Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Georgia judge dismisses RICO conspiracy charges against 61 Cop City protesters — Fulton County Superior Court Judge Kevin Farmer dismissed RICO conspiracy charges against 61 defendants arrested during protests against Atlanta's police training center ("Cop City") on March 5, 2023. The judge ruled that Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr lacked authority to bring the case after local district attorneys declined prosecution, and that Carr had not obtained required permission from Governor Brian Kemp. The decision eliminates 100 pages of the state's 109-page indictment and exposes prosecutorial misconduct, including violation of attorney-client privilege by lead prosecutor John Fowler. The state announced its intention to appeal.

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• FBI Director Kash Patel's premature arrest announcement and mishandling of Charlie Kirk assassination investigation — FBI Director Kash Patel announced the arrest of Tyler Robinson, 22, in connection with conservative commentator Charlie Kirk's killing at a Utah university campus on Wednesday. Patel made the announcement at a news conference alongside Utah Governor Spencer Cox. However, Patel's early claim on X that the FBI had arrested Kirk's assassin hours after the killing proved false. Democratic Senator Dick Durbin criticized the error as "amateur hour," questioning the professionalism of an FBI director who prematurely declared a major suspect's arrest in a high-profile assassination case.

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• ICE detains William Alberto Gimenez Gonzalez at barber shop during Operation Midway Blitz — ICE agents detained William Alberto Gimenez Gonzalez at a barber shop in Chicago on Friday as part of Operation Midway Blitz, an ICE enforcement campaign. The Latino Union of Chicago expressed concern that Gimenez may have been targeted for his involvement in a lawsuit against Home Depot and off-duty Chicago police officers over physical assaults and detention of recently arrived immigrants documented in a 2024 City Bureau investigation.

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• Kash Patel uses "Valhalla" language echoing Christchurch mass murderer — FBI Director Kash Patel posted on X: "To my friend Charlie Kirk - rest now, brother. We have the watch. And I'll see you in Valhalla." The phrase "I will see you in Valhalla" were the final words of the Christchurch mass murderer's farewell letter, a reference associated with white nationalist extremism.

Supporting reports

• Three former FBI agents filed lawsuit against Kash Patel — Three former FBI agents filed a lawsuit against FBI Director Kash Patel portraying him as a "partisan neophyte more interested in social media and swag" than professional law enforcement, occurring on the same day Patel mishandled the Kirk shooting investigation.
• Three former FBI officials sue Kash Patel for wrongful termination over Trump investigations — Three senior FBI officials—Brian Driscoll Jr., Steven Jensen, and Spencer Evans—filed a federal lawsuit in Washington DC against FBI Director Kash Patel and the federal government, alleging wrongful termination and unlawful political influence. The complaint alleges Patel stated he was instructed by the White House to fire agents who worked on Trump investigations, and that Emil Bove pressured officials to compile lists of agents involved in January 6 investigations. The officials seek reinstatement, backpay, and a declaration that their firings were illegal.
• Three former FBI officials sued Patel and DOJ for politicizing the FBI — Three former top officials at the FBI filed a lawsuit against FBI Director Patel, the FBI, Attorney General Bondi, the Department of Justice, and the president, accusing them of unlawfully politicizing the FBI and purging anyone who had ever worked on a criminal investigation of Trump. The lawsuit suggests Bongino had an "intense focus on [using] his social media profiles to change his followers' perceptions of the FBI."
• FBI director and deputy director focused on social media rather than investigation — FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino, both MAGA influencers without law enforcement experience, appeared to prioritize social media activity over the investigation into Kirk's shooting. Hours after the shooting, Patel's personal social media account posted a picture of himself and Kirk; minutes later, Patel's official FBI account posted conflicting updates about the suspect's custody status. Both officials appeared focused more on posting than conducting investigative work.

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• House passes Stop Illegal Entry Act imposing mandatory 10-year sentences for migrants re-entering after removal — The Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed HR3486, the Stop Illegal Entry Act, on 11 September 2025, imposing mandatory minimum sentences of 5–10 years for migrants convicted of illegal re-entry combined with other crimes. The bill passed largely along party lines with 11 Democratic votes and White House support. Criminal justice groups warn it would incarcerate thousands for non-violent offenses, cost approximately $440,000 per person, paralyze federal courts by eliminating plea incentives, and disproportionately affect migrants fleeing violence or seeking family reunification. Senator Ted Cruz is advancing the measure in the Senate, where it requires 60 votes to proceed.

