U.S. Department of Justice

On September 2, 2026, U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Virginia rejected the Department of Justice's attempt to force Alphabet's Google to divest its AdX advertising exchange, despite having found Google illegally monopolized ad server and ad exchange markets. The ruling marks the third time a judge has rejected a U.S. antitrust breakup bid against Big Tech. Behavioral remedies were accepted instead, and the DOJ is considering an appeal.

11 reports · 4 sources · Updated Sep 4, 12:28 PM UTC

Prediction market platform Kalshi permanently banned former U.S. Representative George Santos and imposed a $71,356 penalty after finding he engaged in insider trading by betting over $17,000 on his own attendance at President Donald Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address. Kalshi reported Santos to the Department of Justice in June 2026. Santos, expelled from Congress in 2023 and later sentenced to 87 months in prison before his sentence was commuted by Trump, responded defiantly on X.

17 reports · 11 sources · Updated Sep 1, 03:02 AM UTC

Todd Boehly and Mark Walter are negotiating to sell their combined ~26% stake in Chelsea FC to majority shareholder Clearlake Capital, potentially valuing the club at over £5 billion. The talks aim to resolve a two-year ownership deadlock and come amid a U.S. federal fraud investigation into Walter’s insurance firms and his recent $12.5 billion sale of the Los Angeles Lakers. Clearlake would gain over 86% control if the deal proceeds, though no agreement is certain.

7 reports · 3 sources · Updated Aug 18, 12:05 PM UTC

A coalition of 12 U.S. states, led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, is suing to block Paramount Skydance’s $110-111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, alleging it violates antitrust law by reducing competition in film distribution and cable channels. Paramount CEO David Ellison has threatened to relocate operations from California and offered to sell CNN as a concession, but the lawsuit remains focused on broader market control. A federal judge has temporarily blocked the deal, with a trial set for March 2027 and ticking fees of up to $7 million daily.

26 reports · 8 sources · Updated Aug 25, 01:40 AM UTC

A U.S. federal judge formally dismissed a 2024 criminal case against Gautam Adani and seven others, who were accused of a $250–265 million bribery scheme for Indian solar energy contracts. The Trump administration’s DOJ moved to drop charges, citing evidentiary challenges and foreign primacy. Judge Nicholas Garaufis criticized the dismissal process as “highly unusual.” Adani denied any deal, though his group had proposed a $10 billion U.S. investment. The SEC settled its civil case for $18 million. Adani’s wealth surged, but stock reactions were muted.

12 reports · 5 sources · Updated Aug 12, 03:42 PM UTC

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted along party lines (8-5 or 8-7) to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in criminal contempt of Congress for refusing to answer questions about the COVID-19 pandemic, invoking his Fifth Amendment rights. Chairman Rand Paul argues the pardon from former President Biden invalidates Fauci’s Fifth Amendment claim. The resolution will be sent to Vice President J.D. Vance and then to the Department of Justice for potential prosecution. Democrats criticize the process as a rushed political stunt. If convicted, Fauci faces up to one year in prison.

13 reports · 6 sources · Updated Aug 12, 10:21 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

OpenAI and its subsidiary Statsig agreed to pay $3.2 million to settle U.S. Justice Department allegations that they discriminated against American job applicants by favoring foreign workers on temporary visas. The DOJ claimed the companies used tactics like requiring paper applications, late-night radio ads, and not posting openings externally to discourage U.S. applicants. The settlement includes $1.2 million in penalties and $2 million for affected workers. OpenAI denied wrongdoing but agreed to revise hiring policies and submit to DOJ monitoring. The case is part of a broader Trump administration crackdown on visa system abuse.

5 reports · 2 sources · Updated Aug 5, 12:23 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

On July 23, 2026, cryptocurrency exchange BitMEX announced it will cease operations on September 23, 2026, following a strategic review by owner HDR Global Trading. New sign-ups have halted, and trading will be restricted after August 26. Hours after the announcement, a class-action lawsuit was filed in New York alleging forced liquidations, theft of Bitcoin, and insider trading by co-founders Arthur Hayes, Ben Delo, and Samuel Reed. The exchange, which pioneered perpetual swaps, had previously pleaded guilty to Bank Secrecy Act violations and paid $100 million in penalties.

