Articles by Derek Hawkins
Trump threatens Insurrection Act deployment to quell Minnesota ICE protests
Trump threatens Insurrection Act deployment to quell Minnesota ICE protests (washingtonpost.com) Trump threatens Insurrection Act deployment to quell Minnesota ICE protests By Molly Hennessy-Fiske; Maegan Vazquez; Justine McDaniel; Adela Suliman; Derek Hawkins 2026011512470200 MINNEAPOLIS — President Donald Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act in Minnesota on Thursday, raising the prospect of sending U.S. troops into Minneapolis, despite opposition from state and local leaders, to...
Marjorie Taylor Greene made waves. Her constituents don't agree on whether it was worth it
DALTON, Ga. — President Donald Trump says Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is a traitor. But for Jackie Harling, who chairs the local Republican Party in Ms. Greene’s northwestern corner of Georgia, she’s still “mama bear.” “Every thought that we had in our minds, she seemed to be very good at verbalizing,” Ms. Harling said. Saying things that no one else would say may be Ms. Greene’s most durable legacy. She stepped down on Monday, resigning halfway through her third term in Congress.
ICE tactics and training under scrutiny after Minneapolis shooting
ICE tactics and training under scrutiny after Minneapolis shooting (washingtonpost.com) ICE tactics and training under scrutiny after Minneapolis shooting By Mark Berman; Maria Sacchetti; Derek Hawkins; David Ovalle 2026011017440400 The fatal shooting of Renée Good in Minneapolis on Wednesday has prompted new scrutiny of the tactics and training for the thousands of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers deployed across the country as part of the Trump administration's mass...
Secret Service wants to hire 4,000 employees by 2028 to ease workforce strain
Jan. 4, 2026, 12:52 p.m. ET The Secret Service has launched one of the most ambitious hiring efforts in its history, seeking to bring on thousands of agents and officers to ease strain on its overstretched workforce and prepare for multiple major events in 2028, including the presidential election and the Olympics.
Secret Service plans unprecedented staff surge with anxious eye on 2028
The Secret Service has launched one of the most ambitious hiring efforts in its history, seeking to bring on thousands of agents and officers to ease strain on its overstretched workforce and prepare for multiple major events in 2028, including the presidential election and the Olympics.
Files offer details on Epstein’s death in federal custody
Among the tens of thousands of Jeffrey Epstein files released so far by the Justice Department are documents that provide new details on one of the most discussed aspects of the case — his death in federal custody in 2019. Epstein, who was indicted in July 2019 on federal sex-trafficking charges, had been locked up in the now-closed Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York for five weeks when, on Aug. 10, at roughly 6:30 a.m., he was found dead in his cell.
Files offer details on Epstein’s death in federal custody Original
Files offer details on Epstein’s death in federal custody (washingtonpost.com) Files offer details on Epstein’s death in federal custody By Derek Hawkins 2025122610005900 Among the tens of thousands of Jeffrey Epstein files released so far by the Justice Department are documents that provide new details on one of the most discussed aspects of the case — his death in federal custody in 2019.
Trump asserts he has pardoned county clerk convicted in Colorado case
President Donald Trump said Thursday that he has pardoned Tina Peters, a former county clerk in Colorado who was convicted in state court on felony charges related to efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. “Democrats have been relentless in their targeting of TINA PETERS, a Patriot who simply wanted to make sure that our Elections were Fair and Honest,” wrote Trump in a post on Truth Social.
Trump asserts he has pardoned county clerk convicted in Colorado case
Trump asserts he has pardoned county clerk convicted in Colorado case (washingtonpost.com) Trump asserts he has pardoned county clerk convicted in Colorado case By Derek Hawkins; Alec Dent 2025121202052600 President Donald Trump said Thursday that he has pardoned Tina Peters, a former county clerk in Colorado who was convicted in state court on felony charges related to efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
Ex-Honduras president, convicted of drug trafficking, freed on Trump pardon
Former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández, convicted by a U.S. court last year on charges that he ran the Central American nation as a “narco-state” that helped send South American cocaine to the United States, has been released from federal prison after receiving a “full and unconditional” pardon from President Donald Trump.
As judges face more threats, only the Supreme Court gets new security funds
The deal Congress passed to end the 43-day government shutdown boosted security funding for the Supreme Court, freeing up millions of dollars to support round-the-clock protection for the nine justices. It provided no new security funding, however, for hundreds of judges in lower courts who for months have urged lawmakers to set aside more money for their safety amid a surge in threats of violence.
