Kyle Cheney
@kyledcheney.bsky.social
Senior legal affairs reporter at POLITICO with a focus on democracy, the balance of power and the clash between the Trump administration and courts.
NEW: President Trump sued the BBC tonight, seeking $5 billion for what he claimed was deceptive editing of his Jan. 6 speech to a crowd that then marched to the Capitol and helped fuel a violent riot.
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www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
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Trump sues BBC for $5 billion
The suit centers on edits to Trump's speech on Jan. 6.
www.politico.com
December 16, 2025 at 1:28 AM
NEW: President Trump sued the BBC tonight, seeking $5 billion for what he claimed was deceptive editing of his Jan. 6 speech to a crowd that then marched to the Capitol and helped fuel a violent riot.
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www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
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www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
Judges Rao/Katsas have iced Judge Boasberg's contempt hearings until at least the New Year. And they want to know whether he has the power to investigate contempt at all or must refer it to DOJ. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
December 15, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Judges Rao/Katsas have iced Judge Boasberg's contempt hearings until at least the New Year. And they want to know whether he has the power to investigate contempt at all or must refer it to DOJ. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
The 11th Circuit says Alabama's new law to prohibit third-party assistance with absentee balloting is "not a very clear law." So they're sending some Qs to the Alabama Supreme Court to understand what it is trying to criminalize. s3.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
December 15, 2025 at 3:08 PM
The 11th Circuit says Alabama's new law to prohibit third-party assistance with absentee balloting is "not a very clear law." So they're sending some Qs to the Alabama Supreme Court to understand what it is trying to criminalize. s3.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
NEW: A judge ordered DOJ late Friday to return materials it seized from Comey friend Dan Richman, calling their rummaging through the documents a flagrant abuse of his constitutional rights.
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www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
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Court orders DOJ to return data seized from Comey friend
U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ruled the material obtained from law professor Daniel Richman was handled with “callous disregard” for his rights.
www.politico.com
December 13, 2025 at 3:31 PM
NEW: A judge ordered DOJ late Friday to return materials it seized from Comey friend Dan Richman, calling their rummaging through the documents a flagrant abuse of his constitutional rights.
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www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
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www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
JUST IN: Judge Boasberg won’t back off his planned contempt hearings next week and says the crime-fraud exception would overcome potential privileges. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
December 12, 2025 at 7:23 PM
JUST IN: Judge Boasberg won’t back off his planned contempt hearings next week and says the crime-fraud exception would overcome potential privileges. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Judge Xinis ordered Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s release in part bc ICE could not produce a final “order of removal” to deport him. So last night, they went out and got an immigration judge to issue one.
Now, Abrego is urging Xinis to block his redetention. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Now, Abrego is urging Xinis to block his redetention. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
December 12, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Judge Xinis ordered Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s release in part bc ICE could not produce a final “order of removal” to deport him. So last night, they went out and got an immigration judge to issue one.
Now, Abrego is urging Xinis to block his redetention. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Now, Abrego is urging Xinis to block his redetention. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
NEW: Federal prosecutors have failed, for the second time, to re-indict Letitia James.
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www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
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December 11, 2025 at 8:41 PM
NEW: Federal prosecutors have failed, for the second time, to re-indict Letitia James.
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BREAKING: A federal judge has ordered Kilmar Abrego Garcia's immediate release from ICE custody.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
December 11, 2025 at 3:39 PM
BREAKING: A federal judge has ordered Kilmar Abrego Garcia's immediate release from ICE custody.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
JUST IN: A federal judge has blocked DHS from enforcing a new prohibition on “unusual noise” outside a government building in Oregon, saying it unconstitutionally criminalizes and chills free speech storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
December 10, 2025 at 11:38 PM
JUST IN: A federal judge has blocked DHS from enforcing a new prohibition on “unusual noise” outside a government building in Oregon, saying it unconstitutionally criminalizes and chills free speech storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
DOJ makes it clear: If Judge Boasberg wants to pursue a contempt case against Kristi Noem, he's going to have to pierce privileged conversations she had with Blanche, Bove and DHS lawyers – something DOJ says shoudl only happen at a trial. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
December 10, 2025 at 8:51 PM
DOJ makes it clear: If Judge Boasberg wants to pursue a contempt case against Kristi Noem, he's going to have to pierce privileged conversations she had with Blanche, Bove and DHS lawyers – something DOJ says shoudl only happen at a trial. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
The Center for Biological Diversity is suing the Trump administration to have Trump's face removed from national parks passes. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
December 10, 2025 at 8:03 PM
The Center for Biological Diversity is suing the Trump administration to have Trump's face removed from national parks passes. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
A D.C. Circuit panel sides with Hegseth on transgender military ban, saying Judge Reyes' attempt to block it didn't accord the seretary enough deference.
