Department Of Justice
Former MoviePass Executives Knew Their Unlimited Plan Was Losing Money But Lied To Defraud Investors, Prosecutors Said
Prosecutors say that Farnsworth and Lowe were aware that MoviePass's $9.95-per-month unlimited offer was a "temporary marketing gimmick to grow new subscribers."
Michael Flynn’s Identity Was Not Improperly Revealed By Obama Officials, A Secret DOJ Report Has Found
The 52-page document was obtained by BuzzFeed News in response to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit.
Snake Oil Medicine And Fake Vax Cards Are Among $149 Million In Alleged COVID Fraud
“Until I get caught and go to jail, fuck it. I’m taking the money,” one accused fraudster allegedly told an undercover agent.
The Stakes Are High As The Michigan Kidnapping Trial Begins And The Government Is Leaving Nothing To Chance
The four defendants in the case claim entrapment and potentially face life in prison if convicted.
The NFTs They Bought From The Crypto Rapper Disappeared. Now They Want A Refund.
In the aftermath of the DOJ’s announcement of a $4.5 billion crypto laundering scheme, NFT owners want OpenSea to stop treating their goods like evidence of a crime.
A Second Defendant In The Alleged Plot To Kidnap Michigan's Governor Has Flipped
Kaleb Franks has agreed to plead guilty to kidnapping conspiracy and to testify that there was no FBI entrapment in the case.
Black Officers Have Tried To Sound The Alarm On The Police Department Overseeing Lauren Smith-Fields' Case For Years
The Lauren Smith-Fields case is just the latest in a string of troubling incidents for the department.
The Controversial Informant At The Heart Of The Michigan Kidnapping Case Just Got Very Good News
Defense attorneys had worried that a gun possession charge might cause Stephen Robeson to plead the Fifth in the trial of the men accused of plotting to kidnap Michigan’s governor.
A Judge Has Sharply Limited What Accused Michigan Kidnap Plotters Can Say In Their Defense
Defendants won’t be able to ask Jayson Chambers about his security firm, Exeintel, and they can’t ask his partner, Henrik Impola, about perjury allegations.
Oath Keepers Founder Stewart Rhodes Has Been Ordered To Stay In Jail Until Trial For Seditious Conspiracy
The extremist group leader has shown a “propensity towards violence,” a federal magistrate said in making the decision.
The Men Accused Of Plotting To Kidnap Michigan’s Governor Have Lost Their Bid To Avoid Trial
The accused say they were entrapped, but a judge warned them that will be a high legal bar to clear.
The FBI Knew Exactly What Its “Double Agent” Was Doing, Says A Defendant In The Michigan Kidnapping Case
Prosecutors say the informant’s statements should be barred from court, but defense attorneys have other ideas.
The Government Says A Key Informant In The Michigan Kidnapping Case Was A “Double Agent”
The claim is the latest complication in a high-profile case that once seemed like a slam dunk.
An Informant In The Michigan Kidnapping Case Has Been Charged With Fraud
Even while he was assisting the FBI, Stephen Robeson allegedly used a fake charity to defraud a Wisconsin couple out of an SUV.
Top Justice Department Officials Were Told There Were “No Credible Threats” Hours Before The Capitol Riot
Other emails obtained by BuzzFeed News show how the DOJ strategized about public messaging leading up to Jan. 6.
100 Capitol Rioters Have Pleaded Guilty. Here’s What Their Cases Show About The Jan. 6 Investigation.
Guilty pleas are stacking up. Here’s what rioters are admitting to, and what they and the government are getting out of these deals.
A Judge Asked Why Texas Didn’t Enforce Its Own Abortion Ban If It’s “Confident” The Law Is Constitutional
The Justice Department is asking a judge to block Texas’s SB 8, which deputizes private individuals to sue to enforce a six-week abortion ban.
The Department Of Justice Is Suing Texas Over The State's 6-Week Abortion Ban
SB 8, which has effectively stopped most abortions in Texas, took effect after the Supreme Court refused to step in this month.
The Justice Department Won’t Agree To Defend Rep. Mo Brooks Against Claims He Incited The Jan. 6 Riots
The DOJ concluded the Alabama Republican was engaging in campaign activity at a Jan. 6 rally and that’s not the US government’s business.
