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This is the type of person Trump pardoned. He proudly asserts that they should have injured a US Capitol Police Officer worse than they did on January 6th (@sergeantaqgo.bsky.social) had to medically retire). But MAGA supports law enforcement? Seriously? Then show me by condemning this guy.
"Congress 'alone has access to the pockets of the people.'" — Judges quoting James Madison in a concurring opinion to the ruling finding the challenged Trump tariffs illegal storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
A federal appeals court AFFIRMS an order finding challenged Trump tariffs illegal. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
The ACLU's not done fighting yet to hold Trump officials in criminal contempt for the March 15 flights. In a video interview, lawyer Lee Gelernt told me that he filed en banc petition because letting feds flout orders is "very dangerous." cc: @MeidasTouch.com www.allrisenews.com/p/aclu-crimi...
Jan Carey is charged with lighting a fire in an undesignated area and in a manner causing damage to real property or park resources — Class "B" misdemeanors, typically resolved in D.C. with a small fine, per this story. He called Trump's executive order bluff.
“.. The Florida Division of Emergency Management will lose most of the value of the $218 million it has invested in making the airport suitable for a detention center ..” @apnews.com @nbcnews.com www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
The nearly unheard-of event happened again for a third time in rapid succession.
A federal grand jury has declined to indict another person arrested as part of President Trump's D.C. crime surge. This was the only case we know of in which the National Guard participated in an arrest. After the grand jury declined to return an indictment, DOJ moved to dismiss the case.
There is no immediate ruling, and Judge Cobb gives the parties an opportunity to supplement the record.
Lowell sarcastically asks whether responding to Bill Pulte right away on social media is the process that the due process clause allows.
In rebuttal, Lowell says: "Just putting the word 'cause' next to Article II doesn't make it better." "So if that's not enough, the President gave you what he meant." Trump said if Cook acted "properly," referring to the interest rates.
Judge Cobb notes that the standard is deferential but that doesn't mean not to probe it. She asks what that standard is for that review.
DOJ's lawyer notes that Cook did not reveal her defense to the mortgage fraud allegations. “They are very careful in this brief not to make any representation about what actually happened.”
DOJ says that Trump did not say in his letter that Cook was removed out of his Article II discretion, period.
The government is now up: Judge Cobb presses the DOJ on whether a policy dispute is enough for "cause," and the lawyer agrees, except potentially in extreme situations, that it is not.
Lowell: "Whatever 'cause' means, it can’t be this. Whatever 'notice and opportunity' means, it can’t be this."
Lowell notes that a Fed governor takes an oath to protect and defend the Constitution — and another one to operate independently. Being removed from such a position, he says, is irreparable harm.
Lowell notes that the right to respond wouldn't be to Trump: "I didn't imagine that I'd walk into the Oval Office and give a 20-minute presentation that Director Pulte is wrong."
Lowell: "A person in Gov. Cook's position does not get *less* due process."
Lowell notes that the right to respond wouldn't be to Trump: "I didn't imagine that I'd walk into the Oval Office and give a 20-minute presentation that Director Pulte is wrong."
Lowell notes how Trump turned his attention from Jerome Powell to Lisa Cook: "Miraculously, the President's ire turned from Chairman Powell to Gov. Cook." ... "This allegation of fraud has become the weapon of choice in removing people from the Board."
Lowell: "If it is abundantly clear that there was no cause — I don't know what it is, but I know what it's not — ... then, yeah, you don't need to get to motive."
Lowell on the judge's role in determining whether "cause" is pretextual: "Whatever we define as permissible cause is not depending on the bad motive of the actor." ... "A bad motive can illuminate that there was no cause to begin with."
Lowell on the applicable standard: "It's very difficult to come up with an 11-page definition of what it is." But it's easier to come up with a one-page definition of "what it's not." "Whatever it is, it's not this."
Judge Cobb asks where Lowell finds the authority that suggests this is the standard. Lowell acknowledges that this is a "case of first impression."
Lowell: "What is the alleged offense that occurred before? What's the evidence of the offense that occurred before?" Has the person had the chance to contest the allegations?
Lisa Cook filed the mortgage application at issue before her confirmation. Judge Cobb presses Lowell on whether the timeline makes it categorically ineligible as "cause." Lowell says it's not an "absolute condition" but a factor.
Judge Cobb notes that other statutes have defined "cause," and this one doesn't. Lowell responds that "cause" is defined in the Supreme Court precedent of Humphrey's Executor.
