Anti-Defamation League CEO: Ye's Stunt Exposed Tech Platforms' Antisemitism Problem

Our culture has long been vulnerable to celebrities and influencers who popularize hate. From Father Charles Coughlin in the 1930s to Mel Gibson in the 2000s, each has taken advantage of their platform to spread conspiracy theories or antisemitic tropes to the masses.
But the rapper and internet celebrity Kanye West, or 'Ye,' remains in a category all his own. Unlike others before him, Ye has never tried to mask his hatred of Jews or couch his beliefs in timeworn antisemitic conspiracy theories. While he once seemingly attempted an apology to the Jewish community, Ye has doubled and tripled down on his antisemitic rants – again and again and again. Ye, who makes no secret of his hatred for the Jewish people, infamously threatened to go 'death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE.' His latest apology, issued last week, came as a short burst of tweets less than 9 hours after an antisemitic extremist gunned down a young couple outside of the Capital Jewish Museum.
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'I'm done with antisemitism,' he wrote. But I'm not buying it. Ye's pattern of recidivist antisemitism has continued since 2022, so no one should be surprised by his latest antisemitic stunt: the release of a new music video, outrageously titled 'Heil Hitler,' and companion song titled 'WW3,' which glorified the architect of the Holocaust and dredged up a few more antisemitic tropes for good measure.
What's worse? Thanks to the power of technology, literally millions of people streamed the new song as it made the rounds — predictably and virally — on social media platforms like Spotify and SoundCloud. While Ye's Hitler-glorifying lyrics stood in clear violation of their policies against hate speech, most social platforms failed to act when the video first hit their algorithms. Some, shamefully, still haven't acted at all.
This inertia has consequences. When phrases like 'Heil Hitler' are made more popular, our cultural safeguards against overt antisemitism crumble and the guardrails against other forms of hate give way.
Ye's descent into Hitler fandom isn't happening in a vacuum. With antisemitic beliefs already at their highest levels in decades, and with Jewish communities around the world facing a tsunami of antisemitic harassment and vandalism, especially post-Oct. 7, his comments about Jews and praise for Hitler are reaching a younger, more susceptible audience. A recent ADL survey found that 46 percent of the world's adult population harbor deeply entrenched antisemitic attitudes, more than double compared to just a decade ago. And in a startling shift from previous findings, U.S. polling data in 2024 revealed that millennials and members of Generation Z are more likely to harbor antisemitic tropes than older Americans.
Social media grants to unhinged antisemites, racists and bigots like Ye the kind of massive global audience that Hitler's propaganda minister Josef Goebbels could only have imagined. To put this into perspective, Ye has 33.5 million followers on X (formerly Twitter); the global Jewish population currently is estimated at 15.8 million. The damage that's being done by these powerful high-tech companies as they attempt to grapple with problems they themselves created is immeasurable.
This moment is made even worse by the backsliding of certain platforms like X and Meta on their approaches to addressing antisemitism. Meta no longer proactively removes hate speech without first receiving a user report. Mark Zuckerberg has called this 'a trade-off.' I would call it an abdication.
Protections that were in place several years ago and could have mitigated the reach of something as vile as Ye's 'Heil Hitler' have been dismantled on these prominent platforms. We've seen the results in the data: Jewish members of Congress have faced a nearly fivefold increase in antisemitic harassment on Facebook since the start of the year, thanks most likely to the controversial changes to Meta's moderation policies in January. Our latest report card gave X an 'F' for how it handled reports of obvious and explicit antisemitic content. These kinds of changes create an online environment for antisemitism to not only survive but thrive on these platforms.
Released on May 8, which was also the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany's defeat, Ye's Hitler video has racked up an eye-popping 10 million views on X as of this writing. Meanwhile, Spotify only took down the song following public pressure but has yet to answer for allowing major podcasts to platform Holocaust deniers and amplify virulent antisemites. Another pro-Nazi song from Ye, 'WW3,' still remains available on the platform.
As a result, the hardcore bigots are taking a victory lap. Far-right influencers shared the video on their pages. Andrew Tate, the prominent far-right misogynist, posted a video of himself playing the song in his car. That video currently has more than three million views. Social platforms that cater to teenagers and potentially even younger children should make every effort to protect users from experiencing harassment and hate speech.
