Attorney General

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

Rod Rosenstein praises Trump’s goals and DOJ independence in resignation letter

Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein submitted a resignation letter Monday that praises the goals set by President Donald Trump while also asserting the U.S. Department of Justice’s “special responsibility to avoid partisanship.”

Apr 30, 2019 9:07 AM CDT

Dispute over White House aide’s hush agreement should be tossed from federal court, DOJ argues

The U.S. Department of Justice has asked a federal judge to toss a lawsuit filed by a former White House communications aide who is seeking to prevent enforcement of a nondisclosure agreement he signed with the Trump campaign. The DOJ argues that a private arbitration is required to decide whether…

Apr 29, 2019 12:39 PM CDT

AG Barr to testify over Mueller report before House and Senate

U.S. Attorney General William Barr is expected to testify before House and Senate panels on special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation next week. The attorney general will appear before the House Judiciary Committee on May 2, one day after he answers questions about Mueller’s findings on Russian election interference and obstruction…

Apr 26, 2019 11:49 AM CDT

ABA president urges Barr to reconsider detention of some asylum-seekers

ABA President Bob Carlson wrote in a letter sent to Attorney General William Barr on Tuesday that his recent decision to remove the right of certain asylum-seekers to receive a bond hearing before an immigration judge will not only harm asylum-seekers, but the entire immigration court system.

Apr 25, 2019 12:24 PM CDT