Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump pardons entertainment executive indicted by DOJ for bid-rigging conspiracy — Donald Trump issued a full and unconditional pardon on Tuesday for Tim Leiweke, co-founder of Oak View Group, who had been indicted by the Trump administration's own Justice Department in July 2025 on charges of orchestrating a conspiracy to rig the bidding process for an arena at a public university in Austin, Texas. Leiweke had pleaded not guilty and was scheduled to stand trial in 2026. The pardon was posted to the DOJ website on Wednesday with no explanation provided.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration invoked sedition law against six Democratic lawmakers for reminding troops of duty to refuse illegal orders. — Trump posted on Truth Social attacking six Democratic lawmakers (Senators Mark Kelly, Elissa Slotkin; Representatives Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander, Chrissy Houlahan) who had released a 90-second video stating "You can refuse illegal orders. You must refuse illegal orders." Trump called them traitors and claimed they committed "seditious behavior, punishable by death." The administration and allies then cited 18 U.S.C. § 2387, a federal sedition statute, as the legal basis for the attack. Legal experts widely agree the lawmakers' statement reinforces military discipline rather than undermining it, as the law requires.
• Trump threatened sedition charges against Democratic lawmakers — Trump threatened six Democratic lawmakers with sedition charges after they publicly urged military personnel to refuse illegal orders. The lawmakers had warned troops in response to allegations that Defense Secretary Hegseth ordered the killing of shipwrecked survivors in a Caribbean military operation.

Supporting reports

• More than 100 members of Congress sign letters demanding Starbucks return to contract negotiations — More than 100 members of Congress signed letters demanding that Starbucks return to the bargaining table and complete a first union contract with Starbucks Workers United. The action reflects growing political pressure on the company to resolve the labor dispute. Progressive political leaders, including New York's mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, incoming first deputy mayor Dean Fuleihan, and Seattle's mayor-elect Katie Wilson, have also publicly supported the strikers by appearing on picket lines.
• Starbucks Workers United files hundreds of unfair labor practice charges with NLRB — Starbucks Workers United has filed hundreds of unfair labor practice (ULP) charges with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging that Starbucks has violated workers' rights. The union claims dozens of union leaders have been fired in alleged retaliation for union support. Starbucks has denied all such allegations, though several workers have won reinstatements in NLRB proceedings. This pattern of charges reflects the union's assertion that the company has systematically obstructed organizing and bargaining efforts.

Supporting reports

• Third Circuit upholds ruling that Alina Habba's appointment as acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey was unlawful — A three-judge panel of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling finding that President Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi violated federal vacancy laws and the Senate confirmation process in appointing Alina Habba as acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey. The panel rejected Bondi's argument that she could funnel U.S. attorney powers into a "special attorney" title to circumvent Senate confirmation. Despite the disqualification, Habba and the DOJ continue to claim she holds the position.
• Federal appeals court upheld ruling that Alina Habba's appointment was unlawful — A federal appeals court upheld a lower court ruling that Alina Habba, whom Trump placed in the position of acting U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey, was appointed unlawfully. Trump appointed her to a 120-day acting appointment, after which district court judges control the spot until Senate confirmation. The judges rejected Habba, who has no prosecutorial experience, and selected experienced prosecutor Desiree Leigh Grace instead. Attorney General Pam Bondi then fired Grace and maneuvered Habba back into control.
• Federal judges found illegal Trump appointments of multiple U.S. attorneys — Federal judges have found illegal Trump's appointments of U.S. attorneys for the Central District of California and the District of Nevada, in addition to the Eastern District of Virginia and District of New Jersey. These rulings indicate a pattern of the administration attempting to place unqualified or illegally appointed prosecutors in positions of power.
• Judge D. Michael Fisher issued opinion on Habba appointment — Federal judges have found illegal Trump's appointments of U.S. attorneys for the Central District of California and the District of Nevada, in addition to the Eastern District of Virginia and District of New Jersey appointments previously ruled unlawful.
• Appeals court upholds disqualification of Trump's interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey — Judge D. Michael Fisher wrote in the appeals court opinion that "It is apparent that the current administration has been frustrated by some of the legal and political barriers to getting its appointees in place," but stated that Trump cannot circumvent the law to place his preferred appointees in prosecutorial positions. The ruling affirmed that district court judges retain authority to select U.S. attorneys when the 120-day acting appointment expires and the Senate has not confirmed a nominee.
• Third Circuit Court affirms Alina Habba unlawfully occupied U.S. Attorney position — A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit unanimously upheld the disqualification of Alina Habba as interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey. The panel, composed of judges appointed by George W. Bush and Barack Obama, found that the Trump administration had attempted to circumvent the Senate confirmation process by appointing Habba as a perpetual "interim" U.S. Attorney after she failed to secure Senate confirmation votes. The court noted that citizens of New Jersey and loyal employees in the U.S. Attorney's Office deserve clarity and stability.
• Federal appeals court ruled Trump's attorney appointment unlawful — The Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed that Alina Habba was never legally acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey. Judges from across the political spectrum determined she unlawfully occupied the role after attempting to sidestep established rules governing vacancies. The ruling follows a pattern of Trump administration officials attempting to bypass Senate confirmation, destroy institutional norms, and consolidate power through procedural manipulation.
• Judge D. Michael Fisher criticized administration's circumvention of legal barriers — A federal appeals court ruled that Trump's efforts to keep Alina Habba, his former personal attorney, as the top prosecutor in New Jersey were unlawful, upholding a lower court's decision that disqualified Habba from her post. The ruling rejected Trump's attempt to place a personal loyalist in a federal prosecutorial position.
• — A federal appeals court upheld a lower court ruling that President Trump's appointment of Alina Habba as acting U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey was unlawful. Trump appointed her to a 120-day acting position, after which district court judges were to control the spot until Senate confirmation. The judges rejected Habba, who has no prosecutorial experience, and selected experienced prosecutor Desiree Leigh Grace instead. Attorney General Pam Bondi then fired Grace and maneuvered Habba back into control.
• — In the appeals court opinion upholding the ruling against Habba's appointment, Judge D. Michael Fisher wrote: "It is apparent that the current administration has been frustrated by some of the legal and political barriers to getting its appointees in place." The judges stated that Trump cannot simply ignore the law to place his preferred appointees in office.

