Breaking News: Justice Department official urges quick dismissal of criminal case against New York City mayor……Read More

Follow the latest news from President Donald Trump’s administration | February 19, 2025

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The Justice Department’s second-in-command demanded that a judge dismiss corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. The mayor, who faces conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery charges in a five-count indictment, declared, “I have not committed a crime.”

Manhattan federal Judge Dale E. Ho declined to rule immediately, saying he wanted to carefully review the “unusual situation,” but did acknowledge the vast political and legal implications. “I’m not going to shoot from the hip right here on the bench,” said Ho before acknowledging, “It is not in anyone’s interest for this to drag on.”

Other news we’re following today:

Cartel designations: The Trump administration is formally designating eight Latin American crime organizations as “foreign terrorist organizations,” upping its pressure on cartels operating in the U.S. and on anyone aiding them. The move carries out a Jan. 20 executive order by Trump.
Tracking federal firings and layoffs: Thousands of federal government employees have been shown the door in the first month of Trump’s administration. While there is no official figure available of the total firings or layoffs, the AP is tracking how agencies are being affected.

Social Security checks: Trump and Elon Musk are falsely claiming that tens of millions of dead people over 100 years old are receiving Social Security payments. While some improper payments have been made, the Social Security Administration’s data shows that those numbers are vastly overstated and misrepresentative.

VA press secretary Pete Kasperowicz said no Veterans Crisis Line responders were affected by last week’s layoffs of more than 1,000 probationary employees.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth told journalists Wednesday that her office has heard from fired VA employees who worked for the crisis line and supported the VA claims process.

VA leaders can request that employees be exempted from probationary removal, Kasperowicz said, and hiring continues for more than 300,000 essential positions that are exempted from the administration’s hiring freeze because they provide health care and other vital services.