Federal Government

Supreme Court upholds Trump tax provision on offshore earnings

The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a challenge to an obscure provision of President Donald Trump’s 2017 tax package, ending a lawsuit that many experts feared could destabilize the nation’s tax system.

Jun 20, 2024 9:30 AM CDT

Justice Department rejects contempt case against attorney general

Justice Department officials said Friday that the agency will not pursue contempt of Congress charges against Attorney General Merrick Garland that the Republican-run House had voted for this week.

Jun 14, 2024 3:30 PM CDT

GOP-run House votes to hold AG Merrick Garland in contempt

The Republican-controlled House voted Wednesday to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress. The vote, which passed with an initial tally of 216-207, marks the third time in a dozen years that a sitting attorney general was found in contempt by a majority of House members.

Jun 12, 2024 4:14 PM CDT

Prosecution of Democrats will repair rule of law, says law prof who wrote ‘torture memos’

Republicans will have to prosecute Democrats “to enforce a political version of mutual assured destruction” that will discourage liberals from charging future GOP presidents, according to a professor at the University of California at Berkeley School of Law.

Jun 11, 2024 3:29 PM CDT

Federal judge halts disaster aid program for minority farmers

A federal judge in Texas has blocked an Agriculture Department disaster relief program from giving preferences to minority and female farmers, siding with a group of plaintiffs who allege that the program illegally discriminates against White male farmers.

Jun 11, 2024 12:25 PM CDT

Hunter Biden convicted of lying during gun purchase

President Biden’s son Hunter was convicted Tuesday of lying on gun-purchasing paperwork and unlawfully possessing a gun.

Jun 11, 2024 10:35 AM CDT

On secret recording, Justice Alito agrees on need to return US to ‘place of godliness’

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito agreed with a woman who approached him during a June 3 meeting of the Supreme Court Historical Society and commented that people who believe in God have to keep fighting “to return our country to a place of godliness.”

Jun 11, 2024 9:01 AM CDT

Judge Aileen Cannon tosses another curveball in the Trump cases

A fleeting question Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas posed to Donald Trump’s lawyer during oral arguments in the Trump immunity case in late April may have been a harbinger. “Did you, in this litigation, challenge the appointment of special counsel?” Thomas asked.

Jun 10, 2024 11:15 AM CDT

Garland hits out against ‘unprecedented’ and ‘unfounded’ attacks on the DOJ

Attorney General Merrick Garland forcefully defended the Justice Department before the House Judiciary Committee against “repeated attacks” from Republican lawmakers.

Jun 5, 2024 4:35 PM CDT

ABA ‘strongly opposes’ Biden’s executive order restricting asylum; ACLU readies lawsuit

Updated: The American Civil Liberties Union and the ABA are among the groups opposing President Joe Biden’s executive order curbing asylum eligibility for migrants who illegally cross the southern border during peak periods.

Jun 5, 2024 12:18 PM CDT

Federal Aviation Administration’s chief counsel has fought challenges with resolve

Marc Nichols describes his career and life’s trajectory not as a straight line leading him to the FAA but more of a wandering path in which he has fought against difficult circumstances and seized opportunities. The key, Nichols says, is to stay determined and embrace change. “Change can sometimes be your friend. It’s about mental attitude and perseverance.”

Jun 1, 2024 1:40 AM CDT

Federal government warns of an increase in ‘scam PACs’ as election nears

Individuals are doling out their money to people operating “scam PACs”—and there is not sufficient government oversight and enforcement powers to stop them. In November, there will be a hotly disputed presidential election in which individuals may feel compelled to donate on issues related to their concerns or to the candidate they support. A scammer could pretend the money is going to elect Joe Biden or Donald Trump and then pocket it.

Jun 1, 2024 1:10 AM CDT

Biden blasts Trump for ‘reckless’ attacks on the justice system

“It’s reckless, it’s dangerous, and it’s irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they don’t like the verdict,” President Joe Biden said from the White House after Donald Trump’s Thursday conviction. “The justice system should be respected, and we should never allow anyone to tear it down.”

May 31, 2024 3:30 PM CDT

No president has been convicted before, but this one was arrested

On Thursday, former president Donald Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts by a New York jury. This was the first time a former president was convicted of a crime. But a sitting president was arrested once.

May 31, 2024 12:30 PM CDT

Chief Justice Roberts declines to meet with Democrats about court ethics

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. has turned down an invitation to meet with Senate Democrats to discuss what the lawmakers called an “ethics crisis” at the Supreme Court following reports of two politically charged flags displayed outside the homes of Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr.

May 31, 2024 11:31 AM CDT