Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Kash Patel declined to confirm or deny plans to visit Moscow — Kash Patel, when asked whether he was planning to go to Moscow and for what purpose, declined to provide specifics, stating: "We're not going to announce where we're gonna go and when we're gonna go, except to tell you that this DOJ is going to go wherever we need to go to mete out justice for the American people." The response avoided direct confirmation or denial of Moscow travel plans.
• Vice President Vance defended Musk's Starlink decisions — Vice President JD Vance was asked whether he agreed with Republicans calling for an investigation into Musk's Starlink decisions. Vance responded that Musk "runs a private corporation" and that it is "completely understandable that he doesn't want to get in the middle of a war without the US govt directing him on what to do," and stated "I don't think this is about Elon."
• Sen. Kevin Cramer expressed concerns about Musk's influence over national security — Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) stated that he had concerns about Elon Musk's influence over national security matters following Ukraine's disruption of Starlink access. Cramer said that "one individual and one company has control over America's ability to protect the domain of space, which is a war-fighting domain," and expressed discomfort with "vendor lock-in" in space assets.
• SpaceX investor Ross Gerber criticized Musk's Starlink decisions on CNN — SpaceX investor Ross Gerber stated on CNN that he is "disgusted" with Elon Musk's decisions regarding Starlink, characterizing them as "strategically horrendous" and "horrible" from a humanitarian perspective. Gerber expressed concern that Musk could restrict Starlink access to the United States if he disagreed with a sitting president, and called for development of competitors to Starlink to ensure national security independence.

Supporting reports

• Senators Sanders and Merkley and Representative Ocasio-Cortez introduce Ban Flock Act — Senators Bernie Sanders and Jeff Merkley, along with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, introduced the Ban Flock Act on Friday. If passed, the legislation will prevent federal agencies from using automated license-plate readers. State and local governments that continue using the technology could lose federal grant funding. The bill would also allow individuals to sue the federal government over violations. The legislation responds to documented cases of officers misusing license-plate databases, including searches involving former romantic partners.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge dismisses DOJ lawsuit seeking Georgia voter data — On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Victoria Calvert dismissed the Department of Justice's lawsuit seeking unredacted Georgia voter-registration records, including Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and dates of birth. This marks the second unsuccessful attempt by the Justice Department to obtain the state's confidential voter information since 2025. Federal officials argued they needed the records to investigate Georgia's compliance with election law, but Calvert found that neither of the federal laws cited by DOJ required the state to surrender the confidential information.

Supporting reports

• Judge Aileen Cannon blocked release of Jack Smith's classified documents report — Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee overseeing the classified documents case, blocked the release of Special Counsel Jack Smith's final report on the investigation. This action departed from standard practice, as special counsels routinely release final reports upon conclusion of their work. The report's suppression prevents public disclosure of the factual findings and legal analysis underlying the investigation into Trump's retention of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago.

Supporting reports

• State Department stonewalling GAO investigation into Venezuelan oil revenues — The State Department has stonewalled efforts to determine how much oil money Washington has collected from Venezuela, failing to engage with the Government Accountability Office (GAO), an independent spending watchdog investigating Venezuelan oil revenues since July, and refusing to share audit reports with Congress. Nine months after the U.S. asserted control over Venezuela's oil exports, the administration has not disclosed how much money it collected or how much was returned to the interim government in Caracas. In April, the State Department said accounts holding the money were being audited by KPMG and would share reports with Congress, but has not done so. Top Democrats, including Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX), have threatened to issue subpoenas and requested KPMG reports by October 8.

Supporting reports

• Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent testified before House on economic policy — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent appeared before the House and responded to questions from Democratic representatives regarding government intervention in markets, tariff policy, treasury bond yields, consumer sentiment, alleged money flows from Venezuela, and deficit spending. Bessent defended the administration's market interventions and claimed a $10 billion treasury market intervention was successful despite bond yields rising 20 basis points. He declined to confirm whether alleged Venezuelan asset flows were reaching U.S. persons.

