Gowdy puts Comey on blast after FBI ex-chief's snarky 'search for the truth' tweet
Twitter snark by former FBI Director James B. Comey toward Rep. Trey Gowdy did not go unnoticed on Thursday.
Law Enforcement & Intelligence
The latest coverage of the law enforcement community and all aspects of the U.S. intelligence.
Trump legal team makes case to prosecute Comey, others for lying after Cohen guilty plea
By Rowan Scarborough - The Washington Times
Former and current members of President Trump's legal team have compiled research to make the case that former FBI Director James B. Comey misled Congress in his testimony and is not a reliable witness for special counsel Robert Mueller. Published December 2, 2018
Recent Stories
Maria Butina pleads guilty, says she conspired to infiltrate U.S. political groups
Russian operative Maria Butina pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiring to infiltrate conservative U.S. political groups with the goal of advancing Russian interests.
Strzok, Page messages from Mueller probe lost after phone resets: IG
Investigators weren't able to find any text messages between fired agent Peter Strzok and former bureau lawyer Lisa Page from their time on special counsel Robert Mueller's probe because by the time their phones were recovered, they'd been reset for others' use, an inspector general said Thursday.
Aide to former GOP Rep. Steve Stockman sentenced to 18 months for role in illegal donation scheme
A federal judge in Houston on Wednesday sentenced a former GOP congressional aide to 18 months in prison for helping former Rep. Steve Stockman defraud wealthy campaign donors out of more than $1.25 million by creating phony charities.
Incompetency claim rejected for man charged in decapitation
A jury has rejected a mental incompetence claim from a man accused of shooting and decapitating his grandmother and her husband at an in-home day care in Oklahoma City.
Mike Pompeo: Jamal Khashoggi's murder was 'heinous,' but Saudi Arabia is 'important'
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday defended the administration's response to the slaying of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and refused to comment on whether or not the intelligence community found Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman responsible.
Michael Flynn requests probation and community service, no jail time
Michael Flynn, President Donald Trump's first national security adviser, is asking for probation and community service in his false statements case stemming from the special counsel's Russia investigation.
Sen. Tom Cotton says prison-reform bill shouldn't allow early release for felons
A key Republican opponent of a prison-reform bill backed by President Trump said Tuesday that supporters of the measure should kill provisions allowing certain federal inmates out of prison before they complete their sentences.
Jury recommends life plus 419 years in prison for James Fields, man who rammed crowd with car
A jury recommended life plus 419 years on Tuesday for a man convicted of killing a woman and injuring dozens when he drove his car into counterprotesters at a white nationalist rally in Virginia.
Robert Mueller skewing facts to fit 'predetermined theory,' Jerome Corsi says
Jerome Corsi accused the special counsel's team of having a "predetermined theory" about alleged Russian collusion and skewing the investigation to fit it.
Damon Joseph of Ohio accused of plotting large-scale attack at synagogue
Federal authorities said Monday they have charged two people involved in planning separate large-scale attacks -- one who wanted to carry out a shooting at a synagogue and another who had been plotting to attack a bar and blow up a pipeline.
Maria Butina requests to change plea, appears to have reached deal
Alleged Russian agent Maria Butina submitted documents Monday to change her plea in court, as it appears her lawyers have reached a plea deal.
James Comey: Trump is 'close' to being an unindicted co-conspirator
Former FBI Director James B. Comey said Sunday that President Trump is "close" to being considered an unindicted co-conspirator to Michael Cohen's campaign finance violations.
Comey testifies that he knew little about anti-Trump dossier, Steele
Former FBI Director James B. Comey testified that he knew little about the Democratic Party-financed dossier on which his agents relied to obtain wiretaps on a Trump campaign volunteer and target other Republicans in an ongoing 28-month investigation.
William Barr's path to becoming attorney general again likely tougher this time
The last time William P. Barr faced the Senate for confirmation to be attorney general in 1991 he was so noncontroversial that he was approved on a voice vote, with no less than then-Sens. Joseph R. Biden and Edward M. Kennedy backing him.
