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Tag: attorney general
January 9, 2026
Lawfare
News

Obama Judge Blocks Probe into Dem NY AG Letitia James.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: A federal judge appointed by Barack Obama has disqualified a prosecutor from overseeing investigations into New York Attorney General Letitia James (D).

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield, federal prosecutor John Sarcone, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Letitia James.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: The ruling was made in January 2026 in the Northern District of New York.

🎯IMPACT: Subpoenas related to James’s high-profile lawfare suits against President Donald J. Trump’s business and the National Rifle Association (NRA) were invalidated, and Sarcone was barred from further involvement.

IN FULL

A federal court has removed a senior federal prosecutor from overseeing inquiries tied to Democrat New York Attorney General Letitia James, concluding that his continued role violated federal appointment laws and rendered his actions invalid. U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield, originally appointed by Barack Obama, ruled that John Sarcone could not lawfully continue serving as acting U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York after his 120-day interim term expired.

Federal law requires that district judges decide whether an interim prosecutor may remain in office. In this case, judges declined to extend Sarcone’s tenure. The ruling claimed that the Justice Department (DOJ), led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, improperly attempted to preserve Sarcone’s authority by redesignating him as a “special attorney” and first assistant after his term lapsed. Judge Schofield said the move amounted to an unlawful attempt to bypass statutory limits on prosecutorial appointments.

Because Sarcone lacked legal authority, the court invalidated the subpoenas he issued and barred him from further participating in the investigations. Those subpoenas sought information related to James’ office and its prior litigation.

Sarcone worked on President Donald J. Trump’s 2016 campaign legal team and later served as a regional administrator at the General Services Administration during Trump’s first term. James’s office has argued that Sarcone’s involvement reflected a politically driven effort to retaliate against her for pursuing high-profile cases against Trump and conservative-aligned organizations.

James has built a national profile through aggressive legal actions, including a civil fraud case against Trump’s business empire and litigation against the pro-Second Amendment National Rifle Association (NRA).

James recently claimed a legal victory over the Department of Homeland Security, and another over the Department of Justice when a grand jury declined to re-indict her for mortgage fraud.

Image by Maryland GovPics.

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November 5, 2025
Politics

Jay Jones, Who Fantasized About Murdering Children, Wins AG Race.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Democrat Jay Jones is projected to win the Virginia attorney general race despite a scandal involving violent text messages.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jay Jones, Jason Miyares, Winsome Earle-Sears, Abigail Spanberger, former President Barack Obama, and Todd Gilbert.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: Virginia, Tuesday night, during the attorney general race.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Jason Miyares is Trump’s attorney, not ours,” said a narrator in one of Jones’ closing ads.

🎯IMPACT: Democrats now control the attorney general’s office in 22 states, with Jones pledging to oppose Trump’s policies and protect abortion.

IN FULL

Democrat Jay Jones is projected to win Virginia’s attorney general race despite having fantasized in text messages about murdering a Republican lawmaker and their children. The violent text messages became the dominant issue in the race, with numerous state and national lawmakers having called on Jones to drop out of the race.

Jones defeated incumbent Republican Jason Miyares, who had previously run the attorney general’s office in alignment with President Donald J. Trump‘s policy agenda. Despite running five points behind Abigail Spanberger, the Democrat Party’s victorious gubernatorial nominee, Jones was able to hold off Miyares with a campaign focused on abortion and attacks on the Trump White House.

The scandal centered on text messages Jones sent to a Republican lawmaker, where he expressed ideations about shooting then-GOP Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert and his children. The controversy became a central focus of Republican ads, with even gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears highlighting the issue. Jones apologized, but his fundraising suffered, and Democrat leaders largely avoided campaigning with him until a rally with former President Barack Obama in Norfolk.

Jones’s victory ensures Democrats now control the attorney general’s office in 22 states.

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October 15, 2025
News
Politics

Trump, Vance Slam Dems for Supporting AG Hopeful Who Fantasized About GOP Lawmaker’s Murder.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Vice President J.D. Vance and President Donald J. Trump criticized Democrats for supporting Virginia attorney general candidate Jay Jones, whose campaign is under fire after his violent text messages were exposed.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jay Jones, J.D. Vance, Donald Trump, Jason Miyares, Todd Gilbert, Chuck Schumer, and Carrie Coyner.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: The controversy unfolded as Jones prepares for his sole debate with incumbent Attorney General Jason Miyares at the University of Richmond on Thursday.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “This is far worse than anything said in a college group chat, and the guy who said it could become the AG of Virginia.” – JD Vance

🎯IMPACT: The scandal has amplified scrutiny of political violence and rhetoric, with leading Republicans calling for accountability while Democrats remain largely silent on the issue.

