Category Archives: Department of Justice

“Unpacking the ‘Surprise’ Crime in DOJ’s Target Letter to Trump”

July 24, 2023, 4:50 amDepartment of Justice, election subversion riskDan Tokaji

Norman Eisen, Ryan Goodman, and Joshua Kolb in Just Security: On Tuesday the world learned that the Department of Justice had served Donald Trump with a target letter for crimes related to January 6th. On Wednesday, reporting by The … Continue reading

“Trump says he’s received a target letter from special counsel Jack Smith’s Jan. 6 investigators”

July 18, 2023, 8:41 amDepartment of Justice, election subversion riskDan Tokaji

Politico: Donald Trump said Tuesday he expects to be indicted by special counsel Jack Smith’s Jan. 6 grand jury, citing a “target letter” he received from investigators on Sunday…. Trump said the letter, which is prosecutors’ typical precursor to… Continue reading

“Trump and Allies Forge Plans to Increase Presidential Power in 2025”

July 17, 2023, 3:52 amDepartment of JusticeDan Tokaji

NYT: Donald J. Trump and his allies are planning a sweeping expansion of presidential power over the machinery of government if voters return him to the White House in 2025, reshaping the structure of the executive branch to concentrate… Continue reading

“Justice Department Challenges Racially Discriminatory Provisions of New Mississippi Law Targeting Hinds County”

July 13, 2023, 4:21 amDepartment of JusticeDan Tokaji

You can find the complaint here. From DOJ’s press release: The Justice Department filed a complaint today challenging portions of Mississippi House Bill 1020 (H.B. 1020), which mandates the appointment of special judges and prosecutors by Mississippi state officials… Continue reading

Jeffrey Clark, Former DOJ Official Implicated in Attempts to Overturn 2020 Election, Now Has Put Forward Maximalist Unitary Executive Decision to Politicize DOJ in Second Trump Term

June 15, 2023, 6:58 amDepartment of Justice, election subversion riskRick Hasen

Quite the theory, and quite ironic from the team that insists the Biden DOJ has politicized the indictment of trump.

It’s tricky for different sovereigns to run related investigations at the same time

April 9, 2023, 3:02 pmDepartment of Justice, election subversion riskJustin Levitt

And the NYT walks through some of the practicalities with respect to the Trump investigations by the special federal prosecutor in DC and county prosecutors in Georgia. More on the Georgia case here.

“Top GA official says ‘coordinated effort’ between DOJ and ‘liberal activists’ to ‘scapegoat’ voting law”

February 27, 2023, 7:33 amDepartment of Justice, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

Fox News: A top Georgia official said Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) documents should show a “coordinated effort” between the Department of Justice (DOJ) and “liberal activists” to use the state’s voting law as a “scapegoat for political losses.” On… Continue reading

“Special counsel is locked in at least 8 secret court battles in Trump investigations”

February 16, 2023, 7:49 amDepartment of JusticeRick Hasen

CNN: Special counsel Jack Smith is locked in at least eight secret court battles that aim to unearth some of the most closely held details about Donald Trump’s actions after the 2020 election and handling of classified material, according… Continue reading

“Lawmakers Call for Inquiry Into Durham’s Review of Russia Investigation”

February 2, 2023, 6:49 amchicanery, Department of JusticeRick Hasen

NYT: Two House Democrats urged the Justice Department’s independent inspector general on Wednesday to open an investigation into the special counsel review of the Russia inquiry, citing “alarming” disclosures in a recent New York Times article. The article, which showed… Continue reading

“Justice Dept. subpoenas Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin officials for Trump communications”

December 6, 2022, 9:45 amDepartment of JusticeDerek Muller

Washington Post: Special counsel Jack Smith has subpoenaed local officials in Arizona, Michigan and Wisconsin — three states that were central to former president Donald Trump’s failed plan to stay in power following the 2020 election — for any… Continue reading

“DeSantis official says Justice Dept. can’t send monitors to 3 Florida counties”

November 8, 2022, 9:18 amDepartment of JusticeRick Hasen

WaPo: The DeSantis administration is attempting to block Department of Justice election monitors from gaining access to polling places in South Florida, saying in a letter that the federal government’s involvement would be “counterproductive” and in violation of state law.On… Continue reading

Divergent strategies may yield divergent outcomes in Arizona drop box voter intimidation cases

October 31, 2022, 6:31 pmDepartment of Justice, election administrationDerek Muller

Earlier here at ELB, Rick H. linked to a federal district court’s ruling refusing to issue an injunction against groups for patrolling ballot drop box locations, balancing the risks of voter intimidation with First Amendment interests. That case then saw… Continue reading

“Flood of Voting Laws Confront Rights Enforcers With Uphill Fight”

February 9, 2022, 6:49 amDepartment of Justice, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Bloomberg Law: The Justice Department’s voting section faces significant hurdles in challenging new state election laws and redrawn maps that Democrats say will suppress or dilute minority votes.The newly staffed-up section of the Civil Rights Division that’s already… Continue reading

WaPo “Factchecker” on “Jim Crow 2.0” Senate debate

January 11, 2022, 3:18 amDepartment of Justice, voting, Voting Rights ActNed Foley

Accurately describing itself as a “reader service,” this new Fact Checker analysis carefully details the arguments on both sides and the relevant provisions of the new laws in key states (like Georgia and Texas), including the DOJ and other lawsuits… Continue reading

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