Latest U.S. Department of Justice News

Vessel owner pleads guilty in plot to smuggle workers, drugs from Honduras to Louisiana

Dec. 08, 2023 12:53 PM EST

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A Pennsylvania man described by authorities as the lead defendant in a drug distribution and human smuggling case has pleaded guilty to federal crimes in Louisiana. Court records show that Carl Allison, 47, of Pittsburgh pleaded guilty Thursday before U.S....

Lawmakers seek action against Elf Bar and other fruity e-cigarettes imported from China

Dec. 08, 2023 09:01 AM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — House lawmakers are demanding information from federal officials on what they are doing to stop the recent influx of kid-appealing electronic cigarettes from China. Members of a new congressional committee on U.S.-China relations sent the request Thursday to...

US files war crime charges against Russians accused of torturing an American in the Ukraine invasion

Dec. 06, 2023 13:52 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — Four Russian men accused of torturing an American during the invasion of Ukraine have been charged with war crimes in a first-of-its-kind case, the Justice Department announced on Wednesday. It is the first prosecution against members of the Russian armed forces...

The Justice Department is investigating the deaths and kidnappings of Americans in the Hamas attack

Dec. 06, 2023 13:26 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department is investigating the deaths and kidnappings of Americans during the Hamas attack against Israel on Oct. 7, Attorney General Merrick Garland said Wednesday. Garland’s comments came as he announced a war-crimes case filed against four...

A court filing gives a rare look inside the FBI seizure of a lawmaker's phone in 2020 election probe

Dec. 06, 2023 07:09 AM EST

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Just how hard did some Republican members of Congress work to keep President Donald Trump in office after his 2020 election loss? A court case is providing a few tantalizing clues. Snippets and short summaries of texts and emails sent by Rep. Scott Perry of...

A second Trump administration will 'come after' people in the media in the courts, an ally says

Dec. 05, 2023 22:50 PM EST

NEW YORK (AP) — A Donald Trump ally who worked in his Justice Department said Tuesday that if the former president is elected again, his administration will retaliate against people in the media “criminally or civilly.” Kash Patel, who was also chief of staff in the Defense...

A trial deciding if JetBlue can buy Spirit — and further consolidate the industry — nears its end

Dec. 05, 2023 17:50 PM EST

BOSTON (AP) — A lawyer for JetBlue Airways said Tuesday that the biggest U.S. airlines are using their size to cement their dominance in a post-pandemic world, making it critical that a federal judge allow JetBlue to buy Spirit Airlines. The lawyer, Ryan Shores, said JetBlue needs...

Justice Department, jail reach settlement that ensures inmates' rights to opioid medications

Dec. 05, 2023 12:24 PM EST

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Inmates at an eastern Kentucky jail are guaranteed access to medication for opioid use disorder under a settlement between the U.S. Justice Department and the Big Sandy Regional Jail Authority, U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier announced. The Americans with...

YouTuber who staged California plane crash gets 6 months in prison for obstructing investigation

Dec. 04, 2023 22:36 PM EST

LOS ANGELES (AP) — An influencer who staged a California plane crash to make a YouTube video of himself parachuting to safety was sentenced Monday to six months in federal prison for obstructing the investigation by destroying the wreckage, the U.S. Justice Department. Trevor...

Prosecutors push back against Hunter Biden's move to subpoena Trump documents in gun case

Dec. 04, 2023 20:14 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — Prosecutors pushed back Monday against Hunter Biden's move to subpoena documents from Donald Trump and former Justice Department officials in the firearms case filed against the president's son. They argued that Hunter Biden doesn't have enough evidence to...