Category World News

A whistleblower complaint was released by a former US Department of Justice (DOJ) lawyer, accusing officials of purposefully disregarding court orders that might impede US President Donald Trump’s campaign for mass deportation.

A 35-page letter of complaint was submitted on Tuesday by Erez Reuveni’s lawyers detailing his accusations against the Trump administration.

In addition to defending Trump’s efforts to arrest and deport non-citizens quickly, a process that has raised concerns about rights violations, it provides a look at the debates and divisions that are taking place in the Justice Department.

According to the letter, members of the Trump administration “have engaged in unlawful activity, abused their authority, [and] have [created] a significant and specific threat to health and safety.”

In consequence, it states that “Mr. Reuveni is exercising his rights to report wrongdoing.”

The letter addressed the inspector general for the Justice Department, who investigates allegations of misconduct within the bureau, as well as to members of Congress. In April, Reuveni was ultimately fired.

Emil Bove, who formerly represented Trump’s personal lawyer, is one of the prominent figures in his allegations. Last year, Trump was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business documents in New York, and he was able to assist in defending him against criminal charges.

Bove has since been included in Trump’s second term as president. Bove served as the Justice Department’s acting attorney general for the first three months of Trump’s term. Additionally, he will be a judge for the US Third Circuit Court of Appeals until this week when he is subject to a Senate confirmation hearing.

Scrutiny on deportation flights

One incident allegedly occurred on March 14 as Trump considered whether to implement the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a law passed during World War II, to facilitate prompt evictions from the nation.

Bove told Justice Department attorneys that Trump would soon sign an order to invoke the law, which had only been used three times in US history, all during wartime.

Bove added that people would soon be deported under the authority of the law if planes took off soon.

However, Bove anticipated court-imposed retaliation, Reuveni said. He claimed that Bove “would need to consider telling the courts ‘f*** you'” and that Bove “stressed to all in attendance that the planes needed to take off no matter what.”

Reuveni observed “awkward, nervous glances” among his colleagues, and the room turned silent.

According to Mr. Reuveni, Bove’s statement shocked him because, to his knowledge, no one in the DOJ leadership, especially in the “f*** you,” had ever suggested that the Department of Justice could flagrantly disregard court orders.

The Justice Department’s government clients were instructed to follow court orders and not ignore them, according to the statement.

A US district court led by Judge James Boasberg argued the government’s use of the Alien Enemies Act the day before, on March 15.

A senior Justice Department official denied knowing whether any deportation flights were about to begin when Boasberg questioned him. Reuveni claimed that was false in his complaint.

In the following day, Boasberg issued a court injunction that forbade any US aircraft from deporting people in violation of the Alien Enemies Act.

Reuveni claimed to have repeatedly emailed the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State to check that their actions followed Boasberg’s orders. He claimed that he had not received a response.

The Terrorism Confinement Centre, or CECOT, is where hundreds of deported immigrants are housed in.

The complaint states that “Mr. Reuveni anticipated that the government would be held in contempt of court for deplaning the passengers on the flight.”

Although an appeals court has temporarily halted the investigation, Boasberg has since stated that he has found probable cause for contempt from the Trump administration.

Inside the Abrego Garcia case

Reuveni claimed in a second instance detailed in the complaint that he had been told to “stop asking questions” after warning the Trump administration that it might be violating another court injunction.

Reuveni claimed that he was given advice to “communicate by phone only where possible,” presumably to avoid leaving a paper trail.

Reuveni’s involvement in the well-known case of Salvadoran national Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was granted a protection order to stay in the US, is revealed in a third episode of the complaint.

Abrego Garcia was deported on March 15 despite what officials claimed was an “administrative error.”

Abrego Garcia was charged with joining a gang, MS-13, despite the Trump administration’s defense of its actions.

The Trump administration kept Abrego Garcia in Salvadoran custody for more than two months despite a Supreme Court order that was upheld in order to “facilitate” his return. On the premise that he would face criminal charges for human trafficking, it only returned him to the US on June 6.

Reuveni claimed in the complaint that he initially anticipated Abrego Garcia’s return to the US would be “straightforward.”

Then, he claimed that he had been stonewalled and that he should “cease making requests” and “stop asking for facts to support any possible defense of the case.” Additionally, El Salvador’s government’s “asks” were for him to be abstained.