Ye's song comes at a time when knowledge about the history of the Holocaust is fading. An estimated one in five survey respondents, said in a recent poll that they are unaware of the Holocaust; less than half recognize its historical accuracy. There's no doubt his words and actions have consequences. In 2022, ADL documented at least 30 antisemitic incidents that directly referenced Ye after his antisemitic outbursts made headlines.
It took a decade just to get Facebook to recognize it had a Holocaust denial problem. Social media companies need to stop backsliding on their responsibility to fight hate today. They must step up, before it is too late.
Jonathan A. Greenblatt is CEO and National Director of the Anti-Defamation League.
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Los Angeles Times

8 minutes ago

• Los Angeles Times

The latest: U.S. joins Israeli air campaign and strikes 3 nuclear sites in Iran

The U.S. military struck three sites in Iran early Sunday, inserting itself into Israel 's effort to decapitating the country's nuclear program in a risky gambit to weaken a longtime foe amid Tehran's threat of reprisals that could spark a wider regional conflict. The decision to directly involve the U.S. comes after more than a week of strikes by Israel on Iran that have moved to systematically eradicate the country's air defenses and offensive missile capabilities, while damaging its nuclear enrichment facilities. But U.S. and Israeli officials have said that American stealth bombers and a 30,000-lb. bunker buster bomb they alone can carry offered the best chance of destroying heavily-fortified sites connected to the Iranian nuclear program buried deep underground. President Donald Trump was the first to disclose the strikes. There was no immediate acknowledgment from the Iranian government. Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported that attacks targeted the country's Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites. The agency did not elaborate. Here is the latest: Iran's semiofficial Fars news agency has published an account by one of its reporters, saying flames could be seen after the bombs hit the Fordo facility. Fars, which is believed close to Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, said its reporter heard anti-aircraft fire around 2:05 a.m. local time and explosions two minutes later. 'When I reached the vicinity ... the air defense system was operating intensely, and its activity was clearly visible in the sky,' the reporter said. Later on, the reporter said, 'flames suddenly erupted from the direction of Fordo.' Simultaneously with the flames, a faint trail of smoke and a significant amount of dust rose in the area, Fars quoted the reporter. It offered no photos or video showing the attack Israeli officials lauded the strikes in sweeping and dramatic language. Israel's president, Isaac Herzog, thanked Trump and said the strikes marked a 'decisive moment between the axis of terror and evil and the axis of hope.' Israel's defense minister congratulated Trump on what he described as a 'historic decision.' The U.S. is stepping up evacuation flights for American citizens from Israel to Europe and continuing to draw down its staff at diplomatic missions in Iraq as fears of Iranian retaliation again U.S. interests in the Middle East grow. Even before those airstrikes were announced by President Donald Trump on Saturday evening in Washington, the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem announced the start of evacuation flights for American civilians from Israel. Sixty-seven American citizens left Israel on two government flights bound for Athens, Greece on Saturday and four more evacuation flights to Athens were planned for Sunday, according to an internal State Department document seen by The Associated Press. In addition to the flights, a cruise ship carrying more than 1,000 American citizens, including several hundred Jewish youngsters who had been visiting Israel on an organized tour, arrived in Cyprus, according to the document. — Matthew Lee Israel's Airport Authority announced it was closing the country's airspace to both inbound and outbound flights in the wake of the U.S. attacks on Iranian nuclear sites. The agency said it was shutting down air traffic 'due to recent developments' and did not say for how long. Iran said early Sunday there were 'no signs of contamination' at its nuclear sites at Isfahan, Fordo and Natanz after U.S. airstrikes targeted the facilities. Iranian state media quoted the country's National Nuclear Safety System Center, which published a statement saying its radiation detectors had recorded no radioactive release after the strikes. 'There is no danger to the residents living around the aforementioned sites,' the statement added. Earlier Israeli airstrikes on nuclear sites similarly have caused no recorded release of radioactive material into the environment around the facilities, the International Atomic Energy Agency has said. The U.S. military used 'bunker-buster' bombs in its attack on Iran's Fordo nuclear fuel enrichment plant, which is built deep into a mountain, a U.S. official said. That official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations. The 30,000-pound bunker-busting American bomb known as the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator uses its weight and sheer kinetic force to penetrate underground and then explode. Saturday's strikes were the first time it has been used in combat. U.S. submarines also participated in the attacks in Iran, launching about 30 Tomahawk land attack missiles, according to another U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations. It was not clear what those missiles were aimed at. Two Iranian nuclear sites besides Fordo were attacked, Isfahan and Natanz. — Lolita C. Baldor Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video that Trump called him after the strikes. 'It was a very warm conversation, very emotional,' Netanyahu said. Speaking in Hebrew, he called Trump a friend of Israel like no one before him. 'In my name, and on behalf of all citizens of Israel and on behalf of the entire Jewish world, I thank him from the bottom of my heart.' Press writes for the Associated Press.

