“Now we have, in an instance in which elected Democrats and Democratic candidates are testing whether the misconduct used to indict them came from the top.”

emptywheel@emptywheel.bsky.social · 4h ago

DOJ Invokes Trump v. US to Protect Todd Blanche's Fixer, Aakash Singh emptywheel.net/2026/08/05/d...

Your little oopsie "mistakes" had me worrying for a year of my life about my partner going to jail for up to a decade based on lies likely fed to you by the top of the federal government. Show everyone what you're covering up in these emails and texts. There's a reason you don't want them released.

Boutros acknowledges 'mistakes' in 'Broadview 6' case but says sanctions, special counsel aren't needed

Chicago's top federal prosecutor noted in a court filing that his office has already dropped charges in the case, implemented “robust root-cause changes” and started the process of reviewing over 1,00...

chicago.suntimes.com

From the government’s filing: “As the Supreme Court recently held, “[i]nvestigative and prosecutorial decisionmaking is ‘the special province of the Executive Branch,’ so even the “President may discuss potential investigations and prosecutions with his Attorney General and other (DOJ) officials.”

Jason Meisner@jmetr22b.bsky.social · 4h ago

NEW: U.S. attorney's office offers mea culpa in 'Broadview Six' case, says no further inquiry warranted “This case involved irregularities during a time of immense pressure, upheaval, and emotion in the district because of Operation Midway Blitz” Story here: www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/05/u...

“The rise in conspiracy charges has caused some legal experts to worry that the federal government is stretching the bounds of the law to sweep up political activists who oppose the Trump administration's deportation agenda.” Minnesota 15 Spokane 3 Broadview 6

Meg Anderson@meganders.bsky.social · yesterday

I reviewed court records from the last five years - and found a dramatic shift in how the Department of Justice is using a Civil War–era statute to bring conspiracy charges against people protesting ICE - so far against more than three dozen people in at least 10 cases. www.npr.org/2026/08/03/n...

“Americans should not be afraid to organize peaceful resistance in this moment. Those acts of ordinary people organizing and working together have been the most important force for justice in the history of our country." #Minnesota15 #Spokane3 #Broadview6

She protested ICE raids. Then agents showed up at her door

The Justice Department is using federal conspiracy charges to sweep up ICE protesters. Some legal experts worry the agency is casting too wide a net to prosecute political activists.

npr.org

Far too many journalists seem to be snookered by DOJ's motion to dismiss Davey Hearn's case. It included pictures showing THEY ALWAYS HAD EVIDENCE he didn't damage the pool, and misrepresented what a key witness reportedly said. emptywheel.net/2026/08/01/t...

The Flapping Holes in Jeanine Pirro's Davey Hearn Juicebox Jam - emptywheel

In Jeanine Pirro's motion to dismiss the case against Davey Hearn, she included photographic proof that they should never haved charged him.

emptywheel.net

Hopefully the judge in the pool case follows the Broadview 6 case in Chicago and asks for in camera review of the grand jury transcripts. Not gonna enough vodka in the world to wash that away, Jeanine.

Time for a public service announcement: Immigration judges are not like federal district judges. They are not nominated and then confirmed by the Senate to lifetime posts. They are attorneys, hired by the DOJ and subject to be firing at any time. And if they don't deny asylum often enough....

Two more Chicago immigration judges fired as court becomes epicenter of removal orders

Trump administration officials on Thursday fired two more judges at the Chicago Immigration Court, which has seen seismic changes since the president returned to office and recently become the nationa...

chicagotribune.com

Mind boggling to think of the harm caused by falsely arresting someone. The costs of all the FBI and prosecutors and judicial hours spent on a phony case. The costs of the National Guard sent to 'protect the pool from vandals.' All to disguise the millions Trump wasted on his no-bid contract.

Charges Dropped Against Ex-Olympian David Hearn Accused of Damaging Reflecting Pool

A former Olympian will not face trial after federal prosecutors acknowledged that the Trump administration’s claims of vandalism were false.

nytimes.com

How long before Trump fires Pirro for saying that vandals didn’t cause the reflecting pool damage?

See Chicago's Broadview Six case for more DOJ lies and Grand Jury tampering

Allison Gill@muellershewrote.com · 5d ago

I hope the judge in the Davey Hearn case still asks for the Grand Jury transcripts. I’m pretty sure Pirro wanted to dismiss this case before she had to hand those over.

In 2025, CPD officers used the highest level of force against a member of the public 47 times, according to the report. Approximately 65% involved Black Chicagoans, records show. Less than 30% of the city’s population is Black.

WTTW - Chicago PBS@wttw.bsky.social · 5d ago

That missed deadline comes as CPD officials acknowledged, again, that the number of times officers used force against members of the public “continues to trend upward,” according to the report. https://to.wttw.com/3Tzx7za

Today, the Legislative Ethics Commission published its findings in the matter of former Rep. Harry Benton. My statement on that case and the questions about the Speaker’s handling of the victims’ stories.

@ilrepcassidy.bsky.social · 5d ago

CHICAGO, Ill. – Rep. Kelly Cassidy issued the following statement in response to the release of the Legislative Inspector General’s report.

It’s encouraging to see this coalition forming to hold ICE accountable by making “interventions into a system that is designed to harm families with a rogue agency that is out of control.”