13 reports · 1 sources · Updated Aug 3, 02:36 PM UTC

eBay and three former top executives, including ex-CEO Devin Wenig, agreed to pay $55.7 million to settle a civil lawsuit by David and Ina Steiner, a Massachusetts couple harassed by eBay employees in 2019. The campaign—retaliation for the couple’s critical newsletter EcommerceBytes—included sending cockroaches, a bloody pig mask, and death threats. Seven former employees pleaded guilty in a related criminal case. The settlement includes eBay paying $46.15 million, charitable contributions, and a public apology.

13 reports · 3 sources · Updated Jul 30, 04:00 PM UTC

The U.S. Education Department, in partnership with the Department of Justice, is threatening to cut federal funding to two school districts in Maryland and Michigan. The action targets policies that protect information about students' gender identity from being disclosed to parents. The Education Department's Student Privacy Policy Office (SPPO) announced the move, escalating a federal crackdown on school policies that limit parental notification regarding transgender students. This represents a significant intervention by the Trump administration into local education policy, using funding as leverage to enforce parental rights over gender identity issues in schools.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 28, 05:23 PM UTC

Paramount's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery faces conflicting regulatory reviews across the U.S., EU, and U.K. The U.S. Justice Department cleared the deal, but a California court issued a temporary restraining order, and the EU attached conditions. The delay, potentially until June 2027, could add $1.7 billion to the purchase price due to daily accruing payments to Warner shareholders. If the deal fails under regulatory circumstances, Paramount could owe a $7 billion termination fee, guaranteed by Larry Ellison. The article highlights the strategic positions: Paramount argues for the deal while Warner benefits from the delay's financial terms. Four regulators are reviewing the transaction with different focuses on market power.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 26, 10:15 PM UTC

Two gun rights organizations have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Virgin Islands, challenging the territory's restrictions on concealed carry permits for nonresidents. This marks the second legal challenge to the territory's gun laws, following a separate lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice in December. The lawsuit argues that the territory's policies violate the Second Amendment rights of nonresident gun owners. The case adds to ongoing legal battles over gun rights in U.S. territories, where federal constitutional protections are often interpreted differently than in the 50 states. The outcome could have implications for gun carry laws in other U.S. territories and the broader interpretation of Second Amendment rights outside the mainland.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 24, 08:13 PM UTC

The U.S. Department of Justice has charged two Volkswagen engineers, Michael Stamp and Marcus Plank, with securities fraud for an alleged insider-trading scheme related to Volkswagen's joint venture with Rivian. The indictment, unsealed in the Southern District of New York, alleges the pair made over $300,000 by buying Rivian stock and options after learning about the joint venture (codenamed 'Project Climb') but before the public announcement on June 25, 2024. Rivian's stock rose 23% after the announcement, and the engineers sold their positions for profit. Stamp allegedly realized $250,000, Plank $50,000, and a family member $12,000. Investigators say the engineers understood their actions were illegal, with searches about insider trading statutes of limitations and prosecution. Both face up to 25 years in prison if convicted. Volkswagen stated the action targets individuals, not the company.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 24, 07:56 PM UTC

The FBI and U.S. federal prosecutors are investigating the Argentine Football Association (AFA) for alleged money laundering, bank fraud, and tax evasion involving over $260 million processed through U.S. bank accounts. The probe focuses on TourProdEnter LLC, a Florida-based company that managed AFA’s international sponsorship revenue, including deals with Adidas and Warner. Suspicious payments were made to companies linked to AFA officials and social benefit recipients. No formal charges have been filed, but the investigation could impact AFA leadership and the 2026 World Cup.