Judge temporarily blocks Trump from deploying troops in Portland
Judge temporarily blocks Trump from deploying troops in Portland (washingtonpost.com) Judge temporarily blocks Trump from deploying troops in Portland By Mark Berman; Derek Hawkins 2025100423560000 A federal judge on Saturday blocked the Trump administration from deploying troops in Portland, at least temporarily thwarting President Donald Trump's push to send the military into Oregon's biggest city.
Houses of worship tighten security amid rising number of attacks
Houses of worship throughout the country are increasing security in response to deadly attacks on religious communities, using methods honed by law enforcement and protective agencies to shield their congregants from targeted violence, according to security experts.
Houses of worship tighten security amid rising number of attacks
Houses of worship throughout the country are increasing security in response to deadly attacks on religious communities, using methods honed by law enforcement and protective agencies to shield their congregants from targeted violence, according to security experts.
Charlie Kirk memorial to be on par with a state funeral in scale, security
PHOENIX — With security on the level of a Super Bowl and a speaker lineup on par with a state funeral, conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s service will combine memorial with political rally, requiring an unprecedented level of resources. President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and five members of the Cabinet will deliver remarks at the event Sunday. The White House will send two government planes of staff.
Charlie Kirk memorial to be on par with a state funeral in scale, security Original
Charlie Kirk memorial to be on par with a state funeral in scale, security (washingtonpost.com) Charlie Kirk memorial to be on par with a state funeral in scale, security By Cat Zakrzewski; Yvonne Wingett Sanchez; Derek Hawkins 2025092109000000 PHOENIX — With security on the level of a Super Bowl and a speaker lineup on par with a state funeral, conservative activist Charlie Kirk's service will combine memorial with political rally, requiring an unprecedented level of resources.
Armed man arrested at site of planned memorial service for Charlie Kirk
Armed man arrested at site of planned memorial service for Charlie Kirk (washingtonpost.com) Armed man arrested at site of planned memorial service for Charlie Kirk By Derek Hawkins; Yvonne Wingett Sanchez; Mark Berman 2025092004020900 An armed man claiming to be affiliated with law enforcement was arrested late Friday after entering the Arizona stadium where slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk's memorial service is set to take place, according to law enforcement officials and court...
Maxwell denies Epstein kept ‘client list’ and other takeaways from interview Original
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Maxwell denies Epstein kept ‘client list’ and other takeaways from interview (washingtonpost.com) Maxwell denies Epstein kept ‘client list’ and other takeaways from interview By Derek Hawkins; Jeremy Roebuck; Theodoric Meyer; Kim Bellware; Perry Stein 2025082314491800 The transcript of Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche's interview of Ghislaine Maxwell spans more than 300 pages, the audio more than six hours.
By Derek Hawkins, Jeremy Roebuck Verified, Theodoric Meyer Verified, Kim Bellware, Perry Stein Verified
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The Washington Post
Verified
Supreme Court clears way for nearly $800 million in cuts to NIH grants
Supreme Court clears way for nearly $800 million in cuts to NIH grants (washingtonpost.com) Supreme Court clears way for nearly $800 million in cuts to NIH grants By Justin Jouvenal; Derek Hawkins 2025082121045600 A divided Supreme Court on Thursday cleared the way for the Trump administration to cut nearly $800 million in National Institutes of Health grants for the study of diseases in minority, gay and transgender communities while legal battles over the funding play out in the lower courts.
Ghislaine Maxwell’s move to ‘country club’ prison smacks of special treatment, experts say
Ghislaine Maxwell’s move to ‘country club’ prison smacks of special treatment, experts say (washingtonpost.com) Ghislaine Maxwell’s move to ‘country club’ prison smacks of special treatment, experts say By Derek Hawkins 2025080522073300 With its red-roofed dormitories, grassy courtyards and wrought-iron fences, the Bryan Federal Prison Camp in Texas looks almost like a college campus, befitting its reputation as one of the nation's most lenient lockups for nonviolent women offenders.
A House panel must subpoena the Epstein files. Here’s what to know
The Republican House will soon be forced into the uncomfortable position of issuing a subpoena for the voluminous criminal file on deceased sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein — putting the Trump administration in the equally uncomfortable position of deciding how to respond.
Under Trump, Border Patrol arrests immigrants far from U.S.-Mexico border
The Trump administration is increasingly relying on Border Patrol agents to help carry out the president’s mass deportation plan and arrest immigrants in cities far from the nation’s southern border - a departure from the agency’s traditional role that some lawyers and advocates consider alarming.
