Trump on the anti-weaponization fund: "I think its so important" Said "a radical left judge" ruled against it

I asked Tillis, who opposes the anti-weaponization fund & audit immunity, what he thinks of Graham's alternative idea to use the Federal Tort Claims Act He said, “I think that we should use that vehicle and if we want to modernize it or make it more accessible to people…that’s the smartest bet”

NEW: I asked Blanche as he left the hearing room why he said he wouldn’t put in writing the repeal of the weaponization fund He said “I’m not going to talk about that”

NEW: On the anti-weaponization fund, Blanche said “we’re not moving forward with the fund.”

In about 30 min Blanche will go before House lawmakers for what is ostensibly a budget hearing, but everyone is all ears for what he says about the fate of the anti-weaponization fund

Wyden and Kennedy introduced a bill to modernize PACER

Blanche will appear before the House Approps Committee later today. His opening statement is already online

Saw a few of these signs near the reflecting pool this morning. I believe they're new

DOJ said in a statement they will abide by the EDVA judge's decision on Friday TEMPORARILY freezing the weaponization fund, although they strongly disagree with the ruling The judge did NOT get rid of it altogether

Top House Oversight Dem Garcia says it’s a “shame” Bondi’s hearing isn’t being videotaped Says Bondi is putting all of the Epstein “blame” on Blanche

Epstein survivors are speaking outside where Pam Bondi is doing a closed door interview with the House Oversight Committee on DOJ’s handling of the Epstein files

Scoop: Trump appears poised to nominate a real estate attorney turned tech entrepreneur for a top DOJ post that oversees grants and criminal justice programs. Konstantinos Ligris's paperwork was sent to the Senate Judiciary Cmt, but the Senate has not received his formal nomination yet

Bessent was just asked if he can confirm Alito's son is working at Treasury and, if so, should the justice recuse himself from cases involving the dept Bessent said he's sure Alito "follows all legal and ethical guidelines" and Treasury "follows all legal and ethical guidelines"

New judicial nominee for Ohio just announced

Blanche is now scheduled to testify before the House Appropriations' Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies subcommittee on June 2 at 4pm

Thune just told reporters "it would have been nice" if the WH consulted with the Senate prior to announcing the weaponization fund. "It's water under the bridge now and you play the hand you're dealt" Also said Blanche took the senators' concerns "in stride" during their meeting

NEW: Statement from DOJ on Blanche’s meeting with GOP senators

Senate Republicans are currently meeting with Acting AG Blanche. Sen. Young just walked in with an Indy car-style tire

Vance says at the WH briefing the "weaponization" fund "is about compensating Americans for the lawfare that we saw under the last administration” He said Tina Peters is someone he thinks should be compensated

Whitehouse sent a letter yesterday to his colleagues on the judiciary committee warning about administrations over the years overly exerting executive privilege when nominees come before the committee  I got a copy👀 Story below

Reed, top Dem on the Senate Appropriations Committee panel the SCOTUS justices were going to appear before, just told me they don’t have a rescheduled date yet; will be down the line The justices slated to appear May 20 were Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett

Duckworth has introduced the Corrections Officer Blake Schwarz Suicide Prevention Act This was previously introduced in the House. I wrote about it last year in covering the often overlooked epidemic of correctional officers dying by suicide (no paywall, link below)

Acting AG Todd Blanche will testify before the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies panel next Tuesday at 10am

Joint statement from Peters and Slotkin on the Michigan judicial nominee Trump announced last night. No word on blue-slips.

Reasoning here: x.com/SenJudiciary...

BIG news on the judiciary beat tonight. The slate of judicial nominees Trump just announced include two that will need Dem buy-in since blue-slips still exist (first time in his second term this has happened w/ judges)

The Senate Judiciary Committee’s markup of the reconciliation bill scheduled for 9am tomorrow has been postponed per release that just went out

DOJ Spokesperson: “John Sarcone was a victim of a violent crime by a criminal alien, and this baseless complaint is nothing more than a politicalized attack on a United States Attorney.”

