Both were expected to be freed after being returned to prison to collect their belongings.

Earlier Monday, a tearful Knox told the jury that she did not kill her British roommate, pleading for the court to free her so she can return to the United States after four years behind bars.

Knox frequently paused for breath and fought back tears as she spoke in Italian to the eight members of the jury in a packed courtroom, but managed to maintain her composure during the 10-minute address.

“I’m not a promiscuous vamp. I’m not violent … I have not killed, I have not raped, I was not there, I was not present,” the 24-year-old American told a packed courtroom in Perugia.

“I want to go home, I want to go back to my life, I do not want to be punished and to have my life taken away from me for something I have not done, because I am innocent.”

The eight-member jury weighed whether the 2009 convictions and prison sentences — 26 years for Knox, 25 years for Sollecito — should stand, be dismissed or altered.

I’m not sure what to say here, I haven’t followed the Knox case closely, but from what little I have read two things seem clear: the Italian p0lice hopelessly botched their investigation into the murder Meredith Kercher and the tabloid media held what amounts to a virtual public lynching of Ms. Knox… Something that is becoming far to common both here and abroad.

Related

• Italian appeal court clears Amanda Knox of murder – Reuters.com
• Italian Court Frees Amanda Knox – Wall Street Journal

No link yet, I’ll update this as soon as I have more.

Update: Ok here’s the Fox News story on Gov. Pawlenty’s withdrawal… The Associated Press has more here.

Personally, I’m a little disappointed to see Gov. Pawlenty withdraw this early in the race. I know many people like to minimize the importance of the Ames straw poll, but the fact is Gov. Pawlenty made sizable investment Iowa, he worked the ground game over a year, and poured most of his remaining campaign funds into this effort and still finished a distant third.

Frankly, I don’t see how he go back to potential donors after this and convince them to pour more money into an effort that hasn’t gained much traction.

Edit: A few random thoughts in no particular order:

• As I said I’m sorry to see Gov. Pawlenty drop out this early in the race, but he always struck me as a bit of long shot and he never seemed generated the kind of buzz a presidential candidate needs.
• I’m going to go out on limb with this, but I suspect Herman Cain may be the next to withdraw. Mr. Cain has generated enough buzz to keep his campaign going for a while longer, but his disappointing showing in the Ames Straw Poll makes me wonder if he’ll make it to the New Hampshire primary.
• Former Senator Rick Santorum’s surprisingly good showing in Ames breathes new life into what seemed like a lost cause.  It’s worth keeping an eye on him to see he can capitalize on his success in the Ames Straw Poll… He may turn out to be the campaigns new dark horse.
• Sarah Palin, I think she’s running… If she is she has to make it official sooner rather than later. I won’t claim to speak for all of her supporters, but personally, I’m getting a little bored with all the flirting, if you’re running, quit screwing around and make it official… If not get off the stage and stop stealing the spotlight from the real candidates.

I’m still reviewing the 200 plus page majority opinion from Judges Joel Dubina and Frank Hull, but here’s the conclusion summarizing the court’s findings:

We first conclude that the Act’s Medicaid expansion is constitutional. Existing Supreme Court precedent does not establish that Congress’s inducements are unconstitutionally coercive, especially when the federal government will bear nearly all the costs of the program’s amplified enrollments.

Next, the individual mandate was enacted as a regulatory penalty, not a revenue-raising tax, and cannot be sustained as an exercise of Congress’s power under the Taxing and Spending Clause. The mandate is denominated as a penalty in the Act itself, and the legislative history and relevant case law confirm this reading of its function.

Further, the individual mandate exceeds Congress’s enumerated commerce power and is unconstitutional. This economic mandate represents a wholly novel and potentially unbounded assertion of congressional authority: the ability to compel Americans to purchase an expensive health insurance product they have elected not to buy, and to make them re-purchase that insurance product every month for their entire lives. We have not found any generally applicable, judicially enforceable limiting principle that would permit us to uphold the mandate without obliterating the boundaries inherent in the system of enumerated congressional powers. “Uniqueness” is not a constitutional principle in any antecedent Supreme Court decision. The individual mandate also finds no refuge in the aggregation doctrine, for decisions to abstain from the purchase of a product or service, whatever their cumulative effect, lack a sufficient nexus to commerce. [fn omitted]

The individual mandate, however, can be severed from the remainder of the Act’s myriad reforms. The presumption of severability is rooted in notions of judicial restraint and respect for the separation of powers in our constitutional system. The Act’s other provisions remain legally operaive after the mandate’s excision, and the high burden needed under Supreme Court precedent to rebut the presumption of severability has not been met.

