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December 21, 2025
Man accused of illegally towing ICE vehicle during raid found not guilty
This makes me smile
https://x.com/ABC7/status/2002271655289106640
https://abc7.com/post/man-accused-illegally-towing-ice-vehicle-during-los-angeles-immigration-raid-found-not-guilty/18302169/?linkId=891333339
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A South Los Angeles tow truck driver has been found not guilty of federal charges after being accused of towing a government vehicle used by ICE during an immigration arrest earlier this year.
Bobby Nuñez, 33, was charged with theft of government property and faced up to ten years in prison before a jury found him not guilty on Friday.
In a statement, the U.S. Attorney's office said, "The trial lasted four days. The jury deliberated for more than three hours. We have no further comment."
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) released a video in September showing a rogue tow truck driver snatching an immigration agent's government SUV in the middle of a raid in downtown L.A. in August.
The raid targeted a popular influencer, Tatiana Martinez, who was reportedly livestreaming the immigration enforcement activity to thousands on TikTok. The same video shows her being pulled from her car and arrested.
Bobby Nuñez, 33, was charged with theft of government property and faced up to ten years in prison before a jury found him not guilty on Friday.
In a statement, the U.S. Attorney's office said, "The trial lasted four days. The jury deliberated for more than three hours. We have no further comment."
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) released a video in September showing a rogue tow truck driver snatching an immigration agent's government SUV in the middle of a raid in downtown L.A. in August.
The raid targeted a popular influencer, Tatiana Martinez, who was reportedly livestreaming the immigration enforcement activity to thousands on TikTok. The same video shows her being pulled from her car and arrested.
December 20, 2025
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/trump-admin-appeals-dismissal-indictments-james-comey-letitia-james-rcna245847
Justice Department appeals judge's dismissal of indictments against James Comey and Letitia James
The ruling declared Trump loyalist Lindsey Halligan an "unconstitutionally appointed prosecutor" exercising power she "did not lawfully possess."
Justice Department appeals judge's dismissal of indictments against James Comey and Letitia James
— Lauren Ashley Davis (@laurenmeidasa.bsky.social) 2025-12-19T23:42:59.161Z
The ruling declared Trump loyalist Lindsey Halligan an "unconstitutionally appointed prosecutor" exercising power she "did not lawfully possess."
www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/trump-admin-appeals-dismissal-indictments-james-comey-letitia-james-rcna245847
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department is appealing a federal judge's rulings that tossed out criminal charges against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
The judge dismissed the indictments on Nov. 24 after determining that Trump loyalist and first-time prosecutor Lindsey Halligan was unconstitutionally appointed.
The Justice Department said at the time it planned to appeal, but in an unusual move, it later attempted — twice — to reindict James with different prosecutors presenting the case. Both efforts were unsuccessful.
Halligan, whom U.S. District Judge Cameron Currie described as "a former White House aide with no prior prosecutorial experience," was named the top federal attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia immediately after career prosecutors and veteran prosecutor Erik Siebert determined that the government's cases against Comey and James were not strong enough to move forward.
Halligan presented the Comey case to a federal grand jury by herself just days before the five-year statute of limitations was set to expire on comments Comey made before a congressional committee that were central to the prosecution.
The judge dismissed the indictments on Nov. 24 after determining that Trump loyalist and first-time prosecutor Lindsey Halligan was unconstitutionally appointed.
The Justice Department said at the time it planned to appeal, but in an unusual move, it later attempted — twice — to reindict James with different prosecutors presenting the case. Both efforts were unsuccessful.
Halligan, whom U.S. District Judge Cameron Currie described as "a former White House aide with no prior prosecutorial experience," was named the top federal attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia immediately after career prosecutors and veteran prosecutor Erik Siebert determined that the government's cases against Comey and James were not strong enough to move forward.
Halligan presented the Comey case to a federal grand jury by herself just days before the five-year statute of limitations was set to expire on comments Comey made before a congressional committee that were central to the prosecution.
December 20, 2025
Betty Bowers- it is amusing that Donald is too stupid to know what memorial means. If only ....
Yes, it's obscene and will be removed. But it is amusing that Donald is too stupid to know what memorial means. If only . . .
— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@mrsbettybowers.bsky.social) 2025-12-19T18:08:45.932Z
December 20, 2025
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/one-day-later-officials-scramble-to-add-trumps-name-to-the-kennedy-center
MaddowBlog-One day later, officials scramble to add Trump's name to the Kennedy Center
It’s worth describing what transpired at the Kennedy Center accurately: A group of people vandalized one of the nation’s premier performing arts centers.