Supporting reports

• Former JAGs declare alleged orders constitute war crimes — The Former JAGs Working Group, composed of former military judge advocate generals, issued a statement unanimously declaring that the giving and execution of the alleged orders to kill survivors "constitute war crimes, murder, or both" and called for prosecution of anyone who issues or follows such orders. The group noted that the military's legal guardrails, which Hegseth had systematically dismantled after purging JAGs from the Army and Air Force in February 2025, would have prevented these alleged crimes had they remained in place.
• Hegseth defended strikes as legal and justified on social media — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth posted on X that the strikes are "specifically intended to be 'lethal, kinetic strikes'" designed to stop lethal drugs, destroy narco-boats, and kill narco-terrorists. He stated "We have only just begun to kill narco-terrorists" but did not directly deny the allegation that he ordered killing of crew members in the water.
• Pete Hegseth allegedly ordered killing of crew members on suspected drug-smuggling vessel — The Washington Post reported that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth gave a spoken order to kill all crew members aboard a vessel suspected of smuggling drugs in the Caribbean Sea. The report triggered bipartisan congressional scrutiny, with Senate Armed Services Committee leaders Roger Wicker and Jack Reed and House Armed Services Committee leaders Mike Rogers and Adam Smith announcing investigations into the alleged strikes.
• White House claimed September 2 boat strike was lawful self-defense — White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that the administration believes the September 2 strike on a boat off Venezuela was lawful because it "was conducted in self defense to protect Americans and vital United States interests." This justification would permit the president or those acting in his name to be judge, jury, and executioner without regard to law. Leavitt attributed the orders to Admiral Bradley rather than Defense Secretary Hegseth.
• Senator Angus King stated boat strike would be war crime if facts alleged are true — Senator Angus King, a lawyer who sits on both the Senate Intelligence Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee, told CNN that if the facts alleged about the September 2 boat strike are accurate—specifically that there was a second strike to kill survivors in the water—"that's a stone cold war crime. It's also murder." King stated that Congress would investigate who gave which orders and when.
• Senator Angus King stated September 2 strike was war crime if facts alleged — Senator Angus King (I-ME), a lawyer on the Senate Intelligence Committee and Senate Armed Services Committee, told CNN that if the facts alleged are true—that a second strike was specifically conducted to kill survivors in the water—"that's a stone cold war crime. It's also murder." King stated the law is clear and Congress will investigate who gave which orders and when.
• Defense Secretary Hegseth posted mocking AI image about boat strike — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted an AI-generated fake cover of a children's book featuring Franklin the Turtle in military gear firing a rocket launcher at a burning boat with survivors, titled "Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists" with the caption "For your Christmas wish list…" The post appeared to mock concerns about a September 2 strike on survivors of a boat attack off Venezuela that has been characterized as a potential war crime.
• Defense Secretary Hegseth posted support for Admiral Bradley — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted that "Admiral Mitch Bradley is an American hero, a true professional, and has my 100% support. I stand by him and the combat decisions he has made—on the September 2 mission and all others since." The post appeared to shift responsibility for the September 2 boat strike to the admiral while maintaining public support, a tactic commentators characterized as "underbussing."
• U.S. military strike on Venezuelan fishing boat alleged as war crime — A U.S. military strike on a Venezuelan fishing boat is characterized as potentially constituting a war crime. Reports indicate a second strike may have been ordered after survivors were observed clinging to life. MAGA Congressman Carlos Gimenez dismissed calls for investigation, insisting that Pete Hegseth and Trump's denial of wrongdoing should be accepted without further inquiry.
• White House Press Secretary contradicts Trump on deadly second strike in military operation — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt held a press conference addressing a controversial second military strike that killed survivors of an initial boat strike. Leavitt admitted the second strike occurred but claimed neither Trump nor Defense Secretary Hegseth ordered it, attributing the decision to Admiral Bradley. She characterized the strike as lawful self-defense. Trump had denied knowledge of the incident the previous night on Air Force One. The contradiction raised questions about command responsibility and adherence to international law and the Geneva Convention.
• Hegseth ordered lethal September 2 Caribbean boat strike — The New York Times reported that five US officials confirmed that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the lethal September 2 attack on a vessel in the Caribbean, though officials also claimed that Special Operations commander Admiral Frank Bradley directed the initial missile strike, followed by additional strikes that killed survivors and sank the boat. The narrative matched White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt's briefing statement.
• Pentagon and Congressional officials expressed concern about scapegoating of Admiral Mitch Bradley. — Officials in Congress and the Pentagon stated they are increasingly concerned that the Trump administration intends to scapegoat Admiral Mitch Bradley, the military officer who directed U.S. forces to kill two survivors of a targeted strike on suspected drug smugglers in Latin America. Lawmakers made initial moves to investigate whether the attack constituted a war crime. Pentagon officials described feeling angry at uncertainty over whether Hegseth would take responsibility for his alleged role or leave military and civilian staff to face consequences.
• Rep. Carlos Gimenez changed position on legality of killing survivors. — After initially stating that the story about a second strike killing survivors must be fake news because Hegseth would never do such a thing, Rep. Carlos Gimenez appeared on CNN and changed his position. When asked "If there were survivors clinging for their lives on that boat, was it legal to go ahead and kill them?" Gimenez responded "If the mission was just to have a second strike to kill the survivors, that's questionable."
• Sen. Markwayne Mullin defended the second strike as necessary. — Senator Markwayne Mullin appeared on Fox News and stated "If there was a second strike, it wouldn't be to just simply take out the survivors. It's because there was still a threat or opportunity for them to run." This represents a Republican senator's defense of the lethal strike on survivors.
• Senate Majority Leader John Thune declined to evaluate Hegseth's leadership. — Senate Majority Leader John Thune, when asked about Hegseth's leadership at the Department of Defense, stated "I don't have, at this point, I guess, an evaluation of the secretary. Others can make those evaluations." This represents a refusal to comment on the Defense Secretary's fitness for office during an ongoing investigation into potential war crimes.
• Inspector General report finds Hegseth sent classified information over Signal — Acting Inspector General Steven A. Stebbins released a report on December 2 concluding that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sent sensitive, nonpublic, operational information over the non-secure messaging app Signal on his personal cell phone, violating Department of Defense policy. The report detailed that U.S. Central Command sent Hegseth seven emails classified as SECRET/NOFORN before and during strikes on Houthi militants in Yemen on March 14 and 15. Hegseth transmitted information including details about targets, weapons packages, aircraft, and strike times to people on a Signal chat. The report noted that if the information had fallen into adversaries' hands, Houthi forces might have been able to counter U.S. forces or reposition to avoid strikes, creating a risk to operational security and potential harm to U.S. pilots.
• Coast Guard records revealed that 21% of boats interdicted prior to new Trump policy contained no drugs. — Senator Rand Paul requested records from the Coast Guard on boat interdictions for the 12-month period before the Trump/Hegseth policy of striking suspected drug-smuggling vessels went into effect. The Coast Guard responded with data showing that of 212 total vessels interdicted in the year prior to the new policy who were suspected of trafficking drugs, only 55 actually had drugs on board. Additionally, 21% of boats stopped off the coast of Venezuela possessed no drugs at all, indicating a significant false-positive rate in targeting decisions.
