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Judge Amit P. Mehta (D.D.C.) on Wednesday stayed all proceedings in consolidated civil cases against President Trump for his conduct on Jan. 6, 2021, pending appellate review of the court’s denial of Trump’s motion to dismiss. Judge Mehta allowed one case to proceed but stayed discovery as to defendant President Trump. (Memorandum Opinion and Order.)
Several news outlets reported on Thursday that former national security advisor John Bolton has reached a deal with the Justice Department to plead guilty to unlawfully retaining classified information. (CNN.) (NYT.) (WSJ.) A notice filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland scheduled rearraignment in Bolton’s case for June 26 at 9:30 a.m. (Notice.) Andrew C. McCarthy discussed the reported plea deal. (National Review.)
President Trump said on Wednesday that he plans to nominate Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to a full term as the nation’s top law enforcement officer. (WaPo.) Ed Whelan argued that even if he is not confirmed, Blanche can run the Justice Department “indefinitely.” (National Review.)
A report released Thursday by a nonprofit consumer advocacy group found that more than half of publicly identifiable donors to President Trump’s ballroom project have won more than $50 billion in federal government contracts during the past six months. (WaPo.)
Senate Republicans voted early Friday morning to pass a $70 billion bill to fund immigration enforcement. The bill failed to include language to restrict President Trump’s Anti-Weaponization Fund. (NYT.)
Thomas Berry argued that President Trump’s appointment of William Pulte to serve as acting director of national intelligence illustrates flaws in the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998. (Lawfare.)
Pending Interim Order Applications Involving the U.S. Government in the Supreme Court
Blanche v. Perlmutter: The government filed an emergency application on October 27 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a district court interlocutory injunction that temporarily reinstated Shira Perlmutter to her role as Register of Copyrights while litigation over her removal continues. Chief Justice Roberts formally set a deadline of November 10 for a response to the application. Perlmutter submitted a response on November 10. Blanche submitted a reply on November 12. The Court deferred the application for stay on November 28 pending the Court’s decisions in Trump v. Slaughter and Trump v. Cook.
Trump v. Cook: The government filed an emergency application on September 18 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a preliminary injunction issued by a district court that blocked President Trump from removing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Cook filed an opposition to the request on the same day. The Chief Justice formally set a deadline of September 25 for a response to the application. Cook filed a response on September 25. On October 1, the Court deferred action on the stay application pending oral argument in January 2026 and established a supplemental briefing schedule. Additional amicus briefs were filed on October 29. Both sides filed supplemental briefs on November 19 and the Court heard oral argument on Jan. 21, 2026.
Mullin v. Doe: The government filed an application on February 26 requesting the Supreme Court stay pending appeal of a preliminary injunction issued by a district court preliminarily enjoining then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem from terminating temporary protected status designation for Syria. The government asked the Court to construe the application as a petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment and grant the petition. On March 16, the Court consolidated the case with a challenge to the Department of Homeland Security’s termination of Temporary Protected Status designations for Haiti and granted certiorari before judgment of the consolidated cases while deferring action on the government’s request for a stay. The Court heard oral argument on April 29, 2026.
Trump v. Miot: The government filed an application on March 11 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a lower court order postponing then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s decision to terminate temporary protected status designation for Haiti. The government also asked the Court to treat the application as a petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment and grant the petition. On March 16, the Court consolidated the case with Mullin v. Doe. The Court heard oral argument on April 29, 2026.