UnJustified

European prosecutors investigating Epstein coconspirators say the US Department of Justice has ignored requests for assistance. Joe DiGenova abruptly resigned from his post at the US Attorney's office in Miami where he was investigating the non-existent grand conspiracy against Donald Trump.  The contractor that renovated the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has told the Trump administration that errors in its own work and flaws in the repair plan, not vandalism, caused the pool’s new blue liner to peel and break loose. The chief of the Civil Rights Division at Main Justice has sent 29 letters to secretaries of state ordering them to preserve 2024 election materials and informing them that they’re under investigation.

Judge Talwani has issued a preliminary injunction against the USPS making Trump’s vote-by-mail rule mandatory, but allows states to voluntarily participate if they so choose. Jim Comey has filed his replies to the government’s responses in the seashells case. A history of hiring prostitutes or stealing from an employer may no longer be a barrier to being hired at the FBI. ICE officer Christian Castro has been federally charged for making false statements about the shooting of a Venezuelan man in Minnesota, but the federal prosecutor who brought the charges has been fired. Plus listener questions.

The Legal Accountability Center filed bar complaints on Tuesday accusing U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and two lieutenants of violating their ethical duties in seeking to charge six Democratic lawmakers. A federal judge has re-blocked the Trump administration’s executive order curtailing mail in voting after the Supreme Court lifted her previous block last week. Three journalists dismissed from Stars and Stripes are suing the Pentagon accusing the government of violating their First Amendment rights and asking the courts to stop their termination. Two election monitors from the Justice Department tried to interview voters and examine voting machines at polling places during Wyoming’s primaries last week, drawing pushback from the state’s Republican governor. Plus listener questions.

The U.S. Justice Department has ​requested to interview FBI officials who were involved in the 2022 search of Donald Trump's ‌Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Justice Department lawyers file a flurry of briefs in opposition to Jim Comey’s pre-trial motions in the seashells case. A federal judge has granted Don Lemon and Georgia Fort’s motion to review grand jury materials behind closed doors. The Justice Department is asking the court to reinstate the charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia that had previously been dismissed for vindictive prosecution. Plus listener questions.

The Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) put out a new opinion expanding the definition of executive privilege to cover up the administration’s corruption. A former employee of the Southern Poverty Law Center has been arrested in California on charges that she oversaw secret payments to informants inside of white supremacist groups. Donald Trump has appealed to the 11th Circuit asking them to halt the sanctions imposed by Judge Williams in Miami over the president’s lawsuit against the IRS. Joyce Vance joins us to discuss the special grand jury empaneled by DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro. Plus listener questions.

More reflecting pool vandalism charges have been dropped by Jeanine Pirro’s office. Former Special Counsel Jack Smith has accepted an invitation to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Todd Blanche has been confirmed by the senate as US Attorney General. Judge Amit Mehta reluctantly dismisses the seditious conspiracy charges against the Oath Keepers for their role in the January 6th attack on the Capitol.

Todd Blanche’s confirmation vote is in trouble as two republican senators hold out over the anti-weaponization slush fund and Trump tax immunity. Jim Comey files motions to dismiss the seashells case for vindictive and selective prosecution. Todd Blanche turns over a small batch of unredacted Epstein files to Judge Emmet Sullivan for in camera review pursuant to a lawsuit filed by independent journalist Katie Phang. Lawyers for Davey Hearn, the defendant in Jeanine Pirro’s reflecting pool case, are accusing the Justice Department of improper grand jury conduct.

Donald Trump floated recycled false 2020 election claims during a national address Thursday night. Kash Patel fired two FBI intelligence analysts that refused to join the investigation into Georgia elections. The Justice Department finally shared evidence with Minnesota law enforcement 6 months after the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Todd Blanche sat for his confirmation hearing before the senate judiciary committee and testified that his justice department does not target political enemies. Plus listener questions.

FBI Director Kash Patel has been demanding special perks from Bureau employees during his taxpayer-funded travels throughout the country, including helicopter tours and jet ski excursions. US Attorney Andrew Boutros agrees to pay the attorney’s fees for the Broadview Six in a bid to avoid discovery as the codefendants seek a special prosecutor to investigate the Justice Department. The Harris County DA says federal authorities have sidelined local officials from investigating the shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by ICE agents in Houston. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche will face confirmation hearings this week as New Mexico accuses the justice department of obstructing the Epstein Ranch investigation. Plus listener questions. Do you have questions for the pod or something for HITMEINTHEHEADWITHABAT?

Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte has begun firing dozens of intelligence officials as he installs an election denier as his Chief of Staff. The Justice Department accidentally sent three copies of Volume II of Jack Smith's final report to the defense attorneys of the woman they charged with emailing herself Volume II of Jack Smith’s final report. Kash Patel has sent over 250 FBI personnel to Atlanta to assist in an investigation into the 2020 election in Georgia. Former CIA Chief John Brennan has sued the government to preserve records regarding the grand conspiracy investigation into him and others in the Southern District of Florida. Plus listener questions. Do you have questions for the pod or something for HITMEINTHEHEADWITHABAT?

A federal judge throws out Justice Department subpoenas of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey calling them “blatantly unlawful.” The full DC Circuit Court of Appeals panel will hear arguments over Judge Boasberg’s contempt inquiry into CECOT deportations. Former IRS officials call for a Miami judge to scrutinize Trump's “breathtakingly improper” immunity from tax audits as part of the Justice Department’s anti-weaponization slush fund settlement. The Director of National Intelligence commissioned two reports on voting machine accuracy that show no votes were flipped in 2020 but the White House is blocking their release. Plus listener questions. Do you have questions for the pod or something for HITMEINTHEHEADWITHABAT?