Supporting reports

• Justice Department directs 29 states to preserve 2024 election records — The Justice Department directed election officials in 29 states and Washington, D.C., to preserve records from the 2024 election as it continues litigation seeking access to detailed voter-registration information. The information sought can include addresses, dates of birth, driver's-license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers. The DOJ characterized preservation notices as standard during litigation, but state officials questioned the scope of the administration's requests and raised privacy concerns. Federal judges have repeatedly dismissed some of the department's lawsuits seeking detailed voter information.

Supporting reports

• Complaint filed: Democratic National Committee v. U.S. Department of Justice (D.D.C. 1:26-cv-02928) — The Democratic National Committee filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia alleging that the Department of Justice, FBI, and Criminal Division violated the Freedom of Information Act by failing to respond to February 2026 FOIA requests seeking records on any planned inspection or seizure of ballots, voting machines, and voting system components ahead of federal election certification. The DNC filed the requests after President Trump's January 2026 statements regretting not seizing voting machines after the 2020 election and an FBI raid that month seizing archived ballots from a Georgia county election office. The DNC seeks an order compelling production of non-exempt responsive records, a detailed Vaughn index of withheld material, and an injunction against further withholding.

Supporting reports

• Department of Justice refuses to comply with court order to release unredacted Epstein files — Judge Emmet Sullivan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia held a status conference in Phang v. Blanche on Thursday, August 14. The lawsuit, filed by independent journalist Katie Phang, seeks unredacted versions of Epstein investigation documents that the Department of Justice has withheld in violation of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which Congress mandated be released by December 19, 2025. Sullivan had granted Phang's request in late June and ordered the DOJ to produce unredacted documents in July; the DOJ refused both times. When Sullivan asked if he would learn anything more from the government, DOJ lawyer Andrew Block answered affirmatively. Sullivan warned he had held prosecutors in contempt in the past and gave Phang's lawyers ten days to propose an order.

Supporting reports

• 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.

Supporting reports

• 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.

Supporting reports

• 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.

Supporting reports

• 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.

Supporting reports

• Complaint filed: Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington v. U.S. Department of the Treasury — Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed a complaint in D.D.C. alleging that the Department of the Treasury unlawfully withholds names of claimants, their counsel, and factual bases for settlements paid from the Judgment Fund, citing the Privacy Act as justification. CREW contends the policy prevents identification of recipients—including pardoned January 6 defendants and Trump allies—and verification of settlement facts, impairing transparency of federal spending. CREW argues the policy violates the Administrative Procedure Act, the Judgment Fund statute's 30-day disclosure requirement, and the Paperwork Reduction Act. CREW seeks a declaration that the policy is unlawful, an order vacating it, and an order requiring Treasury to publish required disclosures going forward and retroactively since January 20, 2025.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge ordered Acting AG Todd Blanche to produce unredacted Epstein Files documents — U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan ordered Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to hand over unredacted Epstein Files emails and documents for the court's private review in a lawsuit brought by MeidasTouch host Katie Phang. Judge Sullivan directed the DOJ to produce the unredacted records in camera (for judicial review only) by July 30, along with documentation supporting DOJ's claims that redacted names and information fall within the categories the department claims they do.
• DOJ Submits Unredacted Epstein Records for Judicial Review — The Department of Justice has submitted unredacted Epstein-related records to U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan for private review. This action follows a lawsuit challenging the government's handling of these files. The DOJ complied with a July 25 order to produce documents supporting contested redactions, delivering them to Judge Sullivan's chambers. The records are being reviewed in camera, allowing the judge to assess the government's redactions and determine their validity.
• DOJ delivered unredacted Epstein records to federal judge for private in-camera review in response to court order. — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's DOJ notified U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan on July 30 that it had complied with his July 25 order to produce unredacted documents supporting contested redactions in Epstein-related records. Hard copies were delivered by hand to Judge Sullivan's chambers at 2:28 p.m. Thursday. The records are being reviewed in camera—privately by the judge—allowing Sullivan to examine what the government concealed and determine whether DOJ's redaction justifications are valid. This development stems from a lawsuit brought by attorney Katie Phang challenging the government's handling of the files.

