Updates | The Week of April 3, 2017
President Trump claimed he is immune while in office from suits challenging his private conduct, reports Adam Liptak (NYT).
"I believe the President. I have always believed him. I believed him when he said he wanted to ban Muslims from entering the United States. And I believe him now when he says his travel ban has nothing to do with religious discrimination." So begins an essay on Lawfare entitled, "I Believe," that surveys many of President Trump's statements.
President Trump’s statements regarding Bowe Bergdahl “raise an incredibly serious . . . issue” under the law of Unlawful Command Influence, Steve Vladeck argues at Just Security.
President Trump lacks legal authority to conduct war against ISIL, argues Bruce Ackerman in a brief to the D.C. Circuit (Lawfare).
Twitter filed a lawsuit after DHS filed a secret summons seeking information about the identity of a Twitter user claiming to be a dissident employee of the U.S. Customs and Immigration Service (The Intercept, Politico).
Americans must be prepared for an “American Reichstag fire when it comes,” argues Timothy Snyder (Slate).
A Trump aide may have violated the Hatch Act by urging a primary challenge to a House Freedom Caucus member (Politico).
Top human right lawyers have weighed in on the Trump Administration’s record thus far (Just Security).
At Rewire, Imani Gandy and Jessica Mason Pieklo examine whether Summer Zervos can sue President Trump in state court for defamation.
- President Trump’s lawyers have filed documents asking the New York trial court to decide whether it can hear a lawsuit filed against a sitting president.