Trump Action Archive

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• Trump administration pursues "grand conspiracy" investigation targeting perceived political enemies without sufficient evidence — Trump's Justice Department has spent nearly a year investigating an alleged "grand conspiracy" involving the "deep state" and Obama-era officials, issuing subpoenas to former CIA director John Brennan and ex-FBI director James Comey. The investigation, led by Trump-allied election denialists Joe diGenova and Kurt Olsen, has struggled to find evidence. DiGenova resigned on 10 September after five months; another prosecutor, Maria Medetis Long, resigned in April citing concerns about the investigation's direction. Former DOJ Inspector General Michael Bromwich criticized the inquiry for "starting with designated targets" and "searching for facts to support the theory."

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• DOJ closed 23,000 criminal cases under Bondi — ProPublica reported that in the first days after Pam Bondi was appointed Attorney General, the DOJ began shutting down pending criminal cases at a record pace. The cases included investigations into a Virginia nursing home with a record of patient abuse, probes of fraud involving New Jersey labor unions (including one opened after a top union official was accused of embezzlement), and an investigation into a crypto company suspected of cheating investors. In total, the DOJ quietly closed more than 23,000 criminal cases in the first six months of Trump's administration, abandoning hundreds of investigations into terrorism, white-collar crime, drugs, and other offenses as it shifted resources to pursue immigration cases. The bulk of these cases, known as declinations, had been referred to the DOJ by law enforcement agencies under prior administrations that believed a federal crime may have been committed. The number of declinations under Bondi marks a striking departure from both the Biden administration and the first Trump term. The shift comes as the DOJ has undergone an extraordinary overhaul, with entire units shuttered, directives to abandon pursuit of certain crimes, and thousands of lawyers quitting or being forced out.

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• Prosecutor resigns under protest in Broadview Six case — Sheri Mecklenburg, a career Department of Justice prosecutor near retirement, resigned on September 26 in protest over the handling of felony charges against six Democratic activists arrested at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility protest in Illinois. In her resignation letter, Mecklenburg alleged that U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros, a Trump supporter, had personally directed the felony prosecution against her objection that misdemeanor charges were more appropriate, threatened to fire her if she pushed back, and later scapegoated her for prosecutorial misconduct when the cases fell apart.

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• Comey's Lawyers File Motion Against Indictment — James Comey's lawyers filed motions to dismiss federal charges against him, citing vindictive and selective prosecution linked to Trump's desire for Comey to be indicted. They argue that irregularities in the grand jury process influenced the indictment and request access to grand jury transcripts.

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• DOJ moves to dismiss charges against David Hearn — The Department of Justice filed to dismiss criminal charges against David Hearn, a former Olympian accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The DOJ's filing stated that the damage was due to flawed installation by the contractor, Atlantic Industrial Coatings, rather than vandalism. This move follows a series of events where the Trump administration blamed Hearn for the pool's issues, despite evidence suggesting the problems stemmed from the renovation process itself.
• Dismissal of DOJ Case Against David Hearn — The Department of Justice case against David Hearn for vandalism of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was dismissed after his lawyers argued that the government's witness testified the pool was already damaged before Hearn approached it. They claimed irregularities in the grand jury's proceedings, suggesting that the indictment may have been influenced by misconduct. This dismissal raises concerns about the integrity of the DOJ's handling of grand jury processes.
• Trump Administration Drops Charges Against Lincoln Memorial Vandalism Defendants — Federal prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney's office, led by Jeanine Pirro, moved to dismiss misdemeanor charges against three defendants accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. This follows a previous decision to drop felony charges against former Olympian David Hearn for similar accusations. The decision has reportedly caused tension within the Trump administration.
• DOJ dismisses felony charge against David Hearn in reflecting pool case — The Trump administration's Department of Justice moved to dismiss a felony property destruction charge against former Olympic canoeist David Hearn on Friday, citing newly obtained Interior Department documents showing the pool liner damage resulted from faulty contractor installation, not vandalism. Hearn had been arrested on June 19 and faced up to 10 years in prison. US Attorney Jeanine Pirro's office filed a 20-page motion stating the damage stemmed from a "rushed and flawed installation process." President Trump publicly criticized Pirro's decision, saying she "choked" and "folded like an umbrella," sparking speculation about her job security.
• Charges Dropped Against Three Accused of Vandalism — Charges have been dropped against three individuals who were falsely accused of destroying the reflecting pool. This development comes amid political tensions and accusations of misinformation.

