American attorney and Florida politician, U.S. attorney general since 2025
Todd Blanche has posted written orders that rescind a May directive creating a $1.8bn "anti-weaponization" fund and that limit broad IRS audit protections in a settlement with Donald Trump. Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis have said they will support advancing his nomination to the full Senate, though Democrats and legal experts have said the written assurances leave room to revive the fund.
The Senate has passed a bipartisan short-term funding bill 90-6 to keep the federal government funded through Dec. 11. The measure blocks the administration from transferring funds to the Border Patrol, delays a national ban on intoxicating hemp products by one month, and pauses a proposed White House grants rule while negotiations on full-year spending continue.
New Mexico has filed a federal lawsuit in Washington, D.C., alleging the U.S. Department of Justice is withholding unredacted materials crucial to state investigations of Jeffrey Epstein’s activities at the Zorro Ranch. The suit seeks judicial intervention to compel disclosure, as state probes press for accountability for survivors and witnesses.
The US is considering an off-ramp from the Iran conflict as officials say air strikes alone may fail to meet goals. Discussions involve top advisers and notes of potential agreements with Iran and Oman over Hormuz shipping routes. Officials deny public discussion of confidential conversations.
The Senate has confirmed Todd Blanche 50–49 as U.S. attorney general and he has been sworn in at the White House. Blanche has led the Justice Department in an acting capacity since April, previously served as the president’s private lawyer, and has rescinded a proposed $1.8bn compensation fund amid bipartisan concern about politicising the department.
The reflecting pool project has drawn attention as officials attribute damage to a botched installation rather than vandalism. President Trump has criticized the attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, amid questions about how the case was handled. Hearn faces potential charges for destruction of government property, but those charges were dropped after investigators blamed faulty installation.
Karoline Leavitt has announced she will leave her role as White House press secretary at the end of August to spend more time with her two young children. President Donald Trump has said she will remain a top outside adviser; the White House has not named a successor and senior officials are expected to brief reporters temporarily.
The Senate has confirmed Blanche as attorney general in a 50-49 vote after a hard-fought fight. He has assumed control at Justice Department amid resignations and politically charged investigations, and he is pledging to uphold the rule of law while navigating pressure from the White House.
The 28-year-old Mangione has pleaded guilty to two federal stalking charges linked to the December 2024 killing of Thompson in Manhattan. He faces a maximum life sentence in federal court. He remains charged in New York state with eight felonies including second-degree murder, with a September trial date, as lawyers contend about double jeopardy across courts.
Mangione has pleaded guilty in a federal case accusing him of stalking and killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in 2024. A state murder trial is set for September 8, while the federal case could lead to a life sentence. Prosecutors say a large trove of evidence supports the guilt, including surveillance video and a 3D-printed pistol.
Chief Justice John Roberts has issued a temporary order allowing construction on the White House ballroom to continue while the Supreme Court considers an emergency appeal. Lower courts had ordered a halt, finding the project requires congressional approval. The administration argues the work is vital to national security; preservationists say Trump acted without legal authority.
Rep. James Comer has issued a letter requesting internal DEA records on the agency’s practice of monitoring major fentanyl shipments without seizing them. The move follows New Mexico officials’ concerns and whistleblower accounts alleging orders to stand down. The inquiry mirrors a broader debate over risk-mitigation rules and the pace of seizures amid the nation’s fentanyl crisis.
The Department of Labor’s inspector general has released a 44-page report detailing a toxic workplace and misconduct claims around former Labor Secretary Chavez-DeRemer, including pressure on staff, personal tasks during official time, and an alleged inappropriate relationship with a security detail member. She resigned earlier this year.
The Guardian reports that the attorney general has depicted a perceived surge in school-based gender transitions as a national crisis. A federal lawsuit against a Kansas district underscores parental rights debates, while internal guidelines prompting debate over notifying parents are at issue.
Cuba faces ongoing power outages and rising living costs as a long-standing U.S. embargo compounds the island’s economic crisis. Doctors and families describe mounting psychological stress and scarce resources, while officials point to sanctions as a key driver of hardship.
The AP analysis shows that 102 protesters arrested on felony assault charges in four cities have not yielded felony convictions at trial. 41% were dismissed and 34% pleaded down to misdemeanors. Nine received prison time, with two cases still pending. Trials in LA and Portland will resume this fall as prosecutors contend with challenging evidence and rapid charging during protests.
The Justice Department has issued an Office of Legal Counsel opinion holding that the federal law restricting handgun sales to 18- to 20-year-olds violates the Second Amendment. The administration is not defending or prosecuting cases under the measure, and governance remains split as courts weigh the issue in the wake of a 2022 Supreme Court decision.
The government has ensured that public statements by Attorney General Blanche at political rallies are made in a personal capacity, while critics warn that appearances could politicize the Justice Department. Blanche has defended the president’s interests amid investigations, saying he will always answer the call to speak on law enforcement matters. The department reiterates travel is funded under ethics rules.
Katie Zacharia has left the White House press secretary post five days after taking it, following a troubled debut briefing and scrutiny over her legal credentials. President Donald Trump told reporters he had advised her to "reconsider" the job; the White House has not named a permanent replacement.
Former FBI intelligence officials Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides have appeared in federal court in Washington on charges of lying to Congress regarding the Hunter Biden laptop inquiry. The case emerged just ahead of the midterm elections, reflecting a broader push by some to scrutinize the FBI’s handling of the laptop saga and foreign interference inquiries.
A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration overstepped executive authority by firing inferior officers without cause. Maurene Comey has been granted back pay and retroactive reinstatement, while the case challenges the president’s power to dismiss federal prosecutors under court-imposed limits.
Grand juries in Washington have rejected indictments in high-profile cases tied to President Trump and the Jan. 6 events. The developments underscore a pattern of DOJ actions scrutinized as politically charged while the midterm cycle intensifies. The latest: Hutchinson faces a potential indictment rejection; Floris and Benavides are being tried on charges tied to Hunter Biden’s laptop inquiry.