Federal Government

Use of death penalty remains ‘near historic lows,’ while public support wanes

The federal effort to resume executions stands in stark contrast to a state trend away from capital punishment, according to a year-end report by the Death Penalty Information Center.

Dec 17, 2019 10:07 AM CST

Supreme Court agrees to hear 3 disputes over access to Trump’s financial and tax records

On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear three cases in which President Donald Trump is fighting subpoenas for his tax and financial records from two banks and his accounting firm.

Dec 13, 2019 5:12 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Holder says Barr is unfit to be AG; law firm promotes nonbinary gender inclusiveness

Holder op-ed says AG Barr is unfit to be attorney general U.S. Attorney General William Barr has proved he is unfit to lead the Department of Justice, according to an op-ed by one of his predecessors in the Obama administration, Eric Holder Jr. Barr has been “running political interference for…

Dec 12, 2019 4:19 PM CST

Former FBI lawyer sues over disclosure of her texts criticizing Trump and discussing personal matters

Former FBI lawyer Lisa Page has sued the bureau and the U.S. Department of Justice for releasing her text messages with former FBI agent Peter Strzok, with whom she was having an affair.

Dec 11, 2019 12:04 PM CST

House Democrats announce 2 articles of impeachment against Trump

House Democrats announced two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump on Tuesday. One article accuses Trump of abuse of power, while the other accuses him of obstruction of Congress.

Dec 10, 2019 9:56 AM CST

Probe of Russian influence wasn’t motivated by bias, IG report says, but it found ‘significant inaccuracies’

There was no evidence of political bias or improper motive in the FBI’s decision to open an investigation into possible coordination between members of President Donald Trump’s campaign and the Russian government, according to a report released Monday by the U.S. Department of Justice’s inspector general.

Dec 9, 2019 2:31 PM CST

SCOTUS refuses to interfere with temporary halt to federal executions

The U.S. Supreme Court refused Friday to lift a preliminary injunction blocking four federal executions during a review of the lethal injection procedure adopted by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Dec 9, 2019 11:00 AM CST

3 law profs testify Trump committed impeachable offenses; a fourth isn’t a fan but sees ‘slipshod’ process

Three law professors told the House Judiciary Committee in opening statements Wednesday that President Donald Trump has committed “high crimes and misdemeanors” meriting his impeachment.

Dec 4, 2019 1:25 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: AG Barr said to disagree with IG; 350-plus lawyers who had abortions file SCOTUS brief

AG Barr reportedly disagrees with DOJ watchdog on justification for Russia probe U.S. Attorney General William Barr reportedly disagrees with a key conclusion in an upcoming report by the Department of Justice’s inspector general on the origins of the Russia investigation. Sources told the Washington Post that Barr thinks the…

Dec 3, 2019 4:40 PM CST

House impeachment report says Trump abused power; these 4 law profs will testify in next step

The House Intelligence Committee concludes in an impeachment report released Tuesday that President Donald Trump put his personal interests above that of the United States and national security by pressuring the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky.

Dec 3, 2019 3:53 PM CST

2nd Circuit refuses to block House committees’ subpoenas for Trump bank records

A federal appeals court on Tuesday refused to block subpoenas by two House committees for President Donald Trump’s banking records.

Dec 3, 2019 1:50 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Giuliani considered representing Ukraine prosecutor; US opinion shifts on death penalty

News Roundup

Nov 27, 2019 2:33 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Subpoenas reportedly seek Giuliani-related information; 3 exonerated after 36 years in prison

Subpoenas reportedly seek information related to Giuliani and his consulting firm Federal prosecutors who are investigating two associates of lawyer Rudy Giuliani have issued subpoenas seeking documents relating to the lawyer and his consulting firm, Giuliani Partners, according to anonymous sources who spoke with multiple publications. The investigation also reportedly…

Nov 26, 2019 4:45 PM CST

SCOTUS stays order requiring Trump’s accounting firm to give his financial records to House

The U.S. Supreme Court issued Monday a stay of a federal appeals court mandate requiring President Donald Trump’s accounting firm to give Congress financial records relating to Trump and his businesses.

Nov 26, 2019 11:49 AM CST

Judge rules former White House counsel must testify in House probe, says ‘presidents are not kings’

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., ruled Monday that former White House counsel Don McGahn must appear before the House Judiciary Committee to testify in an investigation into how Russia influenced the 2016 presidential election and whether President Donald Trump tried to obstruct justice.

Nov 26, 2019 10:47 AM CST