12 reports · 5 sources · Updated Jul 24, 07:18 AM UTC

The U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division has accused the University of California San Diego School of Medicine of racial discrimination in its admissions process. According to the DOJ, an investigation found that the medical school allegedly favored Black and Hispanic applicants through the use of 'race-neutral' practices, which the department claims were deliberately designed to increase the enrollment of these groups. The accusation raises legal and policy questions about the boundaries of affirmative action and race-conscious admissions in higher education, particularly following recent Supreme Court rulings on the matter. The case highlights ongoing federal scrutiny of diversity initiatives in academic institutions.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 21, 04:53 PM UTC

The article details the high-stakes bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), which began in October 2025 when WBD explored a sale due to debt and declining cable viewership. Netflix initially offered $82.7 billion for WBD's studios and streaming assets, but Paramount, led by David Ellison with backing from his father Larry Ellison, won with an $111 billion bid for all WBD assets including HBO, CNN, and HGTV. The U.S. Department of Justice approved the deal in June 2026, but a federal judge paused it on July 20, 2026, following a lawsuit by 12 state attorneys general filed on July 13. The article breaks down the timeline, key players, and potential next steps in this landmark media merger.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 21, 02:15 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 U.S. Department of Justice is investigating Harvard University over its 'China-based financial aid programs,' questioning whether scholarships funded by Chinese donors intentionally exclude American students. Harvard has received hundreds of millions of dollars from Chinese donors for these programs. The investigation focuses on whether the scholarships violate anti-discrimination laws by restricting eligibility based on nationality or ethnicity. The DOJ is examining if the university purposefully structured these financial aid programs to benefit Chinese students while excluding U.S. citizens, potentially in violation of federal civil rights laws. The case raises broader questions about foreign influence in American higher education and the legality of donor-restricted scholarships that discriminate based on national origin.

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

Magnite, the largest independent sell-side advertising platform, is up 19% in 2026 and remains a top pick of Claude AI, which operates a real-money portfolio via Autopilot. The article argues Magnite is undervalued despite strong growth in connected TV revenue (30% year-over-year, now over half of total revenue) and a low forward P/E of 14. Three catalysts are highlighted: Walmart opening its shopper data to advertisers through Magnite, the DOJ antitrust case against Google potentially driving market share to independent platforms (each 1% share gain worth ~$50 million), and a new AI layer with dentsu and DIRECTV accelerating ad buying. The article also promotes a separate report on a cheaper AI stock with 10,000% upside potential.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 20, 07:28 PM UTC

Aaron Luneke, former CFO of Bank of the Valley in Nebraska, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison on July 13, 2026, for bank fraud and attempted bank fraud related to a $4.3 million loan scheme. The fraud involved submitting fraudulent and inflated invoices to obtain loans for building a Legacy Express Car Wash in Columbus, Nebraska. Luneke abused his position as CFO to perpetrate and conceal the fraud against Bank of the Valley and Stearns Bank of St. Cloud, Minnesota. He also used shell companies and failed to disclose personal debts. Following his prison term, Luneke will serve five years of supervised release and pay a $10,000 fine. The conviction came in March 2026 after a jury trial.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 20, 02:36 PM UTC

The FBI announced the seizure of over 700 unauthorized drones near 11 World Cup venues in the U.S., with nearly 1,600 drones detected overall. The agency described the operation as the most comprehensive airspace security and drone countermeasure effort in American history. No-drone zones of 3 nautical miles radius and 3,000 feet altitude were enforced around stadiums, with violators facing fines up to $100,000, equipment confiscation, and criminal charges. All 78 matches and 326 total World Cup-related events were equipped with counter-drone systems, including mobile kits from Anduril Industries at MetLife Stadium. The article highlights the emerging threat of drones, citing a recent thwarted plot to use explosive-laden drones at a UFC event. Experts note the challenge of defending three-dimensional airspace and the low barrier to malicious drone use. The security effort involves federal, state, local, and international law enforcement coordination.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 19, 10:33 AM UTC

The second Trump Administration is executing an executive order to close the U.S. Department of Education. To manage the transition, Education Department officials have signed 14 interagency agreements (IAAs) with other federal agencies to share responsibility for education programs. The U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce has approved a package of 10 legislative proposals to codify these agreements and transfer authority from the Education Department to other agencies. Key bills include H.R. 9607 and H.R. 9610, which transfer adult literacy, career and technical education, and K-12 programs to the Department of Labor; H.R. 9611, transferring higher education programs (HBCUs, TRIO, veteran services) to Labor; and H.R. 9605, transferring foreign medical school accreditation oversight to HHS. The article notes that Title I funding for low-income schools and IDEA services for special needs children remain unchanged, and civil rights enforcement is preserved through an IAA with the Department of Justice.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 17, 09:37 PM UTC