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• Department of Justice sues four states over undercover license plate policies — The Department of Justice filed lawsuits against Maine, Washington, Oregon, and Massachusetts on May 28, 2026, challenging state policies that deny confidential license plates to federal law enforcement agents. The DOJ alleged the policies are unconstitutional, threaten agent safety, and undermine federal operations including immigration enforcement. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated the policies are discriminatory and obstructionist. The Civil Division was instructed to identify additional state and local laws impeding federal operations.

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• Judge dismisses Trump's IRS lawsuit — Judge Kathleen Williams dismissed Donald Trump's lawsuit against the IRS, noting that the withdrawal of the case did not reference any settlement and that there was no legal basis for the claims. The judge emphasized the importance of transparency and the public's interest in government conduct, highlighting the lack of settlement documents submitted by the Department of Justice.
• Judge Kathleen Williams dismisses Trump's IRS lawsuit, finding no legal settlement — Judge Kathleen Williams issued an order dismissing Trump's lawsuit against the IRS, ruling that because Trump's withdrawal of the suit "does not reference any settlement or include a stipulation of settlement, there is no settlement of record." The judge noted that federal agencies represented by the DOJ neither submitted settlement documents nor filed documents ensuring settlement was appropriate where an outstanding question existed as to whether an actual case or controversy existed. The judge emphasized the public's strong interest in knowing about government conduct and fair administration of justice.

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• Stanley Woodward Jr. signs settlement agreement on behalf of the United States — Stanley E. Woodward Jr., a defense attorney who has represented Trump associates including FBI Director Kash Patel, Trump trade advisor Peter Navarro, Walt Nauta, and numerous January 6 defendants, signed the settlement agreement on behalf of the United States rather than Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. Woodward's representation of Trump's orbit creates a conflict of interest in negotiating an agreement purportedly on behalf of the government.
• Treasury Department's top lawyer Brian Morrissey resigns — Brian Morrissey, the Treasury Department's top lawyer, resigned following the announcement of the Trump administration's agreement with the IRS regarding the $1.776 billion fund.
• Treasury Department general counsel resigned amid Trump settlement announcement — Brian Morrissey, the Treasury Department's general counsel and a former clerk for Justice Clarence Thomas, resigned as the government announced a controversial settlement with Trump. Morrissey, who joined the Trump administration last year as the president's pick for the position after previously serving at the agency and DOJ during Trump's first term, did not respond to requests for comment. The Treasury Department holds responsibility for approving use of the government's judgment fund, an uncapped pot of money used to settle lawsuits.

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• Fired judges file suit challenging terminations; Merit Systems Protection Board denies jurisdiction — A group of fired immigration judges filed suit against the Department of Justice challenging the administration's authority to terminate immigration judges without cause or explanation. The Merit Systems Protection Board, an independent federal agency created to protect federal employees from political termination, ruled it had no jurisdiction to review the removals. The fired judges are appealing to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, arguing the decision departs from more than a century of civil service precedent protecting judges from at-will removal.

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• Fired judges file suit challenging terminations; Merit Systems Protection Board denies jurisdiction — A group of fired immigration judges filed suit against the Department of Justice challenging the administration's authority to terminate immigration judges without cause or explanation. The Merit Systems Protection Board, an independent federal agency created to protect federal employees from political termination, ruled it had no jurisdiction to review the removals. The fired judges are appealing to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, arguing the decision departs from more than a century of civil service precedent protecting judges from at-will removal.