Majority:
Katsas (Trump)
Rao (Trump)
Dissent:
Pillard (Obama)
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Majority:
Katsas (Trump)
Rao (Trump)
Dissent:
Pillard (Obama)
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
December 9, 2025 at 6:52 PM
A D.C. Circuit panel sides with Hegseth on transgender military ban, saying Judge Reyes' attempt to block it didn't accord the seretary enough deference.
Majority:
Katsas (Trump)
Rao (Trump)
Dissent:
Pillard (Obama)
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Majority:
Katsas (Trump)
Rao (Trump)
Dissent:
Pillard (Obama)
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
JUST IN: DOJ confirms Trump asserted executive privilege to shield more than 4,100 documents form police and lawmakers suing him over the Jan. 6 riot.
Our earlier story on the privilege claim: www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
Our earlier story on the privilege claim: www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
December 8, 2025 at 10:57 PM
JUST IN: DOJ confirms Trump asserted executive privilege to shield more than 4,100 documents form police and lawmakers suing him over the Jan. 6 riot.
Our earlier story on the privilege claim: www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
Our earlier story on the privilege claim: www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
JUST IN: A federal magistrate judge has turned down Tina Peters' habeas petition, saying it must work its way through state courts before federal courts get involved. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
December 8, 2025 at 10:16 PM
JUST IN: A federal magistrate judge has turned down Tina Peters' habeas petition, saying it must work its way through state courts before federal courts get involved. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
JUST IN: Judge Boasberg says it'd be "premature" to refer Kristi Noem for a contempt prosecution but orders testimony next week from DOJ whistleblower Erez Rueveni and Deputy Assistant AG Drew Ensign. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
December 8, 2025 at 8:57 PM
JUST IN: Judge Boasberg says it'd be "premature" to refer Kristi Noem for a contempt prosecution but orders testimony next week from DOJ whistleblower Erez Rueveni and Deputy Assistant AG Drew Ensign. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
NEW: A judge tonight blocked the Justice Department from accessing the emails/hard drive of Comey adviser/former lawyer Dan Richman. The ruling on the docs is a blow to prosecutors as they consider bringing new charges against Comey
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www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
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Judge blocks prosecutors’ access to James Comey’s lawyer’s emails and data
Court says government’s retention and use of law professor Daniel Richman’s data appears to have been illegal.
www.politico.com
December 7, 2025 at 3:03 AM
NEW: A judge tonight blocked the Justice Department from accessing the emails/hard drive of Comey adviser/former lawyer Dan Richman. The ruling on the docs is a blow to prosecutors as they consider bringing new charges against Comey
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www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
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www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
It happened again: The Trump administration has admitted illegally deporting a man to Guatemala despite an immigration judge's order that he was likely to be tortured there.
A judge has ordered the administration to facilitate his return by next week.storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
A judge has ordered the administration to facilitate his return by next week.storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
December 6, 2025 at 2:54 AM
It happened again: The Trump administration has admitted illegally deporting a man to Guatemala despite an immigration judge's order that he was likely to be tortured there.
A judge has ordered the administration to facilitate his return by next week.storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
A judge has ordered the administration to facilitate his return by next week.storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
JUST IN: Judge Sooknanan has rejected DOJ's effort to dismiss a lawsuit brought by immigration detainees at Guanatanamo Bay, saying the plaintiffs made a plausible claim that the policy is illegal and punitive. ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show...
