Latest News
ABA’s Authority to Accredit Law Schools Jeopardized by Diversity and Inclusion Dispute
The American Bar Association’s accreditation of law schools is in serious jeopardy after the Trump administration took steps to remove its authority.
The ABA’s approval for the accreditations is being reviewed this month by the Education Department.
The ABA has overseen the accreditations since 1952. Without accreditation, law school graduates could be unable to become licensed attorneys.
The Trump administration accuses the ABA of being too liberal, particularly in its support of diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
In addition, Republican lawmakers sometimes criticize ABA decisions not to rate Trump administration judicial appointees as highly as Democratic-appointed judges.
Postal Service Moves Ahead With Mail-In Ballot Rules After Supreme Court Intervention
The Supreme Court last week lifted an injunction a federal judge placed on new U.S. Postal Service rules for mail-in ballots that comply with a presidential executive order.
The Supreme Court decision leaves unclear whether the new rules will be implemented in November’s midterm elections.
The Postal Service said in recent draft regulations that it would allow mail-in and absentee ballots only from persons on a list approved by the Department of Homeland Security.
A Massachusetts judge ruled that the restriction imposed by President Donald Trump exceeds his authority. The Supreme Court disagreed in an unsigned emergency order.
Further litigation is likely as a second federal court order prevents the Postal Service from carrying out some parts of the executive order.
Legal Group Accuses U.S. Attorneys in D.C. of Prosecuting “Perceived Political Enemies”
A watchdog group filed complaints last week that accuse U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and two of her prosecutors of violating legal ethics by trying to indict six congressional Democrats who urged military personnel to refuse unlawful orders.
The Legal Accountability Center says Pirro abused her authority by seeking politically motivated criminal charges "prejudicial to the administration of justice.”
The two senators and four House members released a video last November telling troops it would be unconstitutional for them to obey orders that violate military ethics.
They were referring to military ventures in Latin America and elsewhere ordered by President Donald Trump.
Trump accused them of sedition and said they should face the death penalty.
Legal Briefs
FBI Renews Sexual Abuse Investigation of Former Rep. Eric Swalwell
Federal agents appear to be closing in on former Rep. Eric Swalwell after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct.
The FBI recently searched his Washington, D.C., home and seized his cellphone and laptop.
Swalwell, D-Calif., resigned from Congress and suspended his campaign for California governor in April amid the allegations. Until then, he was the leading candidate for governor.
Swalwell, 45, denies the allegations but acknowledges previous "mistakes in judgment."
More allegations emerged recently from newly declassified FBI documents showing he had a relationship with suspected Chinese spy Christine Fang. The documents say Swalwell told FBI investigators in 2015 that he had “physical relations with Fang on a handful of occasions.”
He was cleared of any suspicions of breaching national security.
Women who made the more recent accusations have confirmed speaking with FBI investigators. Public court filings indicate the potential federal charges include whether Swalwell used his government position to deprive some persons of their constitutional rights.
One of the allegations comes from a former congressional staff member who said Swalwell sexually assaulted her during a 2024 trip to New York City when she was intoxicated and unable to consent.
A second allegation comes from California resident Lonna Drewes, who accuses Swalwell of raping her at a Southern California hotel in 2018. She said she believes Swalwell drugged her.
Other women allege inappropriate conduct, such as unsolicited explicit photos and messages.
D.C. in Brief
Washington Post Ordered to Rehire Columnist Who Criticized Charlie Kirk
An independent arbitrator late last month ordered The Washington Post to rehire a columnist who was fired after criticizing conservative activist Charlie Kirk one day after he was murdered.
Columnist Karen Attiah implied Kirk was racist and encouraged violence even while others were mourning his death by a gunman.
The Post fired her for what its management called a violation of its social media policy and "gross misconduct."
The arbitrator said the punishment for Attiah was too severe. She ordered the Post to give Attiah back pay and benefits.
Arbitrator Sarah Miller Espinosa said the firing of Attiah lacked sufficient cause and violated the newspaper’s collective bargaining agreement with its union.
Attiah was fired Sept. 11, 2025, one day after Kirk, the co-founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent conservative activist and podcaster, was shot and killed while speaking at Utah Valley University in Utah. He was 31.
In posts on Bluesky following the shooting, Attiah rejected what she described as public pressure to feel sorry for Kirk.
She criticized what she called “performative mourning” for white men who “espouse hatred and violence.”
The “violence” appears to refer to Kirk’s support of Second Amendment gun ownership rights.
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