Todd Blanche

A New York judge temporarily blocked Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax on luxury second homes over $5 million, following a lawsuit by former Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro and other homeowners. The ruling was immediately stayed by the city’s appeal, allowing the tax to continue pending further litigation. President Donald Trump then announced he is exploring federal action to stop the tax, calling it destructive. The tax, intended to fund schools and streets, remains legally contested amid tensions over property rights and progressive revenue policies.

8 reports · 5 sources · Updated Aug 13, 09:31 PM UTC

President Trump suggested temporarily withdrawing Todd Blanche’s nomination for U.S. Attorney General after Republican Senators Cornyn and Tillis blocked a committee vote. The holdouts demand changes to a $1.8 billion IRS settlement granting Trump immunity from audits. Blanche can remain acting AG, but Trump may wait until the senators leave office next year, risking a Democratic Senate takeover.

91 reports · 15 sources · Updated Aug 11, 02:49 PM UTC

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Justice Department and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, accusing them of stonewalling the state's criminal investigation into sex trafficking and abuse at Jeffrey Epstein's Zorro Ranch. The state seeks unredacted federal files, citing over 13,000 references to the ranch in Epstein documents. The DOJ has allegedly ignored multiple requests, delaying justice for survivors. The ranch, near Santa Fe, was sold in 2023.

5 reports · 3 sources · Updated Aug 5, 08:56 PM UTC

The U.S. Department of Justice dropped a vandalism charge against former Olympic canoeist David Hearn, who was accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C. Prosecutors cited a flawed and rushed renovation—not intentional vandalism—as the cause of the damage. The case had been pursued under the Trump administration, with President Trump publicly criticizing U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro for dismissing it. Hearn’s attorneys called the arrest an abuse of power, and the dismissal undermines remaining vandalism charges.

54 reports · 10 sources · Updated Aug 11, 06:22 PM UTC

The U.S. Justice Department has activated the long-dormant Alien Terrorist Removal Court, created in 1996 but never used, to seek deportation of Nazira Haji Zada, an Afghan legal permanent resident in Fort Worth, Texas. She is accused of supporting an ISIS-inspired plot, including a thwarted 2024 Election Day attack. Her son and son-in-law were convicted. Zada’s lawyers challenge the court’s constitutionality, citing due process concerns over classified evidence and a lower standard of proof. The case may reach the Supreme Court.

5 reports · 3 sources · Updated Aug 5, 07:14 PM UTC

On July 30, 2026, the Senate Finance Committee voted 14-13 along party lines to defeat a Democratic amendment that would have blocked the IRS from granting tax audit immunity to a sitting president, their family, or related entities. The amendment aimed to nullify President Trump’s existing $1.8 billion settlement, which includes a fund for victims of alleged political weaponization. Republicans argued the amendment would jeopardize a bipartisan IRS modernization bill, which advanced 26-1.

5 reports · 2 sources · Updated Jul 30, 05:26 PM UTC

Former FBI Director James Comey has filed a motion to dismiss a federal indictment accusing him of threatening President Donald Trump. The charge stems from an Instagram photo of seashells arranged to read "86 47," which prosecutors interpreted as a death threat. Comey’s lawyers argue the post is protected political hyperbole under the First Amendment, not a "true threat." They also allege vindictive prosecution and illegal Secret Service surveillance of Comey and his wife. The DOJ has not yet responded.

12 reports · 5 sources · Updated Jul 29, 11:00 PM UTC

The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution on Wednesday opposing any presidential pardon or clemency for Ghislaine Maxwell, a convicted sex offender and associate of Jeffrey Epstein. The resolution, introduced by Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), aims to prevent acting Attorney General Todd Blanche—nominated by President Trump to remain in the role—from granting any form of clemency to Maxwell. The bipartisan vote reflects strong congressional opposition to leniency for Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 for sex trafficking and other crimes related to her role in Epstein's abuse network. The resolution serves as a symbolic but firm statement against any potential executive action to reduce her sentence or pardon her.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 29, 07:35 PM UTC

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche faced a contentious Senate confirmation hearing on July 15, 2026, where he apologized for failing to redact Epstein victims' names in released documents. He backtracked on a promise to meet survivors, claiming legal prohibitions. Epstein survivor Dani Bensky testified against him, and 19 victims publicly opposed his nomination after reports revealed his role in White House meetings on Epstein file transparency.

26 reports · 6 sources · Updated Jul 29, 03:32 PM UTC

On June 25, 2026, U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan issued a preliminary injunction ordering the Justice Department to unredact key Jeffrey Epstein files within one week. The ruling, in a lawsuit by journalist Katie Phang, found Acting AG Todd Blanche violated the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Unsealed materials include emails, FBI interview notes—including an accusation against President Trump—and names of co-conspirators. The decision marks a major transparency victory, compelling the DOJ to release or justify withheld information.

