All posts tagged: Attorney

Trump nominates Todd Blanche for attorney general

Trump nominates Todd Blanche for attorney general

Published by Sam Flores

Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche arrives to speak during a news conference at the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice building on April 07, 2026 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images President Donald Trump on Monday nominated Todd Blanche as attorney general, a position that he has held in an acting capacity for more than two months. Trump had said he would ask the Senate to confirm Blanche as attorney general to succeed Pam Bondi, whom the president fired on April 2. The nomination comes weeks after Blanche had the Justice Department give Trump, his family members, and the Trump Organization immunity from prosecution or enforcement actions by the Internal Revenue Service in connection with tax returns filed before a controversial settlement of Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS. Blanche, who is currently the deputy attorney general, previously served as a criminal defense lawyer for Trump when the president was out of office from January 2021 through January 2025. Since being named in the acting capacity, Blanche has faced strong criticism …

Oklahoma’s Attorney General Sues to Block Aluminum Smelter After Trump Endorses Rival

Oklahoma’s Attorney General Sues to Block Aluminum Smelter After Trump Endorses Rival

Published by Sam Flores

June 3 (Reuters) – Oklahoma’s attorney general has filed a lawsuit seeking ⁠to ⁠block Emirates Global Aluminum (EGA) and Century Aluminum from ⁠building the largest U.S. aluminum smelter, citing concerns about the project’s ties to the United Arab ​Emirates and worries the project could harm the state’s cattle. The suit was filed in state court on Tuesday by Gentner Drummond, a Republican who was elected ‌as attorney general in 2022 and is ‌now running for governor. It seeks to tap into the simmering tension across the U.S. about the buildout of critical minerals projects, especially in ⁠rural towns with ⁠deep ties to farming and ranching. The $4 billion Oklahoma smelter project has the backing of President ​Donald Trump, who last Friday endorsed Drummond’s opponent in the Republican primary for governor. If constructed, the smelter would produce 750,000 metric tons per year of aluminum, a key metal used widely across various industries, and be the first of its kind built in the country since 1980. EGA controls 60% of the project, with Chicago-based ​Century Aluminum controlling …

Ex-US Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies in Epstein files probe | Government News

Ex-US Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies in Epstein files probe | Government News

Published by Sam Flores

Former United States Attorney General Pam Bondi has appeared before a closed-door congressional hearing as lawmakers seek answers about unreleased documents tied to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. But on Friday, Bondi defended the Justice Department’s approach, saying it had released nearly three million pages of records during her tenure, including photographs and video evidence. She described those efforts as an unprecedented bid to increase transparency. Recommended Stories list of 1 itemend of list “This was an enormously complicated and labour-intensive process,” Bondi told the Oversight Committee in the House of Representatives. “To the best of my knowledge, the department produced everything required under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.” Since taking office for a second term, President Donald Trump has faced pressure to release records about Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died by apparent suicide while in custody in 2019. But victims’ advocates and a bipartisan group of politicians have argued that key documents connected to the case remain undisclosed or were unlawfully redacted with black ink. Some have accused the Trump administration of failing …

Ex-Trump attorney general defends Epstein files release

Ex-Trump attorney general defends Epstein files release

Published by Sam Flores

Bondi became a central figure in the Epstein saga after saying last year that the late sex offender’s so-called client list was on her desk for review. The Justice Department and FBI later said there was no such list and no plans to release further information. In her prepared statement, Bondi said she did not personally lead every part of the review and had delegated oversight to then-deputy attorney general Todd Blanche, now acting attorney general. The Epstein Files Transparency Act required the Justice Department to remove names and identifying information of victims before releasing records, but barred officials from shielding powerful figures mentioned in the files merely because of embarrassment. “NO MORE LIES” Critics say the department failed on both fronts: it released names and photos of victims who had not previously been publicly identified, while continuing to redact other information that lawmakers argue should have been disclosed. Bondi expressed sympathy for Epstein’s victims, saying she was “deeply sorry” for what they had endured “as a result of that monster.” But survivors gathered outside …

Judge temporarily blocks California cardroom rules backed by Attorney General Bonta

Judge temporarily blocks California cardroom rules backed by Attorney General Bonta