Judge Cobb presses Lowell on the government's legal argument. The Federal Reserve statute doesn't define cause and that allegedly means the president has discretion. If "cause" is undefined, Lowell replies, either the word "means nothing" or the judge must determine it.
Lowell notes Pulte's hedging around her allegations against Gov. Cook — that it "appears" that she did something wrong.
Cobb turns to the merits. Lowell rattles off the "operative facts." Cook was nominated and confirmed for a 14-year term in 2023. Trump fired her through a social media post.
Abbe Lowell is arguing for Cook. Proceedings are starting off on questions of a timeline.
This morning, a federal judge will consider whether to temporarily block Trump from ousting Fed Gov. Lisa Cook for her role. Judge Cobb is presiding and the hearing is about to begin. Follow along www.allrisenews.com/p/lisa-cook-...
"Today’s decision ... to deny the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s motion to dismiss ensures that the plaintiffs may continue their long pursuit of truth and justice." Lawyers for the 9/11 families react to a breakthrough in their case against Saudi Arabia. Full story www.allrisenews.com/p/saudi-arab...
![“It has been nearly 25 years since the largest terrorist attack in United States history, which took the lives of nearly 3,000 innocent people. Today’s decision by the Honorable George B. Daniels to deny the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s motion to dismiss ensures that the plaintiffs may continue their long pursuit of truth and justice. The Court’s finding that the plaintiffs presented ‘reasonable evidence as to the roles played by Bayoumi, Thumairy, and KSA [Kingdom of Saudi Arabia] in assisting the hijackers’ paves the way for these critical issues to be fully examined at trial, and for all responsible parties for this act of terrorism to be held accountable.”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:353gzbhcjbznfxegvayffqek/bafkreid6hjue7dkuywo26c52daojpr26dqpvqayqctv2cw5ytcd4zfjf4i@jpeg "Click to view full size")
Note: At least 5 federal judges rejected claims that Abrego is a member of MS-13, including one who said the proposition borders on "fanciful."
NEWS Once again, Kilmar Abrego Garcia's lawyers seek an order blocking the Trump admin's "inflammatory" campaign to disparage their client before trial — including through this image on the White House and DHS official accounts, their "pièce de resistance."
A federal judge issued a permanent injunction BARRING Trump loyalist Kari Lake from removing Voice of America director Michael Abramowitz. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
In case you missed it: @klasfeldreports.com x @mspopok.bsky.social LIVE on the Legal AF Substack! 11:15 am Briefing ALL RISE NEWS X POPOK ON TRUMP FEDERAL COURT FAILINGS IN LAST 24 hours 🔗 substack.com/@legalaf/not...
Fed Governor Lisa Cook's lawsuit challenging Trump's purported firing of her has been filed. h/t @kyledcheney.bsky.com s3.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
Abbe Lowell and I represent CDC Director #SusanMonarez. Contrary to govt statements, Dr. Monarez has neither resigned nor yet been fired. She will not resign. We have issued the following statement:
Docketed: A federal judge issued a written order barring Kilmar Abrego Garcia from being moved more than 200 miles from the court — or deported outside the continental United States — through the next hearing in his habeas corpus lawsuit on Oct. 6. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
GRAND JURY NULLIFICATION! Prosecutors Fail to Secure Indictment Against Man Who Threw Sandwich at Federal Agent www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/u...
Judge Xinis said she will release her scheduling order just before ending the hearing.
Note: The government doesn't oppose the extension of the TRO, as long as it doesn't create what Ensign described as a "Zadvydas problem." That's the SCOTUS precedent with a six-month clock protecting against indefinite immigration detention in certain instances.
DOJ's Drew Ensign says that he doesn't believe Abrego was given any additional documents and will try to confirm so before the end of the week.
Sandoval-Moshenberg says that Abrego's legal team hasn't received any documents in the two days since their client was taken into custody. He seeks an order that they receive any documents Abrego has.
Judge Xinis says she will extend her temporary restraining order blocking Abrego's removal from the continental United States or more than 200 miles from the courtroom.
Judge Xinis adjusts the briefing schedule slightly. Sept. 22: Government's response to Abrego's motion Sept. 29: Abrego's reply.
A hearing has been scheduled for Oct. 6 at 10 a.m. The parties must provide a witness list on Oct. 2.