The second Trump Administration is executing an executive order to close the U.S. Department of Education. To manage this process, the Department has signed 14 interagency agreements (IAAs) with other federal agencies to share responsibility for education programs. The U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce has approved a package of 10 legislative proposals to codify these IAAs and transfer program authority from the Education Department to other agencies. Key proposals include transferring adult literacy, career and technical education, and higher education programs (including HBCU and TRIO programs) to the Department of Labor, and foreign medical school accreditation to the Department of Health and Human Services. The article notes that Title I funding for low-income schools and IDEA services for special needs children remain unchanged, and civil rights enforcement is preserved through an IAA with the Department of Justice.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 17, 09:37 PM UTC

The second Trump Administration is executing an executive order to close the U.S. Department of Education. To manage the transition, Education Department officials have signed 14 interagency agreements (IAAs) with other federal agencies to share responsibility for education programs. The U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce has approved a package of 10 proposals to codify these agreements and transfer authority from the Education Department to other agencies. Key proposals include transferring adult literacy, career and technical education, and higher education programs (including HBCUs and TRIO) to the Department of Labor; foreign medical school accreditation to HHS; and civil rights enforcement to the Department of Justice. The article notes that Title I funding for low-income schools and IDEA services for children with disabilities remain unchanged, and civil rights protections are preserved. The Heritage Foundation analysis supports these moves as reducing bureaucratic duplication and creating conditions for the department's closure.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 17, 09:37 PM UTC

According to a Bloomberg News report on July 17, 2026, Apple and the U.S. Department of Justice are in early discussions to settle a 2024 antitrust lawsuit. The lawsuit, filed by the DOJ and 15 states, accuses Apple of monopolizing the smartphone market, harming smaller rivals, and driving up prices. Specific allegations include Apple suppressing technologies like super apps, cloud gaming, messaging, smartwatches, and digital wallets to limit competition. The talks are active but not guaranteed to result in an agreement, and it is unclear if state attorneys general are involved. Apple shares fell 1.1% on the day. The report comes shortly after Apple sued OpenAI and two former employees for trade secret misappropriation.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 17, 05:05 PM UTC

Apple and the U.S. Department of Justice are in early discussions to settle a 2024 antitrust lawsuit alleging the iPhone maker monopolized the smartphone market, hurt smaller rivals, and drove up prices. The talks are active but not guaranteed to result in an agreement, according to Bloomberg News. Apple has made multiple offers to the DOJ. The original lawsuit, filed by the DOJ and 15 states, cited Apple's suppression of super apps, cloud gaming, messaging, smartwatches, and digital wallets to limit competition. It is unclear if state attorneys general are involved in the settlement talks. Apple shares fell 1.1% on the news. Separately, Apple recently sued OpenAI and two former employees for trade secret misappropriation.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 17, 05:05 PM UTC

The United States unsealed federal indictments on July 7, 2026, charging Indian gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his aide Goldy Brar with ordering the June 2023 assassination of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, Canada. The FBI-led Operation Hardball resulted in 24 arrests across the US, Canada, and Europe, with 37 defendants charged for racketeering, murder-for-hire, extortion, and drug trafficking. The case had previously strained India-Canada relations after Canada alleged Indian government involvement, which India denied.

12 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 18, 10:17 AM UTC

Takeda Pharmaceuticals has agreed to pay $13.6 million to resolve allegations that it provided illegal kickbacks to physicians to encourage the prescription of its antidepressant medication, Trintellix. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the settlement, stating that the company's actions violated federal law by causing Medicaid to pay false claims. Between January 2014 and October 2020, Takeda allegedly offered speaking fees and covered meals at high-end restaurants to persuade doctors to prescribe the drug. Investigations revealed that some physicians attended multiple programs on the same topic without receiving any genuine educational benefit, indicating the events were primarily incentives rather than educational opportunities. Eric Grant, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of California, emphasized that prescribing decisions must remain free from influence by pharmaceutical payments or perks. This settlement underscores the government's ongoing commitment to protecting patient interests and ensuring integrity in healthcare prescribing practices. The case highlights regulatory scrutiny on pharmaceutical marketing practices and their impact on public health insurance programs like Medicaid.

1 reports · 1 sources