• Trump administration lawyers warned of criminal behavior in boat strike — Zeteo reported that Trump administration lawyers have been warning senior colleagues that if the Washington Post's reporting on the second strike is true, it would be blatantly illegal, with one administration official saying, "There's defending the homeland, and then there's criminal behavior."
• CNN National Security Correspondent Barbara Starr responded to Pete Hegseth's criticism of the press. — CNN National Security Correspondent Barbara Starr responded to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's statement that reporters "sit in your air conditioned offices" and plant "fake stories." Starr stated "How dare you sir. Close to every member of the press corps you despise has made multiple reporting trips to combat zones, been under fire, some reporters wounded, some killed. Some today still with PTS. Mr. Hegseth should we indeed finally accept it's just not possible for you to show any basic respect?" This represents a direct rebuke of the Defense Secretary's attack on the press.
• George Will published opinion piece titled "A Sickening Moral Slum of an Administration." — Conservative columnist George Will published an opinion piece in the Washington Post with the title "A Sickening Moral Slum of an Administration." In the piece, Will wrote "Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth seems to be a war criminal. Without a war. An interesting achievement." This represents significant criticism from a prominent conservative voice.
• Pete Hegseth posted unauthorized mock children's book cover depicting Franklin the Turtle as a military combatant. — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted on social media a mock cover of the children's book series "Franklin the Turtle" titled "Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists," showing the character dressed in military gear, standing in a helicopter, and firing a weapon at boats. Hegseth captioned the image "For your Christmas wish list." The publisher, Kids Can Press, issued a statement condemning the unauthorized use, stating that Franklin the Turtle "stands for kindness, empathy, and inclusivity" and that the depiction "directly contradicts these values."
• White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated that Hegseth had authorized Admiral Bradley to conduct the strikes. — White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt made scripted remarks at a news briefing acknowledging that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had authorized Admiral Mitch Bradley to conduct the strikes. She stated that Bradley "worked well within his authority and the law, directing the engagement to ensure the boat was destroyed." The remarks triggered backlash within the Department of Defense, with officials expressing anger at the uncertainty over whether Hegseth would take responsibility for his role or leave military and civilian staff to face consequences.
• White House Press Secretary defended legality of second strike without substantiation — On Monday following the Washington Post report, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the second strike during the September 2 operation, stating that everything was within the military's legal authority. Leavitt provided no details, evidence, or legal reasoning to substantiate the claim that killing survivors clinging to wreckage complies with law.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denied knowledge of a second military strike that killed survivors of a targeted operation. — During the Cabinet meeting, Hegseth stated that he did not know about a second strike that killed survivors in the water following an initial strike on a suspected drug-smuggling boat. He claimed he relied on military commanders for information and had not been involved in the second strike, while simultaneously defending the decision as correct and stating "we have his back" regarding the commander who authorized it. He also attacked the press, claiming reporters sit in "air conditioned offices" and plant "fake stories."
• Pete Hegseth posted statement of support for Admiral Mitch Bradley regarding combat decisions in the September 2 strike. — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted on X that Admiral Mitch Bradley is "an American hero, a true professional" and stated "I stand by him and the combat decisions he has made - on the Sept 2 mission and all others since." The post came amid reporting that Pentagon officials and Congress were investigating whether the strike that killed survivors constituted a war crime and that military officials believed Hegseth was attempting to scapegoat Bradley.
• Hegseth distanced himself from second boat strike — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth continued to distance himself from the second strike carried out on a boat in the Caribbean to kill two survivors in September, saying he watched the first strike he authorized live but "a couple of hours passed" before he was informed of the follow-up strike. Hegseth claimed he "did not personally see survivors" because the vessel was "on fire and was exploded," and attributed the action to "the fog of war."
• Classified Inspector General report shows Pete Hegseth shared sensitive war plans over Signal app — A classified Inspector General report set for public release on Thursday documents that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth risked endangering troops' lives by sharing sensitive war plans over the Signal messaging app, a security breach that violated protocols for handling classified information.
• Hegseth claims declassification authority and denies wrongdoing — On Wednesday, December 3, the day after the inspector general report was released, Defense Secretary Hegseth claimed he had declassified the information he shared and therefore had not acted inappropriately. He stated on social media that the report had cleared him, writing "No classified information. Total exoneration." Hegseth asserted that he determined the material he shared did not need to be classified because "there were no details that would endanger our troops or the mission." However, the inspector general's report acknowledged that while Hegseth had the authority to declassify information, his actions created a risk to operational security that could have resulted in failed mission objectives and harm to U.S. pilots.
• Secretary Hegseth claimed total exoneration in IG report response — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth responded to the Pentagon Inspector General's report by claiming "total exoneration" and stating "case closed," asserting that no classified information was shared. His spokesperson Sean Parnell echoed the claim of total exoneration. However, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) contradicted this characterization on CNN, stating that "no one can rationalize that as an exoneration."
• Congressional briefing on boat strike held in closed session — On December 4, Admiral Frank Bradley and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine appeared before House and Senate armed services and intelligence committees in a closed briefing to discuss the September 2 boat strike. Bradley denied receiving a "kill them all" order from Defense Secretary Hegseth, though lawmakers disagreed sharply on what the video showed. Democratic lawmakers expressed deep concern about potential war crimes; Republican lawmakers defended the strikes as justified.
• Representative Himes characterized boat strike video as deeply troubling — Representative Jim Himes (D-CT), the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, described a video of the U.S. strike against two survivors of the September 2 boat strike as "one of the most troubling things I've seen in my time in public service." Himes stated the video showed "two individuals in clear distress without any means of locomotion, with a destroyed vessel,... killed by the United States."
• Admiral Bradley briefed Congress on September 2 boat strike — Admiral Frank Bradley, who oversaw the September 2 missile strike on a boat that killed 11 people, met with lawmakers on Thursday to discuss the operation. He is expected to tell them that he considered the survivors viable targets rather than shipwrecked, defenseless mariners. Bradley is expected to testify that U.S. personnel observing the operation believed the survivors possessed communications equipment and may have been capable of calling other drug smugglers for help recovering cargo, though it is unclear if they made contact with anyone.
• Rep. Adam Smith questioned legality of strikes on survivors — Representative Adam Smith, ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, characterized the decision to strike two survivors on an incapacitated vessel as "highly questionable." Smith stated that the military's assumption that the survivors were still "in the fight" was based on an "unbelievably broad definition" of what constitutes active combat, given that the vessel was destroyed and the survivors had no means of locomotion.
• Rep. Jim Himes called briefing one of most troubling experiences — Representative Jim Himes, House Intelligence Committee ranking Democrat, stated that the briefing on the boat strikes was "one of the most troubling things I've seen in my time in public service." Himes characterized the killing of two individuals in clear distress, without means of locomotion and with a destroyed vessel, as deeply problematic.
