Trump Action Archive

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• Federal judge dismisses indictment against TikTok streamer shot by ICE agents — US District Judge Fernando Olguin dismissed an indictment against Carlitos Ricardo Parias, a Los Angeles TikTok creator, who was shot by an immigration agent during an October enforcement operation. The judge cited constitutional violations, including ICE's obstruction of Parias's access to his defense team at the Adelanto detention center and the government's failure to timely disclose body-worn camera footage of the shooting. The indictment was dismissed with prejudice, barring prosecutors from refiling assault charges.

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• Vice President JD Vance announced list of judges and prosecutors for "swifter justice" — Vice President JD Vance stated at the TPUSA event: "Greatness awaits every single one of you in the America First movement we are building together, but we need your help to get there. Do you want more prosecutions? Great. So do we. Trump and I have a list of better judges and prosecutors to enact swifter justice." The statement indicates the administration is preparing to appoint judges and prosecutors based on loyalty to the "America First" movement rather than judicial independence.

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• Alina Habba resigned as US Attorney for New Jersey following Third Circuit ruling — Alina Habba, who held the position of US Attorney for New Jersey through an illegal appointment, announced her resignation following a Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruling. In her statement, Habba said she was stepping down "to protect the stability and integrity of the office" but framed her compliance as not a surrender of her position or principles.
• Alina Habba stepped down as top federal prosecutor in New Jersey — On December 8, Alina Habba, Trump's former personal lawyer whom he maneuvered to keep as the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey, announced she would step down from her post after an appeals court ruled she was disqualified from the position. Habba said she would continue at the Justice Department as a senior adviser to the attorney general for US attorneys. Attorney General Pam Bondi tweeted that the DOJ "will seek further review" of the decision and that Habba "intends to return" if the ruling is overturned.
• Alina Habba resigns as U.S. Attorney for New Jersey after courts rule her appointment unlawful — Alina Habba, Trump's former personal lawyer appointed U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, resigned after federal courts ruled her interim appointment unlawful and she lacked Senate confirmation. The Trump administration had attempted to keep her in place by reappointing her as a "special attorney" after her 120-day interim term expired in July. Habba announced her resignation on social media but stated she would serve as a senior adviser to Attorney General Pam Bondi, who indicated the DOJ would seek further review of the ruling.

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• 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.

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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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• Letitia James pleads not guilty to mortgage fraud charges brought by Trump-appointed prosecutor — New York Attorney General Letitia James appeared in federal district court in Norfolk, Virginia, and pleaded not guilty to charges of bank fraud and false statements. The indictment, filed by Trump-appointed US Attorney Lindsey Halligan, alleges James falsely claimed a Norfolk home purchased in 2020 would be a secondary residence to obtain favorable loan terms when she used it as an investment property. Career prosecutors had objected to the charges, citing insufficient evidence and no material profit to James. James is expected to file a motion to dismiss on grounds that Halligan was improperly appointed.

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• Federal grand jury indicted John Bolton for classified information disclosure — A federal grand jury in Maryland indicted former national security advisor John Bolton on eighteen counts: eight counts of communicating secret information to unauthorized recipients and ten counts of unauthorized possession of classified documents. The charges relate to Bolton sharing classified diary material with relatives that later informed his memoir "The Room Where It Happened." The indictment references Bolton's criticism of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's use of Signal messaging to plan military operations.
• Trump's former National Security Advisor John Bolton was indicted for retaining classified information — John Bolton, Trump's former National Security Advisor, was indicted for keeping more than 1,000 pages of diaries containing highly classified information and sharing them with two relatives. The indictment also notes that Bolton's email account was hacked by Iran, exposing some of the classified secrets.
• John Bolton indicted for mishandling classified information — John Bolton, Trump's former national security adviser and prominent critic of the president, was indicted for allegedly mishandling classified information. Bolton faces 18 criminal charges, including eight counts of transmitting national defense information and 10 counts of unlawfully retaining national defense information. In a statement, Bolton said he "look[s] forward to the fight to defend my lawful conduct and to expose [Trump's] abuse of power."
• John Bolton indicted on 18 counts of mishandling classified information — The Department of Justice filed an 18-count indictment against John Bolton, former Trump national security adviser, charging him under the Espionage Act with transmitting and retaining highly classified information. Bolton allegedly sent diary entries containing classified details to two unnamed individuals via personal email and messaging accounts. The grand jury indictment was handed down in federal district court in Maryland on October 17, 2025. Bolton's defense argues the diaries were personal records shared only with family and known to the FBI since 2021.
• John Bolton pleads not guilty to 18-count indictment for mishandling classified information — Former national security adviser John Bolton surrendered to authorities and pleaded not guilty in Maryland federal court to an 18-count indictment alleging he shared classified diary notes with relatives lacking security clearances, stored classified documents at his home, and sent top-secret information via personal email. Bolton's lawyer characterized the prosecution as political retaliation for his 2020 memoir critical of Trump. Career prosecutors in the Maryland US attorney's office filed the charges, which were initially dropped by the Biden DOJ in 2021 but reopened after the CIA director and FBI director reviewed Bolton's hacked emails.

