DOJ Proposes Rule Giving Attorney General Veto Power Over Bar Complaints Against Government Lawyers

On March 12, 2026, the Trump Department of Justice’s proposed rule to shield government lawyers from state bar disciplinary proceedings drew renewed attention as the DC Bar opened an investigation into DOJ official Ed Martin. The rule, first proposed in late February 2026, would give the U.S. …

Lead Prosecutor in DOJ Criminal Probe of Fed Chair Jerome Powell Replaced

On March 11, 2026, the top Republican on the Senate Banking Committee disclosed that the lead prosecutor handling the Department of Justice’s criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell had been replaced. Bloomberg reported the development as “a potentially notable …

Bipartisan Senators Request GAO Audit of DOJ Handling of Epstein Files

On March 11, 2026, a bipartisan group of U.S. senators – Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) – sent a formal letter to Acting Comptroller General Orice Williams Brown of the U.S. Government Accountability Office requesting an audit of …

Washington Post Investigation Details How ICE Systematically Defied Court Orders During Minneapolis Enforcement Surge

On March 10, 2026, The Washington Post published an investigation documenting how U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers systematically defied federal court orders as immigrant arrests soared during Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis. The reporting provided granular detail on specific …

DOJ Releases Additional Epstein Files After NPR Investigation Exposes Withheld Trump-Related Documents

Beginning on March 9, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice released additional Epstein files following an NPR investigation that exposed the selective withholding of documents related to sexual abuse allegations against President Donald Trump. NPR’s investigation found 53 pages missing from …

DOJ Pursues Retaliatory Investigations of Democratic Officials and Federal Reserve Chair

By March 2026, the Trump Department of Justice had launched an unprecedented series of retaliatory investigations and prosecutions targeting Democratic politicians, federal oversight officials, and the independent Federal Reserve. Protect Democracy’s Retaliatory Action Tracker documented a …

DOJ Public Integrity Section Gutted from 36 to 2 Lawyers, Stripped of Authority to File Cases

By March 9, 2026, reporting confirmed that the Trump administration had effectively dismantled the U.S. Department of Justice’s Public Integrity Section – the office created in response to the Watergate scandal specifically to investigate corruption by public officials. The section had …

DOJ Appeals Blocked Executive Orders Targeting Law Firms, Claims Judges "Bent Over Backwards" to Rule Against Trump

The Department of Justice filed appeals with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit around March 9, 2026, seeking to overturn district court rulings that had blocked President Trump’s executive orders targeting four major law firms: Perkins Coie, WilmerHale, Jenner and Block, and …

Trump Administration Escalates Campaign to Strip Federal Judges of Power to Block Presidential Orders

By March 7, 2026, the Trump administration had mounted an aggressive multi-front campaign to dramatically curtail the power of federal judges to block presidential actions, using both executive pressure on the Supreme Court and legislative action in Congress.

Since returning to office in January …

DOJ Appeals Four Court Rulings Blocking Trump Executive Orders Targeting Political Opponent Law Firms

On March 7, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice filed appeals seeking to reinstate Trump executive orders targeting four major law firms — Jenner & Block, Perkins Coie, Susman Godfrey, and WilmerHale — after four separate federal judges had blocked the orders. The appeals came after a jarring …

DOJ Public Integrity Section Collapses to Two Lawyers, Gutting Federal Anti-Corruption Enforcement

By March 2026, the Department of Justice’s Public Integrity Section – the unit created after Watergate specifically to prosecute corruption by government officials at all levels – had been reduced from 36 full-time lawyers to just two. NOTUS reported the collapse in detail, noting …

DOJ and FBI National Security Divisions Decimated by Purges as U.S. Confronts Iran War

A March 6, 2026 Washington Post investigation documented the severe degradation of the DOJ’s and FBI’s national security capabilities at the precise moment the United States was confronting a shooting war with Iran. The reporting found that many offices within the DOJ’s National …

Second Minnesota Federal Judge Threatens Contempt Against Feds Over ICE Detainees' Missing Property