Supporting reports

• House Republicans pass budget resolution authorizing $95bn reconciliation bill for Iran war, farm aid, and voting restrictions — The Republican-controlled House passed a 216-214 budget resolution on Wednesday authorizing a $95bn reconciliation bill. The measure allocates $73bn for military operations against Iran (responding to the Trump administration's $88bn supplemental request), $12bn for farm aid affected by the Iran conflict and tariffs, and $10bn for the House administration committee to attempt passage of the Save America Act, which would ban mail-in ballots nationwide and impose strict voter ID requirements. The reconciliation process allows passage with a simple Senate majority, bypassing the Democratic filibuster.
• House Dem Whip criticizes GOP budget as prioritizing Trump's war and voter suppression — House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark issued a statement criticizing the House GOP's latest partisan budget, stating it allocates $73 billion for Trump's war, $10 billion for voter suppression, and $0 to lower costs. Clark characterized the budget as a misallocation of priorities away from helping constituents.
• House GOP leaders schedule packed floor agenda including Iran war funding and defense policy — House GOP leaders scheduled a packed floor agenda for the week of July 20, with only four days remaining before summer recess. The schedule includes the annual defense policy package, a bill to fund the government beyond the midterms, a budget resolution to unlock the reconciliation process, and a GOP-led stock trading ban measure. The agenda includes a $95 billion fiscal blueprint that includes funds for Iran war and farm aid, along with a watered-down version of an elections bill.
• House Democrats criticized Secretary of Defense Hegseth's Senate testimony — Multiple House Democrats, including Jeffries, Raskin, and AOC, publicly criticized Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's testimony before the Senate. The criticism followed Hegseth's appearance before the Senate, where he faced questioning about his qualifications and positions.
• House voted on budget resolution for third GOP reconciliation package — The House of Representatives voted on a budget resolution on July 22, 2026, that sets up a third GOP reconciliation package. Reconciliation packages allow the majority party to pass legislation with a simple majority in the Senate, bypassing the normal 60-vote threshold.
• Rep. Ted Lieu criticized UN Ambassador Mike Waltz over wounded troop figures — Rep. Ted Lieu publicly criticized UN Ambassador Mike Waltz during a hearing, challenging the accuracy of figures Waltz provided regarding the number of wounded troops. Lieu's criticism focused on what he characterized as misrepresentation of casualty data.

Supporting reports

• House Democrats released report alleging Trump diverted America250 donations to Freedom 250 — Democrats on the House Committee on Natural Resources released a report on Thursday accusing Trump of defrauding donors and the American public by diverting donations intended for the nonpartisan America250 program to his own Freedom 250 organization. After failing to take over America250 entirely, Trump officials created Freedom 250 within the National Park Foundation to operate outside transparency and accountability rules Congress required for America250. The report alleges Trump officials provided donors with routing and account numbers for Freedom 250 instead of America250, and routed most congressional appropriations to favored contractors, including the firm that organized Trump's January 6 rally at the Ellipse.
• Trump's Freedom 250 routed congressional appropriations to favored contractors including January 6 rally organizer — According to the House Democrats' report, Trump officials routed most of the money Congress appropriated for the America250 project to favored contractors, including the firm that helped organize Trump's rally at the Ellipse on January 6, 2021, before attendees stormed the U.S. Capitol. A Department of the Interior spokesperson stated in June that the administration would not "light taxpayer money on fire" on "frivolous, poorly attended events and D.C. consultants," yet the administration proceeded to direct funds to these contractors.

