Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche has formally rescinded the controversial $1.8 billion anti-weaponisation fund as he seeks to overcome Republican opposition to his permanent confirmation. The decision also limits tax protections included in a settlement involving President Donald Trump and the Internal Revenue Service. Senate vote approaches Blanche announced the reversal in a post on X

US Vice President JD Vance has admitted that the Trump administration mishandled communication surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein files. During an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, Vance said officials created unnecessary confusion but rejected accusations of a deliberate cover-up. Epstein release should have started earlier Vance said the administration should have released the available Epstein material mo

The investigation into the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar has entered a new phase after United States authorities charged jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and Satinderjeet Singh, also known as Goldy Brar, in connection with the 2023 assassination case. The development has brought fresh attention to the Nijjar probe, which had earlier triggered a major diplomatic dispute between India and Canada. Current public charges focus on an alleged transnational crime network rath

Trump announces new Clean Air Act pardons US President Donald Trump said he was pardoning six people who, according to him, had been unfairly prosecuted under offences linked to the Clean Air Act. In a post on Truth Social, Trump argued that the individuals were being punished for what he described as “fixing their car,” framing the cases as an example of what he has repeatedly called federal overreach under the Biden administration. The

Bolton pleads guilty in classified documents case John Bolton pleaded guilty in a federal court to unlawfully retaining classified materials, concluding a high-profile legal proceeding involving sensitive national security records. The admission came under a plea agreement with federal prosecutors after an earlier denial of the charges. When questioned by the judge, Bo

Global crude benchmarks have softened in recent sessions, driven by easing supply concerns and improved shipping conditions across key routes. Despite this decline, retail gasoline prices in the United States have not adjusted downward at the same pace, creating a widening gap between wholesale and consumer fuel costs. Market data indicates Brent crude has eased compared to earlier highs, yet pump prices remain relatively sticky. This lag has triggered renewed scrutiny of how quickl

The U.S. Department of Justice is reportedly investigating how Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei built a global investment portfolio with exposure to Wall Street banks, according to a Bloomberg News report published Thursday, June 18, 2026. Bloomberg cited officials familiar with the matter. The Justice Department had not publicly commented on the reported investigation when Reuters published its account. Mojtaba Khamenei Transactions Under Reported DOJ Review The investigation is reportedly part of a broader examination of allegations involving money laundering and corruption. Investigators are reviewing transactions involving companies overseen by Khamenei and examining the role U.S. financial institutions may have played in processing them, according to the report. JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup are among the banks reportedly under review. The report did not establish that either bank had violated U.S. law. JPMorgan, Citigroup and DOJ Responses Reuters said Citigroup declined to comment on the report. JPMorgan Chase and the Justice Department did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment when the story was published. The existence of an investigation does not mean criminal charges will be filed. Bloomberg reported that Khamenei, rather than the banks, was the primary focus of the inquiry. Why the Report Matters As Iran’s supreme leader, Khamenei has final authority over major matters of state, including the country’s foreign policy and nuclear program. The reported investigation could attract further scrutiny of financial transactions connected to Iranian political networks and their potential exposure to U.S. institutions. However, the inquiry remains at the investigative stage. No charges or findings of wrongdoing were announced in the report. Related: Mojtaba Khamenei Approves US-Iran Agreement as Swiss Talks Advance

Political Clash Between Newsom and Trump Intensifies California Governor Gavin Newsom has escalated his ongoing confrontation with US President Donald Trump, accusing the administration of using federal institutions for political purposes. The dispute centres on claims that the Justice Department is conducting a politically motivated investigation aimed at undermining Newsom’s potential 2028 presidential c

Newsom Alleges Political Retaliation California Governor Gavin Newsom accused President Donald Trump of using the Justice Department to pursue a politically motivated investigation targeting him and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom. Newsom said federal agents had contacted friends, relatives and former employees while requesting records connected to the couple. He argued that investigators had not identified wrongdoing and were instead search

Court Rejects Delay Request A US federal judge on Friday rejected an attempt by the Kennedy Center’s board and the Justice Department to delay an order requiring President Donald Trump’s name to be removed from the Washington performing arts venue. District Judge Christopher Cooper said the administration had not shown sufficient grounds to pause the removal requirement, which followed his earlier rulin

The U.S. Department of Justice is seeking to revoke the citizenship of Neeraj Sharma, an Indian-born New Jersey businessman accused of concealing visa fraud before becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen. The complaint against Sharma was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey on Thursday, June 4, 2026. The Justice Department publicly announced the case as part of a broader denaturalization initiative on Monday, June 8, 2026. DOJ Denaturalizati

The Trump administration has paused its $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponisation Fund following a federal court ruling. The Justice Department confirmed it will comply with the order, even though it disagrees with the court’s decision. The fund was set up to provide compensation to individuals claiming harm due to government actions, but concerns have been raised about potential political misuse. Court Orders Halt

