Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
The Great Grift: More than $200 billion in COVID-19 aid may have been stolen, federal watchdog says
The Small Business Administration paid out $1.2 trillion in pandemic loans and more than $200 billion of that may have gone to fraudsters, according to a new estimate Tuesday by the agency's inspector general. Published June 27, 2023
Justices limit reach of threat-speech laws, rule prosecutors must show intent to harm
The Supreme Court on Tuesday reaffirmed that truly threatening speech is not protected by the First Amendment, but said states have to prove that the person who said it had at least some understanding that the words crossed a line. Published June 27, 2023
Courts hold power over legislatures in election decisions; SCOTUS tames pandemic chaos
The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that state legislators are not the ultimate authority on how elections are conducted, reasoning that state courts can review election rules enacted by lawmakers. Published June 27, 2023
Agents back up claims on Hunter Biden; sensational tales documented over years of tax investigations
For a Washington that's often been burned by too-good-to-be-true stories, the revelations about Hunter Biden by two IRS criminal investigators may seem, well, too good to be true. They testified for hours, under oath, that they had the goods to back up what they were saying. Published June 26, 2023
Justices OK law banning encouragement of illegal immigration
The Supreme Court on Friday upheld a law that makes it illegal to encourage illegal immigration, ruling that it does not stifle First Amendment speech. Published June 23, 2023
Mayorkas’ non-deportation policy survives Supreme Court challenge
The Supreme Court breathed new life into President Biden's lenient immigration policies Friday, giving the Department of Homeland Security tacit approval to refuse to arrest and deport illegal immigrants even where the law says it must try. Published June 23, 2023
IRS investigator says Justice Dept. protected Hunter Biden in tax probe
IRS whistleblowers delivered to Congress a devastating indictment of the Justice Department's handling of the Hunter Biden tax investigation, saying prosecutors blocked search warrants and shut down pursuits of leads, including some that could implicate President Biden. Published June 22, 2023
Supreme Court rules against Navajo Nation in dispute over water rights
The Supreme Court ruled against the Navajo Nation on Thursday, finding that the peace treaty signed in 1868 does not obligate the federal government to secure water for the tribe. Published June 22, 2023
Supreme Court broadens grounds of deportation for immigrants who obstruct justice
The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that someone can obstruct justice even if an official investigation has not yet been opened -- a decision that makes it easier to deport some immigrants with criminal records. Published June 22, 2023
House GOP advances bill to restart border wall construction
The House Appropriations Committee approved a bill Wednesday that would inject $2.1 billion into border wall construction and would prod the Biden administration to stop slow-walking the building effort. Published June 21, 2023
DOJ fires Black immigration judge in the ongoing purge of Trump hires
Edwin Pieters is searching for answers to why the Biden administration fired him as an immigration judge. Published June 21, 2023
Border Patrol sets record with 29 terrorism suspects encountered in May
The Border Patrol reported encountering 29 terrorism suspects along the southern border in May, setting a new single-month record even as the government said the overall pace of illegal border crossings dipped. Published June 20, 2023
Public backs GOP calls for U.S. military to attack Mexican cartels
Americans are showing a surprising appetite for direct military intervention in Mexico to wage war against smuggling cartels that are pumping drugs and illegal immigrants into the U.S. Published June 19, 2023
House conservatives eye ‘unauthorized’ spending to broadly slash federal budget following debt deal
Conservatives in the House believe they may have found the secret path to force instant, deep cuts in government spending. Published June 18, 2023
Supreme Court sides with feds, tribes in challenge over American Indian adoptions
The Supreme Court batted down a challenge Thursday from non-Indian families hoping to adopt American Indian children, with the justices backing a federal law that says Indian children should generally be placed with their tribes. Published June 15, 2023
Texas sends first bus of migrants to Los Angeles
Texas sent its first busload of migrants to Los Angeles on Wednesday as part of Gov. Greg Abbott's campaign to make "sanctuary cities" feel the pain of the current border surge. Published June 14, 2023
China likely exploiting border chaos to sneak military operatives into U.S.: House chairman
China is likely using the chaotic conditions on the southern border to insert military personnel into the U.S., the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee charged on Wednesday. Published June 14, 2023
Mayorkas faces impeachment probe; House GOP see violations, subversions of U.S. immigration laws
The House Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday announced an investigation into Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for "dereliction of duty," launching what lawmakers expect to be a months-long push to impeach the head of the Homeland Security Department. Published June 14, 2023
Sen. Joni Ernst announces bill to disarm IRS agents
Sen. Joni Ernst has announced legislation to take away IRS agents' guns and ammunition, saying it makes no sense for an agency that enforces civil tax laws to arm employees. Published June 14, 2023
Rep. Lauren Boebert announces impeachment bid against Biden
Rep. Lauren Boebert announced articles of impeachment Tuesday against President Biden over the crisis at the southern border, saying the president must be removed from office for failing to uphold the laws governing illegal immigration. Published June 13, 2023