Hamilton Spectator

an hour ago

• Hamilton Spectator

He beat his stepfather to death — and was found not criminally responsible

George Howson was defenceless. Health issues, including Parkinson's disease, meant the 73-year-old spent most of his time in a chair in the west Hamilton apartment he shared with his wife, Donna Brown. They had lived together for 20 years. In early 2021, Donna's troubled son, Timothy Brown , had moved in to help his mom care for George, but also because family didn't want Tim to live alone, according to court documents. On March 14, the condo, on the fifth floor of 1968 Main St. W., was undergoing renovations. Earlier that week, George had struck up a conversation with a tradesperson about an antique German Luger pistol that George's father had acquired in the Second World War. George Howson, 73, was killed by his stepson Tim Brown, who was found not criminally responsible due to post-seizure psychosis. George was thinking about selling the inoperable gun to the man, court heard. He asked his stepson to help him retrieve it from his bedroom closet before the workers returned. Without warning, Tim turned on George. The 54-year-old beat George repeatedly with his hands, his feet and a lamp. He called George a Nazi. Donna called 911, screaming that her son was 'going crazy' and 'you've killed him,' according to a transcript of the call. Tim picked up the phone and told the dispatcher 'there was a Nazi here' and 'I killed him.' When police arrived, Donna was in the lobby and Tim was in the condo. He refused to open the door, so officers forced their way in and found Tim standing in the living room covered in blood, a phone still in his hands. George lay bleeding on his bedroom floor. His breathing was laboured and he gurgled blood. Officers had to use force to arrest Tim, who they placed in the back of a police cruiser. He demanded an apology and said: 'If I leave this property, the wrath of God is coming after you.' At central police station, he continued to fight with officers including jumping up and wrapping his legs around a sergeant. At one point, officers attempted to Taser him, but it didn't work. Eventually, police got him under control, handcuffed and shackled him, then placed him in a holding cell. The next day, Tim was taken to hospital and diagnosed with a broken left hand and two broken ribs. He was also found to have epilepsy, a diagnosis that would change the trajectory of the case. In hospital, his bizarre behaviour continued, including talking about 'Jews in WW2' and claiming his rib pain was from a 'Russian weapon,' court heard. After about a week, he was released from hospital on March 22, back into police custody. George never recovered from his injuries, including fractures to his nose and orbital bone, and a brain bleed. Ten days after being beaten, he died at Hamilton General Hospital. Tim was charged with second-degree murder. What happened next blindsided George's family, including his four children from his first marriage who had long been concerned about Tim's behaviour. Tim's epilepsy diagnosis led to his admission to St. Joseph's West 5th psychiatric hospital and eventually to court, where he was found not criminally responsible (NCR) for George's murder nearly eight months after the attack. St. Joseph's West 5th Campus is where Tim Brown is detained after being found not criminally responsible for the death of his stepfather. The case sped through the court process despite objections from George's family, led by one of his sons, Michael Howson. They believe the NCR finding was rushed, and that the case should have had a criminal trial. It has been a long and frustrating battle for Michael and his siblings, who say the anger they hold for being let down by the justice system has made it hard for them to grieve. It clouds every thought about their dad. Michael has shared correspondence and documents with The Spectator that show he appealed to the Crown, police and even the judge to consider other options. He filed complaints and asked that other angles, including Tim's history of anger issues, be investigated further. Michael, a nurse who has worked in psychiatric hospitals and is aware of the NCR process, is skeptical of the epilepsy diagnosis and its convenient timing. He and his siblings do not believe Tim was properly assessed and feel the NCR finding was rubber-stamped without due consideration. If Tim had been diagnosed with schizophrenia or another psychiatric condition, Michael said he wouldn't have objected because they're common in NCR verdicts. But in this case, the finding was psychosis not caused by a serious mental disorder, but by a neurological disorder, epilepsy. Postictal (post-seizure) psychosis is a rare and temporary reaction following a seizure that can cause confusion, and in some cases, violence. While there can be some overlaps between mental disorders and neurological ones, they are different. Mental disorders — such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia — affect thoughts, emotions and behaviour. Neurological disorders affect the nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord. Since the verdict, Michael has continued to push for accountability, seeking to have the case reopened or — at minimum — ensure Tim remains in hospital without access to the public. None of his complaints have led to any action. George Howson, with grandchildren before his death. Mental health, addiction and the justice system overlap frequently. But having mental illness