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• Judge Waverly Crenshaw found realistic likelihood of vindictive prosecution of Ábrego García — In October 2025, U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw found there was a "realistic likelihood" that the Department of Justice had sought immigrant-trafficking charges against Kilmar Ábrego García as punishment for challenging his removal to El Salvador.
• U.S. District Judge Crenshaw rebukes Justice Department for vindictive prosecution of undocumented immigrant — U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw in Nashville rebuked the Justice Department and its top officials for prosecuting Maryland man Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an undocumented immigrant, on federal charges in what appears to be a vindictive prosecution. Crenshaw indicated that officials from the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security may have prosecuted Abrego for filing a successful lawsuit challenging his unlawful deportation to El Salvador. The New York Times notes that vindictive prosecution motions are very difficult to win, and the court's consideration of this motion represents "a hugely embarrassing blow to the Trump administration."

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• Trump administration fires 100+ immigration judges and recruits military lawyers to replace them — The Trump administration has fired more than 100 immigration judges since taking office, including roughly one-third of judges in San Francisco's major immigration court. In late August, the administration scrapped the rule requiring temporary immigration judges to have spent a decade practicing immigration law before qualifying for the bench, then cleared 600 military lawyers to fill vacant judge seats. This action has thrown already backlogged courts into chaos, with a 3.6 million case backlog.

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• Trump appoints Lindsey Halligan as U.S. attorney to prosecute Comey — Trump appointed Lindsey Halligan, a White House aide with no prosecutorial experience, as U.S. attorney to pursue charges against former FBI director James Comey. Halligan's prior role in the administration involved efforts to eliminate slavery from Smithsonian exhibits, which Cobb characterized as an attempt to "whitewash" American history and "paint America as something that it isn't."

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• Trump fires federal prosecutor who declined to prosecute Comey — Trump fired federal prosecutor Erik Siebert after Siebert declined to bring charges against former FBI director James Comey. Trump then appointed Lindsey Halligan, a White House aide with no prosecutorial experience, to pursue the case instead. This action demonstrates selective removal of prosecutors based on their willingness to prosecute the president's political opponents.
• Trump indicts former FBI director James Comey on charges of lying to Congress — Former FBI director James Comey was indicted on charges of allegedly lying to Congress. The indictment was brought by a Trump-appointed U.S. attorney, Lindsey Halligan, after Trump fired the previous federal prosecutor, Erik Siebert, when he declined to bring charges. Ex-Trump lawyer Ty Cobb characterized the indictment as part of a "concerted effort" to "rewrite history" and criticized it as "wholly unconstitutional [and] authoritarian," noting the grand jury approved only two counts by a slim 14-23 margin.
• DOJ indicted former FBI Director James Comey — The Department of Justice indicted former FBI Director James Comey. Fox legal analyst Andy McCarthy stated the indictment "doesn't give you notice of what Comey has actually done" and "factually there's nothing there," characterizing it as "lawfare" designed to put Comey through the legal process. Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe stated that DOJ never contacted him for an interview before the indictment despite his interactions with Comey potentially being central to the prosecution.

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• Magistrate judge orders release of Kilmar Ábrego García from criminal custody pending trial — Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes issued an order on Friday allowing Kilmar Ábrego García, a 30-year-old father of two, to be released from criminal custody in Tennessee so he can rejoin his family in Maryland while awaiting trial on human smuggling charges. Ábrego had been wrongfully deported to El Salvador in March by federal immigration officials (later admitted as an "administrative error"), detained and tortured at El Salvador's Cecot facility, and returned to the US in June only to be charged with crimes his lawyers call "preposterous." The release follows a Supreme Court order directing federal officials to facilitate his return.

