The FBI is considering adding a federal hate crime charge to the murder charge already filed by the state of Florida against George Zimmerman.

FBI investigators has been actively questioning witnesses in the retreat at the Twin Lakes neighborhood, seeking evidence for a possible federal hate crime charge. With a witness list of over 20 people the feds have sent the batch of  prosecution documents containing the evidence against Zimmerman to his attorneys.

Legal analyst Bill Sheaffer said federal prosecutors would have to prove the hate crime to charge Zimmerman, though.

What the government would have to prove is that Mr. Zimmerman acted out of hatred toward African-Americans. That’s why he came into contact with him. That’s why he shot and killed him,”

Sheaffer said a federal hate crime murder charge could bring more serious consequences than the second-degree murder charge Zimmerman faces now.

“Mr. Zimmerman could be punished by up to life in prison or even the death penalty.”

For more details watch the clip below:

On Monday, I shared a story with you where Mitt Romney insisted that all of the states all for gay adoptions but one. While, I thought that number might be wrong, I didn’t search it out. Infact, on another blog I saw that there were two states that didn’t allow for gay adoptions.

The Human Rights Campaign took notice of that story and Mitt’s math and  says that Mitt Romney’s assertion that “all states but one allow gay adoption” trivializes the inequalities same-sex couples face.

In an interview with WBTV News in Charlotte, N.C., last week, Romney added, “That’s a position that’s been decided by most of the state legislatures, so I simply acknowledge the fact that gay adoption is legal in all of the states but one.”

According to the HRC, same-sex couples cannot adopt in Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, and Utah, while second-parent adoption is explicitly legal in just 26 states. Joint adoption is explicitly legal in 18 states and the District of Columbia. And in states where some form of adoption for same-sex couples exists, 29 states have no protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation, and 34 states do not prohibit discrimination based on gender identity.

HRC vice president Fred Sainz said Romney’s remarks last week “are wrong and worse, they trivialize the very real and persistent obstacles qualified LGBT individuals and couples face in adopting and starting families.”

He added, “Every year, there are hundreds of thousands of kids who desperately need their forever family. LGBT individuals and families are perfectly qualified to provide that loving home. Leading medical, mental health and child welfare organizations have said time and again that sexual orientation and gender identity have absolutely nothing to do with the ability to be a parent to a child in need of a loving home. Governor Romney should clarify his muddled position and embrace adoption by loving and committed gay and lesbian parents.”

{source}