Latest in Appointments Clause
With the Department of State Authorization Act of 2021, President Biden signed into law substantial constraints on ad hoc diplomatic appointments. Here’s an explainer on the new law’s background and key provisions.
Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf is serving in his position unlawfully. On Aug. 6, the Senate will have an opportunity to ask him about it.
President Trump’s personal lawyer—former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani—appears to have played a pivotal role in orchestrating the president’s designs with respect to Ukraine. Assuming the part of an unofficial diplomat, Giuliani reportedly met with a Ukrainian prosecutor and with a senior aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in order to press for an investigation of former Vice President Joe Biden.
The president shouldn’t hold his breath for the court to have any serious objections to the special counsel’s appointment.
Roger Stone associate Andrew Miller has filed his brief before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit challenging Special Counsel Robert Mueller's authority to subpoena him. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a contempt order against Miller in August 2018 for his refusal to comply with the subpoena, which Miller is now appealing. The brief is available in full below.
Andrew Miller Brief Challenging Special Counsel's Authority
On Monday, Judge Dabney Friedrich of the the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled against a motion challenging the constitutionality of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s appointment. The full order is below:
Recent reports suggest that the Trump Administration is renewing its push to reform U.S. trade relations. Last week at a speech in Wisconsin, the President criticized the North American Free Trade Agreement and promised “to make some very big changes or . . .