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• Federal judge rules Trump-appointed US attorney unlawfully serving without Senate confirmation — Chief US District Judge Matthew Brann ruled that Alina Habba, Trump's former lawyer appointed as interim US attorney for New Jersey in March 2025, has been unlawfully serving in the role. The judge found that her four-month temporary appointment ended in July and that the Trump administration's legal maneuvers to retain her without Senate confirmation violated federal law. Brann disqualified Habba from prosecuting three defendants who challenged her appointment and placed his order on hold pending appeal.
• Federal judge rules Alina Habba illegally serving as acting US attorney for New Jersey — District Judge Matthew Brann ruled that Alina Habba is not lawfully performing the functions and duties of the office of US Attorney for New Jersey and must be disqualified from participating in any ongoing cases. The judge concluded she is not currently qualified to exercise the functions and duties of the office in an acting capacity, effectively removing her from the role.

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• Attorney General Bondi retaliates by firing career prosecutor and reinstalling Habba as acting US attorney — After federal judges in New Jersey exercised their statutory power to replace Alina Habba with a career prosecutor when her temporary appointment lapsed in late July 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi retaliated by firing that prosecutor and moved to reinstall Habba as acting US attorney. This action directly contradicted the judicial order and the statutory succession mechanism designed to fill the vacancy.

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• Emil Bove confirmed to federal appeals court by US Senate — The Senate confirmed Emil Bove, a former Trump defense attorney and top DOJ official, to a lifetime seat on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals by a 50-49 vote. The confirmation proceeded despite whistleblower allegations that Bove advocated for ignoring court orders, misled Congress about dropping corruption charges against NYC Mayor Eric Adams, and participated in firing prosecutors who worked January 6 cases. All Democrats and two Republicans opposed the nomination.
• Senate confirmed Emil Bove as federal appeals court judge — The Republican-controlled Senate narrowly confirmed former Trump lawyer Emil Bove for a lifetime appointment as a federal appeals court judge, despite whistleblower allegations and widespread concerns over his fitness for office, including from over 900 former DOJ attorneys who penned a letter opposing his appointment.
• Senate confirms Emil Bove to federal judgeship despite whistleblower allegations — The Senate confirmed Emil Bove to a federal judgeship on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals with 50 Republicans voting in favor and 47 Democrats voting against. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined Democrats in opposition, with Murkowski stating that someone who counseled attorneys to ignore court orders should not receive a lifetime seat on the bench. Republican Thom Tillis (R-NC) voted in favor, illustrating Republican enablement of the administration's assault on the rule of law.
• Emil Bove confirmed to US Court of Appeals for Third Circuit on 50-49 Senate vote — The Republican-controlled Senate confirmed Emil Bove to a lifetime appointment on the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit on a 50-49 vote, despite opposition from over 80 retired judges and three whistleblowers alleging serious ethical violations. Bove, who served as acting deputy attorney general, faced allegations of disregarding court orders, firing prosecutors for political reasons, and pressuring DOJ lawyers to defy judicial rulings. The Senate Judiciary Committee chair dismissed whistleblower concerns as "delay-and-obstruction tactics" without substantive investigation.

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• Attorney General Bondi proposes removal of DOJ Public Integrity Section oversight — Attorney General Pam Bondi introduced a proposal in 2025 that removes the DOJ's Public Integrity Section from the approval process for cases against public officials and political candidates. The change gives presidentially appointed U.S. attorneys greater authority to pursue prosecutions of lawmakers without the oversight historically exercised by the Public Integrity Section. This structural change facilitates the targeting of political opponents without institutional checks.
• Interim U.S. Attorney Martin seeks grand jury investigation of Senator Chuck Schumer — Ed Martin, Trump's first pick for interim U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., sought a grand jury investigation into Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for saying that Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch would "pay the price" for ruling against abortion rights. Martin's efforts were rebuffed by the DOJ's Public Integrity Section, which exercises oversight in cases against public officials. A proposal by Attorney General Pam Bondi earlier in 2025 cut the Public Integrity Section out of the approval process, giving presidentially appointed U.S. attorneys more authority to pursue lawmaker prosecutions.

