5/31/17  //  Daily Update

During the presidential campaign, Russian officials discussed whether they had “leverage” over President Trump’s inner circle. President Trump’s communications director resigned after three months on the job. The German government has declined the United States’ offer of assistance in preventing Russian interference in Germany’s upcoming election. President Trump’s proposed budget indicates that the administration intends to significantly weaken the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. And analysis of the Fourth Circuit’s decision to affirm a district court order blocking President Trump’s revised travel ban continues.

5/30/17  //  Daily Update

Debates continue over the Fourth Circuit ruling against President Trump's revised travel ban. It has been reported that President Trump intends to leave the Paris Agreement. Historians have discovered valuable ways to shed light on the meaning of "emoluments." And the investigation into Russiagate has expanded to Jared Kushner.

5/26/17  //  Daily Update

The en banc Fourth Circuit largely upheld a nationwide injunction against the revised travel ban. The latest episode of Versus Trump covers transgender rights and a challenge to Trump's 2-for-1 executive order. Democrats have launched new efforts to protect the right to vote. President Trump met with NATO allies amid tensions and uncertainty. The Trump Organization has adopted a plan for foreign payments at hotels that fails to stop Foreign Emolument Clause violations. And it has been reported that the FBI is now investigating Jared Kushner's connections to Russia.

5/25/17  //  Daily Update

Discussion of the President's proposed budget continues. The CBO releases its long-awaited analysis of the version of the American Health Care Act that has already passed the House of Representatives. Former CIA Director Brennan testifies before Congress that Russia "brazenly" interfered with the election. And the search continues for a new FBI director.

5/24/17  //  Daily Update

Former CIA Director John Brennan testified to the House Intelligence Committee that he was concerned about contacts between the Trump campaign and Russian officials, and that he informed the FBI about his concerns. The Senate Intelligence Committee has issued subpoenas to businesses affiliated with former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn. President Trump’s proposed budget, which includes significant cuts to many government programs, has been released.

5/23/17  //  Daily Update

Former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn invokes the Fifth Amendment before Congress. Representative Cummings accuses Flynn of misleading investigators. And discussion about the potential legal and political merits of impeachment of the President continues. Meanwhile, the President visits the Middle East, and details leak about his forthcoming budget proposal.

5/23/17  //  Daily Update

Former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn invokes the Fifth Amendment before Congress. Representative Cummings accuses Flynn of misleading investigators. And discussion about the potential legal and political merits of impeachment of the President continues. Meanwhile, the President visits the Middle East, and details leak about his forthcoming budget proposal.

5/22/17  //  Daily Update

There has been extensive analysis of impeachment, obstruction of justice, the propriety of actions at DOJ and the FBI, the special prosecutor, and connections between the Trump Campaign and Russia. It has been reported that President Trump's lawyers sought to avoid the requirement that Trump personally certify the truth of his financial disclosures. DOJ and ICE have invoked new and controversial arguments to target immigrants and refugees (and their lawyers). A constitutional challenge to the CFPB will be reheard en banc before the D.C. Circuit this Wednesday.

5/19/17  //  Daily Update

Additional reports have arisen regarding former FBI Director James Comey's interactions with President Trump. President Trump tweeted that the appointment of a special prosecutor to helm the Russia investigation was a "witch hunt." Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein told the Senate that he knew Comey would be fired before he authored the memo used as justification for the firing. And former Senator Joe Lieberman may be the frontrunner to replace Comey.

5/18/17  //  Daily Update

Discussion continued about whether the President obstructed justice and can, or should, be removed from office. The Department of Justice appointed a special prosecutor to investigate the allegations of collusion between Russia and Trump's campaign. In other news, reports emerged that immigration officials are looking for increased discretion in immigration hearings, and several commentators at this blog propose a solution to resolve the Gavin Grimm case about access to restrooms for transgender students.

5/17/17  //  Daily Update

Reports emerged that President Trump asked James Comey to end his investigation of Michael Flynn. Elizabeth Warren and other Democrats are seeking information from the Office of Government Ethics regarding a possible conflict of interest on the part of a Trump ethics official. The U.S. Supreme Court turned away an appeal of the Fourth Circuit’s decision finding that a 2013 North Carolina voting law discriminated against African American voters. President Trump significantly expanded prohibitions against providing funds to foreign organizations that perform or advise on abortions.

5/16/17  //  Daily Update

The Ninth Circuit held oral argument on Monday for the revised travel ban, with the panel pressing DOJ lawyers on President Trump’s campaign statements. Discussion over President Trump’s firing of FBI Director James Comey continued, with calls for a non-partisan successor as FBI Director. The Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of the ruling striking down North Carolina’s controversial voter ID law. And President Trump reportedly revealed highly classified intelligence information to Russian officials in a meeting at the White House.

5/15/17  //  Daily Update

Discussion continues about the legal and political ramifications of the President's firing of FBI Director James Comey. Scholars and politicians debate whether the President may have obstructed justice, and whether we are now in the midst of a constitutional crisis. There has also been recent commentary about the President's so-called “election integrity” commission, among many other topics.

5/12/17  //  Daily Update

The fallout continues over President Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey. Trump contradicted his own staff, saying that he decided to fire Comey before meeting with Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy AG Rod Rosenstein. Republican Representative Jason Chaffetz requested that the DOJ Investigator General investigate the firing. And Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe testified before Congress, contradicting Administration claims regarding the importance of the Russian-interference investigation and Comey's support in the FBI. Meanwhile, Trump signed an executive order creating a Presidential commission on election integrity, to be lead by Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach.

5/11/17  //  Daily Update

Details continue to emerge about President Trump’s decision to fire FBI Director James Comey. Amidst the furor, President Trump met with the Russian Foreign Minister and the Russian Ambassador, excluding American journalists while granting access to Russian media. Reports surface that Comey had sought additional resources for the FBI’s Russia inquiry shortly before being fired. A journalist was arrested for questioning Secretary Tom Price about the American Health Care Act.