NEW: A judge just DENIED the government's motion to detain Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

A hearing to review the conditions of Abrego Garcia's release is to come.
Abrego Garcia, "like every person arrested on federal criminal charges, is entitled to a full and fair determination of whether he must remain in federal custody pending trial," the judge writes. "The Court will give Abrego the due process that he is guaranteed."

NEW: A Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations memo out this morning estimates that Elon Musk and his companies stand to avoid at least $2.37 BILLION in legal liability “through his efforts to gut the federal workforce and exert influence over federal agencies.” 🧵:
The report claims that the estimated $2.37B "drastically understates the true benefit" Musk may gain from his newfound influence in government, which could include billions through new contracts or the competitive advantage gained by collecting intelligence on competitors.

Mahmoud Khalil hearing THREAD:

Judge Furman opened the brief hearing by acknowledging "some heated opinions" on the case and reminded the courtroom to keep decorum.

He then chided parties for filing their joint letter nearly two hours after the 5pm deadline yesterday (1/8)

https://twitter.com/TylerMcBrien/status/1899835380192452683

Prior to the hearing, public access to the docket was limited (e.g. last night's joint letter was sealed), but given the public interest of Khalil's case, Judge Furman ordered the docket be made public. (2/8)

Per a press release from Sen. Blumenthal's office, the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations is "conducting a preliminary inquiry into DOGE and the ramifications of its conduct."

The subcommittee sent a letter to Tesla (which you can view below) and 5 other Musk-run companies Full text of the Tesla letter here: hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/upl…

Good morning from 100 Centre St where I’ll be covering sentencing for @lawfare with @AnnaBower and @katherinepomps.

Follow along for my live updates here and on the other site for Anna’s 🧵 “Feels like” 18 degrees out here so I’ll save my poor fingers from tapping in the cold until we make it inside.

The indictment is sealed, but charging Adams w/ violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act would certainly track with the DOJ's apparent shift toward more aggressive enforcement of FARA. As @BVanGrack points out, he'd be the 3rd elected official in the last year—a first. (1/4)

https://twitter.com/BVanGrack/status/1839264193406464284

At the 5th National Forum on FARA in December, Dep Asst AG Choi said that countries are "more aggressive and more capable in their stealth influence campaigns than ever before...employ[ing] a range of tactics to advance their interests" and affect policy outcomes in the US (2/4)

Last week, after the jury delivered the verdict in Trump's NY trial, I grabbed my camera, descended the courthouse’s 15 flights of stairs, walked out the revolving front door, and started snapping pics.

Here's my @lawfare photo essay of that historic day: lawfaremedia.org/article/the-fi… @lawfare Newscasters interview a protester with a banner that reads, “CONVICT TRUMP ALREADY.” This protester was a fixture at Collect Pond Park for much of the trial.

Good morning from 100 Centre St for verdict watch in Trump’s NY criminal trial.

We’ll start with a rereading of the jury instructions and a readback of select testimony, and then, we wait.

Turn your notifications on, today might be the day.

Then again, it also might not! If we get a verdict, it won't be until after lunch. Here's why: jurors want that one last free lunch, and nobody wants to deliver a verdict on an empty stomach.

For more hard-hitting legal analysis you've come to expect from @lawfare, stay locked on this thread and @AnnaBower's

After what feels like no time at all, I’m back at 100 Centre St with @AnnaBower and @katherinepomps for jury charges and deliberations in Trump’s NY criminal trial.

We haven’t yet seen the finalized jury instructions, so I’ll be here live tweeting it all for @lawfare 🧵⚖️ While we wait for the thrilling experience of Justice Merchan reading from a piece of paper for an hour, catch up on yesterday's marathon closing arguments with our post-court live dispatch, recorded late last night: youtube.com/live/KmaRmu_7B…

Good morning from Trump’s NY criminal trial where the longest line yet is waiting to hear closing arguments.

It’s DAY number….ok, so I lost count.

Whatever day it is, I’ll be here, live tweeting it all gavel to gavel for @lawfare.

Join me, won’t you? 🧵⚖️ It’s a Green Day, with nary a protester in sight at Collect Pond Park.

Well, except for one: a man holding a sign with the number of children killed and injured in Gaza, wearing a large metal crucifix, and yelling antisemitic things.

Good morning from 100 Centre St for DAY 20 of Trump’s NY criminal trial.

Yesterday, we made it through the prosecution’s case-in-chief. But we’re not through just yet. Today, Costello is back on the stand.

I’m here reporting it all for @lawfare.