IN FULL

Democratic Virginia Attorney General candidate Jay Jones is under growing pressure to withdraw from the race following the release of violent and inflammatory text messages in which he referenced shooting a Republican lawmaker. Despite the controversy, Democrats have continued to support Jones, drawing sharp criticism from Vice President J.D. Vance and President Donald J. Trump.

The messages, reportedly sent to Delegate Carrie Coyner, included Jones stating he would shoot former Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert and that “only when people feel pain personally do they move on policy.” One particularly graphic message read: “Three people, two bullets. Gilbert, Hitler and Pol Pot. Gilbert gets two bullets to the head.” Coyner later recounted that Jones also wished death on Gilbert’s children, claiming such a tragedy would change the lawmaker’s views on certain policies. She replied to him in the exchange, “Jay Please stop.”

Vice President Vance addressed the scandal on social media, writing, “This is far worse than anything said in a college group chat, and the guy who said it could become the AG of Virginia.” His comment alluded to a separate incident involving young Republican activists whose private messages were leaked.

President Trump also weighed in on the Jones scandal during a public appearance honoring Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated by a left-wing extremist in September.

“We’ve seen that a candidate for attorney general in Virginia boasted that he would want to see [a] Republican legislator in Virginia shot in the head and to see his children murdered—they actually said this,” Trump noted. “And now he continues to run for office, and most [Democrats] continue to back him.”

“Especially in the wake of Charlie’s assassination, our country must have absolutely no tolerance for this radical left violence, extremism and terror,” the America First leader added.

The backlash against Jones has extended beyond political figures. The Virginia Fraternal Order of Police has called for him to exit the race, accusing him of promoting violence against police as well as lawmakers.

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January 15, 2025
William Upton
Politics
TRUMP TRANSITION 2024/5

Adam Schiff Abuses Critical Confirmation Committee Time to Lobby for His Friend Liz Cheney, Not Ordinary Americans.

Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), the mastermind behind the Russia hoax conspiracy targeting President Donald J. Trump, used Wednesday’s Senate confirmation hearing for Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi to grandstand for his friend and political ally, former Congresswoman Liz Cheney (R-WY). The far-left California Democrat, who is accused by the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General of leaking classified materials to the corporate media to smear Trump over alleged ties to Russia, questioned Bondi on whether she intends to investigate Cheney for potential crimes relating to her actions on the January 6 Select Committee.

“I’m asking you, sitting here today, whether you are aware of a factual predicate to investigate Liz Cheney,” Schiff pressed during her Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing on Wednesday. Bondi replied, “Senator, nobody has asked me to investigate Liz Cheney. That is a hypothetical.” Traditionally, cabinet and judicial nominees refrain from answering hypothetical questions, and the practice is generally frowned upon as a matter of Senate decorum.

Schiff pushed Bondi again, claiming that President-elect Trump has publicly called for Cheney to be investigated. Nonplussed, Bondi fired back at the California Senator, “You’re all so worried about Liz Cheney. You know what we should be worried about? The crime rate in California right now is through the roof. Your robberies are 87 percent higher than the national average.”


A recent investigation by the House of Representatives found that Cheney likely tampered with witnesses prior to their testimony before the Democrat-run January 6 Select Committee. According to the House findings, the former Congresswoman coached former Trump White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson on her testimony, urging her to alter parts of her story.

Consequently, President-elect Trump warned that Cheney “could be in a lot of trouble,” noting the House report asserts she likely broke several federal laws.

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Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), the mastermind behind the Russia hoax conspiracy targeting President Donald J. Trump, used Wednesday's Senate confirmation hearing for Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi to grandstand for his friend and political ally, former Congresswoman Liz Cheney (R-WY). The far-left California Democrat, who is accused by the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General of leaking classified materials to the corporate media to smear Trump over alleged ties to Russia, questioned Bondi on whether she intends to investigate Cheney for potential crimes relating to her actions on the January 6 Select Committee. show more
November 21, 2024
The National Pulse
Breaking

BREAKING: Gaetz Pulls Out of AG Nomination, Couldn’t Convince THESE 4 Senators.

