President Trump issued comprehensive federal pardons to 77 individuals involved in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, including his former attorney Rudy Giuliani, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, attorneys Sidney Powell, John Eastman, Kenneth Chesebro, Jenna Ellis, Jeffrey …
Donald TrumpRudy GiulianiMark MeadowsSidney PowellJohn Eastman+12 morepardons2020-electionaccountabilityfake-electorsinstitutional-capture+4 more
Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of false statements and obstruction of a congressional proceeding, just days after President Trump publicly demanded his DOJ move ’now’ to prosecute enemies. The indictment—brought by Lindsey Halligan, …
James ComeyLindsey HalliganDonald TrumpPam BondiDepartment of Justicedoj-weaponizationpolitical-persecutionauthoritarianisminstitutional-captureprosecutorial-abuse+1 more
On September 16, 2025, former Special Counsel Jack Smith delivered his first public remarks since leaving the Department of Justice in a speech at George Mason University, warning that “the rule of law is under attack like in no other period in our lifetimes.” NPR exclusively obtained a …
Jack SmithDepartment of JusticeGeorge Mason UniversityTrump Administrationdojrule-of-lawinstitutional-capturepolitical-prosecutionspecial-counsel+1 more
The Department of Justice launched a criminal investigation into FBI and CIA officials who conducted the Russia investigation, targeting former FBI Director James Comey, former CIA Director John Brennan, former Deputy FBI Director Paul Abbate, and other officials who investigated Russian …
Kash PatelDan BonginoDepartment of JusticeJames ComeyJohn Brennanweaponized-justicepolitical-retaliationRussia-investigationinstitutional-capturerule-of-law
Federal Judge Matthew Brann ruled that Trump lawyer Alina Habba has been exercising the functions and duties of U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey without lawful authority since July 1, 2025. After the Senate failed to confirm Habba before her 120-day interim appointment expired, a panel …
TrumpAlina HabbaDepartment of JusticeFederal Judiciaryinstitutional-capturerule-of-lawexecutive-overreachconstitutional-crisis
On August 20, 2025, the United States imposed targeted sanctions on four International Criminal Court (ICC) officials, escalating an ongoing campaign to obstruct international judicial proceedings into potential war crimes.
Key Details:
Four officials sanctioned: Two judges (Kimberly Prost and …
Kimberly ProstNicolas GuillouNazhat Shameem KhanMame Mandiaye NiangMarco Rubio+2 moreicc-sanctionsinternational-lawjudicial-independencerule-of-lawneutralize-referees+6 more
Twelve Democratic members of Congress filed suit in federal court after being systematically denied access to ICE detention facilities nationwide. The lawsuit challenges DHS’s new policy requiring seven-day advance notice for visits and blocking all access to ICE field offices, which violates …
Rep. Joe Neguse (CO)Rep. Jason Crow (CO)Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY)Rep. Dan Goldman (NY)Rep. Bennie Thompson (MS)+9 morecongressional-oversightice-detentionrule-of-lawconstitutional-crisistransparency-failure
ICE denied multiple members of Congress access to immigration detention facilities across the country, including Rep. Jason Crow at Aurora, Colorado and six Maryland Democrats at Baltimore’s Fallon Federal Building. Despite a 2019 law guaranteeing congressional access for oversight, ICE …
ICEDepartment of Homeland SecurityRep. Jason CrowSen. Chris Van HollenSen. Angela Alsobrooks+5 morecongressional-oversightice-detentiontransparency-failurerule-of-lawimmigration-enforcement
Comprehensive analysis reveals the Trump administration defied 57 of 165 adverse court rulings (35% noncompliance), marking an unprecedented challenge to judicial authority. Multiple legal experts warn this pattern represents a critical constitutional crisis, with potential breakdown of checks and …
Trump AdministrationFederal CourtsDepartment of JusticeFederal Agenciescourt-defianceconstitutional-crisisrule-of-lawjudicial-authoritydemocracy-breakdown+1 more
U.S. Marshals Service investigated 373 separate threats against 277 federal judges in first five months of 2025, compared to 509 threats against 379 judges for all of 2024. Nearly 200 investigations occurred March-May after Trump and allies vilified judges ruling against administration. Marshals …
Federal judgesU.S. Marshals ServiceTrump supportersjudicial-intimidationconstitutional-crisisthreatsrule-of-law
Erez Reuveni, a 15-year DOJ veteran and Acting Deputy Director of Immigration Litigation, was fired April 11, 2025, after refusing to file briefs with misrepresentations and truthfully informing a judge that Kilmar Abrego Garcia had been wrongfully deported to El Salvador. At an April 4 hearing, …
Erez ReuveniEmil BoveDepartment of JusticePam Bondiwhistleblower-retaliationrule-of-lawcourt-defiancedeportation-violationsjustice-corruption
The Trump administration initiated a widespread purge of federal prosecutors, particularly those who previously investigated the president. Over 40 career prosecutors were fired without warning, with the acting attorney general claiming they could not be ’trusted to faithfully implement the …
James McHenryMichael Ben'AryJack SmithDonald TrumpDepartment of Justice+1 moredoj-weaponizationprosecutorial-independencetrump-administrationpolitical-retaliationrule-of-law+1 more
Acting Attorney General James McHenry systematically fired multiple Justice Department officials who worked on Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigations into Trump’s election interference and classified documents case. In termination letters, McHenry argued the officials could not be …
James McHenryDonald TrumpJack SmithJamie RaskinGerald Connollydoj-weaponizationprosecutorial-independencetrump-administrationretaliationrule-of-law+1 more
Chief Justice John Roberts led a critical federal judicial conference highlighting unprecedented challenges to judicial independence. Roberts warned about four major threats: escalating violence against judges, intimidation tactics, disinformation spread through social media, and potential political …
Chief Justice John RobertsChief Judge James BoasbergFederal JudiciarySupreme CourtU.S. Marshals Servicejudicial-independenceconstitutional-crisisseparation-of-powersjudicial-securityrule-of-law
President Trump fired 18 Inspectors General across multiple federal agencies in an unprecedented purge of government oversight officials. The mass firing included Robert Storch (Defense), Michael Missal (Veterans Affairs), Hannibal “Mike” Ware (Small Business Administration), and Mark …
Donald TrumpRobert StorchMichael MissalHannibal WareMark Lee Greenblatt+1 morecorruptionbipartisan-oppositionrule-of-lawoversight-captureinspector-general+4 more
Trump administration launched systematic executive orders targeting law firms, mass firings of prosecutors, and open defiance of court rulings, creating what legal scholars describe as unprecedented constitutional crisis.
