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Government authority

Background files and directly linked reporting. Case inclusion describes the subject matter, not a finding of wrongdoing.

Linked reporting

News brief - Ethics / alleged conductCourts & government conductSource published: Sep 15, 2026 · 12:45 PM EDTEdition: Sep 15, 2026

Courts keep mail-voting restrictions blocked for now

AP reports that the Supreme Court rejected, for now, the administration's request to allow challenged mail-ballot restrictions to take effect before the midterms. AP also reports that U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly declined to dismiss a Democratic National Committee challenge to Trump's broader mail-voting executive order, citing Giuliani's unsuccessful Pennsylvania challenge as part of her standing analysis.

Emergency relief denied and dismissal denied; underlying litigation continues

Event: 2026-09-15 - 3 linked sources

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News brief - Ethics / alleged conductEthics & accountabilitySource published: Sep 12, 2026 · 11:19 AM EDTEdition: Sep 12, 2026

Federal judge rules DHS's FEMA workforce cuts violated law

Reuters reports that U.S. District Judge Susan Illston ruled DHS acted unlawfully by taking over FEMA's personnel authority and steering it toward a workforce cut of roughly half. In a separate evidence decision, the judge faulted FEMA and DHS officials for using and deleting Signal messages and said she would presume the lost messages would have been unfavorable evidence of unlawful conduct.

DHS action held unlawful · remedies pending · unions attribute original cuts to Noem · no personal-liability finding

Event: 2026-09-11 - 1 linked sources

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News brief - Ethics / alleged conductEthics & accountabilitySource published: Sep 12, 2026 · time not suppliedEdition: Sep 12, 2026

12 Trials. No Felony-Assault Convictions. AP Examines the Protest Cases.

AP reports that 41% of 102 felony-assault cases against protesters were dismissed, 34% ended in misdemeanor pleas, 10 defendants pleaded guilty to felonies and none of the 12 cases that reached trial produced a felony-assault conviction. Former prosecutors and law professors quoted by AP questioned whether rushed investigations and aggressive charging contributed to the results.

Agency charging practices questioned · mixed outcomes · no personal-liability finding

Event: 2026-09-12 - 1 linked sources

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News brief - Ethics / alleged conductGovernment authoritySource published: Sep 11, 2026 · 8:08 PM EDTEdition: Sep 11, 2026

A Federal Job Question About Advancing Trump’s Policies Hits a Court Block

Reuters reports that U.S. District Judge George O'Toole blocked the Office of Personnel Management from continuing to ask civil-service applicants how they would advance Trump's policies and executive orders. The judge found the unions were likely to show no legitimate government interest in probing applicants' political beliefs and that the question likely violated the Administrative Procedure Act by infringing First Amendment rights.

Preliminary injunction · court found plaintiffs likely to succeed · litigation ongoing

Event: 2026-09-11 - 1 linked sources

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News brief - Ethics / alleged conductCourts & government conductSource published: Sep 10, 2026 · 12:56 PM EDTEdition: Sep 10, 2026

The Mail-Ballot Rule Stays Blocked as the Government’s Appeal Continues

States and voting organizations challenged the rule. The First Circuit denied a stay, finding the government unlikely to prevail on the Elections Clause issue.

Preliminary injunction remains; appeal pending

Event: 2026-09-10 - 2 linked sources

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