DOJ subpoenas targeting Trump foe Letitia James cannot be enforced, appeals court rules

Key Points:

• A U.S. appeals court ruled that the Justice Department cannot enforce subpoenas issued by John Sarcone, a Trump ally unlawfully installed as a top federal prosecutor, seeking information about cases pursued by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
• The subpoenas targeted records related to civil lawsuits James filed against Trump, his family business, and the NRA, but the court upheld a lower court’s decision barring Sarcone from investigating due to his improper appointment.
• This ruling marks the third time a U.S. appeals court rejected the Trump administration’s efforts to bypass the official appointment process for U.S. Attorneys, who require Senate confirmation or federal judge approval.
• The Justice Department disagrees with the ruling and plans to appeal to the Supreme Court, while James denies any wrongdoing and claims the investigations are politically motivated retaliation.
• Previous similar cases involved unlawfully appointed Trump-aligned U.S. Attorneys in other districts, and a dissenting judge argued that delays in Senate confirmations justified temporary appointments during political stalemates.