A federal judge on Sunday dismissed a Justice Department lawsuit seeking to block certification of Alaska’s US Senate race if Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan loses.
A federal judge in Alaska dismissed the Trump’s civil lawsuit against the state, which sought to separate and preserve certain ballots in the state’s upcoming Senate election
A federal judge on Sunday dismissed the Department of Justice’s lawsuit seeking to delay certification of Alaska’s Senate election if incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) loses, halting its push for discovery into an alleged Democratic-backed spoiler campaign led by allies of Senate candidate Mary Peltola. U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason, an appointee of former President […]
The Justice Department argued that Daniel J. Sullivan's name on the ballot potentially diverted voters, and the Democrat running in the race would benefit as a result.
Senator Sullivan's pledge contrasts with the Trump administration's effort to challenge Alaska's election certification.
The ruling dismisses the Department of Justice’s lawsuit that pre-emptively contested the results of a race that includes two candidates named Daniel Sullivan.
A federal judge on Sunday dismissed the Trump administration’s lawsuit in Alaska that sought to block certification if the second Dan Sullivan running for Senate causes voter confusion and leads Democrats to flip the seat. U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason ruled the administration hadn’t shown how she could rectify their concerns, as ballots are already…
A federal judge has dismissed a highly unusual lawsuit by the Trump administration that tried to block the certification of results from Alaska's U.S. Senate race if the Republican incumbent lost.
‘President Trump will continue to press forward’
A federal judge on Saturday dismissed for the second time President Trump’s defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal in connection with an article about a letter sent to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Last year, the president filed a lawsuit against the Journal after it published an article detailing a 2003 letter he allegedly sent to…
Obama-appointed U.S. District Judge Darrin P. Gayles dismissed President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal over the outlet’s reporting on a birthday letter Trump allegedly sent Jeffrey Epstein. Gayles issued the order granting the outlet’s motion to dismiss with prejudice on Saturday, meaning Trump cannot refile another lawsuit over the same issue and […]
He had originally canceled the in-person appearances in favor of tele-rallies, only to reverse course Sign up for the Breaking News US email Hello and welcome to the US politics live blog. Donald Trump is making stops in Iowa and Kansas to throw support behind Republicans in competitive Senate races with just two days remaining before the midterm elections. He had originally canceled the in-person appearances in favor of tele-rallies, only to reverse course on Friday. Abdul El-Sayed , the Democratic nominee for Michigan’s tightly fought Senate race, wants Democratic congresswoman Haley Stevens to stay away from his campaign events. The two had planned to appear together Sunday at a church service in Detroit, but Representative Debbie Dingell later told CNN she had spoken to Stevens and told her, “This isn’t working.” A US judge dismissed Trump’s lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal with prejudice on Saturday, according to a court filing, bringing an end to his legal challenge over the newspaper’s reporting on his alleged birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein . Continue reading...
On the eve of midterms, President Trump is facing setbacks left and right in his push to investigate alleged election fraud . But in Georgia, he has an opening. Why it matters: Six years ago, Georgia was at the epicenter of Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Now the state's own election board has invited his administration to investigate its voting system. Georgia features two high-stakes statewide campaigns: Sen. Jon Ossoff (D) against Rep. Mike Collins (R) for Senate, and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) against businessman Rick Jackson (R) for governor. The big picture: The Justice Department disclosed in court on Friday that the administration has sent letters to officials in California, Washington, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Nevada, asking some states to segregate mail-in ballots from suspected noncitizen voters. A federal judge on Friday issued an emergency order that blocks federal officials from threatening to charge election officials who count ballots from voters the DOJ claims are ineligible. In October, a federal judge restricted the Department of Homeland Security's investigations into suspected noncitizen voters. But Georgia is different . "We've managed with duct tape and bubble gum to be able to bootstrap our way through one last round, but that's not a way of running elections," a Georgia election official told Axios. Georgia's State Election Board asked the Justice and Homeland Security departments to review and potentially investigate the state's voting system and handling of election data. The Sept. 30 letter cited outdated software, threats to ballot secrecy and QR-code ballots it says may violate the Help America Vote Act. A DOJ spokesperson said in response to the letter: "We take seriously allegations that election officials have failed to adequately maintain election equipment and otherwise comply with federal law. We are evaluating the request and will investigate and, if appropriate, bring an enforce
Saying the president was "grasping at straws," a federal judge on Saturday threw out Donald Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and media mogul Rupert Murdoch over a story reporting on his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
The Republican-led state government in Alaska implored a federal judge on Saturday to permanently dismiss the Trump administration’s lawsuit that seeks to block the certification of the Alaska Senate race if GOP Sen.