Supporting reports

• Congressional investigation found Trump administration misused 250th anniversary celebration — A congressional investigation titled "From Vanity to Insanity: How the WH Cheated the American People Out of Their 250th Birthday" found that Trump staged a hostile takeover of the United States' 250th anniversary celebration to enrich political allies, harvest voter data, and promote Christian nationalist ideology. The report outlined a web of alleged corruption, wire fraud, and pay-to-play schemes orchestrated through a shadow corporation embedded within the National Park Service.
• House Democratic subcommittee releases report alleging Trump administration hijacked US 250th anniversary celebration for corruption, partisan gain, and ideological purposes — A House Democratic natural resources subcommittee released an interim report titled "From Vanity to Insanity" alleging that the Trump administration orchestrated a hostile takeover of the US semiquincentennial (250th anniversary) celebration. The report documents alleged corruption, wire fraud, pay-to-play schemes, and misuse of the National Park Foundation (NPF) through a shadow corporation called Freedom 250. The administration allegedly diverted resources from the non-partisan America250 Foundation, installed campaign operatives on the NPF board, misled donors, steered federal contracts to Trump loyalists, harvested voter data through event registration, and replaced civic programming with Christian nationalist content while erasing historical narratives about slavery and Indigenous removal from national parks.
• House Democrats released report on Freedom 250 corruption allegations — Democrats on the House Natural Resources Committee, led by Rep. Jared Huffman, released a report titled "From Vanity to Insanity" accusing Trump's allies of turning the nation's 250th birthday into a "hotbed of corruption and self-enrichment." The report alleges that when the bipartisan America250 commission would not bend to Trump, the White House created a rival group, Freedom 250, and placed it inside the National Park Foundation to avoid transparency rules. The report describes alleged wire fraud (donors directed to Freedom 250 instead of America250), selling presidential access through sponsorship packages, soliciting foreign money, and steering contracts to Trump allies. Freedom 250 denies the allegations.

Supporting reports

• Trump nominates Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence — Donald Trump nominated Jay Clayton, former SEC chair and current US attorney for the Southern District of New York, to serve as Director of National Intelligence. The nomination follows widespread criticism of Trump's earlier decision to install Bill Pulte as acting DNI. Clayton has no significant operational intelligence experience but has bipartisan early support. The nomination comes amid controversy over Pulte's tenure and a lapsed Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act reauthorization deadline.
• Trump nominates Jay Clayton as permanent director of national intelligence — Trump announced on June 11 that he was nominating Jay Clayton, the U.S. attorney for the southern district of New York, as permanent DNI. Clayton has no experience in any of the 18 intelligence agencies under DNI purview. The Senate Intelligence Committee immediately scheduled Clayton's confirmation hearing for June 17—an extraordinarily rushed timeline—with the apparent goal of confirming him before June 19, thus preventing Pulte from ever serving as acting director.
• Trump nominated Jay Clayton as director of national intelligence — Trump announced his nomination of Walter Joseph "Jay" Clayton, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, to become the next director of national intelligence. Like Pulte, Clayton lacks national security experience. Clayton has been involved in the slow-walking of the release of the Epstein files.
• Trump withdrew nomination of Bill Pulte for DNI after Senate opposition — After a bipartisan group of senators indicated they would not vote to extend FISA surveillance authority if Bill Pulte remained Trump's nominee for Director of National Intelligence, Trump withdrew the Pulte nomination. Trump announced instead the nomination of Jay Clayton, former SEC Chairman and current U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, to the DNI position.
• White House sent nomination and withdrawal to Senate for Walter Clayton — The White House sent to the Senate a nomination of Walter Clayton of New York to be Director of National Intelligence, replacing Tulsi Gabbard. Simultaneously, the White House withdrew Clayton's pending nomination to be United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. The dual action redirects Clayton's candidacy from a four-year SDNY post to the intelligence directorship.