FBI Director Kash Patel may be operating a secret slush fund of taxpayer dollars to pay loyalist agents. Trump urges Republicans to postpone Jay Clayton confirmation hearings as leverage to pass his voter suppression bill The Trump Administration weighed suspending habeas corpus and invoking the Insurrection Act after being frustrated by the courts. Fifteen protestors in Minnesota have been charged with conspiracy to impede ICE officers during Operation Metro Surge. Plus listener questions and HITMEINTHEHEADWITHABAT?

A federal judge has indefinitely blocked the $1.776B slush fund and has given Todd Blanche and the Treasury Secretary one week to rescind the fund in writing Todd Blanche petitioned the courts to release Epstein grand jury material as a diversion tactic after meeting with White House officials in the Situation Room to discuss how to protect Donald Trump. President Trump has nominated Jay Clayton, a prosecutor in the Southern District of New York, to be the next Director of National Intelligence. Newly released transcripts reveal improprieties during the Broadview Six grand jury proceedings. Plus listener questions.

President Trump says he’ll nominate Todd Blanche as Attorney General, and has named Bill Pulte as Acting Director of National Intelligence. A federal judge has re-opened the case that led to the slush fund settlement to investigate possible collusion and a fraud on the court as Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche testifies he’ll drop the fund but not the Trump family tax immunity. John Bolton takes a plea deal for one felony count of mishandling national defense information. Amid personnel changes at the Justice Department and the Pentagon, 2020 Election Denier Kurt Olsen joins the US Attorneys Office in the Southern District of Florida. The lead prosecutor in the seashells case leaves. A January 6th rioter gets a sensitive counterterrorism job. Plus listener questions.

The justice department is defending the fact that it deleted January 6th press releases from its website. The Southern Poverty Law Center has filed a motion to dismiss its fraud charges on vindictive prosecution grounds. President Biden is suing the Department of Justice over audio recordings from his memoir project. The US Attorney in DC quietly shutters the autopen investigation into the former president. The DoJ has opened a criminal investigation into a non profit tied to writer E. Jean Carroll.

The Department of Justice has established a $1.8B “anti-weaponization fund” after Trump dropped his lawsuit against the IRS. A former federal prosecutor has been indicted for sending herself copies of Volume II of Jack Smith’s final report. A federal judge has dismissed the charges against Kilmar Ábrego García on vindictive and selective prosecution grounds. The Justice Department has dropped all remaining charges against the Broadview 6 after a grand jury transcript showed gross misconduct. Plus listener questions.

On Wednesday, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit against the District of Columbia Bar over its efforts to discipline Trump Administration lawyers. Kash Patel was caught falsifying Bureau statistics to boost his record of arrests in the face of congressional criticism for his alleged drinking habit. New York’s Attorney Grievance Committee found “sufficient basis for a finding of professional misconduct” against disqualified US Attorney John Sarcone III. A Trump appointed judge has accused the Justice Department of appalling and unsettling behavior in a case over subpoenas for patient information regarding gender affirming care. Plus listener questions. Do you have questions for the pod or something for HITMEINTHEHEADWITHABAT?

The FBI is investigating the Atlantic reporter who wrote a detailed story of Director Kash Patel’s alleged heavy drinking and erratic behavior. Patel even ordered polygraphs for nearly two dozen staff members looking for leaks. A second federal judge has blocked the Department of Justice from accessing data seized from Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson. Former Special Counsel Jack Smith spoke at a private event last month saying Trump has corrupted the Justice Department, and that it’s become difficult to track the number of times judges have accused DOJ officials of dishonesty or lack of candor. A federal judge rules that the government can keep the ballots seized from election offices in Fulton County, Georgia.

Two government watchdogs are suing the Justice Department over its Office of Legal Counsel memo that declares the Presidential Records Act unconstitutional. The US Attorney in the Eastern District of North Carolina has filed charges against James Comey for sharing a photo of seashells that spell out 8647. The Government Accountability Office and the Office of the Inspector General are investigating the Department of Justice's compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The White House Correspondents’ Dinner was not designated a National Special Security Event by the US Secret Service. Plus listener questions.

The Justice Department has filed charges against the Southern Poverty Law Center which appears to contain serious legal defects. A judge tosses Kash Patel’s defamation lawsuit against former FBI Assistant Director for Counterintelligence Frank Figliuzzi The FBI is said to have investigated a New York Times reporter who wrote an article about Kash Patel’s girlfriend. Todd Blanche has tapped Joe DiGenova to take over the investigation into ex CIA chief John Brennan and others. The Justice Department has agreed to pay $1.25 million to Carter Page for the investigation into him during Trump’s first term Jeanine Pirro has dropped the criminal investigation of Jerome Powell, which was holding up Trump's nomination of Warsh to take his place next month. Plus listener questions.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has referred the Ukraine whistleblower and the Inspector General to the Department of Justice for prosecution. A top prosecutor has been removed from the John Brennan investigation in Miami after she suggested the case was going nowhere The Justice Department’s Weaponization Working group has released its first report which accuses the Biden administration of improperly prosecuting anti-abortion protestors. US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro has filed a Motion to Vacate the seditious conspiracy charges against the Oath Keepers “in the interest of justice.”

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche says that only Donald Trump knows why Pam Bondi was fired from the Justice Department. Stanley Woodward could be leaving the Department of Justice to be replaced by current Civil Rights Division Chief Harmeet Dhillon. The Department of Justice presses for its own search of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson’s phone. The Civil Rights Division is investigating Cassidy Hutchinson for lying to Congress. Plus listener questions.

Pam Bondi has been fired and Todd Blanche becomes the Acting Attorney General as the President weighs a replacement. Federal District Judge Amit Mehta has allowed a consolidated civil suit against Trump for his role in the January 6th attack on the Capitol to advance. Trump’s Justice Department quietly dropped 23,000 criminal investigations in its shift to immigration cases. The Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel has penned a memo declaring that the Presidential Records Act is unconstitutional.