It’s worth describing what transpired at the Kennedy Center today accurately:
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2025-12-19T20:59:47.413Z
The president’s operation just vandalized one of the nation’s premier performing arts centers. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/one-day-later-officials-scramble-to-add-trumps-name-to-the-kennedy-center
More importantly, Team Trump characterized the name change as a done deal, which it was not. Congress created the name for the Kennedy Center, and at no point did lawmakers delegate powers to the center’s board to rename the institution unilaterally.
The president’s operation, which has never been overly concerned with following laws, didn’t appear to care: By Thursday night, the center’s official website had been changed to include Trump’s name.
By Friday morning, crews were already hard at work. The Washington Post reported:
It’s hard to know where to start with an initiative this ridiculous, but one of the first things that jumped out at me was the speed with which this came together. The president’s operation managed to acquire the materials, arrange the crews, secure the equipment and begin the installation work over the course of roughly half a day.
....Nevertheless, by midday Friday, the crews were gone and the arts center’s façade was changed.
.......At this point, we could talk about the weird double “the.” We could also joke about the fact that this is now apparently a “memorial center” to two people, one of whom is alive.
While we’re at it, we could draw attention to the fact that the fonts don’t exactly match — and given the Republican administration’s interest in type settings, this is tough to overlook — while simultaneously noting the encouraging fact that the placement of Trump’s name will make it easy to take it down in the future without disturbing the original lettering.....
The president and his team have already gone to outlandish lengths to vandalize the White House. They’re now adding additional buildings to their target list.
The president’s operation, which has never been overly concerned with following laws, didn’t appear to care: By Thursday night, the center’s official website had been changed to include Trump’s name.
By Friday morning, crews were already hard at work. The Washington Post reported:
The Kennedy Center installed President Donald Trump’s name on its exterior Friday morning, a dramatic change to a building established by law as a ‘living memorial’ to a slain president. […]
A blue tarp was stretched across a portion of the building the next morning as a small team on scaffolding started the work. Loud drilling could be heard nearby. Inside the building, large letters spelling ‘Trump’ could be seen on the floor of the entry hall, according to a photograph obtained by The Washington Post.
It’s hard to know where to start with an initiative this ridiculous, but one of the first things that jumped out at me was the speed with which this came together. The president’s operation managed to acquire the materials, arrange the crews, secure the equipment and begin the installation work over the course of roughly half a day.
....Nevertheless, by midday Friday, the crews were gone and the arts center’s façade was changed.
I’m currently outside of the Kennedy Center:
— Phil Lewis (@phillewis.bsky.social) 2025-12-19T19:46:00.030Z
.......At this point, we could talk about the weird double “the.” We could also joke about the fact that this is now apparently a “memorial center” to two people, one of whom is alive.
While we’re at it, we could draw attention to the fact that the fonts don’t exactly match — and given the Republican administration’s interest in type settings, this is tough to overlook — while simultaneously noting the encouraging fact that the placement of Trump’s name will make it easy to take it down in the future without disturbing the original lettering.....
The president and his team have already gone to outlandish lengths to vandalize the White House. They’re now adding additional buildings to their target list.
December 19, 2025
Deadline Legal Blog-Peter Navarro had a 'very strange' hearing in his contempt appeal
The Trump adviser is challenging his contempt of Congress conviction. The DOJ under Trump isn’t opposing him.
https://x.com/ebonyjdavis/status/2001825218000482694
https://www.ms.now/deadline-white-house/deadline-legal-blog/peter-navarro-contempt-appeal-121825
At the end of an appellate hearing Thursday in Washington, D.C., a judge told Peter Navarro’s lawyer that she would normally offer him a chance for a rebuttal argument — but, the judge noted, “there’s nothing to rebut.”
“Yes,” Navarro’s lawyer Stanley Brand replied, “that’s been a very strange journey on that front.”
The exchange alluded to the fact that Navarro was the only party presenting arguments at the hearing over his challenge to his contempt of Congress conviction, which he received for not complying with a House Jan. 6 committee subpoena. He was prosecuted during the Biden administration but, under Donald Trump’s administration, the Justice Department told the appeals court that it “is no longer taking the same position as the prior administration in this case.”