This Former Marine Is Facing Jail Time For A Fake Kidnapping Gone Wrong In A North Korean Embassy
Christopher Ahn believed he could soothe the fears of defectors fleeing the horrors of the Kim regime. He found himself in the crosshairs of international law enforcement.
Roger Stone Got A Pardon From Trump, But Now The Feds Are Suing Him For $2 Million In Unpaid Taxes
Prosecutors also accused Stone and his wife of putting more than $1 million into corporate accounts to finance a “lavish lifestyle” and avoid paying their tax debt.
A Judge Released A Man Charged With Assaulting A Cop During The Capitol Riots, Saying The Government Messed Up Its Case
Chief Judge Beryl Howell said she likely would have kept alleged Capitol rioter Clayton Mullins behind bars, but the government’s arguments left her hands “tied.”
The Woman Accused Of Stealing Pelosi’s Laptop Says She Doesn’t Have It
Riley June Williams’ lawyer says the allegations against her are all lies told by a vengeful ex.
Listen: Caroline Giuliani On Claudia Conway, Voting For Joe Biden, And Standing Up To Your Parents
“I’ve been able to relate to this desire to run away from the election because I’ve been running away from politics my whole life.”
The Feds Are Suing Google, Saying It Has Way Too Much Control Over Internet Searches
"No one can feasibly challenge Google’s dominance in search and search advertising."
A Man Who Allegedly Posed As A Federal Officer At A Protest Will Go To Trial To Face Charges
Police realized the 28-year-old was not a real federal officer after a newspaper published a photo of him with a Nazi tattoo, court documents said.
Hilary Swank Is Famous, And Her Insurance Still Won’t Cover Basic Health For Women
“Women are seven times more likely to be misdiagnosed and sent home from the hospital in the middle of a heart attack.”
Sally Yates’ Appearance At The Democratic National Convention Brings Trump’s First Big Legal Fight Full Circle
“From the moment President Trump took office, he has used his position to benefit himself rather than our country," the former acting attorney general said.
WTF Is Up With All These Fireworks?!
"People’s reasons for doing this aren’t going to be the same anywhere, but I think it’s safe to say that there are factors of protest and solidarity at play, in addition to just wanting to have a little bit of human joy."
The FBI And Department Of Justice Are Reviewing The Investigations Into Two Black Men Who Died By Hanging
Robert Fuller and Malcolm Harsch were found hanging from trees 10 days apart and about 50 miles from each other in California.
The Department Of Justice Is Investigating Ahmaud Arbery's Killing As A Possible Federal Hate Crime
The DOJ is also considering an investigation into Georgia officials' handling of the case.
A Federal Judge Slammed The Attorney General For Being Misleading About What Was Actually In The Mueller Report
The opinion, written in response to a lawsuit brought by BuzzFeed News, could lead to more of the report being disclosed.
The Trump Administration Wants To Charge Immigrants Nearly $1,000 To Appeal Deportation Cases
The current fee is $110.
Federal Agencies Have Been Sending Employees Articles From White Nationalist And Conspiracy Websites For Months
A BuzzFeed News investigation found that an arm of the Justice Department and the Department of Labor have shared stories from VDare, a white nationalist publication, with federal employees on multiple occasions over the last two years.
Matthew Whitaker’s Conflict Of Interest Forms Weren't Screened Until Just Before Trump Put Him In Charge Of The DOJ. They Were Incomplete.
A Justice Department official said that because of an “administrative error,” no one vetted Whitaker’s financial disclosure forms for nearly a year while he served as then–attorney general Jeff Sessions’ chief of staff.
The Justice Department Has Clarified Why It Redacted The Mueller Report
The US government pushed back on a lawsuit by BuzzFeed News that seeks the Mueller report in its entirety.
Kamala Harris Wants The Department Of Justice To Stop States From Passing Restrictive Abortion Laws
The Democratic presidential candidate’s new plan would mimic the Voting Rights Act.
A New Version Of The Mueller Report Has Been Released In Response To A BuzzFeed News Lawsuit
The new version released Monday further explains why certain details were redacted from the public report.
President Trump Has Forced Attorney General Jeff Sessions To Resign
Sessions was one of President Trump's earliest supporters during the campaign.