Hackers linked to Iran have breached FBI Director Kash Patel’s personal emails. Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a Jack Smith progress memo to Congress outlining Trump's motive for illegally retaining classified documents. A top deputy to U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro acknowledged in a closed-door hearing this month that the Justice Department did not have evidence of wrongdoing in its criminal investigation of Fed Chair Jerome Powell. Legal experts are stunned after a federal judge catches DOJ lawyers using artificial intelligence to write briefs.

A federal judge has issued a new rule requiring Jeanine Pirro to notify the court when she fails to get a grand jury to bring charges. Jim Comey has been subpoenaed in the sprawling criminal probe against ex-CIA chief John Brennan in Judge Aileen Cannon’s district. Attorney General Pam Bondi attempts to flout a deposition subpoena from the House Oversight Committee in the Epstein Files investigation. The Department of Justice has suspended minimum work requirements for hiring attorneys. Plus listener questions, including a question about the predicate of Crossfire Hurricane. “Call me Mark” the answer to your question is in this episode and in this episode of Mueller, She Wrote. Do you have questions for the pod?

Justice Department Pardon Attorney and former Weaponization Czar and associate deputy attorney general Ed Martin is under investigation by the Bar Association in the District of Columbia. Former Pardon Attorney, Liz Oyer, joins us to discuss. The Justice Department has proposed a new rule that would allow Attorney General Pam Bondi to suspend bar association investigations into DOJ lawyers. A federal grand jury has subpoenaed Arizona 2020 voting records as the Trump Administration pushes to consolidate election power. An Assistant US Attorney in North Carolina quit in the courtroom over AI-generated quotes and erroneous citations in an AI-produced court brief.

The House Oversight Committee voted 24 - 19 to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi in their Epstein files investigation. US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro quietly closes an investigation into President Biden for his use of the autopen after failing to establish a case. A longtime Justice Department employee has been arrested and charged in a child pornography case. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has rescinded former Attorney General Merrick Garland’s restrictions on no-knock warrants.

Senator Mark Kelly wins a preliminary injunction that will stop the Defense Department’s disciplinary process in its tracks. Judge Aileen Cannon decides to hide Jack Smith’s report on the MAL investigation from the public permanently. The list of Department of Justice failures in court continues to grow. Kash Patel has the best work day at the Olympics ever. Virginia Burger joins Andy to break down the situation around Senator Mark Kelly.

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals sets arguments for late June in the bid to release Volume II of Jack Smith’s final report. A Minnesota judge holds a justice department attorney in contempt for failing to comply with a court order. Some leading defense lawyers have created a tool to track Justice Department cases that involve irregular charging practices. The Justice Department acknowledges violating dozens of recent court orders in New Jersey. Plus listener questions…

Jeanine Pirro gets shut out by a federal grand jury trying to indict six members of Congress for their video asking military members to disregard illegal orders. Judges in the Northern District appointed Donald Kinsella US attorney to replace John Sarcone, and Todd Blanche promptly fired him. Former Special Counsel Deputy in Jack Smith’s office, JP Cooney, is running for Congress in Virginia. A federal judge has blocked Trump's effort to transfer 20 former death row inmates commuted by President Biden to the notorious ADX Supermax Prison. Plus listener questions…

The Department of Justice is buckling under the weight of immigration cases causing a DOJ lawyer in Minneapolis to ask a judge to hold her in contempt just so she can get some sleep. Former January 6th prosecutors have drafted a memo advising Congress on how to investigate DHS use of force and the murders of Alex Pretti and Renee Good. The Trump Administration plans to ramp up its retribution against political foes as the Weaponization Czar Ed Martin is removed for leaking grand jury material. Tusli Gabbard joins FBI agents on a call with Trump after the FBI seized voting machines and ballots from a Georgia Election Office, and we learn that Gabbard seized voting machines in Puerto Rico last spring while investigating Nicolas Maduro for foreign election interference. Plus listener questions… Do you have questions for the pod?

The FBI executed a search warrant on the Fulton County Georgia Election Offices with Director of National Intelligence Tusli Gabbard in tow. Four journalists including Don Lemon were arrested by the Justice Department and charged with conspiracy against rights and threat of force to impede religious freedom The US Attorney’s office in Minneapolis is in crisis over concerns that they were being asked to execute orders that went against the department’s mission and best practices. AG: and members of the Pulitzer Prize Board have sued Donald Trump for documents and communications surrounding the Mueller investigation that are still being kept secret. Plus listener questions…

The FBI opened a civil rights investigation into the shooting death of Renee Good in Minneapolis but Trump administration officials quickly shut it down. The Department of Justice Civil Rights Division has pivoted to investigating discrimination against white people Judge Engelmayer has denied the letter motion filed by Representatives Khanna and Massie to appoint a Special Master over the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Two whistleblowers have uncovered an internal DHS memo instructing ICE agents to enter homes without a proper warrant. Plus listener questions…

The Department of Justice faces mass resignations from the Civil Rights Division and the Minneapolis US Attorney’s office over the handling of the killing of Renee Nicole Good. Judge Engelmayer asks the parties for briefing on whether he has jurisdiction to appoint a special master, and whether Congressmen Khanna and Massie have standing to ask for one. Jack Smith has agreed to testify publicly this week as experts debunk claims that he infringed on Donald Trump’s free speech. President Trump is becoming disillusioned with Attorney General Pam Bondi and wants to create an office within the Justice Department that reports directly to the White House. Plus listener questions…

Minnesota leaders push for the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to be included in the FBI's investigation into the killing of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis. DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s federal indictment of the alleged pipe bomber may have come too late to be within the federal statute of limitations. As expected, a federal judge has ruled that the Trump-appointed US Attorney in the Northern District of New York was unlawfully appointed, and a separate judge has ordered Lindsey Halligan to address why her name is still appearing on indictments in the Eastern District of Virginia. Congressional Representatives are asking a judge to appoint a special master and an independent monitor to compel the Department of Justice to release the Epstein Files pursuant to the law. Plus listener questions…

Jack Smith testified for 8 hours to House Judiciary.Allison picked some of the key moments to talk about.