12 reports · 3 sources · Updated Jul 27, 05:33 PM UTC

The article analyzes acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's confirmation hearing testimony defending a controversial settlement between the Justice Department and Donald Trump. The deal allegedly gives Trump a $1.776 billion fund for January 6 defendants and tax audit relief worth $100 million, in exchange for dropping a lawsuit deemed worthless. Under questioning from Senator John Cornyn, Blanche admitted the settlement is an enforceable contract, meaning Trump could legally compel the DOJ to provide the fund. Blanche simultaneously claimed he could unilaterally terminate the fund, creating a logical contradiction. The article argues this reveals the deal as collusive, as the DOJ and Trump were never true adversaries. Two federal courts have already ruled against the settlement, finding it potentially bogus and collusive. The analysis concludes Blanche offered no coherent legal principle to justify enforcing the tax amnesty while abandoning the fund.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 22, 07:17 PM UTC

The article argues that major charitable giving platforms should reconsider their automatic trust in the Department of Justice under the Trump administration, following the DOJ's indictment of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) in April 2026. Three large platforms froze donations to SPLC based solely on the indictment, despite no conviction or IRS action. The author notes that federal courts across the ideological spectrum have repeatedly refused to credit DOJ representations, citing false statements, pretextual justifications, and retaliatory prosecutions. The SPLC indictment is framed as part of a broader administration campaign against civil rights organizations, following a National Security Presidential Memorandum targeting nonprofits. The piece warns that private institutions risk becoming agents of this effort by treating accusations as punishment, undermining civil society funding.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 22, 01:15 PM UTC

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who days earlier pledged that Donald Trump's $1.8 billion slush fund was dead, has reversed course. In written answers to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Blanche refused to rule out using taxpayer funds as reparations for Trump's political allies, including those convicted of assaulting police during the January 6 Capitol attack. He declined to answer whether DOJ discussed payouts with January 6 convicts, whether granting Trump criminal immunity was appropriate, or whether the IRS was pressured into a settlement. A federal judge, Kathleen Williams, had already nullified the settlement underlying the fund, ruling it was a collusive attempt to confer immunity and earmark billions from taxpayers for undefined grievances. The article also notes that over 4.5 million people lost SNAP food assistance due to Trump's budget cuts.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 21, 06:13 PM UTC

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has reversed his earlier pledge that Donald Trump's $1.8 billion slush fund was dead. In written answers to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Blanche refused to rule out using taxpayer funds as reparations for Trump's political allies, including those convicted of assaulting police during the January 6 Capitol attack. He declined to answer whether DOJ discussed payouts with convicted January 6 participants, whether granting Trump criminal immunity was appropriate, or whether the IRS was pressured into a settlement. A federal judge, Kathleen Williams, previously nullified the settlement underlying the fund, ruling it was an unlawful attempt to use the court to legitimize conferring immunity and earmarking billions in taxpayer money for undefined grievances.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 21, 06:13 PM UTC

A Florida federal judge, Kathleen Williams, ruled that President Donald Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS was filed for an improper purpose—to legitimize a corrupt settlement with the Justice Department. The settlement included a $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” and sweeping immunity for Trump and his family, later abandoned after backlash. The judge referred Trump’s lawyer to the Florida Bar and sent rulings to bar associations in New York and D.C., where top Justice officials are members.

17 reports · 8 sources · Updated Jul 21, 03:23 PM UTC

House Democrats, led by Representative Jamie Raskin, are investigating whether convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein acted as an unregistered foreign agent for multiple countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Russia, and Israel. Raskin sent a letter to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, DNI nominee Jay Clayton, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio requesting records from the Trump administration on Epstein's international ties. Raskin alleges Epstein capitalized on his friendship with President Donald Trump to secure business from foreign governments without registering under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), potentially violating the law. The Department of Justice has yet to release 2.5 million files related to Epstein, which Raskin believes may contain evidence of his foreign dealings. The investigation also raises questions about the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein case, including selective redactions and limited engagement with victims.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 21, 02:12 PM UTC

House Democrats, led by Representative Jamie Raskin, are investigating whether convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein acted as an unregistered foreign agent for multiple countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Russia, and Israel. Raskin sent a letter to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, DNI nominee Jay Clayton, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio requesting records from the Trump administration on Epstein's international ties. The letter alleges Epstein capitalized on his friendship with President Donald Trump to secure business from foreign governments without registering under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), potentially violating the law. The Department of Justice has yet to release 2.5 million files related to Epstein, which Raskin believes may contain evidence of his foreign dealings. The investigation also raises questions about the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein case, including selective redactions and a controversial meeting with victims.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 21, 02:12 PM UTC

