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US Department of Justice

The latest news and top stories on the US Department of Justice. A prominent Washington DC based federal executive department, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is dedicated to upholding the rule of law, keeping the United States safe and protecting civil rights. Its main areas of focus include enforcing federal laws, administering justice, investigating and prosecuting federal crimes, and overseeing key law enforcement agencies such as the FBI. Established in 1870, the DOJ is recognised as the world's largest law office, playing a crucial role in shaping the US legal landscape and combating threats including terrorism and financial crime.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia attends a rally in his honour at the ICE field office in Baltimore in August 2025. Photo: AP

United States

US judge tosses case against wrongly deported Salvadorean man Abrego Garcia

The indictment was ‘an abuse of prosecuting power’ against a man at the centre of a row over Trump’s migrant crackdown, the judge ruled.

23 May 2026 - 7:19AM

China-India relations

Rubio expected to brief New Delhi on Xi-Trump summit during India trip

23 May 2026 - 3:41AMvideocam

US-China relations

Two Chinese nationals charged in US drug cartel money-laundering case

23 May 2026 - 5:45AMvideocam

Britain

Queen pushed for ex-prince Andrew’s appointment as trade envoy

Emails released earlier this year suggest ‌that Mountbatten-Windsor, while serving ‌as trade envoy, forwarded reports to Jeffrey Epstein.

21 May 2026 - 7:35PMvideocam

Queen Elizabeth (left) and former prince Andrew at Westminster Abbey in London in 2022. Photo: AFP

US-China relations

Chinese national charged in alleged scheme to smuggle drug shipments to US

Arrest shows signs of growing cooperation between US and China authorities in wake of last week’s Trump-Xi summit in Beijing.

21 May 2026 - 7:28AMvideocam

Donald Trump

Ex-US prosecutor sent herself Trump probe report disguised as cake recipe

Carmen Lineberger is accused of emailing the report on the investigation of Trump’s hoarding of classified files to her personal account.

21 May 2026 - 8:25AM

United States

Republican who stood up to Trump defeated in US primary

Trump-backed Republican challenger Ed Gallrein ousts incumbent Thomas Massie in the most expensive House primary in history.

20 May 2026 - 12:24PM

Thomas Massie gives his concession speech. Photo: AFP

US-China relations

US charges 7 Chinese executives and 4 shipping firms linked to container cartel

The companies are accused of conspiring to restrict output and fix prices during the coronavirus pandemic.

20 May 2026 - 5:31AMvideocam

Donald Trump

US permanently drops tax claims against Trump in IRS lawsuit deal

The Internal Revenue Service will not pursue Trump, his family or companies for back taxes under a settlement agreement.

20 May 2026 - 2:55PM

China-Latin America relations

US plans to charge Raul Castro increases Trump administration’s pressure on Cuba

US Justice Department preparing to indict ageing Cuban leader on Wednesday over the shooting down of two aircraft three decades ago.

20 May 2026 - 4:03AMvideocam

Former Cuban president Raul Castro attends a May Day rally in Havana, Cuba, on May 1. Photo: Reuters

United States

ICE agent charged over shooting of Venezuelan immigrant in Minnesota

Minnesota county charges Christian Castro in a non-fatal shooting during Trump’s immigration crackdown.

19 May 2026 - 1:27PM

Protesters clash with ICE agents in Minneapolis in January. Photo: TNS

United States

US prosecutors drop fraud charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani

Adani, one of the world’s richest people, had been accused in 2024 of paying huge bribes to ensure the success of a solar project in India.

19 May 2026 - 9:07AM

United States

Editorial | US must ensure equal legal protection for all scholars, including Chinese

The wave of accusations by federal authorities appears to fit a pattern of official harassment unbecoming of a science powerhouse.

18 May 2026 - 7:15AM

Crime

Around 10 ‘new’ victims emerge in France’s expanding Epstein probe

Authorities target French perpetrators who facilitated the late American sex offender’s crimes.

18 May 2026 - 11:34AM

Jeffrey Epstein in an undated photo released by the late financier’s estate. Photo: House Oversight Committee via TNS

Americas and the Caribbean

10 Mexican government, justice officials indicted in US, will surrender

The defendants include a governor, a mayor and a secretary of public security for charges which include corruption, bribery and arms and drug smuggling.