does not automatically lead to a finding of not criminally responsible, with NCR findings representing less than one per cent of criminal cases annually. In almost every case in which someone is found NCR, it is because a serious mental illness rendered the person incapable of appreciating the nature, quality and consequences of their actions. The accused is assessed by a forensic psychiatrist, who then presents expert evidence in court. Ultimately, it is up to a judge to make the determination. While Tim's epilepsy diagnosis came from a neurologist, two separate assessments for criminal responsibility were conducted by forensic psychiatrists who presented the only expert evidence in court. A psychiatrist with expertise in neuropsychiatry, which focuses on mental disorders linked to neurological conditions, was consulted for the St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton assessment. However, a neurologist or expert in epilepsy was never called in court. This is crucial for Michael, because it means the court never asked — or answered — key questions about how someone with this condition is assessed for criminal responsibility. For instance, how does the psychiatrist test for malingering — the faking of an illness — in a case of postictal psychosis? Did the assessing psychiatrists understand the characteristics of postictal psychosis, and how they might differ from psychosis caused by another condition? From left, Michael, Marissa, Jason and Kevin Howson outside St. Joseph's West 5th Campus with a photo of their dad George. To Michael, it appears only he and his family seem concerned about getting answers to these questions. The Ministry of the Attorney General, on behalf of the Crowns office, said it would be 'inappropriate' to comment because the matter remains before the Ontario Review Board (ORB), which has jurisdiction over those found NCR and reviews their cases annually. St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton said it cannot comment on individual cases and that no one was available to speak about the issue generally. Another psychiatric hospital said a doctor who typically has no issue doing expert interviews on the NCR process wasn't comfortable speaking, even generally, about this type of case because it's so unusual. Experts at other psychiatric institutions across Ontario also declined The Spectator's interview requests. Through his lawyer, Tim declined to comment. Donna could not be reached for comment. The ORB does not keep statistics on the mental disorders that lead to NCR findings. But generally, the accused in most cases are found NCR due to psychotic or mood disorders, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, said Gavin MacKenzie, general counsel and spokesperson. The number of people found NCR because of a neurological disorder 'is a relatively small percentage of ORB accused,' he said. The Spectator is aware of one other recent case in which someone was found NCR based on a neurological condition. It also happened to be in Hamilton and involved a patient assessed at the same hospital (St. Joseph's West 5th) and by the same forensic psychiatrist (Dr. Joseph Ferencz). The case was also decided by the same Superior Court judge (Justice Paul Sweeny). In that instance, Devon Ambrose was found to have stabbed his parents, killing his mom, amid psychosis brought on by undiagnosed multiple sclerosis. Again, the court did not hear any expert evidence from a neurologist or an expert in MS. A review of other court cases involving accused persons with epilepsy revealed several cases in which the charged person was found not guilty of committing a crime that happened during a seizure, because they were not in control of their actions. None of those cases involved NCR assessments. To understand how rare postictal — or post-seizure — psychosis is, it is important to understand what epilepsy is and how it's diagnosed. Seizures are electrical discharges in the brain, with symptoms that vary depending on the area of the brain affected, said Dr. Jorge Burneo, a neurology and epidemiology professor and chair of epilepsy research at Western University. If a seizure happens in the temporal lobe — an area of the brain that is the centre of emotions, with impacts on awareness and memory processing — a person can appear as if they're just staring. This is the type of epilepsy Tim was diagnosed with, according to court records. Burneo has no involvement in Tim's care and is not commenting on this case, but rather on epilepsy and the rarity of postictal psychosis in general. He says epilepsy is commonly misdiagnosed, usually when the assessment is made by nonexperts in the field. In Tim's case, court records say the diagnosis was made by a neurologist. He had one abnormal EEG — a test that measures electrical activity in the brain — following his arrest. Since then, no others have shown irregular activity — something that has made Michael and family question the epilepsy diagnosis and whether a neurologist is involved in his treatment. Burneo said there is no reason to suspect misdiagnosis in a case in which epilepsy is diagnosed by a neurologist. He also said it's not uncommon to see normal EEGs in epilepsy patients while they are not having seizures. Epilepsy is not diagnosed based on an EEG alone, rather a 'clinical diagnosis' is also based on symptoms and patient history. In Tim's case, he and his family reported episodes of him staring and memory gaps before the homicide. Sometimes he appeared to have religious