Judge Xinis proposes this schedule: Sept. 17, 2025 — Govt reply to Abrego's filing A week later — Abrego's team replies Sometime after Oct. 1: evidentiary hearing
DOJ's Drew Ensign says that DHS anticipates that they can complete a reasonable fear screening and country designation within two weeks. Judge Xinis will set out a briefing schedule that's longer than that — but "not much."
Judge Xinis and Abrego's attorneys are hashing out how the parallel proceedings will affect the habeas corpus lawsuit.
Xinis notes that will operate on an "independent track," but she has no jurisdiction over those proceedings.
Xinis asks whether it's true that Abrego "has sought to reopen his immigration proceedings and seek asylum." His lawyers confirm.
Judge Xinis is presiding. For Abrego: Attorneys Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg and Andrew Rossman For DOJ: Drew Ensign
A scheduling conference is about to begin in Kilmar Abrego Garcia's habeas corpus lawsuit to avoid deportation to Uganda. I'll be following along remotely.
To put a fine point on it: Trump's DOJ is choosing to snarl criminal matters in the District of New Jersey to fight to keep a non-Senate confirmed, district judge-rejected loyalist in the U.S. Attorney post.
Remarkable accounting of concerns over Alina Habba's legitimacy grinding criminal cases to a halt. At least 12 judges delayed proceedings, including three trials and several guilty plea and sentencing hearings—even BEFORE the ruling against Habba. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Trump's DOJ accused Judge Dugan of helping an undocumented immigrant evade arrest by federal agents. Despite rejecting her immunity arguments, a federal judge notes her other constitutional protections at her disposal — including against "vindictive prosecution."
News Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan loses her bid to dismiss her indictment on immunity and 10th Amendment grounds. The judge will hold a hearing on Sept. 3 to discuss scheduling. Ruling storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
This is right. Any effect on the economy is of secondary importance. Trump is weaponizing the government against people he doesn't like. The very definition of an authoritarian.
Kilmar Abrego's lawyers ridicule the govt's claim, after Trump and his cabinet members tarred Abrego repeatedly in the press, that a defense filing was supposedly "incendiary." "Please. The feigned indignation hardly merits a response," they wrote. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Kilmar Abrego Garcia's release order says the Trump admin already broke the terms of a release order guaranteeing their client access to counsel if he were taken into immigration custody. Full doc storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/25/w...
A judge schooled the Trump admin on the distinction in a ruling rejecting the government's bid to detain Abrego before trial — but DHS keeps using the talking point anyway, hoping the public won't notice the difference.
A trafficking charge can get someone the 20-year sentence that Maxwell is serving. The average sentence on the charge leveled against Abrego in the district where he’s being prosecuted: roughly a year and a day, per a recent court order.
To correct a point that DHS keeps obfuscating: Unlike Ghislaine Maxwell, Kilmar Abrego Garcia has never been charged with “trafficking” anyone. The trial the Trump admin is trying to avoid with its Uganda scheme is on smuggling accusations. www.allrisenews.com/p/kilmar-abr...
One of the most important lines from the hearing. Note: The Trump admin never disputed that it did that, and there's now a public paper trail confirming it, in exhibits to Abrego's criminal case.
Judge Xinis orders the government not to remove him from that facility. Q: Is that clear to you, Mr. Ensign? DOJ's Ensign: Yes, your honor.
Attorney Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg says that he heard from Mr. Abrego 45 minutes ago. "He’s detained in a detention center in the Commonwealth of Virginia."
Xinis said that she plans to extend her temporary restraining order to cover the period of her decision.
Xinis notes that the government is "absolutely forbidden" at this moment from removing Abrego from the continental United States. DOJ's Drew Ensign agrees, providing some time to agree to create a schedule moving forward.
Judge Xinis on the govt's conditioning removal to Costa Rica on a guilty plea: "You can't condition the relinquishing of a constitutional right in that regard."
Judge Xinis notes that there's nothing on the record showing that Uganda would not refoul Abrego to El Salvador.
Judge Xinis: "I am willing to move as fast as is just." That could involve an evidentiary hearing this week.
Attorney Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg and Andrew Rossman register an appearance for Abrego. Drew Ensign for the government.
Judge Xinis has joined the call and telephone conference is about to begin.
A hearing in Kilmar Abrego Garcia's new habeas corpus lawsuit is about to begin. The attorneys are registering their appearances. Look out for coverage on All Rise News www.allrisenews.com/p/kilmar-abr...
