Attorney General

ADA questions remain over web accessibility cases and the lack of DOJ regulations

Disability rights advocates say web accessibility, the practice of designing and coding websites so that people with disabilities can use them, can be accomplished through simple changes, such as changing color contrast and adding video captions. However, the legal landscape surrounding web accessibility has become more complex.

Jul 1, 2019 2:15 AM CDT

More suits ahead after Honduran immigrant’s $125K settlement for mistreatment in border detention

A group that helped represent a Honduran immigrant who received a $125,000 settlement for mistreatment in border detention facilities says the victory has led to plans for more lawsuits. Suny Rodriguez Alvarado sued under the Federal Tort Claims Act for mistreatment of her son and herself. Her suit, filed in…

Jun 18, 2019 2:33 PM CDT

Trump asserts executive privilege to withhold documents on citizenship census question

President Donald Trump has asserted executive privilege to withhold documents from Congress about the administration’s decision to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census. A Wednesday Department of Justice letter explaining the decision said the materials were being withheld to protect the deliberative process as well as attorney-client privilege…

Jun 12, 2019 12:58 PM CDT

After federal prosecutors decline to release Flynn transcripts, judge decides he won’t force issue

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has decided that prosecutors don’t have to release transcripts of recorded conversations between former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak, despite his earlier order to the contrary. U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan said in notices posted Tuesday that the government…

Jun 5, 2019 11:06 AM CDT

Despite judge’s order, prosecutors keep secret Flynn’s conversations with Russian ambassador

On Friday, federal prosecutors did not comply with a judge’s order to release transcripts of wiretaps between former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak in December 2016.

Jun 3, 2019 9:06 AM CDT

Alaska Native leaders to AG Barr: Help fix our law enforcement crisis

Alaska Native leaders called on U.S. Attorney General William Barr for federal aid and greater authority for tribes to prosecute certain crimes, saying Wednesday that a dangerous lack of law enforcement is growing worse in the state’s most remote communities. Barr, sitting beside U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, heard that…

May 31, 2019 7:30 AM CDT

Mueller: If his office had confidence Trump didn’t commit a crime, it would have said so

On Wednesday, special counsel Robert Mueller expressed reluctance to comment on his report investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and obstruction of justice by President Donald Trump. Speaking at a news conference, Mueller said he trusts that his statement will be the only comment on the matter.

May 29, 2019 11:18 AM CDT

Mueller materials will be released to House committee, its chairman announces

The U.S. Department of Justice has agreed to produce material redacted from the Mueller report along with underlying evidence to the House Intelligence Committee. The committee chairman, Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff of California, announced the deal Wednesday, the Washington Post reports. Schiff said the DOJ will release 12 categories of…

May 22, 2019 9:15 AM CDT

FDA lacks jurisdiction to regulate lethal injection drugs, Justice Department argues

The Food and Drug Administration has no jurisdiction to regulate drugs and devices used in executions, according to a legal opinion by the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel. Articles intended for use in capital punishment aren’t covered by the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, according to the…

May 15, 2019 1:35 PM CDT

White House tells Congress it’s not entitled to documents from former counsel McGahn

White House counsel Pat Cipollone told the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday that documents subpoenaed from his predecessor, Don McGahn, are protected from disclosure.

May 7, 2019 1:26 PM CDT

Texas AG sides with lawyers challenging mandatory bar membership

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed an amicus brief that sides with three lawyers who contend that mandatory membership in the State Bar of Texas violates their First Amendment right against coerced speech.

May 7, 2019 7:30 AM CDT

About 800 ex-prosecutors say Trump would be charged with obstruction if he wasn’t president

Updated: Donald Trump would have been charged with obstruction of justice if he wasn’t president, based on evidence described in special counsel Robert Mueller’s report, according to a statement signed by hundreds of former federal prosecutors. As of Wednesday afternoon, about 800 former federal prosecutors and Department of Justice attorneys had signed the statement.

May 6, 2019 3:32 PM CDT

Barr refuses to testify before House as Justice Department rejects request for full Mueller report

Attorney General

May 2, 2019 9:31 AM CDT

Barr defends his summary of Mueller report after special counsel’s objections

Updated: U.S. Attorney General William Barr defended his handling of special counsel Robert Mueller's report in testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.

May 1, 2019 10:32 AM CDT

Trump orders asylum-seekers to pay application fees, requires hearings within 180 days

On Monday, President Donald Trump imposed new restrictions on asylum-seekers and people who cross the border illegally. In a memo, Trump requires fees for asylum applicants and adjudication of their cases within 180 days, absent exceptional circumstances.

Apr 30, 2019 11:28 AM CDT