Exclusive: Trump's top prosecutor in D.C. demotes senior leaders

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By Caitlin Tremblay

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Ed Martin, President Donald Trump's top federal prosecutor in Washington, D.C., demoted several senior leaders to entry-level positions on Friday as he continued his shakeup of one of the DOJ's most crucial offices, according to three sources and an email seen by Reuters. Sarah Lynch and Andrew Goudsward have more.

U.S. Supreme Court …

The U.S. Supreme Court appeared poised to lower the bar for "reverse discrimination" lawsuits … Chief Justice John Roberts paused a federal judge's order requiring Trump's administration to pay foreign aid funds to contractors and grant recipients … The court granted an Oklahoma death row inmate a new trial and overturned a $43 million award in the "Dewberry" trademark case … And the justices rebuffed a free speech challenge to abortion clinic buffer zones and rejected RFK Jr's challenge to New York ballot rules.

Trump administration …

"Where is Elon Musk in all of this?" Judges question secrecy of DOGE's activities … U.S. officials must testify about DOGE in lawsuit over access to agency systems … A U.S. judge halted the Trump administration's calls for mass firings at agencies … A separate federal judge refused to halt the firings of CIA officers in DEIA programs … Another federal judge blocked Trump's indefinite suspension of a refugee resettlement program … The Trump administration dropped five consumer watchdog cases, including one against Capital One … The SEC filed to dismiss a lawsuit against Coinbase … The White House took control of the press pool covering Trump and barred the AP, Reuters and other media from covering Trump's cabinet meeting … And a federal judge allowed Trump's AP Oval Office ban to stand over the Gulf of Mexico name.

Legal industry …

More lawyers join the $3,000-an-hour club, as other firms close in … The California bar exam "fiasco" this week needs court intervention, law deans say … Trump curtails U.S. business with law firm representing Jack Smith … A judge fined lawyers in a Walmart lawsuit over fake, AI-generated cases … An Alabama judge sanctioned LGBTQ+ rights lawyers for "judge shopping" … An ethics ruling barred a law firm from taking hospital clients in a Blue Cross case … A Republican lawmaker called for a U.S. judge's impeachment over foreign aid ruling … The U.S. judiciary raised concerns about the Marshals Service's new immigration focus … A U.S. judge urged Congress to revive an effort to expand the judiciary … And KPMG was approved to launch a U.S. law firm in a first for the Big Four accounting firms.

President Donald Trump's executive order earlier this month called for a pause on all Foreign Corrupt Practices Act enforcement actions. But Jenna Greene, who has scoured the FCPA dockets, finds that so far there's little public sign that prosecutors are changing course in pending cases, including the handful that are scheduled for trial. Here's a look at the situation.

Trump says Zelenskiy "can come back when he is ready for peace." Here's more on the meeting … Trump plans to sign an EO making English the official language of the U.S. … Democratic appropriators say Republicans have left U.S. government funding talks, raising risk of shutdown … Astronomers see lower risk of newly found asteroid hitting Earth … The Oscars are this weekend. Conan O'Brien is hosting and old Hollywood glamor is expected on the red carpet. Here's a full list of nominees and a look inside this year's coveted gift bags … And our oddest photos of the week.

caitlin.tremblay@thomsonreuters.com

@ctrembz

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