Federal Government

Justice Department asks court for settlement exemption to allow immigrant families to stay together

The U.S. Justice Department asked a federal judge Thursday to modify a consent decree to allow parents who crossed the border illegally with their children to remain together in residential facilities while immigration proceedings are pending.

Jun 22, 2018 7:05 AM CDT

ABA president will visit Texas-Mexico border to assess how America’s lawyers can help

Updated: ABA President Hilarie Bass will visit the Rio Grande Valley of Texas on June 25-26 in response to widespread concern about the federal policy of separating families at the U.S.-Mexican border.

Jun 21, 2018 2:15 PM CDT

Are prosecutions of immigrants continuing? DOJ says yes, official says trips to courthouse will end

Updated: The Washington Post has corrected its story after sending out a news alert Thursday reporting that President Donald Trump's administration will suspend prosecution of immigrants who illegally enter the United States with their children.

Jun 21, 2018 12:24 PM CDT

ABA asylum project attorney describes representing separated families at the border

Attorneys representing asylum-seekers from Central America frequently have worked with traumatized clients. But since the federal government began separating families after arresting parents for illegal entry, Kimi Jackson of the ABA’s South Texas Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project says the trauma has gotten far worse.

Jun 20, 2018 3:06 PM CDT

Trump signs an executive order to end family separations; ABA applauds ‘first step’

Updated: President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to end the separations of immigrant families at the border.

Jun 20, 2018 11:19 AM CDT

Michael Cohen has reportedly hired a former federal prosecutor to represent him

Michael Cohen has reportedly hired a new lawyer to represent him in the investigation by the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan. The new lawyer is Guy Petrillo, the former head of that office’s criminal division, according to anonymous sources who spoke with Vanity Fair, the New York Times and the…

Jun 20, 2018 9:25 AM CDT

Is it true? Denying family separation policy is ‘Orwellian stuff,’ newspaper’s fact check says

There is no policy of separating children from their parents at the border, according to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen.

While there are no written regulations that establish a policy of family separations, Nielsen’s claim is “Orwellian stuff,” according to the Washington Post.

Jun 19, 2018 12:31 PM CDT

Judge revokes bail for Manafort, cites new obstruction charges

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., on Friday revoked bail for Paul Manafort, a former campaign chairman for President Donald Trump. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson had cited new charges of obstruction against Manafort that allege he and a Ukrainian business colleague tried to influence the testimony of two…

Jun 15, 2018 11:09 AM CDT

NY lawsuit alleges Trump used his foundation’s assets to pay legal obligations, promote hotels

The New York attorney general’s office announced Thursday that it is alleging illegal conduct by the Donald J. Trump Foundation in a lawsuit that also names as defendants the president and his three oldest children. The suit alleges Trump used the foundation’s charitable assets to pay off legal obligations, promote…

Jun 14, 2018 10:35 AM CDT

Boies Schiller lawyer sues for documents related to Andrew McCabe’s firing

A lawyer for Andrew McCabe filed a lawsuit on Tuesday to obtain documents related to the former deputy FBI director's firing in March.

Jun 13, 2018 9:02 AM CDT

Mueller charges Manafort and Ukrainian business associate Kilimnik with obstruction

Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort faces two obstruction counts in a superseding indictment filed Friday by special counsel Robert Mueller. Prosecutors allege Manafort and a new defendant, Ukrainian business colleague Konstantin Kilimnik, tried to influence the testimony of two lobbyists about their work on behalf of the government of…

Jun 8, 2018 2:31 PM CDT

Justice Department tells court it won’t defend parts of the health law on pre-existing conditions

The U.S. Justice Department has told a Texas federal court that it won’t defend provisions in the Affordable Care Act that ban insurers from refusing to cover people with pre-existing conditions and from charging them more money.

Jun 8, 2018 2:14 PM CDT

Trump considers pardoning late boxer Ali, whose conviction was overturned in 1971

Updated: President Donald Trump said Friday that he is considering a pardon for the late boxer Muhammad Ali.

Jun 8, 2018 9:19 AM CDT

DOJ to provide lawmakers with more information regarding FBI informant in Trump campaign

The Department of Justice has agreed to brief lawmakers with additional information regarding the FBI’s use of a confidential informant to investigate if Trump campaign advisers had ties to Russia. The Washington Post, CNN and the Hill all have coverage. Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif. and the House Intelligence Committee chairman,…

Jun 7, 2018 10:05 AM CDT

Trump commutes sentence of woman whose clemency plea was pushed by Kim Kardashian

After a recent meeting with Kim Kardashian, President Donald Trump on Wednesday commuted a sentence of life without parole for a 63-year-old woman sent to prison more than 20 years ago for drug possession and money laundering. Alice Marie Johnson was convicted in 1996 and sentenced the next year for…

Jun 6, 2018 1:30 PM CDT