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• Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche asked Supreme Court to intervene in E. Jean Carroll case — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced that the Department of Justice would ask the Supreme Court to permit the DOJ to intervene in the defamation case brought by columnist E. Jean Carroll, who won an $83.3 million jury verdict against Trump for defamation after he falsely denied sexually assaulting her. If the Supreme Court allows the DOJ to substitute itself for Trump as defendant, the case would be dismissed because plaintiffs cannot sue the federal government for defamation. Appeals court judges had already refused to permit such a substitution.

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• Justice Department sued Colorado over firearms magazine restrictions — The Department of Justice, through its Civil Rights Division, filed suit against Colorado alleging that a state statute banning certain "large-capacity magazines" violates the Second Amendment. The complaint contends that the banned magazines are standard equipment on popular firearms including AR-15-style rifles and are owned by hundreds of millions of Americans. The department characterized the law as "political virtue signaling" infringing on constitutional rights to keep and bear arms in common use.

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• Justice Department sued Denver over municipal weapons ordinance — The Department of Justice, through the Civil Rights Division, filed suit against the City of Denver alleging that Denver's ordinance banning certain semi-automatic rifles, including AR-15-style weapons, violates the Second Amendment. The complaint asserts that the banned rifles are in common use and that the ordinance unconstitutionally infringes on the rights of law-abiding citizens. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon characterized the action as defending constitutional liberties.

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• Attorney General announces indictment of former FBI Director James Comey — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced that a federal grand jury in North Carolina had indicted former FBI Director James Comey with threatening Trump. The charges stemmed from an Instagram post Comey made of seashells arranged to spell "86 47," which he deleted and apologized for, stating he was unaware the number could convey violent intent. The DOJ completed its investigation nearly a year later and chose to announce the charges days after the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting.
• Acting Attorney General Blanche announces DOJ evidence in Comey case — On May 3, 2026, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced that the Department of Justice has "evidence of all sorts" from an 11-month investigation into James Comey that it will present at trial. This statement came as part of the prosecution of Comey on charges related to the Instagram seashell post, which legal experts characterized as a weak case designed to appease Trump.
• Attorney General Blanche addressed selective prosecution of '86 47' posts. — Attorney General Todd Blanche was asked on NBC whether other people would be prosecuted for posting "86 47" or only James Comey. Blanche responded that the phrase is "posted constantly" and "used constantly," stating that "every single case depends on the investigation that is done."

