Justice Department

Stories 1 - 20 |  Next >>

DOJ Goes Back to Judges With New Epstein Law

Filings argue for quick release of files

(Newser) - The Justice Department on Monday renewed its request to unseal grand jury transcripts from Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell's sex trafficking cases, arguing the material should be made public under a new law requiring the government to open its files on the late financier and his longtime accomplice. The...

House Panel Gives Up on Maxwell Testifying

Imprisoned Epstein accomplice demanded immunity for answering lawmakers' questions

(Newser) - Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted co-conspirator of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, will not answer questions from the House Oversight Committee about Epstein or the Justice Department's handling of his case, the panel's chairman said. Republican Rep. James Comer said Maxwell's legal team informed him that she will invoke...

A Rare Unanimous Vote in House Kills Big Senator Payouts

It's a 426-0 nay for $500K in damages sought over seized records in Trump probe

(Newser) - The House of Representatives cast a unanimous 426-0 vote on Wednesday to remove a Senate-added provision that could have allowed certain senators to claim at least $500,000 each in taxpayer-funded damages. The provision, which drew bipartisan criticism, was inserted into the legislation that ended the recent government shutdown and...

Grand Jury Never Saw Final Comey Indictment, DOJ Admits

His lawyers say case should be tossed

(Newser) - A court hearing on Wednesday revealed a significant procedural lapse in the case against former FBI director James Comey, with Justice Department lawyers admitting that the full grand jury never reviewed the final indictment. The Washington Post reports that the "remarkable admission" came as US District Judge Michael Nachmanoff...

In Surprise U-Turn, Trump Relents on Epstein Files

President urges Republicans to vote for their release

(Newser) - President Trump abruptly changed course on Sunday evening, after months spent trying to block a House vote on legislation to release federal records related to Jeffrey Epstein. The reversal comes as a growing number of House Republicans appeared poised to defy Trump's wishes, with a vote on the bill...

Michael Flynn, DOJ Discuss Settling His $50M Claim
Flynn, DOJ Talk Settlement
Nov 15, 2025 12:31 PM CST

Flynn, DOJ Talk Settlement

Former Trump officials maintain say they were wronged by government

(Newser) - The Justice Department is in settlement talks with Michael Flynn and Stefan Passantino, two former Trump officials who claim they faced politically motivated actions and are seeking millions from the government. Flynn, Trump's first national security adviser, is claiming $50 million for what he says was a wrongful prosecution...

DOJ Sues to Halt California's New House Map

Complaint says the redistricting 'tramples on civil rights and mocks the democratic process'

(Newser) - The Justice Department on Thursday sued to block new congressional district boundaries approved by California voters last week, joining a court battle that could help determine which party wins control of the US House in 2026. The complaint filed in California federal court targets the congressional map pushed by Democratic...

Ex-FBI Agent Slams Patel's 'Pathetic' Private Flights

FBI chief's personal trips on agency's jet, 'communication style' come under fire

(Newser) - FBI Director Kash Patel's penchant for using the agency's private jet for personal excursions—including to a Texas hunting lodge called Boondoggle Ranch—has caused new controversy inside the bureau and the White House, reports the Wall Street Journal . The latest trip, which occurred during the government shutdown...

Headed for the House Floor: A Vote on the Epstein Files

Discharge petition forces action after months of congressional stalling

(Newser) - The House of Representatives will vote next week on a bill to release Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein, Speaker Mike Johnson said Wednesday, after a discharge petition gained enough signatures to force action. Newly sworn-in Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) was the last to sign . Johnson's move...

DOJ Wants Documents From Past Officials on Russia Probe

Trump blames Obama administration Clapper, Brennan, and others for assessment on 2016 election

(Newser) - The Justice Department is preparing grand jury subpoenas to be issued to top Obama-era intelligence officials whom President Trump blames for an assessment that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election to help his candidacy. The first subpoenas are expected to go to former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper...