delusions, which can occur after a seizure, according to court records. He was admitted to hospital for a mental-health assessment after a Dec. 20, 2020, crash in which he veered into opposing traffic and later had no memory of what happened. The postictal period occurs after someone has a seizure. If the seizure happened in the temporal lobe, symptoms could include speech problems, confusion or erratic behaviour. In a 'very uncommon' number of cases, about five per cent, a person will experience psychosis, Burneo said. Common symptoms include hallucinations of grandiosity or of a religious nature. Occasionally, he said, a patient will become violent. There are 11 beds where patients can be monitored at the epilepsy monitoring unit where Burneo works in London, Ont. Occasionally, a patient becomes violent after a seizure. The episode may last just a couple of minutes, or longer. This reaction is most common in temporal lobe epilepsy. If a person experiences postictal psychosis, they are more likely than others to have that same reaction again in the future. Burneo said it's important to clarify that postictal psychosis can cause erratic or violent behaviour, but that behaviour is 'not complex.' For instance, a person might push or hit someone in their path. However, if they leave and get a weapon and return to assault someone with it, they are likely not experiencing postictal psychosis. This raises some questions related to Tim's case: Was grabbing a lamp and continuing to assault George too complex a behaviour to be classified as postictal psychosis? His erratic behaviour continued after his arrest at the police station. Was that time frame too long to be considered postictal psychosis? And what about the following day, when he made the bizarre comments about Jews and Russian weapons? There are no clear answers, since none of these questions were explored in court. And the ORB won't consider them — it's not the board's role. Instead, an ORB panel looks at how the accused person is doing and decides whether it's safe to release them, usually gradually, back into the community. Unlike a prison sentence, there is also no guaranteed end date for how long a person, regardless of the crime, can remain under the jurisdiction of the ORB. That's because they are not guilty and the amount of time they spend in hospital isn't punitive, but rather has to do with their current condition. Before the NCR verdict, Tim was given two criminal-responsibility assessments — one at St. Joseph's West 5th in summer 2021 and one at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health in Whitby, Ont., that fall. They contained a wealth of information about his life. Tim is the youngest of four siblings. He was born in Burlington and raised in Flamborough. He left school in Grade 10 and later worked as a welder. He eventually married and had two sons, court records show. The couple separated in 2003 and Tim moved into a rental property owned by his stepdad, before finding his own apartment. Tim was injured at some point and stopped working. He moved to Hagersville, where he lived for about six years before moving in with his mom and stepdad shortly before George's death. In the West 5th report, Tim said his marriage was 'great.' It also acknowledges he and his ex-wife argued and ultimately divorced, and she was granted full custody of their children. The information on his marriage appears to be based on Tim's word. By contrast, the Ontario Shores report includes interviews with his ex-wife and one of his sons that raise concerns about his threatening behaviour. Tim's ex-wife described him as angry virtually all his adult life. She believed he had a lengthy history of mood and anger issues and recalled reading about anger concerns on his kindergarten report card. She was told he once pulled a knife on his brother when he was 13. Shortly before they separated in 2003, he got angry and put his head through a wall in their house. When their marriage was ending, Tim mistakenly blamed a client of hers (she works supporting people with terminal illness) and started following the client and threatening him, according to the report. One of his sons slept with a knife under his pillow for fear his dad would hurt his mom. He described Tim as 'always mad about something.' Both reports detail Tim's medical and psychiatric history, and reference four visits to the emergency room, including for mental-health concerns, prior to George's death. Tim reported trouble controlling his anger, bizarre behaviour, memory gaps and the December 2020 crash. He was treated for depression and anxiety. Both reports also include information from interviews, medical and investigative records, and psychiatric assessments. Cannabis-induced psychosis was also considered due to his history of substance use, but he denied using cannabis on the day he attacked his stepdad and his drug screens were negative. Michael and family have asked when the drug testing was done, as they say they were initially told it was not completed. They have never been provided with details. Tim told doctors he had no memory of the assault. He just remembered feeling scared, and has memory fragments of his mother shouting and feeling that his stepfather was a Nazi. Donna told doctors her son and husband had an excellent relationship and nothing that morning was out of the ordinary. She and Tim went on their usual walk. When they returned, Tim had a period of odd behaviour in the kitchen in which he appeared detached and