Congressman Matt Gaetz has withdrawn his name in consideration for the role of Attorney General in a second Trump administration. The National Pulse understands that Senators McConnell, Curtis, Murkowski, and Collins were immovable on his nomination in meetings held on Capitol Hill on Wednesday.

The former Florida legislator issued a statement on Thursday, after meetings with Senate colleagues all Wednesday:

“I had excellent meetings with Senators yesterday,” he wrote, adding, “I appreciate their thoughtful feedback – and the incredible support of so many. While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition.

“There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I’ll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1. I remain fully committed to see that Donald J. Trump is the most successful President in history.

“I will forever be honored that President Trump nominated me to lead the Department of Justice and I’m certain he will Save America.”

Gaetz resigned from the 118th Congress in order to work the Attorney General role, but The National Pulse understands that due to his re-election, he would have to also resign from the next Congress, the 119th, in order to effectively stay out of the role.

This story is developing.

Image by Gage Skidmore

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Congressman Matt Gaetz has withdrawn his name in consideration for the role of Attorney General in a second Trump administration. The National Pulse understands that Senators McConnell, Curtis, Murkowski, and Collins were immovable on his nomination in meetings held on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. show more
October 13, 2024
NatSec
TECH

States Sue China-Owned TikTok Over Harm to Youth.

Fourteen state attorneys general are taking legal action against the Chinese-owned social media TikTok, alleging the video app negatively impacts the mental and physical health of young users. Each attorney general has individually lodged a lawsuit, alleging TikTok’s assurance of safety breaches state laws. The app, a favored video-sharing service among youth, is claimed to have features that render it addictive, contributing to mental health issues among minors.

The suits aim for civil penalties, punitive damages, and a court order for TikTok to alter its algorithm practices. The complaints highlight that TikTok “challenges” have led to injuries, hospitalizations, and fatalities among youths. Additionally, the platform’s algorithm-driven recommendation system is said to encourage addictive use, contributing to mental health and body image issues. Other allegations include that TikTok has knowingly engaged in content promotion that has exacerbated problems such as anxiety, depression, and eating disorders among children.

TikTok is denying the allegations. The Chinese-owned social media company claims it has enacted comprehensive safety measures and attempted to collaborate with the state attorneys general over the past two years.

In addition, the Chinese social media company remains engaged in protracted litigation with the U.S. government over its legal status. TikTok currently faces a ban in the U.S. over national security concerns unless it is sold off by its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.

Adding to its legal woes, TikTok was sued by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for collecting data from children under 13 without consent. The lawsuit claims that TikTok’s content-recommendation system prioritizes user retention and ad revenue at the expense of young people’s mental well-being.

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Fourteen state attorneys general are taking legal action against the Chinese-owned social media TikTok, alleging the video app negatively impacts the mental and physical health of young users. Each attorney general has individually lodged a lawsuit, alleging TikTok's assurance of safety breaches state laws. The app, a favored video-sharing service among youth, is claimed to have features that render it addictive, contributing to mental health issues among minors. show more
December 1, 2023
Jake Welch
News

19 AGs Object to Biden WH Proposal That Could Ban Christians Fostering Children.

Nineteen Republican Attorney Generals from across the United States have written a letter to the Biden government demanding it backtracks on a proposed rule that would effectively ban Christian parents from fostering children.

The policy proposal, introduced by the Children and Families Administration in September this year, demands that children who self-identify as LGBT be placed in homes that “facilitate the child’s access to age-appropriate resources, services, and activities that support their health and well-being.”

If the proposal is implemented, “individuals and organizations of faith will be discouraged from beginning or continuing to provide foster care services because they will be penalized for their beliefs and excluded from helping large numbers of foster children,” the letter states.

The Attorney Generals explain the move is likely unconstitutional, since it indirectly reverses the Supreme Court ruling in Fulton v City of Philadelphia, which found in 2021 that Christian adoption agencies could not be excluded from government programs because they believe a child should be in a home with a mother and father.

They also highlighted the potential risk of minors being housed with males identifying as females, as the rule would require children to be placed in a home consistent with their gender identity. The result “would needlessly create potentially dangerous situations for children.”

“The proposed rule infringes on the freedom of religion and the freedom of speech, fundamental rights preserved by the First Amendment… [and] will harm children, harm families, and harm States, all to advance an ideology,” the Attorney Generals concluded.

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Nineteen Republican Attorney Generals from across the United States have written a letter to the Biden government demanding it backtracks on a proposed rule that would effectively ban Christian parents from fostering children. show more