Reuveni later made headlines after claiming in court that Abrego Garcia should not have been expunged. He added that Paula Xinis, the judge in the case, did not provide “satisfactory” responses to questions.

The Trump administration saw that as a blackout.

Reuveni’s boss was reportedly asked by the court’s administrator why he didn’t deny that Abrego Garcia was a member of a terrorist organization during the hearing behind closed doors. Reuveni responded that the government had not provided evidence or briefs to back up that claim.

Reuveni reportedly said he could not sign the appeal because the allegations “weren’t supported by law or the record” when the Trump administration circulated it on April 4.

The complaint stated that “Mr. Reuveni responded, “I didn’t sign up to lie.”

fallout in the workplace

After nearly 15 years of service, Reuveni was terminated from his position with the Justice Department on April 11.

Attorney General Pam Bondi was charged at the time with acting illiberally against the law, as is customary of a government lawyer. Reuveni’s complaint disputes that assertion, though.

It states that “a significant part of the legal profession is to discourage clients from engaging in illegal behavior.” Mr. Reuveni attempted to do so, but was thwarted, threatened, fired, and publicly disparaged for both acting legally and telling the truth in court.

Reuveni’s work on immigration policy was previously rated as “stellar,” according to the complaint, which included those that were given to him during Trump’s first term.

Members of the Trump administration attempted to substantiate Reuveni’s claims as those of a “disgruntled former employee” as the news of the complaint spread in the US media.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement on social media that “I was present at the meeting described in the article and never did anyone suggest that a court order should not be followed.”

He accused Reuveni and other media outlets of trying to sabotage Bove’s chances of being elected as a circuit court judge, including The New York Times, which published a copy of Reuveni’s complaint.

He remarked, “This journalism is disgusting.” We have come to expect false hits from the media the day before a confirmation hearing, but doing so does not mean it should be tolerated.

Democrats, in contrast, seized the complaint as proof of Trump administration malfeasance.

Emil Bove disregarded court orders and the rule of law. Senator Cory Booker wrote on social media that “he does not belong on the federal bench.”

Meanwhile, Reuveni was praised in a statement by Senator Dick Durbin for his whistleblower behavior. He claimed that Bove’s “serious allegations” were subject to the Senate’s strictest scrutiny.

Since Sunday, the Middle East has lurched from escalating war to fragile ceasefire. A truce seems to be holding, and what US President Donald Trump called “The 12 Day War” between Israel and Iran seems to be over – for now.

Meanwhile, Trump, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iran’s leaders have all claimed that the pause in the conflict happened on their terms.

So, what’s the truth? What did Israel achieve? Did Iran manage to defend its strategic assets? And is the truce a pathway to peace?

How did events unfold?

Late on Saturday night, at Israel’s behest, the US entered the Israeli-Iranian war with strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, “completely obliterating” them, in Trump’s words.

On Monday, Iran struck back, firing missiles at the largest US airbase in the Middle East, Al Udeid in Qatar.

It appeared as though the Middle East was poised for a broader, longer war.

But within hours, Trump announced on Truth Social, his social media platform, “It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE.”

Trump called it “the 12 Day War … that could have gone on for years and destroyed the Middle East”.

Four hours after the ceasefire was supposed to take effect, Israel launched a strike against Iran in retaliation for what it said were two ballistic missiles entering its airspace, launched from Iran. Both were intercepted. Israel’s retaliation destroyed a radar station near Tehran.

Trump was furious. “I’m really unhappy that Israel went out this morning,” he told reporters.

“We’ve got two countries that have been fighting so hard and for so long, that they don’t know what the f*** they’re doing.”

Iran said it did not fire those missiles. By 11:30 GMT the ceasefire was back in effect. Trump spoke to Netanyahu.

“ISRAEL is not going to attack Iran. All planes will turn around and head home, while doing a friendly ‘Plane Wave’ to Iran. Nobody will be hurt, the Ceasefire is in effect!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

What did Israel achieve?

Israel has long claimed that Iran is its number one existential threat, but it has never before struck Tehran’s nuclear facilities.

On June 13, it crossed that red line, bombing the surface installations of the Natanz fuel enrichment plant and the Isfahan nuclear technological complex. Iran retaliated by launching drones and missiles at Israel.

