Law and Chaos

We follow up on the Thursday Night Massacre, as Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove finally got someone to file the paperwork to dismiss the case against New York Mayor Eric Adams. And we do a deep dive into Dellinger v. Bessent, as the Trump administration asks the Supreme Court to remind everyone that the laws don't actually apply to Donald Trump. All of that and DOCKET ALERTS!

Links:

Courts Stand Up For Trans Rights and the Rule of Law

https://www.lawandchaospod.com/p/courts-stand-up-for-trans-rights

Bove Feb. 10 letter to Sassoon (SDNY) ordering dropping of Adams prosecution

https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/documenttools/76308bc134b67d36/4cc46c59-full.pdf

Hagen Scotten resignation letter

https://www.washingtonpost.com/documents/0b16892a-b4a3-4511-9eab-44ff6f69a97f.pdf?itid=lk_inline_manual_4

US v. Adams docket

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.628916/

Nick Akerman amicus

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.628916/gov.uscourts.nysd.628916.124.0.pdf

Henry Cuellar criminal docket

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68499933/united-states-v-cuellar/

Dellinger v. Bessent district court docket

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.277297/

Dellinger v. Bessent (DC Circuit docket)

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cadc.41741/gov.uscourts.cadc.41741.01208711227.0.pdf

Dellinger v. Bessent (SCOTUS petition)

***REPLACE S3 LINK WHEN SCOTUS LINK IS AVAILABLE***

https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/25536866/bessent-v-dellinger-vacatur-app-final.pdf

Seila Law v. CFPB (2020)

https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/19pdf/19-7_n6io.pdf

AIDS VACCINE ADVOCACY COALITION v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69627654/aids-vaccine-advocacy-coalition-v-united-states-department-of-state/

Talbott v. Trump

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69583866/talbott-v-trump/

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Trump's personal lawyers are turning the DOJ into a protection racket, dropping bribery charges against NYC Mayor Eric Adams after he agreed to violate the City's immigration laws. But they can't find any lawyer in the Justice Department to implement their corrupt decree. At least seven prosecutors have been fired or quit. But will anyone in America notice?

Links:

Sassoon resignation letter

https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/documenttools/24535586a908999e/3801d435-full.pdf

Bove response letter to Sassoon

https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/documenttools/7c71f04757006735/05b1f604-full.pdf

Dellinger v. Bessent docket (Office of Special Counsel)

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.277297/

US v. Eric Adams [Docket via Court Listener]

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69197933/united-states-v-adams/

Bove Letter Ordering Adams Dismissal [via NYT]

https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/documenttools/76308bc134b67d36/4cc46c59-full.pdf

After Meeting With Trump's Border Czar, Adams Opens Rikers to ICE Agents

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/13/nyregion/adams-ice-rikers-homan.html

How the Justice Dept. Helped Sink Its Own Case Against Eric Adams

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/13/nyregion/adams-lawyers-justice-department-dismissal.html

Grand Vizier Musk Is A Problem For The Justice Department

https://www.lawandchaospod.com/p/grand-vizier-musk-is-a-problem-for

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Donald Trump got bored during the Super Bowl, and now apparently pennies are illegal. Also, as everything Trump torches the entire executive branch, trial judges aim their garden hoses at the flames to save what they can. Today we'll talk about as many cases as we can cram into an hour. Come for the DOGE take over of Treasury, stay for the Project 2025 shutdown of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Links:

ABA STATEMENT on the Rule of Law

https://www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/aba-news-archives/2025/02/aba-supports-the-rule-of-law/

When You've Lost Clarence Thomas

https://www.lawandchaospod.com/p/when-youve-lost-clarence-thomas

New York v. Trump (state Treasury challenge) docket

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69623558/state-of-new-york-v-donald-j-trump/

CNN: Trump stopping penny production

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-doge-usaid-news-02-09-25#cm6yd9c61001m3b6no8ip8cc3

Coinage clause annotated

https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S8-C5-1/ALDE_00001066/

Coinage Act of 1792

https://www.usmint.gov/learn/history/historical-documents/coinage-act-of-april-2-1792

31 U.S.C. § 5112

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/31/5112

12 U.S.C. § 5481 et seq. (creating CFPB)

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/12/chapter-53/subchapter-V

Sen. Warren Initial Report on the CFPB

https://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/2011/07/Report_BuildingTheCfpb1.pdf

Seila Law, LLC v. CFPB

https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=14557349188638541514

NTEU V. VOUGHT I docket (CFPB data)

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.277286/

NTEU V. VOUGHT II docket (CFPB dismantling)

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.277287/

CFPB v. CFSA

https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/23pdf/22-448_o7jp.pdf

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Donald Trump's blitzkrieg of executive orders is running into a million lawsuits. And Elon Musk's inability to keep his mouth shut isn't helping. We'll discuss the avalanche of lawsuits by labor unions, non-profits, FBI agents, and anonymous federal employees, along with the judiciary's response.