Published by skeptic

A San Francisco Superior Court judge has temporarily stopped California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s proposed cardroom regulations from taking effect, handing an early victory to cardroom operators fighting the state over blackjack-style games and other popular offerings. Judge Richard Darwin issued a preliminary injunction that freezes enforcement while the California Gaming Association’s lawsuit continues. The association said the court determined the Bureau of Gambling Control likely exceeded its authority by approving rules that could effectively outlaw games cardrooms have offered for years. pic.twitter.com/ddBQjS4jSx — CA Gaming Association (@CACardRooms) May 21, 2026 According to the association, the judge also found “clear and convincing evidence” that enforcing the regulations would cause serious and irreversible damage to both gambling businesses and the cities that rely on their tax revenue. The legal fight has become one of the biggest gambling disputes in California, where tribal casinos and licensed cardrooms have spent years battling over the limits of state gaming law. Tribal groups backed the proposed regulations and argued they were necessary to rein in games they believe illegally resemble …

Netflix sued by Texas attorney general who claims streamer is ‘spying’ on users

Netflix sued by Texas attorney general who claims streamer is ‘spying’ on users

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Netflix is being sued by Ken Paxton, the attorney general of Texas, who claims that the streaming service has engaged in “spying on Texans, including children, and collecting users’ data without their knowledge or consent.” The Republican politician, who is running for the U.S. Senate, alleges that the streamer has violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The lawsuit, which was filed May 11 and has been seen by Variety, claims that Netflix traded for several years on the basis that it would not introduce advertising, before doing so in 2022. The legal filing quotes Netflix’s then-CEO Reed Hastings as saying in January 2020 that: “We don’t collect anything. We’re really focused on just making our members happy, and we’re not tied up with all that controversy around advertising.” The lawsuit from the State of Texas alleges that “In short, Netflix …

Pressure grows on California attorney general to try to block Paramount’s deal for Warner Bros.

Pressure grows on California attorney general to try to block Paramount’s deal for Warner Bros.

Published by Sam Flores

California Democrats in Congress are raising concerns about Paramount Skydance’s proposed takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery — a $111-billion deal that would dramatically reshape Hollywood by consolidating two historic film studios. Rep. Laura Friedman (D-Glendale) and 33 other members of Congress on Thursday urged California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta to scrutinize potential antitrust harms that would come from billionaire David Ellison’s proposed takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery — and possibly bring a legal challenge. The lawmakers’ campaign comes after more than 4,000 entertainment industry workers, including Jane Fonda, Ben Stiller and J.J. Abrams, signed an open letter calling for the deal to be blocked. “We remain concerned that the proposed merger could harm California workers and consumers,” the 34 lawmakers wrote in their letter to Bonta. “We therefore respectfully urge you to closely analyze the potential effects of this merger, and, if you determine that this merger would have anticompetitive effects, use your best judgment to pursue the appropriate course of action.” The deal, the largest Hollywood merger in nearly a decade, would bring together …

L.A. city attorney challenger gains support of D.A., police union

L.A. city attorney challenger gains support of D.A., police union

Published by Sam Flores

Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman and the union that represents rank-and-file police officers offered a stinging rebuke of embattled City Atty. Hydee Feldstein Soto on Tuesday morning while endorsing one of her challengers in the upcoming election, county prosecutor John McKinney. Hochman said he analyzed the field and decided the city attorney’s office “desperately needed” an experienced litigator like McKinney, who has been a prosecutor for 28 years and handled some of the city’s highest-profile trials. “What we need in the L.A. city attorney’s office is someone who actually has courtroom experience, someone who understands how to win a trial,” Hochman said. “Someone who has actually not only talked the talk, but walked the walk.” Hochman and leaders from the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union that represents the majority of LAPD officers, stood shoulder to shoulder in endorsing McKinney. The league recently rescinded its endorsement of Feldstein Soto, who has faced criticism on a wide range of issues since she was elected in 2022. Feldstein Soto‘s office was accused in recent …

L.A. city attorney election guide: Feldstein Soto vs. three challengers

L.A. city attorney election guide: Feldstein Soto vs. three challengers

Published by Sam Flores

p]:text-cms-story-body-color-text clearfix”> The city attorney’s office is charged with prosecuting a wide array of misdemeanors, including drunk driving, public intoxication, petty theft, trespassing and other lower level crimes. Roy, 34, has promised to place a heavy emphasis on the legal process known as diversion, which allows defendants to avoid incarceration and instead obtain court-supervised social services, such as anger management or addiction counseling. In cases involving nonviolent crimes, diversion is more likely than jail to keep people from becoming repeat offenders, she said. “It makes not only the person whole, but the community safer,” she said. Ashouri, 43, said she is the only candidate to work within the city attorney’s criminal branch, handling cases involving guns, drunk driving and domestic violence. During a one-year stint as a reserve deputy city attorney, she concluded that too many minor cases were heading to trial. “We need to focus on cases that are harming people,” she said. “Los Angeles is the capital of hit-and-runs. The city doesn’t take vehicular crimes seriously.” McKinney, 58, pointed to his lengthy history …