Can Trump's pardon power be checked? How do grand juries work? What does a Bar Association do? And more! You asked and we answered!

Lawyers for former CIA Chief John Brennan have written to the Chief Judge in the Southern District of Florida accusing the Justice Department of forum shopping. The Supreme Court has ruled that Trump does not have the authority to deploy the National Guard under title 10 USC section 12406. The Justice Department issues a memo asking assistant US Attorneys to work through the holidays to redact the Epstein files as they claim to have found a million new documents. The White House has taken over the Justice Department communications on social media. Plus listener questions…

The Department of Justice has announced that it will not be releasing all of the Epstein files as required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, but will instead release them on a rolling basis. Jack Smith testified for 8 hours behind closed doors in front of the House Judiciary Committee, saying that he amassed powerful evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that Trump violated the law. Co-Deputy Director Dan Bongino says he will leave his position at the FBI next month. And the Department of Justice asks for more time to return Daniel Richman’s materials to him. Plus listener questions…

The Department of Justice has failed to indict New York attorney Letitia James for a third time, as Daniel Richman wins a motion blocking his emails from being accessed by the government. Main Justice has filed a motion to block the testimony of whistleblower Erez Reuveni and DOJ lawyer Drew Ensign in the Alien Enemies Act contempt proceedings before DC District Judge Boasberg. Judge Xinis accuses the Justice Department of misleading the court in an order for the immediate release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, and issued a follow on temporary restraining order blocking his re-arrest. The Justice Department faces a call for an internal investigation into the office of legal counsel memo allowing the boat strikes in the Caribbean.

The Department of Justice failed to re-indict New York Attorney General Letitia James on mortgage fraud charges. The FBI has arrested and charged a suspect for the pipe bombs placed at the DNC and RNC on January 5th, 2021. Jim Jordan has subpoenaed Jack Smith to appear behind closed doors after rejecting the Special Counsel’s request to testify before the House Judiciary Committee publicly. Kash Patel faces more scrutiny about his personal use of public resources after ordering an FBI detail to give his girlfriend’s inebriated friend a ride home after a night out.

The cases against Jim Comey and Letitia James have been dismissed by a judge who found that Interim US Attorney Lindsey Halligan was unlawfully appointed. News outlets are reporting that President Trump is weighing removing Kash Patel from his position as director of the FBI, but the administration denies those claims. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals upholds the dismissal of Trump's 2022 lawsuit against Hillary Clinton et al, and allows the $1M sanctions fine to stand. The FBI has opened an investigation into six members of Congress for reminding active duty service members and employees of the intelligence community that they do not have to obey illegal orders. Plus listener questions…

Judge Nachmanoff is tying up loose ends in the Jim Comey case by asking for final briefs on handing all the grand jury materials over to defense counsel after Judge Fitzpatrick laid out the particularized grounds that could topple the government’s case. A Department of Defense JAG lawyer was overruled by the Department of Justice over the legality of the lethal boat strikes in the Caribbean. Attorney General Pam Bondi says in a press conference that the Justice Department will “follow the law” when it comes to releasing the Epstein files pursuant to the bill passed by Congress and signed by President Trump. The 11th Circuit heard arguments from Trump to revive the RICO lawsuit he filed against 41 people including HRC over the Russia investigation and the $1M sanctions levied against him and Alina Habba for filing it in the first place. Plus listener questions…

The judge reviewing the legality of Lindsay Halligan's appointment in the Comey and James cases said that a chunk of the grand jury transcripts and recordings are missing. The Department of Justice WCADAGPA Ed Martin announced pardons for all the co-conspirators and electors in the 2020 fraudulent elector scheme. The Continuing Resolution to fund the government includes a provision allowing the 8 Senators whose phone records were subpoenaed by Jack Smith to seek at least $500K in damages from the government. A criminal investigation into Russian Intelligence Community Assessment from 2016 has resulted in over 30 subpoenas for records including Pete Strzok, John Brennan, and yes, Andrew McCabe. Plus listener questions…

The South Carolina Judge weighing the legality of the appointment of Lindsey Halligan has demanded the Lindsey Halligan grand jury tapes after DOJ withheld large portions of them. A different judge in the Comey case berates Halligan for her “indict now, investigate later” approach after the DOJ failed to produce communications seized between Comey and Daniel Richman. The 11th Circuit orders Judge Aileen Cannon to rule on motions to release Volume II of Jack Smith's final report. Pam Bondi attempts to retroactively appoint Lindsey Halligan as a Special Attorney to save the sinking cases against Comey and Letitia James. Plus listener questions… Do you have questions for the pod?

Jim Comey alleges that the single FBI agent’s testimony to the grand jury in his case was tainted by privileged information, and asks the court for the grand jury transcripts. Comey has also filed a bill of particulars asking the government to clarify the charges, and has filed a motion to dismiss under the Bronston literal truth doctrine. Two assistant US attorneys have been placed on administrative leave for referencing the January 6th attack on the Capitol and Donald Trump’s Social post that led Taylor Taranto to President Obama’s neighborhood with weapons. Three words in Letitia James’ mortgage contract could tank Lindsey Halligan's entire case.

We’ve had so much news to cover that we haven’t gotten to as many listener questions as we would like. So we have gathered some of your most frequent and most pertinent questions for this Q&A bonus episode. F.B.I. Plans to Lower Recruiting Standards, Alarming Agents - The New York Times Do you have questions for the pod?

Jim Comey and his legal team have filed their motions to dismiss his charges on selective and vindictive prosecution grounds, and Comey and Letitia James have filed motions to disqualify Lindsey Halligan. Marco Rubio gave El Salvador US government cooperators in exchange for use of their CECOT Prison. Jack Smith goes to paper in a letter to Chuck Grassley and Jim Jordan about potential Congressional testimony, and the Republican mischaracterization of his work. Trump is seeking $230M from his allies in the Justice Department as compensation for the criminal cases against him. Plus listener questions… Do you have questions for the pod?