Under Trump, Border Patrol arrests immigrants far from U.S.-Mexico border
The Trump administration is increasingly relying on Border Patrol agents to help carry out the president’s mass deportation plan and arrest immigrantsin cities far from the nation’s southern border — a departure from the agency’s traditional role that some lawyers and advocates consider alarming.
Prisons bureau failed to screen inmates for colorectal cancer, watchdog says
Prisons bureau failed to screen inmates for colorectal cancer, watchdog says (washingtonpost.com) Prisons bureau failed to screen inmates for colorectal cancer, watchdog says By Derek Hawkins 2025052021562500 The Federal Bureau of Prisons has failed to adequately screen thousands of older inmates in its custody for colorectal cancer, raising the risk that inmates with the disease might miss potentially lifesaving diagnoses and treatment, a government watchdog said in a report released Tuesday.
Judge says Trump lacked authority to dismantle U.S. Institute of Peace
Judge says Trump lacked authority to dismantle U.S. Institute of Peace (washingtonpost.com) Judge says Trump lacked authority to dismantle U.S. Institute of Peace By Derek Hawkins 2025051917444600 A federal judge in Washington ruled Monday that the Trump administration exceeded its authority when it dismantled the U.S. Institute of Peace, an independent nonprofit group created by Congress to help resolve violent international conflicts. U.S. District Judge Beryl A.
Comey under investigation for ‘threat’ to Trump on social media, officials say
Comey under investigation for ‘threat’ to Trump on social media, officials say (washingtonpost.com) Comey under investigation for ‘threat’ to Trump on social media, officials say By Maegan Vazquez; Frances Vinall; Patrick Svitek; Derek Hawkins 2025051606451400 Trump administration officials said Thursday that they would investigate former FBI director James B.
Trump's Gifted Qatari 747 Would Be A Security Problem, Officials Say
President Donald Trump on Monday praised Qatar for offering his administration a free luxury jet, but current and former U.S. military, defense and Secret Service officials said he will likely have to waive existing security specifications to be able to use the plane. Trump said he would be a "stupid person" not to accept the gift of a $400 million Boeing 747-8, and called it a "great gesture" by Qatar.
DOJ should probe anonymous pizza deliveries to judges, top Democrat says
The top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday called on the Justice Department and FBI to investigate a series of anonymous pizza deliveries made to the homes of federal judges in recent months, saying they appeared to be part of a wave of threats against the judiciary. Sen.
HHS layoffs include head of the World Trade Center Health Program
HHS layoffs include head of the World Trade Center Health Program (washingtonpost.com) HHS layoffs include head of the World Trade Center Health Program By Derek Hawkins 2025040222584100 The Trump administration this week fired the longtime head of a federal program that provides medical benefits to first responders and survivors of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, alarming advocates and lawmakers who said the move could disrupt care for the program's more than 100,000 beneficiaries.
DOGE fires nearly all staff at U.S. Institute of Peace headquarters
DOGE fires nearly all staff at U.S. Institute of Peace headquarters (washingtonpost.com) DOGE fires nearly all staff at U.S. Institute of Peace headquarters By Abigail Hauslohner; Derek Hawkins 2025032920385700 The Trump administration summarily fired the staff of the U.S. Institute of Peace late Friday night, less than two weeks after forcibly removing the congressionally funded organization's president and installing in his place an agent of tech billionaire Elon Musk's U.S. DOGE Service...
DOGE Plays Hardball in U.S. Institute of Peace Takeover
Karen DeYoung and Derek Hawkins | The Washington Post - TRANSCEND Media Service U.S. attorney and FBI threatened criminal prosecution and enlisted D.C. police to enter the USIP building. 19 Mar 2025 – Following President Donald Trump’s Feb. 19 executive order targeting nonexecutive branch foreign aid and peacemaking agencies for elimination, agents of DOGE, the White House-based organization overseen by Elon Musk, have moved to take over entities both small and large.
DOGE Plays Hardball in U.S. Institute of Peace Takeover
U.S. attorney and FBI threatened criminal prosecution and enlisted D.C. police to enter the USIP building. Following President Donald Trump’s Feb. 19 executive order targeting nonexecutive branch foreign aid and peacemaking agencies for elimination, agents of DOGE, the White House-based organization overseen by Elon Musk, have moved to take over entities both small and large.