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• Trump blames "radical left" for Kirk shooting and vows investigation — President Trump addressed the nation from the Oval Office, blaming "the radical left" for the Kirk shooting without evidence. He vowed that his administration "will find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity, and to other political violence, including the organizations that fund it and support it, as well as those who go after our judges, law enforcement officials and everyone else who brings order to our country." Trump listed incidents of what he characterized as "radical left political violence" while omitting violence against Democrats, including the June murder of a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband by a man with a hit list of 45 Democratic officials.
• Trump blamed shooting on "radical left" and vowed to prosecute contributors to political violence — From the Oval Office, President Trump blamed the Charlie Kirk shooting on "the radical left" and vowed to "find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity, and to other political violence, including the organizations that fund it and support it, as well as those who go after our judges, law enforcement officials, and everyone else who brings order to our country." The statement preceded any confirmed information about the shooter's identity or motive.

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• ICE agents physically assault and wrongfully detain US citizen car wash owner — On September 9, 2025, ICE agents conducted a raid at a Los Angeles car wash owned by Rafie Ollah Shouhed, a 79-year-old US citizen. Surveillance footage shows agents pushing Shouhed to the ground, and according to his attorney, agents violently body-slammed him onto pavement, jumped on his back, and handcuffed him despite his protests about recent heart surgery. Shouhed sustained broken ribs, traumatic brain injury, and elbow injuries. He was detained for nearly 12 hours without being charged with a crime, even after agents confirmed his citizenship status. On September 26, 2025, Shouhed filed a $50 million civil lawsuit against DHS, CBP, ICE, and Border Patrol alleging assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
• Rafie Ollah Shouhed, 79-year-old U.S. citizen, tackled by ICE agents and detained without charges — On September 9, 2025, Rafie Ollah Shouhed, a 79-year-old U.S. citizen who owns a car wash in the Los Angeles area, was detained during an ICE raid. Video evidence shows ICE agents tackling Shouhed. He was held for 12 hours, denied medical treatment, and suffered broken ribs, an injured elbow, and post-concussive symptoms of traumatic brain injury. Federal officials claimed Shouhed was impeding the raid but he was never charged.

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• Irish citizen held in ICE detention despite valid work permit; conditions described as torture — Seamus Culleton, an Irish national with a valid work permit and no criminal record, has been held by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in El Paso, Texas for five months following his arrest on 9 September 2025. Despite obtaining a statutory exemption allowing him to work after marrying a US citizen and applying for lawful permanent residence, Culleton remains detained and unable to attend his October green card interview. He reports severe conditions including overcrowding (71 detainees in one room), inadequate food, filthy facilities, and staff-related safety concerns. His lawyer states US authorities are threatening deportation "any day."
• Irish man detained by ICE for five months despite valid work permit and US citizen spouse — Seamus Culleton, an Irish national with a valid work permit and married to a US citizen, was arrested by ICE agents on September 9, 2025, outside a Home Depot in Massachusetts and has been held in ICE detention facilities for five months under conditions he describes as torture-like. Despite having obtained a statutory exemption allowing him to work while his application for lawful permanent residence is pending, he remains in custody and faces potential removal. His wife, a US citizen, and his attorney are calling for his immediate release to allow him to complete his status adjustment process.
• Irish national held in ICE detention despite valid work permit and pending green card application — Seamus Culleton, an Irish national with a valid work permit tied to a pending green card application, was arrested by ICE on September 9, 2025, during a random immigration sweep at a hardware store in Massachusetts. Despite being married to a US citizen, having no criminal record, and possessing documentation of lawful work authorization, Culleton was detained for five months across multiple facilities, ultimately transferred to El Paso, Texas. A judge approved his release on bond in November, but ICE continued detaining him. ICE agents later claimed Culleton had signed deportation documents, which he disputes; a federal judge noted irregularities in ICE's court filings but sided with the agency.

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• Department of Justice reverses position on voting rights cases under Attorney General Pam Bondi — Under Attorney General Pam Bondi, the U.S. Department of Justice has reversed its position on numerous voting rights cases, including Louisiana v. Callais. The reversal signals a shift away from federal enforcement of voting-rights protections and aligns the DOJ with conservative legal arguments attacking the Voting Rights Act.

