Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Federal prosecutors drop charges against two Venezuelan men and open investigation into officer perjury — On February 2026 (reported April 7), the U.S. Attorney's Office for Minnesota dropped all charges against Aljorna and Sosa-Celis after determining that "newly discovered evidence" was "materially inconsistent" with the criminal complaint. Chief federal prosecutor Daniel Rosen approved dismissal with prejudice, preventing refiling. Simultaneously, federal authorities opened a criminal investigation into whether the ICE officers involved provided false testimony under oath. The officers were placed on administrative leave pending internal investigation and potential termination or criminal prosecution.

Supporting reports

• DOJ civil rights division investigates Jan. 6 witness Cassidy Hutchinson — The New York Times reported that the civil rights division of Trump's Justice Department is investigating former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson, who testified before Congress in 2022 implicating Trump in the January 6 insurrection. The investigation focuses on whether Hutchinson lied to Congress. The Times described the assignment to the civil rights division—which typically enforces federal anti-discrimination statutes—as "highly unusual."

Supporting reports

• Lower federal courts issue rulings blocking Trump administration policies on immigration, tariffs, and DOJ prosecutions — Since Trump's second term began, district court judges nationwide have issued sharply critical rulings challenging the legality of administration policies on immigration, tariffs, and DOJ prosecutions of political opponents. A Just Security study found over 210 cases since early 2025 where courts ruled against administration conduct, including 34 instances of non-compliance with court orders, 90 cases of judicial distrust in government representations, and 91 findings of arbitrary and capricious administrative action. Trump has responded with escalating attacks on judges, calling them "crooked" and "lunatic," and urging House Republicans to pass legislation "cracking down on rogue judges."

Supporting reports

• DOJ attorney Neff told Rhode Island court DOJ intends to share voter data with DHS for non-citizen checks — After CBS News asked the DOJ for comment on the planned data-sharing agreement with DHS, DOJ attorney Eric Neff, the acting head of the DOJ Voting Section, acknowledged to a Rhode Island judge that the DOJ intends to share voter data with DHS to check for non-citizens on state voter rolls. When asked if the DOJ could ask DHS to check for non-citizens on the state's voter rolls, Neff said, "Yes, and we intend to do so." This acknowledgment contradicts earlier statements by DOJ attorney Tucker to courts in Minnesota and Connecticut.
• Trump administration's voter data collection and DOJ-DHS agreement raise ethical questions about court misrepresentation — The timeline of events—DOJ attorneys denying to courts that voter data would be used for immigration enforcement, followed by CBS News reporting a planned DOJ-DHS data-sharing agreement, followed by DOJ acknowledgment of the true plan—raises serious ethical questions about whether DOJ attorneys knowingly misled courts in violation of American Bar Association rules. Sources told Popular Information that "at least a handful of senior attorneys from the Civil Rights Division have been privy to some discussions about the data-sharing plan… in addition to multiple officials in other Justice Department offices, including the deputy attorney general." CBS News "could not determine whether all of the lawyers… arguing the cases in court" knew of the plan.

Supporting reports

• DOJ Inspector General accused of failing to investigate misconduct allegations — In a letter to House and Senate Judiciary committee leaders, lawyers for a DOJ whistleblower accused the Justice Department's Office of the Inspector General of failing to investigate serious allegations of misconduct, including complaints from members of Congress. The letter warned that the inaction occurs during a period when "governmental misconduct and violation of court orders by DOJ lawyers around the country have reached epic and unprecedented proportions."

Supporting reports

• Nine activists convicted on terrorism charges in Texas ICE protest case — Nine activists were convicted in Texas federal court on terrorism and related charges stemming from a March 2025 protest outside an ICE facility near Fort Worth. Eight were convicted of riot, explosives, and material support to terrorists; one (Benjamin Song) was convicted of attempted murder after shooting a police officer; a ninth was convicted for moving zines days after the protest. The Trump administration framed the verdict as vindication of its campaign against "antifa," though legal experts and the trial judge noted the charges had no organizational nexus and the terrorism label was legally irrelevant to the convictions.

