Jerome Powell isn't the first high-profile official to find himself targeted by the Justice Department since Donald Trump returned to the White House. The Republican president pledged in his inaugural address his government would apply the law fairly — unlike the way he said federal power had been turned against him. What's happened since is a string of indictments and inquiries and failed attempts at indictments against a long line of people who've crossed Trump. The list includes Federal Reserve governors who won't cut interest rates fast enough for Trump, former directors at the CIA and the FBI, and prosecutors who've investigated and even won cases against him.

Former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith has told lawmakers in a closed-door interview his team "developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt" President Donald Trump criminally conspired to overturn his 2020 election loss. That's according to portions of Smith's opening statement obtained by The Associated Press on Wednesday. Smith says investigators had "powerful evidence" Trump broke the law by hoarding classified documents at his Florida estate from his first term as president and by obstructing government efforts to recover the records. Smith says decisions in the investigations were made without regard to consideration of Trump's Republican candidacy in 2024. Trump has said he'd rather see Smith testify publicly.

A federal judge says the Justice Department can release special counsel Jack Smith's investigative report on President-elect Donald Trump's 2020 election interference case. The ruling from U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, who was appointed to the bench by Trump, is the latest in the back and forth in a court dispute over the report from the special counsel who prosecuted Trump in two cases the Justice Department abandoned in November. Cannon had earlier temporarily blocked the department from releasing the report. Cannon on Monday cleared the way for the release of the volume on Trump's 2020 election interference case. A temporary injunction barring the immediate release of the report remains in effect until Tuesday.

Congress has certified Donald Trump as the 2024 presidential election winner without challenge. It's in stark contrast to 2021 violence. Lawmakers convened under heavy security and a snowstorm to certify the vote Monday, with the reading of the electoral results from the states coming swiftly. The legacy of Jan. 6, 2021, hung over Monday's proceedings as the Republican who tried to overturn the previous election is legitimately returning to power. As lawmakers gathered, the tightest national security was in place. It's a reminder of what happened at the U.S. Capitol four years ago, when a defeated Trump sent rallygoers to "fight like hell." Vice President Kamala Harris, presiding over her own defeat, said, "America's democracy stood."

Donald Trump says that if wins the White House, he'll fire special counsel Jack Smith "within two seconds" of taking office. Smith has charged Trump over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his mishandling of classified documents. Trump told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt on Thursday that the decision would be "so easy." Trump, if elected, could order the Justice Department to remove Smith, But Trump probably would not be able to do it on his own because Smith isn't a presidential appointee. When Trump, while president, was investigated by special counsel Robert Mueller, Trump urged his then-White House counsel, Don McGahn, to press the Justice Department to terminate Mueller. McGahn refused.

The U.S. Supreme Court justices have sent Donald Trump's immunity case back to a lower court in Washington, dimming the prospect of a preelection trial. In a historic ruling, the justices said for the first time Monday that former presidents can be shielded from prosecution for at least some of what they do in the Oval Office. But rather than do it themselves, the justices ordered lower courts to figure out precisely how to apply the decision to Trump's case. The court also decided to keep a hold on efforts in Texas and Florida to limit how social media platforms regulate content posted by their users, returning to cases to lower courts.

The House is expected to vote on a resolution holding Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress for refusing to turn over audio of President Joe Biden's interview in his classified documents case. It is a move that comes just weeks after the White House blocked release of the recording to lawmakers. The contempt action represents House Republicans' latest and strongest rebuke of the Justice Department and of Garland's leadership. And it's playing out against the backdrop of an extraordinary conflict over the rule of law that has animated the presidential campaign. But it remains uncertain if House Speaker Mike Johnson can garner enough support on the floor to pass the contempt resolution as Republicans have the slimmest of majorities.

President Joe Biden says he will accept the outcome of his son's criminal case and "will continue to respect the judicial process." The president made the statement after jurors convicted Hunter Biden on all three felony charges in his federal gun case in Delaware. In a written statement following the verdict, Hunter Biden said he was disappointed by the outcome but grateful for the support of family and friends. His attorney said they will continue to pursue "all the legal challenges available." First lady Jill Biden, who sat through most of the trial, arrived at the courthouse minutes after the jury delivered its verdict and was not in the courtroom when it was read.

Attorney General Merrick Garland is forcefully rebuking what he describes as "unprecedented" attacks on the Justice Department. Garland on Tuesday told House Republicans who have sought to hold him in contempt that he will "not be intimidated." During a hearing before the the House Judiciary Committee, Garland condemned what he said are "baseless and extremely dangerous falsehoods" being peddled about the FBI and slammed threats to defund the special counsel prosecutions of former President Donald Trump. His appearance comes as Republicans have moved to hold him in contempt for the Biden administration's refusal to hand over audio of President Joe Biden's interview with special counsel Robert Hur.

Jurors on Tuesday got their first look at the document at the center of Hunter Biden's federal gun trial. Prosecutors shows the form after spending hours detailing Hunter Biden's drug problems. The case is dredging up painful memories for the president and his family, and revealing new and highly personal details about their struggles with addiction and grief as the 2024 election looms, all while the first lady and Hunter Biden's sister Ashley watched from the front row of the courtroom.