• Rep. Mike Turner expressed concerns about accuracy of military intelligence — Representative Mike Turner (R-OH), who was chair of the House Intelligence Committee until Trump ordered Speaker Mike Johnson to remove him, expressed concerns about whether the accuracy of information being used in military operations meets the standard for informed congressional oversight. Turner stated that members have "very much concerns" about the level of accuracy and noted that if the individuals targeted were captured, tried, and convicted, they would not be subject to capital punishment, yet they are being killed without due process.
• Senator Tom Cotton endorsed boat strikes as lawful — Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Tom Cotton, emerging from the briefing on the September 2 boat strikes, characterized all four strikes that day as "righteous," "entirely lawful and needful," and exactly what military commanders should do. Cotton stated he saw two survivors trying to flip a boat loaded with drugs back over to stay in the fight.
• Inspector General report finds Hegseth violated Pentagon policies on classified information handling — The Department of Defense inspector general released a report concluding that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth violated Pentagon policies by using the Signal messaging app to share classified details about upcoming airstrikes in Yemen, including aircraft types and strike times, two to four hours before missions on 15 March. The report determined his actions created operational security risks that could have resulted in failed missions and harm to pilots. Hegseth also failed to retain associated messages, violating federal record-keeping requirements.
• Messages from Hegseth's Signal account contained specific strike timing details — CNN reported that messages sent from Secretary Hegseth's Signal account to a group chat offered specific, real-time updates about planned military strikes, including one message that read "This is DEFINITELY when the first bombs will drop." The messages were so specific that they identified exact timing of operations. It remains unclear whether Hegseth properly declassified the information before sharing it with other top Trump officials and a reporter from The Atlantic who was accidentally added to the chat.
• Pentagon may not turn over Strike Bridge communications logs to Congress — The New York Times reported that military officials had used a written texting system known as "Strike Bridge" to communicate during planning and execution of military operations, including communications between Admiral Bradley and SEAL Team 6 operators directing drone strikes. The system automatically saves messages. Several congressional officials stated that lawmakers had requested to review logs related to the operation, along with written documentation including Hegseth's "execute order" and rules of engagement. It remains unclear whether the Pentagon will turn over these records to Congress.
• Senator Jack Reed demanded complete release of strike footage — Senator Jack Reed, ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, stated that the Department of Defense has no choice but to release the complete, unedited footage of the strike, given that the President has agreed to do so. Reed stated that the briefing confirmed his "worst fears" about the nature of the Trump administration's military activities and demonstrated why the Senate Armed Services Committee has repeatedly requested and been denied fundamental information, documents, and facts about the operation.
• Senator Rand Paul called for public release of strike video — Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) stated that the video of distressed, shipwrecked, or incapacitated people on boats being bombed should be shown to every American, calling for public disclosure of the controversial military operation.
• Trump agreed to release video of second strike — When asked whether he would release video of the second strike to the public, President Trump stated: "Whatever they have, we'd certainly release. No problem." This represents a commitment to public disclosure of the controversial military operation.
• Admiral Bradley briefed Congress on September 2 boat strike in Caribbean — Admiral Frank "Mitch" Bradley, Special Operations commander, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine conducted a closed-door briefing for congressional members regarding a U.S. military strike on September 2 against a small boat in the Caribbean. The strike killed nine of eleven people aboard; a second strike 41 minutes later killed the two survivors. Bradley stated the vessel appeared to be afloat due to cocaine packages and survivors could have floated to safety to continue drug trafficking, contradicting earlier claims that survivors were communicating with other vessels. The administration claims the operation targets drug cartels under a formal armed conflict determination, but has not provided legal authority and has ignored War Powers Resolution requirements for congressional approval beyond 60 days.
• Defense Secretary Hegseth responded to social media post about boat strikes — Andrew Kolvet of Turning Point USA posted on social media: "Every new attack aimed at Pete Hegseth makes me want another narco drug boat blown up and sent to the bottom of the ocean." Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth quoted Kolvet's post and responded: "Your wish is our command, Andrew. Just sunk another narco boat." U.S. Southern Command confirmed a strike against a small boat in the eastern Pacific, stating that intelligence confirmed the vessel was carrying illicit narcotics and four male individuals aboard were killed.
• U.S. military conducted more than 20 strikes on small boats with at least 87 deaths — As of the date of the article, the U.S. military had carried out more than 20 strikes on small boats that the Trump administration claims are run by "narco-terrorists," resulting in at least 87 deaths. These operations began in September 2025 following the initial September 2 strike and have continued without formal congressional authorization beyond the initial War Powers Resolution notification.
• CNN reports boat was not headed for U.S., contradicting administration claim — CNN reported that the boat struck on September 2 was not headed for the United States, contradicting a claim made by President Trump. Admiral Frank "Mitch" Bradley, overseeing Special Operations that day, told Congress the intelligence indicated the boat was headed to meet a larger vessel bound for Suriname to transfer drugs. Bradley confirmed the military could not locate the second vessel. U.S. drug enforcement officials stated that drugs trafficked through Suriname are generally bound for Europe. Bradley also confirmed that after the people on the boat appeared to see American aircraft, they turned the boat back toward land.
• New York Times reports survivors of first strike were waving before second strike — Journalists Julian E. Barnes and Charlie Savage reported that survivors of the first strike on the boat were waving to something overhead before a second strike killed them. The report notes that the administration had not announced its new policy of striking alleged drug traffickers rather than arresting them, so the men had no way of knowing they were under attack. Some observers believed the men were waving to be rescued; others supporting the administration's position speculated they were signaling other alleged traffickers, though no other vessels or aircraft were in visual range.
• Pentagon announced 22nd airstrike against suspected drug smuggling vessel in eastern Pacific — The Pentagon announced a lethal strike on a boat suspected of carrying illegal narcotics in the eastern Pacific Ocean on 4 December, killing four men. The US Southern Command described the strike as a "lethal kinetic strike on a vessel in international waters operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization" and stated that intelligence confirmed the vessel was carrying illicit narcotics. This was the 22nd attack in the campaign against boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, bringing the death toll to at least 87 people. The strike was the first publicly announced operation in nearly three weeks.
• Pentagon announces lethal strike on boat in eastern Pacific, killing four men — The US military, at the direction of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel in international waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing four men described as narco-terrorists. The strike, the 22nd such operation since September, was conducted by Joint Task Force Southern Spear and targeted a boat suspected of carrying illegal narcotics. The operation brings the death toll of the campaign to at least 87 people. The strike occurs amid mounting congressional scrutiny over the legal basis for the attacks.
• TPUSA operations head Kolvet called for drug boat destruction; Hegseth confirmed action — Andrew Kolvet, now running operations at The America First PAC (TPUSA) after Charlie Kirk's death, posted on social media: "Every new attack aimed at Pete Hegseth makes me want another narco drug boat blown up and sent to the bottom of the ocean." Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth responded: "Your wish is our command, Andrew. Just sunk another narco boat," and posted a video of what he described as a homicide committed by the Department of Defense.