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel released a comprehensive investigative report documenting that 13 senior Trump administration officials violated the Hatch Act prior to the 2020 election, with the violations characterized as demonstrating “willful disregard for the law” and occurring …
Mike PompeoChad WolfKellyanne ConwayJared KushnerKayleigh McEnany+8 moreHatch ActEthics ViolationsRepublican National ConventionTrump AdministrationRule of Law+1 more
President Trump issued pardons to campaign chairman Paul Manafort (convicted of financial fraud and conspiracy), adviser Roger Stone (witness tampering and lying to Congress), National Security Adviser Michael Flynn (lying to FBI about Russia contacts), and Charles Kushner (tax evasion and witness …
Donald TrumpPaul ManafortRoger StoneMichael FlynnSteve Bannon+2 morepardonobstruction-of-justicecorruptionabuse-of-powerrule-of-law
President Trump delivered his Republican National Convention acceptance speech from the White House South Lawn before 1,500 attendees in an unprecedented use of federal property for a partisan campaign event, culminating four days of systematic Hatch Act violations that transformed the White House …
Donald TrumpMelania TrumpMark MeadowsMike PompeoChad Wolf+1 moreHatch ActEthics ViolationsRepublican National ConventionWhite HouseAbuse of Office+2 more
Attorney General Bill Barr personally intervened to reduce sentencing recommendations for Trump allies Roger Stone and Michael Flynn, causing four career prosecutors to withdraw from Stone’s case in protest and one to resign from DOJ entirely. After prosecutors recommended 7-9 years for …
Bill BarrRoger StoneMichael FlynnDonald TrumpDepartment of Justiceobstruction-of-justiceabuse-of-powerrule-of-lawcorruptionpoliticization
U.S. Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim held Education Secretary Betsy DeVos in civil contempt of court on October 24, 2019, for violating a preliminary injunction barring the Department of Education from collecting on loans from 16,000 former Corinthian Colleges students and fined the Department $100,000. …
Betsy DeVosSallie KimDepartment of Educationcontempt-of-courtbetsy-devosstudent-debtcorinthian-collegesrule-of-law
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel issued an extraordinary recommendation that White House Counselor Kellyanne Conway be removed from federal service for repeated Hatch Act violations, calling her conduct “egregious, notorious, and ongoing.” Special Counsel Henry Kerner, himself a Trump …
Kellyanne ConwayDonald TrumpHenry KernerOffice of Special CounselHatch ActEthics ViolationsKellyanne ConwayAbuse of OfficeTrump Administration+1 more
The Department of Justice released Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s 448-page Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election, the culmination of a 22-month investigation that issued more than 2,800 subpoenas, executed nearly 500 search warrants, and …
Robert MuellerDonald TrumpWilliam BarrRussian GovernmentMueller InvestigationObstruction of JusticeRussia InterferencePresidential AccountabilityImpeachment+1 more
U.S. District Judge Kenneth Marra rules that federal prosecutors violated the Crime Victims’ Rights Act by failing to inform victims about the 2008 non-prosecution agreement with Jeffrey Epstein. The ruling found that prosecutors deliberately concealed the agreement from victims and their …
President Trump signed Executive Order 13780 on March 6, 2017—“Travel Ban 2.0”—revising his original Muslim ban after federal courts blocked Executive Order 13769. The new order placed a 90-day restriction on entry to the U.S. by nationals of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and …
Donald TrumpDerrick WatsonDoug ChinRudy Giulianimuslim-banreligious-discriminationauthoritarianismimmigrationrule-of-law
White House Counselor Kellyanne Conway committed over 50 Hatch Act violations by repeatedly using her official position to influence elections, with the Office of Special Counsel finding she violated the law on dozens of occasions including advocating for Roy Moore and against Doug Jones in the …
Kellyanne ConwayDonald TrumpOffice of Special CounselWhite HouseIvanka Trump+1 morehatch-actethics-violationimpunityrule-of-lawcorruption
The Federalist Society, funded by $250 million in dark money from anonymous donors, orchestrated the most systematic judicial capture in U.S. history. Trump outsourced judicial selection to the Society, appointing 231 federal judges including 3 Supreme Court justices, all from their pre-approved …
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 signed Executive Order 13769, titled “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States,” banning citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries—Syria, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen—from entering the United States for 90 days. …
Donald TrumpRudy GiulianiJim MattisState Departmentmuslim-banauthoritarianismreligious-discriminationimmigrationrule-of-law+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
Alberto Gonzales and Chief of Staff Andy Card went to George Washington Hospital ICU to pressure hospitalized Attorney General John Ashcroft to reauthorize the NSA surveillance program that the Department of Justice had deemed illegal. Acting Attorney General James Comey raced to the hospital with …
John AshcroftJames ComeyAlberto GonzalesAndy CardRobert Muellerrule-of-lawexecutive-powersurveillancestellarwindconstitutional-crisis+5 more