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• Federal judges in New Jersey decline to extend Habba's term and select replacement — On July 22, 2025, a panel of federal district judges in New Jersey declined Habba's request to extend her 120-day interim term, which was set to expire at the end of July. Instead, the judges selected Desiree Leigh Grace, an experienced prosecutor who had served in the office for nearly a decade and whom Habba had previously appointed as first assistant, to lead the U.S. attorney's office.
• Federal judges appoint career prosecutor Desiree Leigh Grace as New Jersey US attorney — A panel of federal judges in New Jersey, led by Chief Judge Renée Marie Bumb, appointed career prosecutor Desiree Leigh Grace as US attorney for the district, replacing interim appointee Alina Habba after her 120-day interim period expired. Grace had served in the office since 2016 and most recently led its criminal division. The appointment took effect on July 22, 2025.
• Alina Habba's interim US Attorney appointment expires; Senate judges to vote on retention — Alina Habba's 120-day interim appointment as New Jersey US Attorney expires on July 22, 2025. Under federal statute, the 17 district judges in her jurisdiction must vote on whether to retain her or select a replacement. Habba lacks Senate confirmation votes. The voting panel includes 15 Democratic appointees. During her tenure, Habba dissolved the Civil Rights Division, criminally charged Newark Mayor Ras Baraka (later dropped), and excluded career prosecutors from a major fraud case meeting. The New York Times reported morale has collapsed in the office. Baraka has filed a lawsuit against Habba for false arrest and malicious prosecution.
• Alina Habba removed as US Attorney for New Jersey — A 17-judge panel voted to remove Alina Habba from her position as US Attorney for New Jersey after her interim appointment expired and she lacked the votes for Senate confirmation. The judges appointed First Assistant US Attorney Desiree Grace, a seasoned federal prosecutor with deep legal experience, to fill the position. Grace has served in the US Attorney's office since 2016 and held leadership roles in the criminal division.

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• Attorney General Bondi fires Grace and attacks judges — Hours after the federal judges selected Desiree Leigh Grace as U.S. attorney on July 22, 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on social media that Grace was no longer first assistant and attacked the judges who appointed her. Bondi stated, "This Department of Justice does not tolerate rogue judges — especially when they threaten the President's core Article II powers," characterizing judicial exercise of statutory authority as a threat to presidential power.
• Federal judges reject Trump's interim US attorney pick Alina Habba for New Jersey — A panel of federal judges in New Jersey declined to permanently appoint Alina Habba, Trump's former defense lawyer, as the state's US attorney after her interim status expired on July 22. The judges offered no explanation but appointed career prosecutor Desiree Leigh Grace as her replacement. In retaliation, Attorney General Pam Bondi removed Grace hours later, citing judicial overreach of presidential Article II powers. The removal sparked Democratic condemnation of what senators called an attempt to intimidate the judiciary.
• AG Bondi removes Desiree Grace as US Attorney for New Jersey — Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the removal of Desiree Grace from her position as US Attorney for New Jersey, immediately after Grace was appointed by judges to replace Alina Habba. Bondi stated that "politically minded judges refused to allow her to continue in her position" and claimed the DOJ "does not tolerate rogue judges—especially when they threaten the President's core Article II powers."
• AG Bondi accused judges of refusing to appoint Alina Habba — Hours after judges on the US District Court in New Jersey declined to appoint Trump's former lawyer and interim US attorney for the state, Alina Habba, for a permanent position, AG Bondi accused the "politically minded" and "rogue" judges of refusing to allow her to continue in her position. Bondi also removed Habba's court-appointed successor, Desiree Grace, who had been serving as the second-highest-ranking official in the US attorney's office.
• Deputy AG Blanche defends Habba; urges judges to retain her — Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who served as Habba's co-counsel in Trump's criminal cases, issued a statement defending Habba and urging the district judges to retain her. Blanche stated that Habba has "the full confidence of DOJ leadership" and is performing her duties "aggressively, independently, and by the book." He characterized criticism as a "smear campaign" and urged judges to disregard "political noise."

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• Emil Bove confirmed as U.S. appeals court judge despite rule-of-law concerns — In July 2025, the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate confirmed Emil Bove as a U.S. appeals court judge. Republican senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined all Democrats in voting against confirmation. Senator Chuck Grassley, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, defended Bove's confirmation, stating he has "a strong legal background and has served his country honorably."