Links:

44 USC § 3501 Note

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/44/3501

Musk associates sought to use critical Treasury payment system to shut down USAID spending, emails show

https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/06/politics/elon-musk-treasury-department-payment-system/index.html

US v. Illinois docket

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69616357/united-states-v-state-of-illinois/

FBI Agents Association v. DOJ

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69609596/federal-bureau-of-investigation-agents-association-v-department-of-justice/

AFL-CIO v. Department of Labor docket

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69613359/afl-cio-v-department-of-labor/

Nat'l Council of Nonprofits v. OMB ("Nonprofits Case") docket

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69583571/national-council-of-nonprofits-v-office-of-management-and-budget/

ALLIANCE FOR RETIRED AMERICANS v. BESSENT (challenge to Treasury/BFS)

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69607077/alliance-for-retired-americans-v-bessent/

Doe v. OPM docket (challenge to Musk server spoofing OPM email)

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69582338/doe-v-office-of-personnel-management

New Hampshire Indonesian Community Support v. Trump (challenge to birthright EO)

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69560542/new-hampshire-indonesian-community-support-v-trump/

The Three-Headed Chimera of Trumpian Destruction [Gift Link]

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/the-three-headed-chimera-of-trumpian-destruction/sharetoken/09cb444c-9355-4852-be93-f505cbbd1418

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Elon Musk has invaded Washington. He has set loose a pack of feral teenage code monkeys with a god complex inside every federal agency, promising to do for Washington what he did for Twitter. What could possibly go wrong? Oh, and Musk also has a plan to "rightsize" the government by waving unenforceable contracts at federal employees to induce them into resigning. There's a Fork in the Road all right, but this one is perhaps best not taken.

Links:

Nat'l Counsel of Nonprofits v. OMB ("Nonprofits Case") docket

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69583571/national-council-of-nonprofits-v-office-of-management-and-budget/

Elon Musk Wants to Get Operational Control of the Treasury's Payment System. This Could Not Possibly Be More Dangerous by

https://www.crisesnotes.com/elon-musk-wants-to-get-operational-control-of-the-treasurys-payment-system-this-could-not-possibly-be-more-dangerous/

Office of Personnel Management "Fork in the Road"

https://www.opm.gov/fork

OPM Guidance on Schedule Policy/Career (formerly Schedule F)

https://chcoc.gov/sites/default/files/OPM%20Memorandum%20re%20Schedule%20Policy%20Career%20Guidance%2001-27-25%20FINAL.pdf

American Federation of Gov't Employees v. Trump docket

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69588089/american-federation-of-government-employees-afl-cio-v-trump/

VSIP 5 U.S.C. § 3521 et seq.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/5/part-III/subpart-B/chapter-35/subchapter-II

Truman EO 9830

https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/executive-order-9830-amending-the-civil-service-rules-and-providing-for-federal-personnel

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Trump issued dozens of imperial edicts — oh, sorry, executive orders. Many of them are wildly illegal, mostly are deeply cruel, and all are being challenged in court. We'll discuss the pending injunctions on his birthright citizenship order and the "pause" on government spending so that he can redline the federal budget and delete all the "woke."

Links:

Trump v. Meta docket

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/61568745/trump-v-meta-platforms-inc/

American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO v. Trump docket

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69588089/american-federation-of-government-employees-afl-cio-v-trump/

OMB M-25-13

https://www.washingtonpost.com/documents/deb7af80-48b6-4b8a-8bfa-3d84fd7c3ec8.pdf?itid=lk_inline_manual_2

OMB CLARIFICATION MEMO

https://ngma.memberclicks.net/assets/docs/White%20House%20OMB%20Clarification%20Memo.pdf

Nat'l Counsel of Nonprofits v. OMB ("Nonprofits Case") docket

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69583571/national-council-of-nonprofits-v-office-of-management-and-budget/

State of New York v. Trump ("States Case") docket

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69585994/state-of-new-york-v-trump/

OPM Guidance on Schedule F

https://www.chcoc.gov/content/guidance-implementing-president-trump%E2%80%99s-executive-order-titled-restoring-accountability

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Everyone knows that Congress has the power of the purse. What this administration presupposes is … maybe they don't??? We'll talk about Trump's decision to steal budgeting power from Congress in violation of both the Constitution and the Impoundment Control Act with Office of Management and Budget Alum Bobby Kogan.