Join me, won’t you? 🧵⚖️ Also yesterday: Justice Merchan limited the admissible testimony of the defense’s potential campaign finance expert witness—who now says he won’t testify after all.

https://twitter.com/commishsmith/status/1792869628902826295

So what exactly happened when Justice Merchan ordered everyone out of the courtroom during *that* tense moment earlier today?

Thanks to Lisa Kramsky, Senior Court Reporter, and the magic of transcripts, now we know. 🧵⌨️

https://twitter.com/TylerMcBrien/status/1792647691786223919

During Costello's testimony, ADA Susan Hoffinger was on high alert and issued a flurry of objections—which Merchan rightfully sustained.

Costello got testy, letting out a "jeeze" at one point, and said "strike it" another time.

Merchan wasn't having it, and excused the jury.

Good morning from 100 Centre St for what could be the final week of Trump’s NY criminal trial

I’ll be reporting it all for @lawfare, alongside @AnnaBower, @qjurecic, and Ben Wittes.

Join me, won’t you? 🧵⚖️ Protesters are already here in Collect Pond Park. A woman blows a shofar and starts preaching about the bible.

A man holds up an oddly specific sign:

WHY WON’T BLANCHE CALL SCHILLER

It’s a misty morning here at 100 Centre St for DAY 18 of Trump’s NY criminal trial.

This morning, Cohen is back on the stand.

I’ll be reporting it all alongside @AnnaBower for @lawfare.

Join me, won’t you? 🧵⚖️ We already have some good line content, thanks to @JayShams ⬇️

https://twitter.com/jayshams/status/1791078600302526819

Good morning from 100 Centre St for Day 17 of in Trump’s NY criminal trial.

If you appreciate a good line, this one is a thing of beauty.

I’m here w/ @AnnaBower for @lawfare to report on the much-anticipated cross of Michael Cohen, expected today 🧵⚖️ NYC’s hottest club this week truly is 100 Centre St.

Line sitters were maxed out by early evening yesterday. I’m also hearing that this morning one especially enterprising young man parked himself at the front of the line and sold his non-existent spot for a cool $400.

Good morning from 100 Centre St for Trump’s NY Criminal Trial. Today’s episode will very likely be: “The Michael Cohen Show.”

I’ll be reporting it all alongside @AnnaBower and Ben Wittes for @lawfare, join me, won’t you? 🧵⚖️ Cohen, Trump’s then fixer, now turncoat has lingered over this entire trial, mostly as a punchline. Even the accountants got in on the fun.

In testimony and recorded clips, we get an image of Cohen the enforcer, Cohen the “pants-on-fire” panicker, and Cohen the self-promoter.

Good morning from 100 Centre St for DAY 14 of Trump’s NY criminal trial and the second day of Stormy Daniels’ testimony.

It’ll be a packed house today. I’ve never seen this many reporters line up this early.

I’m here for @lawfare (if I get in!) 🧵⚖️ If you’re in line to report the first ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president, stay in line!

What exactly does DA Bragg have to prove in Trump's NY criminal trial?

For @lawfare, @qjurecic and I wade through the legal mire to answer questions that will only grow in importance as we approach closing arguments and a potential verdict lawfaremedia.org/article/what-m… In-the-weeds legal questions have lingered since the indictment dropped. Chief among them are:

Do prosecutors have to prove that Trump committed one of the three object offenses?

And if so, does the jury have to agree on which one?

And to what standard of evidence?

It’s a gorgeous morning at 100 Centre St (pictured left), where I’ll be covering Lucky Day 13 for Trump’s hush-money-election-interference NY criminal trial for @lawfare

Join me for the ride 🧵⚖️ The press and the public don’t know yet who today’s witness is, but the defendant, who found out yesterday, doesn’t seem too happy about it.

Good morning from 100 Centre St for DAY 12 of Trump’s NY criminal hush-money-election-interference trial.

Follow along for my gavel-to-gavel live coverage, alongside the indefatigable @AnnaBower and Ben Wittes for @lawfare 🧵⚖️ It’s a lively Monday morning. The public line is longer than usual, and includes a group of young people, maybe high schoolers.

It also includes a woman from Rhode Island, who is in town for a conference. “What better sight seeing to do than go to the Trump trial?” she says.

It’s a foggy, misty morning at 100 Centre St, where I’m waiting to enter the courtroom for Day 10 of Trump’s NY criminal trial.

I’ll be reporting it all today, alongside @AnnaBower and Ben Wittes, for @lawfare. Join me! 🧵⚖️ Its a quiet morning thus far, with nary a protester in sight.

Collect Pond Park, just opposite the courthouse, is totally empty.