JUST IN: AG Pam Bondi deletes a post touting a chart as proof of the Trump administration's success in reducing drug overdoses—after being informed the data actually reflected the *Biden* administration’s record.

Adding 2024 to 2020 in the list of years for which some Trumpsters seem to have forgotten who was president

In a future administration videos of desecrations like this being removed are going to be our version of the videos from other countries of crowds pulling down the statues of former dictators.

Experienced prosecutors have now failed twice to get an indictment. That highlights the likelihood that when Halligan acted alone to obtain the first indictment she misled the GJ or engaged in other misconduct, just as she apparently did in the Comey case. wapo.st/4q4pFaj

Once again, can't stress enough how rare it is for a GJ to refuse to indict. The probable cause standard is low and the vote need not be unanimous. In a normal DOJ this would be a screaming sign to drop the case - no way you will convince a unanimous jury at trial beyond a reasonable doubt.

Ensign may well need to plead the 5th - never a great career move.

Someone is angling for a pardon.

A new grand jury has now refused to indict Letitia James after the first indictment was dismissed. As I wrote here for @theatlantic.com, the basic safeguards of the criminal justice system are proving to be one of the most effective checks on Trump's abuses. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...

A new grand jury has now refused to indict Letitia James, after her case was dismissed because Lindsey Halligan's appointment was unlawful. It's hard to overstate how rare it is for a GJ to refuse to indict - but for Pam Bondi's DOJ it's becoming common. www.sidebarsblog.com/p/the-grand-...

BREAKING via NBC News — Grand jury declines to indict N.Y. Attorney General Letitia James, less than two weeks after the first case was dismissed www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...

If you want to know about the charges against Congressman Cuellar, the Democrat Trump just pardoned, here's my breakdown from when the case was indicted. Trump's abuse of the pardon power is so destructive to the rule of law, in so many ways. www.sidebarsblog.com/p/unpacking-...

The statute of limitations should prohibit this. There is a law that allows govt. to refile if an indictment is dismissed after the limitations date, but it doesn't apply if there was never a valid indictment in the first place. That's true here, b/c Halligan never got the GJ to vote on it.

What the hell is Jared Kushner doing in high-level talks with Russia — other than finding ways to cash in on the misery of Ukrainians?

BREAKING: 1st appeals court decision on controversial temporary US Attorney installations goes against Trump, 3-0. 3rd Circuit rejects bid to make Trump lawyer Alina Habba acting US attorney. Restrepo/ Smith/Fisher (Obama/GWB/GWB) Doc: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...

From the archive. Putting aside the conflict of interest, the Georgia case was probably doomed from the time Willis chose to charge a massive, sprawling RICO case. A smaller, targeted conspiracy might have had a chance to get to trial before the election. www.sidebarsblog.com/p/the-proble...

Charges against James Comey and Letitia James were thrown out by a federal judge today. “The basic safeguards of the criminal-justice system are proving to be some of the most effective checks on Trump’s power,” Randall D. Eliason argues:

New from me in @theatlantic.com : Trump is learning that although it's easy to convict someone in a social media rant, when you get into the courtroom things are a bit more complicated. The criminal justice system is standing up to Trump. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...

New from me in @theatlantic.com : Trump is learning that although it's easy to convict people in a social media rant, in the courtroom things are a bit more complicated. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...

IF this DOJ were smart, they'd let the Comey case go. It's a dog case anyway, and then the judge won't have to issue another opinion w/ findings about all the misconduct in the grand jury investigation. That's if they were smart. So of course they will do the opposite - appeal and attack the judge.

Although this judge doesn't rule on it (it's not properly before her), this opinion effectively finds that re-indicting Comey will be barred by the statute of limitations. (See footnote 21).

Happy Thanksgiving to James Comey and Letitia James.

I remember studying this case on the first day of my first-year criminal law class. And my professor's name was Richard Parker - the same name as the cabin boy who ended up as the main course on the lifeboat. wapo.st/3X9D6cF

Some potential witnesses, such as the government attorneys who were appearing before Boasberg, may need to take the 5th.

