Attorney General

Justice Department probes alleged abuses on prison transport vans

The Justice Department has opened a preliminary investigation into allegations of abuse by the nation’s largest for-profit extradition company, according to a Colorado man who said he was recently contacted by the agency. Joseph Mondragon said he received a call within the past month from a man who identified himself…

Jun 8, 2017 11:17 AM CDT

Attorney general memo ends DOJ practice of donating settlement money to third parties

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has directed Justice Department lawyers to stop making settlement agreements that direct money to nongovernmental organizations that are not parties to the case or victims of the conduct that underlies the case, the Washington Post (sub. req.) reported Wednesday. Sessions issued a memo Tuesday to senior…

Jun 7, 2017 5:10 PM CDT

Trump taps BigLaw lawyers for administration posts

Christopher Wray, a King & Spalding partner who was announced Wednesday morning as President Donald Trump’s choice for FBI director, isn’t the only BigLaw lawyer recently tapped for posts in his administration. Trump announced Monday evening that he plans to nominate several lawyers from large law firms to fill posts,…

Jun 7, 2017 9:02 AM CDT

Attorney General Jeff Sessions reportedly offered to resign

Attorney General Jeff Sessions reportedly offered to resign amid growing tensions with President Donald Trump. ABC News was first to report the resignation offer, in a story based on anonymous sources. Other stories followed, including articles by the New York Times, the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal (sub.…

Jun 7, 2017 8:13 AM CDT

Trump is reportedly souring on Sessions, as his Monday morning tweets make clear

President Donald Trump’s Monday morning tweets criticizing the Justice Department for submitting a “watered down,” revised version of his travel ban to the U.S. Supreme Court are evidence of his increasing discontent with Attorney General Jeff Sessions, according to a New York Times report.

Jun 6, 2017 12:20 PM CDT

Trump orders Justice Department probe of US leaks in Manchester bombing probe

President Donald Trump on Thursday ordered the U.S. Justice Department to investigate leaks about Britain’s terrorism probe of the Manchester concert bombing that killed 22 people and injured many more. Responding to British officials’ concern, Trump said the leaks “pose a grave threat to our national security” and ordered a…

May 25, 2017 11:10 AM CDT

Sessions reportedly did not disclose meetings with Russians on security clearance application

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions met with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak at least twice in 2016, the Department of Justice says, but he did not disclose those meetings when he applied for a security clearance, CNN reported Wednesday.

May 24, 2017 6:14 PM CDT

Sessions interprets Trump order on sanctuary cities narrowly; DOJ asks court to reconsider ruling

Attorney General Jeff Sessions gave a narrow interpretation on Monday to President Donald Trump’s order withholding federal funds to sanctuary cities. Sessions expressed his views in a memo. The same day, the U.S. Department of Justice asked a federal judge to reconsider an injunction that had blocked Trump’s order, report…

May 23, 2017 11:40 AM CDT

Immigrant rights group wins temporary restraining order against DOJ in dispute over ethics rule

The Department of Justice has lost, at least temporarily, a bid to shut down legal services for immigrants that fall short of full representation, the Seattle Times reported Wednesday. The ruling came in a lawsuit filed by the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, a Seattle-based immigration legal services organization. It sued…

May 19, 2017 5:00 PM CDT

Who asked Rosenstein to write the Comey memo? He reportedly says it’s part of special counsel probe

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein reportedly deflected questions in an appearance before the U.S. House on Friday about who asked him to write the memo that was critical of now-former FBI Director James Comey.

May 19, 2017 2:00 PM CDT

Congressional immunity grant could ‘muck up’ Mueller probe, says author of special counsel rules

Special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe of Russia’s attempts to influence the 2016 election could still be thwarted by President Donald Trump or congressional investigations, according to the lawyer who wrote the special counsel regulations. The regulations are nonetheless “the best mechanism we have” to get to the truth when the…

May 19, 2017 12:34 PM CDT

DOJ likely to waive any conflicts involving Mueller and ex-law firm’s clients after review

The U.S. Justice Department will conduct a review of potential conflicts of interest involving special counsel Robert Mueller and the law firm he left to take the post, WilmerHale. WilmerHale represents several individuals linked to President Donald Trump, report the Washington Post and Politico. The Justice Department will conduct a…

May 19, 2017 10:29 AM CDT

Deputy AG tells senators he knew Comey would be fired before he wrote memo

Updated: Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein told U.S. senators Thursday that he knew James Comey would be fired as FBI director before he wrote the memo recommending that action, the Washington Post and the New York Times reported Thursday.

May 18, 2017 4:44 PM CDT

Does scope of Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian influence include obstruction of justice?

Updated: Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein’s grant of authority to newly appointed special counsel Robert Mueller goes beyond an investigation of links between the Russian government and individuals associated with Donald Trump's presidential campaign.

Rosenstein’s order also authorizes Mueller to investigate “any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation,” Lawfare reports. And that could include allegations of obstruction of justice, the blog says.

May 18, 2017 9:15 AM CDT

Did Attorney General Sessions violate his recusal pledge by participating in Comey firing?

Democrats and some legal ethics experts are accusing Attorney General Jeff Sessions of violating his pledge to recuse himself from matters arising from the presidential campaign by participating in the firing of FBI Director James Comey. The memo making the case for Comey’s firing was written by Deputy Attorney General…

May 12, 2017 12:10 PM CDT