Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss dismisses DOJ case seeking access to D.C. voter registration data — U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss dismissed the Department of Justice's case against Washington, D.C., ruling that the Civil Rights Act of 1960 does not authorize federal access to unredacted state voter registration lists. Moss held that the DOJ's legal theory contradicts the Help America Vote Act and the National Voter Registration Act, which vest voter-roll maintenance authority in state election officials. This marks the DOJ's 21st consecutive loss in voter-roll access litigation across federal courts.
• DOJ sues 30 states and D.C. for voter registration records — The Trump administration's Department of Justice has sued 30 noncompliant states and Washington, D.C. to force them to provide unredacted voter registration records, claiming it needs them to ensure states comply with federal laws requiring accurate rolls. However, 21 federal judges—including several appointed by Trump in his first term—have rejected all 22 DOJ lawsuits, with none ruling in DOJ's favor. The lawsuits appear aimed at enabling the administration to pressure states to purge specific voters.

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• DOJ and Republican states petition Supreme Court to lift mail ballot block — The Department of Justice and a dozen Republican-led states filed emergency applications with the Supreme Court asking it to lift the federal judge's block on the USPS mail ballot restriction, arguing the lower court acted prematurely because USPS had not finalized the implementing rule. The Supreme Court has not yet responded.

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• Human rights groups file federal lawsuit challenging Trump ICC sanctions executive order — Four prominent US human rights organizations—American Friends Service Committee, Center for Constitutional Rights, Human Rights Watch, and Open Society Institute—filed a federal lawsuit on Tuesday challenging Trump's February 2025 executive order imposing sanctions on ICC officials, judges, and affiliates investigating Israeli crimes in Palestine. The groups argue the sanctions regime violates First Amendment protections, criminalizes legitimate advocacy work, and undermines access to justice for victims of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

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• DOJ official encouraged prosecutors to "go big" and "go loud" in prosecuting protesters — A top Justice Department official encouraged prosecutors to "go big" and "go loud" when pursuing criminal charges against people who protested against the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, according to reporting. The Minneapolis case is one of several the DOJ has brought across the U.S. leveling charges against wide swaths of protesters, including cases in Texas where prosecutors secured decades-long sentences for nine people protesting outside an ICE facility.
• Law enforcement provided false information in criminal case against journalist Georgia Fort — Federal law enforcement officials, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), provided false information to federal judges in at least 15 search warrant applications and to a grand jury in the case against independent journalist Georgia Fort, who was charged alongside nearly 40 others after interrupting a Minnesota church service to protest an ICE official serving as a pastor. The Justice Department later conceded the false claims. Fort's lawyers filed motions on Thursday seeking dismissal, arguing the prosecution violates the First Amendment, fails to state an actual crime, and is vindictive retaliation against her journalism.
• Prosecutors charged journalist Georgia Fort with conspiracy to interfere with religious rights for documenting anti-ICE protest — Journalist Georgia Fort was charged with conspiracy to interfere with the religious rights of parishioners after she entered and documented a protest at Cities church in St Paul, Minnesota, where demonstrators interrupted a service upon learning an ICE official was a pastor. Fort's lawyers argue the prosecution is vindictive retaliation targeting her for her journalism and for amplifying a message the government opposes, violating the First Amendment.
• Prosecutors made false claims in search warrant applications regarding protest conduct — In search warrant applications, prosecutors claimed a congregant had broken her arm during the protest when she had not, and made other false characterizations of Fort's conduct, including claims she conspired with others in advance when evidence showed she arrived late and was not present for planning discussions. Prosecutors also claimed Fort blocked a van from leaving when her own livestream showed the van left easily.
• Journalist Georgia Fort indicted for covering anti-ICE protest; seeks dismissal on First Amendment grounds — Attorneys for Twin Cities journalist Georgia Fort asked a federal judge to dismiss charges against her for covering an anti-ICE protest at a St. Paul church, arguing the indictment violates her First Amendment rights. Fort was indicted alongside former CNN host Don Lemon and dozens of protesters on charges of conspiring against the right of religious freedom at a place of worship. Her attorneys argue the 19-page indictment contains no allegation of physical force, threats, or blocking the church entrance, and that her role was to observe and document. Magistrate Judge John Docherty twice refused to sign search warrants for Fort's and Lemon's YouTube accounts, finding they violated the Privacy Protection Act of 1980. A government attorney acknowledged a mischaracterization in an affidavit at a July hearing.