unresponsive for about five minutes before returning to normal, the West 5th assessment says. Later that day, when her husband asked Tim for help, her son suddenly became enraged. The West 5th report notes that Dr. Patricia Rosebush, a professor and head of general psychiatry at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, was consulted because she is an expert in neuropsychiatry, which focuses on mental disorders that are linked to neurological conditions. She 'confirmed the opinion' that Tim was 'likely suffering with temporal lobe epilepsy and recurrent psychotic symptoms directly related to that diagnosis.' This report notes that psychotic symptoms in temporal lobe epilepsy occur following a seizure in roughly five to seven per cent of cases. '(Tim) was clearly in a grossly impaired state of mind such that he was unable to make a rational decision about the wrongfulness of his actions,' Dr. Joseph Ferencz, the forensic psychiatrist, concluded in the West 5th report. Similarly, the Ontario Shores report by Dr. Andrew Wang concluded that Tim should be found not criminally responsible. With both reports reaching the same conclusion, and the Crown and defence in agreement, the judge found Tim not criminally responsible. 'I am … satisfied that he was, at the time, suffering from a mental disorder that rendered him incapable of appreciating the nature and quality of the acts or of knowing that they were wrong,' Justice Paul Sweeny said in court Nov. 12, 2021. George Howson was the kind of man who could talk to anyone. He liked people and always saw the best in them, said his son, Michael. 'He was generous, kind and trusting,' and he was always willing to help. He had a good sense of humour and family was very important to him, he added. Before retiring, George ran a family electrical contracting business. That was where he met Donna, who worked as a secretary. Michael said he and other family members were worried about Tim living with George and Donna, because of how vulnerable George was. He needed a lot of help, and they didn't believe Tim had the patience or ability to properly care for him. Tim was quick to anger and appeared only self-interested, he said. 'I would prefer someone off the street to come in; anyone but him,' Michael said. Michael and his three siblings offered to take turns helping at the condo on weekends, but their offer was rejected. They didn't realize Tim had moved in with George and Donna for about a month. In the months leading up to his death, George required more care because of his health issues and Donna seemed burnt out. There had also been a long-standing issue because George did not allow Donna access to all of his money, Michael said. There was an incident at the bank about a week before his death in which George told family he wasn't being treated nicely, but family didn't learn details until after his death. Michael felt like his dad couldn't even talk privately because he couldn't hold the phone himself. On the day of the attack, they didn't find out what happened until late that night. By the time Michael got to the hospital, his dad was on life support, his face swollen and battered. 'It was like he was dead,' Michael said. 'He was unrecognizable.' George never regained consciousness. Michael Howson says he feels let down by the justice system after his father George was killed. George's stepson Tim Brown was found not criminally responsible based on exceptionally rare finding that he killed his stepdad while in the midst of post-seizure psychosis. Upon meeting with police, Michael says he felt the narrative was already decided. Tim isn't a psychiatric patient — he's angry, Michael said he told them. But he said they didn't even appear to take notes. He filed his first complaint alleging an insufficient police investigation with the former Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD), soon after. Since then, he's complained to the chief of police, head Crown, regulatory bodies for both police and lawyers, and filed Freedom-of-Information requests for more details. 'This is a difficult case and our thoughts are with the Howson family on their loss,' Hamilton police spokesperson Jackie Penman said in response to questions from The Spectator. She noted that police charged Tim Brown with second-degree murder and that it was the court that eventually found he was NCR. Once that happens the matter lies with the ORB. 'We understand the family is frustrated with the NCR determination and have filed complaints,' she said, adding that they were investigated and 'all found to be unsubstantiated.' Throughout court, including in the judgment, it was repeated that Tim has no history of violence. He has never been convicted of any violent offence, but Michael says his family felt like the way the case was framed completely ignored Tim's history of anger and threatening behaviour, including with his ex-wife, that was documented in the second psychiatric assessment. Dean Paquette, a high-profile defence attorney, was hired before George was even removed from life support. Michael believes there was more to investigate and that everyone was too quick to jump to the NCR finding. At every step, he's met a dead end or disinterest, Michael said. Like every person found NCR, Tim appears before the ORB annually and a panel hears from his doctors about how he's doing in the forensic unit at West 5th. The ORB decides what privileges, including any release into the community, he should be granted. Michael and his family go every