FBI Director James Comey confirmed for the first time in public testimony before the House Intelligence Committee that the FBI was investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible coordination between Trump’s campaign and Russia. This unprecedented disclosure of an ongoing …
James ComeyDonald TrumpMike RogersDevin NunesAdam Schiffrussia-investigationcomeyobstruction-of-justicecongressional-testimonyabuse-of-power
President Trump fired U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara on March 11, 2017, after Bharara refused to resign when ordered to do so—breaking Trump’s direct promise made just months earlier at Trump Tower to allow Bharara to keep his position. Bharara, the highly respected U.S. Attorney for the Southern …
Donald TrumpPreet BhararaMarc KasowitzJeff SessionsRoger Ailes+1 moreobstruction-of-justicecorruptionabuse-of-powerconflicts-of-interestfox-news
Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced on March 2, 2017, that he would recuse himself from any investigations related to the 2016 presidential campaign, including Russian interference, following The Washington Post’s revelation that Sessions had lied under oath about his contacts with …
Jeff SessionsDonald TrumpSergey KislyakDana BoenteRod Rosensteinperjuryrussia-investigationrecusalobstruction-of-justicesessions
The day after National Security Advisor Michael Flynn resigned for lying about his contacts with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, President Trump cleared the Oval Office of other officials—including Attorney General Jeff Sessions and senior advisor Jared Kushner—and asked FBI Director James Comey …
Donald TrumpJames ComeyMichael FlynnJared KushnerJeff SessionsObstruction of JusticeMueller InvestigationComey FiringFlynn InvestigationPresidential Abuse of Power+1 more
National Security Advisor Michael Flynn resigned on February 13, 2017, after just 24 days in office—the shortest tenure in the 63-year history of the position. Flynn’s resignation came after revelations that he had lied to Vice President Mike Pence, other White House officials, and the FBI …
Michael FlynnDonald TrumpMike PenceSally YatesSergey Kislyak+1 morerussia-investigationobstruction-of-justiceflynnperjurynational-security-risk
The Senate confirmed Jeff Sessions as Attorney General on February 8, 2017, despite Sessions lying under oath during his confirmation hearing about contacts with Russian officials during the 2016 presidential campaign. When asked by Senator Al Franken whether he had communications with Russians, …
Jeff SessionsDonald TrumpSergey KislyakAl Frankenperjuryrussia-investigationobstruction-of-justicedoj-capturesenate-confirmation
President Trump fired Acting Attorney General Sally Yates within hours of her instructing Justice Department attorneys not to defend Executive Order 13769 (the Muslim ban). Yates had sent a letter to DOJ staff stating she was “not convinced that the defense of the Executive Order is consistent …
Donald TrumpSally YatesDana BoenteJeff SessionsRudy Giulianirule-of-lawdoj-politicizationobstruction-of-justiceauthoritarianismmuslim-ban+1 more
President Trump invited FBI Director James Comey to a one-on-one dinner at the White House on January 27, 2017, where he directly demanded: “I need loyalty, I expect loyalty.” Comey had expected others to attend but found himself alone with Trump in what he later described as an attempt …
Donald TrumpJames ComeyMichael FlynnSally YatesSergey Kislyakobstruction-of-justicefbi-independenceloyalty-demandsrule-of-lawrussia-investigation
Lewis ‘Scooter’ Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney’s chief of staff, is convicted on 4 of 5 federal counts related to the leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame’s identity: obstruction of justice, two counts of perjury, and one count of making false statements to federal …
Lewis 'Scooter' LibbyPatrick FitzgeraldDick CheneyGeorge W. BushValerie Plame+1 moreplame-affairobstruction-of-justiceperjurycheneyiraq-war+2 more
The Bush administration fired 9 U.S. attorneys in an unprecedented midterm purge for what investigators determined were largely political reasons. Seven prosecutors were ordered to resign on December 7, 2006, including David Iglesias (New Mexico), Carol Lam (Southern California), and John McKay …
Alberto GonzalesKarl RoveDavid IglesiasCarol LamGeorge W. Bush+1 moreobstruction-of-justicepolitical-prosecutiondojgonzalesauthoritarianism