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• Sen. Bill Cassidy Announces Vote to Confirm Todd Blanche as Attorney General — Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) announced his decision to vote in favor of confirming Todd Blanche, former personal attorney to Donald Trump, as Attorney General. This decision came despite opposition from some Republicans, including Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), who criticized Blanche's handling of various issues, including the release of Epstein files and immunity protections for Trump and his family. Cassidy's vote is pivotal in the confirmation process, as it ensures Blanche's appointment despite concerns about his loyalty to Trump over constitutional duties.
• Todd Blanche clears Senate confirmation hurdle for attorney general — Senator Bill Cassidy announced Friday he will vote to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general, removing the final Republican holdout and clearing the path for Blanche's confirmation by a narrow margin. Blanche, Trump's former personal lawyer and current acting attorney general, had faced opposition from Republican senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins over concerns about Department of Justice independence. Cassidy's support follows weeks of White House pressure and his own primary loss to a Trump-backed challenger in May.
• Bill Cassidy supports Blanche's confirmation as Attorney General — Senator Bill Cassidy has announced his support for Blanche's confirmation as Attorney General, likely securing the necessary votes for her appointment. This development follows a period of uncertainty regarding Blanche's confirmation prospects, with Cassidy's backing seen as pivotal in the Senate's decision-making process.
• Senate Judiciary Committee approves Todd Blanche as Attorney General — The Senate Judiciary Committee approved Todd Blanche's nomination as permanent Attorney General, putting him on track for confirmation by an extremely slim majority in the full Senate. Blanche's confirmation follows his release of documents purporting to rescind the "anti-weaponization fund," which secured support from holdout Republican senators.

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• White House issues fraud.gov release tracking Trump administration fraud enforcement actions — The White House published a release on August 6, 2026, announcing fraud.gov, a website tracking the Trump administration's fraud enforcement efforts. The release lists 60+ discrete enforcement actions spanning February–August 2026, including Medicaid payment suspensions in multiple states, criminal charges against 455 defendants in healthcare fraud schemes totaling $6.5 billion, apprehension of four FBI Most Wanted Fraudsters, removal of 1,076 hospices from Medicare in California, and suspension of pandemic-era loans. The administration claims to have uncovered $230 billion in fraud, stopped $56 billion in fraudulent payments, and enforced $55 billion through indictments and settlements.

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• Trump publicly rebukes US Attorney Jeanine Pirro over reflecting pool vandalism case dismissal — President Trump criticized US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro after she filed a motion to dismiss vandalism charges against a former Olympian and three others connected to damage at the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool. Pirro's office argued in a 20-page court filing that the damage resulted from a "botched" renovation, not vandalism. Trump told NBC News on Thursday that Pirro "made a terrible mistake" and called her decision "stupid," though he declined to commit to replacing her. The charges against David Hearn, a 67-year-old former Olympic canoeist, were dismissed by the Justice Department.

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• Trump threatens prosecution of leakers over munitions shortage reports — President Trump publicly attacked media reports of US munitions shortages in the Iran conflict, threatening "long term jail sentences" for officials leaking information about weapons stockpiles. The reports alleged Trump had confronted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over alleged shortages at a Camp David meeting. Trump denied the shortages, claimed massive ammunition supplies, and ordered investigations into the disclosures. The White House and Pentagon rejected the accounts as false.
• U.S. Munitions Stockpile Depletion Reported — Reports have emerged that the United States has depleted its stockpile of long-range precision missiles due to the ongoing conflict with Iran. President Trump has dismissed these reports as "fake news" while simultaneously calling for the prosecution of those who leaked the information. The depletion has reportedly led to a crisis meeting at the Pentagon and a confrontation between Trump and Pete Hegseth at Camp David.