Trump Said Jeff Sessions Should Investigate The New York Times Over The Anonymous Op-Ed
"Jeff should be investigating who the author of that piece was, because I really believe it's national security," Trump said.
The Government Has Reopened Its Investigation Into The 1955 Brutal Killing Of Emmett Till
The DOJ said it had received "new information" about the murder of the black teenager in Mississippi that helped spark the civil rights movement in the country.
Watchdog Clears Treasury Officials Over Domestic Spying Claims
Treasury intelligence officials had been accused of illegally snooping on Americans' financial records.
A Veteran DEA Agent Is Under Investigation In Colombia For Serious Corruption Allegations
The investigation into Jose Irizarry comes as the agency has been battered by multiple misconduct and corruption allegations.
The Supreme Court Won’t Hear An Anti-Abortion Activist's Case Over The Release Of Secretly Recorded Videos
SCOTUS declined to take up the case of David Daleiden — the man behind the secretly recorded anti–Planned Parenthood videos.
How A Player In The Trump-Russia Scandal Led A Double Life As An American Spy
Felix Sater has been cast as a Russian mafioso, a career criminal, and a key business associate of President Donald Trump's — but he spent more than two decades as an intelligence asset who helped the US government track terrorists and mobsters. “Greed is my go-to weapon.”
The FBI Says It Has “Grave Concerns” About House Republicans’ FISA Memo
In a statement Wednesday, the FBI warned that a Republican-drafted memo alleging government abuse of spying laws leaves out important facts.
Two Young Undocumented Women Will Be Able To Get Abortions After The Department Of Justice Dropped Challenges
The ACLU says it will continue to challenge the Trump administration's contention that it has authority to stop undocumented teens in US custody from getting abortions.
What You Need To Know About Those Anti-Trump Texts From An FBI Agent
Peter Strzok and Linda Page weren't critical of only Trump in text messages that were released this week under disputed circumstances by the Justice Department.
RT America Is Dead. Long Live RT America.
Filings with the Department of Justice show that the Russian channel's original US distribution company is closing up shop.
The Trump Administration Just Went To Court To Stop Kids From Suing Over Climate Change
“This lawsuit is a demonstration of us, young people, reclaiming our democracy,” one of the plaintiffs said.
RT Just Registered As An Agent Of The Russian Government In The US
The US Justice Department said the news outlet's filing under the Foreign Agents Registration Act would not restrict what information RT can disseminate.
Those Colored Contact Lenses Can Seriously Damage Your Eyes And People Are Worried
Decorative lenses are often sold over the counter illegally, and the damage to eyes can be serious.
The Justice Department Is Investigating Harvard’s Admissions Practices
The department told organizations that requested information about investigations into admissions at Harvard that records they asked for were exempt under the Freedom of Information Act.
Baltimore Police Officers Won't Face Federal Charges Over Death Of Freddie Gray
A decision by the Justice Department means six officers won't face charges in the 2015 death of the 25-year-old man, which prompted days of unrest and rioting.
Chicago Is Suing The Trump Administration Over Its Anti-Sanctuary City Policies
Threats to cut off funding to cities that don't comply with immigration agents are unconstitutional, Chicago argues.
High-Profile Russian Death In Washington Was No Accident — It Was Murder, Officials Say
The US government ruled Mikhail Lesin’s death an accident, but multiple intelligence and law enforcement officials suspect it was a Russian hit. The government is withholding information, so today BuzzFeed News has filed a lawsuit to pry the records loose.
Morale Is Low At The Justice Department As Trump Again Attacks Jeff Sessions
President Trump once again lashed out at Attorney General Jeff Sessions and his number two, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. The mood at DOJ right now is “sober resignation,” one current attorney told BuzzFeed News.
The Department Of Justice Just Shut Down The Biggest Illegal Drugs Marketplace In Internet History
AlphaBay hosted hundreds of thousands of listings for drugs, guns, fake identity documents, and more.
Two Former Congressional Staffers Have Been Charged With Sharing Nude Images Of Their Boss
Juan McCullum and Dorene Browne-Louis were indicted this week for sharing images stolen from Stacey Plaskett, a non-voting member of congress from the US Virgin Islands.
Sanctuary Cities Issued A Rebuke Of The Trump Administration's Latest Threats To Cut Funding
“This is another example of the Trump Administration acting before doing their homework," New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu wrote to the Justice Department.