Supporting reports

• House Judiciary Committee Democrat demands information on classified map disclosure from Attorney General Bondi — Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi demanding additional information about Trump's alleged disclosure of a classified map on a private plane in June 2022. The letter requested details on who Trump showed the map to, which individuals were aboard the flight, and which documents Trump retained related to his business interests. Raskin's letter also raised concerns that the Department of Justice may have violated a court order against releasing case files, referencing Judge Aileen Cannon's permanent bar on releasing Special Counsel Jack Smith's final report.

Supporting reports

• Senate Republicans propose DHS funding compromise excluding immigration reforms — Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced a Republican compromise proposal to restart DHS funding that would partially fund ICE and Customs and Border Protection but excludes the immigration enforcement reforms Democrats have demanded. Democrats had insisted on guardrails following federal agents' killing of two US citizens in Minneapolis. Thune stated Democrats were "not interested in reforms" and made any future reform discussion contingent on funding ICE. The proposal emerged after a White House meeting where Trump initially demanded Democratic support for the Save America voter ID act before any deal, but later appeared to back down from that condition.
• Senate Democrats block Republican DHS funding proposal; standoff continues over immigration enforcement reforms — Senate Republicans proposed legislation to restart Department of Homeland Security operations while excluding Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportation operations. Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, rejected the proposal and countered with a measure coupling DHS funding to new guardrails on immigration enforcement, citing deaths of two US citizens at the hands of federal agents. The GOP rejected the Democratic counteroffer. The partial government shutdown, which began in mid-February, persists, causing TSA staffing shortages and airport congestion. Republicans signaled plans for a reconciliation bill to fund ICE operations and Trump's military campaign against Iran.
• Senate Republicans announce plans for second reconciliation bill including Iran war funding and voter ID requirements — Senate Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham announced that Senate Republicans would begin work on a second reconciliation bill to fund components of ICE excluded from ongoing DHS negotiations, Trump's military campaign against Iran (potentially $200 billion), and portions of the Save America Act imposing new voter identification requirements. Democratic Senator Tim Kaine reported that a classified briefing discussed $200 billion in Iran war funding, though the Pentagon has not made a formal request. Republican Senator Mike Lee acknowledged that the Save America Act cannot pass through reconciliation due to procedural constraints.
• House Republicans reject Senate DHS funding bill, demand ICE funding inclusion — The Republican-controlled House rejected a Senate-passed bill that would have funded most Department of Homeland Security agencies (TSA, Coast Guard, FEMA, CISA) while withholding funds from ICE and parts of Customs and Border Protection. House Speaker Mike Johnson announced instead a short-term continuing resolution through May 22, backed by Trump. The move prolongs a 42-day partial shutdown affecting thousands of DHS employees and airport security operations. Senate Democrats declared the House proposal "dead on arrival," blocking a path to the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster.
• Senate fails seventh time to advance DHS funding bill — The US Senate voted 53-47 to reject a Republican-drafted bill to partially fund the Department of Homeland Security, which has been shut down for nearly six weeks. The vote fell short of the 60 needed to advance. Hours earlier, Trump announced he would sign an executive order directing DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin to immediately pay TSA agents during the shutdown. Democrats demanded stronger guardrails on immigration enforcement; Republicans sought to fund most DHS agencies while withholding ICE enforcement money. Senate Majority Leader John Thune filed a motion to reconsider.
• Senate Republicans plan reconciliation bill for ICE and voter integrity funding — Senate Republicans, led by Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham, announced plans to advance ICE funding, military funding, and voter integrity measures through budget reconciliation, which requires only a simple Senate majority rather than the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster. Graham stated he would "proceed quickly and efficiently" to make these measures "Democrat-resistance proof," signaling intent to bypass normal legislative processes and Democratic input on immigration enforcement and election administration.
• Trump requests congressional ban on state-issued driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants — At the State of the Union address, President Trump asked lawmakers to ban states from granting new driving licenses to immigrants in the country illegally. This legislative request seeks to expand federal restrictions beyond commercial licenses to all state-issued driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants, further limiting mobility and work capacity.
• House Republicans rejected Senate-passed DHS funding deal, blocking vote and extending shutdown — House Republicans rejected a Department of Homeland Security funding deal passed by the Senate on March 26, 2026, and announced plans to pass their own alternative. Senate Majority Leader John Thune had recessed the Senate for two weeks, making immediate reconciliation impossible. House Speaker Mike Johnson held an emergency conference call with members and pitched a clean 60-day continuing resolution that would fund all of DHS, including ICE and CBP. Senate Democrats stated they would not support the House Republican alternative, and any House-passed bill would face a filibuster upon return to the Senate. The shutdown continued indefinitely as a result.
• Senate Democrats and House Democrats prepared to support DHS funding deal; House Republicans blocked passage — Senate Democrats voted for the DHS funding deal on March 26, 2026, and House Democrats were prepared to vote for it on March 27. House Republicans rejected the bill, preventing its passage and extending the shutdown. Democratic leaders stated that House Republicans were solely responsible for the continuation of the shutdown.
• Senate Majority Leader John Thune recessed Senate for two weeks without coordination with House leadership — Senate Majority Leader John Thune recessed the Senate for two weeks on March 26, 2026, without communicating with House leadership about the timing or the DHS funding deal. During an emergency conference call, Speaker Mike Johnson told members that "The Senate went dark and did not communicate with us." House GOP leaders expressed fury at Thune's maneuver and stated they did not want to put the Senate bill on the floor.
• Senate passes DHS funding deal; House Republicans reject it — The Senate passed a Department of Homeland Security funding deal at approximately 2 a.m. However, House Republicans rejected the agreement. Senators had already left town for recess, leaving the House to unilaterally reject the bipartisan Senate compromise.

