Wednesday News & Notes

Things you might have missed in the post-“Warnock-Won!!” excitement.

Family of fallen Capitol Police officer refuses to shake hands with McConnell, McCarthy

The family of fallen Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick snubbed two top Republican congressional leaders on Tuesday during a ceremony honoring law enforcement who defended the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Charles and Gladys Sicknick, parents of Brian Sicknick, declined to shake hands with Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy, snubbing McConnell's outstretched palm.

Sicknick's mother had personally lobbied McCarthy and other Republican leaders for the formation of an independent commission to investigate the Capitol attack, or when that failed, to support the House investigative panel. Both McConnell and McCarthy voted against the independent commission, and McCarthy has railed against the House panel as a partisan political exercise. (WHAS)

‘Totally lacking in merit’: Judge dismisses Eric Deters’ libel lawsuits against attorney

A judge has dismissed two libel lawsuits filed by Kentucky candidate for governor Eric Deters against a Northern Kentucky attorney, saying they are meritless and ordering him to pay the defendant's litigation expenses. Deters filed the two lawsuits this summer against attorney Chris Wiest, who is representing two clients who have sued Deters claiming breach of contract.

In dismissing both of Deters’ lawsuits in separate orders Tuesday, Kenton Circuit Judge Patricia Summe wrote that the libel lawsuits were “totally lacking in merit, both factually and legally, so as to appear to have been taken in bad faith.”

In her dismissal of Deters’ most recent libel lawsuit, filed in August, she added that “this lack of merit indicates a lack of respect for the courts.” (Courier-Journal)

Is Ryan Quarles eyeing Bill Dieruf as his running mate?

One of the last lines in Bill Dieruf’s concession speech in the race for Louisville mayor was a potential indication that he was not finished in the public arena, but could that arena include a spot on a Republican gubernatorial ticket with Ryan Quarles?

Dieruf had a strong showing in the Louisville Mayor’s race this November and Jefferson County comprises a significant statistical quadrant of the GOP electorate in the May primary., which could explain part of the appeal in a strategic alliance. (KY Fried Politics)

Germany arrests 25 right wing extremists suspected of planning armed coup

Thousands of police officers carried out raids across much of Germany on Wednesday against suspected far-right extremists who allegedly sought to overthrow the government in an armed coup. Officials said 25 people were detained.

Federal prosecutors said some 3,000 officers conducted searches at 130 sites in 11 of Germany’s 16 states against adherents of the so-called Reich Citizens movement. Some movement members reject Germany’s postwar constitution and have called for bringing down the government.

Justice Minister Marco Buschmann described the raids as an “anti-terrorism operation,” adding that the suspects may have planned an armed attack on institutions of the state. Germany’s top security official said the group was “driven by violent coup fantasies and conspiracy ideologies.” (WHAS)

And from the Twitterverse ...

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