Supporting reports

• New Jersey files lawsuit against Delaney immigration detention facility — New Jersey's state attorney general filed a lawsuit on June 2, 2026, against the operators of the Delaney immigration detention facility amid growing tensions between protesters, ICE, and state police. The suit requests full Department of Health access to the facility, where detainees have reported inhumane and unsanitary conditions.
• New Jersey Attorney General files lawsuit against Geo Group over Delaney Hall ICE detention facility conditions — New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport filed a lawsuit against the Geo Group, private operator of Delaney Hall ICE detention center in Newark, demanding full access for state health inspectors. The action follows a hunger and labor strike by detained immigrants protesting "inhumane and unsanitary conditions" and allegations of disease spread including Covid-19 and influenza. Geo Group had previously refused demands from the governor and elected officials for transparency and barred inspectors from medical, sleeping, bathing, and toilet areas during a limited inspection.
• New Jersey attorney general sues GEO Group for blocking facility inspections — On June 3, 2026, New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport sued the GEO Group, operator of Delaney Hall detention center, for refusing to allow state health inspectors into the facility in violation of state law. Attorney General Davenport stated that if the GEO Group and Trump administration have nothing to hide regarding conditions at the facility, there is no legitimate reason to deny inspectors full access, and pledged to use all power of her office to advocate for detainees and their families.
• New Jersey Attorney General Sues GEO Group Over Detention Center Access — New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport filed a lawsuit against the GEO Group for allegedly refusing to allow state health inspectors access to the Delaney Hall detention center, claiming this violates state law. Davenport emphasized the need for transparency and accountability regarding the conditions inside the facility, which is under scrutiny for its treatment of detainees. The lawsuit aims to ensure that the rights of detainees are upheld and that the facility complies with legal standards.
• Newark Mayor Baraka and Governor Sherrill announce lawsuits against Geo Group over Delaney Hall conditions — On June 2, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Governor Sherrill (along with state attorney general Jennifer Davenport) announced lawsuits against Geo Group, the private contractor operating Delaney Hall immigration detention center, citing health concerns and denial of state health department access to the facility. The city of Newark had been engaged in legal action against Geo Group since April 2025. DHS responded by calling the lawsuit "frivolous" and asserting ICE's commitment to transparency.

Supporting reports

• Pam Bondi scheduled to testify before House Oversight Committee on Epstein files handling — The House Oversight Committee scheduled Pam Bondi, Trump's former attorney general, to testify on May 29, 2026, regarding the government's handling of Epstein files and the wider scandal. This hearing follows the April contempt resolution filed against Bondi for initially refusing to respond to a subpoena.
• House Oversight Chair downgraded Bondi's appearance to transcribed interview — House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer downgraded Attorney General Pam Bondi's scheduled appearance from a formal deposition to a transcribed interview, eliminating the requirement that she answer questions under oath and removing videotaping of the proceedings. This procedural change reduced the formality and accountability of her testimony regarding DOJ compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