Supporting reports

• Federal prosecutors drop charges against Heather Danae Lewis in church protest case due to mistaken identity — Federal prosecutors notified a federal judge of their intent to drop criminal charges against Heather Danae Lewis, one of 30 people charged in connection with an anti-ICE protest at the Cities church in Saint Paul, Minnesota in January 2026. Lewis was accused of participating in the protest and interfering with congregants' religious rights, but her attorney demonstrated she was in the supermarket parking lot by coincidence, not as a protester. Prosecutors dropped charges "with prejudice," preventing refiling. A magistrate judge criticized the DOJ for slow discovery compliance.

Supporting reports

• Minnesota sued Trump administration for withholding evidence in federal officer-involved shootings — Minnesota filed a lawsuit in US District Court for the District of Columbia against the Trump administration, alleging that the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice are withholding investigative evidence and records related to three shootings involving federal agents deployed under Operation Metro Surge: the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, and the shooting of Julio Sosa-Celis. The state seeks a court order compelling disclosure of evidence, including the identities of federal agents involved. Minnesota argues the federal government is improperly shielding law enforcement officers from criminal scrutiny in violation of federalism principles.

Supporting reports

• Senate committee advances Markwayne Mullin's nomination to lead Department of Homeland Security — The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs voted on March 20, 2026, to advance Markwayne Mullin's nomination to lead the Department of Homeland Security on a near party-line vote. Eight of nine Republicans supported the nomination; Rand Paul dissented. One Democrat, John Fetterman, voted in favor; six opposed. The committee's top Democrat, Gary Peters, criticized Mullin for failing to be forthright and transparent, and for appearing to condone political violence. Mullin's nomination now proceeds to a full Senate vote, where Republicans hold sufficient numbers for confirmation.
• Fetterman casts decisive committee vote to advance Mullin nomination for DHS secretary — Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) cast the deciding vote in the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on March 20, 2026, to advance Republican Markwayne Mullin's nomination as Department of Homeland Security secretary. Fetterman was the sole Democrat to join seven Republicans in supporting the nomination, which faced Democratic opposition over allegations that Mullin had encouraged political violence. The vote prompted calls from fellow Pennsylvania Democrats for Fetterman's resignation and criticism that he had abandoned party and constituent interests.
• Markwayne Mullin confirmation hearing for Department of Homeland Security — Markwayne Mullin, Trump's nominee to replace Kristi Noem as DHS secretary, appeared before the Senate Homeland Security Committee on March 18, 2026. He defended the administration's mass deportation agenda while striking a more diplomatic tone than his predecessor. Mullin expressed regret for past inflammatory comments about a US citizen killed by immigration agents and acknowledged mistakes in his public statements. The hearing was contentious, with committee chair Rand Paul demanding explanations for Mullin's past hostile remarks toward him. Democrats pressed Mullin on his truthfulness regarding claimed combat experience, his willingness to enforce immigration at polling places, and his commitment to constitutional limits on executive power. The committee scheduled a vote for the following day.
• Trump nominates Markwayne Mullin as DHS secretary; senator claims undisclosed overseas military-adjacent experience — Donald Trump selected Oklahoma Republican senator Markwayne Mullin to lead the Department of Homeland Security. Mullin, who never served in the U.S. military, has repeatedly made cryptic public statements suggesting combat or overseas security experience, claiming "special assignments outside of DoD" and referencing war zones. During his Senate confirmation hearing, Mullin confirmed he had never traveled abroad except for vacation or mission work, contradicting his earlier implications. His office later clarified the "overseas" work involved Christian mission activities with returning troops.
• Markwayne Mullin confirmation hearing for DHS Secretary; Fema restructuring and staffing concerns raised — Senator Markwayne Mullin, Trump's nominee to replace Kristi Noem as DHS Secretary, testified before the Senate during his confirmation hearing. He pledged to restructure rather than eliminate Fema, revoke Noem's $100,000 expenditure review policy, and appoint a qualified Fema director. However, he declined to commit to reversing Fema staff cuts, suggesting some agencies are "bloated," and reiterated that states should lead disaster response with federal support only at certain levels. Disaster management officials expressed concern about his preparedness and vision.
• Senator Markwayne Mullin testified for Secretary of Homeland Security confirmation — Senator Markwayne Mullin, Trump's nominee to replace Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security, testified before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in a contentious confirmation hearing. The hearing began with Chairman Rand Paul confronting Mullin over past comments where Mullin appeared to justify or "understand" the violent assault on Paul by his neighbor. Mullin refused to fully apologize for those comments, leading to a heated exchange.