Trump’s former National Security Advisor John Bolton has been indicted on 18 felony counts of transmitting and retaining national defense information under the Espionage Act. The judge in Comey’s case has denied the government’s motion to restrict the sharing discovery with Comey himself and other witnesses, and sets a blisteringly fast classified materials process. Jack Smith speaks out about his Trump prosecutions, and is called to testify before the House Judiciary Committee in a letter from Jim Jordan. Jeanine Pirro chalks up her first acquittal in the District of Columbia in an embarrassing loss in the case of Sidney Reid. Plus listener questions… Do you have questions for the pod?

Trump’s hand picked US Attorney Lindsay Halligan has secured an indictment of New York Attorney General Leticia James on two felony counts of fraud. Jim Comey has pled not guilty to both counts during his arraignment and indicated he’d be filing multiple motions to dismiss, including a challenge to Lindsay Halligan's appointment as US Attorney. Republican Senators have denounced Jack Smith over phone records he subpoenaed during his investigation of the January 6th, 2021 attack on the Capitol. The Department of Justice continues its losing streak, failing to secure indictments of protestors they claim assaulted federal law enforcement officers. Plus listener questions… Do you have questions for the pod?

The purge of career prosecutors at the Department of Justice continues as the regime fired a US Attorney in Sacramento hours after she reminded a Border Patrol Chief to abide by court-ordered restrictions on immigration raids. President Trump sharply escalated his attacks on the Bureau this week by falsely accusing the FBI of fomenting the violence at the Capitol on January 6th. Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a memo this week directing agencies to arrest every person suspected of threatening or assaulting a federal law enforcement officer. The Department of Justice issued a subpoena for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' travel records as Trump continues his revenge tour.

The Department of Justice installed one of Trump's personal lawyers, Lindsay Halligan as the US Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia, and, four days later, she obtained a two-count indictment against former FBI Director Jim Comey for lying to Congress and Obstruction. The Trump Administration continues to imperil criminal cases with extrajudicial statements as a federal judge finds multiple Department of Justice employees may have violated local rules guaranteeing Luigi Mangione’s right to fair trial. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s chief of staff Chad Mizelle and Jim Comey's son in law Troy Edwards have both resigned their positions at DOJ. Trump’s Justice Department shut down an investigation into the Border Czar Tom Homan for accepting a $50,000 cash bribe in exchange for government contracts. Plus listener questions… Do you have questions for the pod?

Former Special Counsel in the Trump investigations, Jack Smith, speaks at length about the weaponization of the department of justice at an event at George Mason University. Trump Administration officials push to fire the US Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia over his refusal to indict NYAG Tish James and former FBI Director Jim Comey. A trial jury finds a Los Angeles protestor not guilty of assaulting a Border Patrol Agent; and another assault case is dismissed in the District of Columbia. The Department of Justice quietly deletes a study on the politics of domestic violence amid calls from Todd Blanche to investigate Trump protestors.

The suspect in the shooting of Charlie Kirk has surrendered himself to authorities as more details emerge about him and his family. Three former top FBI officials sue the government alleging they were terminated for political reasons, and outlining the problems with purging the FBI of experts. More cases are dropped as Department of Justice prosecutors continue to fail to return indictments. The Department of Justice asks the court to keep secret the names of two people who received large payments from Jeffrey Epstein. Plus listener questions…Do you have questions for the pod?

The American Civil Liberties Union files a motion for an en banc re-hearing of Judge Boasberg’s criminal contempt opinion after a three-judge panel stayed his ruling. Attorney General Pam Bondi continues her assault on the Department of Justice by sidelining career attorneys causing every member of the Sanctuary Cities Working Group to resign. The DC US Attorney’s office fails to return indictments from federal grand juries as another judge lambasts federal prosecutors. CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Tulsi Gabbard clash over her disclosure of an undercover officer’s identity. Plus listener questions…

The Department of Justice was unable to secure three high profile indictments from federal grand juries against people accused of assaulting federal agents. Congressional Democrats have launched an investigation into the Trump administration’s retreat from public corruption cases. Trump’s clash with the courts over the legitimacy of Alina Habba as the US Attorney in New Jersey is grinding criminal proceedings in the state to a halt. Jack Smith’s legal team pushes back against the Office of Special Counsel investigation into the former prosecutor for alleged violations of the Hatch Act. Plus listener questions… Do you have questions for the pod?

The FBI searched former National Security Adviser John Bolton's home in Maryland on Friday in search of classified records. More details have emerged about the purge of top officials at the FBI as the agency lowers recruiting standards and the Trump Administration appoints a Co-Deputy Director to assist Dan Bongino. The Department of Justice misses the deadline to hand over Epstein files to the House Oversight Committee. A federal judge calls Alina Habba’s appointment as US Attorney in New Jersey unlawful. Kilmar Abrego files a motion to dismiss the criminal charges against him citing selective and vindictive prosecution. Plus listener questions…

Attorney General Pam Bondi has purportedly removed the District of Columbia police chief and replaced her with the head of the DEA as an emergency police commissioner. The DC Attorney General has filed suit against this takeover. DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro's office has admitted it’s having a hard time securing grand jury indictments against DC protesters for interfering with immigration and customs enforcement. A group of former national security and FBI officials has issued a warning about the ongoing purge inside the FBI. Plus, we speak with former Merit Systems Protection Board Member Cathy Harris about her wrongful termination. Plus listener questions… Do you have questions for the pod?