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• Federal grand jury indicts Southern Poverty Law Center for wire fraud, false statements, and money laundering conspiracy — A federal grand jury in Montgomery, Alabama, returned an indictment charging the Southern Poverty Law Center with 11 counts of wire fraud, false statements to a federally insured bank, and conspiracy to commit concealment money laundering. The indictment alleges that between 2014 and 2023, the SPLC funneled more than $3 million in donated funds to individuals associated with violent extremist groups including the Ku Klux Klan, Aryan Nations, and National Socialist Party of America, while publicly claiming to oppose those groups. The DOJ alleges the organization used fictitious bank accounts to conceal the scheme and made false statements to financial institutions.
• Acting Attorney General Blanche announces 11-count indictment of Southern Poverty Law Center — Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche held a press conference announcing an 11-count federal indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center, charging the civil rights organization with wire fraud, making false statements to a bank, and conspiracy to launder money. The charges relate to a now-defunct program in which the SPLC paid informants to infiltrate extremist groups and shared information with law enforcement. Legal experts have characterized the charges as weak, and the SPLC has denied all wrongdoing. The indictment was widely viewed as an effort by Blanche to demonstrate to Trump his willingness to use the DOJ against political rivals.
• DOJ pressured prosecutors to indict Southern Poverty Law Center despite case-strength concerns, whistleblower alleges — A Department of Justice lawyer, Aakash Singh, reportedly pressured federal prosecutors in Alabama to rush an 11-count indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center despite serious concerns about the case's strength, according to a whistleblower account shared with House Democrats. Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the indictment on April 21, accusing the civil rights organization of wire fraud and money laundering related to an informant program. Democrats Jamie Raskin and Mary Gay Scanlon opened an investigation into the matter, citing Singh's directive to prosecutors to expedite charges. Legal experts have characterized the charges as weak, and the SPLC has denied all wrongdoing.
• Justice Department indicts Southern Poverty Law Center on federal fraud charges — Trump's Justice Department indicted the Southern Poverty Law Center on federal fraud charges, alleging the civil rights organization defrauded donors by secretly paying informants more than $3 million to infiltrate white supremacist and extremist groups, including the Ku Klux Klan. The tactic of using paid informants has been used by the FBI and other federal agencies for decades. Critics characterized the indictment as "nakedly political."
• DOJ indicts Southern Poverty Law Center on federal fraud charges — The Department of Justice, through Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, announced an 11-count federal indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) by an Alabama grand jury. The charges include wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, alleging the SPLC funneled over $3 million to confidential informants within extremist groups between 2014 and 2023 using fictitious entities, and misrepresented to donors and banks how funds were being used. The SPLC's CEO Bryan Fair disputed the allegations and stated the informant program "saved lives."
• Southern Poverty Law Center indicted on federal fraud charges by Trump administration DOJ — The Southern Poverty Law Center was indicted on federal fraud charges by acting attorney general Todd Blanche, alleging the organization improperly paid informants to infiltrate extremist groups without disclosing payments to donors. The indictment claims at least $3 million went to informants affiliated with the KKK, Aryan Nations, and other groups between 2014 and 2023. SPLC CEO Bryan Fair stated the payments were necessary to monitor violence threats and that information was shared with the FBI and law enforcement. Charges include wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
• DOJ indicted Southern Poverty Law Center for fraud — The Department of Justice indicted the Southern Poverty Law Center, alleging that SPLC used donor money to pay informants to infiltrate right-wing hate groups, but claiming the purpose was to create false flags to instigate violence and racist demonstrations. The indictment has refueled conspiracy theories that the January 6 insurrection was instigated by infiltrators paid by left-wing groups. Rep. Dan Goldman criticized the indictment as legally baseless, comparing it to prosecuting the FBI for funding drug trafficking through informants.

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• Acting Attorney General Blanche announces 11-count indictment of Southern Poverty Law Center — Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche held a press conference announcing an 11-count federal indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center, charging the civil rights organization with wire fraud, making false statements to a bank, and conspiracy to launder money. The charges relate to a now-defunct program in which the SPLC paid informants to infiltrate extremist groups and shared information with law enforcement. Legal experts have characterized the charges as weak, and the SPLC has denied all wrongdoing. The indictment was widely viewed as an effort by Blanche to demonstrate to Trump his willingness to use the DOJ against political rivals.
• DOJ pressured prosecutors to indict Southern Poverty Law Center despite case-strength concerns, whistleblower alleges — A Department of Justice lawyer, Aakash Singh, reportedly pressured federal prosecutors in Alabama to rush an 11-count indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center despite serious concerns about the case's strength, according to a whistleblower account shared with House Democrats. Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the indictment on April 21, accusing the civil rights organization of wire fraud and money laundering related to an informant program. Democrats Jamie Raskin and Mary Gay Scanlon opened an investigation into the matter, citing Singh's directive to prosecutors to expedite charges. Legal experts have characterized the charges as weak, and the SPLC has denied all wrongdoing.

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• Joe DiGenova sworn in to lead "Russia hoax investigation" — On April 20, 2026, Joe DiGenova, an 81-year-old former Trump election lawyer and conspiracy theorist, was sworn in to oversee a multi-year "grand conspiracy" investigation against Trump's perceived enemies, including former CIA director John Brennan. DiGenova stated that Trump "personally asked" him to lead the investigation and publicly sketched a grand conspiracy narrative framing investigations into Trump as a coordinated plot to deny him civil rights.

