Courts & Justice
Latest news, analysis, and updates on Courts & Justice from A47 News.
42 stories in Politics · Updated live
DOJ Files Third Criminal Information Against Former FBI Director James Comey Over 2016 Alleged Classified Disclosure
On October 26, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice unsealed a criminal information charging former FBI Director James Comey with transmission of national defense information and conspiracy, the third criminal case brought against him during President Trump's second term. The filing was triggered by the need to address statute-of-limitations concerns over an alleged 2016 disclosure tied to a New York Times article on Yahoo email surveillance requests, with the DOJ arguing the filing tolls the 10-year limitations period while Comey's attorneys have moved to dismiss. The case signals a continued escalation of legal proceedings against Trump critics, with the outcome of the motion to dismiss likely to set precedent on prosecutorial timing and the reach of Espionage Act-related charges against former officials.
Federal Judge Orders Reinstatement and Back Pay for Maurene Comey After Ruling DOJ Termination Unlawful
On October 26, 2026, U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman ruled that the Justice Department unlawfully terminated former Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey and ordered her reinstatement with retroactive back pay. The ruling was triggered by Comey's 2025 lawsuit alleging political retaliation and violations of due process and the Civil Service Reform Act, with the court rejecting the DOJ's expansive Article II executive removal authority claims in a 55-page opinion. The DOJ has signaled it will appeal, setting up a likely appellate test of executive power over career federal prosecutors and civil service protections.
Lula Condemns Flávio Bolsonaro's Departure From Brazil as Shameful Amid Passport Order
On October 27, 2026, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva publicly denounced Senator Flávio Bolsonaro's reported exit from Brazil as shameful, two days after defeating him in the presidential runoff. The remarks follow a Supreme Federal Court order requiring Bolsonaro to surrender his passports in a money-laundering investigation, with US visas confirmed for the senator and his family. Lula's rhetoric sets his compliance with judicial authority against the Bolsonaro family's reported move toward the United States, signalling that the investigation and the political contest between the two camps will continue to shape Brazilian institutional debate.
U.S. to Issue Visas to Flávio Bolsonaro and Family After Brazilian Election Loss and Passport Cancellation
On October 27, 2026, the U.S. State Department announced it would issue visas to Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro and his family following his defeat in the October 25 presidential runoff. The move came after Bolsonaro failed to surrender his passports by the deadline set by a Supreme Court order in a money laundering probe, prompting Brazilian Federal Police to cancel them and reports of his departure toward the United States. The development is likely to further strain Brazil-U.S. relations under the Lula administration, deepen the judicial standoff over the Bolsonaro family's legal exposure, and sustain Washington's public backing for the Bolsonaro political movement.
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Flavio Bolsonaro Leaves Brazil for United States After Election Defeat and Passport Order
Flavio Bolsonaro departed Brazil for the United States on October 27-28, 2026, following his loss to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the October 26 presidential runoff. He left after defying a Supreme Court order to surrender his passports in a money laundering investigation, with the US State Department confirming visa issuance for him and his family. The departure is likely to deepen polarization in Brazilian politics and strain bilateral relations, as Lula's government pursues the legal proceedings while the Trump administration openly supports the Bolsonaro family.
Hasan Piker Sues Scott Jennings for $72.5 Million Over Alleged Fabricated Lynching Quote
On October 27, 2026, Twitch streamer Hasan Piker filed a $72.5 million defamation suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against CNN contributor Scott Jennings over a fabricated quotation attributed to Piker's 2024 livestreams. The filing follows Jennings' August 11, 2026 broadcast of an edited clip with a chyron falsely claiming Piker called for lynchings, after Piker's retraction demands went unanswered and Snopes had already rated the portrayal false. The suit's outcome could set precedent for how manipulated clips and fabricated quotations are treated in defamation claims involving political commentary and online media figures.
California Appeals Court Upholds Danny Masterson Rape Convictions and 30-Year Sentence Rejecting Scientology Bias Claims
On October 27 2026 the California Court of Appeal denied Danny Masterson's appeal and upheld his 2023 convictions on two counts of forcible rape and his 30-year prison sentence. The three-judge panel found no evidence of judicial bias against Scientology and rejected challenges to the admission of Scientology-related evidence, statute of limitations arguments and evidentiary rulings. The defense has announced plans to seek review from the California Supreme Court, leaving the case open to further litigation.
FBI Advised ESPN Host Pat McAfee to Wear Bulletproof Vest After Charlie Kirk Assassination
Reports published October 27, 2026 disclosed that the FBI recommended ESPN personality Pat McAfee wear a bulletproof vest during public appearances following the September 10, 2025 assassination of Charlie Kirk. The advisory was prompted by McAfee's ongoing receipt of threatening messages and heightened security concerns linked to political violence in the United States, which resurfaced after his remarks during an October 2026 College GameDay broadcast at the University of Utah. ESPN has affirmed support for his safety, while the broader episode underscores continued security risks for high-profile media figures in a polarized US political environment.