The Department of Justice ratchets up Trump's revenge tour by launching investigations into Leticia James, Adam Schiff, Jack Smith, and the 2016 Russia investigation. Several former justice department attorneys are seeking elected office. CIA officials worried that the release of a House report on 2016 Russian election meddling could reveal top-secret spying techniques and sources, but the Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard authorized a lightly redacted version with President Trump’s blessing. The political purge of FBI personnel continues with the ouster of Steven Jensen and Brian Driscoll. Plus listener questions…

Convicted sex trafficker, Ghislaine Maxwell, was granted limited immunity for her interviews with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. A week later, her sex offender status was waived and she was moved to a minimum security prison in Texas. Judges on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals press Department of Justice lawyers on deportation quotas as the Attorney General files a judicial complaint against Chief Judge Boesberg. A criminal defendant is challenging the appointment of Alina Habba as the interim U.S. attorney in New Jersey, citing Judge Eileen Cannon's dismissal of the classified documents case against Trump in their complaint. The Senate has confirmed Donald Trump's personal lawyer, Emil Bove, to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals as a whistleblower complaint languished in the Department of Justice Inspector General's office for months. Plus listener questions…

Tulsi Gabbard declassifies new documents in the latest attempt to cast doubt on the 2016 Russia investigation. A former January 6th prosecutor and former DOJ employees are suing the Trump Administration for wrongful termination. The Department of Justice circumvented the Vacancies Act to install Alina Habba as the interim US Attorney in New Jersey after the NJ District court judges rejected her. One of the people Trump freed in the prisoner swap with Venezuela using the CECOT detainees is a convicted murderer. Plus listener questions…

Attorney General Pam Bondi fires 20 Department of Justice employees who worked on the Trump documents case, and her personal ethics chief, as two-thirds of the unit defending Trump policies have quit Key prosecutor of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, Maurene Comey has been fired, and Senator Wyden tells NBC that FBI agents were instructed to flag mentions of donald trump in the epstein files The State Department has quietly posted some of the agreement between the US Government and Salvadoran President Bukele as a deal is finalized to swap the men at CECOT for prisoners in Venezuela. The interim status of Alina Habba as the US Attorney for New Jersey comes to an end as another US attorney clings to his position after being appointed as his own assistant. Plus listener questions…

President Bukele of El Salvador told the United Nations that the United States has constructive custody of the prisoners sent to CECOT. Former F.B.I. Director, James Comey, and the former C.I.A. Director, John Brennan, are under criminal investigation by the Department of Justice for their roles in the Russia investigation. Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee have demanded Attorney General Pam Bondi release Special Counsel Jack Smith’s full report as well as any mention of Donald Trump in the Epstein Files. Judge Xinis becomes frustrated with the Department of Justice’s failure to produce a witness with knowledge of the next steps for Mr. Abrego in a series of hearings. Plus listener questions…

Trump and the Department of Justice issue letters about the Tik-Tok ban that dangerously expand executive powers. Attorney General Pam Bondi fires three January 6th prosecutors sending another chill through the Justice Department, as the weaponization task force hires a January 6th rioter that threatened police. The Department of Justice coordinated with the Texas Attorney General to kill the Texas Dream Act in under six hours. The Supreme Court clarifies that the stay on blocking deportation to third countries includes Judge Murphy’s remedial order granting due process to the 8 men stuck in Djibouti on their way to South Sudan.

Now-fired career Department of Justice lawyer Erez Reuveni has sent a letter to the Inspector General, the Office of Special Counsel, and the chairs of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees outlining Emil Bove’s alleged defiance of court orders in three due process cases. The Supreme Court rules from the shadow docket and without explanation that a lower court’s order barring deportation to third countries without due process is on indefinite hold. Two separate hearings involving Mr. Abrego led his civil attorneys to ask his criminal defense team to keep him in prison pending a hearing in Maryland on a motion to block his removal from the country. Emil Bove faced questions about DoJ Lawyer Erez Reuveni’s whistleblower complaint alleging Bove instructed him and other DoJ lawyers to ignore court orders. Plus listener questions…

Protected Whistleblower Disclosure of Erez Reuveni Regarding Violation of Laws, Rules & Regulations, Abuse of Authority, and Substantial and Specific Danger to Health and Safety at the Department of Justice

President Trump may be shielding El Salvadoran President Bukele from an investigation into allegations that Bukele used US aid to support MS13, and traded away MS13 leaders as part of the agreement to house migrants at CECOT. Kilmar Abrego Garcia had his detention hearing in the middle district of tennessee on the human smuggling charges brought by the department of justice, and the testimony generated more questions than answers about the veracity of the charges against him. A Trump appointed judge in the Western District of Pennsylvania upholds the 21 day notice requirement for removal under the Alien Enemies Act Proclamation. Donald Trump– the criminal defendant who got Alieen Cannon to toss out the charges against him on the grounds that the special counsel prosecuting him was illegal, has called for a special prosecutor to investigate the 2020 election. Plus listener questions… Do you have questions for the pod?

Kilmar Abrego Garcia has pled not guilty to the two charges of smuggling migrants, and has asked the court to release him on bail pending his trial. The Department of Justice is trying to dismiss the discovery proceedings as moot, but Abrego Garcia’s lawyers have filed a sanctions motion requesting Judge Xinis proceed with determining whether the government defied her order. The Western District of Texas became the fourth court to find that Trump’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act is unlawful and blocked the government from removing anyone under the proclamation in the district Attorney General Pam Bondi fails to respond to Judge Boasberg's order to report how the government is facilitating the due process for those trapped in the Salvadoran prison, and instead files a motion to stay the order. Plus listener questions…

Abrego Garcia is being brought back to the United States and will face federal charges. Judge Boasberg grants certification of the CECOT class and order the government to facilitate due process for all those who remain in the Salvadoran prison The man mistakenly deported to Guatemala by the Department of Homeland Security has been returned to the United states while the government struggles with giving other people due process on the ground in Djibouti. Kash Patel is forcing FBI agents to take polygraph tests as he fires and demotes others out with no explanation. Plus listener questions…

The Trump Administration files a motion to dismiss the Abrego Garcia case based on jurisdiction. Judge Xinis denies two government motions requesting delays. The government asked the Supreme Court for an emergency stay of their own request to do credible fear hearings on the ground in Djibouti for the men unlawfully flown to South Sudan. Law enforcement continues to struggle under pressure from the White House to increase immigration arrests. Trump nominates his private attorney turned Deputy Attorney General to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Plus listener questions… Questions for the pod?