While this is welcome news I wouldn’t celebrate just yet, we’ve still got a long way to go. If nothing else this ruling makes it more likely that this case is headed to the Supreme Court.

Random thoughts:

• Nancy Pelosi wasn’t kidding when she said we had to pass it to find out what was in it… The majority opinion is 207 pages long, most of it is devoted to explaining how the law the works.
• This is the first time a judge appointed by a Democrat has ruled against the individual mandate… Judge Hull was appointed by Bill Clinton, while Judge Dubina is a George H.W. Bush appointee.
• The court didn’t buy the Obama administration’s argument  that the individual mandate is an exercise of the governments taxing powers.  I might be wrong on this, but I think every court that’s considered the matter has ruled against the government on that point.
• The Court points out on page 171 that if it were to accept the Obama administration’s interpretation of the Commerce Clause would mean a limitless federal power:
  

  The federal government’s assertion of power, under the Commerce Clause, to issue an economic mandate for Americans to purchase insurance from a private company for the entire duration of their lives is unprecedented, lacks cognizable limits, and imperils our federalist structure.

• The court basically punted on the issue of severability:
  

  The presumption of severability is rooted in notions of judicial restraint and respect for the separation of powers in our constitutional system. The Act’s other provisions remain legally operative after the mandate’s excision, and the high burden needed under Supreme Court precedent to rebut the presumption of severability has not been met.

  Maybe I’m missing something, but it’s my layman’s understanding the standard for “presuming” something being “severable” in a law is that it includes a specific severability clause. Regardless from what I remember, the government’s argument to Judge Vinson was that the individual mandate was not severable, it was necessary for the law to function as intended.

The complete ruling is here.

Anthony D. Weiner has told friends that he plans to resign his seat after coming under growing pressure from his Democratic colleagues to leave the House, said a person told of Mr. Weiner’s plans.

His decision follows of revelations of his lewd online exchanges with women, said a person told of Mr. Weiner’s plans.

The news comes as Democratic leaders prepared to hold a meeting on Thursday to discuss whether to strip the 46-year-old Congressman of his committee assignments, a blow which would severely damage his effectiveness.

Congressman Weiner’s decision comes amid heightening pressure from Congressional Democrats who were scheduled to meet today to discuss stripping Rep. Weiner of his committee assignments which would have significantly reduced his influence and effectiveness.

Congressman Weiner reportedly informed House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel of his decision to resign last night… His decision comes after his first face to talk with his wife, Huma Abedin, since news of his social-network indiscretions broke. Ms. Abedin had been traveling on business with her boss Secretary of State Hillary Clinton until yesterday.

Related

• Top LAX Exec Resigns In Sexting Scandal – CBS Los Angeles

Two quick questions, first, why now? And second, will this put end to the birther movement and Donald Trump’s circus sideshow not quite presidential campaign?

Updates as warranted.

Update: Fox News just updated their story to include the following:

White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer said the administration decided to release the full document in response to mounting questions about the president’s birth. He noted that what started as Internet chatter had moved into the national political debate and ended up being discussed regularly on mainstream news outlets.

That answers the first question, I guess Donald Trump made enough noise that they couldn’t ignore questions about President Obama’s birth and/or citizenship any longer.

Update: Dave Weigel has the birth certificate over at Slate.com.

Update: Ed Morrissey is right, this conspiracy theory should have died three years ago.  I have no idea why the President or his handlers let this “issue” fester for so long… The 2012 presidential campaign is about Barack Obama’s policies and actions as President, not his birth certificate. Thankfully this this sideshow distraction now off the table.

from The Wall Street Journal:

A federal district judge sided with the state of Virginia in its challenge to the health law passed in March, saying Congress exceeded its “constitutional boundaries” when it required most Americans to carry health insurance or pay a fine.

Judge Henry E. Hudson of the Eastern District of Virginia said the provision in the bill, known as the individual mandate, “would invite unbridled exercise of federal police powers.”

