Department of Justice

The Trump administration's Justice Department sued California officials over allegations that roughly 20,000 noncitizens are on the state's voter rolls, seeking to stop the counting of about 20,000 ballots. The filing followed a 48-hour deadline and a demand that California review a thumb drive of "likely noncitizen" voters. Separately, the DOJ charged 28 green card holders in California with voting-related crimes. California officials have disputed the administration's claims, and the litigation's outcome remains uncertain.

12 reports · 2 sources · Updated Oct 19, 06:54 PM UTC

A federal judge has repeatedly blocked the Trump administration's tree removal at East Potomac Golf Links in Washington, D.C., after hundreds of trees were felled as part of a plan to convert the public course into a high-end facility. Judge Ana Reyes issued a two-week injunction and ordered advance notice of further changes, while the Justice Department sought her recusal. Trump announced a 15-month closure and renovation starting in mid-November, defying the court order.

18 reports · 3 sources · Updated Oct 19, 02:09 PM UTC

Federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations executed a judicially authorized search warrant at Rep. Ilhan Omar's Washington, D.C.-area home in October 2026, weeks before midterm elections. The probe examines whether Omar or her late father misstated her birth date on immigration paperwork to derive citizenship. Agents seized her phone, notebooks, computers and passport, and subpoenaed relatives. The Wall Street Journal reported the investigation aims to build a case to strip her citizenship and deport her. Omar denounced the search as political intimidation; Democratic leaders condemned it, while Trump officials claimed a strong case.

45 reports · 7 sources · Updated Oct 19, 12:57 AM UTC

The U.S. Department of Justice is reportedly seeking to indict Cassidy Hutchinson, a former aide to White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and a star witness before the House January 6 committee. According to Punchbowl News, confirmed by NBC News and reported by The Washington Post, the DOJ's Civil Rights Division presented evidence to a federal grand jury accusing her of lying to the committee about what she witnessed on January 6, 2021. Prosecutors are weighing perjury and obstruction charges, with more evidence and witnesses expected. Hutchinson has not received a subpoena. Republicans, including Rep. Barry Loudermilk and Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, have long sought her prosecution.

7 reports · 2 sources · Updated Oct 14, 02:20 PM UTC

A federal judge has halted the Trump administration's tree removal at the historic East Potomac Golf Course in Washington, D.C., after hundreds of trees were abruptly cut down. The judge, reportedly Biden-appointed, froze further work for at least two weeks, ordered administration officials to testify, and sharply criticized the Justice Department, saying it had "lost all credibility." Reports vary on the number of trees felled, citing hundreds or approximately 400. The administration's golf course renovation plan remains under judicial scrutiny.

10 reports · 3 sources · Updated Oct 13, 07:30 PM UTC

The Pentagon announced that Nidal Hasan, convicted of killing 13 people in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting, will be executed by firing squad on December 3 at Fort Hood, Texas, and the execution will be livestreamed. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the plan, saying the public must see serious consequences for such acts. President Donald Trump approved the execution, which would be the first U.S. military execution since 1961 and the first firing squad execution since World War II. The plan has drawn bipartisan criticism and international opposition.

36 reports · 6 sources · Updated Oct 12, 12:11 PM UTC

The U.S. Department of Justice announced on October 6, 2026, that it has filed denaturalization actions against 40 naturalized U.S. citizens, marking what Attorney General Todd Blanche called the largest denaturalization effort in modern history. The individuals are accused of serious offenses including espionage, voluntary manslaughter, and sexual crimes against minors, with the DOJ alleging they concealed critical facts during the naturalization process. The affected individuals originally came from countries including Mexico, Colombia, Pakistan, Haiti, Nepal, and Ghana. This follows an April 2026 New York Times report that the DOJ was targeting 384 naturalized Americans for denaturalization, which a DOJ official described as "the first wave."

5 reports · 3 sources · Updated Oct 7, 03:03 PM UTC

Former FBI analyst Jill Fields filed a whistleblower complaint alleging the Trump White House and DOJ pressured the FBI to investigate anti-ICE protesters in Los Angeles, violating their constitutional rights. Fields claims Trump ordered FBI Director Kash Patel to investigate organizers after seeing a TikTok video. Agents were pulled from drug cartel cases for "optics." The DOJ dismissed the complaint as politically motivated. Trump's efforts to charge protesters resulted in dropped cases, and a federal court blocked sending federal troops to Los Angeles.

7 reports · 2 sources · Updated Oct 6, 08:43 PM UTC

The family of Renée Good, a 37-year-old mother of three killed by ICE agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis on January 7, 2026, filed two federal lawsuits on October 1, 2026. One suit, under the Federal Tort Claims Act, alleges wrongful death through battery, assault, false imprisonment, and negligence. The second, citing the Ku Klux Klan Act, alleges a conspiracy to interfere with civil rights, naming Ross, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, border czar Tom Homan, and others. The lawsuits challenge the self-defense claim, asserting Ross was not in danger when he fired three shots.

11 reports · 5 sources · Updated Oct 2, 08:30 PM UTC

During a September 29, 2026 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) accused former special counsel Jack Smith of perjury, claiming text messages showed Smith attended an Atlanta Hawks game to meet with Fani Willis. The texts actually referred to a University of Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball game in Maryland. Schmitt was warned the texts were unvetted by GOP staff. A senior Republican senator told RawStory they believe the White House asked Schmitt to make the accusation and provided the material.

11 reports · 2 sources · Updated Oct 1, 12:56 PM UTC

President Donald Trump banned CNN, MSNBC, and Politico from the White House on September 18, 2026, accusing them of "fake news." Their press credentials were revoked and reporters denied entry. The outlets sued, citing First Amendment violations. On September 24, Judge Timothy Kelly issued a temporary restraining order restoring access for 14 days, finding the ban likely violated due process. The White House initially defied the order, barring reporters from a state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping, before eventually restoring access later that day.

184 reports · 14 sources · Updated Sep 25, 04:39 PM UTC

Joseph diGenova, a Trump administration appointee, resigned from the Department of Justice after leading a probe into an alleged "grand conspiracy" targeting Trump's political opponents, including Biden and Obama officials. The investigation, which examined the origins of the Trump-Russia inquiries, concluded without any charges being filed. DiGenova's resignation followed internal DOJ clashes, with reports citing pressure to indict without sufficient evidence. Multiple major news outlets confirmed the resignation.

8 reports · 2 sources · Updated Sep 15, 03:15 PM UTC

The United States deported Nazira Haji Zada, a 47-year-old Afghan lawful permanent resident of Texas, in the first-ever use of the Alien Terrorist Removal Court, a secretive tribunal created in 1996. She was never criminally charged but was accused of being the matriarch of a family plot inspired by Islamic State targeting Election Day 2024. Her son and son-in-law pleaded guilty to related charges. Attorney General Todd Blanche called it a national security victory, while her lawyers argued the process violated due process.

7 reports · 3 sources · Updated Sep 14, 05:27 PM UTC

The Trump administration has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to allow the United States Postal Service to enforce new restrictions on mail-in ballots ahead of the November midterm elections. A federal judge and an appeals court have blocked the rules, citing risks of voter disenfranchisement. Republican election officials say it is too late to implement the changes. The Supreme Court has not yet ruled on the merits.

11 reports · 6 sources · Updated Sep 10, 06:17 PM UTC