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• Trump signs Executive Order 14418 restricting birthright citizenship based on parental status and commercial surrogacy. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14418 on August 6, 2026, implementing restrictions on birthright citizenship following the Supreme Court's June 30, 2026 decision in Trump v. Barbara. The order directs federal agencies to deny citizenship recognition to children born in the U.S. when neither parent is a citizen and one or more conditions apply: a parent is designated a terrorist or foreign government employee, parents engaged in commercial surrogacy or citizenship-purchase transactions, or the child was born in U.S. territories where federal statute does not confer citizenship. The Secretary of State, Attorney General, Secretary of Homeland Security, and Commissioner of Social Security must ensure agency compliance within 30 days.
• Trump signs executive order restricting birth tourism and citizenship acquisition via childbirth on U.S. soil — President Trump signed Executive Order 14419 on August 6, 2026, establishing policy to prevent "birth tourism"—entry of foreign nationals on nonimmigrant visas for the purpose of giving birth in the United States. The order delegates authority to the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security to deny visas, revoke travel authorization, bar entry, and remove aliens engaged in or facilitating birth tourism. The order defines birth tourism as entry via nonimmigrant visa for childbirth purposes or efforts to facilitate such entry. Secretaries may grant exemptions on humanitarian grounds or national interest.
• Trump issues executive order restricting birth tourism via nonimmigrant visas — President Donald Trump signed an executive order on August 6, 2026, directing the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security to prevent foreign nationals from entering the United States on nonimmigrant visas for the purpose of giving birth. The order authorizes visa denial, revocation, permanent entry bars, and removal of individuals engaged in birth tourism, and permits sanctions against entities facilitating such schemes. The order defines birth tourism as entry via nonimmigrant visa to give birth or efforts to facilitate such entry, and allows exemptions on humanitarian or national-interest grounds.
• Trump issues executive order restricting birthright citizenship based on Supreme Court ruling — President Trump issued an executive order on August 6, 2026, implementing restrictions on birthright citizenship following the Supreme Court's June 30, 2026 decision in Trump v. Barbara. The order directs federal agencies to deny citizenship recognition to children born in the U.S. whose parents fall into specified categories: designated foreign terrorists, foreign government employees, those engaged in commercial transactions to obtain birthright citizenship, or those born in U.S. territories where citizenship is not conferred by statute. The order requires State Department, DOJ, DHS, and Social Security Administration to enforce compliance within 30 days.
• Trump signed Executive Order 14418 restricting birthright citizenship based on parental status — President Trump signed Executive Order 14418 on August 6, 2026, directing federal agencies to deny citizenship recognition to children born in the United States whose parents do not include a U.S. citizen, in four specified categories: when either parent is designated a terrorist or foreign government employee; when parents engaged in commercial transactions to secure birthright citizenship; or when birth occurs in U.S. territories where citizenship is not conferred by statute. The order cites the Supreme Court's June 2026 decision in Trump v. Barbara as legal foundation and directs State, Homeland Security, Justice, and Social Security to issue implementation guidance within 30 days.
• Trump signed Executive Order 14419 restricting entry and visa authorization for foreign nationals engaging in birth tourism — President Trump signed Executive Order 14419 on August 6, 2026, directing the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security to prevent entry, deny visas, revoke travel authorization, and permanently bar foreign nationals who enter or attempt to enter the United States for the purpose of giving birth. The order defines birth tourism as entry via nonimmigrant visa for childbirth purposes and authorizes removal of those who previously engaged in or plan to engage in such activity. The order states it aims to protect immigration system integrity and prevent exploitation of nonimmigrant visa categories.
• White House issues fact sheet on executive orders restricting birthright citizenship and birth tourism — The White House published a fact sheet on August 6, 2026, announcing that President Trump signed two executive orders. The first identifies categories of children of aliens ineligible for birthright citizenship consistent with the Supreme Court's June 30, 2026 decision in Trump v. Barbara. The second delegates authority to the Secretary of State and Secretary of Homeland Security to halt birth tourism. The fact sheet claims the administration has deported over 3 million individuals, filed denaturalization claims against 88 people, and purged tens of thousands of individuals from voter rolls.
• Trump signs executive orders further restricting birthright citizenship — Trump signed two executive orders designed to further restrict eligibility for birthright citizenship and to prevent people from entering the U.S. to give birth. The orders target four groups of children and are likely to face legal challenges. They come just over a month after the Supreme Court upheld birthright citizenship as constitutionally protected.
• Trump signed two new executive orders targeting birthright citizenship — Trump signed two executive orders targeting birthright citizenship 37 days after the Supreme Court ruled 6–3 in Trump v. Barbara that his first-day 2025 order was unlawful and violated the Fourteenth Amendment. One new order expands categories of people deemed ineligible for birthright citizenship; the other targets "birth tourism." Trump called the Supreme Court decision "very unfortunate" and stated the administration is "making adjustments."
• Trump signs executive orders targeting birthright citizenship after Supreme Court rejection — On Thursday, August 7, 2026, President Trump signed two executive orders seeking to restrict birthright citizenship protections under the 14th Amendment. The first order expands categories of children ineligible for automatic US citizenship to include children of members of "foreign terrorist organizations" and certain foreign government employees, and denies citizenship to children whose parents engaged in fraudulent activity. The second order targets "birth tourism" by directing federal agencies to prosecute operators arranging such travel. Both orders face expected legal challenges, coming weeks after the Supreme Court rejected Trump's initial, broader attempt to deny citizenship to children of undocumented immigrants and temporary visa holders.
• Trump signs new birthright citizenship order — Former President Donald Trump signed a new executive order aimed at altering the interpretation of birthright citizenship in the United States. This order challenges the current understanding of the 14th Amendment, which grants citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. The order is expected to face legal challenges and could potentially reach the Supreme Court for a final decision on its constitutionality.