The watchdog group Campaign for Accountability says that following their complaint against John A. Sarcone II, Trump's pick leading the U.S. attorney's office for the Northern District of NY, the NY Bar confirmed misconduct

New “dear colleague” letter from Schumer on how Dems will oppose the reconciliation bill www.democrats.senate.gov/imo/media/do...

FBI Director Kash Patel, along with the heads of DEA, USMS and ATF will testify before the Senate Approps Committee on Tuesday, May 12, on their FY 2027 budget requests, per schedule just released

ICYMI: The Senate Judiciary Cmt released their reconciliation text last night Overall numbers (all fy 26-29) CBP: 3.47B ICE: 30.725B More DHS: 2.5B DOJ: 1.457B Secret Service: (WH security) 1B (Clarifying prev post) grassley.senate.gov/imo/media/do...

My latest feature looks at a little-known legal aid program at DOJ that has historically been run by nonprofits. DOJ said a year ago they're bringing it in-house, but those involved say the admin has not made good progress. Link below

My latest feature looks at a little-known legal aid program at DOJ that has historically been run by nonprofits. DOJ said a year ago they're bringing it in-house, but those involved say the admin has not made good progress Link below

A person familiar with the situation said that unlike a deposition, a transcribed interview (which Bondi is sitting for) does not have the rule on govt vs. non govt attorneys attending The person also said the transcript will be released publicly

House Oversight Dems say in a new letter Assistant AG for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon is representing Bondi in proceedings before the committee in a personal capacity, which they say raises ethics concerns oversightdemocrats.house.gov/imo/media/do...

I obtained a copy of the letter the ABA sent Senate Judiciary Cmt leadership explaining why they rated Katie Lane, nominee for the District of Montana, as "not qualified" She advanced to the full Senate today along party lines. Full story below.

At the start of the Senate Judiciary biz meeting, Sen. Whitehouse decried the "slow mo self-destruction" of the committee He was referring to DOJ circumventing the Senate to install US attorney picks in an interim or acting capacity

Speaking to reporters Comer accused the Democrats of spreading a “false narrative” on Bondi. “We got the date, she’s coming” When asked if the Dems knew the 5/29 date before they announced the contempt res he said he didn’t know

Per source familiar, Bondi's appearance was secured Tuesday night

New: House Oversight Dems filed a contempt resolution to hold Bondi in contempt for failing to appear for her deposition oversightdemocrats.house.gov/imo/media/do...

Rep. Massie's statement on the IG review:

NEW: DOJ inspector general announces it will review DOJ's compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act

Attention Senate staff, I’ve got the intel on the upcoming dog visits 🐶🐾 (sadly, reporters aren’t allowed)

The Senate Budget Committee released the reconciliation blueprint House and Senate Homeland Security and Judiciary Committees have until May 15 to submit their recommended changes

House Oversight RM Garcia sent a letter to Chair Comer today saying "we are deeply concerned that Oversight Republicans are unwilling to take the actions needed to secure Ms. Bondi’s required testimony." He asked for an update on next steps oversightdemocrats.house.gov/imo/media/do...

Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., chair of the House Appropriations Committee's DHS Panel, said last year the department's information sharing with Congress was "terrible" Said now that there is a new secretary he expects more "prompt" answers. "I think some of the shackles have probably been taken off"

The heads of CBP, ICE & USCIS will go before the House Approps Committee tomorrow Acting ICE Director Lyons will say it's "categorically false" ICE has not been impacted by the ongoing DHS shut down See more from his prepared statement already posted:

Tillis could make or break a future AG nomination with his vote on the judiciary committee. I just asked him if there are any nominees he would oppose outright. Tillis replied "any nominee that said anything the least bit excusing the behavior on January the 6th is dead on arrival." 1/2

House Oversight RM Garcia on Bondi not appearing today for the deposition: "If she continues to ignore the law, Oversight Democrats will move forward with contempt proceedings immediately"