United States Department of Justice
Some of the key events about United States Department of Justice
- 1870Established to handle all federal law enforcement and criminal justice matters
- 1908The DOJ's Bureau of Investigation (predecessor to the FBI) was created without Congressional approval, raising concerns about executive overreach.
- 1909Created the Bureau of Investigation, predecessor to the FBI
- 1919The DOJ conducted the controversial Palmer Raids, arresting and deporting thousands of suspected radicals and anarchists without due process.
- 1942The DOJ supported the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, violating their civil rights.
- 1950The DOJ established a "Sex Deviates" program to purge LGBTQ+ individuals from government employment.
- 1956The DOJ's COINTELPRO program was initiated, illegally surveilling and disrupting domestic political organizations.
- 1957Created the Civil Rights Division to enforce federal civil rights laws
- 1968Established the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration to provide federal funding for state and local law enforcement
- 1970Enacted the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act to combat organized crime
- 1971The DOJ attempted to prevent the publication of the Pentagon Papers, infringing on press freedom.
- 1973The DOJ was implicated in the Watergate scandal, with several officials involved in the cover-up.
- 1984Passed the Victims of Crime Act to provide support and resources for crime victims
- 1990Implemented the Americans with Disabilities Act to prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities
- 1993The DOJ's handling of the Waco siege resulted in the deaths of 76 Branch Davidians, including children.
- 1994Passed the Violence Against Women Act to improve criminal justice responses to domestic violence and sexual assault
- 2001Created the Office of Privacy and Civil Liberties to protect individual rights in the post-9/11 era
- 2002The DOJ issued memos justifying the use of enhanced interrogation techniques, later criticized as torture.
- 2009Expanded hate crime protections with the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act
- 2013The DOJ was revealed to have secretly obtained phone records of Associated Press journalists, compromising press freedom.
Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.
United States Department of Justice Latest news
Trump picks controversial lawyer for Justice Department role - what to know
Justice Department's secret phone record grabs during Trump years exposed in new report
Trump plans to flip Justice Department's role in diversity policies next month
Two betting giants might face federal probe over market behavior
Court gives final word on TikTok's future in America - big changes coming soon
Washington Post adds experienced reporter to cover Justice Department beat
McKinsey's African branch pays millions to settle major bribery case
Memphis police under fire: Feds drop bombshell report about unfair practices
India's growth numbers make economists scratch their heads - what's next?
Federal prison system gets major mental health care upgrade, DOJ says
Long-awaited security deal finally moves Trump team forward
Biden's unexpected move: Presidential pardon that shocked both parties
Ex-Kansas detective dies mysteriously right before major civil rights trial starts
Trump picks loyal ally for FBI top job, raising eyebrows in Washington
What Biden can still do in his final weeks after losing White House race
Top justice chief gives surprising message to thousands of department workers
President makes surprising decision about son's legal troubles before holidays
From Mao to modern America: History shows dangerous signs of repeating
Trump's unique path: New transition deal breaks White House traditions
Maine agrees to major changes in kids behavioral health system
How Google fights back against second major US government lawsuit
Legal twist: Why Trump's new win forces prosecutors to drop major election case
Legal twist: Special counsel drops major Trump case before presidency starts
Trump picks former budget chief for crucial role in upcoming administration
Trump's quick Florida shuffle: New AG pick raises eyebrows in Washington
Trump picks trusted Florida ally for top justice role after surprise withdrawal
Trump picks new Attorney General nominee after unexpected withdrawal
Justice dept uncovers troubling police patterns in New Jersey's capital city
Former congressman steps away from top justice role after week-long drama
Former lawmaker drops out of Trump's cabinet race after Senate pushback
Trump picks controversial lawyer for Justice Department role - what to know
A new pick for DOJ civil-rights division leadership raises questions among advocacy groups. Former GOP official Harmeet Dhillonʼs nomination puts spotlight on departmentʼs future direction
Justice Department's secret phone record grabs during Trump years exposed in new report
DOJ watchdog finds prosecutors broke rules when collecting journalists and staffers phone data during Trump-era leak probes. Google had to tell targets about secret record grabs
Trump plans to flip Justice Department's role in diversity policies next month
The next administration wants to use civil-rights laws against diversity programs in companies and schools. Justice Department might start investigating racial equity policies at institutions getting federal money
Two betting giants might face federal probe over market behavior
Senators want federal agencies to check if online betting companies work together against rivals. The request comes after reports about DraftKings and FanDuelʼs market actions
Court gives final word on TikTok's future in America - big changes coming soon
Washington court backs up governments plan to stop TikTok from working in US if it stays Chinese-owned. Decision comes just weeks before major deadline that could change social-media landscape
Washington Post adds experienced reporter to cover Justice Department beat
Washington Post gets new DOJ correspondent with ten-year track record in federal courts coverage. Jeremy Roebuck joins the team from Philadelphia Inquirer where he covered law-enforcement topics
McKinsey's African branch pays millions to settle major bribery case
McKinsey Africa agrees to pay $122M for bribing South African state company officials. The deal resolves a US probe into illegal actions at Eskom and Transnet that brought the firm $85M in profits
Memphis police under fire: Feds drop bombshell report about unfair practices
DOJ probe finds Memphis police used too much force and treated Black people unfairly. City officials dont agree with quick investigation results and need more time to check all findings
India's growth numbers make economists scratch their heads - what's next?