Supporting reports

• House Oversight Committee chair issues subpoena to Attorney General Bondi — House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) formally issued a subpoena requiring Attorney General Pam Bondi to appear before the committee on April 14 to testify under oath regarding DOJ handling of Epstein files.
• House Oversight Committee subpoenas Attorney General Pam Bondi over Epstein investigation — On March 17, the Republican-led House Oversight Committee issued a subpoena requiring Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify about the Justice Department's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation and associates, as well as DOJ compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Later that day, Democratic committee members walked out of a private briefing with Bondi after she refused to commit to complying with the subpoena and providing a deposition.
• House committee subpoenas Attorney General Pam Bondi over Epstein files handling — The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, chaired by Republican James Comer, formally subpoenaed Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify about the Department of Justice's handling of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Lawmakers from both parties have criticized the DOJ for improperly redacting material, withholding names of potential criminals, and exposing survivor personal information. Bondi is required to appear for a deposition on April 14, 2026. The subpoena followed a March 4 committee vote in which five Republicans joined Democrats to authorize it.

Supporting reports

• Stop AAPI Hate and four organizations file class-action lawsuit against DOJ over termination of $810 million in public safety grants — Stop AAPI Hate and four partner organizations filed a class-action lawsuit against the Department of Justice, alleging unlawful termination of more than $810 million in public safety grants. The lawsuit represents an effort to restore federal funding that had supported community-based safety and victim support initiatives across the country.

Supporting reports

• Judge James Boasberg quashes grand jury subpoena for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell — U.S. District Judge James Boasberg issued a 37-page ruling on March 13, 2026, quashing a grand jury subpoena for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Boasberg found "abundant evidence that the subpoenas' dominant (if not sole) purpose is to harass and pressure Powell either to yield to the president or to resign and make way for a Fed chair who will." The judge noted the government offered no evidence that Powell committed any crime "other than displeasing the president." Trump had been waging a public campaign against Powell to lower interest rates faster and attacked Boasberg on Truth Social following the ruling.

Supporting reports

• House Oversight Committee subpoenas Attorney General Bondi on Epstein files — In a bipartisan vote, the House Oversight Committee subpoenaed Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify under oath about the release of the Epstein files. The subpoena was issued against the wishes of committee chair James Comer (R-KY). Bondi is required to explain why approximately half the legally mandated files remain unreleased and why many released documents are heavily redacted.
• House Oversight Committee votes to subpoena Attorney General Bondi — Five Republicans joined Democrats on the House Oversight Committee to vote in favor of subpoenaing Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify under oath about DOJ handling of Epstein files. The bipartisan vote demonstrated rare Republican willingness to compel testimony from a Trump administration official on a sensitive matter.
• House Oversight Committee subpoenas US Attorney General Pam Bondi in Epstein investigation — The House Oversight Committee voted 24–19 to approve a motion by Republican Representative Nancy Mace compelling US Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify regarding the Department of Justice's handling of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell files. Five Republicans joined Democrats in the vote. The motion follows criticism from both parties over DOJ failures, including accidental release of survivor names and unexplained redactions of names of potential crime perpetrators. Bondi had previously defended the department's handling during a contentious February hearing.

