Molly Roberts
@mollyroberts.bsky.social
senior editor at @lawfaremedia.org | ex-washington post opinions 🤐
Reposted by Molly Roberts
A lot happened in 2025–from the deployment of National Guard in cities across the country to airstrikes in the Caribbean to DOGE's incursion into executive agencies to the weaponization of the Justice Department—and we covered it all.
Lawfare contributors reflect back on the year that was:
Lawfare contributors reflect back on the year that was:
The Year That Was (2025)
The issues—and Lawfare coverage—that kept our editors up at night in 2025.
www.lawfaremedia.org
January 1, 2026 at 3:01 PM
A lot happened in 2025–from the deployment of National Guard in cities across the country to airstrikes in the Caribbean to DOGE's incursion into executive agencies to the weaponization of the Justice Department—and we covered it all.
Lawfare contributors reflect back on the year that was:
Lawfare contributors reflect back on the year that was:
Today is a great day to support @lawfaremedia.org! Or make it your New Year’s resolution to give tomorrow. givebutter.com/journalism/m...
December 31, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Today is a great day to support @lawfaremedia.org! Or make it your New Year’s resolution to give tomorrow. givebutter.com/journalism/m...
Reposted by Molly Roberts
Lindsey Halligan and her colleagues at the Eastern District of Virginia keep attempting, in vain, to indict New York Attorney General Letitia James. @mollyroberts.bsky.social compares the recent unsuccessful indictments to the original prosecution to understand the failures of this prosecution.
Why the Government Keeps Failing to Re-Indict Letitia James
Prosecutors are satisfying the definition of insanity—doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
www.lawfaremedia.org
December 19, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Lindsey Halligan and her colleagues at the Eastern District of Virginia keep attempting, in vain, to indict New York Attorney General Letitia James. @mollyroberts.bsky.social compares the recent unsuccessful indictments to the original prosecution to understand the failures of this prosecution.
Reposted by Molly Roberts
In 1 hour, @benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org will sit down with @ericcolumbus.bsky.social, @annabower.bsky.social, @mollyroberts.bsky.social, and Loren Voss to discuss the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from ICE custody, domestic deployments litigation, and more. youtube.com/live/L_l4sKB...
Lawfare Live: Trials of the Trump Administration, Dec. 12
YouTube video by Lawfare
youtube.com
December 12, 2025 at 8:00 PM
In 1 hour, @benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org will sit down with @ericcolumbus.bsky.social, @annabower.bsky.social, @mollyroberts.bsky.social, and Loren Voss to discuss the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from ICE custody, domestic deployments litigation, and more. youtube.com/live/L_l4sKB...
My latest for @lawfaremedia.org is on yesterday’s hearing in NPR’s 1st Amendment lawsuit against Trump—where the government didn’t really even bother to deny it was discriminating based on viewpoint. www.lawfaremedia.org/article/hear...
Hearing Dispatch: NPR Fights Trump on the First Amendment
The plaintiffs argue the government is disfavoring speech it disagrees with. The government barely disputes that.
www.lawfaremedia.org
December 5, 2025 at 6:35 PM
My latest for @lawfaremedia.org is on yesterday’s hearing in NPR’s 1st Amendment lawsuit against Trump—where the government didn’t really even bother to deny it was discriminating based on viewpoint. www.lawfaremedia.org/article/hear...
Confirmation that Letitia James is *not* a ham sandwich. (On a more serious note, this failure to get a true bill is a pretty remarkable indictment of the would-be indicters.)
Reports that the EDVA grand jury has declined, at least for today, to reindict NY AG Tish James.
December 4, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Confirmation that Letitia James is *not* a ham sandwich. (On a more serious note, this failure to get a true bill is a pretty remarkable indictment of the would-be indicters.)
Per MS NOW, the Trump DOJ is expected to seek to re-indict Letitia James tomorrow in Norfolk. www.ms.now/news/prosecu...
Prosecutors expected to seek re-indictment of Letitia James this week
After Lindsey Halligan found unlawfully appointed, Trump's DOJ expected to seek re-indictment of Letitia James, with Comey's fate uncertain.
www.ms.now
December 4, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Per MS NOW, the Trump DOJ is expected to seek to re-indict Letitia James tomorrow in Norfolk. www.ms.now/news/prosecu...
Reposted by Molly Roberts
On this #GivingTuesday, I want to draw your attention to the @lawfaremedia.org Public Service Fellowship, a unique program that is genuinely making a difference for people who leave government with important things to say:
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Public Service Fellowship
Alumni of the federal workforce and civil service with expertise in national security, law, and policy
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December 2, 2025 at 6:30 PM
On this #GivingTuesday, I want to draw your attention to the @lawfaremedia.org Public Service Fellowship, a unique program that is genuinely making a difference for people who leave government with important things to say:
givebutter.com/f7fpQk
givebutter.com/f7fpQk
Lindsey Halligan's appointment as interim U.S. attorney invalid and dismissed the indictments against James Comey and Letitia James. Screenshot from order in the latter below:
November 24, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Lindsey Halligan's appointment as interim U.S. attorney invalid and dismissed the indictments against James Comey and Letitia James. Screenshot from order in the latter below:
Amusing exchange ahead of John Bolton status conference. Lawyers confabbing in the courtroom, and Abbe Lowell tried to ask the counsel for the government about the Martin/Pulte drama. He wouldn’t bite, jokingly asked whether Lowell had a mole in his office, because “you seem to know more than I do.”
November 21, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Amusing exchange ahead of John Bolton status conference. Lawyers confabbing in the courtroom, and Abbe Lowell tried to ask the counsel for the government about the Martin/Pulte drama. He wouldn’t bite, jokingly asked whether Lowell had a mole in his office, because “you seem to know more than I do.”
It is usually really hard to get a case dismissed for vindictive prosecution! But thanks to President Trump, James Comey and Letitia James have unusual cases. Read all about it in my latest for @lawfaremedia.org: www.lawfaremedia.org/article/come...
Comey, James, and ‘Animus Through a Megaphone’
Claims of vindictive prosecution are usually hard to win. But James Comey and Letitia James both have unusual cases.
www.lawfaremedia.org
November 20, 2025 at 7:27 PM
It is usually really hard to get a case dismissed for vindictive prosecution! But thanks to President Trump, James Comey and Letitia James have unusual cases. Read all about it in my latest for @lawfaremedia.org: www.lawfaremedia.org/article/come...
This morning’s hearing in the James Comey case was a doozy. Was supposed to be about vindictive prosecution—but ended with the government admitting the full grand jury never had a chance to see the operative indictment.
November 19, 2025 at 4:43 PM
This morning’s hearing in the James Comey case was a doozy. Was supposed to be about vindictive prosecution—but ended with the government admitting the full grand jury never had a chance to see the operative indictment.
Latest motion to dismiss by Letitia James, this one for "Outrageous Government Conduct," says criminal referral could have been based on "exclusively on a single fringe blogger's 'evidence'" or unlawfully accessed Fannie Mae loan files. www.courtlistener.com/docket/71601...
November 18, 2025 at 1:19 AM
Latest motion to dismiss by Letitia James, this one for "Outrageous Government Conduct," says criminal referral could have been based on "exclusively on a single fringe blogger's 'evidence'" or unlawfully accessed Fannie Mae loan files. www.courtlistener.com/docket/71601...
Reposted by Molly Roberts
Fitzpatrick also says that either Halligan is wrong about the grand jury minutes being complete or we are in "uncharted territory" because the indictment returned in open court is not the same as the one presented to & deliberated upon by the grand jury. (h/t @emptywheel.bsky.social )
November 17, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Fitzpatrick also says that either Halligan is wrong about the grand jury minutes being complete or we are in "uncharted territory" because the indictment returned in open court is not the same as the one presented to & deliberated upon by the grand jury. (h/t @emptywheel.bsky.social )
Reposted by Molly Roberts
On Rational Security, @sranderson.bsky.social, @nkorpett.bsky.social, @ericcolumbus.bsky.social, and @mollyroberts.bsky.social discussed the week's news, including the end of the government shutdown, President Trump pardoning individuals accused of attempting to subvert the 2020 election, and more.
November 13, 2025 at 5:31 PM
On Rational Security, @sranderson.bsky.social, @nkorpett.bsky.social, @ericcolumbus.bsky.social, and @mollyroberts.bsky.social discussed the week's news, including the end of the government shutdown, President Trump pardoning individuals accused of attempting to subvert the 2020 election, and more.
feel like not nearly enough people are talking about this — apparently the democratic “yes” votes have effectively agreed to having the u.s. government write 6 republican senators $500k checks?
Look at this new outrage. To open govt, we're retroactively letting 8 Senators sue for $500K each over having had their J6 phone toll records looked at. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/u...
Spending Bill Would Pave Way for Senators to Sue Over Phone Searches
www.nytimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:58 PM
feel like not nearly enough people are talking about this — apparently the democratic “yes” votes have effectively agreed to having the u.s. government write 6 republican senators $500k checks?
Reposted by Molly Roberts
Lawfare has a new landing page where you can find @annabower.bsky.social, @rparloff.bsky.social, and @mollyroberts.bsky.social's courtroom dispatches in the litigation surrounding actions from the Trump administration.
Check it out:
Check it out:
Trump Administration Trial Coverage
www.lawfaremedia.org
November 10, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Lawfare has a new landing page where you can find @annabower.bsky.social, @rparloff.bsky.social, and @mollyroberts.bsky.social's courtroom dispatches in the litigation surrounding actions from the Trump administration.
Check it out:
Check it out:
Reposted by Molly Roberts
Jim Comey's appendix of Trump attacks was 60 pages (tho it did not claim to be comprehensive).
Tish James' is 113 pages.
Tish James' is 113 pages.
![Appendix of Public Statements of President Donald J. Trump About or Concerning AG James or this Case 1
No. Date/Time
(ET)
Location Speaker Comment / Post Link
2019–20212
1 3/13/2019
10:26 AM
X (formerly
Twitter)
Trump All part of the Witch Hunt Hoax. Started by little Eric Schneiderman &
Cuomo. So many leaving New York! [Replying to @GOP statement: The
NY Attorney General called President Trump an “illegitimate president.”