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• DOJ leader allegedly suggested defying court orders on deportations — Emil Bove, the Department of Justice's principal associate deputy attorney general and Trump nominee for the US Court of Appeals, reportedly told staff the department "would need to consider telling the courts 'fuck you'" regarding orders blocking deportations of undocumented people. Former DOJ attorney Erez Reuveni, in a whistleblower letter to Congress, alleged Bove made these comments in mid-March during discussions about invoking the Alien Enemies Act. Reuveni further claimed he witnessed DOJ officials systematically undermining court orders through lack of candor, deliberate delay, and disinformation, and that he was fired on April 11 after refusing to misrepresent facts in court filings.
• DOJ official Emil Bove stated DOJ would ignore court orders on deportations — DOJ lawyer Erez Reuveni, who was subsequently fired, came forward as a whistleblower to Congress and the DOJ inspector general. Reuveni stated that senior DOJ official Emil Bove announced plans to invoke the Alien Enemies Act for swift deportations and, when asked about potential judicial intervention, said the DOJ might have to tell courts "fuck you" and proceed with deportations regardless of legal injunctions. Reuveni reported that the statement was met with stunned silence among senior DOJ officials present.
• New York Times reported DOJ official Emil Bove told subordinates to ignore court orders — On June 24, the New York Times reported on a whistleblower complaint alleging that senior Justice Department official Emil Bove told his subordinates he would ignore court orders to further Trump's mass deportation efforts. Bove, who once served as Trump's criminal defense attorney and was recently nominated to serve as a federal appeals judge, later denied the comments during his confirmation hearing, saying "I have never advised a Department of Justice attorney to violate a court order."
• DOJ whistleblower Erez Reuveni filed complaint about defying court orders — On June 24, 2025, Erez Reuveni, a former Department of Justice lawyer, filed an official whistleblower complaint alleging that DOJ leaders and the White House deliberately defied court orders and "engaged in unlawful activity, abused their authority, created substantial and specific threat to health and safety." Reuveni was fired after telling a court that the administration had made an error when it rendered Maryland man Kilmar Abrego Garcia to CECOT despite a court order not to do so. In the complaint, Reuveni alleged that Emil Bove insisted planes carrying men to El Salvador must take off and said DOJ "would need to consider telling the courts 'f*ck you' and ignore any such court order."
• Bove fired DOJ prosecutors who investigated January 6 Capitol attack — Emil Bove issued a memo terminating dozens of DOJ prosecutors who had worked on cases related to the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack, characterizing their prosecutions as a "grave national injustice." Bove justified the firings by claiming the prosecutors had been hired as temporary employees under the Biden administration and converted to permanent status, and that they were preventing a particular U.S. attorney from fully staffing his office. The terminations were carried out in furtherance of a Trump executive order.
• Whistleblower complaint filed alleging DOJ official directed defiance of court orders — Former DOJ attorney Erez Reuveni filed a whistleblower complaint alleging that Emil Bove, principal associate deputy attorney general, instructed prosecutors to disregard judicial rulings against Trump's immigration policies. The complaint surfaced hours before Bove's Senate confirmation hearing for a federal appeals court judgeship. Bove denied the allegations under oath, stating he has "never advised a Department of Justice attorney to violate a court order."
• Emil Bove denies whistleblower allegations of directing DOJ staff to defy court orders on immigration — Emil Bove, principal associate deputy attorney general and Trump's nominee for federal appeals court judge, testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on June 25, 2025, denying a whistleblower complaint filed by former DOJ attorney Erez Reuveni. Reuveni alleged Bove instructed prosecutors to tell courts "fuck you" when ruling against Trump's immigration policies. Bove also denied Democratic allegations that he dropped corruption charges against NYC Mayor Eric Adams to secure his cooperation with immigration enforcement. Republicans signaled support for his nomination while Democrats characterized him as weaponizing the DOJ against Trump's political opponents.