Supporting reports

• Kristi Noem testified before Senate Judiciary Committee — Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday regarding her department's handling of detentions, deportations, and other matters. During the hearing, lawmakers of both parties questioned her on the lawlessness and corruption in the department, including her labeling of individuals shot by federal agents as engaged in "domestic terrorism," her handling of FEMA disaster relief, and her refusal to back away from the administration's characterization of Trump opponents as engaged in "criminal and terroristic conspiracies."
• Sen. Tillis calls for DHS Secretary Noem's resignation — Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) formally called for DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's resignation during the hearing, citing a pattern of poor leadership decisions, detention of American citizens, obstruction of inspector general investigations, and slow response to disaster relief in North Carolina. Tillis submitted a letter from the Office of Inspector General documenting ten instances of being misled and prevented from pursuing investigations, and announced he would place holds on nominations and deny quorum in committee markups until receiving written responses to his questions within two weeks.
• Senate hearing on DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's leadership and conduct — The Senate Homeland Security Committee held a hearing on DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's tenure, during which multiple senators criticized her management, including allegations of misuse of taxpayer funds, improper detention of U.S. citizens, conflicts of interest involving contracts awarded to associates, and failure to cooperate with inspectors general. Sen. Tillis detailed a $220 million ad campaign featuring Noem and questioned her judgment; Sen. Whitehouse asked about luxury aircraft purchases; Sen. Welch raised concerns about no-bid contracts to her former spokeswoman's husband; and Sen. Blumenthal questioned whether an agent involved in a shooting remained on duty.
• Sen. Blumenthal questions whether agent in shooting remains on duty — During the Senate hearing, Sen. Richard Blumenthal asked DHS Secretary Noem whether the agent who shot Ms. Martinez remained on the job carrying a gun. Noem stated she did not know the details and said she would get back to him. Blumenthal expressed concern that Americans would find it "absolutely terrifying" if the agent remained on duty.
• Sen. Welch questions DHS Secretary Noem on arrest quotas — During the Senate hearing, Sen. Chris Coons asked DHS Secretary Noem whether DHS operates with arrest quotas. Noem denied the practice, claiming only "targeted enforcement." Coons countered by citing a statement from Stephen Miller on Fox News the prior year stating, "We're setting a minimum of 3,000 arrests for ICE every day," directly contradicting Noem's testimony.
• DHS Secretary Noem questioned on $220 million ad campaign — During the Senate hearing, Sen. Adam Schiff questioned DHS Secretary Noem about a $220 million taxpayer-funded advertising campaign featuring her prominently. Schiff noted the contract went to a company that did not exist two weeks before receiving it, and that $143 million went to a subcontractor Noem had worked with extensively as South Dakota governor. Noem claimed she had nothing to do with the contract award, though she acknowledged Trump had approved the campaign.
• Sen. Kennedy questions DHS ad spending and Noem's name recognition — Sen. John Kennedy questioned DHS Secretary Noem about the $220 million ad campaign, noting it was a quarter-billion in taxpayer money while the administration was cutting budgets elsewhere. Kennedy stated the campaign was effective for Noem's personal name recognition and put the president in an awkward position, suggesting OMB Director Russ Vought would not have approved such spending.
• DHS Secretary Noem questioned on no-bid contract to former spokeswoman's husband — During the Senate hearing, Sen. Peter Welch questioned DHS Secretary Noem about a $143 million no-bid DHS contract awarded to Yoho, the husband of her former chief spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin. Noem confirmed the relationship and the contract award. Welch also asked Noem to inquire whether Corey Lewandowski, identified as a "special government adviser," received any compensation from these contracts.

