Politics

By Fredreka Schouten, CNN (CNN) — As President Donald Trump threatens legal action against his adversaries, particularly after Charlie Kirk’s assassination, he’s repeatedly talked about using one federal law: the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO. Trump wants to bring racketeering charges against left-wing groups he’s accused of promoting violence. Some influential Republicans

By Adam Cancryn, Sarah Owermohle, CNN (CNN) — Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy once hoped to forge an alliance with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that could revitalize Americans’ trust in public health. But just seven months after Cassidy’s vote paved the way for Kennedy to lead the US Health and Human Services Department, their relationship has

By Manu Raju, Sarah Ferris, CNN (CNN) — Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer made a major calculation in March: He voted to keep the government open and convinced enough Democrats to go along with him – and endured furious blowback from the left. This time, he says, things have changed. “The situation is much different,”

By Betsy Klein, CNN (CNN) — It’s a diplomatic milestone. Amid all the pageantry of President Donald Trump’s UK state visit, two high-profile figures are making a special appearance that’s sure to be among the most scrutinized moments of the trip. First lady Melania Trump and Catherine, Princess of Wales are private spouses with massive

By David Wright, CNN (CNN) — Former President Barack Obama commented on the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk during remarks Tuesday night in Erie, Pennsylvania, saying that “regardless of where you are on the political spectrum, what happened to Charlie Kirk was horrific and a tragedy.” “Look, obviously I didn’t know Charlie Kirk,” Obama

By Aleena Fayaz, CNN (CNN) — Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on Tuesday defended President Donald Trump’s suggestion that protesters could be prosecuted for racketeering, as the administration continues to preview a plan to crack down on left-wing groups it claims are inciting violence. Trump on Monday suggested that protesters who interrupted his dinner at

By Fredreka Schouten, CNN (CNN) — The Justice Department said Tuesday that is suing two states over their refusal to turn over complete voters rolls to the Trump administration – escalating a conflict between the federal government and some state election officials that has been building for months. Harmeet Dhillon, who oversees the Justice Department’s

By Veronica Stracqualursi and Ellis Kim, CNN (CNN) — The House has passed two bills that Republicans say would combat crime in Washington, DC, but that also limit the city’s self-governance as the GOP seeks to bolster President Donald Trump’s federal crackdown. The bills passed on Tuesday are among more than a dozen being considered

CNN By Holmes Lybrand, Hannah Rabinowitz, Devan Cole, CNN (CNN) — FBI Director Kash Patel on Tuesday ran into several shouting matches with Democratic senators who pressed him on the bungling of the Epstein files, firings of agents for alleged political reasons and warnings that President Donald Trump, eventually, would turn on the director despite

By Holmes Lybrand, Hannah Rabinowitz, Devan Cole, CNN (CNN) — FBI Director Kash Patel on Tuesday ran into several shouting matches with Democratic senators who pressed him on the bungling of the Epstein files, firings of agents for alleged political reasons and warnings that President Donald Trump, eventually, would turn on the director despite his

By Katelyn Polantz, Annie Grayer, CNN (CNN) — Former Attorney General Bill Barr recounted in recent testimony with House investigators how he informed President Donald Trump of Jeffrey Epstein’s suicide in 2019. “I called [the president] up and said, ‘You better brace for this,’ and I told him words to that effect, and I told

By Edward-Isaac Dovere, CNN (CNN) — Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on Tuesday ripped President Donald Trump as having failed both a “leadership test” and a “morality test” after Charlie Kirk’s assassination. “It should not be hard to stand up to some people who are celebrating the killing of Charlie Kirk and say, ‘That’s wrong,’ and

By Annie Grayer, CNN (CNN) — House Republicans are discussing pumping tens of millions of dollars into security for lawmakers in the aftermath of the assassination of a prominent conservative activist, though some lawmakers say that is not enough in today’s rancorous political climate. In a closed-door conference meeting Tuesday, the GOP discussed attaching a

By John Fritze, CNN (CNN) — Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor on Tuesday urged a greater emphasis on civic involvement and education, questioning whether some Americans had been clearly taught the difference between a president and a king. Speaking to the New York Law School in Manhattan, the Supreme Court’s senior liberal encouraged people to

By Casey Gannon, Jason Morris, CNN (CNN) — The Georgia Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to hear an appeal from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis on her removal from the case prosecuting President Donald Trump and his alleged co-conspirators over their efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The case against Trump and his co-defendants