In its motion to strike its prior position, the DOJ suggested the D.C. federal appeals court appoint a third party to defend the conviction. But the court declined to do that, leaving only Navarro’s lawyer in court on Thursday.
Despite the lack of opposition, Brand had a tough time before the three-judge panel, which sounded ready to rule against him. On the panel were Judges Patricia Millett, Cornelia Pillard and J. Michelle Childs (Millett and Pillard are Obama appointees and Childs is a Biden appointee).
Yet even if Navarro loses this round of litigation, his legal journey is likely to continue toward the Supreme Court. He’s pressing the appeal after having already served his prison sentence, which he tried to avoid while he was appealing but the justices refused to save him last year.
“Yes,” Navarro’s lawyer Stanley Brand replied, “that’s been a very strange journey on that front.”
The exchange alluded to the fact that Navarro was the only party presenting arguments at the hearing over his challenge to his contempt of Congress conviction, which he received for not complying with a House Jan. 6 committee subpoena. He was prosecuted during the Biden administration but, under Donald Trump’s administration, the Justice Department told the appeals court that it “is no longer taking the same position as the prior administration in this case.”
In its motion to strike its prior position, the DOJ suggested the D.C. federal appeals court appoint a third party to defend the conviction. But the court declined to do that, leaving only Navarro’s lawyer in court on Thursday.
Despite the lack of opposition, Brand had a tough time before the three-judge panel, which sounded ready to rule against him. On the panel were Judges Patricia Millett, Cornelia Pillard and J. Michelle Childs (Millett and Pillard are Obama appointees and Childs is a Biden appointee).
Yet even if Navarro loses this round of litigation, his legal journey is likely to continue toward the Supreme Court. He’s pressing the appeal after having already served his prison sentence, which he tried to avoid while he was appealing but the justices refused to save him last year.
December 19, 2025
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-kennedy-center-renamed-board
MaddowBlog-Handpicked Kennedy Center board members vote to rename it the 'Trump-Kennedy Center'
The president’s obsession with self-aggrandizement and self-glorification is pitiful, and it’s getting worse.
Trump wants the Kennedy Center to be named after him. And DC’s football stadium. And Dulles Airport. And the WH ballroom.
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2025-12-18T19:36:04.459Z
He also wants his face on both sides of a commemorative legal-tender coin, and his White House has made official inquiries into adding Trump to Mt. Rushmore.
Subtle it is not.
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-kennedy-center-renamed-board
Over the summer, Donald Trump referred to an upcoming event at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and quickly added, “Some people refer to it as the Trump-Kennedy Center, but we’re not prepared to do that quite yet. Maybe in a week or so.”
As it turns out, it took a little longer than that. The Associated Press reported:
This did not come out of nowhere. On the contrary, the president has spent months talking about this name change, online and in public, suggesting it was only a matter of time before Team Trump tried to formalize the Republican’s wishes.,,,,,
Second, there’s no reason to assume this is legal. Congress created the name for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and at no point did lawmakers delegate powers to the center’s board to rename the institution unilaterally.
Leavitt’s statement was an opening salvo, but there’s no reason to assume this is a done deal.
Stepping back, it’s worth appreciating the broader pattern. Last month, the White House said Trump wants a football stadium to be named after him. He also likes the idea of renaming Dulles Airport after him, and by some accounts, the president wants the upcoming White House ballroom to be named after him, too.
What’s more, this is the same president who wants his face on both sides of a commemorative legal-tender coin, and whose White House has made official inquiries into adding Trump to Mount Rushmore......
What the incumbent president doesn’t seem to appreciate is that many people loved Washington, so he never felt the need to slap his own name on stuff — others gladly did it for him. Trump, on the other hand, fears being forgotten, which has led him to make pitiful appeals.
I’m not in a position to say with any confidence whether the president will get his wish on any of these fronts, but his efforts are a timely reminder to those who might’ve forgotten: Trump’s obsession with self-aggrandizement and self-glorification is pitiful, and it’s getting worse.
As it turns out, it took a little longer than that. The Associated Press reported:
President Donald Trump’s handpicked board voted Thursday to rename Washington’s leading performing arts center as the Trump-Kennedy Center, the White House said.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the vote on social media, saying it was because of the ‘unbelievable work President Trump has done over the last year in saving the building. Not only from the standpoint of its reconstruction, but also financially, and its reputation.’