Supporting reports

• House Democrats demand DOJ briefing on removal of antitrust chief Gail Slater — House Democrats Jamie Raskin and Jerry Nadler requested a briefing from Attorney General Pam Bondi regarding the forced resignation of Gail Slater, head of the antitrust division, in February 2026. Slater's removal followed her attempt to block a $14 billion Hewlett Packard Enterprise–Juniper Networks merger and alleged interference by Trump-connected lobbyists. The letter raised concerns about potential corruption, the role of Trump allies including Mike Davis, and questioned DOJ handling of multiple high-profile merger cases and antitrust matters.
• Gail Slater forced to resign as antitrust chief amid Trump administration pressure — Gail Slater, assistant attorney general for the antitrust division, was forced to resign in February 2026 after her relationship with Attorney General Pam Bondi and Vice President JD Vance deteriorated. Her removal followed her effort to block the $14 billion Hewlett Packard Enterprise–Juniper Networks merger and her claims that the intelligence community had not raised national security concerns. Trump-connected lobbyist Mike Davis, retained by Hewlett Packard Enterprise, publicly took credit for her removal. The DOJ subsequently dropped the antitrust suit in favor of a settlement.

Supporting reports

• House Democrats launch investigation into alleged DOJ withholding of Epstein files containing Trump abuse allegations — House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Democrats, led by ranking member Robert Garcia, announced an investigation into whether the Department of Justice withheld materials from the public release of Epstein files. The investigation focuses on allegations that the DOJ concealed FBI interviews with a woman who accused President Trump of sexually abusing her as a minor decades ago. An NPR investigation published the same day reported the DOJ withheld over 50 pages of FBI interviews and removed documents mentioning Trump from the public database. The White House denied wrongdoing, claiming documents were temporarily pulled only for victim redactions or PII removal.
• House Oversight Democrat Robert Garcia confirmed DOJ illegal withholding — Robert Garcia, top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, released a statement confirming that after reviewing unredacted evidence logs at the Department of Justice, "Oversight Democrats can confirm that the DOJ appears to have illegally withheld FBI interviews with this survivor who accused President Trump of heinous crimes." The statement corroborates NPR's reporting that material related to sexual assault allegations against Trump was removed from the publicly released Epstein files.

Supporting reports

• Senate Democrats launch investigation into CBS/FCC over blocked Colbert interview — Senator Richard Blumenthal, ranking Democrat on the Senate's permanent subcommittee on investigations, initiated a formal inquiry into whether the FCC and CBS parent company Paramount suppressed a Stephen Colbert interview with Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico. Blumenthal sent letters to the FCC's enforcement bureau and Paramount CEO David Ellison demanding documents and communications with the Trump White House, alleging a "partisan censorship scheme" by FCC Chair Brendan Carr and suggesting Paramount silenced speech to secure federal approval for its $108 billion Warner Brothers Discovery acquisition.

Supporting reports

• Judge Aileen Cannon blocked release of Special Counsel Jack Smith's classified documents report — U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon issued an order permanently blocking the release of Volume Two of Special Counsel Jack Smith's report on classified documents. Cannon ruled that releasing the report would be "unfair" to Trump and his co-defendants, citing her prior conclusion that the Special Counsel lacked lawful authority. The Department of Justice did not oppose the motion, allowing Cannon to write that "all parties agree" disclosure would violate the court's dismissal order. The decision shields the report from public scrutiny.
• Judge Cannon permanently blocks release of Jack Smith's classified documents report — US District Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, issued a permanent injunction barring the Department of Justice from releasing Special Counsel Jack Smith's report on the classified documents case (Volume II). Cannon condemned Smith's compilation of the report after she had dismissed the underlying case in 2024 on grounds of unlawful appointment, calling it a "brazen stratagem" and a breach of her dismissal order. She ruled that release would expose grand jury material and cause irreparable harm to Trump, distinguishing the case from prior special counsel reports (Mueller) that were publicly released.
• Judge Aileen Cannon blocked release of Jack Smith's classified documents report — Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, blocked the release of Special Counsel Jack Smith's report on his investigation of Trump's retention of classified documents after leaving office in 2021. It is standard procedure for a special counsel's report to be made public. Legal analyst Joyce White Vance noted that Cannon has consistently worked to suppress Smith's report and that Trump's fierce fight to keep it under wraps has led to speculation about surprising contents.
• Judge blocks release of Jack Smith’s report on Trump — Judge Aileen Cannon blocked the release of special counsel Jack Smith's report regarding Trump's retention of classified documents. This decision is notable as it deviates from the usual procedure of making such reports public, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.