Judge Boasberg says he will proceed to fact-finding on whether to hold govt in contempt for sending people to El Salvador against his order on 3/15/25. Preliminarily wants to hear from whistleblower Erez Reuveni & DOJ's Drew Ensign. Will let parties advise how to proceed in writing by Monday.

"Grand jury practice is a specialized area . . . The idea that Halligan, with no relevant experience, could just jump in and indict a major criminal case on her own without screwing it up required an astonishing combination of arrogance and ignorance." www.sidebarsblog.com/p/the-comey-...

That's game over. The Constitution requires every felony to be charged by vote of a grand jury. And due the statute of limitations, the government should not be able to bring the case again.

As the great @annabower.bsky.social is reporting today, the government has now admitted the current 2-count Comey indictment was never actually voted on by the grand jury - a possibility I discussed here. This case is imploding even faster than I expected. www.sidebarsblog.com/p/the-comey-...

Wow. Who could have predicted that if you put someone with zero experience in charge of the grand jury proceeding in a major case she might screw it up?

My latest on Sidebars: the Comey prosecution is falling apart on several fronts. It's extremely unlikely the case ever makes it to trial. Corruption meets incompetence at Pam Bondi's DOJ. www.sidebarsblog.com/p/the-comey-...

Halligan suggested to the grand jury that Comey might have to testify to explain his innocence. Unbelievable. Even a lawyer with zero prosecutorial experience like Halligan should know about little things like the 5th Amendment. This case likely gets tossed out. www.politico.com/news/2025/11...

Contempt proceedings potentially could include as a defendant the Third Circuit's newest judge, Emil Bove.

They've already said that, actually.

NEW: The Nevada Supreme Court has revived the criminal case against the Trump 2020 fake electors, ruling that AG Ford was correct to bring the case in Clark County. www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...

I don't understand the claim the petition would be "dead on arrival" in the Senate even if it passes the House. Sounds like up to 100 House R's may support it. Are the Senate R's really going to be almost unanimous in blocking the release? Very dangerous for them. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/u...

Legislative experts, serious question: this assumes Johnson will abide by the House rules. What if he just refuses to bring it up? What would be the mechanism to enforce it?

Good for the jury - it's gratifying that this case has mustard so much public support.

The arc of history is a foot-long, but it bends towards justice.

My latest on Sidebars: Trump continues to undermine the rule of law by prosecuting his enemies and rewarding his friends. But some guardrails and reasons for hope still remain. www.sidebarsblog.com/p/trumps-ass...

Called it, unfortunately - although he received "only" a commutation, not a pardon (yet).

Breaking: from prison, former NJ Senator Bob Menendez announces he has switched parties to become a Republican; praises Trump's genius and compassion. #satire www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/u...

Some people are honored to help children learn, or help the sick heal, or help the dispossessed fight for justice. Others are honored to have played a small role in giving lying criminals a chance to prey on society again, so long as they are Republicans.

Santos is a Republican, a Trump supporter, and a white collar criminal. So by definition, according to Trump, he was treated unfairly and deserves clemency. Outrageous, and further erodes respect for the rule of law. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/u...

How long will it be until Trump has Lindsey Halligan indict the Nobel Peace Prize committee?

The idea of Lindsey Halligan, and whatever out-of-state flunkies agree to help her, squaring off against Pat Fitzgerald is kind of amusing. Imagine your local little league team playing the New York Yankees. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/u...

Breaking MSNBC: A top prosecutor in Virginia has informed colleagues she plans to decline to seek charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James — resisting intense pressure from Trump, according to two people familiar with her discussions. www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/t...

You can disagree with how Eric Adams ran the city, but you have to admit he did more to expose Emil Bove’s corruption than any other mayor.

Right now, I’m thinking of two career DOJ prosecutors I know who quit rather than participate in the Trump administration’s dirty deal with Adams.

The grand jury hears only the government's side. If prosecutors can't even convince all the grand jurors to find probable cause, there's almost no chance they can convince a unanimous jury at a contested trial of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. That's why career prosecutors said there is no case.

Authoritarian Trump may be able to order his lackey to get an indictment, but he can’t control the judge or the jury. Zero chance Comey gets convicted.

Start taking bets on how many Scaramucci’s until the Comey indictment is thrown out.