Supporting reports

• FBI counterterrorism division opens investigation into six Democratic lawmakers for video on unlawful orders — On Tuesday, lawmakers said the counterterrorism division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation has opened an investigation into six Democratic lawmakers who made a video reminding service members that they must refuse unlawful orders and that the lawmakers would stand behind them as they did so. Trump loyalists have reframed the statement, claiming that since Trump has never given an unlawful order, the video encouraged service members to disregard lawful orders and thus constitutes "sedition" punishable by death.
• FBI opens investigation into lawmakers' video — The FBI's counterterrorism division has opened an investigation into six lawmakers who released a video encouraging service members to refuse unlawful orders. This has been framed by Trump loyalists as an act of sedition, raising concerns about the implications for free speech and military conduct.

Supporting reports

• Trump pardons former Honduran president — Trump announced a full pardon for former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández, who was convicted of drug trafficking. This decision raises questions about the integrity of U.S. foreign policy and the rule of law, given Hernández's criminal history.
• Trump pardons former Honduras president Juan Orlando Hernández convicted of cocaine trafficking conspiracy — Trump announced a full pardon for Juan Orlando Hernández, former president of Honduras, who was found guilty by an American jury last year of conspiring to import 400 tons of cocaine into the United States and was sentenced to 45 years in federal prison. Trump announced the pardon on social media, writing "MAKE HONDURAS GREAT AGAIN!"
• Trump granted pardon to Juan Orlando Hernández, major drug trafficker — Trump announced a pardon for Juan Orlando Hernández, former president of Honduras, who was convicted by a US jury of conspiring to traffic 400 tons of cocaine into the United States. The DOJ estimated this represented 4.5 billion doses of cocaine and that Hernández was at the center of one of the largest and most violent drug-trafficking conspiracies in the world.
• Trump justified Hernández pardon by claiming Biden setup — When asked to explain the pardon of Juan Orlando Hernández, Trump stated "Many of the people of Honduras said it was a Biden setup. I looked at the facts and agreed with them." When pressed for evidence, Trump responded that arresting a president for drug trafficking in any country would be unjust.
• Trump pardoned Juan Orlando Hernández, former Honduran president and major narco-trafficker — Trump pardoned Juan Orlando Hernández, the former president of Honduras and one of the world's most notorious narco-traffickers. According to the text, Hernández trafficked hundreds of tons of cocaine into the United States, worked with El Chapo, and openly vowed to "shove cocaine up the noses of gringos until they die." Trump proceeded with the pardon despite these facts.
• Trump pledges pardon for former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández — Donald Trump announced his intention to pardon Juan Orlando Hernández, the former president of Honduras, who was convicted in July 2024 in Manhattan federal court and sentenced to 45 years in prison for cocaine importation and weapons offenses. Trump claimed Hernández was "set up" and that the Honduran people believed he was wrongly prosecuted. The pardon pledge contradicts Trump's stated "war on drugs" agenda, particularly given simultaneous military operations against Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro, whom Trump accuses of narco-trafficking despite weaker evidence of culpability than Hernández's proven conviction.
• Trump pardon of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández — President Trump quietly pardoned Juan Orlando Hernández, former President of Honduras, who is described as one of the most notorious drug traffickers in modern history and who once promised to "shove the drugs right up the noses of the gringos." The pardon occurred while Trump was publicly demanding military action against drug trafficking and criticizing others as "narco terrorists."
• Trump pardoned former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernandez, who was serving a 45-year sentence for drug trafficking and weapons conspiracy. — Trump officially pardoned Juan Orlando Hernandez, the former president of Honduras, who was incarcerated in federal prison serving a 45-year sentence for drug trafficking and conspiracy to traffic weapons into the United States. Hernandez had served less than 2 years of his sentence before being released. According to an immigration attorney, Hernandez was also accused of ordering the murder of a former ally by machete while in prison.
• Trump formally pardoned Juan Orlando Hernández — Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández's lawyer said his client was released from prison after Trump formally pardoned him on Monday evening. Axios reported that Trump's pardon came hours after ally Roger Stone, who had called for the pardon in multiple posts, reached out to the president to lobby for the move.
• Trump pardons entertainment executive indicted by DOJ for bid-rigging conspiracy — Donald Trump issued a full and unconditional pardon on Tuesday for Tim Leiweke, co-founder of Oak View Group, who had been indicted by the Trump administration's own Justice Department in July 2025 on charges of orchestrating a conspiracy to rig the bidding process for an arena at a public university in Austin, Texas. Leiweke had pleaded not guilty and was scheduled to stand trial in 2026. The pardon was posted to the DOJ website on Wednesday with no explanation provided.
• Trump pardons ex-Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández from 45-year drug trafficking sentence — Donald Trump pardoned former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández on December 5, 2025, commuting a 45-year federal sentence for drug trafficking and weapons charges. Hernández had been convicted in March 2024 after a three-week trial in which prosecutors proved he accepted $1 million from cartel kingpin Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán and allowed Honduras to serve as a cocaine trafficking corridor. The pardon occurred while Trump was simultaneously waging a "war on drugs" with military operations in the Pacific and Caribbean, and amid Trump's interference in Honduras's presidential election endorsing Hernández's political ally.

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• USCIS halts processing of all immigration requests from Afghan nationals — US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced an immediate indefinite halt to processing all immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals, pending review of security and vetting protocols. The action followed the shooting and Trump's directive to re-examine every Afghan national admitted under the Biden administration.
• DHS indefinitely suspends Afghan immigration processing following shooting — Following the November 28 shooting near the White House by an Afghan national, US Citizenship and Immigration Services indefinitely suspended processing of all immigration requests for Afghan nationals. The DHS subsequently expanded the review to include all asylum cases approved under the Biden administration. The suspect, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who served in Afghanistan's CIA-backed Zero Unit, entered the US in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome.
• Department of Homeland Security expands review to all Biden-era asylum cases — The Department of Homeland Security announced an expansion of security reviews to include all asylum cases approved under the Biden administration, though it did not clarify whether the review applies only to Afghan cases or to asylum cases from other countries as well. The action was prompted by Trump's directive following the shooting.

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• Georgia prosecutor dismisses Trump racketeering case — Pete Skandalakis, the prosecutor who took over the Georgia election interference case after Fani Willis's disqualification, filed for dismissal of charges against Trump and co-defendants on Wednesday. Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee issued a one-page order dismissing the 2020 racketeering case. The case had accused Trump and 18 others of participating in a scheme to illegally overturn Trump's 2020 loss in Georgia, centered on his call asking the secretary of state to "find 11,780 votes." Trump posted on Truth Social celebrating the dismissal and attacking Willis and Democrats.
• Fulton County prosecutor dismissed election interference charges against Trump — The new Fulton County prosecutor dismissed charges against Trump and his co-conspirators in Georgia for 2020 election interference.
• Georgia prosecutor drops racketeering case against Trump — A Georgia prosecutor dropped the racketeering case against Trump and his allies for their efforts to conspire to overturn the 2020 presidential election. The prosecutor cited the complexity of legal issues including constitutional questions, immunity, jurisdiction, venue, and speedy-trial concerns, noting that bringing the case before a jury could take until 2029, 2030, or 2031.

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• Congressional hearing on ICE raids and civil rights abuses in Los Angeles — Democrats organized a congressional oversight hearing in Los Angeles on Monday, November 25, 2025, to document the impacts of Trump's mass deportation campaign and alleged civil rights abuses by federal immigration agents. Testimony included accounts of US citizens arrested without cause, unlawful detention, and racial profiling. The White House reported over 150,000 undocumented immigrants arrested and nearly 140,000 deported since Trump took office. Congressman Garcia announced creation of an oversight dashboard to track verified misconduct incidents during immigration enforcement operations.
• Garcia announces oversight dashboard for immigration enforcement misconduct — Congressman Robert Garcia announced creation of a new oversight dashboard on November 26, 2025, designed to document and track "verified incidents of possible misconduct and abuse" during federal immigration enforcement operations in southern California. The dashboard aims to provide transparency and accountability for alleged civil rights violations and unlawful detentions by federal agents.

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• DOJ requests publication of sealed Epstein grand jury materials — The Justice Department asked a federal court to publish sealed grand jury materials from investigations into Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, arguing that recently passed legislation requiring DOJ release of Epstein files "override some of the underlying bases for grand jury secrecy."
• DOJ requests release of Epstein investigation evidence — The Justice Department asked a judge to lift a protective order to publicly release evidence and material obtained while investigating Epstein and Maxwell, including search warrants, financial records, flight logs, arrest reports, depositions from civil investigations, and materials from Epstein's estate.
• US Justice Department renews request to unseal Epstein grand jury materials — US Attorney Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York filed a renewed request with Manhattan federal court to unseal grand jury materials from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, arguing that recent congressional action approving release of Epstein investigative files permits unsealing of court records. The filing cites a 30-day window following Trump's signing of the measure. Judge Richard Berman had previously denied a similar Trump administration request in August, citing victim safety and privacy concerns and noting the materials contained largely hearsay testimony from an FBI agent with no direct case knowledge.