Trump renews call for cop killers to get death penalty
President Trump on Friday renewed his call for individuals convicted of killing police officers to receive the death penalty.
Trump tears into Mueller probe, accusing almost everyone involved of rampant conflicts of interests
President Trump tore into special counsel Robert Mueller and former FBI Director James B. Comey Friday morning, demanding that the Russia probe disclose any possible conflict of interests.
James Comey set for closed-door interview with House Republicans
House Republicans are preparing to interview James B. Comey behind closed doors Friday, hauling the former FBI director to Capitol Hill one final time before they cede power to Democrats in January.
Former AG William Barr seen as favorite to become next attorney general: Report
Former Attorney General William P. Barr may soon have his old job back, according to a report Thursday.
Cohen's public denials suggest he's no help to Mueller on Russia collusion
Before and after former Trump attorney Michael Cohen became the target of federal prosecutors, he categorically denied that he had witnessed or taken part in Russian election interference.
Border Patrol agent charged with capital murder
A U.S. Border Patrol agent who confessed to shooting four women in the head and leaving their bodies on rural Texas roadsides has been indicted on a capital murder charge, a prosecutor said Wednesday.
Rand Paul warns political killings will continue in Saudi Arabia if no consequences for Khashoggi
Sen. Rand Paul warned that Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi would only be the first political slaying in Saudi Arabia if the U.S. does not take action over his brutal assassination.
Sen. Marco Rubio: Saudi crown prince will 'pull us into a war one day'
Sen. Marco Rubio said Wednesday the U.S. knows more than enough to be sure that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was tied to the slaying of journalist Jamal Khashoggi -- and warned that the Saudi royal will continue to drag America into trouble.
Father IDs body of Florida woman slain in Costa Rica
Investigators say a body found near an Airbnb rental in Costa Rica has been identified as that of Carla Stefaniak of Florida.
Robert Mueller calls Michael Flynn cooperation 'substantial,' recommends no jail time
Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn has provided "substantial assistance," according to court filings Tuesday. As a result of his assistance, special counsel Robert Mueller asked that Flynn serve no jail time for pleading guilty to making false statements to the FBI.
Roger Stone pleads Fifth, won't give testimony or documents to Senate Judiciary Committee
Longtime GOP political operative Roger Stone is resisting Senate Democrats' request for documents and testimony, citing his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, his attorney said in a letter released Tuesday.
Roger Stone denies Trump committed witness tampering by praising his 'guts'
President Trump's former campaign adviser Roger Stone on Tuesday denied that Mr. Trump committed witness tampering a day before by publicly praising his unwillingness to testify against him.
Sen. Lindsey Graham: 'Smoking saw' ties Saudi crown prince to Khashoggi killing
Senators emerged from a closed-door briefing with the CIA director Tuesday to say there's no doubt Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was deeply involved in the killing of journalist Kamal Khashoggi -- but still not clear on what steps Congress can take to punish him.
2 Metro workers arrested on fraud charges in 'timekeeping scheme,' official says
Metro's Office of Inspector General has accused a D.C.-area man and woman of a "fraudulent timekeeping scheme" involving their employment at Metro and Amtrak.
CIA Director Gina Haspel to brief Senate leaders on Khashoggi's slaying
CIA Director Gina Haspel is headed to Capitol Hill to brief Senate leaders Tuesday on the slaying of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi as senators weigh their next steps in possibly punishing the longtime Middle East ally over the killing.
George Conway accuses Trump of witness tampering
George Conway, husband to Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway, accused President Trump Monday of violating witness tampering laws.
Teen charged in MS-13 killing had avoided deportation
A Massachusetts man facing charges in the killing of a 17-year-old boy was allowed to remain in the country despite being listed as an MS-13 member on Boston Police's gang database.
FBI database to track deadly encounters with police
The federal government is launching a national database that will track when law enforcement officers use deadly force, providing more transparency about police shootings that have inflamed tensions in cities around the country.