The Supreme Court remanded the Alien Enemies Act case back down to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, and at least one of the judges isn’t happy about it. Abrego Garcia’s deportation to El Salvador set off a fierce debate among officials in three cabinet agencies, despite agreement there had been a mistake. Tulsi Gabbard’s Chief of Staff ordered intelligence analysts to edit an assessment with the hope of insulating Trump and Gabbard from being attacked for the administration’s claim that Venezuela’s government controls a criminal gang. A federal judge found that the Trump Administration violated a court order when it sent a planeload of migrants to war-torn South Sudan, teeing up yet another possible contempt proceeding against the government. Plus listener questions…

"The President has invoked the Alien Enemies Act (AEA), Rev. Stat. §4067, 50 U. S. C. §21, to remove Venezuelan nationals who are members of Tren de Aragua (TdA), a designated foreign terrorist organization. See Presidential Proclamation No. 10903, 90 Fed. Reg. 13033 (2025). Applicants are two detainees identified as members of TdA and a putative class of similarly situated detainees in the Northern District of Texas. All of the alleged TdA members in the putative class are currently being held in U. S. detention facilities. In the application before the Court, the detainees seek injunctive relief against summary removal under the AEA. "

Judge Xinis holds a hearing over whether certain discovery in the Abrego Garcia case is subject to state secrets and deliberative process privilege. Trump administration lawyers submitted documents under seal to Judge Boasberg they say show the US "does not have constructive custody over" El Salvador CECOT detainees. Ed Martin reveals that he’s under investigation by the ethics office that handles attorney discipline in Washington, and reveals he’s working with January 6th defendants in his role as the Weaponization Czar Tulsi Gabbard has fired the intelligence officials that developed the assessment that tren de aragua is not a proxy of the Venezuelan government Plus listener questions…

There are now multiple cases challenging the administration’s Alien Enemies Act proclamation; including a hearing by Judge Boasberg for an amended complaint filed on behalf of all the detainees in El Salvador. Judge Xinis has had to pause the discovery in the Abrego Garcia case to contemplate the Trump Administration’s invocation of the state secrets and deliberative process privilege. Justice Department lawyers continue to lose credibility before judges who are upset by their shoddy work. President Trump pulls the nomination of Ed Martin for Us Attorney in the District of Columbia and appoints Fox anchor Jeanine Pirro as interim US Attorney. Plus listener questions…

Discovery in the Abrego Garcia case resumes after Judge Xinis denies the trump administration an additional extension Ed Martin’s nomination as United States Attorney for the District of Columbia is teetering on the brink after Senator Dick Durbin says that the Senate is not going to move forward with it. Department of Justice civil rights attorneys leave in droves as the administration guts programs for crime victims Pam Bondi rescinds Biden-era protections preventing the Justice Department from spying on journalists. Plus listener questions…

Judge Xinis postpones discovery in the Abrego Garcia after the government files a request to delay under seal. A conservative three judge panel for the DC Circuit Court of appeals temporarily blocks Judge Boasberg’s opinion that probable cause exists to hold the government in criminal contempt in the Alien Enemies Act case. The Supreme Court issues a late night order blocking the rendition of hundreds of additional detainees to El Salvador. A Reagan appointed judge lambasts the Department of Justice for not only failing to provide reasoned analysis for shuttering the VOA, but for failing to engage in any analysis at all.

Judge Boasberg issues a memorandum opinion that concludes that probable cause exists to find the Government in criminal contempt for defying court orders in the Alien Enemies Act case. The Fourth Circuit denies Trump’s bid to block Judge Xinis’ order to facilitate the return of Abrego Garcia, as she orders two weeks of discovery prior to considering holding the government in contempt. The ACLU has filed a new habeas petition pursuant to Judge Boasberg’s order for due process for those remaining in El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act proclamation. The CIA concedes in a court filing that when it scanned Director John Ratcliffe's Signalgate messages, they were gone. Plus listener questions…

The Supreme Court has ruled that individuals being deported under the alien enemies act proclamation are afforded due process, and that the courts can ask the government to facilitate the return of wrongfully deported detainees The Department of Justice is seeking to drop the charges against the alleged MS-13 leader they held a press conference about arresting. FBI Director Kash Patel has been quietly removed as the Acting Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives after he stopped showing up to work. The Department of Justice lawyer who argued on behalf of the government in the Abrego Garcia case has been benched because he expressed frustration with his clients during a hearing. His supervisor has also been sidelined. The DC Office of Disciplinary Counsel has declined to launch a probe of Ed Martin, the interim U.S. attorney, over an alleged ethics violation he committed when he sought to dismiss the criminal case of a January 6th defendant whom he previously represented. Donald Trump signs an executive order opening investigations into Chris Krebs and Miles Taylor. Plus listener questions…

Trump’s White House directly fired two line prosecutors in a stunning escalation of the war on the independence of the Department of Justice. A federal judge in Virginia has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to fire ODNI and CIA employees who recently worked on diversity, equity and inclusion programs. There are generally no confirmation hearings to confirm US Attorneys, but senate democrats have called for a hearing for Ed Martin as Senator Adam Schiff has put a temporary hold on his nomination. Donald Trump has ousted the National Security Agency Chief Gen. Timothy Haugh and his civilian deputy Wendy Noble after a meeting with conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer. Judge Dale Ho has dismissed the fraud and bribery charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams with prejudice. Plus listener questions…

At least 18 Trump administration officials used an unsecured Signal chat to discuss real-time attacks on Houthi militants in Yemen earlier this month as investigative journalist for the Atlantic Jeffrey Goldberg was inadvertently added to the group. The Department of Justice is drastically changing their policy of prosecuting crimes in the United States prior to deportation. The FBI has cut staffing in an office focused on domestic terrorism and has scrapped a tool used to track such investigations. This shift could undermine law enforcement’s ability to counter white supremacists and anti-government extremists. Alina Habba was sworn in Friday as the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey. Plus listener questions.

