American lawyer and politician; NY Attorney General since 2019
Letitia James has filed lawsuits against Coinbase and Gemini in Manhattan, alleging their prediction markets operate illegally without licensing. The lawsuits aim to stop these platforms from operating in New York until they obtain proper licenses. The companies argue their prediction markets are federally regulated, but the state maintains they are illegal gambling exposing young users.
The Justice Department has indicted James Comey in North Carolina on threats-related charges tied to a seashell photo marked “86 47.” Prosecutors must prove intent to threaten a president, a high bar given Comey’s public statements that he did not intend violence. The case is the second criminal matter involving Comey and the Trump administration’s pursuit of political opponents.
Former FBI director James Comey has been indicted by a federal grand jury in North Carolina over a May 2025 Instagram photo showing seashells arranged as "86 47," which prosecutors say a reasonable recipient would interpret as a threat to President Trump; Comey has surrendered, pleaded innocent and vowed to fight the charges.
The U.S. Department of Justice has indicted former FBI Director James Comey for allegedly transmitting a threat against President Trump through a social media post showing seashells arranged to read “86 47.” The indictment marks a second case against Comey and comes amid broader discourse about political targeting within the DOJ and responses from Trump allies and critics.
Universities UK-led polling shows VCs warn of staff redundancies and reduced outreach as funding pressures bite. Higher education leaders say government funding must better reflect the sector’s value, while student support could be at risk as hardship grants are reconsidered.
A coalition of states and the federal government are clashing over anti-ICE measures and undercover enforcement rules. New York’s budget package tightens cooperation with federal immigration authorities, while other states and the DOJ have filed lawsuits or threatened legal action to defend or contest these policies.
A shipyard on Staten Island’s Mariners Harbor experienced a fire followed by a blast, seriously injuring a fire marshal and a firefighter and injuring more than a dozen others, including civilians. Officials say a civilian has died and investigations are underway as responders remain at the scene.
New York and New Jersey Attorneys General have launched a joint investigation into FIFA’s ticketing practices for the 2026 World Cup, focusing on MetLife Stadium. They are demanding information on dynamic pricing, seat-location accuracy, and maps that fans say relocate seats. FIFA has not commented.
President Donald Trump has named Bill Pulte, the Federal Housing Finance Agency director and chair of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, as acting director of national intelligence. Pulte will keep his housing posts, has no known intelligence experience and can serve up to 210 days without Senate confirmation, prompting bipartisan concern about politicising the intelligence community.
TotalEnergies has agreed to withdraw offshore wind leases off New York/North Carolina and invest $1 billion in fossil fuels, a move the Trump administration has been paying to terminate wind projects. Seven states, led by New York, are challenging the deal as unlawful and harmful to jobs and clean energy.
Former national security adviser John Bolton has reportedly agreed to plead guilty to illegally retaining sensitive national security documents and will pay a fine exceeding $2 million, according to CNN. He is set for a Maryland rearraignment on June 26. The development follows an 2025 indictment on 18 counts related to mishandling classified material.
The New York Times, The Guardian, CNBC, Al Jazeera and other outlets report that Donald Trump has nominated Todd Blanche to serve as attorney general, moving from acting to permanent head of the Justice Department. The nomination faces a Senate confirmation battle amid scrutiny of Blanche’s ties to the Epstein files, the $1.8 billion anti-weaponisation fund and past actions at the DOJ.
The Guardian, Independent, and NY Post report that Donald Trump has nominated Todd Blanche to serve permanently as attorney general. Blanche, who has been acting AG since April, would require Senate confirmation. Reports describe his role in pursuing cases against Trump’s rivals and in high-profile DOJ actions, including a controversial fund related to Trump allies that was later axed.
The Section 702 surveillance law is set to lapse this week. President Trump has named Bill Pulte as acting DNI, triggering bipartisan concern and stalling renewal talks while lawmakers debate guardrails and timing. A Senate gridlock persists as Republicans and Democrats clash over the scope of surveillance and the president’s chosen interim leader.
President Donald Trump has delayed Jay Clayton’s Senate confirmation and said Bill Pulte will remain acting director of national intelligence. Trump has tied progress on renewing Section 702 surveillance authority and Clayton’s confirmation to passage of a voter ID bill and has ordered Pulte to cut ODNI staff and return employees to their home agencies.
A coalition of U.S. state attorneys general has subpoenaed OpenAI for internal documents on advertising, user engagement, handling of health and consumer data, and protections for minors and seniors. OpenAI has said it will "engage constructively," highlighted new safeguards in ChatGPT and is cooperating with investigators while facing related lawsuits and regulatory pressure.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has said federal agents have contacted friends, former staff and donors tied to him and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and has accused President Donald Trump of ordering a politically motivated investigation as he considers a 2028 presidential run. Multiple outlets report the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California has been handling separate inquiries that began with local whistleblower tips, including probes into the first partner’s taxes and former chief of staff Dana Williamson, who pleaded guilty to federal charges.
The federal government has filed a civil lawsuit alleging that New York state officials and a vendor misrepresented transition plans for the Medicaid home-care program, CDPAP, prompting broader scrutiny of Medicaid spending and vendor practices. The case centers on allegations that a single company and state leaders manipulated the transition to consolidate payroll services for roughly 250,000 recipients.