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• Complaint filed — Driscoll v. Patel (D.D.C. 1:25-cv-03109) — Three senior FBI officials, including former FBI Acting Director Brian J. Driscoll, Jr., filed suit in federal district court challenging their summary dismissal by FBI Director Kash Patel on August 8, 2025. The plaintiffs claim they were entitled to statutory protections under the FBI Senior Executive Service (5 U.S.C. § 3151), which permits removal only for specified causes such as misconduct or neglect of duty. They allege their terminations violated the Fifth Amendment Due Process Clause and the First Amendment, arguing the dismissals were retaliatory and based on perceived political disloyalty rather than lawful cause. Plaintiffs seek reinstatement and an injunction against further adverse action without due process.

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• Rightwing influencer accompanies ICE agents during enforcement raids in Chicago — Ben Bergquam, a far-right internet personality, accompanied Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during raids in Chicago on Sunday, filming content and confronting local residents. ICE arrested four people on the city's southwest side. Bergquam, who has a history of spreading false claims about migrants and federal agencies, was present in vehicles with agents and later yelled at protesters that they were "the enemy within." The Department of Homeland Security did not confirm whether Bergquam was authorized to participate in enforcement operations.

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• Navarro files appeal demanding DOJ explain withdrawal from defending his subpoena conviction — Peter Navarro, Trump's White House trade adviser, filed a 13-page appeal with the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit requesting the justice department explain why it will not defend his 2022 conviction for defying a January 6 committee subpoena. Navarro was convicted after refusing to testify, claiming executive privilege. After Trump returned to office and Navarro joined the White House, federal prosecutors withdrew their defense of the conviction and urged appointment of external counsel. Navarro's filing argues the DOJ must provide detailed explanation for abandoning its legal position, citing separation-of-powers concerns and potential implications for congressional subpoena enforcement against presidential advisers.

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• DHS announces "Operation Midway Blitz" targeting predominantly Latino neighborhoods in Chicago — The Department of Homeland Security announced enforcement operations in Chicago designated "Operation Midway Blitz," focusing on predominantly Latino neighborhoods surrounding Midway airport. The operation resulted in multiple arrests and was conducted without advance notice to Chicago's municipal government. This follows Trump's rhetoric attacking Chicago's sanctuary policies and his stated plan to deploy the National Guard to the city.
• Trump administration threatens ICE deployment and National Guard mobilization to Chicago — The Trump administration announced "Operation Midway Blitz," a targeted immigration enforcement action in Chicago, following threats to deploy federal law enforcement and National Guard troops to the city. Evanston officials warned residents of likely ICE activity after receiving information from the governor's office. The operation invokes a Nazi-era military term and targets immigrants in a sanctuary jurisdiction. Chicago's mayor stated the city received no notice and opposes militarized enforcement without due process, citing ICE's history of detaining and deporting U.S. citizens.
• DHS announced Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago — The Department of Homeland Security announced it launched "Operation Midway Blitz" in Chicago, stating it aims to "target the criminal illegal aliens who flocked to Chicago and Illinois because they knew Governor Pritzker and his sanctuary policies would protect them and allow them to roam free on American streets." Governor Pritzker responded that the operation "isn't about fighting crime," but "scaring Illinoisians."

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• DOJ pushes to dismiss civil lawsuit by Epstein survivors against federal government — The Trump Justice Department is actively seeking to dismiss a civil lawsuit filed by Merson Law on behalf of 33 Epstein survivors. The suit alleges that federal law enforcement agencies failed to act on allegations against Epstein when survivors came forward 20 years ago. Attorneys Jennifer Plotkin and Jordan Merson note that the FBI has acknowledged responsibility to Larry Nassar victims but continues to fight Epstein survivors.

