Lesley Wolf, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney, defended her work in a closed-door deposition with congressional investigators on Thursday, despite facing threats and harassment. She said that she was legally obligated not to address specific allegations made by IRS whistleblowers due to Justice Department policies. Wolf also accused Republicans of coddling the president’s son Hunter Biden, and said that the truth has become collateral damage in today's political climate.
Posts tagged as “The Justice Department”
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal from Joseph Fischer, who is charged with offenses related to the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol. Fischer is seeking to dismiss a charge accusing him of obstructing an official proceeding, which could have major implications for the criminal prosecution of former President Donald Trump. The justices will consider the breadth of the federal obstruction law and the outcome of the case could have major implications for the future of the obstruction statute and the prosecution of those charged in connection with the Jan. 6 assault.
Tyler Anderson of Dover, New Hampshire, has been arrested and charged with sending two threatening replies to a text message sent by the campaign of presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. The messages allegedly included threats to "blow his brains out" and to "kill everyone who attends" an event. Anderson is facing federal charges and, if convicted, could face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The arrest serves as a reminder of the importance of taking threats of violence seriously in the upcoming election.
A federal judge in California has approved a settlement that prohibits the U.S. government from reviving the Trump-era "zero tolerance" family separation policy for the next eight years. The settlement provides social and legal benefits to migrant families affected by the policy, such as access to mental health services, legal representation, and assistance with reunification. It also requires the government to provide notice to families of their rights and to create a system for tracking separated families.
The Justice Department has announced the indictment of two Russian intelligence officers for a hacking campaign against U.S. and British government agencies, contractors, and NATO members. The campaign, which began in 2016 and lasted until 2022, was aimed at gathering intelligence and influencing British politics. If convicted, the two officers could face up to 20 years in prison and the Justice Department is seeking to extradite them and seize any assets they may have in the U.S.
The U.S. Justice Department has charged four Russian nationals with war crimes in connection with the invasion of Ukraine, including unlawful confinement, torture and inhuman treatment, as well as one count of conspiracy to commit war crimes. The defendants have been identified and the victim is an American, but no additional information has been released. The case is yet to go to trial and the potential penalties for the defendants are unknown.
Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, has pleaded guilty to violating U.S. laws to prevent money laundering and sanctions violations, resulting in a $4.3 billion fine and the stepping down of CEO Changpeng Zhao. The Justice Department's investigation into Binance serves as a reminder that cryptocurrency exchanges must comply with U.S. laws and regulations, and the government is willing to take action against companies that fail to do so.
Former President Donald Trump and the Justice Department are set to face off in a federal appeals court on Monday, as Trump's lawyers argue that a gag order imposed by District Judge Tanya Chutkan violates his constitutional rights. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued an order pausing the gag order until they could hear arguments from both sides. The outcome of the hearing could have far-reaching implications for Trump's criminal trial and his ability to speak publicly about the case.