In a recent Truth Social post, former President Trump called for the prosecution of several Biden-era Justice Department officials, including Merrick Garland and Christopher Wray. Trump’s accusations stem from an FBI probe known as Arctic Frost, which involved the scrutiny of Republican lawmakers’ phone records related to the 2020 election fallout. The former president claimed these officials engaged in illegal and unethical behavior without specifying the exact crimes committed. This follows a pattern of Trump urging prosecution against individuals he views as political adversaries, amid ongoing investigations into his actions and legal challenges against him.
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Attorney General Letitia James was indicted on Thursday in Alexandria, Virginia, by the Justice Department, facing felony charges of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution. The indictment alleges James falsely claimed a Norfolk property would be her secondary residence to secure favorable mortgage terms, when in fact, she intended to rent the property. Prosecutors contend that James improperly gained $18,933 over the loan’s lifetime, prompting James to call the charges politically motivated. The charges arose amid the backdrop of a civil fraud case against Trump, where James was the lead prosecutor.
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Biden warns of ‘dark days’ under Trump, and the sentiment echoing through the digital corridors is… well, it’s not exactly surprise. It’s more a mix of exasperation and a hefty dose of “you think?” The collective feeling seems to be that the warnings are arriving a bit late to the party. The general consensus leans towards the idea that the “dark days” have already started, or, as one commenter put it, “We’re already there man!” The idea of a warning coming now feels a bit like being told to brace for impact *during* the crash.
One of the dominant themes revolves around the feeling that President Biden himself bears a significant portion of the responsibility for this unfolding scenario.… Continue reading
Merrick Garland, after serving as Attorney General, has rejoined Arnold & Porter’s Appellate & Supreme Court practice group. His career, marked by a prestigious background and Supreme Court nomination stalled by Republicans, saw him lead the Department of Justice under President Biden. While criticized for a perceived lack of aggressive prosecution of the Trump administration, Garland ultimately appointed a special counsel to investigate the classified documents case. His return to Arnold & Porter is considered a significant gain for the firm, leveraging his extensive legal experience.
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Attorney General Merrick Garland’s handling of the investigation into Donald Trump’s actions surrounding the January 6th insurrection is widely criticized for its delay and perceived lack of decisiveness. While initially focusing on lower-level participants, Garland’s slow response to investigate Trump directly allowed time for the Supreme Court and other actors to hinder subsequent prosecutions. This inaction, coupled with the Supreme Court’s decision in *Trump v. United States*, is argued to have significantly weakened efforts to hold Trump accountable, ultimately contributing to the rise of reactionary forces. The author contends that Garland’s failure to act swiftly represents a significant dereliction of duty.
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House Judiciary Democrats, led by Ranking Member Jamie Raskin, urged Attorney General Garland to release the unreleased portion of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s report on President Trump’s handling of classified documents. They argue that the public’s right to know outweighs concerns about ongoing prosecutions of Trump’s co-defendants, suggesting dismissing those charges as a solution to ensure transparency. This recommendation stems from fears that Trump would halt the prosecutions and suppress the report if re-elected. The Justice Department has yet to respond to this request. The first volume of the report detailed Trump’s actions leading up to the January 6th Capitol attack and his promotion of false election fraud claims.
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Special Counsel Jack Smith concluded his investigations into Donald Trump, submitting his reports to Attorney General Merrick Garland and subsequently resigning from the Department of Justice. These investigations involved Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election and his mishandling of classified documents. Following Smith’s resignation, the Justice Department is contesting Trump’s efforts to keep the reports sealed. Despite Judge Cannon dismissing the Mar-a-Lago case, the case against Trump’s co-defendants continues. Trump, throughout the process, repeatedly attacked Smith personally and vowed to fire him if re-elected.
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Attorney General Merrick Garland’s decision to release special counsel Jack Smith’s report on President-elect Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election has sparked controversy. Republicans criticized the move as a political stunt, particularly given the refusal to release a related report on Trump’s handling of classified documents. Conversely, some Democrats lauded the partial release but criticized Garland for a delayed investigation. The differing reactions highlight the highly partisan nature of the situation, with Republicans pointing to the unreleased materials from the Biden investigation as a double standard. The release may also embolden future congressional efforts to challenge executive privilege claims.
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Attorney General Merrick Garland directly countered Judge Cannon’s order preventing the release of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s report on the 2020 election investigation. Garland argued that co-defendants Nauta and De Oliveira lacked standing to challenge the release of Volume One, which doesn’t name them. He further asserted that no legal basis exists for blocking its release. By limiting the release of Volume Two to Congress, Garland addressed the defendants’ claims of irreparable prejudice, undermining the core of their motion.
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Special Counsel Jack Smith submitted his final report on the Trump investigations to Attorney General Merrick Garland. Garland intends to publicly release volume one, concerning Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election, pending the Eleventh Circuit’s decision on a temporary injunction. Volume two, related to the classified documents case, will remain confidential to protect ongoing co-defendant cases, though limited access will be granted to Congressional leadership. The Justice Department is seeking to vacate the injunction, allowing for immediate release of volume one if the appeals court rules in their favor.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood