Ryan Barber

Some background on Marc Elias’ beef with Big Law.
Before leaving Perkins Coie to hang his own shingle, Elias made his discomfort with corporate clients clear.
In 2021, he accused Toyota, a firm client, of undermining democracy with its political donations.
www.businessinsider.com/marc-elias-l...

Fear of Trump Has Elite Law Firms in Retreat Many big corporate law firms are declining to help with public criticism and legal opposition to the second Trump administration, in the wake of executive orders punishing law firms with Democratic ti...

“We have a lot of law firms that we’re going to be going after because they were very dishonest people,” Trump said in an interview that aired Sunday on Fox News.

www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...

The Forces That Flipped Trump From Crypto Critic to ‘Crypto President’ The president had called cryptocurrency a ‘scam’ but during his campaign last year he was persuaded of its value, especially as an investment for the Trump family.

“The new badge of honor in Silicon Valley is if the SEC has dropped your case.”

Crypto cashes in on the $Trump era.

www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

Trump Tightens Grip on FBI and Justice Department Kash Patel’s determination to keep in close contact with Trump is an arrangement outside the traditional chain of command.

Trump White House Tightens Grip on FBI and Justice Department

www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

Exclusive | Biden Commutations Angered His Own Justice Department The DOJ’s career pardon attorney told prosecutors that some of Biden’s moves to shorten sentences were “very upsetting.”

Now: Elizabeth Oyer, the Justice Department's pardon attorney, was fired today.
In a letter, Deputy AG Todd Blanche invoked Article II of the Constitution and said, "your employment with the Department of Justice is hereby terminated."
Earlier on Oyer 👇
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

Trump Speech Provides Opening for Lawyers Challenging Musk’s DOGE Authority President Trump touted Elon Musk’s leadership in his congressional address, while government lawyers tell judges that the tech mogul has no power.

“It’s so obvious Mr. Musk is enjoying significant authority that requires Senate confirmation,” said @normeisen.bsky.social . “The president’s comments last night just reaffirm that.”

www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...

And so the headaches begin for DOJ in its defense of DOGE ...
s3.documentcloud.org/documents/25...

Trump Designates Child as Secret Service Member in Touching Moment President Trump leaned into the theatrics of his speech and appeared to surprise a young guest who has struggled with brain cancer by making him a U.S. Secret Service agent. The boy–D.J. Daniel, a…

President Trump leaned into the theatrics of his speech and appeared to surprise a young guest who has struggled with brain cancer by making him a U.S. Secret Service agent.

Follow live updates.

“Headed by Elon Musk” could be a problematic line for DOJ in court.

RFK Jr. and His Allies Target Trump’s Beloved Soda Arkansas may be the first state to restrict Trump’s beloved beverage from food aid.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. calls it “poison.”
President Trump drinks multiple cans of it every day.
Welcome to the 2025 soda wars. 

www.wsj.com/health/rfk-j...

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HAMPTON DELLINGER in his personal capacity and in his official capacity as Special Counsel of the Office of Special Counsel, Plaintiff, Civil Action No. 25-0385 (ABJ) V. SCOTT BESSENT in his official capacity as Secretary of the Treasury, et al., Defendants. MEMORANDUM OPINION On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as Special Counsel of the US Office of Special Counsel is terminated, effective immediately. Thank you for your service[.] Ex. A to Compl. [Dkt. # 1-1] ("Ex. A").

CONCLUSION For all of the reasons set forth above, the Court will enter judgment in favor of plaintiff on Count One, and it will award the declaratory and injunctive relief set forth in the accompanying order. Amy BLack- AMY BERMAN JACKSON United/States District Judge DATE: March 1, 2025

BREAKING: Judge Amy Berman Jackson sides with Hampton Dellinger in his challenge to Donald Trump’s effort to fire him as head of the Office of Special Counsel. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

She was among the key Trump advisors moonlighting in the private sector with “special government employee,” or SGE, status.
Now, Katie Miller has stepped down from a Republican communications consulting firm.

Earlier, w/ Josh Dawsey and @klong.bsky.social

www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

Reported here that, between Election Day and Trump’s inauguration, about 20 lawyers had left a key Justice Department unit that defends the executive branch.
Roughly another 10 lawyers left in Trump’s first month in office. And even more have left DOJ in the past week.
www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...

A Russian state media reporter gained entry to the Oval Office for Trump-Zelensky sit-down | CNN Business A member of Russia’s state-owned news agency gained access to the Oval Office on Friday to cover President Trump’s sit-down with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky – even as the AP and Reuters wer...

A member of Russia’s state-owned news agency gained access to the Oval Office on Friday to cover President Trump’s sit-down with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky – even as the AP and Reuters were barred from the high-level meeting www.cnn.com/2025/02/28/m...

White House Staffer Who Worked for Private Clients Steps Down From Consulting Firm Katie Miller, as a “special government employee,” was allowed to work as a private consultant while serving in the White House. She stepped down from the consulting role after the Journal reported on ...