Links:

Bobby Kogan

https://www.americanprogress.org/people/bobby-kogan/

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends v. Department of Homeland Security

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69580474/philadelphia-yearly-meeting-of-the-religious-society-of-friends-v/

Trump Energy impoundment EO

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/unleashing-american-energy/

Trump EO pausing foreign aid for 90 days: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/reevaluating-and-realigning-united-states-foreign-aid/

Trump OMB "Clarification"

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2025/01/omb-memo-m-25-11/

Kendall v. US ex Rel. Stokes, 37 U.S. 524 (1838) https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/37/524/

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We're breaking down two of the vilest executive orders Trump signed on his first day in office. First up, he's attacking trans people every way he can, and the crueler, the better. How does this interact with the Supreme Court's holding in Bostock? And Trump ignored 125 years of precedent to declare birthright citizenship illegal. One federal judge has already said NFW. Subscribers get a discussion of the latest Alex Jones bankruptcy negotiations.

Links:

Skrmetti: It was THAT Bad

https://www.lawandchaospod.com/p/skrmetti-it-was-that-bad?utm_source=publication-search

Trump EO - DEFENDING WOMEN FROM GENDER IDEOLOGY EXTREMISM AND RESTORING BIOLOGICAL TRUTH TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/defending-women-from-gender-ideology-extremism-and-restoring-biological-truth-to-the-federal-government/

Foley & Lardner instructions to clients re: Trump's EOs

https://www.foley.com/insights/publications/2025/01/president-trumps-rescission-executive-order/

Trump EO on birthright citizenship

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/protecting-the-meaning-and-value-of-american-citizenship/

Coughenour TRO

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.wawd.343943/gov.uscourts.wawd.343943.43.0_1.pdf

Baldoni/Lively docket

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.635145

Alex Jones docket (for Patreon bonus)

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/66583024/alexander-e-jones/

Show Links:

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Contributing Artist: Liz Dye; Andrew Torrez

Album artist: Liz Dye; Andrew Torrez

Album: Law and Chaos

Genre: Government; Politics

Publisher: Res Ipsa Media LLC

Trump has vowed to deport millions of undocumented immigrants and close the border. Today's guest, Dan Kowalski, practiced immigration law for 38 years and writes extensively on the subject. We'll break down what to expect and how to fight back.

Links:

Involuntary Departure, by Dan Kowalski

https://dankowalski.substack.com/

American Council on Education: Immigration-Related Campus Concerns

https://www.acenet.edu/Documents/Issue-Brief-Immigration-Related-Campus-Concerns-2025.pdf

Against the Wall

https://heliotropebooks.com/books/against-the-wall-my-journey-from-border-patrol-agent-to-immigration-rights-activist/

NYT Debate on Birthright Citizenship

https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2015/08/24/should-birthright-citizenship-be-abolished/eliminating-birthright-citizenship-would-be-a-bureacratic-and-costly-change-of-law

Is Birthright Citizenship Good for America

https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/serials/files/cato-journal/2012/1/cj32n1-10.pdf

Myths and Facts about Birthright Citizenship

https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/sites/default/files/research/Birthright%20Citizenship%20091509.pdf

IPTP Will Track Trump 2.0

https://www.lexisnexis.com/community/insights/legal/immigration/b/outsidenews/posts/iptp-will-track-trump-2-0

Justice Action Center: Tracking Extremist Challenges to Immigrant Inclusive Policies

https://litigationtracker.justiceactioncenter.org/

Us and Them: The Science of Identity

https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/U/bo5812106.html

Understanding INA Section 212(f): The President's Authority to Suspend the Entry of Migrants

https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/understanding-ina-section-212f-president-authority-suspend-entry-migrants

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As we prepare for the disaster, we break down Volume One of the Special Counsel Report, and discuss the brazen hackery behind Judge Cannon's effort to bury Volume Two. And Rudy settles with Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss. Is that good or bad news?

Links:

SMITH FINAL REPORT Vol. 1

https://www.justice.gov/storage/Report-of-Special-Counsel-Smith-Volume-1-January-2025.pdf

Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton [SCOTUS Docket]

https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/23-1122.html

TikTok C.E.O. Plans to Attend Trump Inauguration

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/15/us/politics/tiktok-ceo-trump-inauguration.html

US v Trump (SDFL) docket

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67490070/united-states-v-trump/

Freeman v. Giuliani (SDNY) docket

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69116157/freeman-v-giuliani/

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