16 May 2026 - 7:24PMvideocam

Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada, a leader and co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel (left), and Joaquín Guzmán, a son of cartel leader Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán after they were arrested by US authorities in Texas, on July 25 2024. Photo: TNS

India

Indian tycoon Adani agrees to pay US$6 million to settle SEC fraud case

Multiple agencies could soon drop charges against Asia’s richest person and resolve investigations into his company.

15 May 2026 - 3:58PM

US-China relations

US and China in ‘unprecedented’ cooperation against scam centres in Dubai

Nine fraud centres dismantled and 276 suspects arrested in joint operation between FBI, Chinese Ministry of Public Security and Dubai Police.

13 May 2026 - 3:00PMvideocam

United States

US Senate confirms Trump pick Kevin Warsh to Federal Reserve Board

The decision clears the way for Warsh to take over the role of Fed chair from Jerome Powell later this week.

13 May 2026 - 12:59AMvideocam

Kevin Warsh testifies before a Senate Banking Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in April. Photo: Reuters

Banking & finance

Trump’s pick for Fed chair says he’ll stay independent. Does he mean it?

Kevin Warsh said at a confirmation hearing he would not become the US president’s ‘human sock puppet’, but concerns over interference persist.

9 May 2026 - 9:07AMvideocam

United States

US nears US$400 million settlement with TikTok on child-privacy, report says

The money will be used to fund Trump’s ‘beautification’ projects in Washington, the report says.

9 May 2026 - 1:33PMvideocam

X (formerly Twitter)

French prosecutors open judicial investigation into Elon Musk and X

Move follows tech billionaire’s failure to attend an April summons over possible abuses on his social media network X.

8 May 2026 - 11:13AM

United States

FBI probing leaks behind Patel ‘excessive drinking’ article, report says

FBI spokesman denies ‘insider threat’ inquiry as Atlantic editor-in-chief issues as defiant statement.

7 May 2026 - 11:14AM

Donald Trump

Ex-FBI director Comey charged with threatening Trump’s life in Instagram post

The charges relate to a post by James Comey last year showing sea shells spelling out the numbers ‘86 47’.

29 Apr 2026 - 2:47PM

Britain

UK PM Starmer faces vote on possible probe over Mandelson

Starmer’s Labour Party has ‌a large majority in parliament and could vote down the launch of an inquiry.

27 Apr 2026 - 11:43PMvideocam

Donald Trump

US Justice Department cites shooting as need for Trump’s ballroom

Trump’s DOJ gives preservationists Monday deadline to drop White House ballroom suit after shooting at hotel event.

27 Apr 2026 - 10:56AMvideocam

Artist renderings of the new White House East Wing and ballroom. Photo: AP

United States

Trump Justice Department adds firing squads for federal executions

Electrocution and gas are also being added as methods, after the US president called for an expansion of the use of the death penalty.

25 Apr 2026 - 2:16AM

A firing squad chair (left) and an electric chair are seen in Columbia, South Carolina. The death penalty is normally carried out at the state level, but the federal government can also seek execution for certain crimes. Photo: South Carolina Department of Corrections via AP

United States

US drops criminal probe of Fed chair Powell, likely clearing way for Warsh

Judge James Boasberg, said prosecutors had produced ‘essentially zero evidence’ to suspect Powell of a crime.

24 Apr 2026 - 11:47PMvideocam

US-China relations

America offers US$4 million bounty for arrest of Chinese money launderer

Daren Li fled the US after admitting he conspired to launder funds obtained from victims in cryptocurrency scams and fraud in Southeast Asia.

24 Apr 2026 - 3:58PMvideocam

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US Department of Justice

US judge tosses case against wrongly deported Salvadorean man Abrego Garcia

The indictment was ‘an abuse of prosecuting power’ against a man at the centre of a row over Trump’s migrant crackdown, the judge ruled.

Rubio expected to brief New Delhi on Xi-Trump summit during India trip

Two Chinese nationals charged in US drug cartel money-laundering case

Queen pushed for ex-prince Andrew’s appointment as trade envoy

Emails released earlier this year suggest ‌that Mountbatten-Windsor, while serving ‌as trade envoy, forwarded reports to Jeffrey Epstein.