Prosecutors released their once-confidential emails with Abrego's legal team discussing the possibility of a plea. Note: Abrego's legal team previously said their client "had little choice but to participate in those discussions," for fear prosecutors would do what they're doing now.
New Feds say that plea negotiations with Kilmar Abrego Garcia have been ongoing for nearly six weeks, claiming their actions weren't "sinister and coercive." Their 5-page motion never denies using Uganda as leverage. www.allrisenews.com/p/kilmar-abr...
New The DOJ's top brass appeals a federal judge's order noting that Alina Habba has been unlawfully appointed to her position and has been serving there since July illegitimately and without authority — without Senate approval and rejected by her district.
The federal judge presiding over Kilmar Abrego Garcia's new lawsuit has scheduled a recorded call today at 2 p.m. Eastern Time, according to the docket. There is no current information about whether there will be public access.
The Supreme Court made possible the administration's threats to send Mr Abrego Garcia to Uganda -- because the Court blocked the lower court decisions that had restricted the gov'ts ability to send noncitizens to far-flung places they've never been & where they could face violence, torture, & death.
As a related case, this already has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis.
Note: In late July, a federal judge ordered that Kilmar Abrego Garcia receive 72-hours notice to raise credible fear defense to third-country deportation. This footnote explained it in more detail. Abrego received his notice at 4:01 p.m. on Friday. www.allrisenews.com/p/kilmar-abr...
Abrego's lawyer Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg said at a press conference that Abrego has been taken into ICE custody. The lawsuit seeks a declaration that he can't be removed to any country without full due process. "Today, it's Uganda. Tomorrow, it might be, who knows?"
JUST IN: Kilmar Abrego Garcia has filed a new federal lawsuit in Maryland. Since it's a habeas corpus case, the petition isn't public now, but his lawyer said it challenges the Trump admin's scheme to send him to Uganda. www.allrisenews.com/p/kilmar-abr...
“Her records were sealed for 12 years. They would have had no access to these records unless somebody illegally handed them over...They never once asked for records from me about the case, and I had to guess that it might have been a marijuana charge because I was left in the dark for a week.”
On Monday, Kilmar Abrego Garcia has a mandatory check-in at ICE's Baltimore field office. His family and advocates plan to hold a vigil and rally outside opposing the government's threats to whisk him to Uganda if he doesn't forfeit his right to a trial. www.allrisenews.com/p/kilmar-abr...
Virginia Giuffre’s family denounces “DAG Todd Blanche’s bizarre interview” of Ghislaine Maxwell in a statement. www.allrisenews.com/p/maxwell-tr...
Todd Blanche gave zero pushback on Maxwell's revisionist history of her and Epstein's victims — even on points contradicted by the public record. On topics of interest to Trump, Blanche suddenly showed attention to detail. Me, on @CNN.com www.allrisenews.com/p/maxwell-tr...
From "highly CONFLICTED" to "Highly Respected" in just weeks — and all it took was for him to give away 10% of his company
I’ll discuss more of these observations soon on @cnn.com with @lauracoates.com at 11 pm ET. Tune in!
A deep dive into what Todd Blanche let Ghislaine Maxwell get away with saying about the victims — without pushback — vs. the level of detail he elicits about topics that affect Trump. www.allrisenews.com/p/maxwell-tr...
Virginia Giuffre’s lawyer Sigrid McCawley reacts to the Maxwell transcripts, saying Maxwell “repeatedly and brazenly lied” to the government and is trying to “recreate history.” Full statement
Kilmar Abrego Garcia's release order is made public. The judge reminds feds that, if Abrego is taken into immigration custody, he must be allowed access to counsel to prepare for trial. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Why is he saying we? Since when does the VP take credit for a DOJ investigation?
NEWS A federal judge finds that Alina Habba's appointment as "special attorney" for the District of New Jersey is UNLAWFUL. Ruling storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us... Background www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErH2...
New York Attorney General Letitia James on aftermath of the appellate ruling overturning the bulk of Trump's massive penalty but leaving the judgment intact: "Donald Trump, his company, and two of his children are liable for fraud." Full statement
I read the opinion, and, I agree with Adam's warning here. Mostly because Trump's going to be spinning this in a win in a case he (officially, at least) lost. The vacatur of the disgorgement ‘fine’ is obviously a huge win for Trump et al.