She has proven to have a vendetta against @realDonaldTrump & is using
her position of power to baselessly smear the President & the work he’s done
for the American people.]
https://perma.c
c/4NS6-UGEV
2 3/13/2019
10:26 AM
X (formerly
Twitter)
Trump RT @DiamondandSilk: AG Letitia James of New York is abusing her power
by targeting the POTUS. Using the Attorney General office as a weapon to
deliberately target the President because of Political Bias should be against
the Law and a violation of the Hatch Act!
https://perma.c
c/553N-C2GE
3 4/29/2019
8:18 AM
X (formerly
Twitter)
Trump The NRA is under siege by Cuomo and the New York State A.G., who are
illegally using the State’s legal apparatus to take down and destroy this very
important organization, & others. It must get its act together quickly, stop the
internal fighting, & get back to GREATNESS - FAST!
https://perma.c
c/6RA9-DE98
4 7/1/2019
12:10 PM
X (formerly
Twitter)
Trump It is very hard and expensive to live in New York. Governor Andrew Cuomo
uses his Attorney General as a bludgeoning tool for his own purposes. They
sue on everything, always in search of a crime. I even got sued on a
Foundation which took Zero rent & expenses & gave away...
https://perma.c
c/Q477-7HSN
5 7/1/2019
12:10 PM
X (formerly
Twitter)
Trump ....more money than it had. Going on for years, originally brought by
Crooked Hillary’s Campaign Chair, A.G. Eric Schneiderman, until forced to
https://perma.c
c/89EZ-UP7B
1 This appendix reflects the best efforts of counsel to compile all of the President’s statements relevant to…](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:bbp2b224lro3bfnzcqwwnkfo/bafkreifytqdmsve5ggk4sft62qf7l55rkqv5wjq7zrjumzb4a3p4w73r5u@jpeg)
November 7, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Jim Comey's appendix of Trump attacks was 60 pages (tho it did not claim to be comprehensive).
Tish James' is 113 pages.
Tish James' is 113 pages.
Talking Sandwich Guy on Lawfare Live today, tune in! (My colleagues will also be talking about grave and important matters if that’s more to your taste.) youtube.com/live/zvcvF_-...
Lawfare Live: Trials of the Trump Administration, Nov. 7
YouTube video by Lawfare
youtube.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Talking Sandwich Guy on Lawfare Live today, tune in! (My colleagues will also be talking about grave and important matters if that’s more to your taste.) youtube.com/live/zvcvF_-...
Here's my piece for @lawfaremedia.org on my experience covering the Sandwich Guy trial. Warning: longer than 280 characters!
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/sand...
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/sand...
Sandwich Guy, Thrower of Hoagie–Or Hero?
The trial ended in an acquittal. But the proceedings felt like a strange sort of performance art—highly amusing and highly menacing at the same time.
www.lawfaremedia.org
November 6, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Here's my piece for @lawfaremedia.org on my experience covering the Sandwich Guy trial. Warning: longer than 280 characters!
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/sand...
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/sand...
Reposted by Molly Roberts
There is such a thing as a free lunch at the "sandwich guy" trial: www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
November 6, 2025 at 5:13 PM
There is such a thing as a free lunch at the "sandwich guy" trial: www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
Good morning! Day 4 of the Sandwich Guy’s trial. He is finally wearing a suit (the rest of the week’s evidence suggests he seems to prefer pullovers in cooler weather). The jury has a note for the judge.
November 6, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Good morning! Day 4 of the Sandwich Guy’s trial. He is finally wearing a suit (the rest of the week’s evidence suggests he seems to prefer pullovers in cooler weather). The jury has a note for the judge.
Day 3 of the “no more than 2” day trial of Sandwich Guy. The prosecution intends to rest; the defense hasn’t decided yet. Dispute over jury instructions continues, a few morsels (sorry) to follow.
November 5, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Day 3 of the “no more than 2” day trial of Sandwich Guy. The prosecution intends to rest; the defense hasn’t decided yet. Dispute over jury instructions continues, a few morsels (sorry) to follow.
Reposted by Molly Roberts
NEW: “To read it is to spend 48 pages understanding the depth of corruption in the Justice Department in the second Trump administration.”
@benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org and I break down DOJ’s response to James Comey’s vindictive prosecution motion. ⬇️
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-...
@benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org and I break down DOJ’s response to James Comey’s vindictive prosecution motion. ⬇️
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-...
November 4, 2025 at 10:53 PM
NEW: “To read it is to spend 48 pages understanding the depth of corruption in the Justice Department in the second Trump administration.”
@benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org and I break down DOJ’s response to James Comey’s vindictive prosecution motion. ⬇️
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-...
@benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org and I break down DOJ’s response to James Comey’s vindictive prosecution motion. ⬇️
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-...
Back for Day 2 of Sandwich Guy’s trial. In government opening statement: “This case is about the fact that you can’t go around throwing stuff at people when you’re mad.”
November 4, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Back for Day 2 of Sandwich Guy’s trial. In government opening statement: “This case is about the fact that you can’t go around throwing stuff at people when you’re mad.”