Can States Come Together To Hold ICE Agents Accountable? Illinois Joins Others To Try

The effort by lawmakers from Illinois, Minnesota, Colorado and other states aims to use local laws to allow people to file civil lawsuits and seek compensation for damages.

blockclubchicago.org

At the Vic Theatre. Lolla after show that’s actually a pre. Smut is opening for Wet Leg. It all makes sense.

“The famine is over! The curse be damned!! Hit the nuclear button! Mayo have won the All-Ireland!!” An all-time great sports commentary moment from Stephen Grealis and Martin McHugh on Mayo’s Midwest Radio. #gaa

Delighted for Mayo. Everyone in Ireland knows what it means to them. Massive.

"Well, Michael Jordan's a friend of mine, play golf with him. He's a really good guy," Trump replied. "I only like people who like me. So I would say Michael Jordan all the way." Sorry Chicago friends - I’ve always considered LeBron the greatest. And happy to have Trump NOT on my side.

President Trump Weighs In On Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James Debate

The president of the United States has offered his thoughts on the LeBron James-Michael Jordan debate.

thespun.com

Well deserved! “The reporting is especially strong in showing the gap between official federal narratives and verifiable evidence from body-camera footage, ICE arrest records and court findings.”

Block Club Wins National Investigative Award For Midway Blitz Coverage

The Sigma Delta Chi Award from the Society of Professional Journalists recognized our project, "Chicago Under Siege," calling it "urgent, highly sophisticated accountability journalism."

blockclubchicago.org

The biggest loser of the World Cup was Donald Trump! A great five-minute read!! @deanobeidallah.bsky.social 💙

The biggest loser of the World Cup was Donald Trump!

Booed and ridiculed again!

open.substack.com

Madigan is gone but the culture remains. “Delays in delivering accountability only protects misconduct. The Benton report should be released, and anyone who failed to uphold their responsibility must be held accountable. The culture has not changed and must change; public trust depends on it.”

Pritzker says Illinois ethics panel should release Harry Benton harassment report amid Welch office scrutiny

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s call for the report’s release came as the Illinois House Democratic majority, particularly women within the caucus, deliberated details revealed in a Tribune investigation ...

chicagotribune.com

Spain edited Trump out of its celebratory photo.

When we have fires in the US, Canada sent help. When Canada has fires, Trump threatens them with tariffs. What an asshole.

MeidasTouch@meidastouch.com · 3w ago

Trump says he is going to increase tariffs on Canada due to the wildfires

This is very troubling. These allegations indicate severe harm was inflicted amidst an unacceptable work environment…harassment and discrimination demands swift action.

Capitol Fax@capitolfax.bsky.social · 3w ago

Report: Speaker Welch’s office knew of harassment claims against Rep. Benton years ago

“ICE agents are violently raging, unchecked across the country, and the administration is making no secret of the fact that it is going to keep killing people unless they bow down and agree to let ICE kidnap and murder people with impunity.“

The depressing sameness of ICE murders

They're killing people with impunity and lying to our faces about it.

open.substack.com

Delay tactics like this are from the the time tested playbook & legal strategy by used Trump and Blanche. Justice delayed is justice denied.

Jon Seidel@jonseidel.bsky.social · 3w ago

Federal prosecutors in Chicago are again asking for more time to respond to a request from members of the "Broadview Six" for a special counsel to investigate U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros and others. If granted, this likely pushes Judge April Perry's ruling into mid-August.

Follow the money: “Giannoulias’ major donations have included $500,000 from Liz Lefkofsky, wife of Eric Lefkofsky, the billionaire founder and CEO of Tempus AI and co-founder of Groupon; $1 million from the company and family of billionaire real estate and casino magnate Neil Bluhm.”

With mayoral race looming, Mayor Johnson falls further behind Giannoulias in fundraising

The latest fundraising reports filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections show the first-term mayor raised $109,000 and spent $290,000 in the second quarter of 2026.

chicago.suntimes.com

"A low risk assessment score signals that a judge should release a person, and yet, of the 30.5% of the people with a low score, judges detained or subjected 80.4% of these people to electronic monitoring."

Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice@endmoneybond.bsky.social · 3w ago

In Spring 2025, we trained more than 50 community members to observe & document detention hearings in Cook County for a one-month period. Today, we're releasing our findings in our new report "Changing Landscapes". Learn more & read the report here: endmoneybond.org/community-co...

“Illinois made the right decision by ending money bail, but two years after implementation it is clear that court stakeholders need to do more to ensure that our communities are fully benefiting from this historic civil rights legislation.”

Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice@endmoneybond.bsky.social · 3w ago

In Spring 2025, we trained more than 50 community members to observe & document detention hearings in Cook County for a one-month period. Today, we're releasing our findings in our new report "Changing Landscapes". Learn more & read the report here: endmoneybond.org/community-co...

Trump gives ICE the green light to continue murdering people in the streets. Abolish ICE, protect communities.

Trump reverses suspension of ICE traffic stops after fatal shootings

U.S. President ​Donald Trump directed federal immigration agents on Wednesday to resume traffic stops as an arrest tactic, overruling top administration officials after agents fatally shot two drivers...

reuters.com