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• Pentagon launches investigation into Senator Mark Kelly — The Pentagon launched an investigation into Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) for "serious allegations of misconduct" in response to a viral video in which Kelly and five other Democratic lawmakers urged military members to refuse illegal orders. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the video "despicable, reckless and false." Kelly responded that intimidation would not silence him.
• FBI Counterterrorism Division opened investigation into six lawmakers — By November 25, 2025, the FBI's Counterterrorism Division notified Congress it was opening an inquiry into the six veteran lawmakers and requested interviews with all six members. The investigation was triggered by their one-minute video reminding service members of their legal obligation to refuse illegal orders—a principle codified in U.S. military law since 1950 and rooted in post-World War II Nuremberg principles. Legal experts confirmed the lawmakers were simply restating existing law and that their statement does not constitute sedition.
• Pentagon announced investigation of Senator Kelly and signaled possible recall to active duty — The Pentagon announced it is investigating Senator Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain, and signaled it could recall him to active duty for possible court-martial over his participation in the video reminding troops of their legal obligation to refuse illegal orders. The threatened recall and court-martial of a sitting U.S. senator for restating military law represents an extraordinary use of military authority against a member of Congress.
• FBI contacts House and Senate regarding Democratic lawmakers' anti-Trump military video — The FBI contacted the House and Senate Sergeants at Arms requesting interviews with several Democratic members of Congress—Reps. Jason Crow, Maggie Goodlander, Chris Deluzio, and Chrissy Houlahan, plus Sen. Elissa Slotkin—after they filmed a video urging military troops not to follow illegal orders. The lawmakers characterized the FBI outreach as intimidation and harassment, with Sen. Slotkin stating that the President is "weaponizing the federal government against his perceived enemies."
• FBI counterterrorism division investigates Democratic lawmakers — The FBI's counterterrorism division launched an investigation into six Democratic lawmakers who appeared in a viral video calling on military members to refuse illegal orders. Four House members stated that the FBI contacted the House and Senate sergeant at arms to set up interviews. They accused Trump of "using the FBI as a tool to intimidate and harass members of Congress."
• Far-right figures call for investigation and deportation of Arab-Americans — In the days following the November 18 rally, far-right figures including Tommy Robinson, Wall Street Apes, and Sidney Powell used the Dearborn incident to call on the Department of Justice to investigate and deport Arab-Americans. These calls amplified the rally's narrative of victimhood and framed an entire ethnic group as a threat requiring federal action.
• FBI contacts Capitol Police to schedule interviews with six Democratic senators — Fox News reported that the FBI contacted US Capitol Police to schedule interviews with the six Democratic senators who released the video advising military personnel to refuse illegal orders. The interviews appear to be part of the broader investigation into the lawmakers' statements.
• Pentagon launches investigation into Senator Mark Kelly for video advising troops to refuse illegal orders — The Pentagon announced an investigation into Senator Mark Kelly and five other Democratic lawmakers after they released a video advising military service members that they can refuse illegal orders and warning of "threats to our constitution" from within the administration. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the video "despicable, reckless, and false." Trump characterized the senators' statement as "seditious behaviour" punishable by death. The Pentagon warned it could recall Kelly to active duty for court-martial under a federal law prohibiting military retirees from interfering with military discipline.

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• Attorney General Bondi petitioned for Epstein grand jury transcripts — Attorney General Pam Bondi petitioned federal courts for grand jury transcripts related to the Epstein case—documents unrelated to the actual Epstein files that survivors, courts, and Congress are demanding. The action was characterized as a bait-and-switch tactic designed to claim compliance with transparency demands while concealing terabytes of evidence the Justice Department has held for years.

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• Rep. Jason Crow detailed Trump's threats to use military unlawfully — Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) appeared on CBS and detailed Trump's threats to use the military in unlawful ways, including sending troops into Chicago, into polling stations, killing terrorists' families, and shooting peaceful protesters. Crow stated that Trump cannot tolerate members of Congress reminding service members of their constitutional duty to obey the law and resorts to threats of violence and arrest.
• Pentagon announces investigation of Senator Mark Kelly for video calling troops to refuse illegal orders — The Pentagon announced an investigation into Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain, after he participated in a video with other Democratic lawmakers calling on US troops to refuse unlawful orders. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated the video was "despicable" and that Kelly's conduct undermines military discipline. The Pentagon cited federal law allowing recall of retired service members to active duty for possible court-martial. Kelly responded that the investigation was meant to intimidate Congress and vowed not to be silenced.
• Defense Department announced investigation of Senator Kelly for alleged misconduct and threatened recall to active duty — The Defense Department posted on social media that it was investigating Senator Mark Kelly following "serious allegations of misconduct" and suggested that Kelly could be recalled to active duty "for court-martial proceedings or administrative measures." This announcement came after Kelly participated in a November 18 video with five other Democratic veterans in Congress warning military and intelligence personnel of their legal right and duty to refuse unlawful orders.
• Department of War initiated review of Senator Mark Kelly for potential court-martial — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that the Department of War has initiated a review of retired Navy Captain Mark Kelly (D-AZ) for potential recall to active duty and court-martial proceedings. The review stems from a video Kelly made with five other Democratic lawmakers informing service members of their constitutional duty to refuse unlawful orders. The DOD statement cited 10 U.S.C. § 688 and 18 U.S.C. § 2387, which prohibits actions intended to interfere with military loyalty, morale, and discipline. Hegseth characterized the video as "despicable" and "seditious."
• Trump posted threats against Senator Mark Kelly — President Trump posted on social media that Senator Mark Kelly should be "arrested, hanged, and put to death" in response to Kelly's video encouraging service members to follow the Constitution and refuse unlawful orders. Kelly responded by reaffirming his oath to the Constitution and stating that Trump's threats would not intimidate him or other members of Congress from holding the administration accountable.
• Pete Hegseth orders Navy investigation into Mark Kelly's video comments — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a memorandum to Navy Secretary John Phelan on Tuesday ordering an investigation into "potentially unlawful comments" made by Senator Mark Kelly and fellow Democrats in a social media video encouraging military personnel to refuse unlawful orders. The Pentagon had already announced an investigation on Monday. Hegseth requested a brief by December 10. The group faces FBI counter-terrorism inquiry and potential court-martial proceedings.
• Defense Secretary Hegseth directs Navy review of Senator Kelly — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared a memo directing the Navy secretary to review Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) for "potentially unlawful conduct" related to the viral video where Kelly and five other Democratic lawmakers urged military members to resist illegal orders. The memo requested the Navy review be completed and briefed to Hegseth by December 10.
• Defense Secretary threatens Senator with court martial over military dissent video — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth threatened Senator Mark Kelly with court martial after Kelly recorded a video with five Democratic lawmakers warning military members to question unlawful orders, apparently in reference to the Caribbean boat strikes. The threat represents potential retaliation against a senator for encouraging military personnel to uphold constitutional obligations.
• Secretary of Defense Hegseth threatens court martial of Senator Mark Kelly — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth threatened to court martial Senator Mark Kelly in response to Kelly's video urging military personnel to follow the law and refuse illegal orders. Hegseth called the video "sedition" and made deranged social media posts attacking Kelly's uniform and medals, later claiming Kelly's image was reversed by his phone. Kelly responded that the threat was about intimidation and the media cycle, not law, and refused to be silenced.
• Trump threatened to court-martial Senator Mark Kelly over military discipline video — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth threatened to court-martial Senator Mark Kelly after Kelly released a video with five other Democratic lawmakers urging military members not to follow illegal orders. The video was released in response to the alleged illegal directives issued by Hegseth regarding lethal operations.