December 5, 2025 at 8:40 PM
JUST IN: Judge Sooknanan has rejected DOJ's effort to dismiss a lawsuit brought by immigration detainees at Guanatanamo Bay, saying the plaintiffs made a plausible claim that the policy is illegal and punitive. ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show...
JUST IN: A 2-1 panel of the D.C. Circuit rules that Trump may remove members of the NLRB or MSPB regardless of laws meant to shield them from removal without cause.
Majority: Rao (Trump), Katsas (Trump)
Dissent: Pan (Biden)
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Majority: Rao (Trump), Katsas (Trump)
Dissent: Pan (Biden)
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
December 5, 2025 at 3:21 PM
JUST IN: A 2-1 panel of the D.C. Circuit rules that Trump may remove members of the NLRB or MSPB regardless of laws meant to shield them from removal without cause.
Majority: Rao (Trump), Katsas (Trump)
Dissent: Pan (Biden)
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Majority: Rao (Trump), Katsas (Trump)
Dissent: Pan (Biden)
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
NEW: A federal grand jury rejected DOJ’s latest bid to indict NY attorney general Letitia James, the latest black eye in Trump’s push to prosecute his adversaries
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www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
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www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
Grand jury rejects new indictment for Letitia James
The Justice Department can try a third time.
www.politico.com
December 5, 2025 at 12:16 AM
NEW: A federal grand jury rejected DOJ’s latest bid to indict NY attorney general Letitia James, the latest black eye in Trump’s push to prosecute his adversaries
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www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
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www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
BREAKING: The Supreme Court has permitted Texas to keep its newly redistricted, GOP-favorable congressional map in 2026.
Kagan, Sotomayor and Jackson dissent.
s3.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
Kagan, Sotomayor and Jackson dissent.
s3.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
December 4, 2025 at 11:04 PM
BREAKING: The Supreme Court has permitted Texas to keep its newly redistricted, GOP-favorable congressional map in 2026.
Kagan, Sotomayor and Jackson dissent.
s3.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
Kagan, Sotomayor and Jackson dissent.
s3.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
NEW: Donald Trump’s sweeping 2020 election pardon was unprecedented not just because it covered his alleged coconspirators. The language was so vague that it could cover an enormous range of activity — and he left it to his subordinates to sort out.
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
Trump stretches the pardon power in ways we’ve never seen
The Justice Department is deciding who's covered by extremely vague pardons.
www.politico.com
December 4, 2025 at 10:25 PM
NEW: Donald Trump’s sweeping 2020 election pardon was unprecedented not just because it covered his alleged coconspirators. The language was so vague that it could cover an enormous range of activity — and he left it to his subordinates to sort out.
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
NEWS: We’ve confirmed reports that there’s been an arrest in connection with the Jan. 6 pipe bombs. The man is expected to appear in court later today. www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
December 4, 2025 at 2:06 PM
NEWS: We’ve confirmed reports that there’s been an arrest in connection with the Jan. 6 pipe bombs. The man is expected to appear in court later today. www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
JUST IN: The NY Times lawsuit names names, saying the Pentagon's new press restrictions violate the First Amendment by forcing out journalists who ask adversarial questions and replacing them with avowed MAGA supporters. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
December 4, 2025 at 11:12 AM
JUST IN: The NY Times lawsuit names names, saying the Pentagon's new press restrictions violate the First Amendment by forcing out journalists who ask adversarial questions and replacing them with avowed MAGA supporters. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
NEW: President Trump has asserted executive privilege as he attempts to thwart a long-running lawsuit against him for his role in stoking the violence on Jan. 6.
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www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
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Trump asserts executive privilege to thwart Jan. 6 lawsuit
The White House said records sought in Capitol riot litigation are “clearly constitutionally protected.”
www.politico.com
December 4, 2025 at 2:22 AM
NEW: President Trump has asserted executive privilege as he attempts to thwart a long-running lawsuit against him for his role in stoking the violence on Jan. 6.
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www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
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www.politico.com/news/2025/12...