Trump had sued the media outlet after it published a letter to Epstein purportedly written and signed by the president as part of a birthday book.
The order comes after election officials received letters demanding they set aside the ballots of possible non-citizen voters.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Alaska’s Republican-run state government on Saturday urged a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed at President Donald Trump’s direction to stop the certification of a possible Democratic win in that state’s pivotal U.S. Senate race, writing that there is “no reason for this Court to entertain this meritless lawsuit any […]
U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkin ordered both sides to talk and to agree on a proposed briefing schedule on the motion for a temporary restraining order by Saturday evening.
Judge permanently drops Trump's $10bn WSJ lawsuit, ruling he failed to prove actual malice in the newspaper's reporting.
The Department of Justice on Friday added a request that the judge separate all ballots showing votes for the second Dan Sullivan until it can be determined whether voters were fooled into wasting their votes for a spoiler candidate.
A federal judge has dismissed President Donald Trump’s multibillion-dollar lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and media mogul Rupert Murdoch over a story reporting on his ties to wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein
U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles in Miami dismissed the suit with prejudice, ruling that the president did not prove the defendants made defamatory statements with actual malice as required by law.
A federal judge in Florida has tossed a revised version of President Donald Trump’s $10 billion defamation suit against The Wall Street Journal over a story about a birthday card he allegedly sent Jeffrey Epstein more than two decades ago.
In a 20-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles in Miami dismissed the suit with prejudice, ruling that President Trump did not prove the defendants made defamatory statements with actual malice.
A federal judge threw out Donald Trump’s renewed $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and ruled that it can’t be filed again, marking another setback for the president’s legal fights with the press.
The defamation suit focused on an article about a birthday note to Jeffrey Epstein. It was the president’s second attempt to claim the publication had acted with actual malice.
Alaska’s Republican-run state government is urging a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed at President Donald Trump’s direction to stop the certification of a possible Democratic win in that state’s pivotal U.S. Senate race
A federal judge on Saturday threw out President Trump's lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch over the paper's reporting on Trump's ties to Jeffrey Epstein, Why it matters: It's the second time this year courts have blocked Trump's efforts to sue the paper over stories about his relationship with the disgraced financier. This is a developing story.
The governments of Washington D.C. and Virginia asked a federal court to block construction of President Trump's planned " triumphal arch ," claiming it's unlawfully tall and would snarl traffic for years. Why it matters: It's a last-minute gambit to stop construction before the multi-year project begins, potentially as soon as this coming week. What they're saying: " This project is flagrantly unlawful," the two governments said in a Saturday filing in D.C. federal court, first reported by the Washington Post. "During the three-year period of construction, the Arch project will inevitably snarl traffic between the jurisdictions, produce pollution and stormwater runoff in the Potomac, interfere with emergency services, and pose numerous other challenges," they argue. They further claim that the defendants — the National Park Service and the Interior Department — have rushed the project without the proper consultations. The city and state are asking a judge to issue injunctions to stop any site preparation or construction on the project. Zoom out: The proposed 250-foot arch would be one of the largest such monuments in the world, sparking concerns that it could interfere with other national symbols, block views and even complicate landings for pilots at nearby airports. (The FAA found otherwise.) The Park Service's own August report indicated the construction of the arch would have adverse effects on nearby monuments and landmarks. The other side: The administration has argued it will be a major tourist attraction — but also vital to national security, serving as a base for snipers and drones. The White House was not immediately available to comment Saturday on the D.C. / Virginia petition. What's next: A federal judge held a hearing Friday on a separate challenge to the arch, and indicated she may block construction at least temporarily.