This did not come out of nowhere. On the contrary, the president has spent months talking about this name change, online and in public, suggesting it was only a matter of time before Team Trump tried to formalize the Republican’s wishes.,,,,,
Second, there’s no reason to assume this is legal. Congress created the name for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and at no point did lawmakers delegate powers to the center’s board to rename the institution unilaterally.
Leavitt’s statement was an opening salvo, but there’s no reason to assume this is a done deal.
Stepping back, it’s worth appreciating the broader pattern. Last month, the White House said Trump wants a football stadium to be named after him. He also likes the idea of renaming Dulles Airport after him, and by some accounts, the president wants the upcoming White House ballroom to be named after him, too.
What’s more, this is the same president who wants his face on both sides of a commemorative legal-tender coin, and whose White House has made official inquiries into adding Trump to Mount Rushmore......
What the incumbent president doesn’t seem to appreciate is that many people loved Washington, so he never felt the need to slap his own name on stuff — others gladly did it for him. Trump, on the other hand, fears being forgotten, which has led him to make pitiful appeals.
I’m not in a position to say with any confidence whether the president will get his wish on any of these fronts, but his efforts are a timely reminder to those who might’ve forgotten: Trump’s obsession with self-aggrandizement and self-glorification is pitiful, and it’s getting worse.
December 19, 2025
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/speaker-johnson-makes-a-new-pitch-to-downplay-importance-of-expiring-aca-subsidies
MaddowBlog-Speaker Johnson makes a new pitch to downplay importance of expiring ACA subsidies
Up to 24 million consumers will soon struggle to afford coverage — “just” a “small subset” of people, in his estimate.
House Speaker Mike Johnson doesn’t deny that 22 million to 24 million American health care consumers will soon suffer as a result of expiring ACA subsidies.
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2025-12-18T18:27:12.538Z
He just doesn’t think that’s a lot of people. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/speaker-johnson-makes-a-new-pitch-to-downplay-importance-of-expiring-aca-subsidies
But as the year comes to an end, Speaker Mike Johnson and his GOP leadership team have decided not to act. Last week, House Republicans unveiled what they described as a “plan” to address rising costs, which was actually more of a hodgepodge of loosely connected conservative ideas than a serious, cohesive policy proposal.,,
With House members heading home until the new year, the developments practically guarantee that Republicans will allow the current insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act to expire at midnight on Dec. 31. Though precise tallies vary, independent analyses show that the change will punish between 22 million and 24 million American consumers.
To hear the House speaker tell it, that’s just not that many people.
....Soon after, at a Capitol Hill press conference, Congress’ top Republican read from a prepared text and said, “The Democrats’ subsidy proposal would only lower premiums for a small subset of people. Now, think of this: just 7% of America case would benefit.”
Note, Johnson isn’t denying the accuracy of the assessment. Rather, the speaker wants to recontextualize the data: Sure, between 22 million and 24 million health care consumers will soon struggle to afford coverage, and sure, that includes many small business owners, but why make a fuss? It’s a big country, with 342 million people, and 24 million is “just” 7% of 342 million.
Six days ago, a reporter asked Donald Trump, “At the end of this year, those extended Obamacare subsidies expire. What’s your message to those 24 million Americans who will see their insurance premiums go up?”
The president replied, “Don’t make it sound so bad.”
With House members heading home until the new year, the developments practically guarantee that Republicans will allow the current insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act to expire at midnight on Dec. 31. Though precise tallies vary, independent analyses show that the change will punish between 22 million and 24 million American consumers.
To hear the House speaker tell it, that’s just not that many people.
MIKE JOHNSON: Here's the false narrative -- Democrats are pretending as though this affects everybody in the country. It affects 7% of Americans, this extended subsidy
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2025-12-17T14:44:34.001Z
CNBC: But we are talking 22 to 24 million Americans
JOHNSON: We're going to help 100% of Americans reduce their premiums
....Soon after, at a Capitol Hill press conference, Congress’ top Republican read from a prepared text and said, “The Democrats’ subsidy proposal would only lower premiums for a small subset of people. Now, think of this: just 7% of America case would benefit.”
Note, Johnson isn’t denying the accuracy of the assessment. Rather, the speaker wants to recontextualize the data: Sure, between 22 million and 24 million health care consumers will soon struggle to afford coverage, and sure, that includes many small business owners, but why make a fuss? It’s a big country, with 342 million people, and 24 million is “just” 7% of 342 million.
Six days ago, a reporter asked Donald Trump, “At the end of this year, those extended Obamacare subsidies expire. What’s your message to those 24 million Americans who will see their insurance premiums go up?”
