Trump DOJ investigations expand and face scrutiny; major judicial rebuke in IRS case; Jack Smith surveillance bombshell; law firm war escalates; press freedom attacks; new stock promotion scandal; grant cuts blocked; civil cases update; Manhattan DA fights hush money appeal; Blanche confirmed; ballroom blocked; Democrats plan investigations
Key Questions
What probe did the FBI launch into the 2020 Georgia election?
The FBI launched a 'priority' probe into the 2020 Georgia election involving over 260 analysts. This comes amid broader DOJ investigations facing scrutiny.
What revelations emerged about Jack Smith's surveillance?
New revelations show Jack Smith's team surveilled 44 members of Congress by bypassing the Filter Team. Rep. Jim Jordan referred Smith for possible prosecution over alleged false statements.
What happened with the NYT subpoenas?
The DOJ subpoenaed NYT journalists and their families' phone records but withdrew them after admitting legal errors. Trump defended the subpoenas despite the withdrawal.
Why did a judge void the IRS settlement?
A federal judge voided Trump's $1.776B IRS 'slush fund' settlement as collusive and sanctioned Trump lawyers. The ruling also referred Todd Blanche and others for ethics discipline.
What is the status of the BBC lawsuit?
Trump backtracked on the $10B BBC lawsuit to avoid financial disclosure requirements. A judge ordered Trump to provide records for over 400 companies, calling the discovery process a 'sham.'
What is the DOJ's record in voter roll cases?
The DOJ has suffered 17 straight losses in voter roll cases, including from Trump-appointed judges. Even GOP-led states have resisted the demands.
What ethics issues involve stock promotion?
Trump's teleprompter operator Gabe Perez is under CFTC investigation for insider trading on prediction markets with $90K frozen. He is now on unpaid leave.
What did Jack Smith say in his first interview?
Jack Smith confirmed overwhelming evidence in the Jan. 6 case, including from Trump's Republican backers. He expressed readiness to retry Trump if needed.
FBI launches 'priority' probe into 2020 Georgia election with 260+ analysts. Jack Smith gives first interview, ready to retry Trump, but new revelations show Smith's team surveilled 44 members of Congress bypassing the Filter Team — Grassley demands answers. Rep. Jim Jordan referred Jack Smith for possible prosecution over alleged false statements about obtaining lawmakers' text content; Smith's lawyers defend. Bill Pulte acting DNI; John Solomon leads declassification; John Brennan sues; John Bolton pleads guilty; House investigation alleges wire fraud in Freedom 250 scheme; Todd Blanche confirmation hearing tests DOJ trust amid Epstein survivor confrontation and unresolved IRS settlement. Newly obtained records show Blanche directly ran the DOJ Weaponization Working Group. NYC Bar formally opposes Blanche for AG. A federal judge voided Trump's $1.776B IRS 'slush fund' settlement as collusive, sanctioned Trump lawyers, and referred Blanche, Woodward, and others for ethics discipline. Judge Kathleen Williams, who issued that ruling, has a history of opposing Trump's immigration policies. White House directly ordered Patel to oversee leak probe; DOJ subpoenaed NYT journalists within 48 hours, then demanded phone records of journalists' families. After judge scrutiny, DOJ withdrew subpoenas, admitting legal errors — a win for press freedom. The real reason for the NYT subpoena was Trump's embarrassment over the Qatari jet fiasco. Now Trump defends the subpoenas as the judge seeks internal DOJ communications, adding a new twist. Cocaine-money laundering investigation entangled Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner's Albanian resort. Democrats vow to escalate Epstein investigation. Blanche faces GOP doubts over his fund; Cornyn and Tillis pressing; Epstein survivor Annie Farmer opposes. Trump declassified election interference docs, claiming China 'act of war' — but docs actually confirmed election security. Trump's teleprompter operator Gabe Perez under CFTC investigation for insider trading on prediction markets, $90K frozen; now on unpaid leave, White House confirms Trump knows. Trump's own election fraud investigator John Solomon admitted no evidence of vote flipping. Trump revived debunked Muskegon voter fraud allegations, directing Patel to reopen a closed FBI investigation. Trump's PACs spent $8M on legal bills in six months, with Sullivan & Cromwell getting the largest share for the hush money appeal; Carroll payment finally transferred. DOJ escalates war on law firms, demanding depositions and internal communications from firms that struck capitulation deals, reopening the divide between capitulators and fighters. DOJ now subpoenaed 14 major law firms for records and depositions, specifically targeting communications with Boris Epshteyn. Trump's primetime address on election interference was a flop — declassified docs showed no foreign interference plans, and the real scandal is Epstein inaction: Blanche met with Maxwell but dodged survivors, redacted Trump's name, and prosecuted no one. Trump launched an investigation into Air Force One press leaks, further escalating press freedom attacks. New investigation reveals Trump promoted 20 companies on Truth Social after buying their stocks, then those companies received government contracts — another ethics scandal. Jack Smith's new interview confirms overwhelming evidence in Jan. 6 case, including from Trump's own Republican backers. A comprehensive catalog shows 18 no bills, 16 quashed subpoenas, 16 dismissed voter data lawsuits — even Trump-appointed judges blocking him. A federal judge blocked Trump's post-award grant cuts, ruling agencies can't change priorities after