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• Trump administration removes Temporary Protected Status for Haitian nationals; ICE enforces deportations with ankle monitors in Ohio — Following a Supreme Court decision backing the Trump administration on 5 August 2026, federal judge Ana Reyes lifted her stay on the removal of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 350,000 Haitian nationals. ICE subsequently began summoning Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio to a facility in Blue Ash, where they were fitted with ankle monitors restricting travel to 75 miles from their homes. The action affects thousands of Haitians who had legally resided in the US under TPS protections and worked in local manufacturing and food-packaging jobs.
• Trump administration terminates TPS protections for Haitians; DHS begins enforcement and deportations — The Trump administration officially ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti after a June Supreme Court ruling eliminated judicial review of the program. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced "We're going after them right now," directing over 300,000 Haitians to self-deport or face arrest and deportation. A federal judge confirmed the termination on Wednesday. Removal orders for Haitians surged 96% between March and June, and immigration officials have begun fitting Haitians with ankle monitors for tracking and detention, despite Haiti being on the State Department's "do not travel" advisory list due to gang violence and political collapse.

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• Maine man "inadvertently" deported to Guatemala despite federal judge's order — A Maine man was deported to Guatemala by ICE despite lacking a deportation order and despite a federal judge having ordered ICE not to remove him one day before his deportation. ICE claimed they had mistaken him for someone else. His lawyer stated he will be returned to the U.S. the following week.

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• Congressional ethics committee launches investigation into Max Miller over domestic abuse allegations — The House ethics committee opened an investigation into Ohio Republican representative Max Miller following allegations that he engaged in domestic violence and abuse or illegal drug use. Miller, a former White House aide, has denied the accusations and vowed not to resign despite mounting pressure from fellow Republicans, including Senator Bernie Moreno (his ex-father-in-law), who called him unfit for Congress. The investigation was announced as a deadline approached for party leaders to select a potential replacement candidate.