On March 5, 2026, a second federal judge in Minnesota issued contempt threats against federal immigration authorities over the government’s failure to return property seized from ICE detainees who had been released under court orders. The development came two days after U.S. District Judge …

DOJ Releases Previously Withheld Epstein Files Containing Sexual Assault Allegations Against Trump

The Department of Justice released more than 1,000 previously withheld pages from the Epstein files on March 5-6, 2026, following an NPR investigation that revealed dozens of pages had been suppressed. The newly released documents included summaries of three FBI interviews conducted in 2019 with a …

Judge Bryan Weighs Contempt for U.S. Attorney Rosen Over ICE Property Seizures

The day after his March 3 contempt hearing, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Bryan remained in deliberation over whether to formally hold Minnesota U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen and other federal officials in contempt. Reporting on March 4 confirmed Bryan had taken the question under advisement without …

New Jersey Federal Judge Threatens Criminal Contempt After ICE Violates Transfer Orders 17 Times

On March 3, 2026, a federal judge in New Jersey threatened the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and its leadership with criminal contempt after documenting seventeen instances in which ICE had transferred detained immigrants out of New Jersey in violation of court-issued no-transfer …

Kash Patel Fires FBI Counterintelligence Unit That Tracked Iran, Days Before U.S. Strikes

FBI Director Kash Patel fired approximately a dozen agents and staff members from the bureau’s CI-12 counterintelligence unit – a squad whose work included monitoring Iranian threats to U.S. national security – just days before the United States launched strikes against Iran. The …

Judge Bryan Holds Contempt Hearing, Warns U.S. Attorney Rosen That Imprisonment Is Not Ruled Out

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Bryan convened a contempt hearing on March 3, 2026 in St. Paul, Minnesota that produced one of the most confrontational courtroom exchanges in the ongoing Minnesota ICE enforcement crisis. Bryan summoned Minnesota U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen, civil division head David …

DOJ Drops Then Rapidly Reverses Course on Law Firm Retaliation Cases in Chaotic 24-Hour Reversal

On March 2-3, 2026, the Department of Justice executed a dramatic 24-hour reversal on its litigation against four law firms targeted by Trump executive orders. DOJ attorneys first filed to voluntarily withdraw consolidated cases against Jenner & Block, WilmerHale, Perkins Coie, and Susman …

Chief Judge Schiltz Issues Written Order Documenting 210+ ICE Court Violations, Threatens Criminal Contempt

U.S. District Court Chief Judge Patrick Schiltz of the District of Minnesota issued a sweeping written order on February 27, 2026 documenting more than 210 violations of federal court orders by Immigration and Customs Enforcement — a dramatic escalation from the 96 violations he had catalogued in a …

DOJ Arrests Journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort Over Church Protest Coverage

On January 30, 2026, the FBI arrested journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort on federal civil rights conspiracy charges related to their coverage of a January 18 protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. Attorney General Pam Bondi publicly announced she personally directed the arrests, …

DOJ Serves Grand Jury Subpoenas to Governor Walz, Mayor Frey, and AG Ellison Over Immigration Enforcement

The Department of Justice served grand jury subpoenas to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Attorney General Keith Ellison, St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, and officials from Hennepin and Ramsey Counties, escalating a criminal investigation into whether their public criticism of …

Twelve Federal Prosecutors Resign Over DOJ Handling of Renee Good Shooting

At least twelve federal prosecutors resigned in protest over the DOJ’s handling of the Renee Good shooting investigation. Six prosecutors resigned from the Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s Office, including the three top-ranking prosecutors: Joseph Thompson (lead federal prosecutor on Minnesota …

Fifth Federal Prosecutor Appointed by AG Bondi Ruled Serving Unlawfully by Federal Judge

U.S. District Judge Lorna Schofield ruled that acting U.S. Attorney John Sarcone III for the Northern District of New York was serving unlawfully, marking the fifth such ruling against prosecutors appointed by Attorney General Pam Bondi. The judge found the Justice Department violated federal …

Trump Intervenes in Netflix-Warner Bros Antitrust Review, Favoring Politically Connected Paramount