Patel Slammed for Rushing Out Terror Plot Alert: Report

Justice officials say early disclosure by FBI chief could jeopardize Michigan probe, per MSNBC

(Newser) - Frustration is simmering at the FBI and Justice Department after FBI Director Kash Patel announced that the agency had stopped a "potential" terrorist plot in Michigan, reportedly before investigators had even confirmed if there was an imminent threat. According to sources cited by MSNBC , Patel made the announcement on...

Ex-DOJ Officials, Scholars: Comey Case Must Be Tossed

Former officials say prosecution is political retribution, not justice

(Newser) - More than 100 former Justice Department officials are pushing a federal judge to dismiss the criminal case against former FBI director James Comey, alleging the prosecution is driven by political motives rather than legal merit, the Washington Post reports. The group—which spans both Republican and Democratic administrations and includes...

Bipartisan DOJ Alumni Urge Judge to Throw Out Comey Case

Group argues prosecution is politically driven and breaks precedent

(Newser) - A bipartisan group of more than 100 former Justice Department officials has asked a judge to dismiss the case against James Comey, arguing that the prosecution is driven by political motives. The group, which includes former attorneys general and US attorneys from past Republican and Democratic administrations, filed an amicus...

4 'Frequent Targets' Are Now in Trump's Sights for Prosecution

President wants law sicced on Merrick Garland, Christopher Wray, Jack Smith, and Lisa Monaco

(Newser) - President Trump on Friday called for the prosecution of four senior Biden-era Justice Department officials, escalating his attacks on political opponents. In a post on Truth Social , Trump accused former Attorney General Merrick Garland, ex-FBI Director Christopher Wray, former special counsel Jack Smith , and ex-Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco of...

State Democrats Object to DOJ Sending Election Monitors

Administration says Republicans in California, New Jersey asked for federal observers

(Newser) - The Justice Department said Friday it will send federal election observers to California and New Jersey to monitor their Nov. 4 elections. The Trump administration said it's responding to requests from the states' Republican Party organizations, the Guardian reports, with Attorney General Pam Bondi saying the goal is to...

New York AG Pleads Not Guilty in Fraud Case

Letitia James is fighting back on case against her pushed by President Trump

(Newser) - New York Attorney General Letitia James pleaded not guilty on Friday to federal charges accusing her of lying on mortgage papers to secure favorable loan terms in a case pushed by President Trump. James' first court appearance in Virginia sets the stage for a high-stakes legal battle between the Republican...

UVA Strikes First Deal of Its Kind With Trump Administration

Public university agrees to new federal guidelines, in exchange for seeing admissions probes halted

(Newser) - Facing intense White House scrutiny, the University of Virginia has reached a deal with the Trump administration that pauses federal investigations into its admissions policies, marking the first such agreement between a public university and the current administration. The Justice Department announced the deal on Wednesday, describing it as a...

Report: Trump Wants DOJ to Pay Him $230M

'What a travesty,' ethics professor says

(Newser) - President Trump has filed claims seeking about $230 million from the Justice Department for damages related to federal investigations into his actions, the New York Times reports, citing "people familiar with the matter." The claims, filed through an administrative process that often precedes lawsuits, allege violations of...

John Bolton Hits Back After Federal Indictment

He says he will expose Trump's 'abuse of power' after being hit with 18 charges

(Newser) - Former Trump administration national security adviser John Bolton was charged Thursday with 18 counts of retention and transmission of national defense information, according to unsealed court documents. Bolton, who served in Trump's first administration and later became a vocal Trump critic, is accused of storing top secret records at...

Justice Department Wins Charges Against Letitia James

Trump's new prosecutor presented case to grand jury in Virginia

(Newser) - The Justice Department obtained a grand jury indictment on Thursday against New York Attorney General Letitia James, charging her with bank fraud in relation to the purchase of a Virginia property in 2023. The case, which centers on claims that James misrepresented her intended use of the Norfolk home...

Stories 1 - 20 |  Next >>
Most Read on Newser