Sen. Richard Burr on Cohen plea: 'If you lie to us, we're going to go after you'
A day after President Trump's former personal attorney Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to lying to Congress, the head of the Senate Intelligence Committee warned that anyone else who lies to lawmakers will face a similar fate, and he said that the committee has worked with special prosecutor Robert Mueller and has made multiple referrals for criminal prosecutions.
Manafort sentencing set for March 5 as prosecutors weigh additional charges
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., on Friday set a tentative sentencing date of March 5 for Paul Manafort as prosecutors with special counsel Robert Mueller's team indicated they may pursue more charges against the one-time chairman of President Trump's campaign.
Maria Butina denied release from solitary, prompting plea from Moscow in alleged Russian agent case
Russia's commissioner for human rights asked the United States on Thursday to show mercy for jailed gun-rights advocate Maria Butina and release her from solitary confinement.
Schumer says after Cohen plea, Congress must protect Mueller probe
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer said Thursday that the guilty plea by former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen should be the final straw that pushes Congress to vote on legislation to protect the special counsel probe from being ended.
Trump: Cohen a 'liar' and 'weak person,' asserts he could do business as a candidate
President Trump denied his longtime former lawyer's claim Thursday that he pursued a real estate deal in Moscow in the midst of the 2016 presidential campaign, at a time when Russian operatives were meddling to try to influence the election in his favor.
Manafort denies meeting Assange, as passports' stamps don't match accusations
Paul Manafort's three passports show two visits to England in 2010 and 2012, aiding his denial of a Guardian newspaper story that claimed he met secretly with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in 2013, 2015 and 2016 in London.
Michael Cohen pleads guilty to lying to Congress
President Trump's longtime "fixer" Michael Cohen pleaded guilty Thursday to charges of lying to Congress and now says the president's business empire was pursuing a deal with Russia even during the heart of the 2016 presidential campaign as that country was trying to interfere in the election.
Trump threatens to release 'devastating' Russia probe documents if Democrats launch investigations
President Trump essentially dared Democrats on Wednesday to investigate him when they retake the House in January and threatened to release "devastating" Justice department documents in retaliation.
Mueller team looking into phone calls between Roger Stone and Trump: Report
Phone calls between President Trump and his associate Roger Stone are drawing attention from special counsel Robert Mueller, as the focus of the Russia probe narrows in on WikiLeaks, The Washington Post reported Wednesday night.
Trump lawyers sharing information with attorneys for conspiracy theorist Jerome Corsi
President Trump's legal team has a mutual defense agreement in place with attorneys representing Jerome Corsi, a conspiracy theorist caught up in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into the 2016 election, Mr. Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani said Wednesday.
Donald Trump says pardon for Paul Manafort 'not off the table'
President Trump said Wednesday a pardon for former campaign chairman Paul Manafort is "not off the table," while a report surfaced that Mr. Trump told special counsel Robert Mueller he wasn't aware of a 2016 Trump Tower meeting between a Russian lawyer and members of his campaign.
Mueller protection bill falls short in Senate
A group of senators failed Wednesday to secure a vote for their bill to protect special counsel Robert Mueller from being fired by President Trump, marking the latest stumble for their efforts to sideline the White House.
Justice Department indicts two Iranian nationals in ransomware scam
The Justice Department unsealed charges Wednesday against two Iranian nationals who are accused of using sophisticated ransomware to extort more than $6 million from cities, hospitals, universities and government agencies, among others.
Robert Mueller focused on tip about WikiLeaks plans, document shows
Special counsel Robert Mueller's team believes a conservative author and conspiracy theorist tipped off Donald Trump's confidant Roger Stone months before WikiLeaks released thousands of emails stolen from Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman, according to a document newly made public.
10 gang members charged in Los Angeles celebrity burglaries
Court documents show 10 alleged gang members face felony charges in connection with a series of burglaries that targeted the Los Angeles homes of celebrities including Rihanna, Dodgers star Yasiel Puig and Rams wide receiver Robert Woods.