President Trump publicly intervenes in the DOJ’s antitrust review of Netflix’s $72 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, stating it ‘could be a problem’ due to market concentration and demanding that CNN be sold. Trump’s intervention follows his …

Third Federal Judge Calls for Lindsey Halligan's Resignation as Unlawfully Appointed U.S. Attorney

U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema of the Eastern District of Virginia became the third federal judge to publicly question Lindsey Halligan’s continued tenure as U.S. Attorney, explicitly suggesting she should resign following a November ruling that declared her appointment unlawful. …

Trump Criticizes Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar for Not Switching Parties After Pardon

President Trump publicly attacks Democratic Representative Henry Cuellar for remaining in the Democratic Party and running for re-election as a Democrat, just days after Trump pardoned Cuellar and his wife from federal bribery and conspiracy charges. Trump’s statements—calling Cuellar’s …

Trump Pardons Sports Executive Tim Leiweke After Golf Conversation With Trey Gowdy

President Trump grants a full pardon to Tim Leiweke, former CEO of Oak View Group, who was indicted in July 2025 for conspiracy to rig bidding on a $375 million basketball arena at the University of Texas. The pardon follows a golf conversation between Trump and former Rep. Trey Gowdy, who …

Grand Jury Rejects DOJ's Weaponized Prosecution of NY Attorney General Letitia James

A federal grand jury in Norfolk, Virginia declined to indict New York Attorney General Letitia James on December 4, 2025, marking an extraordinary rejection of the Department of Justice’s attempted prosecution on bank fraud charges. The refusal came just ten days after U.S. District Judge …

Bondi Directive Weaponizes Tax Enforcement Against Groups Labeled "Antifa"

Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a memorandum explicitly directing federal prosecutors to pursue “tax crimes where extremist groups are suspected of defrauding the Internal Revenue Service,” specifically targeting organizations and donors labeled as “Antifa” or …

DOJ Escalates Investigation of 66-Year-Old Activist for Distributing Stephen Miller Protest Fliers

In November 2025, the Department of Justice, FBI, and Secret Service launched an aggressive investigation into Barbara Wien, a 66-year-old retired university professor and activist from Virginia, for distributing protest fliers about White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. The Trump …

Trump Demands $230 Million from DOJ as 'Compensation' for Investigations

President Trump is seeking $230 million in taxpayer funds from the Justice Department as ‘compensation’ for past federal investigations into his conduct. The payout would be approved by former Trump defense lawyers now occupying senior DOJ positions, creating severe ethical conflicts …

Secret Interagency Working Group Coordinates Trump Retaliation Against Political Opponents

Reuters revealed that 39 officials spanning the White House, DOJ, CIA, FBI, and intelligence agencies coordinate Trump’s systematic retaliation against perceived enemies from the Russia probe and January 6 investigations through a secret ‘Interagency Weaponization Working Group.’ …

Federal Prosecutor Fired for Refusing Trump Demand to Indict Letitia James

Federal prosecutor Elizabeth Yusi was purged from her position after refusing President Trump’s demand to indict New York Attorney General Letitia James without evidence of criminal conduct. Trump loyalist Lindsey Halligan—a former Trump personal attorney with no prosecutorial …

John Bolton Faces Imminent Federal Indictment on Classified Materials Charges

Former National Security Adviser John Bolton faces imminent federal indictment on classified materials charges following FBI raids. This represents the third major Trump critic to be indicted in October 2025, following James Comey and Letitia James. The systematic pattern of indictments targeting …

DOJ-Cited Report on Soros Shows No Evidence of Terrorism Funding

The Justice Department cited a conservative report accusing George Soros’s foundations of terrorism funding, but the report’s own authors acknowledged it contained no evidence of illegal activity and focused instead on grantees’ political statements. Despite the complete absence of …

NY Attorney General Letitia James Indicted on Questionable Mortgage Fraud Charges

The Justice Department indicted New York Attorney General Letitia James on one count of bank fraud and one count of making false statements to a financial institution, alleging she misled a bank by stating a Norfolk, Virginia property would be a second home rather than an investment property, saving …

Crypto Investor 'Bitcoin Jesus' Reaches $48 Million Deal After Hiring Trump Associates