Supporting reports

• Pam Bondi testifies before House committee on Epstein files handling and admits to redaction errors — Former Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared for a transcribed deposition before the House Oversight and Reform Committee on May 29, 2026, to answer questions about the Department of Justice's handling of Jeffrey Epstein files under her leadership. Bondi admitted to "redaction errors" in the released files but defended the department's overall compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. She stated she delegated oversight to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche rather than leading the effort herself. Democratic lawmakers reported that Bondi refused to answer questions about Donald Trump's involvement in the release or direction of redactions.
• Pam Bondi testifies before House oversight committee on DOJ's handling of Epstein files — Former Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared before the House Oversight and Reform Committee to answer questions about the Department of Justice's handling of Jeffrey Epstein case files during her tenure. Bondi testified that Todd Blanche, her deputy and Trump's nominee to replace her as attorney general, was "in charge" of the entire release of Epstein files. She acknowledged redaction errors but defended the department's commitment to transparency. Bondi also stated she had no involvement in Ghislaine Maxwell's prison transfer and declined to discuss conversations with Trump.
• DOJ attorney intervened to block congressional questions about Trump's role in Epstein file handling — During Bondi's appearance before the House Oversight Committee, a Department of Justice attorney sat beside the former Attorney General and personally intervened to shut down questioning whenever Democrats asked about Donald Trump's role or knowledge regarding the Epstein files. Congresswoman Stansbury (D-NM) stated that "The United States Department of Justice is intervening on behalf of Pam Bondi to stop her from answering questions about what happened in the cover-up of this case and her conversations with Donald Trump." Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) reported asking Bondi five separate times about her conversations with Trump; she refused to answer all five times due to DOJ intervention.
• Pam Bondi refused oath, filming, and questions about Trump at House Oversight Committee deposition on Epstein files — Former U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on May 29, 2026, for a hearing on the Justice Department's handling of Jeffrey Epstein files. Bondi refused to be sworn in, refused to be filmed, and refused to answer questions about her conversations with Donald Trump regarding the Epstein investigation. A DOJ attorney sat beside her and intervened to block questions about the president. Democrats objected strenuously; Chairman James Comer (R-KY) blocked requests for oath and video recording.
• Bondi blamed Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche for Epstein file mishandling — During her testimony, Bondi deflected responsibility for the Justice Department's handling of Epstein files by attributing all critical decisions and failures to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. When questioned about redaction failures that exposed survivors' names while protecting Epstein's co-conspirators, and about Ghislaine Maxwell's transfer to a less secure prison facility, Bondi referred questions to Blanche and the Bureau of Prisons. The Democrats' Oversight account noted that under Bondi's tenure, one survivor's name appeared over 500 times in released documents while co-conspirators remained redacted.
• Attorney General Bondi testified on Epstein Files release compliance — Attorney General Pam Bondi testified behind closed doors before members of the House Oversight Committee regarding the Department of Justice's compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Bondi acknowledged "redaction errors" but stated the department had been "committed to accountability and transparency" since the process began. House Oversight Chair James Comer downgraded her appearance from a formal deposition to a transcribed interview, meaning she would not answer questions under oath and proceedings would not be videotaped. Bondi deflected responsibility to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in her opening statement.

Supporting reports

• New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill denied entry to Delaney Hall — On Monday, May 26, 2026, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat, was denied entry to Delaney Hall by facility management. Sherrill stated that the refusal raised "serious questions about what they are trying to hide from public view." A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson characterized Sherrill's visit as "nothing more than a political stunt on Memorial Day when visitation is currently suspended due to riots outside in the facility."
• New Jersey state police assume policing functions outside Delaney Hall ICE detention facility — New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill and Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced that state police will take over "public safety operations" from federal immigration officers outside Delaney Hall, a privately run ICE detention center in Newark. The state will establish a "peaceful protected zone" for demonstrators. The announcement coincides with reports of an influx of federal agents arriving to defend the facility and investigate protesters. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced DOJ charges against a protester accused of assaulting an ICE officer.

