Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Supreme Court nomination battles get nastier
President Trump hadn't even announced his Supreme Court pick this weekend yet a whisper campaign had already developed against Judge Amy Coney Barrett. Published September 27, 2020
Portland ‘relatively peaceful’ amid dueling weekend protests
Competing protests by far-right and left-wing demonstrators went off largely peacefully Saturday in Portland, Oregon, but the leftists returned for a more confrontational clash with police later in the evening. Published September 27, 2020
Feds step in to nab illegal immigrant released 10 times by New York cops
Federal agents say they finally have caught an undocumented immigrant they've been after for several years but who was released 10 times by police in New York under sanctuary city policies. Published September 27, 2020
Portland police deputized as U.S. Marshals ahead of clashing demonstrations
Portland police were deputized as U.S. Marshals Saturday morning, meaning federal prosecutors can now bring charges against anyone who assaults them as they respond to what's expected to be clashing demonstrations later in the day. Published September 26, 2020
Portland braces for weekend of clashes as violence continues
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown triggered special powers Friday to surge officers into Portland and put state police in charge of safety this weekend amid fears of more clashes when demonstrators from across the ideological spectrum gather for protests. Published September 25, 2020
Court rules Congress can sue over Donald Trump’s border wall funding switch
The House of Representatives can sue President Trump over his move to siphon funding from Pentagon accounts toward his border wall plans, a federal appeals court ruled Friday, delivering a major statement on where the power of the purse lies in American government. Published September 25, 2020
Christopher Steele dossier source probed as Russian agent by FBI
FBI agents knew the "primary sub-source" used by Christopher Steele to compile his anti-Trump dossier had been suspected of being a Russian intelligence operative, yet they still treated the dossier as valid, according to new documents declassified Thursday. Published September 24, 2020
Christopher Wray downplays election fraud as suspected ballot issues found in Pennsylvania, Texas
The developments came as President Trump voiced renewed concerns about the potential for fraud in widespread mail-in voting in the presidential election. Published September 24, 2020
Texas announces charges in mail-ballot fraud that swayed county commission primary
Texas officials announced charges Thursday in what they called a vote-harvesting scheme during the state's 2018 primary election, accusing four people of arranging to have people mailed absentee ballots even though they didn't qualify. Published September 24, 2020
FBI sees no widespread voter fraud conspiracy
The FBI has not detected any evidence of a widespread fraud conspiracy in this year's elections, including in ballot-by-mail states, but is vigilant to the possibility, Director Christopher A. Wray said Thursday. Published September 24, 2020
China still spying on U.S. coronavirus vaccine efforts, Wray tells Congress
Chinese hackers are still trying to snoop on American coronavirus vaccine efforts, FBI Director Christopher Wray told Congress on Thursday, saying they can actually track the attempts. Published September 24, 2020
Early probe undercuts claims of ‘mass hysterectomies’ at ICE
A preliminary investigation has punctured the horrific claim that a doctor was performing "mass" hysterectomies on migrant women at an ICE facility in Georgia, with just two procedures performed over the last four years, a top official told Congress on Thursday. Published September 24, 2020
FBI: Cities that cooperated with feds kept protests peaceful
Cities that cooperated with the federal government managed to keep racial justice protests peaceful while violent ones, such as Portland, Oregon, told the feds to butt out, FBI and Homeland Security officials told Congress on Thursday. Published September 24, 2020
DHS asks for authority to ‘bring down’ rogue drones
Homeland Security's No. 2 official said Thursday that Congress needs to come up with more money and grant new powers to the department so it can bring down drones that threaten airports or breach the country's borders. Published September 24, 2020
Jo Jorgensen, Libertarian nominee, releases her Supreme Court list
Libertarian presidential nominee Jo Jorgensen released an eclectic list of potential Supreme Court picks should she manage to win the White House, saying she would consider a number of high-profile law professors, some conservative judges and a former head of the ACLU. Published September 24, 2020
DHS: It’s not just Russia meddling in election
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said Wednesday that attempts to influence the U.S. election run well beyond Russia, and China and Iran are also deeply involved -- though unlike Russia, they are working against President Trump. Published September 23, 2020
Trump-Pelosi toxicity trickles down, contaminates Capitol Hill
Rarely have relations between a president and a speaker been this toxic. Indeed it's even making it difficult for House lawmakers to hear directly from Cabinet officials -- something that used to be routine. Published September 22, 2020
Jhonny Soto-Ubaldo, illegal immigrant released 10 times by New York authorities, now in fed custody
Federal agents say they finally have caught an undocumented immigrant they've been after for several years but who was released 10 times by police in New York under sanctuary city policies. Published September 22, 2020
Jerrold Nadler hearings request rebuffed by Justice Department
Democrats were so "insulting" to Attorney General William P. Barr during his last appearance on Capitol Hill that the Justice Department won't send witnesses to two upcoming hearings, the department informed lawmakers on Monday. Published September 21, 2020
Judge tosses Trump campaign lawsuit to stop Nevada’s new voting law
A federal judge tossed President Trump's lawsuit against the state's coronavirus voting procedures, saying the nightmare scenario the Trump team drew of election chaos was too "speculative" at this point. Published September 21, 2020
