#unconstitutional
11 entries with this tag
Kash Patel's FBI Lost Another Top Leader: Co-Deputy Director Andrew Bailey — a Former State Attorney General Once Seen as Patel's Likely Successor — Resigned After Barely a Year, Publicly Citing Family, but Reporting Says Patel Kept Him at Arm's Length, Went Months Without Speaking to Him, and Cut Him Out of Meetings Reportedly Because Bailey Kept Flagging Things as Unconstitutional — While the Administration's Own Dismissive Explanation Was That He "Quit Because He Had Nothing to Do"
On September 28, 2026, Andrew Bailey — the co-deputy director of the FBI and, before that, the attorney general of Missouri — announced he is resigning from the bureau effective October 2, after just over a year. Publicly, Bailey said he was stepping down "to return to my family in Missouri," and cited "great pride in what we have accomplished." Beneath that, the reporting describes dysfunction. According to The New York Times, Bailey and Director Kash Patel had an acrimonious relationship and went months without communicating; other sources said Patel kept Bailey at arm's length from the start, did not invite him to meetings, and cut him out — reportedly because Bailey kept flagging actions as unconstitutional. A senior administration official offered a dismissive gloss: Bailey had "nothing to do" and "quit because he had nothing to do." Either version is damning. If Bailey was frozen out for raising legal and constitutional objections, then Patel sidelined the person whose job was partly to keep the FBI within the law. And if a co-deputy director of the FBI genuinely had "nothing to do," that is its own indictment of how Patel runs the place. Bailey — once floated as a potential Patel successor — is only the latest senior departure: his co-deputy Dan Bongino left last December, and experienced officials have streamed out under a director this archive has documented purging the bureau, gutting its standards, and treating it as a personal instrument.
House Passes Iran War Powers Resolution 215-208 — Four Republicans Defect in Sharpest Rebuke of Trump's War
On the fourth attempt, the House passed a war powers resolution directing Trump to end hostilities with Iran unless Congress declares war. Four Republicans — Massie, Fitzpatrick, Barrett, and Davidson — crossed party lines, and Jared Golden switched from no to yes, giving Democrats unanimity. Two weeks ago, GOP leaders pulled this same vote and sent Congress home because they knew they'd lose. A Fox News poll shows six in ten voters oppose military action. The 60-day War Powers deadline expired on May 1. The administration's position: the War Powers Act is "unconstitutional, 100 percent." Three inspectors general launched a joint review of the war.
Lead Prosecutor in Comey Seashells Case Steps Aside — A Former Republican Committeeman With No Federal Criminal Experience
Matthew Petracca, the lead federal prosecutor in the case against James Comey over an Instagram photo of seashells, has stepped aside. Petracca was a former Republican county committeeman and family lawyer from New Jersey whose prior federal experience was prosecuting Medicaid fraud. He was the last man standing after more experienced prosecutors left the case. Even Pam Bondi — before Trump fired her — thought the seashells case was too weak and pushed for Virginia charges instead. Then Blanche took over and rammed it through.
"I'll Remember Them": Trump Pressures Companies Not to Claim $175 Billion in Tariff Refunds the Supreme Court Says They're Owed
After the Supreme Court struck down Trump's IEEPA tariffs as unconstitutional (6–3), companies are owed up to $175 billion in refunds. Trump is now publicly pressuring them not to claim the money: calling companies that don't seek refunds "brilliant" and warning "I'll remember them." The president is using implicit threats to discourage businesses from exercising a legal right affirmed by the Supreme Court.
SCOTUS Skeptical of Birthright Order — Roberts: "It's the Same Constitution." Trump Left Halfway Through.
At oral arguments, both liberal and conservative justices challenged Trump's birthright citizenship order. Roberts: "It's the same Constitution." Jackson: "Are we bringing pregnant women in for depositions?" Trump attended — the first president ever — but left halfway through.
Trump Seizes Federal Control Over Mail-In Ballots — Experts Say He Lacks the Authority
Trump signed an executive order directing DHS to create national voter eligibility lists and the Postal Service to only send ballots to "verified" voters. Experts: "The Constitution doesn't give DHS any power over elections." ACLU immediately pledged to sue.
Pentagon Evicts All Reporters After Judge Strikes Down Press Rules
After a judge ruled the Pentagon's press restrictions unconstitutional — finding they were designed to weed out "disfavored journalists" — Hegseth retaliated by closing the Correspondents' Corridor and removing all media offices from the building.
Judge Throws Federal Prosecutor Out of Courtroom, Orders DOJ to Testify About Habba
A federal judge ejected a DOJ prosecutor from his courtroom after he tried to "blindside the court," then told the office: "Generations of AUSAs built the goodwill of that office for your generation to destroy it within a year."
Supreme Court Strikes Down IEEPA Tariffs 6-3
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Trump lacked authority to impose tariffs under IEEPA, with Chief Justice Roberts writing he lacked "peacetime authority" to tax. Over $130 billion had already been collected.
Ordered Prosecution of Flag Burning — Protected Speech Since 1989
Trump signed an order directing prosecution of flag burning and deportation of noncitizen flag burners — despite two Supreme Court rulings (including one joined by Scalia) confirming flag burning is protected speech. The DOJ's test case collapsed.
Attempted to End Birthright Citizenship by Executive Order
Trump signed an executive order attempting to strip citizenship from babies born on U.S. soil — directly contradicting the 14th Amendment and 130+ years of Supreme Court precedent. Federal courts unanimously blocked it as "blatantly unconstitutional."