Kash Patel is pushing ahead with a plan to decentralize the FBI by dividing it into three regions except for the three largest field offices which would report directly to Dan Bongino. Interim DC US Attorney Ed Martin– an election denier– has announced he has opened a criminal investigation into 2020 election fraud. American intelligence agencies circulated findings last month that the Tren de Aragua gang is not controlled by the Venezuelan government– a key component of the Trump administration's invocation of the Alien Enemies Act. Attorney general Pam Bondi wants to intervene on behalf of Donald Trump in a series of January 6 civil lawsuits against him. Plus listener questions.

The Trump Administration is gutting the Justice Department's unit that oversees prosecutions of public officials accused of corruption.Emil Bove has fired the Chief of the Organized Crime and Drug Trafficking Task Force, and Todd Blanche has fired the Justice Department Pardon Attorney. Judge Beryl Howell has blocked sections of Donald Trump's executive order punishing the Perkins Coie law firm. The top ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee calls for the Department of Justice Inspector General to open an investigation into Ed Martin, interim US Attorney for the District of Columbia. Judge Dale Ho has canceled the hearing in the Eric Adams dismissal case after amicus Paul Clement recommended he dismiss the bribery charges with prejudice. Plus listener questions.

US Intelligence shows Russia and China are attempting to recruit disgruntled federal employees. The head of the FBI New York Field Office James Dennehy has been forced out as the GSA shutters FBI, DOJ and CIA facilities. The American Bar Association has received a request to open a disciplinary investigation into Emil Bove from Judiciary Committee Democrats. The Trump Administration goes after the law firm Perkins Coie and Georgetown law.

U.S. attorney Ed Martin personally submitted a seizure warrant that was rejected by a U.S. magistrate judge in D.C. Kash Patel ordered FBI officials to relocate 1,500 employees from Washington DC to cities with high crime rates including Minneapolis, Detroit and Cleveland, at a cost of over $100M. Attorneys for New York City Mayor Eric Adams asked a federal judge Wednesday for an outright dismissal of his criminal corruption case, citing alleged misconduct by prosecutors. President Trump said that he would strip security clearances from lawyers at a prominent Washington law firm aiding former special counsel Jack Smith, and end any federal government work the firm may have.

Emil Bove has filed his rule 48(a) motion to dismiss the bribery and fraud charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams.The judge in the Adams case held a hearing with Eric Adams, his attorneys, and Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove.As in the case of Mike Flynn, the judge has adjourned Adams’ trial and appointed an amicus curiae to oppose the dismissal of the charges.The weaponization of the Justice Department is in full swing causing the resignation of the chief of the Criminal Division at the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington, D.C., plus Ed Martin opens operation “whirlwind” to investigate Trump’s political enemies.

Acting US Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove ordered the Southern District of New York to dismiss the bribery and fraud charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. The office’s refusal to do that precipitated a standoff and ultimately several resignations and firings.

Multiple FBI agents filed a lawsuit against the department of justice to stop them from compiling and releasing lists of agents who worked on January 6th cases. Trump’s nominee to lead the FBI, Kash Patel, took a $25,000 payment from a Kremlin- connected filmmaker for his work on an anti-western documentary that aired on Tucker Carlson's online network. Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a flurry of memos this week including one that disbands the Foreign Influence Task Force, greatly limiting criminal prosecution and focusing instead on civil enforcement. Acting director of the FBI Brian Driscoll pushes back against Trump's DoJ.

The Department of Justice has moved to drop the appeal of Judge Cannon’s dismissal of the charges against Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira in the classified documents case. The Trump’s administration has told at least six top FBI officials in charge of cyber security, criminal investigations, and national security to resign or be fired by Monday as Kash Patel sits for his confirmation hearing to head the agency. Trump’s administration fires DoJ officials who investigated Donald, and has launched a special investigation into January 6th. Trump has illegally fired nearly 20 independent inspectors general, and even had one who was investigating Elon Musk physically escorted out of her office.

Former Trump defense attorney and current Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove has issued orders to US Attorneys to investigate and prosecute local law enforcement officials who fail to enforce the Trump Administration’s deportation policies; career DOJ officials are being reassigned and purged to make way for Trump loyalists; Judge Cannon has issued an order blocking Congress from accessing Volume 2 of Jack Smith’s final report; the new US Attorney in DC begins dropping pending January 6th cases while federal judges push back on Trump’s pardons of January 6th convicts. All of that and more!

Allison and Andy read the first volume of Jack Smith’s final report.

Allison and Andy read the first volume of Jack Smith’s final report.

Jack Smith has resigned; the Justice Department released Volume One of the special counsel’s final report; the fate of Volume Two remains to be seen; plus listener questions.

Allison and Andy read the first volume of Jack Smith’s final report.

Allison and Andy read the first volume of Jack Smith’s final report.

Allison reads the first volume of Jack Smith’s final report.

Judge Cannon has temporarily blocked the release of Jack Smith’s final report at the request of Nauta and De Oliveira, we’ll see what the 11th Circuit has to say; Donald Trump is now a convicted and sentenced felon in New York; plus listener questions.

Jack Smith has handed off what remains of the Mar-a-Lago case to the US Attorney’s office in the Southern District of Florida; what that means to Trump’s co-conspirators and the eventual report; plus listener questions.

A DC Police Officer has been found guilty of leaking information to Proud Boy Enrique Tarrio before the January 6th attack; Jack Smith’s team is lawyering up in preparation for Trump’s promised retribution tour; the House Ethics Report on Matt Gaetz goes public; plus listener questions.