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• Former FBI employee sued over pride flag termination — A former FBI employee sued the FBI and its director, Kash Patel, after he was fired for displaying a pride flag at his workstation, something Patel said in a letter was an inappropriate display of political signage. However, the flag had previously been flown by the FBI and was later gifted to the employee by the agency. The lawsuit argues the termination violated the employee's First Amendment and equal protection rights, and calls for his reinstatement.

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• Federal judge finds prosecutorial misconduct in Comey grand jury proceedings — A federal judge on Monday found that prosecutor Lindsey Halligan made "fundamental misstatements of the law" during her first-ever grand jury appearance in the Comey case, telling jurors that Comey would not have Fifth Amendment rights at trial and that jurors did not need to rely on evidence to approve charges. The DOJ subsequently admitted Thursday that the grand jury never reviewed or voted on the final indictment used to charge Comey—a virtually unprecedented revelation. The judge indicated Comey could file additional dismissal motions based on these errors.

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• Federal judge rules on Halligan appointment legality in Comey case — A federal judge overseeing the consolidated unlawful-appointment claim in the Comey and James cases indicated he would rule before Thanksgiving on whether prosecutor Lindsey Halligan was lawfully appointed to her position as temporary U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Comey and James argue that Trump and Attorney General Bondi circumvented vacancy laws to install Halligan, rendering her effectively a private citizen with no authority to prosecute on behalf of the United States. If the judge dismisses with prejudice, the DOJ would be barred from bringing the same charges in the future.
• Federal judge dismisses DOJ cases against Comey and James for unlawful appointment of prosecutor — On Monday (November 24), a federal judge dismissed without prejudice the DOJ's cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James after finding that Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi circumvented vacancy laws in appointing U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan. The judge ruled that Halligan was serving unlawfully when she sought indictments, making her the fourth Trump-appointed acting U.S. attorney determined to be illegitimate. Because the statute of limitations on charges against Comey had expired, the DOJ is unlikely to resurrect its case against him.
• Federal judge dismisses criminal cases against Comey and James, ruling interim prosecutor unlawfully appointed — Judge Cameron McGowan Currie of the Eastern District of Virginia threw out criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James on November 24, 2025, ruling that interim US Attorney Lindsey Halligan—appointed by Trump in September—lacked lawful authority to prosecute them. Halligan's appointment violated federal law governing interim prosecutor tenure. The judge found the Trump administration's attempt to circumvent Senate confirmation rules unlawful and dismissed both indictments without prejudice, though Comey's statute of limitations has expired.
• Federal judge found Trump's appointment of Lindsey Halligan illegal — A federal judge found that Trump's appointment of Lindsey Halligan to the post of U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia was illegal and threw out the cases she had brought against former FBI director James Comey and New York attorney general Letitia James. The ruling invalidated prosecutions brought by an illegally appointed prosecutor.
• U.S. District Judge Currie dismisses indictments of Comey and James, ruling interim U.S. attorney appointment unlawful — A federal judge found that President Trump's appointment of Lindsey Halligan to the post of U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia was illegal and threw out the cases she had brought against former FBI director James Comey and New York attorney general Letitia James.
• Judge Cameron McGowan Currie dismissed indictments against James Comey and Letitia James — U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie of South Carolina dismissed indictments against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, finding that President Trump's appointment of Lindsey Halligan as interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia violated both federal law and the Appointment Clause of the Constitution. Halligan, a former insurance lawyer and Trump aide, had obtained grand jury indictments against both officials after Trump removed interim U.S. attorney Erik Seibert for declining to prosecute them. Judge Currie ruled that Halligan's appointment circumvented Senate confirmation requirements and invalidated all prosecutorial actions undertaken by her.
• Federal judge dismisses criminal cases against Comey and James — Judge Cameron McGowan Currie of the Eastern District of Virginia dismissed indictments against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James on the grounds that Lindsay Halligan was unlawfully appointed as Interim US Attorney. The court found that the 120-day appointment clock expired on May 21, 2025, making Halligan's service invalid since September 22, 2025. The dismissal was issued "without prejudice," allowing potential re-indictment by a lawfully appointed official. However, the statute of limitations has expired in Comey's case, effectively barring future prosecution.
• Trump attorney blames DOJ official for Comey indictment dismissal — A federal judge dismissed criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James after ruling that prosecutor Lindsey Halligan was illegally appointed as interim US Attorney of Eastern Virginia. Attorney General Pam Bondi subsequently announced the Justice Department would appeal and pursue "all available legal action" to hold James and Comey "accountable."
• 11th Circuit Court upheld $1 million sanction against Trump and Alina Habba — Trump personal attorney David Schoen told Fox's Laura Ingraham that the dismissal of James Comey's indictment was the fault of DOJ official Pam Bondi, claiming the dismissal was "avoidable" and that DOJ should have had someone in the room with Lindsey Halligan. Schoen praised Bondi for showing "great courage" in obtaining the indictment despite being "left without support." Trump's former NSA Michael Flynn posted that Bondi should be fired and replaced by Sidney Powell, who previously claimed Hugo Chavez rigged the 2020 elections using Italian satellites.
• Federal appeals court affirms penalty against Trump and Habba — The conservative 11th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a $1 million sanction against Trump and his lawyer Alina Habba for their frivolous conspiracy-laden racketeering lawsuit targeting Hillary Clinton, the DNC, and former FBI Director James Comey. The court agreed that Trump has a "pattern" of filing meritless lawsuits and spoke bluntly about the abuse, with the appeals court imposing penalties of this size being rare.
• — A federal appeals court affirmed a nearly $1 million penalty against Trump and lawyer Alina Habba, finding their lawsuit against Hillary Clinton and former FBI Director James Comey was "sanctionable conduct." The court found many of their legal arguments "were indeed frivolous" and rejected Trump's effort to revive a 2022 lawsuit targeting his political enemies.

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• DOJ admits grand jury never voted on final Comey indictment — The Department of Justice admitted to the court on Thursday that the grand jury in the Comey case never reviewed or voted on the final indictment used to charge him. This virtually unprecedented revelation—that prosecutors proceeded with charges without grand jury approval of the actual indictment—represents a fundamental violation of grand jury procedure and provides additional grounds for dismissal of the case.
• DOJ admits prosecutor never presented final indictment against Comey to grand jury — The DOJ admitted that U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan, an insurance lawyer with no prior prosecution experience, never actually presented the final indictment used to charge James Comey to the grand jury. This revelation, made days before the judge's dismissal ruling, likely rendered the charges void and further undermined the legitimacy of the politically motivated prosecution.