awarding money. Three Trump civil suits (Capital One, BBC, NYT) head to hearings in Florida; recent losses include WaPo suit dismissed, but wins include blocked BBC evidence stall. Analysis warns that Blanche's DOJ strategy of norm-breaking may backfire as Republican senators face pressure over asymmetric restraint. Trump-appointed Judge Tostrud ruled against Trump in Minnesota sanctuary law case. Trump demands E. Jean Carroll return $5.6M, seeking emergency injunction. In BBC defamation case, judge orders Trump to hand over financial records for 400+ companies, calling discovery a 'sham.' Rights groups sue over childcare funding cuts triggered by misleading video. Slotkin responded after Trump shared video mocking her mail-in voting warnings, adding political drama. Trump admin opened investigation into Harvard's foreign-funded scholarships. DOJ launches public corruption unit targeting state officials; fired US attorney lawsuits test DOJ independence. Jack Smith secretly beat Trump 5 times on privilege claims in BBC case; Trump's own lawsuit could unseal those rulings. Legal expert explains why the perjury case against Smith is weak. Trump Coin lawsuit dismissed on standing, leaving legal questions. 5th Circuit granted rare, narrow stay on Trump detention policy, but Supreme Court will likely settle in October. Appeals court rejected Trump's bid to halt $100,000 H-1B visa fee ruling, another loss on executive overreach. Jim Jordan referred Jack Smith for possible prosecution; Trump backtracks on BBC lawsuit to avoid financial disclosure; Supreme Court signals Carroll rehearing bid could fail soon; Trump gets more time in CNN defamation case. 1st Circuit keeps H-1B fee blocked; Trump defends leak probes. DOJ withdrew NYT subpoenas after judge hearing, admitting legal errors. Todd Blanche addressed Trump accuser in Epstein files, saying claims were 'tested' and dropped. Trump drew stunned silence with jokes attacking journalists but forced to shake hands with those investigating him, adding to media drama. Comey seeks dismissal of NC seashell case, arguing First Amendment protection; 36 universities back Harvard against Trump funding cuts; court admission that DOE canceled clean energy grants to punish blue states; BBC case judge limits Jan. 6 relitigation but orders financial disclosure. Trump urges SCOTUS to overturn E. Jean Carroll's $83M defamation verdict, arguing presidential immunity. ProPublica review of 40+ cases documents judges chastising DOJ for unlawful, unethical conduct, eroding judicial trust. Trump intimately involved in DOJ's seashell case against James Comey, new filing alleges direct coordination. Democratic senators call for SEC investigation into Trump Media's premium data service. Trump and DOJ appeal Carroll verdict to SCOTUS invoking Westfall Act. Rivian sues for tariff refund after Supreme Court limited Trump import powers. Gallup poll shows SCOTUS approval at record low 33%, with Republican approval dropping 21 points. White House teleprompter operator Gabe Perez exits amid CFTC insider trading investigation. Trump appeals judge's ruling that accused him of manipulating courts in IRS slush fund case; DOJ moved to dismiss a related slush fund case as moot within 90 minutes of the appeal. Trump lawyers press judge for swift ruling on bid to move state criminal appeal to federal court, threatening escalation. Manhattan DA urges court to keep Trump hush money convictions in place, arguing conduct was private not official, directly challenging Trump's immunity strategy. Todd Blanche rescinded Trump's 'anti-weaponization fund' to secure his AG nomination, caving to Cornyn and Tillis, while Trump threatens to pull the nomination. Media outlets are shifting to more aggressively fight Trump in court, with the BBC case judge ordering financial disclosure and DOJ backing down on NYT subpoenas. Capital One court filing reveals Trump's bank accounts were closed for money laundering red flags, not politics, adding a new legal front. CREW sues Treasury for concealing January 6th settlement details, adding to transparency fights. Trump didn't fire Pirro despite fury over Reflecting Pool case, highlighting DOJ infighting. New: White House to declassify info on secret FBI probe into whether Trump fired Comey at Russia's behest, adding to the seashell case drama. New: 3 fired FBI agents get broad backing in lawsuit against administration, highlighting DOJ weaponization. New: D.C. Circuit rules against Trump EPA's freeze of $20B green bank funds, another court loss on climate policy. New: Senators Warren and Blumenthal urge SEC to investigate TRUMP meme coin for potential 'soft rug pull' with $3.8B in investor losses, adding financial scrutiny. New: Reuters compilation finds 75 rulings where judges found Trump violated the First Amendment, underscoring systematic constitutional violations. New: Docs reveal Reflecting Pool 'vandalism' was NPS engineer cutting liner; Pirro unethical; New Mexico sues Blanche for Epstein evidence. New: Judge refuses to stay sanctions in IRS slush fund case, keeping referral to Florida Bar. New: FBI secretly investigated Trump as Russian asset over Ukraine views, declassified. New: Judge signals Trump's WSJ defamation suit may be dismissed. New: Michael Cohen predicts Trump will drop BBC lawsuit. New: Constituent letter urges impeachment inquiry over Truth API monetization. New: Courts rule Trump can't cancel $22B in climate grants. New: Appeals court blocks Trump's $400M White House ballroom without Congress approval. New: Todd Blanche confirmed as AG 50-49. New: Democrats plan large-scale investigations targeting Trump's financial network if they retake House. New: Progressive roundup includes request to investigate Barron Trump's ties to Andrew Tate.