Legal experts welcome judge’s rejection of firing of James Comey’s daughter prosecutor but warn an appeal is likely A recent legal ruling against an effort to fire the star-prosecutor daughter of a former FBI chief targeted by Donald Trump could send a strong message about politicized firings – and influence other judges weighing similar cases, legal veterans said. Judge Jesse Furman ruled this week that the Department of Justice’s firing of assistant US attorney Maurene Comey without cause was unlawful. Comey, the daughter of former FBI director James Comey, successfully litigated numerous high-profile cases during her tenure at the southern district of New York, including guilty verdicts against Ghislaine Maxwell and Sean “Diddy” Combs. Continue reading...
Judge James Boasberg oversees the Ilhan Omar search warrant fight, deportation flights, and California voter rolls, raising assignment questions.
A federal appeals court paused a judge’s earlier ruling that ordered Idaho to allow exceptions to its abortion ban in cases where a doctor deemed it necessary to protect the mother’s health. In a 2-1 decision issued on Friday, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found that a doctor who sued over the state’s…
With control of Congress on the line, next week’s midterms amount to a referendum on Trump, who has urged voters to pretend he is on the ballot Sign up for the Breaking News US email Hello and welcome to the US politics live blog. Donald Trump is tele-rallying from Mar-a-Lago with just three days to go before the midterm elections. On Sunday, he will make appearances at rallies in Iowa in Kansas in a reversal after he initially backed out . The top federal prosecutor in Alaska confirmed on Friday the existence of a criminal and a civil investigation into an alleged scheme by Mary Peltola’s campaign and national Democrats to confuse voters in the closely watched Senate race by recruiting a spoiler candidate who shares a name with the Republican incumbent, Dan Sullivan . Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed resisted a demand from his defeated primary rival, congresswoman Haley Stevens , that he apologize for criticism of US military aid to Israel on Friday – two days before they were scheduled to campaign together in Detroit. Early voting this cycle has set a record. More than 49 million Americans have already cast ballots, either in person or by mail, the Associated Press reported. Continue reading...
A Biden-appointed judge late Friday ruled that the Trump administration exceeded its authority by threatening to prosecute state and county officials who do not comply with its election integrity efforts. U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson barred the Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security from pressing local election officials to purge registered voters, withhold their ...
A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from threatening election workers with prosecution over ballots tied to suspected noncitizens.
A California federal judge Friday ordered the Trump administration to stop threatening election officials with criminal prosecution in its ongoing efforts to crack down on noncitizen voting. U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson issued a temporary restraining order connected to a lawsuit brought by unions representing California election workers earlier Friday. In her decision, the Biden-appointed judge…
A federal judge ordered the federal government to stop demanding that state and local election officials separate out ballots and threatening criminal prosecution for noncompliance.
A federal judge issued a sweeping order blocking the Trump administration from threatening or intimidating election officials amid pressure tactics used by the administration in the weeks leading up to next week’s midterm elections.
A federal judge Friday blocked the Trump administration from threatening election workers with criminal prosecution for counting ballots cast by registered voters the administration claims are ineligible. Why it matters: The emergency order, issued four days before the midterms , prohibits federal pressure to sideline ballots based solely on allegations of ineligibility and forces the Justice Department to walk back threats it already sent to election officials. The big picture: The ruling adds to a series of courtroom losses for the administration, as federal officials intensify election-related investigations and challenges across the country. Judges are warning that federal threats and investigations are driving citizens out of elections and putting lawful votes at risk. Driving the news: U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson found that the Justice and Homeland Security departments likely violated the Voting Rights Act's prohibition on voter intimidation and exceeded their constitutional authority over elections. Her temporary restraining order prohibits demands that states remove registered voters, withhold their ballots or stop counting votes solely because the administration claims the voters are ineligible. It also bars threats of criminal prosecution against election workers who refuse those demands or process ballots in accordance with election laws. The judge ordered prosecutors to disclose pending search warrant applications, grand jury subpoenas and other demands related to its lists of allegedly ineligible voters. What she's saying: Thompson found the administration's actions forced election workers to choose between complying with "Defendants' unlawful demands" or risk criminal prosecution for performing their jobs. "In the lead-up to the election," she wrote, "high-ranking DOJ and DHS officials have engaged in a campaign to intimidate, threaten, and coerce state and local officials and employees who are engaged in administering the ongoing midterm 2026 e
Lawyers for the children praised the pause on fast-tracked interviews of unaccompanied minors, calling it a blow against the Trump administration’s “deportation assembly line.”