The president replied, “Don’t make it sound so bad.”
December 19, 2025
https://www.rawstory.com/susie-wiles-2674712581/
'Did she understand?' Nicolle Wallace floored as Trump aide exposes herself to a subpoena
Deadline White House had a great segment on how these comments will be use in any trial of Tish James or James Comey
President Donald Trump's chief of staff Susie Wiles did more than embarrass the White House with her broad-ranging Vanity Fair interview, MS NOW's Nicolle Wallace argued to the reporter who broke the story, Chris Whipple, on Thursday.
— Raw Story (@rawstory.com) 2025-12-19T05:00:06Z
https://www.rawstory.com/susie-wiles-2674712581/
President Donald Trump's chief of staff Susie Wiles did more than embarrass the White House with her broad-ranging Vanity Fair interview, MS NOW's Nicolle Wallace argued to the reporter who broke the story, Chris Whipple, on Thursday. In fact, she exposed herself to subpoenas from the people Trump ordered indicted by the Justice Department, as they pursue vindictive prosecution complaints.
"What did she — what was the spirit of the conversation when she describes Donald Trump's personality as a, quote, 'alcoholic's personality'?" asked Wallace.
"What's amazing about the whole thing, Nicolle, is that she was it was just a matter of fact," said Whipple. "And she was matter of fact when she described the the fact that there was still a revenge and retribution campaign going full tilt. She was matter of fact when she talked about how [New York Attorney General] Letitia James was part of that retribution tour, which is practically a get-out-of-jail-free card for her attorneys. That was what was so remarkable. And I think I think part of it is that it's not that there's a bubble mentality in the Trump White House, a bunker mentality. It's really kind of a bubble. And I think at a certain point when you're surrounded by like-minded acolytes that you, you forget that what you're saying is sometimes crazy."....
"I mean, did she understand that by acknowledging the retribution and revenge and acknowledging that the Justice Department was being used in that way, that she could be subpoenaed as a witness in a vindictive prosecution?" asked Wallace.
"I have no idea," said Whipple — but, he added, "She certainly wasn't reluctant to talk about it."
"What did she — what was the spirit of the conversation when she describes Donald Trump's personality as a, quote, 'alcoholic's personality'?" asked Wallace.
"What's amazing about the whole thing, Nicolle, is that she was it was just a matter of fact," said Whipple. "And she was matter of fact when she described the the fact that there was still a revenge and retribution campaign going full tilt. She was matter of fact when she talked about how [New York Attorney General] Letitia James was part of that retribution tour, which is practically a get-out-of-jail-free card for her attorneys. That was what was so remarkable. And I think I think part of it is that it's not that there's a bubble mentality in the Trump White House, a bunker mentality. It's really kind of a bubble. And I think at a certain point when you're surrounded by like-minded acolytes that you, you forget that what you're saying is sometimes crazy."....
"I mean, did she understand that by acknowledging the retribution and revenge and acknowledging that the Justice Department was being used in that way, that she could be subpoenaed as a witness in a vindictive prosecution?" asked Wallace.
"I have no idea," said Whipple — but, he added, "She certainly wasn't reluctant to talk about it."
December 19, 2025
https://www.rawstory.com/susie-wiles-2674712581/
'Did she understand?' Nicolle Wallace floored as Trump aide exposes herself to a subpoena
Deadline White House had a great segment on how these comments will be use in any trial of Tish James or James Comey
President Donald Trump's chief of staff Susie Wiles did more than embarrass the White House with her broad-ranging Vanity Fair interview, MS NOW's Nicolle Wallace argued to the reporter who broke the story, Chris Whipple, on Thursday.
— Raw Story (@rawstory.com) 2025-12-19T05:00:06Z
https://www.rawstory.com/susie-wiles-2674712581/
President Donald Trump's chief of staff Susie Wiles did more than embarrass the White House with her broad-ranging Vanity Fair interview, MS NOW's Nicolle Wallace argued to the reporter who broke the story, Chris Whipple, on Thursday. In fact, she exposed herself to subpoenas from the people Trump ordered indicted by the Justice Department, as they pursue vindictive prosecution complaints.
"What did she — what was the spirit of the conversation when she describes Donald Trump's personality as a, quote, 'alcoholic's personality'?" asked Wallace.