Supporting reports

• Tennessee repealed 1972 law prohibiting mid-decade redistricting — To enable the new congressional map, Tennessee lawmakers repealed a 1972 state law that prohibited mid-decade redistricting. Gov. Bill Lee signed the repeal approximately one hour after it cleared the Republican supermajority. The repeal was necessary to make the rapid redistricting legally possible and was enacted during a special session whose stated purpose did not include redistricting reform, according to legal challenges filed by the NAACP Tennessee State Conference.
• Tennessee repealed law prohibiting mid-decade redistricting — As part of the special legislative session, Tennessee's Republican supermajority repealed the state's longstanding law that prohibited redistricting between census cycles. The legislature also removed the requirement that election officials notify voters by mail if redistricting changed their polling places or precincts.
• Tennessee legislature enacts new congressional map eliminating majority-Black Memphis district — Tennessee's Republican-controlled legislature enacted a new congressional map on May 7, 2026, that carves up the state's only majority-Black congressional district centered in Memphis, splitting it across three Republican-leaning districts. Gov. Bill Lee called a special session on May 5, the legislature repealed a state law prohibiting mid-decade redistricting since 1972, drew the new map, and passed it on May 7. Lee signed it into law the same day. The action followed the Supreme Court's April 29 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, which weakened Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act protections for voters of color in redistricting cases.
• Tennessee Republicans approved congressional map dismantling majority-Black district — On May 7, Tennessee Republican lawmakers approved a new congressional map that splits Black voters in Memphis and Shelby County across three majority-white districts stretching hundreds of miles into central Tennessee, dismantling the state's only majority-Black congressional district. The map was unveiled only 24 hours before the vote. To enable mid-decade redistricting, lawmakers first repealed a 1972 state law prohibiting it; Gov. Bill Lee signed the repeal within an hour. The ACLU and civil-rights groups argue the map constitutes intentional racial discrimination and dilutes Black voting power, though Republican leaders defend it as partisan rather than racial redistricting.
• Tennessee Republicans passed new congressional map carving majority-Black Memphis into three Republican districts — On May 7, Tennessee's Republican supermajority passed a new congressional map that splits Shelby County (majority-Black Memphis) across three Republican-controlled districts, weakening the political power of the state's only majority-Black congressional district. The legislature also repealed its longstanding law prohibiting mid-decade redistricting and removed the requirement that election officials notify voters of redistricting changes. Gov. Bill Lee signed the map into law the same day. Protesters filled the state Capitol; state troopers cleared the House gallery; Democratic lawmakers walked out. The NAACP Tennessee State Conference filed an emergency lawsuit in Davidson County Chancery Court within three hours to block the map.
• Tennessee weakened voter-notice requirements for redistricting changes — The redistricting package weakened direct voter-notice requirements. County election officials will no longer be required under state law to directly notify voters by mail when redistricting changes affect their polling-place assignments, though separate funding was included to reimburse counties that choose to send notices. The Secretary of State's office announced a special qualifying period for U.S. House candidates through noon on May 15, and local reporting indicates the new districts bring changes for some voters and candidates.
• Tennessee legislature cracked Memphis into three districts, diluting Black voting power — The Tennessee legislature, in emergency special session called by Governor Bill Lee, repealed its own law prohibiting mid-decade redistricting and then cracked Memphis—where 60 percent of residents are Black—into three districts. This diluted Black voting power by swamping Black voters with white suburban voters. The action targeted Tennessee's only Democratic member of Congress, who represented Memphis.
• Tennessee legislature redraws congressional maps to eliminate majority-Black 9th District — The Tennessee state legislature voted to redraw congressional district maps, cracking the city of Memphis into three pieces and joining them to white suburbs, thereby converting all state districts to Republican seats. This action directly eliminated the majority-Black 9th Congressional District, stripping Black voters of effective representation. The redistricting followed the Supreme Court's April 29 decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which struck down race-conscious district creation under the Voting Rights Act, triggering a wave of Republican-led redistricting nationwide to eliminate Democratic representation.
• Tennessee governor signed new congressional map into law — Gov. Bill Lee signed the new congressional redistricting map into law on May 7, the same day the Republican supermajority passed it. The map redraws the state's only Democratic-held U.S. House seat (Tennessee's 9th District, held by Rep. Steve Cohen and rooted in majority-Black Memphis) by splitting Shelby County across three Republican-leaning districts.
• Tennessee Republicans redrew congressional maps eliminating Democratic district — Tennessee Republicans redrew the state's congressional maps behind closed doors with the explicit goal of eliminating the single Democratic congressional district in the state. The new map breaks up the state's only Black-majority district. Democratic Representative Justin Pearson confronted the Sergeant at Arms who was blocking the door during the redistricting process and was ultimately escorted out by state troopers.

Supporting reports

• House Oversight ranking member requested videotaping and compulsory testimony from Attorney General Pam Bondi in Epstein case deposition. — Rep. Robert Garcia sent a letter to House Oversight Chair James Comer regarding Pam Bondi's upcoming deposition in the Epstein case. Garcia requested that Bondi's testimony be videotaped and made available to the public, and that if Bondi refuses to answer questions, she be compelled to testify. The letter expressed concern about the completeness and substantiveness of her testimony.