Nov 14 Matt Gaetz was once under investigation for sex trafficking. Now he could lead the Justice Department By Alanna Durkin Richer, Farnoush Amiri, Associated Press The federal sex trafficking investigation that began under Attorney General Bill Barr during Donald Trump's first term focused on allegations that Gaetz and a onetime political ally paid underage girls and escorts or offered them gifts in exchange for sex. Continue reading
Nov 13 Watch 5:10 Trump says he will nominate loyalist Matt Gaetz to be attorney general By Geoff Bennett, Ali Schmitz, Saher Khan President-elect Trump nominated one of his most prominent loyalists in Congress to lead the Department of Justice. Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz is the former president’s pick to serve as the nation’s top prosecutor. The right-wing firebrand is well known for… Continue watching
Nov 13 Ted Olson, conservative lawyer who argued Bush recount and same-sex marriage cases, dies at 84 By Associated Press Former U.S. Solicitor General Ted Olson, who served two Republican presidents as one of the country’s best known conservative lawyers and successfully argued on behalf of same-sex marriage, died Wednesday. Continue reading
Nov 13 Trump picks Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general By Michelle L. Price, Adriana Gomez Licon, Jill Colvin, Zeke Miller, Associated Press President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday said he will nominate Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida to serve as his attorney general, putting a loyalist in the role of the nation's top prosecutor. Continue reading
Nov 08 DOJ brings criminal charges in Iranian murder-for-hire plan that targeted Trump By Eric Tucker, Larry Neumeister, Associated Press Investigators learned of the plot to kill Trump while interviewing Farhad Shakeri, an Afghan national identified by officials as an Iranian government asset who was deported from the U.S. after being imprisoned on robbery charges. Continue reading
Nov 08 Racist text messages sent to Black recipients, including children, raise alarms in multiple states By Ayanna Alexander, Ali Swenson, Gary Fields, Associated Press Some messages said the recipient was going to a "plantation" and instructed them to show up at an address at a particular time "with your belongings."… Continue reading
Oct 24 Trump says he would fire special counsel Jack Smith ‘within 2 seconds’ of taking office. He probably could not do it on his own By Dan Merica, Eric Tucker, Associated Press Smith isn’t a presidential appointee and was instead named to the post by Attorney General Merrick Garland. Continue reading
Oct 23 Could Elon Musk face legal trouble for his $1 million lottery? Here’s what experts say By Louis Jacobson, PolitiFact Social media exploded this week with the news that billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk will hold a $1 million daily lottery for registered voters in battleground states who sign his petition supporting free speech and the Second Amendment. Continue reading
Oct 22 Revolutionary Guard official charged in alleged plot to kill Iranian American activist By Larry Neumeister, Associated Press Federal prosecutors on Tuesday charged a senior Iranian military official and three others with links to that country's government with plotting to kill an Iranian American author on U.S. soil — a development lauded by the alleged target. Continue reading
Oct 10 WATCH: Garland announces TD Bank will pay $3 billion in money-laundering settlement By Lindsay Whitehurst, Associated Press TD Bank will pay approximately $3 billion in a historic settlement with U.S. authorities who say the financial institution’s lax practices allowed significant money laundering over multiple years. Continue reading