Narrow these 639 — tap a value to filter:
Trait 40
Open an event to see its evidence. Attack and trait tags link to their definitions
Mar 8, 2025 The SEC dropped lawsuits against Kraken and Coinbase Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
The decision marked a major enforcement retreat by a federal regulator and raised questions about equal application of financial rules.
Supporting reports
- SEC drops lawsuits against Kraken and Coinbase — Following the inauguration of President Donald Trump, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has dropped lawsuits against cryptocurrency companies Kraken and Coinbase.
Mar 6, 2025 President Trump issued an order targeting Perkins Coie by suspending clearances and directing agencies to cut ties Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The order used presidential power against a named law firm, raising concerns about retaliation against legal adversaries and access to representation.
Supporting reports
- Executive Order: Addressing Risks from Perkins Coie LLP — On March 6, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order targeting the law firm Perkins Coie LLP.
- Trump signs executive order suspending security clearances for law firm employees — President Trump signed an executive order suspending security clearances for employees of a law firm that previously worked for Hillary Clinton.
Mar 1, 2025 The FBI returned documents seized from Mar-a-Lago to President Trump Tier 1 · Primary Economic Structure
The return of records from a high-profile investigation raised questions about equal treatment and accountability in handling sensitive materials.
Supporting reports
- FBI Returns Documents Seized in Mar-a-Lago Raid to Trump — The FBI has returned documents that were previously seized during a raid at Mar-a-Lago, the residence of former President Donald Trump.
Feb 27, 2025 A county judge and the North Dakota Supreme Court petitioners fought over venue and public access in the Greenpeace trial Corroborated Institutions and Governance
The dispute raised due-process and transparency questions in a high-profile case with broad implications for protest and corporate accountability.
Supporting reports
- County court judge denies requests to livestream trial proceedings — The county court judge, James Gion, denied requests to livestream the proceedings of the trial against Greenpeace, stating that it would interfere with Energy Transfer's right to a fair trial.
- Greenpeace petitions North Dakota Supreme Court for trial venue change — Greenpeace filed a petition to the North Dakota Supreme Court seeking to change the venue for its trial against Energy Transfer Partners, citing concerns over judicial bias and due-process violations due to the jurors'
- Trial monitors petition North Dakota Supreme Court for public livestream of trial — A group of trial monitors filed a petition to the North Dakota Supreme Court urging it to mandate a public livestream of the trial against Greenpeace, arguing that the case's broad national and international
Feb 26, 2025 Chris Kluwe was arrested after protesting at a Huntington Beach City Council meeting Tier 1 · Primary Civil Rights and Dissent
The arrest raised questions about how local authorities handle disruptive but political speech in public meetings.
Supporting reports
- Chris Kluwe Arrested at Huntington Beach City Council Meeting — Former NFL player Chris Kluwe was arrested at a city council meeting in Huntington Beach, California, after making a speech against the Maga movement, which he likened to Nazism.
Feb 25, 2025 The Supreme Court ordered a new trial for Richard Glossip Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
The ruling reaffirmed that constitutional trial protections can override a final conviction even in a death-penalty case.
Supporting reports
- US Supreme Court Orders New Trial for Richard Glossip — The US Supreme Court has overturned the murder conviction and death penalty of Richard Glossip, an Oklahoma death row inmate, citing constitutional violations due to prosecutors' failure to disclose evidence that could
- Supreme Court releases opinion in Glossip v. Oklahoma (22-7466) — The Supreme Court released an official slip opinion in Glossip v.
Feb 25, 2025 President Trump suspended the security clearances of lawyers tied to Jack Smith’s former office Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
Using clearance power against opposing lawyers blurred national-security tools with political retaliation and chilled adversarial legal work.
Supporting reports
- Trump Suspends Security Clearances of Legal Defense Lawyers — President Trump signed a memorandum suspending the security clearances of lawyers from the firm representing former special counsel Jack Smith.
Feb 24, 2025 Representative Gerry Connolly opened an investigation into U.S. Attorney Ed Martin Corroborated Institutions and Governance
The inquiry used congressional oversight to test whether a federal prosecutor had abused office to chill speech and dissent.
Supporting reports
- Investigation launched into U.S. Attorney's actions — Rep.
Feb 22, 2025 Attorney General Pam Bondi created a Justice Department working group to review past prosecutions and report to the White House Corroborated Power and Authority
Routing a Justice Department review structure toward White House political staff tested prosecutorial independence and blurred the line between law enforcement and presidential power.
