Judge: Lawmakers can sue to ensure release of Epstein files, but not as part of Maxwell case

NEW YORK (AP) — Congressional cosponsors of a law forcing the Justice Department to release its files on Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell can file a lawsuit seeking a court-appointed observer to ensure compliance, but they lack the legal right to append their demand to her criminal case, a judge ruled Wednesday. Judge Paul A. Engelmayer blocked U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky. from intervening in Maxwell’s sex trafficking case. The lawmakers, whose Epstein Files Transparency Act was signed into law by President Donald Trump in November, petitioned the judge last week in a bid to speed the public disclosure of files related to investigations into the late financier and Maxwell, his longtime confidant.

Supreme Court seems inclined to keep Lisa Cook on Fed board

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court seems inclined to keep Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook in her job, casting doubt on President Donald Trump’s bid to wrest control of the nation’s central bank. The justices heard arguments Wednesday over Trump’s effort to fire Cook based on allegations she committed mortgage fraud, which she denies. No president has fired a sitting governor in the 112-year history of the Fed, which was structured to be independent of day-to-day politics. The true motivation for trying to fire Cook, Trump’s critics say, is the Republican president’s desire to exert control over U.S. interest rate policy. Conservative and liberal justices voiced skepticism over Cook’s firing.

Trump admin. drops legal appeal over anti-DEI funding threat to schools and colleges

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is dropping its appeal of a federal court ruling that blocked a campaign against diversity, equity, and inclusion threatening federal funding to the nation’s schools and colleges. The Education Department moved to dismiss its appeal in a Wednesday court filing. It leaves in place a federal judge’s decision finding that the anti-DEI effort violated the First Amendment and federal procedural rules. The department didn’t immediately comment. The dispute centered on federal guidance telling schools and colleges they’d lose federal money if they kept a wide range of practices the administration labeled as diversity, equity and inclusion.

Former Iowa supt. charged for claiming US citizenship expected to change not guilty plea

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Former Des Moines superintendent Ian Roberts is set to appear before a federal judge on charges of falsely claiming U.S. citizenship and illegally possessing firearms. Roberts is originally from Guyana and initially pleaded not guilty to the charges. He is expected to change his plea on Thursday. The charges could lead to 20 years in prison. He also could be deported. Roberts was targeted by federal immigration agents and arrested in September. Authorities found a loaded handgun and cash in his vehicle. Roberts was an educator and administrator for two decades in districts across the U.S., and his arrest stunned the Des Moines community.