Chinese national charged in alleged scheme to smuggle drug shipments to US

Arrest shows signs of growing cooperation between US and China authorities in wake of last week’s Trump-Xi summit in Beijing.

Ex-US prosecutor sent herself Trump probe report disguised as cake recipe

Carmen Lineberger is accused of emailing the report on the investigation of Trump’s hoarding of classified files to her personal account.

Republican who stood up to Trump defeated in US primary

Trump-backed Republican challenger Ed Gallrein ousts incumbent Thomas Massie in the most expensive House primary in history.

US charges 7 Chinese executives and 4 shipping firms linked to container cartel

The companies are accused of conspiring to restrict output and fix prices during the coronavirus pandemic.

US permanently drops tax claims against Trump in IRS lawsuit deal

The Internal Revenue Service will not pursue Trump, his family or companies for back taxes under a settlement agreement.

US plans to charge Raul Castro increases Trump administration’s pressure on Cuba

US Justice Department preparing to indict ageing Cuban leader on Wednesday over the shooting down of two aircraft three decades ago.

ICE agent charged over shooting of Venezuelan immigrant in Minnesota

Minnesota county charges Christian Castro in a non-fatal shooting during Trump’s immigration crackdown.

US prosecutors drop fraud charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani

Adani, one of the world’s richest people, had been accused in 2024 of paying huge bribes to ensure the success of a solar project in India.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Editorial | US must ensure equal legal protection for all scholars, including Chinese

The wave of accusations by federal authorities appears to fit a pattern of official harassment unbecoming of a science powerhouse.

Around 10 ‘new’ victims emerge in France’s expanding Epstein probe

Authorities target French perpetrators who facilitated the late American sex offender’s crimes.

10 Mexican government, justice officials indicted in US, will surrender

The defendants include a governor, a mayor and a secretary of public security for charges which include corruption, bribery and arms and drug smuggling.

Indian tycoon Adani agrees to pay US$6 million to settle SEC fraud case

Multiple agencies could soon drop charges against Asia’s richest person and resolve investigations into his company.

US and China in ‘unprecedented’ cooperation against scam centres in Dubai

Nine fraud centres dismantled and 276 suspects arrested in joint operation between FBI, Chinese Ministry of Public Security and Dubai Police.

US Senate confirms Trump pick Kevin Warsh to Federal Reserve Board

The decision clears the way for Warsh to take over the role of Fed chair from Jerome Powell later this week.

Trump’s pick for Fed chair says he’ll stay independent. Does he mean it?

Kevin Warsh said at a confirmation hearing he would not become the US president’s ‘human sock puppet’, but concerns over interference persist.

US nears US$400 million settlement with TikTok on child-privacy, report says

The money will be used to fund Trump’s ‘beautification’ projects in Washington, the report says.

French prosecutors open judicial investigation into Elon Musk and X

Move follows tech billionaire’s failure to attend an April summons over possible abuses on his social media network X.

FBI probing leaks behind Patel ‘excessive drinking’ article, report says

FBI spokesman denies ‘insider threat’ inquiry as Atlantic editor-in-chief issues as defiant statement.

Ex-FBI director Comey charged with threatening Trump’s life in Instagram post

The charges relate to a post by James Comey last year showing sea shells spelling out the numbers ‘86 47’.

UK PM Starmer faces vote on possible probe over Mandelson

Starmer’s Labour Party has ‌a large majority in parliament and could vote down the launch of an inquiry.

US Justice Department cites shooting as need for Trump’s ballroom

Trump’s DOJ gives preservationists Monday deadline to drop White House ballroom suit after shooting at hotel event.

Trump Justice Department adds firing squads for federal executions

Electrocution and gas are also being added as methods, after the US president called for an expansion of the use of the death penalty.

US drops criminal probe of Fed chair Powell, likely clearing way for Warsh

Judge James Boasberg, said prosecutors had produced ‘essentially zero evidence’ to suspect Powell of a crime.

America offers US$4 million bounty for arrest of Chinese money launderer

Daren Li fled the US after admitting he conspired to launder funds obtained from victims in cryptocurrency scams and fraud in Southeast Asia.

Editorial | US must ensure equal legal protection for all scholars, including Chinese