Roger Parloff
@rparloff.bsky.social
Senior Editor, Lawfare. Ex-Fortune staff. Published in ProPublica, NYT, New York, New Yorker, Yahoo Finance, Air Mail, etc. Practiced law a long time ago.
Reposted by Roger Parloff
Lost in the huge Comey/James dismissals is Halligan has a new No. 2, an ex-prosecutor parachuting in from Ky., who'd be in line to refile the Trump retribution charges depending on outcome of appeal. Robert McBride has no EDVA experience. w/ Celine Castronuovo:
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
DOJ Defense of Top Prosecutors Tees Up Debate for Supreme Court
The Justice Department’s plans to appeal a ruling that an interim US attorney is unlawfully serving is likely to force the Supreme Court to weigh in on the Trump administration’s maneuvers to install ...
news.bloomberglaw.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Lost in the huge Comey/James dismissals is Halligan has a new No. 2, an ex-prosecutor parachuting in from Ky., who'd be in line to refile the Trump retribution charges depending on outcome of appeal. Robert McBride has no EDVA experience. w/ Celine Castronuovo:
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Reposted by Roger Parloff
Watch @nkorpett.bsky.social, @rparloff.bsky.social, and James Pearce discuss the dismissal of the indictments against James Comey and Letitia James live now:
www.youtube.com/live/XxySL8H...
www.youtube.com/live/XxySL8H...
Lawfare Live: Judge Dismisses Indictments Against James Comey and Letita James
YouTube video by Lawfare
www.youtube.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Watch @nkorpett.bsky.social, @rparloff.bsky.social, and James Pearce discuss the dismissal of the indictments against James Comey and Letitia James live now:
www.youtube.com/live/XxySL8H...
www.youtube.com/live/XxySL8H...
Reposted by Roger Parloff
Lawfare Live: Judge Dismisses Indictments Against James Comey and Letita James - YouTube With @rparloff.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxyS...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxyS...
Lawfare Live: Judge Dismisses Indictments Against James Comey and Letita James
YouTube video by Lawfare
www.youtube.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Lawfare Live: Judge Dismisses Indictments Against James Comey and Letita James - YouTube With @rparloff.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxyS...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxyS...
We've now posted on @lawfaremedia.org the live blog of Abrego's remarkable ~4-hr hearing Thurs, with a precis. The govt spent half the hearing suggesting that Costa Rica would no longer accept Abrego, tho WaPo later reported that it would.
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/abre...
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/abre...
November 24, 2025 at 4:37 PM
We've now posted on @lawfaremedia.org the live blog of Abrego's remarkable ~4-hr hearing Thurs, with a precis. The govt spent half the hearing suggesting that Costa Rica would no longer accept Abrego, tho WaPo later reported that it would.
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/abre...
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/abre...
In JGG (the original Alien Tort Claims Act case), Judge Boasberg orders submissions on "how the Court's inquiry regarding a potential contempt referral should proceed, including names of possible witnesses and dates for hearings," by tomorrow close of business.
November 24, 2025 at 3:45 PM
In JGG (the original Alien Tort Claims Act case), Judge Boasberg orders submissions on "how the Court's inquiry regarding a potential contempt referral should proceed, including names of possible witnesses and dates for hearings," by tomorrow close of business.
Abrego's attys just supplemented his motion to dismiss for vindictive prosec. with evidence of the govt's "brazen & misleading conduct" in his civil case—claiming Costa Rica wouldn't take him—& urging the need to hear testimony from DAG Blanche et al. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
#230 in United States v. Abrego Garcia (M.D. Tenn., 3:25-cr-00115) – CourtListener.com
NOTICE of Supplemental Information by Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia re 104 MOTION to Dismiss for Vindictive and Selective Prosecution (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - Zamora Cordero statement to Washingto...
storage.courtlistener.com
November 23, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Abrego's attys just supplemented his motion to dismiss for vindictive prosec. with evidence of the govt's "brazen & misleading conduct" in his civil case—claiming Costa Rica wouldn't take him—& urging the need to hear testimony from DAG Blanche et al. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
FWIW, a court reporter's account, submitted *by the govt* on 11/19 in the Comey case--before it switched positions on 11/20—shows that the full grand jury could not possibly have approved the operational 2-count indictment.
The jury was "released" when deliberations ended.
The jury was "released" when deliberations ended.