Supporting reports

• Judge declares mistrial in Texas ICE protest terrorism case over defense attorney's civil rights shirt — US District Judge Mark Pittman, a Trump appointee, declared a mistrial in a federal case against nine protesters charged with terrorism for a July 4 demonstration at an ICE detention facility near Fort Worth. Pittam halted jury selection after defense attorney MarQuetta Clayton wore a shirt displaying civil rights movement imagery, claiming it could bias jurors. Clayton had been visible in court all day before Pittman intervened only when she began questioning potential jurors. The mistrial requires a complete restart with a new jury panel.

Supporting reports

• Complaint filed: Democracy Defenders Fund v. Federal Bureau of Investigation (D.D.C. 1:26-cv-00496) — Democracy Defenders Fund, a non-profit organization, filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against the FBI for violating the Freedom of Information Act by failing to respond to a FOIA request concerning the FBI's investigation of Thomas Homan, Trump's "Border Czar." DDF alleges that Homan accepted $50,000 from undercover FBI agents posing as contractors in 2024, and that the FBI ended its investigation after Trump took office in 2025. The FBI denied DDF's FOIA request on January 5, 2026, denied expedited processing on February 9, 2026, and has not responded to DDF's appeal. DDF seeks a declaration that the FBI wrongfully withheld records and a permanent injunction requiring disclosure.

Supporting reports

• Ghislaine Maxwell refuses to answer questions in congressional deposition — Ghislaine Maxwell, serving a 20-year prison sentence for trafficking teen girls for Epstein, refused to answer questions during her deposition before the House oversight committee. Her attorney invoked her Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, citing her ongoing legal fight against her conviction. Maxwell's counsel stated she would be willing to speak if granted clemency by President Trump, effectively conditioning cooperation on executive pardon.
• House oversight committee subpoenas Bill and Hillary Clinton for Epstein depositions — The House oversight committee subpoenaed former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to provide closed-door depositions regarding their ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Bill Clinton has publicly acknowledged flying on Epstein's airplane in the early 2000s for humanitarian work but denied visiting Epstein's private island. The Clintons are scheduled to sit for depositions the following week.
• Les Wexner testifies before House oversight committee on Epstein ties — Billionaire Les Wexner, former boss of Victoria's Secret, testified before the House oversight committee on Wednesday regarding his past financial relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner, subpoenaed as part of the committee's investigation into Epstein's crimes, denied misconduct and claimed he was "duped" by Epstein. Democrats on the committee questioned his credibility, suggesting he must have known about Epstein's abuse given their close association. The testimony continued throughout the afternoon at Wexner's Ohio home.
• Rep. Garcia reported DOJ and FBI did not contact Les Wexner about Epstein — House Oversight ranking member Robert Garcia reported that during Les Wexner's deposition, Wexner stated that neither the DOJ nor the FBI had ever contacted him to ask about Epstein and his crimes, despite Wexner's decades-long relationship with Epstein, his power of attorney over Epstein's finances, and his position as someone Epstein trusted deeply. Garcia characterized this as "outrageous and unforgivable."
• Rep. Lynch criticized DOJ for inaction on Epstein investigation compared to UK — Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) appeared on CNN and contrasted the British government's swift action in arresting Prince Andrew with the U.S. government's inaction. Lynch stated that "our chief law enforcement officer Pam Bondi is defending and obstructing the investigation," highlighting the stark difference in how the two governments have responded to Epstein-related allegations.
• Leslie Wexner deposition underway in Epstein investigation; House Oversight Committee examines financial transfers — A major deposition involving Leslie Wexner, Epstein's longtime financial patron, is underway as part of the ongoing Epstein investigation. Congressman Robert Garcia, ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, emphasized Wexner's significance prior to the deposition, noting that much of Epstein's wealth came directly from Wexner and that understanding why such vast sums were transferred remains central to understanding the broader enterprise. Survivors have consistently pointed to Wexner as a key figure within Epstein's network. Wexner submitted a written statement claiming he was "naive" and had been duped by a "con man," insisting he severed ties nearly two decades ago and had no knowledge of Epstein's criminal conduct.
• California congressman Ro Khanna identifies Les Wexner as previously redacted name in Epstein files — California congressman Ro Khanna publicly identified Les Wexner as one of six previously redacted names in the Epstein trove, where the FBI appears to have named him as a co-conspirator. Khanna's disclosure prompted national attention to Wexner's ties to Epstein. Wexner is scheduled to be deposed in front of an oversight committee on Wednesday following the disclosure.