Latest economic data shows Indiaʼs growth rate dropped below expectations in mid-2024. Central bank and government officials dont see eye-to-eye on how to handle the situation‚ while markets watch closely
Federal prison system gets major mental health care upgrade, DOJ says
Department of Justice starts big changes in federal prisons to fix mental health problems. New rules will help inmates get better care and stop deaths in both prisons and marshal facilities
Long-awaited security deal finally moves Trump team forward
After weeks of hold-up‚ Trumpʼs transition group signs key document with Justice Department. This move opens door for security checks of future staff and cabinet picks
Biden's unexpected move: Presidential pardon that shocked both parties
A last-minute pardon from President Biden to his son Hunter made waves across Washington. The decision contradicted his earlier statements and got mixed reactions from both political sides
Ex-Kansas detective dies mysteriously right before major civil rights trial starts
A former Kansas police detective was found dead in his house on the morning of his federal trial. **Roger Golubski** faced serious charges about abuse of power against two women in early 2000s
Trump picks loyal ally for FBI top job, raising eyebrows in Washington
Former president Trump wants Kash Patel to lead the FBI‚ picking someone who shares his views about the bureau. The choice links back to disputes over a Russia-probe memo from about 8 years ago
What Biden can still do in his final weeks after losing White House race
A look at how the out-going president might use executive powers before January. Historical comparison with Jimmy Carter shows how last-minute decisions can create lasting impact
Top justice chief gives surprising message to thousands of department workers
Inside look at how Justice Department prepares for big changes next year. Top officials make unexpected move to keep experienced staff on-board during upcoming transition
President makes surprising decision about son's legal troubles before holidays
A major shift in Hunter Bidens legal situation happened right after Thanksgiving family gathering. The President took unexpected steps regarding his sons gun-possession and tax-related charges
From Mao to modern America: History shows dangerous signs of repeating
A look at how Chinaʼs Cultural Revolution events from late 60s mirror todays political shifts in America. Historical patterns suggest concerning similarities between two different eras and systems
Trump's unique path: New transition deal breaks White House traditions
Trumpʼs team signs modified transition agreement with White House‚ choosing private funding over government resources. Their custom ethics plan and security arrangements differ from standard presidential transition protocols
Maine agrees to major changes in kids behavioral health system
Maine state reached agreement with Justice Department about changing its children mental health services. State must now provide more local-based care options instead of sending kids to special facilities
How Google fights back against second major US government lawsuit
Tech giant Google defends its online advertising system in federal court while dealing with another case about its search engine. Legal teams present final statements in Virginia courthouse
Legal twist: Why Trump's new win forces prosecutors to drop major election case
U. S prosecutors ask to dismiss charges against Trump due to old Justice Department rules about sitting presidents. His recent election success creates an unexpected turn in the high-profile legal battle
Legal twist: Special counsel drops major Trump case before presidency starts
Special counsel stops pursuing election-related charges against soon-to-be president Trump. Decision follows long-standing policy about prosecuting sitting presidents
Trump picks former budget chief for crucial role in upcoming administration
Trump names his ex-budget director to lead key government office next year. The pick brings attention to a detailed conservative plan that aims to change how federal agencies work
Trump's quick Florida shuffle: New AG pick raises eyebrows in Washington
After a swift rejection from one Florida candidate Trump didnt waste time finding another AG nominee. The pick shows clear pattern in what president-elect wants from Justice Department leadership
Trump picks trusted Florida ally for top justice role after surprise withdrawal
Former Florida Attorney General gets nominated for US Attorney General position following Matt Gaetzʼs unexpected step-down. The nomination brings Trumpʼs long-time supporter back to potential federal service
Trump picks new Attorney General nominee after unexpected withdrawal
Former Florida AG Pam Bondi gets nominated for US Attorney General position after Matt Gaetz steps down. The pick comes just days after Trumps recent election victory
Justice dept uncovers troubling police patterns in New Jersey's capital city
Federal probe discovers multiple issues in Trenton police force operations including unlawful arrests and excessive force. DOJ pledges long-term commitment to reform law-enforcement practices
Former congressman steps away from top justice role after week-long drama
A high-profile nomination for US attorney general position ends quickly due to mounting public attention. The ex-Florida representative chose to withdraw despite getting support from the president-elect
Former lawmaker drops out of Trump's cabinet race after Senate pushback
A high-profile pick for attorney general position steps away from nomination process just days after announcement. Move comes as Senate members raise questions about past investigations