Law

Tulalip Tribes Police arrest a suspect from another Indian tribe on drug charges. One charge — possession of drug paraphernalia — wouldn't apply to non-Native suspects in Washington state

National

Indian courts can't prosecute non-Indian drug suspects. Tribes say it's a problem

5:09am February 20, 2024

by Martin Kaste

As the fentanyl crisis ravages Native American communities, some of their leaders want Indian police and courts to go after non-tribal dealers. But they can't without getting permission from Congress.

National

Morning news brief

5:09am February 20, 2024

WikiLeaks founder Assange's latest battle to avoid extradition to U.S. Egypt builds buffer in anticipation of a Palestinian refugee spillover. Louisiana's legislature begins special session on crime.

The Washington state legislature is taking up a so-called 'Strippers Bill of Rights'

5:41pm February 19, 2024

Adult dancers in Washington say draconian laws make it one of the most difficult states for them to work. The state legislature is considering a bill to address the issues they've identified.

Can Trump afford his mounting legal penalties?

4:58pm February 19, 2024

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Forbes senior editor Dan Alexander about Trump's fortune and the resources he has to pay huge legal settlements.

A South Carolina woman is challenging the state's sixth-week abortion ban

4:58pm February 19, 2024

by Victoria Hansen

A woman unable to schedule an abortion before her sixth week of pregnancy in her home state of South Carolina is suing — the latest challenge to the state's so-called "fetal heartbeat" abortion ban.

Politics & Government

Trump's first criminal trial is set for March

6:10pm February 18, 2024

by Domenico Montanaro

On this week's feature on the legal cases former President Trump faces, NYU professor Melissa Murray and NPR's Domenico Montanaro discuss a development in the New York case around hush money payments.

Queue Listen Now

Charles McGonigal, a former special agent in charge of the FBI's counterintelligence division in New York, arrives at the federal courthouse in Washington, D.C., on Friday.

Ex-FBI official gets over 2 years in prison for receiving $225,000 tied to Albania

11:23am February 17, 2024

by The Associated Press

Charles McGonigal, a former high-ranking FBI counterintelligence official, was sentenced for taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash from a businessman with ties to the Albanian government.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump and his lawyers Christopher Kise and Alina Habba attend the closing arguments in the Trump Organization civil fraud trial on Jan. 11 in New York City.

Politics & Government

Trump ordered to pay over $355M for fraudulent business practices in New York

7:17pm February 16, 2024

by Ximena Bustillo

A New York judge has ordered former President Donald Trump and executives at the Trump Organization to pay over $364 million.

Trump and his companies are fined $355 million in New York civil fraud trial

5:34pm February 16, 2024

by Andrea Bernstein

A New York judge fined former President Donald Trump and his companies $355 million, handing a win to New York AG Letitia James, who sued Trump and his associates after a three-year investigation.

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The U.S. Department of Justice is seen in June 2023. A former FBI informant has been indicted for allegedly lying to the FBI. His claims about President Biden were shared by Republicans pushing for an impeachment inquiry into the president.

Politics & Government

How the ex-FBI informant charged with lying is tied to the Biden impeachment inquiry

5:15pm February 16, 2024

Alexander Smirnov has been accused of making false statements to the FBI — claims that House Republicans have used in their probe of President Biden.