House Democrats, led by Representative Jamie Raskin, are investigating whether convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein acted as an unregistered foreign agent for multiple countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Russia, and Israel. Raskin sent a letter to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, DNI nominee Jay Clayton, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio requesting records from the Trump administration on Epstein's international ties. The letter alleges Epstein capitalized on his friendship with President Donald Trump to secure business from foreign governments without registering under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), potentially violating the law. The Department of Justice has yet to release 2.5 million files related to Epstein, which Raskin believes contain evidence of his foreign dealings. The investigation also raises questions about the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein case, including selective redactions and meetings with victims.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 21, 02:12 PM UTC

The Heritage Foundation argues that the Trump administration's recent push to target immigration lawyers for mass asylum fraud is insufficient. To deter future migration crises, the article calls for prosecuting and imprisoning individual asylum claimants who lie under oath ('single scope' cases). It cites a 2015 GAO report showing that U.S. Attorneys have historically declined such cases, creating a disincentive for investigations by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and USCIS's Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate (FDNS). The author proposes that Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche appoint a Special Attorney under 28 USC 543 to prioritize these prosecutions nationwide, breaking the cycle of non-enforcement.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 21, 01:05 PM UTC

The Pentagon has reaffirmed its strict prohibition on marijuana use by military personnel and civilian employees, even as the Trump administration moves to reclassify marijuana at the federal level. In a July 9 memo, Undersecretary of Personnel and Readiness Anthony Tata clarified that rescheduling marijuana—from Schedule I to Schedule III—does not decriminalize it under federal law, and that the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) continues to prohibit its use, possession, or distribution. The policy applies regardless of state-level legalization for recreational or medical purposes. Civilian Pentagon employees are also barred from marijuana use under drug-free workplace rules. The memo follows an executive order by President Trump in December and an April order by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to reclassify state-licensed medical marijuana. The military has also relaxed some recruitment policies regarding prior marijuana convictions but maintains a zero-tolerance stance for active-duty personnel, citing national security and operational readiness.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 20, 08:25 PM UTC

The Pentagon has confirmed that marijuana remains strictly prohibited for all U.S. military service members and civilian Department of Defense employees, even as the Trump administration moves to reclassify the drug at the federal level. In a July 9 memo, Undersecretary of Personnel and Readiness Anthony Tata emphasized that rescheduling marijuana would not decriminalize it under federal law, and that violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) Article 112a—covering wrongful use, possession, manufacture, or distribution of marijuana—remain punishable. The clarification follows an executive order by President Trump to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, and a directive from Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche regarding state-licensed medical marijuana. The Pentagon cited national security, public safety, and operational readiness as reasons for maintaining the ban. However, the military has recently relaxed recruitment policies regarding single prior convictions for marijuana possession, and federal research into marijuana for PTSD treatment continues.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 20, 08:25 PM UTC

The article analyzes the uncertain confirmation of Todd Blanche as Attorney General, focusing on Senator John Cornyn of Texas as the key swing vote on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Cornyn is dissatisfied with Blanche's refusal to formally kill the 'anti-weaponization fund' deal that protects Trump from IRS audits. A federal judge issued a blistering ruling calling the underlying lawsuit collusive, and an ethics complaint has been filed against Blanche. Senator Thom Tillis has indicated tentative support after a meeting with Epstein survivors. The piece questions why Republican senators who dislike Trump might still hesitate to vote no, citing threats against judges and political intimidation as possible factors.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 20, 07:00 PM UTC

The confirmation of Todd Blanche as Attorney General hangs on a single Republican vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee, with Texas Senator John Cornyn undecided. Cornyn is dissatisfied with Blanche's refusal to confirm in writing that a controversial anti-weaponization fund—part of a deal immunizing Trump from IRS audits—is truly dead. A federal judge ruled the underlying lawsuit was collusive and non-adversarial, and sent the case to the New York State Bar, where over 100 former judges filed an ethics complaint against Blanche. Blanche also faces scrutiny over his handling of the Epstein files. While Senator Thom Tillis appears satisfied after meeting Epstein survivors, Cornyn remains the key holdout. The article notes broader intimidation concerns, citing threats against judges and former Senator Mitt Romney's fear for his safety, questioning whether Cornyn will cave to pressure.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 20, 07:00 PM UTC