Supporting reports
- Creation of "Weaponization Working Group" by Attorney General Pam Bondi — Attorney General Pam Bondi has established the "weaponization working group" in response to an executive order from Donald Trump.
Feb 19, 2025 Judge Tanya Chutkan questioned DOJ lawyers about their knowledge of mass firings Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
The exchange suggested weak internal accountability and possible strategic opacity around major executive personnel actions.
Supporting reports
- Judge questions DOJ's knowledge of mass firings — U.S.
Feb 19, 2025 President Trump ordered the Justice Department to fire remaining Biden-appointed U.S. attorneys Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The directive tightened presidential control over federal prosecution and raised concerns about loyalty tests inside the justice system.
Supporting reports
- Trump orders justice department to fire all US attorneys appointed by Biden — On February 19, 2025, Donald Trump announced via a Truth Social post that he instructed the Justice Department to terminate all remaining US attorneys appointed by the Biden administration.
- Trump orders DoJ to fire Biden-era US attorneys — Donald Trump has instructed the Department of Justice to dismiss any remaining US attorneys appointed during Joe Biden's administration.
Feb 17, 2025 The Department of Justice sent a letter accusing Representative Robert Garcia of threatening Elon Musk Corroborated Civil Rights and Dissent
The action suggested federal law enforcement was being used in a way that could chill sharp political criticism by elected officials.
Supporting reports
- DOJ Accuses Rep. Garcia of Threatening Musk — The Department of Justice has sent a letter to Democratic Rep.
Feb 17, 2025 The Justice Department moved to drop corruption charges against Eric Adams Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
The move raised concerns that prosecutorial decisions were being shaped by political bargaining rather than case merits.
Supporting reports
- Justice Department Drops Corruption Charges Against Eric Adams — The U.S.
- Trump DOJ Drops Bribery Case Against Eric Adams — On February 19, 2025, a federal judge in Manhattan questioned Emil Bove, the acting deputy attorney general under Trump, about the Department of Justice's motion to dismiss a corruption indictment against New York City
- Judge questions DoJ's motion to dismiss Eric Adams indictment — Emil Bove, the acting deputy attorney general, led the Justice Department's decision to dismiss the corruption case against New York Mayor Eric Adams.
Feb 17, 2025 Michelle King resigned from the Social Security Administration after refusing to turn over sensitive data to DOGE Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
The resignation showed institutional conflict over privacy, data control, and the reach of a White House-linked outside body.
Supporting reports
- Michelle King resigns from Social Security Administration — Michelle King, the former acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, resigned after refusing to comply with a demand from DOGE to turn over sensitive data on millions of Americans, including Social
- Acting Social Security Head Leaves Agency Over Access Denial — Michelle King, the acting head of the Social Security Administration (SSA), has retired after refusing to grant Elon Musk and the "department of government efficiency" access to sensitive beneficiary information.
Feb 16, 2025 Five people in New York were charged with the murder of transgender man Sam Nordquist Corroborated Civil Rights and Dissent
The case underscored the bodily insecurity faced by transgender people and the justice system's role in responding to severe anti-trans violence.
Supporting reports
- Five charged with murder of transgender man in New York — Five individuals have been charged with the murder of Sam Nordquist, a transgender man from Minnesota, in Canandaigua, New York.
Feb 16, 2025 The EEOC moved to dismiss gender-identity discrimination cases Corroborated Institutions and Governance
The agency's shift narrowed federal civil-rights enforcement and showed executive policy changing how existing law is applied.
Supporting reports
- EEOC Moves to Dismiss Gender-Identity Discrimination Cases — The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has moved to dismiss six cases involving gender-identity discrimination, citing a conflict with a Trump administration executive order that recognizes only two sexes
Feb 15, 2025 DOJ leadership pressured prosecutors to dismiss the Eric Adams case and triggered resignations Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
The pressure campaign suggested political control over charging decisions and weakened confidence in prosecutorial independence.
Supporting reports
- Legal Analyst Reports on DOJ Pressure — Legal analyst Barb McQuade reported that DOJ leadership had confined Public Integrity Section lawyers to a room, giving them one hour to decide who would dismiss the indictment against Mayor Adams or face termination.
- Resignation of Public Integrity Section Lawyers — Following the order to dismiss charges against Mayor Adams, at least five lawyers from the Public Integrity Section of the Department of Justice resigned in protest.
- Resignation of U.S. Attorney Over Charges Against Mayor Adams — Acting U.S.