Israel had struck nuclear installations in Syria and Iraq before, but it has now proved it can carry out a complex mission much further afield.

It also withstood international accusations that its mission wasn’t legal. Israel claims it was anticipatory self-defence, but not everyone agrees that Iran is developing a nuclear bomb, or that it planned to use it against Israel imminently.

“I speak with world leaders and they are very impressed by our determination and the achievements of our forces,” Netanyahu said on June 18.

Finally, Israel proved it can convince the US to enter a limited Middle Eastern offensive it has started. In previous wars in 1967 and 1973, the US had provided material support to Israel when it was attacked, but had not assisted it with direct operational involvement.

Netanyahu thanked Trump for “standing alongside us”.

Operation Rising Lion against Iran took place in the wake of conflicts that Israel has waged against Iran’s regional allies – the Houthis in Yemen, Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Hamas and Hezbollah have been weakened over the past two years.

Did Iran manage to defend its nuclear programme?

Israel managed to significantly damage surface targets in Iran, and the US claims to have destroyed underground nuclear facilities.

But while satellite photography shows that their missiles hit their mark, there is no independent confirmation available to verify what was destroyed. That will need on-site inspections.

“At this time, no one – including the IAEA – is in a position to have fully assessed the underground damage at Fordow,” said Rafael Grossi, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations nuclear watchdog, on Monday, after the US strikes. “Given the explosive payload utilized, and the extreme vibration-sensitive nature of centrifuges, very significant damage is expected to have occurred,” he said.

Also unknown are the whereabouts of 400 kilogrammes (880 pounds) of highly enriched uranium that the IAEA has said Iran now possesses.

Mohammad Eslami, the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation, suggested the nuclear programme would emerge unscathed. “Preparations for recovery had already been anticipated, and our plan is to prevent any interruption in production or services,” he said on Tuesday in a statement carried by the semi-official Mehr news agency.

Meanwhile, confusion lingers over the source of two ballistic missiles that hit Israel on Tuesday morning, three and a half hours after the ceasefire began. Iran’s government officially denied having launched the missiles.

So who did? And were they fired accidentally – like the Iranian missile that accidentally brought down a Ukrainian passenger plane in 2021, killing 176 people?

How likely is another strike on Iran?

What Israel and Iran have agreed to is a ceasefire. They haven’t made peace.

On Iran’s nuclear programme, experts say that there are – broadly speaking – two possible future paths.

Renewed UN inspections of Iranian nuclear facilities and a new treaty with Iran, perhaps resembling former US President Barack Obama’s Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action of 2015, might help Tehran ease global pressure on its programme, though it was Trump who pulled out of the JCPOA, not Iran.

This is where European powers can play a role. Three of them, the United Kingdom, France and Germany, met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on June 20, along with the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, in an effort to avert US strikes. That bid failed, but although the EU cannot alone leverage Iran into a compromise, it can act as a counterpoint to US-Israeli hard power.

“Iran will try to involve the Europeans diplomatically by proposing enhanced monitoring and making commitments in its nuclear programme,” Ioannis Kotoulas, an adjunct lecturer in geopolitics at Athens University, told Al Jazeera.

“The US could accept a peaceful nuclear programme – [US Secretary of State Marco] Rubio has already said so. The likelihood is that the US won’t try to force regime change,” he said. “Europe is now Iran’s only way out. Russia is unreliable.”

But Israel has previously tried to scupper any nuclear deal between the West and Iran, and is unlikely yo accept a fresh agreement.

And will Iran even be open to a compromise, after the US pulled out of its previous nuclear deal with Tehran, then changed goalposts during recent talks, and finally joined Israel in bombing Iranian nuclear facilities while they were supposed to be negotiating an agreement?

“That really depends on dynamics within the country and how any climbdown is phrased, but there have already been calls to cease uranium enrichment from activists within the country,” Ali Ansari, a professor of Iranian history at St Andrews University, told Al Jazeera.

So far, Iran sounds unyielding in the pursuit of its nuclear programme.

On Monday, the national security committee of Iran’s parliament approved a bill pushing for the full suspension of Tehran’s cooperation with the IAEA if approved in a plenary session.

Meanwhile, Trump emphasised on Tuesday on social media that he would not allow Iran’s nuclear programme to resume.

