LIVE: Trump PANICS as Former Federal Judges SWARM DOJ | Legal AF

Judge Michael Luttig and 34 other former federal judges filed a brief urging Judge Williams in the Southern District of Florida to reopen the Trump vs. IRS lawsuit. They contend that the $1.776 billion settlement, which used the DOJ's judgment fund and absolved the Trump family of 16 years of tax exposure, was a 'fraud on the court.' The Department of Justice allegedly colluded with Trump's lawyers, publicly announcing a settlement while telling the court there was none, and failing to defend the case. Rule 60 of federal civil procedure allows 'strangers' to a lawsuit to bring such allegations.

The hosts cite the amicus brief filed by Judge Michael Luttig and 34 colleagues, detailing how the DOJ announced a settlement publicly but claimed no settlement to the court, and did not file motions to dismiss in a case the judge was considering tossing out. They also highlight the specific amount of the settlement and its implications for Trump's tax liabilities.

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a leading anti-hate group, has been indicted in Alabama over payments to confidential informants. The SPLC has filed a motion to dismiss, arguing it is a 'vindictive prosecution' and a violation of their First Amendment rights. This prosecution is framed as part of a broader pattern where the Trump administration allegedly targets organizations perceived as 'left-wing' while rewarding groups like the Proud Boys and Oathkeepers. The recent dismissal of charges in the Kilmer Abrego Garcia case due to vindictive prosecution is seen as a potential precedent.

The hosts discuss the SPLC's indictment, their motion to dismiss, and connect it to Trump's public statements against 'lefties.' They also reference the Kilmer Abrego Garcia case as a recent example of a vindictive prosecution dismissal and the common practice of the FBI using informants, similar to SPLC's actions.

The Supreme Court is rapidly reviewing Alabama's congressional maps after a lower three-judge panel found 'intentional discrimination' against Black voters. Despite a previous Supreme Court order to redraw maps to include another majority-Black district, the Alabama legislature resisted. The Roberts Court's actions, including allowing a 6:1 white-majority map for the 2022 midterms (despite a 1/3 Black population), are criticized for potentially undermining the Voting Rights Act and ushering in a 'John Crow era' of resegregation. The rapid briefing schedule suggests the Supreme Court may be poised to narrow its interpretation of intentional discrimination.

The discussion details the history of Alabama's maps, the 2020 census data showing a reduced white population and increased African-American population, the lower court's findings of intentional discrimination, and the Supreme Court's expedited briefing schedule. The hosts also contrast this with South Carolina's failure to redistrict Rep. James Clyburn out of his seat.

Joe Biden is suing the Department of Justice to prevent the release of audio tapes from interviews conducted during the classified documents investigation. The Heritage Foundation filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for these tapes. Biden argues the release is politically motivated, lacks public interest, and violates his right to privacy, as the conversations were personal and related to a book about losing his son, Bo Biden, recorded in 2017 before his presidency. This contrasts with the handling of Donald Trump's classified documents case, where a Trump-appointed judge ordered Jack Smith's findings to remain secret despite an indictment.

The hosts explain Biden's lawsuit, the FOIA request by the Heritage Foundation, and Biden's legal team's argument for privacy in personal conversations. They highlight the context of the tapes (2017, about his son, no indictment) and draw a direct comparison to the secrecy surrounding Trump's classified documents investigation.