A newsletter by Reuters and Westlaw |
|
|
Federal prosecutors have issued more than two dozen grand jury subpoenas seeking records tied to U.S. intelligence assessments of Russian interference in the 2016 election, a topic long championed by President Trump. Here’s what to know: |
-
The requests target former officials involved in a 2017 report concluding Russia sought to help Trump and harm Hillary Clinton.
- However, sources familiar with the probe say the effort is unlikely to uncover new information, as the issues have already been examined in prior DOJ and special counsel investigations.
-
The subpoenas, approved by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Miami, have drawn criticism as politically motivated and aimed at revisiting long-settled matters. Recipients include former CIA Director John Brennan and ex-FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, whom Trump has repeatedly attacked.
- Previous inquiries found flaws in the original Russia probe but no conspiracy against Trump, raising doubts about whether prosecutors can build a viable case.
- Legal experts warn the investigation faces steep hurdles, including proving criminal intent and jurisdictional challenges.
-
Andrew Goudsward and Sarah Lynch have more here.
|
|
|
-
The 1st Circuit will consider whether to uphold a judge's ruling blocking the Trump administration from implementing a sweeping freeze on federal funding for programs that do not align with the president’s agenda. Read the lower court’s injunction.
-
The 11th Circuit will consider whether to revive President Trump’s RICO lawsuit against Hillary Clinton, the DNC, and others, alleging they “rigged” the 2016 presidential election. U.S. District Judge John Middlebrooks in Florida threw out the lawsuit in 2022 and imposed nearly $1 million in sanctions on Trump and his lawyer Alina Habba saying Trump had exhibited a pattern of misusing the courts to further his political agenda. Trump is appealing both the dismissal and the sanctions.
- U.S. District Judge Patti Saris in Boston will hear arguments in a lawsuit by a group of Democratic-led states that argue that the Trump administration had failed to justify its decision to suspend leasing and permitting of new wind projects. Saris was recently assigned the case after another judge stepped aside.
-
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Sean Lane in White Plains, New York, is expected to deliver his decision officially approving a restructuring plan for drugmaker Purdue Pharma that includes a $7.4 billion settlement resolving claims that it fueled the U.S. opioid epidemic through the sale of addictive pain medications like OxyContin.
- U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh in D.C. will hold a discovery hearing in a defamation lawsuit brought by WE Charity accusing the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation of repeatedly airing false claims that it deceived its donors.
-
The Oklahoma Supreme Court will consider whether to block a new state law that imposes new restrictions on the ballot initiative petition process. Senate Bill 1027 introduced caps on how many signatures can be collected from any one county and expanded powers for the Secretary of State over approval of petitions among other changes. Read the petition.
- The House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to consider whether to advance legislation that would require the disclosure of third-party litigation funding.
-
A Massachusetts man is scheduled to face trial on charges that he murdered his wife, whose disappearance in early 2023 garnered national headlines. Brian Walshe originally told investigators that his wife, Ana Walshe, left their Cohasset, Massachusetts, home in a ride-hailing service for the airport to go to Washington for work. But prosecutors in Norfolk County say Walshe actually killed her and searched on Google "can you throw away body parts." Her body has never been found.
|
Court calendars are subject to last-minute docket changes. |
|
|
- London-headquartered law firm Ashurst and U.S.-based Perkins Coie agreed on a merger that would create a combined firm of 3,000 lawyers with $2.7 billion in revenue, putting it in the top 20 worldwide. Find out more.
-
The ABA will undertake a sweeping review of its law school rules as states weigh dropping the organization as their recognized law school accreditor and critics say its regulations have driven up student costs. Read more here.
-
Plaintiffs’ law firm Motley Rice is seeking to recover eight years of legal fees from Alaska after it was fired from representing the state in opioid litigation, arguing it was improperly accused of violating a contract for the work. Read more here.
-
University of Pennsylvania law professor Amy Wax sued the university a second time, alleging it violated her academic freedom when it sanctioned her over controversial statements about race. Read the complaint.
- Venture capital firm LegalTech Fund, which backs early-stage legal technology startups, said it has closed a second fund at $110 million, as the legal market seeks an edge with AI and other tech innovations. Read more here.
-
Moves: The former assistant director of the Civil Division Commercial Litigation branch at the DOJ, Sara McLean, moved to Akin’s False Claims Act practice … Latham added antitrust partner Kyra Bromley from Debevoise & Plimpton … Antitrust partner John Carroll rejoined King & Spalding from Sheppard Mullin … Tax attorney Oz Halabi moved to Cozen O’Connor from Pearl Cohen Zedek Latzer Barat … Davis Polk added sports partner Jon Oram from Proskauer Rose … Margot Laporte joined Barnes & Thornburg’s
|
|
|
|