Former President Joe Biden has taken legal action against the Department of Justice (DOJ) to prevent the release of private audio recordings and transcripts related to his memoir. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., on May 26, just weeks before the DOJ plans to provide these materials to the House Judiciary Committee and the Heritage Foundation. Biden’s legal team argues that the recordings, made at his home during 2016 and 2017 while working with biographe

Pam Bondi Reportedly Recovering After Cancer Treatment Former Attorney General Pam Bondi was reportedly diagnosed with thyroid cancer after leaving the Justice Department and has undergone treatment, according to a report citing a source familiar with the matter. Bondi has not publicly addressed the reported diagnosis, but the news prompted messages of support from political allies and supporters online. The

The Trump IRS settlement fund has become a new legal and political flashpoint after the Justice Department created a $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund tied to President Donald Trump’s lawsuit over the leak of his tax returns. The Justice Department announced on Monday, May 18, 2026, that the fund was created through a settlement in Donald J. Trump v. Internal Revenue Service. Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump and the Trump Organization will

The Trump IRS addendum explained in new Justice Department filings shows that the federal government is barred from pursuing existing or past tax-related claims involving President Donald Trump, his family members and affiliated businesses. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed the one-page addendum on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. The document states that the United States is “forever barred and precluded” from pursuing claims, examinations or reviews that have

Trump Calls For Federal Probe Into Maryland Ballot Error President Donald Trump said he is seeking a federal investigation into a Maryland mail-in ballot mix-up after some voters received ballots for the wrong party ahead of the state’s June 23 primary election. The Maryland State Board of Elections said the problem was caused by a vendor error and confirmed that all affected ballots are being replaced. More than 500,000 Maryland voters had requested mail ballots for the primary.

The Trump IRS lawsuit settlement is drawing new scrutiny after the Justice Department announced a $1.776 billion DOJ Anti-Weaponization Fund on Monday, May 18, 2026, as part of an agreement resolving President Donald Trump’s lawsuit over leaked tax return information. The settlement ends Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service, which was filed after his confidential tax records were leaked. Under the agreement, Trump and other plaintiffs are expected to receive a formal apology but no monetary damages. What the DOJ Anti-Weaponization Fund Means The DOJ Anti-Weaponization Fund is designed to review claims from people who say they were unfairly targeted by politically motivated government investigations or prosecutions. The fund could provide compensation or formal apologies to approved claimants. The proposal has quickly become a major political and legal issue because the money would come through a federal judgment fund, raising questions over taxpayer money, congressional approval and Justice Department oversight. Why the Trump IRS Lawsuit Settlement Faces a Congress Challenge Democrats argue that the Trump IRS lawsuit settlement could allow taxpayer money to benefit political allies of the president. Representative Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, has criticized the plan and argued that Congress did not authorize the fund. The expected Congress challenge to the Trump settlement fund may focus on whether the executive branch can create such a large compensation program through a lawsuit settlement without direct approval from lawmakers. Trump Tax Return Leak Remains at the Center The original case came from the Trump tax return leak, after confidential IRS information was disclosed and later reported by media outlets. A former IRS contractor, Charles Littlejohn, was prosecuted and sentenced to five years in prison for leaking tax records. The legal fight is now moving beyond the tax leak itself. The larger dispute is over whether the Justice Department can use settlement power to create a politically sensitive compensation fund involving claims of government “weaponization.” For US readers, the case matters because it could shape future limits on executive authority, federal settlements and how taxpayer-funded legal claims are handled when a sitting president is personally connected to the dispute.

Federal Accusations Against Yale The United States Department of Justice on Thursday, May 14, 2026, accused Yale School of Medicine of discriminating against white and Asian applicants. The allegations follow a year-long federal investigation into the university’s diversity-focused admissions practices. According to the Justice Department, Yale leadership intentionally selected applicants based on race, resulting in Black

Eileen Wang resigned as mayor of Arcadia on Monday, May 12, 2026, after the U.S. Department of Justice announced she agreed to plead guilty in a federal foreign agent case tied to China. Federal prosecutors said Wang, 58, acted as a covert agent for the People’s Republic of China while helping distribute propaganda content targeting Chinese American communities in Southern California. Officials said the felony charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. DOJ Says Propaganda Was Shared Through Community News Platforms According to court filings, Chinese officials allegedly used encrypted WeChat messages in June 2021 to send prewritten articles to Wang and others. One article reportedly denied allegations of genocide and forced labor involving ethnic minorities in China’s Xinjiang region. Prosecutors said Wang reposted the content on websites presented as local news platforms and later shared proof of publication with individuals linked to the Chinese government. Federal investigators also alleged that Wang coordinated with John Chen, who previously pleaded guilty to acting as an illegal foreign agent and conspiracy to bribe a public official. What Happens Next for Arcadia? City officials in Arcadia said the federal allegations did not involve city finances, employees, or municipal operations. Wang was elected to the City Council in November 2022 and later became mayor through the council’s rotating leadership system. The City Council is now expected to discuss appointing a temporary replacement for Wang’s 3rd District seat ahead of the November 2026 election. Assistant Attorney General John Eisenberg said public officials in the United States must represent American interests only, calling the allegations against Wang “deeply concerning.”