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• New Mexico sues DOJ for withholding Epstein investigation documents — New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed a lawsuit in US District Court for the District of Columbia against the Department of Justice and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, alleging the DOJ "stonewalled" the state's criminal investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's activities at Zorro Ranch near Santa Fe. Torrez had set a July 31 deadline for the DOJ to provide unredacted investigative records; the deadline passed without compliance. The lawsuit seeks a court declaration that the DOJ acted illegally, demands compliance with the Epstein transparency law and Touhy regulations, and requests costs and further relief.
• Complaint filed: State of New Mexico v. U.S. Department of Justice (D.D.C.) — New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed a complaint in federal district court against the Department of Justice and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, alleging that DOJ reneged on a 2019 agreement to share investigative materials related to Jeffrey Epstein's activity at Zorro Ranch in New Mexico. Torrez claims DOJ's rejection of a formal Touhy request for unredacted records—citing overbreadth, the Privacy Act, and protective orders—is pretextual and obstructs the state's ability to identify victims, witnesses, and potential unindicted co-conspirators. The complaint challenges the denial as arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act and seeks declaratory relief and an order compelling production of the requested records.
• Federal Judge Orders DOJ to Address Non-Compliance in Epstein Files Case — U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan has ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) to address its non-compliance with previous court orders regarding the release of the Epstein files. The judge scheduled a status hearing for August 13, where the DOJ must explain its failure to provide documentation justifying redactions in the files. Sullivan criticized the DOJ for not substantiating claims that certain redacted names belong to victims and for not producing FBI interview notes as ordered. The DOJ's actions are under scrutiny as they have not met statutory requirements for transparency.
• New Mexico Attorney General Sues DOJ Over Epstein Investigation — The Attorney General of New Mexico has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Justice, accusing it of stonewalling the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. The lawsuit seeks to compel the DOJ to release information and cooperate with state-level inquiries into Epstein's activities and connections.
• New Mexico Sues DOJ for Access to Epstein Records — The state of New Mexico has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Justice (DOJ) seeking access to unredacted Jeffrey Epstein records. The complaint alleges that the DOJ is withholding documents crucial to the state's investigation into Epstein's alleged crimes at Zorro Ranch. The lawsuit accuses the DOJ of obstructing the investigation by not providing full access to the files, which could aid in holding Epstein's associates accountable.

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• Trump legal team seeks to block court order requiring financial disclosure to BBC — Donald Trump's legal team filed an emergency motion on Wednesday to temporarily halt a Miami court order requiring the president to disclose detailed financial records to the BBC by August 6, 2026. The disclosure was ordered as part of Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the broadcaster over a 2024 documentary on the January 6 Capitol attack. Trump's attorneys argued the BBC's document demands were "shockingly broad" and politically motivated, and requested the lawsuit be narrowed to focus only on "reputation harm" rather than financial impact.
• Trump pursues $10 billion defamation suit against Wall Street Journal — On Wednesday, Trump's legal team moved to advance a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal to trial. The suit stems from the Journal's reporting on a letter Trump allegedly included in a birthday book for Jeffrey Epstein in 2003, which the president characterized as "bawdy." The action is part of a broader pattern of Trump litigation against media outlets publishing critical coverage.
• Emergency Motion Filed in Trump's Suit Against BBC — Trump's family trust has filed an emergency motion to block a court order requiring the disclosure of financial records in his $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC. The motion comes after months of delays in the case, with a Trump-appointed judge pausing the order for financial disclosure.
• Federal Judge Freezes Discovery in Trump's Defamation Suit — A federal judge has frozen discovery in former President Trump's defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal. This decision prevents Trump from deposing Rupert Murdoch while the court considers dismissing the case. The lawsuit stems from the Journal's reporting on a letter allegedly linked to Trump in Jeffrey Epstein's birthday album.
• Federal judge temporarily halts financial records disclosure order in Trump v. BBC libel case — US District Judge Roy Altman issued a temporary stay of a discovery order requiring Donald Trump to produce detailed financial records to the BBC in an ongoing libel lawsuit. Trump's legal team sought the suspension, arguing the BBC's demand for information about his business empire was "shockingly broad" and politically motivated. The judge indicated that if Trump successfully narrows his claims to reputational harm alone, the BBC's need for financial records might diminish. The BBC countered that Trump's business value remains relevant and that his $10 billion damages claim would be difficult to justify without financial evidence.