A Man Who Allegedly Shot Two Indian Engineers In Kansas Is Charged With A Hate Crime
Adam Purinton allegedly asked two Indian men if their "status was legal" before opening fire. One man died, while two others were injured.
A Federal Government Contractor Has Been Charged With Leaking To The Intercept
The Department of Justice alleges that Reality Leigh Winner, 25, removed classified material from a government facility and mailed it to an online news outlet.
Investigators Find Justice Department Officials Mishandled Allegations Of Groping And Stalking
The independent inspector general for the Justice Department released a report on Thursday identifying problems with how one of its offices tracks and responds to sexual harassment and misconduct claims.
Department Of Justice Lawyers Fear Trump Will Scrap All Their Work To Overhaul The Chicago Police
Attorneys at the DOJ — amid low morale — are continuing to work on finalizing a federal consent decree, even though it's unclear if the Trump administration will follow through with it.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions Did Not Disclose Russia Meetings On Security Clearance Form
The former senator omitted meetings with a Russian ambassador as he listed his contacts with foreign governments and their representatives over the last seven years.
The Justice Department Has Opened A Criminal Investigation Into Uber
The investigation is over the company’s use of a tool to evade regulators.
The Justice Department Sent A Letter Threatening To Pull Funding From “Sanctuary Cities”
The Trump administration is trying to make good on a promise to punish cities that it believes are harboring illegal immigrants. Despite the tough talk, the cities targeted will likely continue to resist Trump's demands.
A Chicago Cop Is Accused Of Framing 51 People For Murder. Now, The Fight For Justice.
Chicago Police Detective Reynaldo Guevara is accused of framing at least 51 people for murder. When a group of mothers, aunts and sisters found that no officials — not the state's attorney's office, not the mayor's office — wanted to take up their cause, the women went in search of justice themselves. Next week a man convicted in one of Guevara’s most dubious cases will be in court for what could be his last chance at freedom. Will prosecutors continue fighting to keep Roberto Almodovar behind bars?
The FBI Director Wants It Made Clear That Obama Didn’t Order Any Trump Wiretap
FBI Director James Comey reportedly asked the Department of Justice to say for the record that the Obama White House never directed a wiretap of Donald Trump's phones.
Immigration Court Backlog Could Pose Problems For Trump's Enforcement Plans
Trump’s executive orders call for thousands more immigration enforcement officers and border patrol agents, but are largely silent on immigration courts, which face a backlog of more than a half-million cases. Judges, unable to keep up with the caseload, are scheduling hearings years out.
Florida Man Planned To Get Rich By Bombing Target, Prosecutors Say
Mark Barnett's plan: Bomb a bunch of Target stores, then buy the company's stock in the inevitable crash that follows. Spoiler: it didn't work.
Justice Department Finds Chicago Police Engage In Excessive Use Of Force
Federal investigators cited insufficient and outdated training as contributing to "unreasonable" deadly force.
Four Things To Watch For During Jeff Sessions' Confirmation Hearing
Sen. Jeff Sessions will testify in the Senate this week as Trump’s nominee for US attorney general. Opposed by civil rights groups and championed by law enforcement, Sessions is expected to face tough questions about his record and his relationship with President-elect Donald Trump.
Justice Department Sues Michigan City For Denying A Permit To Build A Mosque
The permit application sparked protests and one appeal at a planning commission meeting to "remember 9/11."
One Less Competitor In The US Airline Market
Alaska Airlines can buy Virgin America, the Department of Justice said, as long as it limits its partnership with American Airlines.
Cory Booker Calls For Federal Investigation Into Police Tactics At Dakota Access Pipeline
The US senator from New Jersey also wants the Justice Department to send federal authorities to the protest site to ensure demonstrators can exercise their First Amendment rights.
1,000 Sentence Commutations Down, Advocates Still Say Obama Needs To Do More
"Our view is essentially: thank you, but hurry up please."
Cory Booker Seeks FBI, DOJ Plan To Combat Rise In Hate Crimes
“Hate crimes tear at the fabric of our great nation," the senator said in a letter obtained by BuzzFeed News.
Trump's Favorite Big Bank Is Doing Great After His Surprise Win
With a new administration coming in, Deutsche Bank might be able to negotiate a smaller settlement with the Department of Justice.