November 23, 2025 at 4:48 PM
FWIW, a court reporter's account, submitted *by the govt* on 11/19 in the Comey case--before it switched positions on 11/20—shows that the full grand jury could not possibly have approved the operational 2-count indictment.
The jury was "released" when deliberations ended.
The jury was "released" when deliberations ended.
[email protected] explains forum in Trump's grand conspiracy probe. Key grand jury sits in Judge Cannon's Fort Pierce. Ex-Trump atty Blanche oversees US Atty thru aide who clerked for Cannon when she dism'd Trump's case.(gift) www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/u... www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/u...
As Trump’s Inquisitors Face Scrutiny, a Divisive Figure Could Play a New Role
www.nytimes.com
November 23, 2025 at 4:31 PM
[email protected] explains forum in Trump's grand conspiracy probe. Key grand jury sits in Judge Cannon's Fort Pierce. Ex-Trump atty Blanche oversees US Atty thru aide who clerked for Cannon when she dism'd Trump's case.(gift) www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/u... www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/u...
Unpacked:
In Aug., Govt said if Abrego pled guilty he could go to Costa Rica, where he's okay with going. Abrego said no to plea. Govt now wants to send him to Liberia. Why not Costa Rica? Govt told judge Thurs that Costa Rica wouldn’t take him anymore. @mariasacchetti exposed them.
In Aug., Govt said if Abrego pled guilty he could go to Costa Rica, where he's okay with going. Abrego said no to plea. Govt now wants to send him to Liberia. Why not Costa Rica? Govt told judge Thurs that Costa Rica wouldn’t take him anymore. @mariasacchetti exposed them.
Costa Rica will accept Abrego, per @washingtonpost.com .
If true, DOJ, DHS, and Dept of State caused lies to be disseminated to Judge Xinis all day Thursday, where an ICE official testified about info sent him by Dept of State, claiming Costa Rica wouldn't take Abrego.
1/2
If true, DOJ, DHS, and Dept of State caused lies to be disseminated to Judge Xinis all day Thursday, where an ICE official testified about info sent him by Dept of State, claiming Costa Rica wouldn't take Abrego.
1/2
SCOOP: Costa Rica says it will still accept Kilmar Abrego García, contradicting Trump’s DOJ
wapo.st/485rAFz
wapo.st/485rAFz
November 23, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Unpacked:
In Aug., Govt said if Abrego pled guilty he could go to Costa Rica, where he's okay with going. Abrego said no to plea. Govt now wants to send him to Liberia. Why not Costa Rica? Govt told judge Thurs that Costa Rica wouldn’t take him anymore. @mariasacchetti exposed them.
In Aug., Govt said if Abrego pled guilty he could go to Costa Rica, where he's okay with going. Abrego said no to plea. Govt now wants to send him to Liberia. Why not Costa Rica? Govt told judge Thurs that Costa Rica wouldn’t take him anymore. @mariasacchetti exposed them.
Costa Rica will accept Abrego, per @washingtonpost.com .
If true, DOJ, DHS, and Dept of State caused lies to be disseminated to Judge Xinis all day Thursday, where an ICE official testified about info sent him by Dept of State, claiming Costa Rica wouldn't take Abrego.
1/2
If true, DOJ, DHS, and Dept of State caused lies to be disseminated to Judge Xinis all day Thursday, where an ICE official testified about info sent him by Dept of State, claiming Costa Rica wouldn't take Abrego.
1/2
SCOOP: Costa Rica says it will still accept Kilmar Abrego García, contradicting Trump’s DOJ
wapo.st/485rAFz
wapo.st/485rAFz
Costa Rica says it would accept Kilmar Abrego García, contradicting U.S.
The statement from a Costa Rican official conflicts with what the Trump administration told a federal judge about its attempts to deport the undocumented immigrant
wapo.st
November 22, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Costa Rica will accept Abrego, per @washingtonpost.com .
If true, DOJ, DHS, and Dept of State caused lies to be disseminated to Judge Xinis all day Thursday, where an ICE official testified about info sent him by Dept of State, claiming Costa Rica wouldn't take Abrego.
1/2
If true, DOJ, DHS, and Dept of State caused lies to be disseminated to Judge Xinis all day Thursday, where an ICE official testified about info sent him by Dept of State, claiming Costa Rica wouldn't take Abrego.
1/2
Reposted by Roger Parloff
In 1 hour, watch @benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org, @rparloff.bsky.social, @mollyroberts.bsky.social, Loren Voss, and @ericcolumbus.bsky.social discuss a judge ordering the Trump admin to end National Guard deployment in D.C., updates in the Letitia James and James Comey prosecutions, and more.