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• AFGE v. TSA: complaint filed for FOIA violation and unlawful withholding — The American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO filed a complaint in D.D.C. alleging that the Transportation Security Administration violated the Freedom of Information Act by failing to respond within the statutory 20-working-day deadline to a May 11, 2026 FOIA request seeking records about "GoldPlus," a program transitioning airport security screening to private contractors. AFGE contends TSA unlawfully withheld agency records after administrative remedies were exhausted and seeks declaratory relief, a permanent injunction directing disclosure, and retained jurisdiction until compliance.

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• Complaint filed — Rahman Petit v. Blanche (D.D.C. 1:26-cv-02765) — Anam Rahman Petit, a former immigration judge at DOJ's Executive Office for Immigration Review, filed suit in D.D.C. challenging her termination effective September 9, 2025, which occurred days before her conversion to permanent status. Petit alleges DOJ violated Title VII by removing her based on sex, race, and national origin, and violated the First Amendment by terminating her based on Democratic affiliation and prior association with immigrants' rights organizations. She seeks reinstatement, back pay, front pay, compensatory damages, and declaratory relief. DOJ's EEO office had dismissed her administrative complaint on May 11, 2026, asserting the Attorney General's Article II removal power placed the matter beyond Title VII's scope.

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• White House releases declassified FBI memos on "Oxferd Comma" investigation into Trump — The White House published declassified FBI internal memos on its website describing a criminal investigation opened in May 2017 targeting President Trump, alleging he may have been a Russian asset when he fired FBI Director James Comey. The memos, released by the White House Government Transparency Task Force, show the FBI opened the probe despite its own agents having largely dismissed collusion allegations. The article, written by John Solomon (identified as chairman of the Transparency Task Force), frames the investigation as unfounded and cites subsequent inquiries concluding no basis existed for the original probe.

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• Trump pressures attorney general nominee over abandoned anti-weaponization fund — When attorney general nominee Todd Blanche announced he would abandon Trump's controversial $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund" to secure Republican Senate support from John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, Trump responded by telling reporters he had "plenty of thoughts." Trump insisted his supporters should receive compensation from the justice department, claiming the fund "could have given them some solace," while maintaining the posture of a commentator with no power over the decision.

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• Senate committee obtains copy of Fauci's iPhone and weighs contempt charges — Senator Ron Johnson, chair of the Senate homeland security permanent subcommittee on investigations, announced that his committee obtained a backup copy of Anthony Fauci's iPhone, used during Fauci's tenure as NIAID director and during the Covid-19 pandemic response. The phone was transferred by the Department of Health and Human Services, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Johnson stated the device would address questions Fauci refused to answer at a hearing on July 29, where Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right dozens of times. The committee is weighing whether to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress.
• Senate committee votes to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress — The Republican-controlled Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee voted to refer Dr. Anthony Fauci for contempt of Congress after he repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment during a July 29 hearing on his Covid-19 pandemic response. Committee chair Rand Paul argued Fauci's pardon negated his right to invoke self-incrimination protections. The committee voted to refer the matter to the Department of Justice for potential criminal prosecution, though a full Senate vote would normally be required and Democrats warned the process violated constitutional protections.
• Senate Committee Holds Dr. Fauci in Contempt — The Senate Homeland Security Committee has voted along party lines to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after he invoked his Fifth Amendment rights during questioning. This action reflects ongoing political tensions and scrutiny of public health officials.
• Senate Republicans vote to hold Dr. Fauci in contempt of Congress — Republican senators voted to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, in contempt of Congress for invoking his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent during a Senate Homeland Security and Government Oversight Committee hearing on July 29. Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times as Republican senators taunted and berated him. All Democrats voted against the contempt measure.
• Senate Committee Votes to Hold Dr. Fauci in Contempt — The Senate Homeland Security Committee has voted to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress for refusing to answer questions during a hearing on his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The vote follows Fauci's invocation of the Fifth Amendment over 100 times. The committee, led by Sen. Rand Paul, bypassed the full Senate and sent the contempt referral directly to the DOJ, a move criticized by Democrats as illegitimate.

