Justice Department

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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...

In First Court Appearance, Comey Pleads Not Guilty

Former FBI director appears in Virginia courthouse to answer charges that he lied to Congress

(Newser) - Former FBI Director James Comey pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to face a criminal case that has thrown a spotlight on the Justice Department's efforts to target adversaries of President Trump. The arraignment is expected to be brief, reports the AP , but the moment is nonetheless loaded with significance,...

Woman's Amazon Order May Have Contained Voting Surprise

Maine investigating claim that missing absentee ballots ended up in resident's package

(Newser) - Authorities in Maine are investigating an allegation that dozens of unmarked ballots to be used in this November's election arrived inside a woman's Amazon order. The town of Ellsworth reported to the state last week that it was missing a shipment of 250 absentee ballots, Secretary of State...

Iowa Schools Chief Resigns After ICE Arrest

Des Moines schools chief Ian Roberts steps down as federal probe looks at district hiring practices

(Newser) - The superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, Ian Roberts, has resigned following his arrest last week by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which alleges he was living and working in the country without legal status. Roberts, originally from Guyana and a former Olympic runner, has led the district since 2023...

James Comey, Long a Target of Trump's, Faces Charges

Indictment accuses former FBI director of making a false statement and obstruction

(Newser) - James Comey was charged Thursday with making a false statement and obstruction in a criminal case filed days after President Trump appeared to urge his attorney general to prosecute the former FBI director and other perceived political enemies. The unprecedented indictment makes Comey the first former senior government official to...

Report: Feds Are Seeking Quick Comey Indictment

The statute of limitations runs out next Tuesday

(Newser) - The Justice Department is reportedly gearing up to indict former FBI chief James Comey, with prosecutors alleging he misled Congress about his role in the 2016 election interference probe. Sources familiar with the case tell the Washington Post and MSNBC the move is tied to Comey's 2020 Senate...

Recording Seemed to Catch Border Chief Accepting Bribe

Trump administration halted investigation of Tom Homan, who wasn't in government at the time

(Newser) - After appearing to be caught on audio tape accepting $50,000 from undercover agents, US border czar Tom Homan became the target of a federal bribery probe—until the Trump administration shut the investigation down, citing lack of evidence. Homan was being considered for a senior immigration role in...

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