The ruling is perhaps the most significant so far among a slate of state-based legal challenges to the law, which faces a broad attack by newly resurgent Republicans in Congress. More than 20 federal lawsuits have been filed against the health overhaul since President Obama signed it in March. The individual mandate doesn’t take effect until 2014.

Judge Hudson’s ruling deals serve blow to health care reform advocates. Saying in part:

“Neither the Supreme Court nor any federal circuit court of appeals has extended Commerce Clause powers to compel an individual to involuntarily enter the stream of commerce by purchasing a commodity in the private market,” he wrote. “In doing so, enactment of the [individual mandate] exceeds the Commerce Clause powers vested in Congress under Article I .”

Judge Hudson’s ruling will undoubtedly be appealed. A separate suit filed by 20 states still pending before federal Judge Roger Vinson in Pensacola, Fla., who will hear arguments in the case on Thursday.

A New Orleans federal judge lifted the six-month moratorium on deepwater drilling imposed by President Barack Obama following the largest oil spill in U.S. history. Shares of drilling services companies jumped on the news.

Obama temporarily halted all drilling in waters deeper than 500 feet on May 27 to give a presidential commission time to study improvements in the safety of offshore operations. More than a dozen Louisiana offshore service and supply companies sued U.S. regulators to lift the ban.

U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman today granted a preliminary injunction, halting the moratorium. Government lawyers told Feldman that ban was based on findings in a U.S. report following the sinking of the Deepwater Horizon rig off the Louisiana coast in April.

“The court is unable to divine or fathom a relationship between the findings and the immense scope of the moratorium,” Feldman said in his 22-page decision. “The blanket moratorium, with no parameters, seems to assume that because one rig failed and although no one yet fully knows why, all companies and rigs drilling new wells over 500 feet also universally present an imminent danger.”

Don’t start celebrating just yet, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said the administration would immediately appeal the decision to the 5th Circuit.

Bottom line, Judge Feldman’s ruling is victory for common sense and the rule of law that will hopefully be upheld by the 5th Circuit.

The Obama Administration’s six month moratorium was ill-conceived  from the start. The seven experts who advised President Obama on offshore drilling safety after the Deepwater Horizon explosion have all gone on record accusing the administration of misrepresenting their views to make it appear they supported a six-month drilling moratorium — something they actually oppose… and something Judge Feldman hones in on in his ruling (PDF):

In the Executive Summary to the Report, the Secretary [Salazar] recommends “a six-month moratorium on permits for new wells being drilled using floating rigs.” He also recommends “an immediate halt to drilling operations on the 33 permitted wells, not including relief wells currently being drilled by BP, that are currently being drilled using floating rigs in the Gulf of Mexico.”

Much to the government’s discomfort and this Court’s uneasiness, the Summary also states that “the recommendations contained in this report have been peer-reviewed by seven experts identified by the National Academy of Engineering.” As the plaintiffs, and the experts themselves, pointedly observe, this statement was misleading. The experts charge it was a “misrepresentation.” It was factually incorrect. Although the experts agreed with the safety recommendations contained in the body of the main Report, five of the National Academy experts and three of the other experts have publicly stated that they “do not agree with the six month blanket moratorium” on floating drilling.

Update (Wednesday, June 23, 2010): The AP is reporting Interior Secretary Ken Salazar intends to issue a new order imposing a moratorium on deepwater drilling in a few days. The report claims Sec. Salazar’s new order will include additional information making clear why the government believes the six-month drilling is necessary.

Related

• Ken Salazar gets an ass-kicking. Over to you, Capitol Hill. – Michelle Malkin

Democratic Representative John Murtha, the chairman of the House of Representatives defense appropriations subcommittee who exercised enormous influence on defense issues, died on Monday.

Murtha, 77, died peacefully at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington with his family by his side, a statement from his office said. He had been hospitalized recently with a gallbladder problem.

As the top Democrat on the House panel that oversaw defense appropriations, Murtha wielded big clout in Congress, making decisions affecting billions of dollars in defense-related spending.

The Pennsylvanian was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in February 1974. He was a former Marine and veteran of the Vietnam war.

It’s bad form to speak ill of the dead so I’ll just say, Godspeed Congressman, rest in peace.

Related

• Rep. Murtha Dead at 77 – FoxNews.com
• John Murtha dies, special election looms – Chris Cillizza, The Washington Post
• Rep. Murtha Dies – Mike Memoli, Real Clear Politics
• Murtha dead at 77 – Hot Air
  

Four police officers have been shot and killed near McChord Air Force Base.