Judge Ana Reyes calls on US government lawyers to explain contradictory statements about the East Potomac Golf Links.
The federal government must pull three taxpayer-funded Trump administration ads that appear to have been made for political or propaganda purposes, including one touting the president's claim that every American will get $5,000 if Republicans keep control of Congress in the upcoming election, a judge ruled Friday.
Jessica Killin, Colorado Democratic Congressional candidate, says affordability is the central concern she hears from voters and argues Congress needs to take back its power on tariffs and the war with Iran. Killin says tariffs are raising costs for small businesses and calls for Congress to play a larger role in pursuing a longer-term agreement with Iran while also addressing housing and health care. Killin says her Army and private-sector background gives her an understanding of how to help the economy grow and calls questions over her Colorado residency a nonissue after a judge dismissed the case. She speaks with Joe Mathieu and Kailey Leinz on Bloomberg’s "Balance of Power." (Source: Bloomberg)
A federal judge is opening an formal inquiry into Trump officials' conduct in the East Potomac case, including whether they misled the court about their plans for the municipal golf course.
A federal appeals court rejected the Justice Department's emergency bid to set aside mail ballots tied to more than 20,000 California voters the Trump administration suspects are noncitizens. Why it matters: The 2–1 ruling leaves California's election procedures intact just days before the midterms, with the judges citing doubts about the DOJ's voter list and the risk of disenfranchising eligible voters. The ruling is a major setback for a DOJ that has doubled down on unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud in the Golden State. What they're saying: The majority cited the lower court's finding that the DOJ's process for identifying suspected noncitizens was "not credible," undermining its claims. "Granting [the United States]'s request would provoke catastrophic change, upending the administration of the election," it wrote, quoting the district court's finding. "There is a material risk that granting the United States its requested relief would result in disenfranchisement and could jeopardize [Los Angeles] County's entire election." The other side: Ninth U.S. Circuit Judge Patrick Bumatay dissented, arguing that counting votes from noncitizens dilutes the power of citizens. "The federal government proposes a modest remedy—stopping California from mixing the ballots of citizens and suspected noncitizens. This solution would not cancel any vote but would allow time to verify the eligibility of suspected noncitizens." The White House and the Justice Department did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment. Catch up quick: The DOJ sued California in mid October for refusing to segregate the ballots it asserted were sent to noncitizens. A district court denied the request for an injunction, deciding that the federal law the DOJ was relying on to bring the suit did not supersede existing state law. The Trump administration appealed, leading to Friday's decision. The administration can now appeal again to the Supreme Court. Zoom out: Trump has continu
A federal judge said Friday she plans to appoint a special master to investigate whether Justice and Interior Department officials misled the court about the Trump administration's plans to renovate a D.C. golf course, according to news reports . Why it matters: The investigation could lead to professional sanctions, contempt proceedings or criminal referrals against administration officials over allegations government lawyers misled the judge. Driving the news: U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes opened a hearing Friday by reading ethics rules requiring attorneys to be truthful with courts, then questioned Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward Jr. about the administration's conflicting accounts, according to news reports. Trump announced Oct. 18 the golf course would close Nov. 15 for roughly 15 months of renovations. Woodward told the court the next day there was "no plan to close the course." On Oct. 28, the Justice Department acknowledged Trump had directed the closure. Catch up quick: A preservation group and two golfers are suing the administration over what they say is President Trump's illegal plan to convert the historic, public East Potomac Golf Links into a championship-level golf course. After government crews cut down more than 400 trees, Reyes barred further tree removal without court approval and required 10 business days' notice before closing the park or making irreversible changes. The administration has appealed. What they're saying: "The Department of Justice will not be deterred from executing on the President's agenda," a spokesperson said in an emailed statement. The White House and DOI didn't immediately respond to Axios' request for comment. What's next: Reyes said she intends to appoint a special master who could review documents, question witnesses under oath and hold hearings. The government would have five business days to object after a special master is selected, the Washington Post reported . This is a breaking news story and will be
