12/23/19  //  Daily Update

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell seek to leverage uncertainties in the rules for impeachment to their advantage. White House officials indicated that President Trump threatened to veto a recent spending bill if it included language requiring release of military aid to Ukraine early next year. The DHS OIG said that it found “no misconduct” by department officials in the deaths of two migrant children who died in Border Patrol custody last year. And the FISA court ordered the Justice Department to review all cases that former FBI official Kevin Clinesmith worked on.

12/20/19  //  Daily Update

Speaker Nancy Pelosi indicated the House will be “ready” to move forward with the next steps once the Senate has agreed on ground rules, but the House may withhold from sending the articles to the Senate until after the new year. Commentary continues about the Fifth Circuit's mixed decision on the status of the ACA.

12/19/19  //  Daily Update

The House of Representatives voted to impeach President Trump. Some Democrats urge House leaders to withhold the articles to delay a trial in the Senate. Meanwhile, the Fifth Circuit issues an inconclusive decision about the future of the ACA, and DHS and DOJ proposed a new rulemaking to amend the list of crimes that bar relief for asylum seekers.

12/18/19  //  Daily Update

The House will vote on Articles of Impeachment. Elsewhere, the Trump Administration proposed new rules related to organ donation.

12/13/19  //  Daily Update

The Judiciary Committee votes on articles of impeachment. The Fourth Circuit hears argument in an important Emoluments Clause case. And OMB issues a memo defending the decision to withhold aid to Ukraine.

12/12/19  //  Daily Update

Commentary continues about the House's articles of impeachment. A federal judge in California reaches the same conclusion as one in Texas and blocks wall funding. And the House asks the Supreme Court to move quickly in a case involving the President's financial records.

12/11/19  //  Daily Update

The House announces two articles of impeachment. A California court blocks a rule change to the citizenship process for legal permanent residents, and a Texas court blocks the President from using military funds for a border wall. Meanwhile, the Fourth Circuit lifts an injunction in the "public charge rule" immigration case, but a nationwide injunction remains in place because of the decision of a New York court.

12/6/19  //  Daily Update

The House begins drafting articles of impeachment. Law professors—including Versus Trump podcast guest Pam Karlan—testify before the Judiciary Committee. And the President asks the Supreme Court to prevent disclosure of his financial records.

12/4/19  //  Daily Update

The House Intelligence Committee releases an impeachment report. The Second Circuit orders Deutsche Bank to turn over to Congress Trump's financial records. And the NYT reports that McKinsey has advised ICE on new immigration policies.

12/3/19  //  Daily Update

Impeachment wrangling continues. There is noteworthy commentary about executive privilege and the nature of impeachment inquiries. And a federal appeals court denies DOJ's request to lift a stay that has halted planned executions of four federal inmates.

11/28/19  //  Daily Update

Impeachment-related testimony continues. Certain officials react to a district court decision denying absolute immunity to a former administration official, but that decision gets appealed. President Trump makes his 100th taxpayer-funded visit to Mar-a-Lago. And it's Thanksgiving weekend! Enjoy.

11/26/19  //  Daily Update

A federal judge rules that former White House counsel Don McGahn must comply with a congressional subpoena to testify before impeachment investigators. The U.S. Solicitor General files a brief in support of President Trump in a Supreme Court case that could result in him being forced to turn over his tax returns to the Manhattan DA, while the Court temporarily blocks the order from going into effect. And a federal court orders the DOD and the OMB to release to the Center for Public Integrity documents regarding the Administration’s withholding of military aid to Ukraine.

11/8/19  //  Daily Update

The impeachment inquiry continues with a barrage of news about various witnesses, including John Bolton and Mick Mulvaney. Reports emerge that the President asked Attorney General Barr to clear him, but Barr refused. And a federal judge orders the President to pay $2 million for misusing funds from the Trump Foundation.

11/7/19  //  Daily Update

Open hearings in the impeachment inquiry will take place next week. Investigators summoned acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney to testify, but withdrew a subpoena for testimony from Charles Kupperman to avoid delay in the hearings. A federal judge ruled that the government must provide mental health services to families who were separated at the border under the “state-created danger” doctrine. And a federal district court heard opening arguments in Roger Stone’s trial for allegedly lying to Congress about his connection to WikiLeaks during the Trump campaign.

11/5/19  //  Daily Update

The Second Circuit affirms a lower court decision that could enable the Manhattan DA to obtain some Trump tax returns. Additional White House officials refuse to testify before impeachment investigators. And the Administration officially starts the process of withdrawing from the Paris climate accord.