Story thread · 3 reports / 3 sources

Federal court slaps down Trump’s 'unlawful' lawfare

alternet.org · 4h · first reportShare

On Friday, a federal court dealt a huge blow to President Donald Trump ’s efforts to weaponize the Department of Justice, ruling that a U.S. attorney who obtained grand jury subpoenas targeting New York Attorney General Letitia James had been illegally appointed . According to the 2nd Circuit Court’s opinion, “This case concerns whether John A. Sarcone III validly served as, and lawfully exercised the duties of, the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York.” In the court’s assessment, “We hold that he did not.” The case dates back to August 2025, when Trump loyalist Sarcone issued subpoenas to James’ office in an attempt to undermine civil lawsuits the latter filed against Trump, his family business, and the National Rifle Association. Both Trump and the NRA were found liable, but claimed they were being targeted politically. Sarcone’s subpoenas were part of an effort to bring charges against James, whom he accused of violating Trump and the NRA’s civil rights. His in