The DOJ Is Suing DirecTV For Blocking The Dodgers Channel
It's advisable to keep lawsuits to a minimum when requesting approval for an already controversial $85 billion corporate merger.
Justice Department Promises To Investigate Clinton Emails As Quickly As Possible
Hillary Clinton also spoke out about the emails Monday, insisting at a rally that "there's no case here."
Department Of Justice To Start Collecting Data On Deadly Police Shootings
There is currently no national standard to how police collect or make public data about officer-involved shootings.
Bias, Lack Of Accountability Pervasive In San Francisco Police Force, Federal Report Finds
Racist text messages exchanged by more than a dozen officers and a series of police shootings sparked a federal review of the San Francisco Police Department that was released Wednesday.
Follow-Up: Cisco Systems Says Feds Have Dropped Probe Into Alleged Bribery In Russia
BuzzFeed News previously reported on an alleged kickback scheme in the technology giant’s Russian operations. Federal law enforcement officials had been investigating those allegations for about three years; it is not known why the feds ended their probe.
Justice Department Finds Pattern Of Discrimination In Baltimore Police
A report released Wednesday reveals that the Baltimore Police Department violated residents' civil rights and targeted black members of the community.
Police Departments Will Soon Be Required To Report All "Arrest-Related Deaths"
The new Justice Department program will require law enforcement to submit reports that include figures and details about any deaths that occur during arrests.
Clinton Met With The FBI To Discuss Her Private Email Server
The meeting comes after a controversial encounter between Bill Clinton and Attorney General Loretta Lynch.
America's Nuclear Program Is Coordinated Using 8-Inch Floppy Disks
The Department of Defense said it'll phase out the disks by 2017.
Justice Department Starts Review Of North Charleston Police Department
Last month city officials, including the mayor and police chief, had asked for a comprehensive analysis of the South Carolina police department's practices.
Three With Ties To San Bernardino Terrorist Arrested On Immigration Fraud Charges
The suspects were arrested on suspicion of federal conspiracy, marriage fraud, and false statement charges, federal officials announced Thursday.
Ferguson And Justice Department End Lawsuit Over Policing, Court Changes
The changes, including body cameras for officers, come after the Justice Department determined the city had engaged in a pattern of discrimination against black residents.
Apple Blasts Latest DOJ Filing As “Cheap Shot” And “Smear Campaign"
The company responds to new DOJ claims that a terrorist’s iPhone could not have been backed up, despite the FBI’s reset “mistake.”
Inside The Obama Administration’s Attempt To Bring Tech Companies Into The Fight Against ISIS
Dozens of U.S. government officials, tech executives, and entertainment representatives gather in D.C., under a cloud of growing anti-Muslim sentiment and the spiralling fight between Apple and the FBI.
Date Set For Apple-FBI Court Showdown Over Terrorist's iPhone
The Department of Justice filed a motion to compel the technology company to obey a court ruling asking it to help the government unlock the phone, calling Apple's opposition a marketing stunt.
Federal Government Sues Volkswagen Over Emissions Evasion
The Department of Justice is asking VW to stop using the "defeat devices," to mitigate excess emissions, and to pay civil penalties.
Ferguson Reportedly Near Agreement On Federal Police Oversight
The agreement would likely revamp the police department and establish federal oversight, but local officials are concerned about the cost.
Minneapolis Police Clash With Protesters In Wake Of Fatal Shooting
Authorities are attempting to dismantle a demonstration for Jamar Clark, who was fatally shot by police on Sunday and died on Monday.
Congress Wants To Know How Government Agencies Are Using Stingray Phone Surveillance
A powerful committee in Congress is looking for answers on phone surveillance, asking 24 federal agencies how they use Stingrays, and at what cost.
Native American Tribe Burns Marijuana Over Fears Of Federal Raid
A South Dakota tribe set its marijuana crop on fire and temporarily suspended its plans to open a weed resort fearing a raid from federal officials, a tribal leader said.
Nevada Prosecutor Uses DraftKings Founder's Reddit AMA As Evidence Against Him
The top prosecutor in Nevada said DraftKings and FanDuel need licenses — and cited a Reddit AMA from one of site founder as evidence. Earlier, Nevada ordered the sites shut down.