"What's amazing about the whole thing, Nicolle, is that she was it was just a matter of fact," said Whipple. "And she was matter of fact when she described the the fact that there was still a revenge and retribution campaign going full tilt. She was matter of fact when she talked about how [New York Attorney General] Letitia James was part of that retribution tour, which is practically a get-out-of-jail-free card for her attorneys. That was what was so remarkable. And I think I think part of it is that it's not that there's a bubble mentality in the Trump White House, a bunker mentality. It's really kind of a bubble. And I think at a certain point when you're surrounded by like-minded acolytes that you, you forget that what you're saying is sometimes crazy."....
"I mean, did she understand that by acknowledging the retribution and revenge and acknowledging that the Justice Department was being used in that way, that she could be subpoenaed as a witness in a vindictive prosecution?" asked Wallace.
"I have no idea," said Whipple — but, he added, "She certainly wasn't reluctant to talk about it."
"What did she — what was the spirit of the conversation when she describes Donald Trump's personality as a, quote, 'alcoholic's personality'?" asked Wallace.
"What's amazing about the whole thing, Nicolle, is that she was it was just a matter of fact," said Whipple. "And she was matter of fact when she described the the fact that there was still a revenge and retribution campaign going full tilt. She was matter of fact when she talked about how [New York Attorney General] Letitia James was part of that retribution tour, which is practically a get-out-of-jail-free card for her attorneys. That was what was so remarkable. And I think I think part of it is that it's not that there's a bubble mentality in the Trump White House, a bunker mentality. It's really kind of a bubble. And I think at a certain point when you're surrounded by like-minded acolytes that you, you forget that what you're saying is sometimes crazy."....
"I mean, did she understand that by acknowledging the retribution and revenge and acknowledging that the Justice Department was being used in that way, that she could be subpoenaed as a witness in a vindictive prosecution?" asked Wallace.
"I have no idea," said Whipple — but, he added, "She certainly wasn't reluctant to talk about it."
December 19, 2025
https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/susie-wiles-score-settling-behind-trump-doj-political-prosecution/
Trump's Top Aide Admits 'Score Settling' Driving DOJ's Political Prosecutions
If the cases against Comey, Tish James and others ever reach trial, Susie Wiles will be a witness for the defense or at least will be deposed. The taped interviews Wile gave to the reporter will be used in those cases.
Trump’s Top Aide Admits ‘Score Settling’ Driving DOJ’s Political Prosecutions
— Nancy Thompson (@thmpsnnancy.bsky.social) 2025-12-17T00:15:39.777Z
www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/susie-wiles-score-settling-behind-trump-doj-political-prosecution/
A top White House official and key figure in President Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign has acknowledged that “score settling” lies behind many of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) criminal prosecutions against Trump’s political enemies.
In interviews with Vanity Fair, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles admitted that some cases may “look like retribution” and implied that Trump is directing the department to take certain actions against his enemies should an opportunity present itself.
“I don’t think he wakes up thinking about retribution,” she said. “But when there’s an opportunity, he will go for it.”
That contradicts the administration’s official narrative of the prosecutions. In public, Trump has maintained that he knows very little about the department’s cases against his enemies. Senior DOJ officials have also claimed their prosecutions are driven by the rule of law and not the whims of the president.
The stunning admission from Wiles, the chief architect of Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, comes shortly after a federal judge dismissed the department’s cases against New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey — two of Trump’s leading foes......
Wiles acknowledged that the DOJ’s political prosecution of James Comey also looked like retribution and couldn’t offer any pushback on that view.
“I mean, people could think it does look vindictive,” she said. “I can’t tell you why you shouldn’t think that.”
In interviews with Vanity Fair, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles admitted that some cases may “look like retribution” and implied that Trump is directing the department to take certain actions against his enemies should an opportunity present itself.
“I don’t think he wakes up thinking about retribution,” she said. “But when there’s an opportunity, he will go for it.”
That contradicts the administration’s official narrative of the prosecutions. In public, Trump has maintained that he knows very little about the department’s cases against his enemies. Senior DOJ officials have also claimed their prosecutions are driven by the rule of law and not the whims of the president.
The stunning admission from Wiles, the chief architect of Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, comes shortly after a federal judge dismissed the department’s cases against New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey — two of Trump’s leading foes......
Wiles acknowledged that the DOJ’s political prosecution of James Comey also looked like retribution and couldn’t offer any pushback on that view.
“I mean, people could think it does look vindictive,” she said. “I can’t tell you why you shouldn’t think that.”
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