Lawfare Live: Trials of the Trump Administration, Nov. 21
On Nov. 21 at 4 pm ET, Lawfare Editor in Chief Benjamin Wittes will sit down with Lawfare Senior Editors Roger Parloff, Molly Roberts, and Eric Columbus and Lawfare Public Service Fellow Loren Voss to...
youtube.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:03 PM
In 1 hour, watch @benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org, @rparloff.bsky.social, @mollyroberts.bsky.social, Loren Voss, and @ericcolumbus.bsky.social discuss a judge ordering the Trump admin to end National Guard deployment in D.C., updates in the Letitia James and James Comey prosecutions, and more.
For those keeping track:
Essayli (CDCal), Habba (DNJ), and Chatta (DNev) have been found to have been unlawfully appointed. Govt appealing.
Halligan (EDVa) & Sarcone (NDNY) pending.
(Issues not always exactly the same.)
Essayli (CDCal), Habba (DNJ), and Chatta (DNev) have been found to have been unlawfully appointed. Govt appealing.
Halligan (EDVa) & Sarcone (NDNY) pending.
(Issues not always exactly the same.)
Judge Schofield will hear argument 12/4 on whether US Attorney for the Northern District of NY was lawfully appointed. (Arises in Letitia James' challenge to a grand jury subpoena issued there.)
November 21, 2025 at 6:19 PM
For those keeping track:
Essayli (CDCal), Habba (DNJ), and Chatta (DNev) have been found to have been unlawfully appointed. Govt appealing.
Halligan (EDVa) & Sarcone (NDNY) pending.
(Issues not always exactly the same.)
Essayli (CDCal), Habba (DNJ), and Chatta (DNev) have been found to have been unlawfully appointed. Govt appealing.
Halligan (EDVa) & Sarcone (NDNY) pending.
(Issues not always exactly the same.)
Judge Schofield will hear argument 12/4 on whether US Attorney for the Northern District of NY was lawfully appointed. (Arises in Letitia James' challenge to a grand jury subpoena issued there.)
November 21, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Judge Schofield will hear argument 12/4 on whether US Attorney for the Northern District of NY was lawfully appointed. (Arises in Letitia James' challenge to a grand jury subpoena issued there.)
In reply brief seeking disclosure of grand jury minutes, Comey's attys observe that the grand jury's deliberations in his case (2 hr 12 min) lasted longer than the presentation (2 hr 10 min). storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
November 21, 2025 at 2:12 PM
In reply brief seeking disclosure of grand jury minutes, Comey's attys observe that the grand jury's deliberations in his case (2 hr 12 min) lasted longer than the presentation (2 hr 10 min). storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Weird bottom line from today's hearing in Abrego's civil case: There's no "order of removal" in Abrego's file. Govt says the order barring him from removal to El Salvador acts, "by operation of law," as a removal order. Judge Xinis wasn't buying it; may eventually grant release on that basis.
A hearing is about to start in Abrego Garcia's civil case. I'll try to cover for @lawfaremedia.org . Colleague @annabower.bsky.social might be joining. Among other things, govt is seeking to dissolve Judge Xinis's preliminary injunction preventing Abrego from being removed immediately.
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November 21, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Weird bottom line from today's hearing in Abrego's civil case: There's no "order of removal" in Abrego's file. Govt says the order barring him from removal to El Salvador acts, "by operation of law," as a removal order. Judge Xinis wasn't buying it; may eventually grant release on that basis.
here's @kfaulders.bsky.social et al with more details on the Pulte / Ed Martin stuff: abcnews.go.com/US/doj-fbi-p...
DOJ, FBI probing top Trump administration officials over investigations of president's adversaries: Sources
The DOJ is probing the conduct of at least two top administration officials for possibly jeopardizing the criminal investigations of Trump's political foes, sources say.
abcnews.go.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:01 PM
here's @kfaulders.bsky.social et al with more details on the Pulte / Ed Martin stuff: abcnews.go.com/US/doj-fbi-p...