Supporting reports

• Congress triggered partial DHS shutdown over ICE enforcement reforms — The Department of Homeland Security funding lapsed at midnight on February 15, 2026. Democrats are using the appropriations power to demand enforcement reforms including body cameras, visible identification numbers, and judicial warrants for arrests on private property, in response to fatal shootings of U.S. citizens by federal officers in Minneapolis. Congress left for recess without resolving the impasse and will return February 23. ICE and CBP can draw on prior-year funding to sustain operations during the lapse.
• DHS funding lapsed, triggering partial shutdown over enforcement reform impasse — The Department of Homeland Security's appropriations expired at 12:01 a.m. ET on Saturday, February 15, after Congress failed to pass funding legislation. Democrats blocked Republican attempts to pass full-year or short-term funding without immigration enforcement reforms, including body cameras, visible identification, warrant requirements, and use-of-force policy changes, following fatal shootings by federal officers in Minneapolis. Approximately 90% of DHS employees continue working with delayed pay. ICE and CBP operations remain less disrupted due to prior-year appropriations. Congress recessed until February 23 without resolution.
• DHS shutdown enters second month amid TSA funding dispute between Texas lawmakers — The Department of Homeland Security has been without funding since mid-February after Democrats refused to authorize operations unless Republicans agreed to new restrictions on federal immigration enforcement (identification requirements, mask restrictions, street detention limits). TSA employees have missed paychecks, causing long airport security lines. Republican Senator John Cornyn and Democratic Congressman Greg Casar publicly sparred outside Austin airport on March 16, with Cornyn demanding Democrats fund DHS and Casar accusing Cornyn of refusing compromise to secure Trump's endorsement in a primary race. Democrats attempted but failed to pass DHS funding excluding immigration enforcement; Republicans blocked the measure.
• Limited government shutdown affecting DHS agencies over immigration enforcement restrictions — A partial US federal government shutdown took effect on Saturday, February 15, 2026, affecting approximately 13% of the federal civilian workforce across Department of Homeland Security agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration. The shutdown resulted from failed negotiations between the White House and Congressional Democrats over new restrictions on federal immigration agents, including mandates for judicial warrants and prohibitions on face masks during operations. Congress adjourned for a 10-day break, delaying resolution. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection operations continued due to prior-year funding.

Supporting reports

• Democratic lawmakers demand Trump administration accounting on immigration enforcement impacts on childcare workforce — Forty-eight Democratic lawmakers, led by Senators Elizabeth Warren and Tammy Duckworth and Representative Mike Quigley, sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services demanding answers about how Trump's immigration policies are exacerbating childcare shortages and costs. The letter cites terminations of temporary protected status (TPS), elimination of lawful immigration pathways, and ICE raids at childcare facilities. About 20% of the US childcare workforce are immigrants—as high as 70% in some regions—and Trump's policies could reduce the workforce by an estimated 15%. The letter documents specific cases of childcare workers detained or losing work authorization, and notes Trump revoked protections for childcare facilities from ICE raids.
• Congress members demand accountability for Palestinian-American teen's detention in Israel — Fifteen members of Congress, led by Senator Peter Welch, sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding accountability for the nine-month detention of Mohammed Ibrahim, a Palestinian-American teenager arrested in the West Bank in February 2025. Ibrahim was released in November 2025 after a guilty plea; he reported severe mistreatment including beatings, pepper-spraying, and inadequate food and medical care. The lawmakers posed three questions to Rubio about State Department engagement, investigation requests, and accountability for Israeli personnel.
• Congressional letter to DHS and ICE seeking release of detained double amputee — Representative Pramila Jayapal and 20 members of Congress sent a two-page letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons on February 17, 2026, requesting the release of Rodney Taylor from Stewart detention center in Georgia. Taylor, a 47-year-old double amputee barber, has been detained since January 2025 on the basis of a burglary conviction from his teenage years for which Georgia pardoned him in 2010. The letter cites deteriorating health conditions, inadequate prosthetic care, and inhumane detention conditions including moldy showers and forced meal retrieval despite mobility limitations.