Senate Republicans divided on changes to Trump-backed prison reform bill
Pressure is building on Senate Republican leaders to approve major reductions to federal criminal sentences before the end of the year, though some key lawmakers in the party say they are not eager to reward criminals with less prison time.
Maria Butina, alleged Russian agent, asks U.S. court to intervene over 'arbitrary' punishment
Attorneys for alleged Russian agent Maria Butina claim their client has been inexplicably placed in solitary confinement following a recent breakthrough in negotiations between defense lawyers and the U.S. Department of Justice.
James Comey revives demand to publicly testify before Congress
Former FBI Director James B. Comey repeated his request to testify publicly before Congress in a Tuesday interview with a Boston public radio station.
Manafort, Assange held secret talks in Ecuadorean Embassy: Report
Paul Manafort and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange held private discussions inside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, including during the time Mr. Manafort was a member of then-candidate Donald Trump's presidential campaign, according to a report Tuesday.
Pressure mounting on Mitch McConnell to hold vote on prison reform
The American Civil Liberties Union is airing an advertisement in Kentucky this week to pressure Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to hold a vote on criminal-justice reform backed by President Trump.
Parkland teachers protest reassignment of administrators
More than 50 teachers chanted "bring them back" outside Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Tuesday morning, demanding the return of four administrators who were reassigned after a state commission's investigation of the shooting that killed 17 people on Valentine's Day.
Few charged despite thousands of active FBI terrorism investigations
The FBI says it has thousands of active terrorism investigations, but few are resulting in criminal charges.
Robert Mueller accuses Paul Manafort of breaking plea agreement by lying
The special counsel in the Russia investigation is accusing former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort of violating his plea agreement by repeatedly lying to federal investigators, an extraordinary allegation that could expose him to a lengthier prison sentence -- and potentially more criminal charges.
Judge to hear arguments on plea change by Chicago terror suspect
The six-year-old case of a suburban Chicago man accused of trying to detonate what he believed was a bomb in Chicago may be nearing a resolution.
Adam Schiff embraced Steele's anti-Trump conspiracies, plans to expand probe as intel chair
Democrats taking over the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and its Russia-Trump probe have stayed doggedly loyal to the Hillary Clinton-financed dossier that Republicans say is a hoax.
British intel faulted for ignoring red flags prior to bombing at Ariana Grande concert
British officials investigating the suicide bombing that killed 22 people attending an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena last year have found multiple failures on the part of U.K. intelligence that could have potentially prevented the deadly terrorist attack from happening.
House Judiciary Committee subpoenas Loretta Lynch and James Comey
House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte issued subpoenas for former FBI Director James B. Comey and former Attorney General Loretta Lynch late Wednesday, demanding both answer questions about the Department of Justice's actions during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Recent Opinion Columns
Back to the Constitution
The retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy from the U.S. Supreme Court is about to bring a 60-year battle to a head.
Mr. Justice Kennedy, exit left
Justice Anthony Kennedy finally announced his long-awaited and highly anticipated exit from the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday, enabling President Trump to appoint a steady conservative successor. The High Court is stuck, like a needle on an old phonograph record, with a succession of 5 to 4 decisions reflecting the deep and unbridgeable division of the nine justices.
Gina Haspel confirmed
In the end, the resistance didn't work. Despite much hemming and hawing, the nomination of Gina Haspel to be the director of the Central Intelligence Agency passed the Senate this week. The vote was 54 to 45, with six Democrats supporting her. Two of those Democrats are members of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Mark Warner of Virginia and Joe Manchin of West Virginia. Their support sealed the success of the nomination earlier in the week.
How the Russian collusion myth was hatched by Team Hillary immediately after her loss
The Russian Collusion mythology is the most dominant story in the news media and has been for the past eighteen months... dating back to November 7, 2016. And when one examines the contemporaneous reporting by Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes in their excellent book Shattered: Inside Hillary Clinton's Doomed Campaign.