Reposted by Roger Parloff
SCOOP: A federal grand jury in Maryland is investigating whether FHFA director Bill Pulte and Justice Department prosecutor Ed Martin improperly appointed unauthorized people to help in mortgage fraud investigations of President Trump's critics. With @carolleonnig.bsky.social
November 20, 2025 at 5:21 PM
SCOOP: A federal grand jury in Maryland is investigating whether FHFA director Bill Pulte and Justice Department prosecutor Ed Martin improperly appointed unauthorized people to help in mortgage fraud investigations of President Trump's critics. With @carolleonnig.bsky.social
A hearing is about to start in Abrego Garcia's civil case. I'll try to cover for @lawfaremedia.org . Colleague @annabower.bsky.social might be joining. Among other things, govt is seeking to dissolve Judge Xinis's preliminary injunction preventing Abrego from being removed immediately.
/1
/1
November 20, 2025 at 4:40 PM
A hearing is about to start in Abrego Garcia's civil case. I'll try to cover for @lawfaremedia.org . Colleague @annabower.bsky.social might be joining. Among other things, govt is seeking to dissolve Judge Xinis's preliminary injunction preventing Abrego from being removed immediately.
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DOJ & Halligan attack Judge Nachmanoff. But he did not call Halligan a puppet. He asked the defense if its legal position was that Halligan had been acting as a stalking horse or puppet--doing a vindictive president's bidding. (Which she almost certainly was.)
November 20, 2025 at 12:59 PM
DOJ & Halligan attack Judge Nachmanoff. But he did not call Halligan a puppet. He asked the defense if its legal position was that Halligan had been acting as a stalking horse or puppet--doing a vindictive president's bidding. (Which she almost certainly was.)
Good line. Comey case is the "four seasons total landscaping of prosecutions."
I mean, Lemons must understand that at point his license is in jeopardy. I’ve never seen anything close to this.
This is the “four seasons total landscaping” of prosecutions. Except here, there will most certainly be lasting professional consequences, if not criminal.
This is the “four seasons total landscaping” of prosecutions. Except here, there will most certainly be lasting professional consequences, if not criminal.
November 20, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Good line. Comey case is the "four seasons total landscaping of prosecutions."
Govt "takes no position" on whether to unseal its inexplicably sealed original sentencing memo in case of Taylor Taranto, which had removed paragraphs describing the J6 "mob of rioters" & had referenced the role a Trump post played in one of Taranto's crimes. Judge orders memo unsealed.
November 19, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Govt "takes no position" on whether to unseal its inexplicably sealed original sentencing memo in case of Taylor Taranto, which had removed paragraphs describing the J6 "mob of rioters" & had referenced the role a Trump post played in one of Taranto's crimes. Judge orders memo unsealed.
thread:
Folks: Lindsey did not just cross out the no-billed charge, tho she epically fucked up the docketing in another way.
There are actually THREE versions of document:
The no-billed indictment as originally docketed. (The fucked no-bill.)
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
There are actually THREE versions of document:
The no-billed indictment as originally docketed. (The fucked no-bill.)
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
November 19, 2025 at 10:48 PM
thread:
From my notes—not a transcript, which doesn't exist yet—this was the exchange between Judge Nachmanoff & AUSA Lemons about the deputy AG telling him not to reveal if there was a declination memo in the Comey case. (A memo on why prosecutors weren't bringing charges.)
November 19, 2025 at 8:13 PM
From my notes—not a transcript, which doesn't exist yet—this was the exchange between Judge Nachmanoff & AUSA Lemons about the deputy AG telling him not to reveal if there was a declination memo in the Comey case. (A memo on why prosecutors weren't bringing charges.)
Judge Boasberg says he will proceed to fact-finding on whether to hold govt in contempt for sending people to El Salvador against his order on 3/15/25. Preliminarily wants to hear from whistleblower Erez Reuveni & DOJ's Drew Ensign. Will let parties advise how to proceed in writing by Monday.
November 19, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Judge Boasberg says he will proceed to fact-finding on whether to hold govt in contempt for sending people to El Salvador against his order on 3/15/25. Preliminarily wants to hear from whistleblower Erez Reuveni & DOJ's Drew Ensign. Will let parties advise how to proceed in writing by Monday.
At today's Comey hearing, Michael Dreeben argued: "This has to stop. ... A message needs to be sent to the Executive Branch. You cannot allow the president to take advantage of the authority of the EB to use as a cudgel to damage [and intimidate] political opponents."
November 19, 2025 at 6:54 PM
At today's Comey hearing, Michael Dreeben argued: "This has to stop. ... A message needs to be sent to the Executive Branch. You cannot allow the president to take advantage of the authority of the EB to use as a cudgel to damage [and intimidate] political opponents."