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• Federal judge finds prosecutorial misconduct in Comey grand jury proceedings — A federal judge on Monday found that prosecutor Lindsey Halligan made "fundamental misstatements of the law" during her first-ever grand jury appearance in the Comey case, telling jurors that Comey would not have Fifth Amendment rights at trial and that jurors did not need to rely on evidence to approve charges. The DOJ subsequently admitted Thursday that the grand jury never reviewed or voted on the final indictment used to charge Comey—a virtually unprecedented revelation. The judge indicated Comey could file additional dismissal motions based on these errors.

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• DOJ dismissal motions filed in Comey and James prosecutions — Former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James filed multiple motions to dismiss charges brought against them by the Trump DOJ, citing unlawful appointment of prosecutor Lindsey Halligan, prosecutorial misconduct, and unconstitutional retaliation for speech and prior oversight of Trump. A federal judge indicated he would rule on the unlawful-appointment claim before Thanksgiving. The Comey case has been further weakened by revelations that the grand jury never reviewed or voted on the final indictment and that Halligan made fundamental misstatements of law to jurors.
• James files motion alleging prosecutorial misconduct by Martin and Pulte — New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a motion to dismiss charges against her, alleging outrageous conduct by Special Attorney Ed Martin and Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte. James claims Martin violated her due process rights by demanding her resignation or threatening criminal charges, publicly discussing the investigation on Fox News, and organizing a photo shoot outside her Brooklyn home. She also alleges Pulte may have illegally accessed her loan documents through Fannie Mae and subsequently gutted Fannie Mae's internal watchdog division through mass firings, potentially to obstruct an ethics investigation into his conduct.

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• DOJ indicts John Bolton on national defense information charges — The Department of Justice indicted John Bolton, Trump's former national security advisor and frequent critic, on charges of unlawfully transmitting and retaining national defense information. During a hearing Friday, federal prosecutors raised the possibility of "potential other charges" against Bolton, suggesting the investigation may expand beyond the initial charges.

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• DOJ launches criminal investigation into Schiff's home purchase — Following President Trump's public order to Attorney General Bondi to target perceived enemies, the DOJ launched a criminal investigation into Senator Adam Schiff's purchase of a home in Maryland based on a criminal referral from FHFA Director Bill Pulte, who cited mortgage documents of unclear origins. The investigation was referred to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland. However, federal prosecutors may have shifted to probing Martin's and Pulte's handling of the inquiry, according to NBC News reporting Thursday.

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• DOJ opens investigation into Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook — The DOJ opened a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook based on a mortgage fraud referral from FHFA Director Bill Pulte. The investigation follows Trump's failed attempt to dismiss Cook from the Federal Reserve, a move aimed at seizing control of the U.S. central bank. Cook's attorney Abbe Lowell characterized Pulte's accusations as politically motivated and noted that Pulte has ignored reports indicating his family members and multiple senior Trump officials may have committed similar mortgage fraud infractions.
• Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook's lawyer disputed mortgage fraud allegations — A lawyer for Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Special Attorney for Mortgage Fraud Ed Martin, arguing that allegations made by Trump and Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte that Cook engaged in mortgage fraud "fail on even the most cursory look at the facts," and that alleged contradictions in her loan applications were "cherry-picked, incomplete snippets."

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• Grand jury empaneled in Florida for conspiracy investigation — A federal judge granted U.S. Attorney Jason Reding Quiñones' request for a grand jury to be empaneled in Fort Pierce, Florida, starting in January. According to conservative attorney Mike Davis, the grand jury will conduct a special criminal investigation into alleged conspiracy by "lawfare Democrats" to prevent Trump from exercising his constitutional rights over the past decade. Reding Quiñones has already issued over two dozen subpoenas against senior law enforcement and intelligence officials involved in the FBI's Russia investigation, and the Southern District of Florida has undergone significant internal restructuring in preparation for the investigation.
• U.S. Attorney issues subpoenas to Russia investigation officials — U.S. Attorney Jason Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida issued over two dozen subpoenas in early November against senior law enforcement and intelligence officials involved in the FBI's Russia investigation. The subpoenas are part of a planned grand jury investigation into alleged conspiracy by Trump's political opponents, scheduled to begin in January.

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• Trump accused six veteran lawmakers of sedition and called for their execution over military law video — On November 20, 2025, two days after six Democratic lawmakers with military backgrounds (Senators Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin; Representatives Chrissy Houlahan, Chris Deluzio, Jason Crow, and Maggie Goodlander) posted a one-minute video instructing troops that they can and must refuse illegal orders, Donald Trump posted on Truth Social calling them "traitors" and accusing them of "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!" The video restated existing military law under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and the Manual for Courts-Martial, which require service members to refuse patently illegal orders. Trump's accusation triggered federal investigations.
• Trump threatens execution of Democratic lawmakers in social media posts — On the morning of November 20, 2025, President Trump posted a series of messages on social media labeling Democratic senators and representatives "traitors" and accusing them of "seditious behavior punishable by death." He reposted extremist messages urging that lawmakers be hanged, including one stating "George Washington would hang them." Trump demanded the lawmakers "should be arrested and put on trial" and warned "We won't have a country anymore" unless they are punished. The threats were directed at lawmakers who had released a video reminding U.S. service members of their obligation to refuse unlawful orders.
• Trump called for arrest and execution of Democratic lawmakers who released military oath video — On November 20, President Trump posted multiple messages on social media calling for the arrest and execution of six Democratic lawmakers—Senators Elissa Slotkin and Mark Kelly, and Representatives Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander, Chrissy Houlahan, and Jason Crow—who had released a video on November 19 reminding military and intelligence officers of their duty to refuse illegal orders. Trump labeled their speech "seditious behavior" and "treason," reposting calls for them to be "frog marched" from their homes and "hanged." By noon, the White House issued a statement clarifying that Trump does not want to execute members of Congress.
• Trump called for execution by hanging of Democratic lawmakers — Trump posted on Truth Social calling for the execution by hanging of two Democratic senators (Mark Kelly, Elissa Slotkin) and four representatives (Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander, Chrissy Houlahan, Jason Crow) after they released a video reminding military and intelligence personnel of their constitutional oath and legal right to refuse unlawful orders. Trump labeled their statements "seditious behavior" punishable by death and reposted a cultist's message saying "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD!!"
• Trump posts Truth Social messages accusing Democratic lawmakers of seditious behavior punishable by death — On Thursday morning, President Trump posted multiple messages on Truth Social accusing six Democratic lawmakers (Senators Elissa Slotkin and Mark Kelly; Representatives Maggie Goodlander, Chris Deluzio, Chrissy Houlahan, and Jason Crow) of "seditious behavior" after they released a video telling active military personnel they can and must refuse illegal orders. Trump wrote "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH" and called for their arrest and trial. Democratic leaders condemned the posts as death threats and calls for political violence; the White House later clarified Trump does not want to execute them but was responding to what it characterized as encouragement of military insubordination.
• Trump threatened serious legal consequences for Democratic lawmakers over military video — Trump stated on Fox News that Democratic lawmakers who produced a video reminding troops they do not have to follow unlawful orders were "in serious trouble" and suggested that historically such conduct was "punishable by death" for seditious behavior. Trump indicated that Deputy Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and military courts were investigating the matter. Trump did not explicitly threaten execution but repeatedly invoked historical capital punishment for sedition.