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• FBI arrests Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan on obstruction charges related to immigration enforcement — The FBI arrested Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan on Friday morning at her courthouse on charges of obstruction and concealing an individual to prevent arrest. Federal authorities alleged that Dugan intentionally misdirected immigration agents seeking to apprehend Eduardo Flores Ruiz, an undocumented immigrant scheduled to appear in her courtroom. Dugan ordered the agents to leave, citing lack of a judicial warrant, and escorted Flores Ruiz to a non-public area. She was released after a brief court appearance; her next hearing is scheduled for May 15. The arrest marks the first publicly known instance of the Trump administration criminally charging a local official for allegedly obstructing immigration enforcement.
• Judge Hannah Dugan arrested by FBI for allowing defendant to exit courtroom — Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested by FBI agents on April 25, 2025, in her Milwaukee courtroom and charged with obstruction. She had allegedly allowed a man to leave through back doors of her courtroom in response to immigration officers waiting to arrest him outside. FBI Director Kash Patel posted comments and a photograph of her arrest on X, and digitally altered photographs of Dugan in tears proliferated on social media. Trump reposted an image from Libs of TikTok.
• FBI arrested Judge Hannah Dugan — FBI agents arrested Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan at the courthouse on charges of obstruction and concealing an individual to prevent arrest. The arrest followed an April 18 incident in which Judge Dugan, during a pre-trial conference for an undocumented immigrant charged with misdemeanor battery, questioned ICE agents' administrative warrant and allowed the defendant to exit via an alternate route, enabling him to flee before agents apprehended him. FBI Director Kash Patel initially posted about the arrest on social media before deleting the post.
• Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan arrested by FBI for obstruction of justice — Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested by the FBI on charges of obstruction of justice for allegedly helping a migrant evade arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. According to FBI Director Kash Patel, Judge Dugan misdirected federal agents away from Eduardo Flores Ruiz during an ICE operation in her courthouse, allowing Ruiz to exit through a jury room back door. Ruiz was apprehended after a short foot chase outside the building.

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• Attorney General Bondi publicly attacked Judge Dugan on Fox News — Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared on Fox News Channel to comment on Judge Dugan's arrest, calling judges "deranged" and stating they are "not beyond and above the law." Bondi warned that the administration would prosecute anyone "harboring a fugitive," framing judicial discretion in immigration cases as criminal conduct.

Supporting reports

• FBI arrests Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan on obstruction allegations related to immigration enforcement — The FBI arrested Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan on Friday, April 18, 2025, alleging she obstructed federal immigration officers attempting to arrest a defendant in her courtroom. According to the criminal complaint, Dugan directed the defendant and his attorney to a private exit to evade the arrest team. FBI Director Kash Patel posted a photograph of Dugan in handcuffs on social media. Republicans called for her removal; Democrats condemned the arrest as an attack on judicial independence and weaponization of federal law enforcement by the Trump administration.
• FBI Director Kash Patel posts photograph of arrested judge on social media — FBI Director Kash Patel posted a photograph of Judge Hannah Dugan in handcuffs on Twitter/X on Friday night with the caption "No one is above the law." The post served as a public signal that the Trump administration welcomed a political confrontation over the judge's arrest and framed the arrest as enforcement of equal accountability.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration orders mass layoffs at Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — The Trump administration, through staff from Elon Musk's "Department of Government Efficiency," issued reduction-in-force letters terminating approximately 1,500 of the CFPB's 1,700 employees on April 17. The layoffs eliminated entire divisions including the office of servicemember affairs, office of older Americans, and office of fair lending. According to an employee declaration, the effort was managed by Gavin Kliger and staff were kept working 36 hours straight to ensure notices went out. Employees raised concerns about violations of court orders requiring "particularized assessment," but were told "all that mattered was the numbers."
• Federal judge bars Trump administration from rapid deportation policy — Federal Judge Brian Murphy on Friday barred the Trump administration from implementing a new policy that would allow it to rapidly deport hundreds or thousands of immigrants to countries other than their own without giving them an opportunity to demonstrate they face persecution, torture, or death. The ruling blocks a policy that would circumvent due process protections for asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants.
• Federal judge blocks mass layoffs at Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — Judge Amy Berman Jackson issued a ruling blocking the Trump administration's termination of approximately 1,500 of the CFPB's 1,700 employees, announced on Thursday via reduction-in-force letters. The layoffs, orchestrated by staff from Elon Musk's "Department of Government Efficiency," eliminated entire divisions including servicemember affairs, older Americans, and fair lending offices. The judge's order came after a federal appeals court had modified (but not eliminated) an earlier injunction limiting the agency's ability to terminate staff. The administration's compliance with the ruling remains unclear.