Feb 12, 2025 The Justice Department moved to drop corruption charges against Mayor Eric Adams, prompting resignations and protest Corroborated Information, Memory and Manipulation
The intervention raised acute concerns that prosecutorial decisions were being shaped by political bargaining rather than legal judgment.
Supporting reports
- U.S. Attorney Resigns Over Refusal to Drop Charges — The U.S.
- DOJ Drops Corruption Charges Against Eric Adams — Tom Homan, the Deportation Czar, publicly threatened Mayor Adams, stating that if he fails to comply with demands, criminal charges would be refiled against him.
- Deportation Czar threatens Mayor Adams with refiled charges — DOJ leadership reportedly gathered all Public Integrity Section lawyers and demanded they decide within an hour whether to dismiss the indictment against Mayor Adams or face termination.
Feb 11, 2025 Most prosecutors dropped charges against many Gaza protesters Corroborated Civil Rights and Dissent
The dismissals reduced legal pressure on protest activity and highlighted prior use of charges against demonstrators.
Supporting reports
- Most charges against Gaza protesters dismissed
Feb 11, 2025 President Trump pardoned Rod Blagojevich Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The pardon used clemency power to erase consequences for a corruption conviction, affecting norms of accountability.
Supporting reports
- Trump issues pardon to Rod Blagojevich — President Donald Trump announced a pardon for former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who was convicted in 2011 for political corruption, including attempting to sell Barack Obama's US Senate seat.
Feb 6, 2025 President Trump signed orders on anti-Christian bias, ICC sanctions, NGO funding review, a White House Faith Office, South Africa, and gun rights Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The cluster of orders expanded presidential direction over religion policy, civil society funding, foreign legal bodies, aid, and firearms enforcement.
Supporting reports
- Executive Order to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias — On February 6, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order aimed at eradicating anti-Christian bias within the federal government.
- Imposing Sanctions on the International Criminal Court — On February 6, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC).
- Trump Establishes Task Force on Anti-Christian Bias — President Trump signed an executive order establishing a task force to "eradicate anti-Christian bias" in the federal government.
Feb 5, 2025 The Senate confirmed Pam Bondi as attorney general Corroborated Institutions and Governance
The confirmation placed a close presidential ally atop the Justice Department during a period of institutional strain.
Supporting reports
- US Senate Confirms Pam Bondi as Attorney General — The US Senate confirmed Pam Bondi as the attorney general with a 54-46 vote, largely along party lines.
- Confirmation of Pam Bondi as attorney general — The Senate confirmed Pam Bondi as attorney general, despite opposition from civil rights groups due to her history of anti-LGBTQ, anti-immigrant, and anti-voting rights stances.
Feb 4, 2025 FBI agents sued to block collection and release of names tied to January 6 cases Corroborated Institutions and Governance
The suits sought judicial protection for law-enforcement independence against retaliatory executive demands.
Supporting reports
- FBI agents sue Trump DoJ over retaliation fears — Two groups of unnamed FBI agents have filed lawsuits against the Department of Justice to prevent it from collecting information on agents involved in the January 6 Capitol riot investigations and cases against Donald
- FBI Employees File Lawsuit Over Jan. 6 Investigations — FBI employees filed a class action lawsuit against acting Attorney General James McHenry, seeking to block the release of names of workers involved in Jan.
- Judge Blocks DOJ from Releasing FBI Employee Names — A federal judge temporarily blocked the Department of Justice from releasing the names of FBI employees who worked on investigations involving Trump and Jan.
Feb 3, 2025 President Trump issued blanket pardons for January 6 defendants Corroborated Power and Authority
The pardons used clemency power to erase accountability for an attack tied to the transfer of power.
Supporting reports
- Trump issues blanket pardons for January 6 participants — On his first day in office, Donald Trump issued blanket pardons to over 1,500 individuals convicted or charged in connection with the January 6 insurrection.
Feb 2, 2025 Elon Musk's team entered or sought access to multiple federal agencies and systems Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The spread of DOGE access across agencies blurred lines between public authority and private influence over state operations.
Supporting reports
- Musk seeks access to USAID's sensitive systems — Reports indicated that Elon Musk was seeking access to USAID's personnel files and security systems, including classified information.
- Musk's Team Accesses Small Business Administration Systems — Musk's team has gained access to the Small Business Administration's human resources, contracts, and payment systems.
- Musk's Team Breaches Department of Education Data Systems — Musk's team has accessed sensitive internal data systems of the Department of Education, including personal information of millions of students involved in federal student aid programs.