Trump Signs “America First Arms Transfer Strategy” to Prioritize U.S. Weapons Sales 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Ohio Man Indicted for Alleged Threat Against Vice President JD Vance, Faces Additional Federal Charges 
Federal Judge Restores Funding for Gateway Rail Tunnel Project 
Nighttime Shelling Causes Serious Damage in Russia’s Belgorod Region Near Ukraine Border 
New York Legalizes Medical Aid in Dying for Terminally Ill Patients 
China Warns US Arms Sales to Taiwan Could Disrupt Trump’s Planned Visit 
Newly Released DOJ Epstein Files Expose High-Profile Connections Across Politics and Business 
Ukraine-Russia Talks Yield Major POW Swap as U.S. Pushes for Path to Peace 
TrumpRx.gov Highlights GLP-1 Drug Discounts but Offers Limited Savings for Most Americans 
Marco Rubio Steps Down as Acting U.S. Archivist Amid Federal Law Limits 
Iran–U.S. Nuclear Talks in Oman Face Major Hurdles Amid Rising Regional Tensions 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Missouri Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Starbucks’ Diversity and Inclusion Policies 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
TrumpRx Website Launches to Offer Discounted Prescription Drugs for Cash-Paying Americans 
U.S. Lawmakers to Review Unredacted Jeffrey Epstein DOJ Files Starting Monday 
The United States Justice Department issued a memo Tuesday regarding its political appointees. The guidance barred the agency’s political appointees from attending political fundraisers or campaign events.
Attorney General Merrick Garland issued a memo Tuesday, stating that the Justice Department’s political appointees are not allowed to attend campaign events and political fundraisers. The memo was issued ahead of this year’s midterm elections in November.
Federal employees are usually subject to the Hatch Act, which is a law that limits some political activities to keep the government free from partisan influence.
Political appointees were previously allowed to attend partisan events in their personal capacity with approval, but under the new guidance Garland issued, no exceptions would be made including on election day.
“I know you agree it is critical that we hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards to avoid even the appearance of political influence as we carry out the Department’s mission,” said Garland in the memo.
In the new guidance, political appointees are also not allowed to attend campaign events even if they have close family members that are running for office.
The new guidance follows the probe by the US Office of Special Counsel into whether Massachusetts US Attorney Rachel Rollins violated the Hatch Act by attending a July Democratic fundraiser that featured first lady Dr. Jill Biden. The probe was urged by Republican Senator Tom Cotton, who has been critical of Rollins.
The change in DOJ policy also comes at a time when the agency is under heavy scrutiny for its decision to carry out a search warrant of former President Donald Trump’s Florida residence to recover classified records as part of a criminal investigation.
The former president has accused the DOJ of conducting a partisan witch hunt and the DOJ responded by publishing the warrant and a redacted copy of the affidavit that outlined the evidence obtained.
The DOJ also said in a 54-page filing that the former president deliberately concealed the classified material from the FBI when agents tried to recover them in June.
Prosecutors also laid out the evidence indicating obstruction of justice, alleging that the former president’s aides falsely certified during the June search that Trump returned all the records that he stored in his residence after leaving the White House in 2021.
