Federal Government

Constitution limits pardons if they are for self-benefit, law profs say in op-ed

Most people assume that President Donald Trump has absolute authority to pardon others — and possibly himself.

But a “neglected” part of the Constitution limits the president from granting pardons if they are for the purpose of self-protection, two law professors assert in a Washington Post op-ed.

Mar 19, 2018 8:00 AM CDT

Mueller reportedly subpoenas Trump Organization for documents

Special counsel Robert Mueller has reportedly subpoenaed the Trump Organization for documents and emails, “bringing the investigation closer to the president,” the New York Times reports.

Mar 16, 2018 8:55 AM CDT

Republicans on House committee find no evidence of collusion between Trump campaign and Russia

Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee said Monday their investigation found that Russia had interfered with the election, but there was no evidence of collusion with Donald Trump's campaign.

Mar 13, 2018 9:02 AM CDT

Trump reportedly speaks with impeachment lawyer about helping with special counsel probe

President Donald Trump is reportedly talking to an impeachment lawyer who represented Bill Clinton about joining the legal team dealing with the special counsel probe.

Mar 12, 2018 12:03 PM CDT

Trump backs death penalty for drug dealers; is it constitutional?

President Donald Trump backed the death penalty for drug dealers on Saturday at a Pennsylvania rally, while his administration is reportedly studying the issue.

Trump said the United States got the idea of capital punishment for drug dealers from Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Washington Post reports.

Mar 12, 2018 9:10 AM CDT

Could Stormy Daniels’ lawsuit open the door to Trump depositions and a ‘fishing expedition’?

Stormy Daniels’ lawsuit against President Donald Trump “opens what could be a precarious new legal front” for the White House, the New York Times reports. After all, the article points out, it was Paula Jones’ sexual harassment suit against Bill Clinton that led to impeachment proceedings for allegedly lying under…

Mar 9, 2018 1:06 PM CST

Justice Department agrees to turn over Fast and Furious documents if court vacates privilege rulings

The U.S. Justice Department announced Wednesday that it has reached a conditional agreement to provide additional documents to a House committee regarding Operation Fast and Furious, the botched gun-running probe that allowed illegal firearms to be smuggled across the border. The documents will be provided to the House Committee on…

Mar 8, 2018 12:28 PM CST

Stormy Daniels sues Trump, says confidentiality deal is void because he didn’t sign it

Updated: Porn star Stormy Daniels on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump that contends her confidentiality agreement is null and void because he didn’t sign it.

Mar 7, 2018 10:00 AM CST

Presidential counselor Kellyanne Conway violated the Hatch Act, watchdog agency says

Presidential counselor Kellyanne Conway violated the Hatch Act when she opposed the candidacy of Roy Moore’s Senate opponent while appearing on television in an official capacity, according to a government watchdog agency. That is the conclusion of a report by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel—a federal investigative agency that…

Mar 6, 2018 3:30 PM CST

Lawyer reportedly complained that Trump didn’t reimburse him for Stormy Daniels payment

Michael Cohen, the personal lawyer for President Donald Trump, reportedly complained to friends after the election that he still hadn’t been reimbursed by the president for a $130,000 payment made to Stormy Daniels, the porn star who claimed to have had a sexual encounter with Trump 12 years ago. Cohen…

Mar 6, 2018 11:19 AM CST

Could ex-Trump aide go to jail if he defies Mueller? Communications with Trump lawyer sought

Former Trump campaign aide Sam Nunberg could be risking jail if he defies a special counsel subpoena without asserting the Fifth Amendment, according to legal experts interviewed Monday.

Mar 6, 2018 9:05 AM CST

Special counsel is reportedly investigating Trump’s apparent efforts to force Sessions from job

Special counsel Robert Mueller is reportedly investigating whether President Donald Trump tried to obstruct justice last summer when he appeared to be set on spurring the ouster of Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Investigators have been asking witnesses about Trump’s private discussions at the time he was tweeting criticism of Sessions in July and early August, anonymous sources tell the Washington Post.

Mar 1, 2018 8:40 AM CST

Sessions says he will do his job with ‘integrity and honor’ after Trump’s ‘disgraceful’ tweet

Jeff Sessions issued a statement pledging to do his job with “integrity and honor” after President Donald Trump tweeted criticism of the attorney general’s handling of claims raised in a GOP memo that accused the FBI and Justice Department of a misleading warrant request on a former Trump campaign aide.…

Feb 28, 2018 1:46 PM CST

Judge called a ‘hater’ by Trump rules in his favor on wall, quotes ‘fellow Indiana native’ Roberts

A San Diego federal judge once criticized by President Donald Trump has ruled in his favor in a case involving the border wall project. U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel cleared a construction hurdle on Tuesday when he ruled the administration didn’t overreach by waiving laws requiring environmental reviews, report the…

Feb 28, 2018 10:35 AM CST

Democratic memo says surveillance request for Trump campaign adviser met warrant rigor

A Democratic memo released Saturday says the FBI and Justice Department did not omit material information when they sought a surveillance warrant for a former campaign adviser to Donald Trump. Republicans had charged in their own memo that the dossier partly financed by the Clinton campaign was “an essential part” of the application for a foreign intelligence warrant, but the Democratic connection was not disclosed.

Feb 26, 2018 8:00 AM CST