Federal Government

Trump reportedly asked Sessions about dropping the criminal case against Arpaio

President Donald Trump reportedly asked Attorney General Jeff Sessions if it would be possible for the government to drop the criminal contempt case against Joe Arpaio. Trump was reportedly told it would be inappropriate to drop the case against the former sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona, who was convicted for…

Aug 28, 2017 10:49 AM CDT

Trump pardons former sheriff Arpaio less than a month after his contempt conviction

Updated: President Donald Trump pardoned Joe Arpaio on Friday night, less than a month after the former Maricopa County, Arizona, sheriff was found guilty of contempt of court for violating a federal judge’s order to stop detaining citizens based only on a suspicion they were in the country illegally.

Aug 25, 2017 8:42 PM CDT

Is president’s pardon power unlimited? Arpaio pardon raises unusual issue

Updated: President Donald Trump on Friday night pardoned former Maricopa County, Arizona, Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who was found guilty of contempt last month for violating a federal judge’s order to stop immigration arrests.

Aug 25, 2017 9:52 AM CDT

Some data about anti-Trump website subscribers must be turned over to federal prosecutors: judge

A Washington, D.C., judge has turned aside First Amendment claims and ordered a web hosting company to give the U.S. Justice Department information about people connected to an anti-Trump website. Superior Court Judge Robert Morin ordered DreamHost to turn over information about subscribers to DisruptJ20.org, a website that organized inauguration…

Aug 24, 2017 12:25 PM CDT

Trump’s lawyer forwards email that ‘validates’ president’s stance on Charlottesville

An email forwarded by President Donald Trump's personal lawyer stated that there’s no difference between Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee and George Washington, and that the protest group Black Lives Matter has been infiltrated by terrorist organizations.

Aug 17, 2017 1:02 PM CDT

Sanctuary policies pit state and local governments against federal immigration officials

Sanctuary cities are in the news—and the courts—as federal, state and local governments find themselves in conflict over immigration enforcement. It is this quandary that prompted “Sanctuary Cities: The New Federalism and Role of the State & Local Govts in Addressing Undocumented Immigrants,” a CLE session sponsored by the Section…

Aug 11, 2017 5:34 PM CDT

Trump administration to SCOTUS: Temporary travel ban is not based on religion

The federal government says statements made by Donald Trump during his campaign should not be considered as the U.S. Supreme Court decides whether the president’s temporary travel ban is constitutional. According to Reuters and The Hill, the Trump administration filed an 84-page brief with the Supreme Court late on Thursday,…

Aug 11, 2017 3:43 PM CDT

Trump sends appreciative messages to Mueller; firing him has ‘never been on the table,’ lawyer says

President Donald Trump’s lead lawyer in the Russia investigation says messages of “appreciation and greetings” have been sent to Robert Mueller and firing the special counsel has “never been on the table.” In an interview with USA Today, John Dowd says Trump “appreciates what Bob Mueller is doing” and the…

Aug 8, 2017 4:13 PM CDT

Rosenstein denies any ‘fishing expeditions’ in Mueller probe

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said in a Sunday interview that special counsel Robert Mueller can investigate any crimes discovered in the scope of his probe, but “we don’t engage in fishing expeditions.” In a Fox News Sunday interview, Rosenstein said the special counsel is bound by the rules and…

Aug 7, 2017 9:04 AM CDT

Two bipartisan bills would prevent Trump from firing special counsel without cause

Two bipartisan bills introduced in the Senate would make it more difficult for President Donald Trump to fire special counsel Robert Mueller, who has reportedly impaneled a grand jury in the investigation of Russian influence. Both bills would require panels of three federal judges to review a firing decision, though…

Aug 4, 2017 8:56 AM CDT

Trump wins more judges’ confirmations at this point than Obama, GW Bush combined

A little more than six months into his presidency, President Donald Trump has won confirmation of a Supreme Court justice, three federal appeals judges and one district judge, outpacing his two most recent predecessors combined, the Washington Times reports.

Aug 4, 2017 7:00 AM CDT

Mueller reportedly impanels grand jury in Russia probe

Special counsel Robert Mueller has reportedly impaneled a grand jury in his investigation of Russian influence in the presidential elections, according to a published report.

The grand jury has begun its work and will likely continue for months, according to the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.). Its story is based on anonymous sources familiar with the matter.

Aug 3, 2017 4:09 PM CDT

Trump backs bill limiting legal immigration that favors skilled, well-educated English speakers

President Donald Trump has announced his support for a bill that would reduce legal immigration while favoring those who have job skills, higher education levels and the ability to speak English. Trump said the bill “ends chain migration,” the system that gives immigration preference to family members of those already…

Aug 2, 2017 1:13 PM CDT

Trump signs Russia sanctions bill despite ‘clearly unconstitutional provisions’

President Donald Trump signed a bill imposing sanctions on Russia on Wednesday while expressing concerns about its limits on executive power and its constitutionality. A signing statement will lay out concerns with a provision that bars Trump from lifting sanctions without congressional approval, report the Washington Post, the New York…

Aug 2, 2017 10:23 AM CDT

Senate confirms Christopher Wray as FBI director

The U.S. Senate on Tuesday confirmed former King & Spalding partner Christopher Wray to become director of the FBI. The vote was 92-5 in favor of confirmation, the Washington Post reports. Politico and the New York Times also have stories. Wray replaces James Comey, who was fired May 9 by…

Aug 1, 2017 4:30 PM CDT