Newsweek Pardon Power May Turn Lawfare Nuclear Under Donald Trump | Opinion Published Dec 03, 2024 at 3:45 AM EST By Thomas G. Moukawsher Retired Judge and Author   Forget Hunter Biden‘s pardon. Whatever President Joe Biden said earlier about it, anybody who didn’t see that coming doesn’t know anything about him. Above all, he loves his family. The pardon…

Newsweek Will Pam Bondi Save Us From Fentanyl or Dole Out Trump’s Vengeance? | Opinion Published Nov 27, 2024 at 1:39 PM EST By Thomas G. Moukawsher Retired Judge and Author There are two encouraging signs about the incoming Trump administration. The first is that the United States still has a Senate. Its members’ firm repudiation of the unqualified and clownish Matt Gaetz for…

Newsweek The Supreme Court Could Easily Strike Down Trump Recess Appointments | Opinion Published Nov 19, 2024 at 2:41 PM EST By Thomas G. Moukawsher Retired Judge and Author   The Supreme Court could easily strike down President-elect Donald Trump‘s cabinet picks if he tries to kneecap the Senate confirmation process with recess appointments. Knowing that some of his most important nominees—think Matt…

Newsweek Donald Trump, Matt Gaetz, and Caligula’s Horse | Opinion Published Nov 15, 2024 at 11:49 AM EST By Thomas G. Moukawsher Retired Judge and Author   President-elect Donald Trump‘s choice of Matt Gaetz for attorney general ranks next to the story of Roman Emperor Caligula deciding to nominate his horse, Incitatus, as a consul. Members of the United States Senate should…

Newsweek We Must Defend Our Democratic Institutions—And We Can | Opinion Published Nov 13, 2024 at 5:27 AM EST By Thomas G. Moukawsher Retired Judge and Author   Obviously, following Donald Trump‘s election to the presidency, many of us misunderstood the ultimate priorities of most Americans. The election suggests those priorities are problems related to three things: immigration,…

Newsweek U.S. Courts May Face Their Ultimate Test After Tuesday | Opinion Published Nov 04, 2024 at 5:27 AM EST By Thomas G. Moukawsher Retired Judge and Author Two-hundred and thirty-five years ago, in September 1789, Congress passed the United States Judiciary Act and George Washington signed it. It established the federal court system and committed this country to the rule of law.…