Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Justice Dept. asks for judge to be booted off case after ruling against Trump
The Justice Department accused Judge Beryl Howell of "hostility" to President Trump and asked that she take herself off a case in which she blocked the president's attempt to punish a Democrat-connected law firm that helped sponsor the infamous "Steele dossier." Published March 21, 2025
U.S. extradites illegal immigrant accused of killing Sarah Root in drunk-driving crash
Homeland Security said it has secured extradition of Eswin Mejia, bringing back from Honduras one of the highest-profile illegal immigration targets of the last decade to stand trial on charges of killing a young woman in a drunk driving car crash. Published March 21, 2025
Judge Boasberg calls Trump lawyers ‘intemperate and disrespectful’ as fight over deportees heats up
A federal judge called government lawyers "intemperate and disrespectful" as he spanked the Trump administration for carrying out deportations of Venezuelan gang suspects even after the judge had ordered airplanes to be turned around. Published March 21, 2025
Appeals court revives Coast Guard’s vaccine mandate case
A federal appeals court breathed new life into a lawsuit challenging a Biden-era coronavirus vaccine mandate against Coast Guard employees, ruling that the case is still live because the agency has never formally sworn off punishing people who refused. Published March 21, 2025
Trump might invoke ‘state secrets’ to hide deportation details
The Trump administration is considering invoking the state secrets doctrine to shield itself from having to answer questions about some of the controversial deportation flights of Venezuelan gang suspects. Published March 21, 2025
Gang tattoos and hand signs: How ICE identified Venezuelan gang members to deport as terrorists
Immigration officers looked at Jerce Reyes Barrios and saw tattoos with a crown and the word "Dios" -- both of which are considered by law enforcement to show someone is associated with Tren de Aragua, the violent criminal gang President Trump has declared a terrorist organization. But his lawyer said to look closer. The crown sits atop a soccer ball, and is actually the logo for his favorite team, Real Madrid. Published March 20, 2025
New York City’s noncitizen voting law ruled illegal by top state court
New York City's attempt to allow noncitizens to cast ballots in local elections violates the state constitution, the state's top court ruled Thursday. Published March 20, 2025
Federal government’s landlord agency loses track of one of its own offices
The federal government's chief landlord agency can't keep track of its own office space, an inspector general said this week in a devastating study of the General Services Administration's operations. Published March 20, 2025
Woman sentenced for vandalizing monument during pro-Hamas rally near Capitol
A woman who vandalized a monument during pro-Hamas protests at Union Station last year was spared a prison sentence but ordered to spend six months on probation. Published March 19, 2025
Justice Department tells judges to stop second-guessing Trump on deportation flights
The Justice Department on Wednesday renewed its demand to federal judges to stop interfering in the president's attempt to deport Venezuelan gang members, saying the roadblocks thrown up by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg are an unconstitutional intrusion on foreign policy. Published March 19, 2025
Mexico’s cartels ‘boxed in’ by Trump’s success at the border
What President Trump has done at the border is almost unfathomable. A year ago in February, more than 23,000 Guatemalans made a run at the southern border. Last month, agents reported fewer than 1,500. Published March 19, 2025
Judge rejects U.S. Institute of Peace request against DOGE over ‘illegal seizure’ of office
A federal judge on Wednesday rebuffed the U.S. Institute of Peace's demand for a restraining order against Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency, saying the agency hadn't proved it would suffer an irreversible harm right now. Published March 19, 2025
Judge blocks EPA from taking back $20 billion Biden earmarked for climate groups
A federal judge on Tuesday blocked the Trump administration from terminating $14 billion in grants awarded to three climate groups by the Biden administration, saying the government's "vague and unsubstantiated assertions of fraud are insufficient." Published March 18, 2025
Judge orders Pentagon to allow transgender troops, calls Trump ban ‘unabashedly demeaning’
A federal judge on Tuesday issued an injunction blocking the administration's new policy ushering transgender troops out of the military, spanking President Trump's team for what she called an "unabashedly demeaning" ban. Published March 18, 2025
Judge rules against Musk in USAID case, says DOGE shutdown attempt likely unconstitutional
A federal judge issued a stinging rebuke of Elon Musk on Tuesday, ruling that he and the Department of Government Efficiency likely violated the Constitution by attempting to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development. Published March 18, 2025
Congressman announces articles of impeachment against federal judge blocking Trump
Rep. Brandon Gill revealed an article of impeachment Tuesday against U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, accusing him of running political interference to stop President Trump. Published March 18, 2025
Murder suspect, sex offenders, gun wielders were on deportation flight judge tried to stop: DHS
Homeland Security said a murder suspect, a man accused of a sex offense against a teen girl, and another involved in smuggling illegal immigrants were among the Venezuelans deported under President Trump's orders over the weekend, in flights that skirted a judge's orders. Published March 18, 2025
Illegal immigrant pleads guilty to voting, having gun
An illegal immigrant in Florida pleaded guilty to registering and voting in U.S. elections and to possessing a gun. Published March 18, 2025
Trump calls for impeachment of judge who’s blocking deportation flights
President Trump and fellow Republicans began an impeachment effort Tuesday against a federal judge Mr. Trump labeled a "troublemaker and agitator" for trying to thwart his deportation of Venezuelan gang members. Published March 18, 2025
Trump admin. promotes IRS agents who exposed Hunter Biden sweetheart plea deal
The two IRS whistleblowers who revealed the Biden administration's lenient treatment of Hunter Biden have been given promotions and are now senior advisers to the Treasury Department secretary. Published March 18, 2025
