Letter from Seoul - 25

Dateline: Seoul

A South Korean court on Tuesday approved an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has been impeached and suspended from power over his decision to impose martial law on December 3, investigating authorities said.

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) confirmed the Seoul Western District Court approved the warrant requested by investigators examining Yoon's short-lived imposition of martial law.

Yoon has been impeached and suspended from his role as President of the country. Yet this is the first time in South Korean history that an arrest warrant has been issued for an incumbent president.

South Korea’s National Assembly voted to impeach Yoon on December 14 in an extraordinary rebuke that came about after his own ruling party turned on him following his refusal to resign.

As a result of the impeachment, Yoon is facing a probe on charges of abuse of authority and orchestrating a rebellion after he announced martial law on December 3.

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) confirmed the Seoul Western District Court approved the warrant requested by investigators.

In fact, the CIO was granted both an arrest warrant for Yoon and a search warrant for his residence in mid-town Seoul.

Both the CIO and the Western District Court declined comment about the issuance of the warrants.

The current arrest warrant is viable until January 6, and once it is exercised, Yoon is expected to be held at the Seoul Detention Center, Yonhap news agency said, citing CIO.

It remains unclear when or how the arrest warrant for Yoon will be carried out. South Korea’s presidential security service said in a statement on Tuesday that it will treat the arrest warrant according to due process.

President Yoon Suk Yeol

Sources

CNN

The Guardian

Reuters

Dateline: New York City

A federal appeals court has upheld the $5m verdict against convicted felon Donald Trump for sexually abusing and defaming the magazine writer E. Jean Carroll, dealing a legal setback to the department store rapist.

Today’s ruling follows a separate $83.3m defamation verdict that Carroll won against Trump in January over his 2019 denials of her allegations.

Trump, the most prolific liar in American history, is appealing that verdict.

The case is expected to continue even after Trump takes office as America’s Serial Grifter-in-Chief for his second presidency on January 20, 2025.

The Supreme Politburo ruled in 1997 that sitting presidents have no immunity from civil litigation over actions predating their official duties.

---