The article analyzes Senator John Cornyn's hesitation to vote for Todd Blanche as Attorney General, focusing on Blanche's role in a controversial settlement deal involving an 'anti-weaponization fund' that shields Trump from IRS audits. Cornyn extracted an admission that Trump could still enforce the deal. A federal judge ruled the lawsuit was collusive and referred Blanche to the New York State Bar. Senator Thom Tillis is leaning yes after a meeting with Epstein survivors. The piece also notes threats against judges have surged 57%, and former Senator Mitt Romney feared for his safety, suggesting intimidation may influence Cornyn's decision.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 20, 07:00 PM UTC

A new legal brief filed on July 15 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California alleges that the Trump administration's Department of Homeland Security is routinely violating the 1997 Flores agreement by holding hundreds of immigrant children at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, for well over the legal limit of 20 days, with some detained as long as 323 days. The brief, filed against acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, includes firsthand accounts of abuse by guards employed by private prison company CoreCivic, including denial of medical care, inadequate education, verbal abuse, physical retaliation, and sexual harassment. Plaintiffs also accuse ICE of publishing an annual report that hides the true number of children detained and the duration of their stays, offering inconsistent averages that still exceed the Flores limit. The ongoing abuse contrasts sharply with the government's claims of providing wellness programming like Zumba and crochet, which families and attorneys say never occur.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 20, 09:00 AM UTC

A new legal brief filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California alleges that the Trump administration's Department of Homeland Security is routinely violating the 1997 Flores agreement by holding hundreds of immigrant children at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, for well over the legal limit of 20 days, with some detained as long as 323 days. The brief, filed against acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, includes firsthand accounts of abuse by guards employed by private prison company CoreCivic, including denial of medical care, inadequate education, verbal and physical abuse, and retaliation against children who complain. Plaintiffs also accuse ICE of hiding the true extent of detentions in its 2026 annual report by providing misleading averages. The ongoing abuse contradicts the government's claims of providing wellness programming such as Zumba and crochet, which families say never occurred.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 20, 09:00 AM UTC

The article analyzes Donald Trump's intensifying campaign against the press, moving from incendiary rhetoric to concrete legal actions. It details recent subpoenas issued to three New York Times journalists by a federal grand jury in Manhattan, related to a leak about Trump's new Air Force One lacking anti-missile capabilities. The White House reportedly directed FBI Director Kash Patel to oversee the leak investigation. Separately, FBI agents seized computers and phones from Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson. The Justice Department defends the subpoenas as routine, but media advocates argue they threaten press freedom and source confidentiality. The piece notes Trump's history of threatening to jail reporters, his barrage of defamation lawsuits, and fears the administration may use the Espionage Act to prosecute journalists for publishing classified information. The article frames these actions as a deliberate assault on independent journalism and democratic accountability.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 18, 10:00 AM UTC

The article analyzes Donald Trump's intensifying campaign against the press, moving from incendiary rhetoric to concrete legal actions. It details recent subpoenas issued to three New York Times journalists by a federal grand jury in Manhattan, related to a leak about Trump's new Air Force One lacking anti-missile capabilities. The White House reportedly directed FBI Director Kash Patel to oversee the leak investigation. Separately, FBI agents seized computers and phones from Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson. The Justice Department defends these actions as standard investigative procedure, but media advocates argue they threaten press freedom and source confidentiality. The article notes Trump's history of threatening reporters with jail, filing defamation lawsuits, and the potential use of the Espionage Act against journalists. Media lawyers warn this represents an unprecedented assault on the First Amendment.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 18, 10:00 AM UTC

The New Yorker analysis details Donald Trump's escalating campaign against the press, moving from rhetoric to legal action. The article focuses on recent subpoenas issued to three New York Times journalists over a leak about Trump's new Air Force One lacking anti-missile capabilities. The Justice Department, under acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, defends the subpoenas as routine material witness requests, but media advocates see them as intimidation. The piece also notes an FBI raid on Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson's home and subpoenas against other journalists that were later withdrawn. Media lawyers warn the administration may use the Espionage Act to prosecute journalists for publishing classified information, which would represent a dramatic escalation. The article frames these actions as part of Trump's long-promised assault on press freedom, threatening the confidentiality that enables investigative reporting.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 18, 10:00 AM UTC

In this opinion newsletter, Nation Justice Correspondent Elie Mystal criticizes Democrats for failing to mount an organized response to President Trump's Oval Office speech about election fraud and the SAVE Act. Mystal argues Democrats should demand equal TV time to counter Trump's narrative and detail Republican efforts to rig midterms. The piece also covers Todd Blanche's confirmation hearings for attorney general, a judge voiding a $1.8 billion settlement for Trump's January 6 army, ICE admitting it has documents about placing agents at polling stations, and ICE agents killing a Colombian immigrant. Mystal praises South Carolina's process for replacing Lindsey Graham and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's rent freeze and police reform efforts. The article is a preview of Mystal's weekly newsletter.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 17, 06:30 PM UTC