National News Roundup for May 21 – June 4

This is not original reporting. All information has been compiled from CNN and The Washington Post. Silver Chips Online posts this news summary to provide readers with a forum for discussion.

Miami, Florida
June 4 – The U.S. Marshals Service held an auction selling household items, including 14 pairs of underwear and a photograph of a naked rear end, all belonging to convicted felon Bernard Madoff. The underwear sold for $200, while the photograph sold for $4,600. Some buyers will sell their winnings on eBay for a profit, while others want a piece of history. Sales totaled over $400,000 and will compensate victims of Madoff's $65 billion Ponzi scheme. Madoff is now serving a 150-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to fraud.

Winston – Salem, North Carolina
June 3 – Former vice presidential nominee John Edwards was indicted on charges of using illegal campaign donations to hide his mistress from voters. The indictment caused immediate criticism from campaign finance and legal experts, who said the government's case was unprecedented and seemed weak. The Justice Department charged Edwards in a six-count indictment that states that he helped solicit nearly $1 million dollars through illegal contributions via political donors. Prosecutors believe Edwards' motive revolved around hiding his mistress, Rielle Hunter, and her pregnancy from the public's eye.

Washington D.C.
June 3 – Seven Republicans will meet on June 13 at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire for the first debate of the 2012 election. Potential Republican nominees include Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, businessman Herman Cain, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum. CNN, WMUR and the New Hampshire Union Leader sponsor the event moderated by CNN Chief National Correspondent and Anchor John King. The debate will take place eight months before the New Hampshire primary, a significant contest in the potential nominees' race to the Republican presidential nomination. The debate will air live from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET across the country.

Springfield, Massachusetts
June 2 – Officers reported approximately 200 people in western and central Massachusetts went to hospitals with injuries sustained from storms that hit Springfield and nearby areas. Around 400 people are staying in shelters around Springfield, according to the Red Cross. Teams are searching house to house for survivors, although no one has been reported missing since the natural disaster struck. The storm has caused several tragic incidents, including a mother shielding her daughter from the storm and a man sitting in his car while a tree fell onto it. State officials promised to help residents rebuild after at least two tornadoes hit the region.