What’s Really Behind Trump’s Corrupt US Attorney Scheme

['David Kurtz', "Is Tpm'S Editor At Large.", '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow', 'Class', 'Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus', 'Display Inline', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Where Img', 'Height Auto Max-Width', 'Vertical-Align Bottom .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar'] TPM – Talking Points Memo 2026-08-12 07:24:34

Only Loyalists Need ApplyA new and ironic development in the first-of-its-kind legal challenge to President Trump’s U.S. attorney scheme gives me a chance to pull back the lens a bit to show the full scope of the corruption involved and why it matters. It’s against this backdrop that Judge Bastian will be hearing Rogoff’s legal challenge to Trump’s scheme. What’s new is that House GOPers now have a Justice Department run out of the Trump White House that is eager to play along. Circuit Court of Appeals is re-hearing the case after a three-judge panel cut U.S. District Judge James Boasberg off at the knees. The scheme combines weakening higher ed with the politicization of scientific research while opening new pathways for corruption and self-dealing.