justice26.015 min read
DHS buys two California ICE detention centers from CoreCivic for $1.5B
4 days ago•Source: CalMatters
Justice News
The latest justice stories, summarized by AI
Featured Justice Stories
View original source
19.09 min•14 days ago
Judge demands concrete justification for DOJ’s bid to drop Adani case
A federal judge in Washington, D.C. ordered prosecutors to provide a detailed justification for dropping the bribery and fraud indictment against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, delaying dismissal and setting a July deadline as the case draws international scrutiny.
More Top Stories
2
Racial Gaps in Self-Defense Sentencing Spotlighted by High-Profile Cases
The Root•28 days ago
3
Judge warns DOJ against reviving the $1.8B payout fund
The Washington Post•1 month ago
More Justice Stories
Ohio-Federal Partnership Targets $42 Million in Fraud, Launches Most Wanted Fraudsters List
The Justice Department and Ohio officials announced a first-of-its-kind federal–state cooperation to detect and prosecute fraud, including a data-sharing agreement and charges against nine defendants for more than $42 million in schemes spanning healthcare, government programs, and consumer fraud; three defendants were detained with two more facing extradition for an additional $15 million in fraud, as the FBI launches the Most Wanted Fraudsters list and a Fraud Division–State Partnership Roundtable to strengthen enforcement.
Bondi deflects Epstein files in closed-door Capitol Hill deposition
Former attorney general Pam Bondi testified in a closed-door deposition to lawmakers and tried to distance herself from the Justice Department’s handling of Jeffrey Epstein files, suggesting acting AG Todd Blanche bore responsibility and declining to answer questions about Trump’s involvement; Democrats left unsatisfied and hinted at potentially subpoenaing Blanche.
Virginia judge freezes DOJ’s $1.8B payout fund
A federal judge in Virginia temporarily blocked the Trump administration from using or processing claims in the nearly $1.8 billion payout fund for people who allege they were unfairly investigated or prosecuted, ordering that no money be released for now as a June 12 hearing in Alexandria weighs constitutional and Administrative Procedure Act challenges.
DOJ opens criminal probe into Reid Hoffman-backed nonprofit over Carroll's legal bills
The Justice Department has launched a criminal probe into a Chicago-based nonprofit backed by Reid Hoffman over its funding of E. Jean Carroll’s legal bills in her civil suit against Donald Trump, with the investigation centered on statements Carroll made during a deposition; Carroll had accused Trump of sexual assault and defamation and a jury previously found in her favor on those claims.
Former judges push to reopen Trump-IRS suit, probe payout fund
A group of 35 retired federal judges is urging a U.S. district court to reopen Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS over leaked tax records and to investigate whether the settlement—creating a $1.8 billion payout fund—was fraudulent, arguing the court wasn’t properly informed about the settlement and that the deal could affect ongoing investigations.
Tracing the money and mechanics behind Trump’s $1.8B payout fund
A Washington Post explainer outlines nearly $1.8 billion set aside to compensate people the administration says were wrongly investigated or prosecuted, clarifying how the fund would be financed (notably via the Judgment Fund), how payouts would be distributed, and the legal and transparency scrutiny it faces—including questions about whether Jan. 6 cases could be eligible.
Judge dismisses Kilmar Abrego García case, citing vindictive prosecution
A federal judge dismissed the Justice Department’s human-smuggling case against Kilmar Abrego García, ruling it was improperly brought to punish him for successfully challenging his deportation, i.e., vindictive prosecution; the DOJ is expected to appeal, while Abrego García remains under house arrest in Maryland.
Ex-Fla. prosecutor accused of pilfering Jack Smith’s sealed report in Trump classified-documents probe
Former Florida federal prosecutor Carmen Lineberger was charged with stealing a copy of special counsel Jack Smith’s sealed report on Trump’s mishandling of classified documents, allegedly emailing the document to her personal email disguised as a Bundt cake recipe.
Six deaths spotlight strained care in California ICE detention centers
A California Department of Justice report finds six detainees died in California ICE detention centers over the past year as crowding and limited medical staffing strained care, with four deaths at Adelanto and two at Imperial Regional Detention Facility. Inspectors describe poor conditions, including inadequate mental health care, cold temperatures, and sanitation issues, amid a more than 150% increase in detainee population. The facilities are run by private companies under ICE contracts, which defend adherence to detention standards, while the report notes rollbacks of civil-rights protections under the Trump administration.
DOJ sues DC Bar, escalating battle over Trump-era attorneys' ethics
The Trump administration is suing D.C.’s attorney-discipline authorities over a recommendation to disbar Jeffrey Clark, a former Justice Department official who was found to have violated ethics in his push to overturn the 2020 election. The suit is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to push back on ethics investigations into federal government lawyers.