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• Bill Pulte refers Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook for criminal investigation into alleged mortgage fraud — William Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and a Trump appointee, referred Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook to the Department of Justice for alleged mortgage fraud, claiming she misrepresented her homes as primary residences to secure favorable rates. The DOJ opened a criminal investigation and issued subpoenas. Cook denies wrongdoing, calling discrepancies a clerical error. Former officials and experts called Pulte's direct involvement "bizarre," as criminal referrals typically originate from the FHFA's inspector general office, not the agency director.
• Housing Finance Agency director targeted Democrat with mortgage fraud allegations — Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte, who has been targeting Democrats with flimsy mortgage fraud allegations, posted that Federal Reserve Board member Dr. Lisa Cook obtained bank loans with "lower than allowed" interest rates while serving on the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago's academic advisory council. Economist Justin Wolfers responded that Pulte's claim was dishonest: Cook was asked to give macroeconomic advice to an academic advisory council, not to set interest rates, and the Chicago Fed does not set rates.
• Trump administration officials accused Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook of mortgage fraud based on documents later shown to be inaccurate — President Trump sought to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook by alleging she committed mortgage fraud by claiming two homes as primary residences to obtain lower interest rates. Reuters reported that documents show Cook actually designated the Georgia property as a "vacation home" to her lender, and standardized forms were overridden by her personal application specifying it as a second home. Cook never claimed a primary residence tax exemption for the Georgia property and referred to it officially as a "2nd home." The allegations appear to be false.

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• Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche conducts soft interview with Ghislaine Maxwell — In late July 2025, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche interviewed convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell over two days. The resulting transcript, released on August 22, revealed that Blanche's questions were not probing on key issues, particularly regarding Trump or those close to him. Survivors and their attorneys condemned the interview as inadequate and characterized it as "coddling" a known sex abuser.
• Ghislaine Maxwell's lawyer suggested quid pro quo for prison transfer — Asked on CNN about why Ghislaine Maxwell was moved to a lower-security prison, her former lawyer seemingly admitted that it was likely part of a deal with the Trump administration in exchange for her interview with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, saying "when anybody who's represented by a lawyer who knows what they're doing goes in and meets with the government, there's always a quid pro quo."

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• Trump administration fails to contact Epstein survivors despite public commitment to investigate — Nine attorneys representing approximately 50 Epstein survivors told the Guardian that the Trump Justice Department has not contacted them in over six months, despite repeated public commitments to transparently investigate Jeffrey Epstein's crimes. Attorney Gloria Allred (27 survivors), Lisa Bloom (11 survivors), Spencer Kuvin, Jennifer Freeman, and others confirmed no outreach. The DOJ released previously public documents in February, announced in July it would release no further files, and conducted a soft interview with Ghislaine Maxwell in late July. Legal experts note that victim engagement is standard investigatory practice.

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• Former Surgeon General criticized RFK Jr. for false testimony — Trump's former Surgeon General Jerome Adams stated that RFK Jr. has made "provably false statements under oath during Congressional testimony" and that his rhetoric has driven provider confusion and consumer hesitancy, putting lives at risk. Adams said RFK Jr. has failed to build trust in vaccines and lifesaving innovations, and that vaccination rates are falling while high-risk Americans report barriers to vaccination. Adams called for new HHS leadership.
• RFK Jr. claimed no government health successes — Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services, appeared on Fox News and claimed that he does not believe there have been any successes by government public health agencies, stating "I don't think there have been successes. We have seen a 30-40 year decline in the agency." Trump's former Surgeon General Jerome Adams responded that RFK Jr. has made "provably false statements under oath during Congressional testimony" and that his rhetoric has driven provider confusion and consumer hesitancy, putting lives at risk.

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• DOJ official sought access to 2020 voting equipment in Missouri — The Washington Post reported that a senior Justice Department official recently tried to gain access to voting equipment used by two Republican clerks in Missouri during the 2020 presidential election, a request the outlet called "unusual."

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• DOJ official caught on hidden camera discussing Epstein file redactions — The acting deputy chief of a Justice Department unit was caught on a hidden camera by the far-right O'Keefe Media Group saying that the government will "redact every Republican" from a list of Epstein associates and "leave all the liberal, Democratic people in those files." He also said Ghislaine Maxwell was transferred to a minimum-security prison in an effort to offer "her something to keep her mouth shut." In a statement, the official said his comments were based on "what I've learned in the media and not from anything I've done at or learned via work." On Twitter, a DOJ spokesperson said the official's comments "have absolutely zero bearing with reality and reflect a total lack of knowledge of the DOJ's review process."