year. At the last hearing in January, Tim didn't attend, so his lawyer represented him. The ORB heard Tim's diagnosis is considered in remission, with ongoing antiseizure medication prescribed by a neurologist. He has also been diagnosed with a personality disorder, including 'mixed personality features, and prominent paranoid and borderline traits.' Since being admitted to West 5th, Tim has repeatedly threatened staff, according to hospital records included in ORB decisions. This includes threatening to burn staff and their families, and threatening to put his fist though a staff member's throat. In May 2024, he was transferred to a different unit 'due to staff on his previous unit needing respite.' The ORB report noted 43 recorded occurrences between January and October 2024. Most include incidents in which he insulted, threatened or intimidated staff. None of the incidents involved physical violence. '(Tim) continues to exhibit behaviour resulting from underlying frustration,' it says. 'He shows irritability and has anger management issues, as noted in the hospital report.' By 2023, Tim was allowed outside on hospital grounds, without issue. And he used some passes in the community, accompanied by approved family members. The next year, he was allowed on the grounds unsupervised. At the January 2025 hearing, the hospital asked to be allowed to 'very cautiously' introduce indirectly supervised passes into the community. Indirect supervision means a person is allowed to leave the hospital unsupervised, but only for pre-approved purposes. The ORB concluded Tim continues to represent a 'significant threat to the public' and will continue to be detained in hospital. But the board also unanimously agreed to allow him to enter the community indirectly supervised, understanding the hospital would proceed 'extremely cautiously.' A proposal to allow community living, should it become suitable, was rejected by a majority of board members. In his victim impact statement, Michael said victims' rights have been ignored. 'We are aware that our victim impact statements have no impact,' he told the ORB. 'Our voices have been silenced.' From his perspective, authorities have ignored Tim's history of anger, disregarded his family's safety concerns, and rewarded seemingly bad behaviour with more privileges, he said. 'It has been disrespectful and insulting to my father and our family,' Michael said, adding that Tim has shown an unwillingness to follow rules or direction. If he is angry in a controlled environment, Michael wonders how Tim would behave in public on his own. The ORB does not comment on specific cases, but generally, when deciding if someone is a threat to public safety, the board would consider evidence of a person's neurological condition the same way it treats evidence of a psychotic or mood disorder, counsel Gavin MacKenzie said. Broadly speaking, if someone has neurological condition, the forensic hospital can consult experts, such as neurologists, he said. The ORB also has authority to order an assessment if it believes such evidence is required. 'It is not uncommon for victims or members of the public to query the appropriateness of an NCR verdict in a particular case,' said Anita Szigeti, whose firm represents Tim. She spoke generally about the NCR process as a lawyer who specializes in that area of practice and not about Tim's case specifically. NCR verdicts are made based on strict criteria, she said. 'Victims are almost always frustrated with review board hearings and processes,' Szigeti said, adding that the frustration is often legitimate and born from the 'wrong-headed inclusion' of victim impact statements. While victims have rights that allow them to give victim impact statements, she said the statements have almost no direct influence on the review board's decision. 'Permitting their participation leaves victims with the false promise that they can meaningfully influence the result, doing them a massive disservice and almost invariably retraumatizing them with no appreciable benefit,' she said. The ORB has no jurisdiction on the verdict itself. It's the board's role to decide whether an accused is still a significant threat to public safety and then make the 'least restrictive disposition.' That decision is based on the accused's current condition. It's important to remember that someone found not criminally responsible is not serving a sentence that is intended to be punishing, because they are not responsible for their actions, Szigeti said. She argued that victims should have robust supports outside the ORB. And those found NCR who committed serious violent crimes are also often 'extremely traumatized' by the event and should also have access to trauma-informed services. At the January hearing, Tim asked, through his lawyer, to no longer be required to undergo drug or alcohol testing. He also asked for community living. Both were denied. In May, Michael received notice that Tim has appealed the most recent disposition and that he believes a community living clause should have been included. The hearing to determine whether there are grounds for appeal is scheduled for September. When Michael thinks of his father, he cannot unsee the injuries — George's face and head swollen nearly to the width of his shoulders. 'I can imagine the fear he felt with his Parkinson's hindering his ability to shield himself from the attack,' Michael said. 'I can imagine his feelings of betrayal.' Despite all the dead ends he's faced filing complaints and appealing for the case to be reopened, Michael says he won't stop. He believes the next step is to push for a discretionary coroner's inquest. Inquests do not determine liability but explore the circumstances of a death. A jury can make recommendations to prevent similar deaths in the future. Everything that happened since his father's death has left Michael and his family without trust in the justice system, he said. It is something he and his family will never get over. Nicole O'Reilly is a crime and justice reporter at The Spectator. noreilly@ Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . 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New York Post