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• Dhillon directs civil rights division to investigate Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson for alleged race discrimination — After Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who is Black, spoke about hiring Black people in his administration to ensure they "look out for the interest of Black folks," the civil rights division's official account posted a letter from Dhillon informing Johnson he was under investigation for violating the 1964 Civil Rights Act's prohibition on race discrimination. The investigation was announced publicly on social media the day after Johnson's remarks, a highly unusual practice that alarmed former civil rights lawyers and signals the weaponization of civil rights law against efforts to address racial equity.
• Dhillon directs investigation into Cassidy Hutchinson, January 6 committee witness — The civil rights division, under Dhillon's oversight, is investigating Cassidy Hutchinson, the former Trump aide who gave vivid testimony to the January 6 committee about the president's actions on that day. The source notes it is unclear what civil rights violation, if any, Hutchinson committed. The investigation appears retaliatory against a witness who testified against Trump.
• Dhillon directs investigation into Pennsylvania school bus driver firing over "English only" sign — In December 2025, after a local news outlet published a story about a Pennsylvania school bus driver being fired for posting an "English only" sign on her bus, Dhillon posted that she had directed the civil rights division to open an investigation into "this situation implicating DEI wokeness." The investigation was announced on social media days after learning of the incident, departing sharply from standard practice in which the civil rights division does not publicly announce investigations or release letters informing targets they are under investigation.
• Dhillon posts on social media about ongoing DOJ investigations in early stages — Harmeet Dhillon, with 1.3 million followers on her personal X account, has posted official department letters on X announcing civil rights investigations, a highly unusual practice that has alarmed former civil rights division lawyers. The practice violates longstanding norms that investigations remain confidential until formal notice is provided. Dhillon has also posted about investigations in early stages, departing from standard practice in which the civil rights division does not publicly announce investigations.

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• Justice Department sues Connecticut and New Haven over sanctuary immigration policies — The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit in the District of Connecticut against the State of Connecticut, Governor Ned Lamont, Attorney General William Tong, the City of New Haven, and Mayor Justin Elicker, challenging state and local sanctuary policies that restrict cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The complaint alleges that Connecticut's "Trust Act" and related policies obstruct federal immigration law enforcement and have resulted in the release of individuals the department characterizes as dangerous criminals. The department invokes the Supremacy Clause as the constitutional basis for preemption.

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• Justice Department settles lawsuit alleging Biden State Department social media censorship — The Department of Justice announced settlement of litigation alleging the Biden State Department censored disfavored speech through its Global Engagement Center by funding private companies' development of technologies to suppress protected speech online. The settlement implements President Trump's Executive Order on "Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship." The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas had denied the government's motions to dismiss and transfer venue, finding good cause for discovery. The settlement avoids continued litigation.

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• DOJ opinion claims Presidential Records Act unconstitutional — Assistant Attorney General T. Elliot Gaiser published an opinion stating that the Presidential Records Act is unconstitutional, arguing it infringes on presidential autonomy. This opinion could significantly impact the handling of presidential records and accountability.
• Office of Legal Counsel published opinion declaring Presidential Records Act unconstitutional — Assistant Attorney General T. Elliot Gaiser of the Office of Legal Counsel published a legal opinion for the White House arguing that the Presidential Records Act (PRA), which requires presidents to keep records of official business and transfer them at the end of their term, is unconstitutional. The memo claims the PRA "unconstitutionally intrudes on the independence and autonomy of the President guaranteed by Article II" and states "the President need not further comply with its dictates."

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• Justice Department files Title VI lawsuit against Harvard University for alleged antisemitism and discrimination against Jewish and Israeli students — The Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts against Harvard University, alleging violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The complaint alleges that since October 7, 2023, Harvard tolerated antisemitic harassment, assault, and intimidation of Jewish and Israeli students by mobs of students, faculty, and visitors, and selectively enforced campus rules to permit such conduct to continue. The department seeks to compel Harvard's compliance with Title VI and recover over $2.6 billion in federal taxpayer funds that Harvard accepted while allegedly in violation of the statute.

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

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• Trump posted demands to imprison political opponents over 2020 election — Trump posted demands that political opponents be imprisoned over the 2020 election, shared fabricated electoral maps to claim a victory that did not occur, amplified calls to prosecute investigators like Jack Smith, and circulated communications suggesting federal regulators should pressure private companies like Apple to alter its News app in ways favorable to him.

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