Attorney General News
The Daily Signal provides get trusted reporting on the Attorney General and DOJ policy, with commentary and opinion on legal decisions and political implications.
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NY Attorney General Opens Investigation Into Weinstein Allegations
The New York attorney general announced his office will be looking into possible civil rights violations within The Weinstein Co., following a series of sexual assault allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman will be looking to see whether the allegations against Weinstein violated women’s civil rights or reveal possible gender discrimination…Amber Randall -
Deputy Attorney General Says Rule of Law Is About ‘Character of the People’ Enforcing the Law
The Constitution’s 230th anniversary is Sept. 17, and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein says it is incumbent on the American people to help preserve the rule of law as the Founders intended. “On Constitution Day, it is appropriate to keep in mind that although the power of the federal government is vast, it is expressly…Rachel del Guidice -
Florida Republican Asks Attorney General to Look Into Former House IT Aide’s Finances
A House Republican from Florida this week urged Attorney General Jeff Sessions to determine whether any U.S. financial institutions have reported suspicious banking activity by a former information technology aide to a Florida Democrat who until last year headed the national party. Imran Awan; his wife, Hina Alvi; his brothers; and his best friend are…Mark Tapscott -
I’m an Attorney General Asking Supreme Court to Uphold Trump’s Travel Ban. Here’s Why.
On Tuesday, I filed a brief urging the Supreme Court to uphold President Donald Trump’s executive order temporarily pausing the entry of foreign nationals from six terror-prone counties. Supreme Court review is needed because the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit recently ruled against the valid executive order. I am leading a multistate…Ken Paxton -
Lawmakers Ask Attorney General to Take Second Look at Lerner’s Case
Congressmen are asking Attorney General Jeff Sessions to re-examine the case of IRS division chief Lois Lerner. “We believe that she targeted people based on their political philosophy, which is a crime, and secondly, we believe that she has lied to the inspector general when that was being investigated,” Rep. Peter Roskam, R-Ill., told The…Paul Runko -
Senate Confirms Jeff Sessions as Attorney General
The Senate voted 52-47 Wednesday night to confirm Jeff Sessions, a longtime U.S. senator and former federal prosecutor, as the nation’s 84th attorney general. Only one Democrat, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, joined Republicans in confirming Sessions, who voted “present.” Sessions, a Republican representing Alabama in the Senate since 1997, will take over a Justice…Rachel del Guidice -
Sessions Is a Highly Qualified Pick for Attorney General
Thomas Jefferson, in his first inaugural address as president in 1801, deemed “equal and exact justice to all men, of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political” one of the essential principles of our government. President-elect Donald Trump has demonstrated his intent to uphold this principle by nominating Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., to serve as…Timothy Head -
California’s Embarrassing Hire of a Failed Attorney General to Take on Trump
The California Legislature is hiring former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to represent the state in expected fights with the new Trump administration over environmental, immigration, and criminal justice issues. But based on Holder’s track record, don’t expect to see California racking up legal victories. Although nobody is questioning the skills of the attorneys at…Hans von Spakovsky -
Trump’s Pick for Attorney General Prosecuted These Civil Rights Cases
Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., spent a considerable amount of his time as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Alabama pressing civil rights lawsuits. He also assisted local prosecutors in a case that helped wipe out the Ku Klux Klan in the state. “All I’ve seen from Jeff Sessions is that he has followed law,”…Fred Lucas -
Leading Critic of Trump’s Attorney General Pick Withdrew Accusation in 1986
A vocal opponent of confirming Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., as U.S. attorney general recanted part of his critical testimony 30 years ago against Sessions being confirmed as a federal judge. “My recollection on this matter has now been refreshed,” @GerryHebert says. J. Gerald Hebert, a former Justice Department lawyer, made racially charged allegations against Sessions…Fred Lucas -
Exxon Mobil Fights the Abusive Behavior of Democrat Attorney General’s Climate Inquisition
Exxon Mobil Corp. is fighting back against New York’s Democrat attorney general who is demanding decades’ worth of documents about the company’s position on global warming and climate change. On Oct. 17, Exxon asked a federal judge in Texas, Ed Kinkeade, to stop the abusive behavior of New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman by tossing…Hans von Spakovsky -
Attorney General Lynch Looks Into Prosecuting ‘Climate Change Deniers’
In news that should shock and anger Americans, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch told the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday that not only has she discussed internally the possibility of pursuing civil actions against so-called “climate change deniers,” but she has “referred it to the FBI to consider whether or not it meets the criteria…Hans von Spakovsky -
GOP Senators Push Attorney General to Investigate EPA Over WOTUS
Two Republican senators opened up a broadside assault against the Environmental Protection Agency last week in the ongoing battle over President Barack Obama’s controversial “Waters of the U.S.” rule (WOTUS), a regulation that extends federal authority over smaller waterways. In a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch, Sens. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma and Ben Sasse…Philip Wegmann -
Pa. Democrat Attorney General Has License Suspended
In a historic move, all five justices of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court have voted to temporarily suspend the law license of the state’s attorney general, Kathleen Kane, based on the recommendation of the court’s 13-member disciplinary board. This leaves the office of the state attorney general in limbo, since Pennsylvania’s constitution requires that the attorney…Hans von Spakovsky -
Loretta Lynch Faces Her First Test as Attorney General
A decision earlier this month by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has given new Attorney General Loretta Lynch her first public test: Will she break from Eric Holder’s policies by enforcing voting rights law on a race-neutral basis, as Congress intended, or will she continue Holder’s non-neutral enforcement policy? For those who don’t remember, in…Hans von Spakovsky -
N.Y. Attorney General’s Office Denies It Has Records Showing Union Collusion in Papa John’s Lawsuit
Did the New York Attorney General’s Office collude with a local union leader to develop the basis for a lawsuit against a Papa John’s Pizza franchisee? If not — if the union leader was not involved in the investigation of the pizza franchises’ pay and employee practices before it became public– why was the union…Kevin Mooney -
Government Drops Forfeiture Case Led by Obama’s Attorney General Nominee
Sometimes, not violating the law can get you in trouble with the law. Just ask the Hirsch family from Long Island, New York. Or, better yet, ask Loretta E. Lynch, the U.S. attorney who could be the nation’s next attorney general. After nearly three years of legal battles, the federal government dropped its case against…Eric Boehm -
Sharyl Attkisson to Testify on ‘Free Press Issues’ at Attorney General Nomination Hearing
Former CBS reporter and Daily Signal senior independent contributor Sharyl Attkisson will testify at this week’s confirmation hearings for Loretta Lynch, who was nominated by President Obama to replace Eric Holder as U.S. Attorney General. Attkisson, who was invited to speak on a panel of witnesses by the Senate Judiciary Committee led by Chuck Grassley,…Kelsey Bolar -
IRS Failure to Search Computers for ‘Missing’ Emails Intensifies Attorney General Nomination
A House oversight committee continues to seek emails related to the Internal Revenue Service’s targeting of tea party and other conservative groups, “but there’s nobody in the Justice Department willing to work with us,” a congressman on the panel said yesterday. That impasse, along with related roadblocks in the Department of Justice’s investigation of the IRS…Kelsey Bolar -
Eric Holder’s 7 Worst Actions as Attorney General
Attorney General Eric Holder, the first attorney general in history to be held in contempt by the House of Representatives, surprised the political world today when he announced he would be resigning, effective on the confirmation of his successor. Holder will leave a troubled legacy and many unanswered questions as John Fund and I discovered…Hans von Spakovsky