Supporting reports

• Court Orders Return of Deportee Amid Legal Controversy — U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis ordered the government to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a legal U.S. resident who was deported due to an "administrative error." The administration filed an emergency motion to appeal the order, despite the judge's ruling that the deportation was unlawful and a violation of constitutional rights.
• Trump administration filed emergency motion to block return order for Abrego Garcia — Following U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis's order that the government return Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States by 11:59 p.m. on April 7, the Trump administration immediately filed an emergency motion to stop the order while it appeals her decision. The motion sought to prevent compliance with the judge's ruling that the deportation was unlawful.
• U.S. District Judge Xinis ordered government to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia from El Salvador — U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis ordered the Trump administration to bring Kilmar Abrego Garcia back to the United States no later than 11:59 p.m. on April 7. Abrego Garcia was in the United States legally, is married to a U.S. citizen, and is the father of a U.S. citizen. In 2019, a court barred the government from deporting him to El Salvador. On March 31, an ICE official told the court under oath that Abrego Garcia had been arrested and deported to prison in El Salvador because of an "administrative error." The government claimed it could not retrieve him because he is no longer in U.S. jurisdiction. In her April 7 opinion, Judge Xinis stated that "there were no legal grounds whatsoever for his arrest, detention, or removal" and that his detention "appears wholly lawless" and constitutes "a clear constitutional violation." She criticized administration officials for asserting "they can forcibly remove any person—migrant and U.S. citizen alike—to prisons outside the United States, and then baldly assert they have no way to effectuate return because they are no longer the 'custodian.'"
• Judge Paula Xinis orders daily compliance updates and depositions after Trump administration ignores court orders on wrongful deportation case — US District Judge Paula Xinis ordered the Trump administration to provide daily updates on efforts to comply with her April 10 order to facilitate the return of Kilmar Ábrego García, who was wrongly deported to El Salvador. After the government made clear it was doing nothing to comply, Xinis ordered government officials to respond to written questions and sit for depositions. Lawyers reported on Tuesday that the government was ignoring that order as well. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals denied the administration's request to halt Xinis's rulings.
• Federal judge ordered government to file status update on Abrego Garcia by 9:30 a.m. — U.S. District Court Judge Paula Xinis ordered the government to file an update by 9:30 a.m. on April 11 explaining where Kilmar Abrego Garcia is, what the government is doing to get him back, and what additional steps it will take. She scheduled an in-person hearing for 1:00 p.m. The government responded that the judge had not given them enough time to answer and suggested it would delay, citing the Supreme Court's instruction that the judge show deference to the president's foreign affairs authority.
• Government attorney stated lack of knowledge about Abrego Garcia's location and no action taken — At the 1:00 p.m. hearing before Judge Paula Xinis, the government's attorney, Drew Ensign, stated that he did not have information about where Kilmar Abrego Garcia is and that the government had done nothing to get him back. Ensign said he might have answers by the following Tuesday. Judge Xinis ordered the government to provide an update by the next day. The government's filing at 12:15 p.m. had claimed Abrego Garcia is "in the custody of a foreign sovereign," but the attorney's testimony contradicted any claim of active efforts to secure his return.
• Government fails to comply with court order regarding Abrego Garcia — Following the Supreme Court's order, the government failed to provide information about Kilmar Abrego Garcia's whereabouts and did not take steps to facilitate his return, raising concerns about compliance with judicial directives.
• Government lawyer claims lack of information and ignores court order — On April 11, 2025, the lawyer representing the government, Drew Ensign, told the court that he did not have information about where Kilmar Abrego Garcia is located and ignored Judge Xinis's order to provide information about what steps the government was taking to bring him back. This non-compliance occurred despite the Supreme Court's April 10 decision requiring the government to facilitate his release and to share information about steps taken.
• Trump administration defies court order on wrongly deported Maryland resident — A federal judge in Maryland admonished Trump administration lawyers for failing to comply with a court order requiring details on the whereabouts and status of Kilmar Ábrego García, a Maryland resident with a valid US work permit who was wrongly deported to El Salvador on March 15. The US Supreme Court had upheld the judge's order for his return, but the administration claimed it needed more time and that foreign affairs considerations made compliance impracticable. The judge demanded daily updates and expressed frustration at the government's lack of concrete action.