After nearly two weeks of intense air strikes and the beginning of a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran, confusion, uncertainty, and distrust have seized households in Tehran’s capital.

Some families who were displaced by the conflict returned home quickly, while others were more cautious.

The intensity of Monday night’s bombardment left Samaneh, a 37-year-old reporter who only wanted to give her first name, shaken.

The worst was the bombing’s final night. She feared for her family and friends in the Iranian capital because she truly believed she would never see her loved ones again.

Those who doubted the ceasefire will continue, especially given allegations of violations and promises of retaliation, have only a passing gander at the ceasefire, which started on Tuesday.

Samaneh explained that while she “thought it was just another psychological game [he] was playing with us], she “knows that this ceasefire is temporary.”

“I couldn’t believe that Israel and Iran would support it,” she said. The Tehran-based woman continued, “I keep expecting someone to sabotage the entire thing.” I experienced relief, along with sadness, anger, and fear, until Foreign Affairs Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed the ceasefire in a formal message from Oman, she continued.

“I’m incredibly discouraged. But she said, “I hope I can finally fall asleep after 12 nights.” “I feel for the people of Gaza, Palestine, and Lebanon, who have endured this kind of suffering for years,” said one of the mourners.

Israel launched strikes on Iranian nuclear and military installations on June 13 that resulted in the deaths of numerous civilians, military leaders, and scientists. Iran launched drone strikes and ballistic missiles in Israeli cities as retaliation. At least 610 people have died and 4,746 have been hurt, according to Iran. At least 28 people have died and hundreds have been injured in Israel.

“We who pay”

Raha, a 41-year-old history teacher who had traveled abroad but insisted on coming home when Israel attacked to make sure her family was safe, expressed her disgust in Karaj, a region of greater Tehran.

It’s a pause rather than peace, they say. How can we trust those who simultaneously refer to regime change and peace? she inquired.

Trump has mentioned that Iran is accepting “peace,” which is essentially accepting US demands for the surrender of its nuclear program. The US president has also called for regime change, saying, “If the current Iranian regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change? ” MIGA!! “!

She continued, “I worry that this is only a brief break, a chance for Israel’s military to regroup before conducting yet another round of air strikes, just like they have in Palestine and Lebanon.”

Raha continued, “The US and Israel have destroyed our organization.” Without us, they are in charge of shaping our future. They mention freedom, women, and life, but they also attacked my country. They shook my nation’s skies and borders. They murder innocent people. And within a few hours, American bombs detonated billions of dollars, which could have been used to rebuild Iran. Our nuclear arsenal eventually turned into black holes and craters.

Iran has consistently claimed that it has developed nuclear weapons, but Israel and the US have done so for years.

Hadi, a 42-year-old civil engineer from Ahwaz’s southwest, supports the government’s position on its nuclear program, noting that it had agreed to a previous nuclear agreement in 2015 that Trump unilaterally rejected three years later.

We have said repeatedly as a nation that we are not interested in developing nuclear weapons, Hadi said. Iran was plunged into the brink of war by Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the nuclear deal.

Hadi is happy that the Iranian government accepted the ceasefire, though he remained positive about it.

“We’ve lost a lot of martyrs,” he said. He said, “I hope this brings the people of my country closer together, and that the government lessens its positions on issues like the hijab.” “We need unity and reconstruction.”

Raha worries about the domestic outcry and worries about what will happen to Iranians in the wake of the Israeli bombardment, which she believes the government will ultimately reject.

The regime may now attempt to retaliate against Israel by focusing its repression on women, especially since it was defeated, “I’m afraid.” more arrests are made. more repression. We are always responsible for the payment, she said.

Since the start of the conflict with Israel, Iran has made dozens of arrests, primarily on suspicion of spying on Israel. In 2022, Iran has previously repressed opposition activists, and some human rights activists fear that more people will be detained for speaking out against Israel.

I have no faith that it will last.

Nine security personnel were killed when Israeli missiles struck two military installations in the central province of Yazd, prompting Mohammad, a 28-year-old nurse, to work the night shift on high alert. Early on Tuesday morning, he left his house to find the Iranian authorities having confirmed the ceasefire.

“Sorry, my brain isn’t functioning properly after working night shift,” I said. But he continued to be shocked. The regime almost assuredly agreed to a ceasefire almost immediately, contrary to what many of us had anticipated: a drawn-out war. Even the majority of its critics were unable to believe it because it was so unexpected. He continued, “I believe the regime were cornered because they were afraid of more prominent Israeli assassinations or even internal armed groups.”

