarterfinal stage at 8-1, so a hedge is in order - Bayern (-1) at (+135) for 3 units. But a Dortmund win nets me a 37 unit win.

So go BVB!

Open Thread.

Your turn. Here's an open thread, all topics welcome.