Roger Ver agreed to a $48 million deferred-prosecution deal to avoid jail in a tax fraud case after hiring Trump fixers Roger Stone and David Schoen. The settlement follows Trump’s systematic rollback of crypto enforcement, with Ver’s charges potentially being dropped if he complies with …

Trump's Accidental Truth Social Post Exposes Direct DOJ Control

A public Truth Social post from Trump intended as a private message to Attorney General Pam Bondi exposed direct presidential control over specific criminal prosecutions. The post explicitly demanded investigations of political enemies, revealing Trump’s hands-on direction of Justice …

Erdogan Says Trump Promised to End Halkbank Sanctions Prosecution

Turkish President Erdoğan publicly stated that Trump promised to end the Halkbank sanctions-evasion prosecution despite a Supreme Court ruling allowing the case to proceed. The state-run Turkish bank faced accusations of laundering billions of dollars for Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions. …

Border Czar Tom Homan Allegedly Took $50,000 in FBI Corruption Sting

Reports revealed that border czar Tom Homan was recorded by undercover FBI agents accepting $50,000 in cash on September 20, 2024, after indicating he could help win government contracts in a second Trump administration. The federal investigation launched in western Texas was abruptly terminated in …

DOJ Reassigns North Carolina Prosecutors to Lead Comey Political Prosecution

The Justice Department reassigned prosecutors from North Carolina to lead the case against James Comey following internal upheaval after Trump appointee Lindsey Halligan pushed through the indictment over career prosecutors’ objections. The reassignment followed the purge of two senior …

DOJ Expands Surveillance of Journalists Covering Administration

The Department of Justice implements a new national security data security program that potentially allows for increased surveillance of journalists. Under the program, DOJ creates mechanisms to access bulk data that could be used to track reporters, particularly those investigating administration …

Pam Bondi Rescinds Journalist Protection Safeguards as AG

Attorney General Pam Bondi eliminates journalist protection guidelines established by Merrick Garland, reverting to a pre-2021 ‘balancing test’ that allows the Department of Justice to more aggressively pursue journalist records in leak investigations. The policy change removes key …

McKinsey Agrees to $650 Million Criminal Settlement for Role in 'Turbocharging' Opioid Sales for Purdue Pharma

McKinsey & Company agrees to pay $650 million to settle federal criminal and civil investigations into its role in helping Purdue Pharma ’turbocharge’ sales of OxyContin, the highly addictive opioid painkiller at the center of America’s overdose epidemic. This marks the first …

McKinsey Pays $73 Million Final Settlement to South Africa in State Capture Resolution

South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) claws back R1.1 billion (approximately $73 million) from McKinsey & Company and its subsidiary McKinsey South Africa through a Corporate Alternative Dispute Resolution process, representing a final settlement of the state capture scandal. …

McKinsey Africa Agrees to Pay $122 Million Settlement for Bribery of South African Officials

McKinsey Africa enters into a three-year deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice, agreeing to pay more than $122 million (approximately R2.2 billion) to resolve criminal charges for conspiracy to violate the anti-bribery provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. The …

Justice Department Pays $138.7 Million Settlement Over FBI's Failure to Investigate Nassar Allegations

On April 23, 2024, the U.S. Justice Department announced a $138.7 million settlement with more than 100 survivors who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016. The settlement acknowledged that the FBI’s 14-month delay in …

Sam Bankman-Fried Convicted on All Counts in 'One of the Biggest Financial Frauds in American History'

A federal jury convicts Sam Bankman-Fried on all seven criminal counts including wire fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering in what federal prosecutors describe as ‘one of the biggest financial frauds in American history.’ The conviction follows a …

Shvartsman Brothers and Bruce Garelick Charged in $22.9 Million DWAC Insider Trading Scheme

Federal prosecutors and the SEC charged Michael Shvartsman, Gerald Shvartsman, and Bruce Garelick with securities fraud in a $22.9 million insider trading scheme centered on the DWAC-Trump Media merger. Bruce Garelick, a former DWAC board member and chief strategy officer at Rocket One Capital, …