The exhausted 28-year-old continued, “I’m glad there’s a ceasefire, but I don’t trust it will last.” He added that he thought the world powers were just sacrificing Iranian lives for their own goals.

I don’t trust Israel, the US, or the Iranian government, Mohammad continued. This regime wasted a chance to reach an agreement with the US President Joe Biden’s administration. Israel assassinated our nuclear scientists and their families, assassinated hundreds of civilians and soldiers, and violated our sovereignty. He cited the destruction done to the country as evidence that the US bombed my nation and quickly destroyed the wealth of several generations.

I have no right to trust any of the people involved in this ceasefire, as far as I’m concerned.

Chair Jerome Powell’s statement, which is directly in line with President Donald Trump’s demands for immediate cuts, puts the US Federal Reserve at odds with itself with the direction the economy will take before deciding whether to cut its key interest rate.

In prepared remarks made on Tuesday before the Republican-led US House Committee on Financial Services, Powell said, “We are well positioned for the moment to wait to learn more about the likely course of the economy before making any adjustments to our policy stance.”

The Fed or US central bank is only supposed to deal with the anticipated impact on inflation, Powell has told members of Congress.

Powell stated that the Federal Reserve is not making any comments on tariffs. Our job is to control inflation, and when policies have long- and long-term, meaningful effects, inflation becomes our responsibility.

In response to GOP members’ suggestions that interest rates should be decreased, as Trump has repeatedly demanded, Powell stated that economists have a common view of higher inflation over the course of the year.

According to Powell, “every professional forecaster I know of anticipates a significant increase in inflation over the course of this year.” Powell further explained why the Fed is reluctant to cut rates because significant issues with Trump’s trade policy are still unresolved.

looming changes

Before considering lowering rates, Powell claimed the central bank needs more time to assess whether rising tariffs increase inflation. He anticipates that the Fed will receive a lot of data about the effects of tariffs on inflation over the coming months, anticipating that he will start seeing more data impact from readings from June.

In his testimony at the hearing’s opening, Powell said, “Increases in tariffs this year are likely to push up prices and weigh on economic activity.

“A one-time change in the price level could have a negative impact on inflation,” the author speculates. We are well positioned to wait to learn more about the likely direction of the economy before making any adjustments to our policy stance. It is also possible that the inflationary effects could instead be more persistent.

Investors placed fewer bets on the central bank’s ability to reduce its policy interest rate as soon as its July meeting, and raised the likelihood of a rate reduction in September, with another rate reduction set to occur later in the year.

The central bank’s most recent policy statement, approved last week, is largely consistent with Powell’s testimony, as is typically the case with his semiannual congressional appearances. No indication that rate cuts were on the horizon were presented at the meeting, where the benchmark interest rate was unanimously set to remain steady at 4.25 percent to 4.5%.

According to recent economic projections, officials at the time anticipate two quarter-point rate cuts by the end of the year, in line with market pricing.

Two Fed governors, both Trump appointees, have stated that rates could drop as soon as the July meeting, not yet in response to the rise in inflation, while two reserve bank presidents worry that the rate will rise over the course of the year.

Trump has repeatedly called for steep rate cuts, including the one that gave Powell his first term and is expected to take his place when his term expires in the spring.

In a social media post before the hearing, he said, “We should be at least two to three points lower,” adding that he hoped “Congress really works this very stupid, hardheaded person, over.”

Over the course of his three terms as chair of the Fed, Powell has established strong alliances in Congress, and he has frequently received praise from Republicans and Democrats for his oversight of the agency.

In his prepared testimony, Powell claimed that the economy is still in a “solid position” with no unemployment or inflation below its pandemic-era high.

However, there is still a lot of uncertainty surrounding Trump’s trade policies as a July 9 deadline for imposing higher tariffs on a number of nations.

According to Powell, the Fed will need to understand the result of that policy change.

According to Powell, “political changes are evolving, and the impact on the economy is still undetermined.”

Consumer confidence is dipped again as a result of Powell’s comments on inflation. The Conference Board’s monthly report was released today, which revealed the loss of half of the consumer confidence gains since May.