Pierce County Sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer says that the officers were in a coffee shop near 116th Street and Steele Street on the east side of the Air Force base at about 8:30 a.m.

The officers were reportedly preparing for their shift when they were ambushed by an unknown number of assailants.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the officers involved and to the members of the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department.

Update (10:25 p.m.): KING TV is reporting that police have identified a person of interest in the killings of four Lakewood police officers:

Pierce county sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer said they are looking for Maurice Clemmons, 37.

Troyer said Clemmons has an extensive violent criminal history from Arkansas, including aggravated robbery and theft. He has also recently been arrested and charged in Pierce County for assault on a police officer and for rape of a child.

Troyer said Clemmons is one of several people investigators would like to talk to and can’t be called a suspect at this point.

Lakewood Police Chief Bret Farrar identified the four officers who were killed as Sergeant Mark Renninger, and Officers Ronald Owens, Tina Griswold, and Greg Richards. All were veteran police officers with families.

Update (11:00 p.m.): The Seattle Times is reporting that then Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee granted clemency to Maurice Clemmons nine years ago:

Maurice Clemmons, the 37-year-old Tacoma man being sought for questioning in the killing this morning of four Lakewood police officers, has a long criminal record punctuated by violence, erratic behavior and concerns about his mental health.

Nine years ago, then-Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee granted clemency to Clemmons, commuting his lengthy prison sentence over the protests of prosecutors.

“This is the day I’ve been dreading for a long time,” Larry Jegley, prosecuting attorney for Arkansas’ Pulaski County said tonight when informed that Clemmons was being sought for questioning in connection with the killings.

Clemmons’ criminal history includes at least five felony convictions in Arkansas and at least eight felony charges in Washington. The record also stands out for the number of times he has been released from custody despite questions about the danger he posed.

I’ve never been a Huckabee fan and after this I wouldn’t give him the time of day!

(H/T: Confederate Yankee)

Update (Wednesday, December 2, 2009): Maurice Clemmons, the man wanted in connection with the killings of four Lakewood, Washington police officers on Sunday was shot and killed by a police in south Seattle on Tuesday:

A man accused of gunning down four police officers was shot and killed by authorities on Tuesday in a case that could affect a potential 2012 U.S. presidential candidate who granted him clemency in the past.

Maurice Clemmons, wanted in the Sunday morning fatal shootings of four officers in a coffee shop near Tacoma, Washington, was shot dead by a police officer in south Seattle, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department said.

I suspect police would have preferred a different outcome but I doubt anyone is going to be shedding a tear of Clemmon’s passing.

Professional golfer Tiger Woods suffered “serious” injuries during a car crash near his Windermere, Fla., home early this morning, according to the Florida Highway Patrol

The 33-year-old Woods was driving a 2009 Cadillac SUV alone when he hit a fire hydrant and then slammed into a tree on Deacon Circle at 2:25 a.m., according to police reports.

Woods was taken to Health Central Hospital in Ococee.

Investigators said alcohol was not involved, but they did not know yet what caused the crash.

Charges are pending.

Update (3:50 p.m.): Reuters is reporting that Mr. Woods has been released from the hospital:

Golfer Tiger Woods has been released from hospital after being injured in a car accident in Florida on Friday, a local Florida mayor told CNN.

Windermere Mayor Gary Bruhn said he believed Woods had been released. “Basically it was facial lacerations, and as I’m understanding it, nothing that serious,” Bruhn said.

At this point we know very little about what actually happened all we have to go on is confusing and/or conflicting media reports and idle speculation on blogs and talk radio. Based on everything I’ve read so far I suspect this going to turn out to be much to do about very little.

It appears that contrary to early reports the accident and Mr. Woods injuries were fairly minor, time will tell, but I suspect this going to turn out to be nothing more than a minor traffic accident.

Update (6:50 p.m.): The following statement was released by Health Central Hospital and Tiger’s Woods’ office earlier this evening:

Tiger Woods was in a minor car accident outside his home last night.

He was admitted, treated and released today in good condition.

We appreciate very much everyone’s thoughts and well wishes.

Related

• Report: Tiger Woods’ wife used golf club to free Tiger from crash – Orlando Sentinel