CIA National Clandestine Service director Jose Rodriguez orders the destruction of 92 videotapes documenting hundreds of hours of brutal interrogations of Abu Zubaydah and Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri at secret CIA black sites. The tapes contain graphic evidence of waterboarding, stress positions, and …
Jose RodriguezCIAGina HaspelAbu ZubaydahAbd al-Rahim al-Nashiri+1 moretortureciaobstruction-of-justiceevidence-destructionwar-crimes+2 more
Scott Bloch, Special Counsel at the Office of Special Counsel (2004-2008), systematically dismantled federal whistleblower protections by dismissing over 1,000 whistleblower disclosures without investigation. Coalition of whistleblower groups documented his 95% dismissal rate, with only 25 of 530 …
Scott BlochOSCWhistleblower GroupsCongressFBIwhistleblower-suppressionoscobstruction-of-justicescott-bloch
Conservative columnist Robert Novak published his ‘Mission to Niger’ column exposing Valerie Plame as a CIA operative, citing ’two senior administration officials’ later identified as Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and White House advisor Karl Rove. The leak was …
On June 15, 2002, a federal jury convicted Arthur Andersen LLP of obstruction of justice for shredding thousands of Enron-related documents. The verdict effectively destroyed one of the world’s most prestigious accounting firms, eliminating 85,000 jobs globally and marking the last time a …
Arthur AndersenDepartment of Justicecorporate-fraudenronobstruction-of-justicearthur-andersencorporate-accountability
On March 14, 2002, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the indictment of Arthur Andersen LLP on one count of obstruction of justice for destroying “literally tons of paper documents and other electronic information” related to the Enron collapse. The indictment, handed down by a …
Arthur AndersenDepartment of JusticeMichael Chertoffcorporate-fraudenronobstruction-of-justicearthur-andersencriminal-prosecution
On January 9, 2002, Arthur Andersen, one of the “Big Five” accounting firms, publicly admitted that its employees had destroyed “several tons” of Enron-related documents and deleted nearly 30,000 emails and computer files during October and November 2001. CEO Joseph Berardino …
Arthur AndersenJoseph BerardinoDavid Duncancorporate-fraudenronobstruction-of-justicearthur-andersenaccounting-fraud
The U.S. House of Representatives votes to impeach President Bill Clinton on two articles: perjury before a grand jury (Article I, passed 228-206) and obstruction of justice (Article II, passed 221-212). Clinton becomes the second American president to be impeached, the first being Andrew Johnson in …
Bill ClintonHouse RepublicansKenneth Starrimpeachmentpresidential-accountabilityconstitutional-crisisperjuryobstruction-of-justice
President George H.W. Bush issues sweeping pardons to six Iran-Contra defendants on Christmas Eve, twelve days before former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger’s trial was scheduled to begin. The pardons cover Weinberger, former National Security Adviser Robert McFarlane, former Assistant …
George H.W. BushCaspar WeinbergerRobert McFarlaneElliott AbramsLawrence WalshIran-Contrapresidential-pardonsobstruction-of-justiceaccountabilitycover-up
Former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger is indicted by a federal grand jury on five felony counts of lying to Congress and investigators about the Iran-Contra scandal, marking the highest-ranking Reagan administration official charged in the affair. Independent counsel Lawrence Walsh brings the …
Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North is convicted on May 4, 1989, of three felony charges stemming from his central role in the Iran-Contra scandal: accepting an illegal gratuity (a security fence for his home), aiding and abetting in the obstruction of a congressional inquiry, and ordering the …
Oliver NorthGerhard GesellLawrence WalshIran-ContraReagan-administrationobstruction-of-justiceaccountabilitylegal-immunity
National Security Council staff member Oliver North and his secretary Fawn Hall begin systematically shredding documents that would expose illegal activities related to arms sales to Iran and the diversion of proceeds to Nicaraguan Contra rebels. The five-day document destruction campaign, running …
Oliver NorthFawn HallJohn PoindexterIran-ContraReagan-administrationobstruction-of-justicecover-upcovert-operations