A black-robed counterrevolution
Federal judges sit on the bench for life and can either uphold the law or rule like tyrants. This puts judicial appointments right near the top of the most important things a president can do.
The deceitful road to abortion
After Roe v. Wade plaintiff Norma McCorvey became a Christian and revealed that she had not been gang raped as her legal team had claimed, many Americans came to understand that this landmark ruling that legalized abortion was based on a lie.
From The Vault
Christian baker vindicated by SCOTUS back in court for not baking a gender transitioning cake
Jack Phillips, the Christian baker who fought in the Supreme Court to preserve his right to refuse to make cakes for same-sex weddings, says he is now the target of harassment by Colorado and some of its more mischievous residents, who have made a crusade out of trying to force him to bake cakes offensive to him.
Carter Page: FBI warrant claims 'so ridiculous'
Carter Page, a former Trump campaign adviser, said the warrant FBI agents used to snoop on him is "so ridiculous" and "misleading" and that he never acted as a Russian agent.
Trump and Schiff agree: Obama should have done more to stop the Russians
President Trump is pointing to the indictment of 13 Russians and three companies for interfering in the 2016 election as vindication for his campaign after it has faced accusations of collusion for more than a year.
House GOP releases memo detailing FBI surveillance abuses against Trump campaign
Republicans released a long-awaited memo Friday detailing government surveillance abuses, showing that the FBI would not have obtained a surveillance warrant for the Trump campaign without using information from a dubious partisan dossier.
U.S. Postal Service unwittingly smuggles Chinese opioids to American addicts
Purchasing opioids from China requires little more than a Google search, a credit card and a mailbox, senators said Thursday in a report that accuses the U.S. postal system of failing to "recognize and prepare for" a tide of packages containing deadly fentanyl.
Major U.S. cities report drop in homicides amid concerns of crime wave
Major U.S. cities reported 4.4 percent fewer homicides so far this year, the Brennan Center for Justice says in a new report being released Wednesday that appears to belie fears of a national crime wave.
Questions remain about police response to Las Vegas massacre
A revised chronology given by investigators for the Las Vegas massacre is intensifying pressure for police to explain how quickly they responded to what would become the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.
Harvey Weinstein accused of raping three women: Report
Three women have accused Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein of rape, according to a bombshell report released Tuesday by The New Yorker.
Comey drafted announcement closing Hillary Clinton probe before key witnesses interviewed: Senators
Two Republican senators say they've reviewed evidence that indicates former FBI Director James B. Comey began drafting a statement to announce the closure of the bureau's investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server months before key witnesses, including the former Democratic presidential candidate, were interviewed.
FBI raids home of former Trump campaign chairman Manafort
The FBI executed a search warrant and raided the home of Paul Manafort, the former campaign chairman for President Trump, his spokesman confirmed Wednesday.
Senate confirms Christopher Wray as FBI director in 92-5 vote
The Senate voted 92-5 Tuesday to approve Christopher Wray as President Trump's nominee to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with lawmakers confident he can independently lead the bureau and shield its investigations from political interference.
Trump honors officers who stopped gunman attack on GOP lawmakers
President Trump on Thursday presented the Medal of Valor to five first responders who took on the gunman that opened fire on Republican lawmakers at a baseball practice last month.
FBI relies on discredited dossier in Russia investigation
The FBI is routinely asking witnesses in its Russia investigation about the accusations in a dossier against Donald Trump, further expanding the reach of a discredited opposition research paper sourced from the Kremlin and financed and distributed by Democrats.
Trump tweets about obstruction of justice reports, claims 'zero evidence' of collusion
President Trump tweeted Thursday that since there's no evidence of collusion in the Russia case yet, investigators are trying to "go for" obstruction of justice.
Capitol Police heroes used guns to prevent massacre on ballfield
The rifle shots came from the fence over the third base line, shattering the June morning, wounding one congressman and several staffers, and terrifying the two dozen lawmakers and staffers who were also on the field.