With deep ties to RFK, Katie Miller has touted herself as a proponent of the “Make America Healthy Again” movement.
She’s now stepping down from a consulting firm where she was advising processed food makers on how they could work with the MAHA movement.
www.wsj.com/politics/pol... w/ Josh Dawsey

DOJ Slip-Ups Show Challenges of Defending Trump’s Freewheeling Approach Judges have questioned whether the government’s legal arguments and factual presentations are accurate.

Frustration from a federal judge, again, over DOJ’s inability to answer questions in defense of Trump policies.

“We have about half the number the staff that we had at the beginning of November,” a DOJ lawyer said while defending DOGE today.

Earlier on the DOJ woes …
www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...

White House Staffer Who Moonlighted for Private Clients Steps Down From Consulting Firm Katie Miller, as a “special government employee,” was allowed to work as a private consultant while serving in the White House. She stepped down from the consulting role after the Journal reported on…

Katie Miller, a key adviser in the Trump White House, is taking a leave of absence from a private consulting job. WSJ previously reported she was simultaneously working at a top Republican consulting firm that was paying her to represent its clients.

The WSJ joint from Josh Dawsey & @cryanbarber.bsky.social www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

Read the sordid backstory of Barry Van Treese's 1997 murder--and why Richard Glossip's lawyers believe Justin Sneed really beat Mr. Van Treese to death with a baseball bat: www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...

The Trump Staffers Who Get Paid by Private Clients “Special government employees,” including many who drive policy, aren’t required to publicly disclose potential conflicts or give up outside work or investments.

They carry a three-letter designation that allows them to wear both hats: “SGE,” or special government employee.

Trump administration is using that status on a scale never before seen.

www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

Justice Department Says Jan. 6 Pardon Covers Some Other Crimes Prosecutors are siding with some defendants who argue the pardon absolves them of additional offenses, some discovered during investigations of the Capitol riot.

Nearly nine months after Jan. 6, FBI agents went to arrest Jeremy Brown and found two grenades, a sawed-off shotgun and a classified report in an RV.
DOJ now says Trump’s Jan. 6 pardon extends to Brown’s 7+ year prison sentence for unlawful possession of those items.
www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...

Jan. 6 Rioters Argue Pardons Apply to Charges Including Murder Plot, Child Porn Defendants are arguing that President Trump’s pardon for offenses related to the storming of the Capitol should also absolve them of other alleged crimes, some discovered during Jan. 6 investigations.

Weeks after Trump’s mass pardon, life is far from settled for a large contingent of January 6 defendants.
www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...

How Pet Parrots Started a War Inside an NYC Apartment Building How noise complaints in a Manhattan co-op led to a $750,000 legal settlement and shattered a friendship.

Today, the only pets allowed in the Rutherford are dogs, cats and fish.

“And they’ve got to be little fish. With their mouths sewn shut.”

www.nytimes.com/2025/02/16/b...

UnitedHealth officials are pointing to their CEO's murder as a reason they cannot comment on an unrelated @propublica.org investigation into the company's practice of strategically limiting access to critical treatment for kids with autism.

"We are in mourning," a spokesperson wrote.

“Any pardons ... will never erase what happened on January 6, which must never be forgotten.”

A bizarre case, this is.
Loftus received a relatively light sentence -- three years of probation -- after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge stemming from the Capitol attack.
Prosecutors say he now deserves prison time.
DOJ's full sentencing memo: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

Jan. 6 Rioter Tried to Join Russian Army to Fight Ukraine, Prosecutors Say Kevin Loftus told FBI agents he had planned to travel from Turkey to the Republic of Georgia to get a 90-day visa to Russia.

Back in court today: Jan. 6 defendant Kevin Loftus, who tried to travel to Russia to join in the country's offensive against Ukraine.
Prosecutors want Loftus to receive a six-month prison sentence for violating his probation by leaving north Texas without permission.
www.wsj.com/politics/nat...

Jan. 6 Defendants Cling to Trump’s Pardon Pledge as Prosecutions Roll On The president-elect’s pending return to the White House has left judges and prosecutors grappling with the prospect of him wiping away some cases.

Emboldened by Trump's election, Capitol rioters are banking on pardons — and taking defiant stands in court.
If Trump delivers pardons, “it would be a sad day for the [DOJ], plain and simple. And not just for the department, but for the overall pursuit of justice."
www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...

Trump Picks Kash Patel as FBI Director The president-elect is choosing a loyalist as he looks to force out the current leader, Christopher Wray.

In 2020, Trump advisors floated an FBI leadership shakeup that would’ve involved not only ousting Chris Wray but also installing Kash Patel in the No. 2 role, as the bureau’s deputy director. Four years later, Trump puts Patel in line to lead the FBI.

www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

JUST IN: Special counsel David Weiss files 10-count tax evasion/false statement indictment against Alexander Smirnov, already facing trial on charges of giving FBI fake info on Hunter Biden. Trial pushed to Jan. 8. Doc: www.documentcloud.org/documents/25... Earlier: www.politico.com/news/2024/02...