The Department of Justice has filed lawsuits challenging state laws that bar federal law enforcement officers from wearing masks and restrict 287(g) agreements, arguing these measures threaten federal officers’ safety and interfere with federal operations. Virginia and New York are among the states facing suits; Maryland faces a separate challenge by sheriffs opposing a new immigration-cooperation law.
AP News reports on ongoing dismissals of fake elector cases in several states, with some cases being refiled after dismissals. Nevada and Arizona cases face procedural delays as authorities pursue grand juries and appeals.
Poetica Coffee has refunded Rep. Dan Goldman and barred him from its Brooklyn and East Village outlets after a social-media post accused him of being a “genocide juice” target. The Civil Rights Division is examining possible public-accommodation discrimination, and Goldman says he visited the shop with his daughter to use the restroom and bought a coffee in gratitude for staff’s kindness.
DSA-backed candidates have swept New York primaries, bolstering Mayor Mamdani's influence and signaling a shift in Democratic strategy. Leaders warn the party must deliver for working people as debates over 2028 strategy begin.
Protests outside Poetica Coffee in Park Slope have escalated after a social media post accused the shop of banning a Jewish congressman over his support for Israel. The Justice Department has opened a civil-rights investigation into the incident as demonstrators clash with counter-protesters. The controversy has drawn national attention and sparked debate about discrimination and free speech.
A federal judge blocks the Trump administration's rule redefining qualifying employers for Public Service Loan Forgiveness, while another judge rules the rule is contrary to law. The ruling preserves PSLF benefits for workers in government and nonprofits and prompts Education Department review. The litigation spans multiple states and advocacy groups.
Former national security adviser John Bolton has pleaded guilty in a Maryland federal court to illegally retaining classified information. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 28, with a maximum five-year sentence and a $2.25 million fine. He has agreed to debriefing, community service, and forfeiture of his federal pension.
Pride events across the US and Europe proceed as leaders push back on transgender rights and DEI policies. In New York and San Francisco, parades highlight activism over corporate spectacle, with hospitals facing pressure over gender-affirming care and organizers weighing participation amid federal subpoenas.
A coalition of more than 20 states and the District of Columbia has filed suit against CMS over an interim final rule that tightens Medicaid eligibility by redefining medical frailty and enforcing work or community-engagement requirements for expansion enrollees. The suit argues the rule exceeds the agency’s authority, risks disenfranchising patients with serious illnesses, and forces costly system changes as states prepare for a January 2027 rollout.
The Supreme Court has upheld Mississippi’s policy allowing mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if received within five days, a decision that maintains state flexibility and could affect upcoming midterms. Justice Barrett writes for the majority, while Justice Alito dissents.
The US Supreme Court has upheld Idaho and West Virginia laws that bar transgender girls from girls' sports, ruling those bans survive Title IX and equal-protection challenges. The decision preserves similar statutes in roughly two dozen states, hands conservative groups a legal lever, and shifts the next fights to state courts, school boards and athletic bodies.
Judicial ruling has halted the funding freeze on the Gateway Tunnel Project, with the court finding the Trump administration’s suspension unlawful. Construction resumes as states press their case and contractors resume work. The decision cites federal discrimination concerns and political motives in the delay.
A Melbourne-based woman has escaped a perilous car incident during a kiteboarding meetup in Lo Stagnone, Sicily, after texting for help and fleeing to safety. The incident follows a trend of travel-related safety concerns for expatriates and adventure tourists.
Three major egg producers—Cal-Maine Foods, Versova and Hickman’s Egg Ranch—have agreed to a civil settlement with the DOJ and 17 states over alleged price manipulation. The deal requires them to pay $3.3 million and donate 53 million eggs to food banks, with court approval pending. They deny wrongdoing and will adopt antitrust compliance programs.
The interim Director of National Intelligence has begun a new round of firings within the U.S. intelligence community, as President Trump presses for rapid staff changes. The White House and DNI have not commented. The move follows reports that the administration aims to remove officials deemed loyal to opponents and to expand access to sensitive data.
New York has filed a lawsuit in Albany against 3M, DuPont de Nemours, The Chemours Company, Corteva and others over PFAS, alleging they knew these “forever chemicals” were toxic and polluted air, water and soil. The suit seeks funding for cleanup, consumer warnings, damages and other penalties..
New York City open primaries face opposition from Mayor Mamdani as activists push for a system that could widen voter participation. The debate centers on whether the closed primaries strengthen incumbents or expose voters to broader choice.
Governor Kathy Hochul has signed an executive order imposing a one-year pause on state permits for new hyperscale data centres that use 50 megawatts or more. The order directs regulators to produce an environmental impact review and considers requiring centres to pay for their own power, contribute to grid upgrades and lose tax breaks.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is questioning Todd Blanche, acting attorney general, about his past with Trump, the handling of the Epstein files, and a controversial $1.8 billion fund; Republicans and Democrats press on independence and accountability as the nomination moves forward.
Mahmoud Khalil has filed a federal lawsuit in New York alleging a conspiracy between senior Trump administration officials and pro‑Israel groups to jail and silence pro‑Palestinian activists. The suit cites the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871 and targets figures in the White House, Heritage Foundation, Canary Mission, and Betar USA. Khalil, a former Columbia student, is challenging deportation while continuing broader court battles.
President Donald Trump has pledged that Benjamin Netanyahu "will not be arrested" while in the United States, responding to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani's public exploration of whether the city could detain the Israeli prime minister over an International Criminal Court arrest warrant. Mamdani says he is "in active conversation" with the city Law Department and will follow whatever the law allows.