Three Democratic senators are filing a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of President Donald Trump’s appointment of Matthew Whitaker to serve as acting attorney general, in the latest move by lawmakers to protect the probe being led by special counsel Robert Mueller III. Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Mazie Hirono […]
Department of Justice
12 Russians indicted for hacking Democrats in 2016
WASHINGTON – A dozen Russian intelligence officers have been charged with conspiring to hack Democrats during the 2016 presidential campaign, according to a new indictment in the probe led by special counsel Robert Mueller. The 12 were members of Russian military intelligence, known as the GRU, and are accused of engaging in a sustained effort […]
Justice Department to launch ‘enforcement surge’ to fight opioids in Maine
U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions is launching a program that seeks to reduce the supply of synthetic opioids in areas with high overdose rates – including Maine – by cracking down on suppliers. Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge, or S.O.S., will involve an “enforcement surge” in 10 U.S. districts that have among the highest drug overdose […]
Donald Trump to DOJ: Investigate whether FBI infiltrated campaign
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said he will “demand” that the Justice Department investigate whether the FBI infiltrated his presidential campaign, an extraordinary order that came hours before his legal team said the special counsel indicated the investigation into the president could be concluded by September. Trump tweeted Sunday: “I hereby demand, and will […]
Jeff Sessions mulls special counsel to investigate Clinton Foundation
WASHINGTON — Attorney General Jeff Sessions is entertaining the idea of appointing a second special counsel to investigate a host of Republican concerns – including alleged wrongdoing by the Clinton Foundation and the controversial sale of a uranium company to Russia – and has directed senior federal prosecutors to explore at least some of the […]
New policy strengthens claims of religious freedom violations over LGBT protections
U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions WASHINGTON (AP) — In an order that undercuts federal protections for LGBT people, Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a sweeping directive to agencies Friday to do as much as possible to accommodate those who claim their religious freedoms are being violated. The guidance, an attempt to deliver on President Donald Trump’s […]
Tight budgets could complicate Sessions' vow to fight crime
In this Friday, March 10, 2017, photo, Oakland police detectives and FBI agents work together in the offices of the Oakland Safe Streets Task Force in Oakland, Calif. Standing at left is Oakland homicide detective Jason Turner. The federal government already plays a big role in fighting violent crime in cities, through grants and partnerships. […]
Justice Department to investigate Chicago Police
CHICAGO — A Chicago police officer will not be charged in the shooting of a 25-year-old black man who authorities said was armed with a gun as he ran away from officers, prosecutors announced Monday, the same day the U.S. Justice Department opened an investigation into patterns of racial disparity in the use of force […]
Verso reaches settlement with Department of Justice to purchase NewPage
RUMFORD – Verso Paper Corp. announced Wednesday that it reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice, allowing it to move forward with its acquisition of NewPage Holdings Inc. for approximately $1.4 billion. The merger, originally announced on Jan. 6, 2014, had been held up due to an antitrust review by the U.S. Department […]