Stephen Dinan

Reporters’ association sides with CNN in lawsuit against White House

The White House Correspondents' Association went to court Thursday to side with CNN in its battle with President Trump, submitting an amicus brief arguing the White House does not have unbridled power to exclude rambunctious reporters. Published November 15, 2018

Kamala Harris draws comparison between ICE and KKK

Sen. Kamala Harris compared ICE, the federal deportation agency, to the Ku Klux Klan Thursday, drawing a fierce retort from the agency's acting director who said there is no equivalence between patriotic officers enforcing the law, and a racist mob bent on violence and intimidation. Published November 15, 2018

Grassley rejects calls to probe Whitaker appointment at DOJ

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley brushed aside demands to hold a hearing on the ouster of former Attorney General Jeff Sessions and the designation of Matthew Whitaker as his acting replacement, saying Thursday that the law appears to have been followed. Published November 15, 2018

Matthew Whitaker appointment legal, Justice Department says

Matthew G. Whitaker's appointment to be acting attorney general is not only legal, but it's also similar to moves made by the Obama and Bush administrations, the Justice Department's office of legal counsel said Wednesday, mounting a firm defense of President Trump's pick. Published November 14, 2018

Ronald Vitiello, ICE head nominee, under fire from agency’s union

Ronald D. Vitiello, President Trump's pick to head ICE, lacks the spark to be the "change agent" embattled agency needs -- and appears to have once posted a tweet comparing Mr. Trump to Dennis the Menace, agency labor union leaders said Wednesday. Published November 14, 2018

Jeff Flake to halt judicial nominees until Robert Mueller protection bill passed

Sen. Jeff Flake announced Wednesday that he will not vote to advance any new judicial nominees through the Judiciary Committee, nor will he vote to confirm picks on the Senate floor, until he gets his way on unrelated legislation to prevent the firing of special counsel Robert Mueller. Published November 14, 2018

DHS deploys razor wire to kick illegals off border fence

Hours after images of migrants climbing a border wall in San Diego went viral, the Homeland Security Department deployed razor wire Wednesday to prevent a repeat. Published November 14, 2018

McConnell rejects Mueller protection bill

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell flatly rejected the need to approve legislation protecting the special counsel's probe into the 2016 election, saying Wednesday there's no evidence the investigation needs protection. Published November 14, 2018

Vatican, Catholic bishops hit with lawsuit by sexual abuse victims

Six men filed a class action and racketeering lawsuit Tuesday against the Vatican and America's Catholic bishops, arguing they were aware of but ignored evidence of rape and sexual abuse within the clergy. Published November 13, 2018

Dems urge Florida to break vote-count deadline to review all ballots

Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer on Tuesday urged Florida election officials to ignore a Sunday deadline for the ongoing vote recount, saying the deadline was meant for presidential elections, not Senate races. Published November 13, 2018

Dianne Feinstein demands hearings on DOJ changes

Sen. Dianne Feinstein demanded Tuesday that the Senate hold hearings with both former Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Matthew Whitaker, the man named to replace him temporarily, saying there are too many questions surrounding the ouster. Published November 13, 2018

Kyrsten Sinema wins Arizona Senate election

Democrats netted another Senate seat Monday night after Republican Martha McSally conceded Arizona's race to Democrat Kyrsten Sinema. Published November 12, 2018

Nancy Pelosi, Democrats face new political realities in lame-duck session of Congress

The House Democratic leader asked her lawmakers Monday to search for "common ground" with Republicans over the next few weeks as they return to Capitol Hill for a lame-duck session of Congress, facing new political realities and a different set of urgent priorities. Published November 12, 2018

Eric C. Conn clients win reprieve in record-breaking Social Security scam

Social Security beneficiaries snared in the largest disability scam in U.S. history won a reprieve last week when the government said it will put off decisions on revoking their benefits until the new year. Published November 12, 2018

Dems press DOJ ethics chief to intervene with Whitaker over Mueller probe

Top Democrats pushed the Justice Department's ethics chief Monday to disclose his advice to acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker about whether he needed to recuse himself from overseeing the ongoing Russia investigation. Published November 12, 2018