Trump’s new Secret Service boss faces calls for agency overhaul
POLITICS Derek Hawkins The Washington Post View Comments Sean Curran faces a tough task as the new director of the Secret Service: reforming the troubled protective agency months after the assassination attempt on Donald Trump at a campaign rally, its worst security debacle in decades. Congressional lawmakers and outside experts want Curran to shake up the agency’s leadership, overhaul security planning at big events, and even rethink the structure of the 8,000-person agency.
Judge says Trump cannot fire head of independent watchdog agency
Home Syndicated Judge says Trump cannot fire head of independent… Executive Branch Judge says Trump cannot fire head of independent watchdog agency A federal judge on Saturday said President Donald Trump cannot summarily fire the head of an independent watchdog agency, setting up a likely Supreme Court battle over Trump’s sweeping attempt to reshape the federal workforce and expand presidential power.
Judge says Trump cannot fire head of independent watchdog agency
A federal judge on Saturday said President Donald Trump cannot summarily fire the head of an independent watchdog agency, setting up a likely Supreme Court battle over Trump’s sweeping attempt to reshape the federal workforce and expand presidential power.
Judge says Trump cannot fire head of independent watchdog agency
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Judge says Trump cannot fire head of independent watchdog agency
Donald Trump has vulgar message for MLB about Pete Rose Pete Rose never had his permanent ban from Major League Baseball lifted before he died last year, and U.S. President Donald Trump is now trying to …
Kash Patel was paid by Russian filmmaker with Kremlin ties, documents show
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Kash Patel was paid by Russian filmmaker with Kremlin ties, documents show
Kash Patel, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be FBI director, was paid $25,000 last year by a film company owned by a Russian national who also holds U.S. citizenship and has produced programs promoting “deep state” conspiracy theories and anti-Western views advanced by the Kremlin, according to a financial disclosure form Patel submitted as part of his nomination process and other documents.
What Trump’s unconditional discharge sentence means in the hush money case
NEW YORK — Donald Trump’s sentencing Friday in his hush money case brought some closure to one of the most closely watched criminal proceedings in American history. Trump has vowed to appeal, meaning legal wrangling is likely to continue over his May conviction by a jury on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. The case involves$130,000 paid to an adult-film actress ahead of the 2016 election to keep her quiet about claims that the two of them had a sexual encounter years earlier.
Trump sentenced in hush money case, will not face jail or probation
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Trump sentenced in hush money case, will not face jail or probation
NEW YORK - Donald Trump was sentenced without penalty on Friday for his felony conviction in his hush money trial, appearing virtually at what was likely his final court hearing as a criminal defendant before he is sworn in for another term in the White House. Trump, who was convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records last year, had furiously sought to cancel the sentencing, appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court and arguing it would interfere with his presidential transition.
What Trump has promised to do on ‘day one’ as president
Donald Trump has a long list of executive actions he says he wants to carry out on his potential first day back in the White House. Among them: Begin mass deportations, eliminate perks for electric vehicles and ban transgender women from women’s sports.
Pennsylvania presidential election results could again take days to count
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Pennsylvania presidential election results could again take days to count
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The steps that await after Biden bows out
With President Joe Biden making the extraordinary decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidenial race, the coming days will prove pivotal as Democratic leaders try to unite the party’s many factions around a new standard-bearer. Here are some details on how the process could unfold. Does Biden’s replacement have to be Harris? Vice President Kamala Harris has Biden’s endorsement to replace him at the top of the ticket, and many in the party have already signaled they’d accept her as the nominee.
What happens if Biden drops out of the presidential race? Original
Skip to Content Advertisement 1 Trending Trending Trending Trending Trending • You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account. Article content President Biden is facing increasing pressure from Democratic leaders to reconsider his reelection bid. Top Democrats have met with him in recent days to convey one message: His continued candidacy is hurting the Democratic Party’s ability to control either chamber of Congress next year.
Who is - and isn’t - speaking at the Republican National Convention
More than 110 people are scheduled to speak at this week’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee - dozens more than in 2016 and 2020. And Donald Trump’s grip on the party is evident from the roster. Election denialism will be on full display. At least 61 speakers have questioned or denied Joe Biden’s victory in 2020 or have preemptively cast doubt on the integrity of the 2024 election, according to a Washington Post analysis of public statements and social media posts.
The key moments that explain the verdict in the Trump hush money trial
It wasn’t just what witnesses said on the stand at Donald Trump’s hush money trial that helped prosecutors land the historic conviction Thursday. It was the way prosecutors wove the most damning parts of that testimony together - along with mountains of physical evidence - that enabled jurors to return a guilty verdict on all 34 counts after less than two full days of deliberations.
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