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• White House renews effort to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook — ABC News reported that the Trump administration is renewing its effort to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino sent Cook a letter on Wednesday giving her three weeks to respond to previous allegations of mortgage fraud that she has steadfastly denied. The latest push follows a Supreme Court ruling in June allowing her to continue in her position, which did not prevent Trump from attempting removal again.
• Trump informs Lisa Cook that he is “considering” her removal — Former President Donald Trump has informed Lisa Cook, a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, that he is considering her removal from her position. This announcement has raised concerns about the independence of the Federal Reserve and the potential implications for monetary policy and economic stability. The Federal Reserve is a critical institution in managing the U.S. economy, and any changes in its leadership can have significant impacts on economic governance.

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• ICE detains and releases Johns Hopkins researcher Fatima Ameaka at Baltimore/Washington airport — In July 2026, ICE detained Fatima Ameaka, a Cameroonian citizen with a doctorate in pharmacy working at Johns Hopkins University's Bloomberg School of Public Health, at Baltimore/Washington International Airport. The DHS initially claimed she overstayed her visa, though documents showed her work authorization was valid through 2029 and she had a pending asylum case. Ameaka was later released from ICE custody. Johns Hopkins described her as a "respected member" of the community and stated the university was providing legal support.

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• ICE detains University of Maryland pharmacy instructor Berhanu Kibret at Dallas-Fort Worth airport — Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), under the Trump administration, detained Berhanu Kibret, a pharmacy instructor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, at Dallas-Fort Worth airport in Texas. The Department of Homeland Security cited an expired visa, claiming Kibret overstayed after his visa expired on 31 May 2024. Kibret had just received a "teacher of the year" award from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. The university stated he holds valid work authorization and expressed concern about his detention.

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• Federal judge blocks New York's ban on ICE officers wearing masks — US District Judge Mae D'Agostino of the federal court in Albany issued a preliminary ruling blocking enforcement of New York's law that banned ICE agents from wearing face coverings and required visible identification. The judge found the state law likely violates the Supremacy Clause of the US Constitution, which bars states from regulating federal law enforcement. However, D'Agostino allowed New York's separate ban on local police cooperation with ICE (287(g) agreements) to remain in effect, finding it a legitimate exercise of state authority over resource allocation.
• Federal judge blocks New York mask-and-ID rule for ICE agents — U.S. District Judge Mae D'Agostino blocked New York's requirement that ICE agents uncover their faces and display identification during enforcement operations, while refusing to block the state law ending local police cooperation with ICE. The judge acknowledged legitimate state concerns about masked, unidentified federal agents but ruled that states cannot regulate how federal officers conduct their duties.

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• Complaint filed — Democracy Forward Foundation v. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (D. Md.) — Democracy Forward Foundation filed a complaint in the District of Maryland on August 4, 2026, seeking to compel USCIS compliance with five pending FOIA requests submitted between June 17 and June 24, 2026. The requests seek records on internal directives concerning a State Citizenship List, email communications of senior USCIS officials on election-related matters, policies governing USCIS access to USPS mail-in and absentee ballot datasets, DOJ Civil Rights Division SAVE query data and error rates, and planning documents on voter roll review. Plaintiff alleges USCIS violated FOIA by failing to issue timely determinations and wrongly denying expedited processing despite urgent public interest in transparency over USCIS's role in election administration ahead of the midterms. Plaintiff seeks orders compelling expedited production, a Vaughn index, and injunctive relief against continued withholding.

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• Federal judge dismisses seditious conspiracy charges against Oath Keepers members — A federal judge granted the Trump Justice Department's request to dismiss seditious conspiracy charges against members of the far-right Oath Keepers for their involvement in the January 6 insurrection. The judge expressed regret about the outcome, stating he wished for "a different ending" and noting that the dismissal "diminishes the gravity of that day."