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• Board of Immigration Appeals curtails bond release for immigration detainees — The Board of Immigration Appeals issued a decision on September 5 that dramatically curtailed the immigration system's ability to release detainees on bond while awaiting status determinations. The decision "virtually eliminate[d] bond for people no matter how long they've lived here and whether they have jobs and contribute to our nation," according to the American Immigration Lawyers Association. This action prompted immigration attorneys to shift strategy toward filing habeas corpus petitions in federal district courts.

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• Trump nominates EJ Antoni to lead Bureau of Labor Statistics — Trump nominated EJ Antoni to run the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Antoni previously operated an anonymous Twitter account containing sexually degrading attacks on Vice President Kamala Harris, anti-gay slurs, and far-right conspiracy theories, including sharing doctored sexually explicit images of Harris.

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• ICE raid detains 475 workers at Hyundai-LG battery plant in Ellabell, Georgia — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, along with Homeland Security Investigations, conducted a workplace raid on the Hyundai-LG battery plant under construction in Ellabell, Georgia, detaining 475 people, including 320 Korean nationals holding B-1 visas or visa-waiver status. The raid occurred one week before the article's publication and followed a DHS investigation that began in March 2025, coinciding with workplace safety incidents at the site. The detentions created diplomatic tension between the U.S. and South Korea and raised questions about whether undocumented workers' fear of deportation may have suppressed safety complaints.
• Trump administration conducted mass immigration raid on Hyundai facility in Georgia — ICE agents arrested 475 people, mostly South Korean nationals, during a raid on a Hyundai facility in Georgia on Thursday while executing a judicial search warrant as part of a criminal investigation into alleged unlawful employment. LG Energy Solution reported that 47 of its employees were detained, 46 of them Korean. Another 250 personnel from equipment partner companies, mostly Korean, were also detained. South Korean workers were to be returned to South Korea on a chartered flight.
• ICE detained Korean worker with valid B1/B2 visa at Hyundai factory raid — ICE arrested approximately 475 people during a raid on a Hyundai battery factory under construction in Ellabell, Georgia on September 5, 2025. An internal federal document obtained by the Guardian reveals that at least one detainee held a valid B1/B2 business visa and had not violated its terms. Despite this, ICE officials "mandated" the man accept voluntary departure and removal proceedings. The detainee was among roughly 300 people expected to be deported to South Korea. DHS disputed the account, but an anonymous agency official confirmed that legal workers were swept up in the operation.
• ICE raids Hyundai-LG battery plant in Georgia, detaining approximately 500 workers including 300+ South Koreans — US Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted a raid on the Hyundai-LG battery manufacturing plant in Ellabell, Georgia on Thursday, detaining nearly 500 workers—at least 300 South Koreans, 23 Mexicans, and others. Footage released by US authorities showed detained workers in handcuffs and ankle chains being loaded onto buses. The raid was the largest single-site sweep under Trump's anti-immigration campaign. South Korea's government announced negotiations for release and repatriation of its nationals, citing strain on diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries.
• Immigration raid arrests approximately 450 people at Hyundai battery plant in Georgia — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted a raid at a Hyundai Motor battery plant under construction in Georgia, arresting approximately 450 people including South Korean workers. The raid occurred weeks after Hyundai pledged $26 billion in U.S. investments and months after the U.S. and South Korea agreed to a 15% tariff rate on Korean imports in exchange for $350 billion in Korean investment in the U.S. South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs protested the action and expressed concern about the detention of Korean nationals.

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• DOJ official recorded discussing selective redaction of Epstein files — Joseph Schnitt, Acting Deputy Chief at the DOJ, was recorded on hidden camera by an operative associated with James O'Keefe discussing the handling of Epstein files. According to the video, Schnitt stated that files would be redacted to remove names of Republicans and conservatives while leaving Democratic names visible, suggesting partisan manipulation of sensitive investigative materials.
• James O'Keefe released video of DOJ official making statements about Ghislaine Maxwell — Right-wing activist James O'Keefe released a video showing Joseph Schnitt, the Department of Justice's acting deputy chief of special operations, stating that convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell was moved to a minimum security prison because the government is "offering her something to keep her mouth shut." Schnitt also told an undercover journalist that the Epstein files exist and that before release, the government will "redact every Republican and conservative person in those files and leave all the liberal, Democratic people."