11 hours ago

• New York Post

Israel launches second attack on Iranian nuclear site in 8 days as US deploys B-2 bombers to Pacific

'Overnight, we deepened the strike on the nuclear site in Isfahan and in western Iran. On the screen, you can see the site where reconversion of enriched uranium takes place. This is the stage following enrichment in the process of developing a nuclear weapon. We had already… Israel struck one of Iran's biggest nuclear facilities Saturday as part of an overnight campaign that dropped hundreds of missiles across the Islamic Republic — just as the US deployed nuke plant neutralizing B-2 stealth bomber jets to the Pacific. Entering the ninth day of conflict between the warring countries, the attack on the Isfahan nuclear site was intended to 'deepen' the damage the Jewish state had already inflicted on the facility after a bombing back on June 13 strike, the Israeli Defense Forces said. 'We had already struck the site in the operation's opening blow—and last night, we struck it again in a wide-scale strike to reinforce our achievements,' an IDF spokesperson said in an X post. Advertisement 3 The IDF targeted the Isfahan nuclear site during an overnight strike. x/IDF The military shared video of the aftermath, showing charred remains of uranium conversion infrastructure and labs where Iranian officials were allegedly developing weapons. The IDF also claimed to have caused 'significant damage' to Tehran's centrifuge production capabilities. Advertisement Several buildings on the Isfahan property appeared to be destroyed, but Iranian media reported that there was no leakage of hazardous materials. The attack on the nuclear plant was part of a far-reaching overnight campaign that saw the Jewish state drop 150 missiles on dozens of targets in Iran. 3 The Isfahan nuclear plant seen before it was bombed by Israel this month. AFP via Getty Images Four primed Iranian ballistic missile launchers were 'neutralized' in strikes, as well as trucks used to launch drones, and Iranian radars and air defense sites, the IDF said. Advertisement IDF strikes Saturday also took out a nuclear scientist and 15 Iranian Air Defense personnel, as well as three top commanders in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to state media reports. In separate strikes, three commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were killed, including the 'founder of the Iranian regime's plan to destroy Israel,' officials in Tel Aviv said. In return, Iran fired an overnight volley of five ballistic missiles at central Israel, all of which the IDF claims to have intercepted. But an Iranian Shahed drone made landfall, crashing into a two-story building in Beit She'an in northern Israel, according to initial reports. Advertisement 3 The attack was intended to 'deepen' the damage wrought from a strike carried out last week. Satellite image ©2025 Maxar Technologies/AFP via Getty Images Meanwhile, the US Air Force deployed B-2 stealth bombers — the only aircraft that can deploy 15-ton bunker busting bombs to take out Iran's nuclear capabilities — abroad Saturday. Six bombers were sent to a military base in Guam. Others, flanked by supply planes, appeared to be heading toward Diego Garcia, a strategic military base in the Indian Ocean, according to reports. The warplanes were using the call sign MYTEE21, which is typically associated with stealth bomber missions, according to The Times. The bombers each carry two 15-ton bunker buster bombs — the Israelis possess neither — which have the capability to carry out an attack on Fordow, Iran's most secure nuclear facility buried 300 feet inside a mountain. The Pentagon had already sent at least six of the B-2 bombers to Diego Garcia back in April in what analysts said was a warning to Iran amid growing tensions. Both President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have been adamant about disarming Tehran's nuclear capabilities, with Netanyahu warning that Iran intended to use the nukes for the 'annihilation' of the Jewish state. Trump has teased that he would make his final decision on whether to enter the conflict and strike Iran in the 'next two weeks,' as he maintains slim hopes that Tehran returns to the negotiating table. Advertisement Iranian leadership has said it will not reengage the US in talks as long as Israel continues its offensive. 'I think it's very hard to make that request right now. If somebody is winning, it's a little bit harder to do than if somebody is losing,' Trump told reporters outside Air Force One on Friday. The Yemeni Armed Forces warned Saturday that it would help Iran attack US ships and warships in the Red Sea if American forces take up arms 'in support of the Israeli enemy.' Trump was at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, but is expected to return to the White House Saturday afternoon.