DOJ wins appeal; MyPillow CEO sues FBI; House to vote on police reform

On Sept. 22, 2022, a federal appeals court said the Justice Department can continue its review on Mar-a-Lago seized documents; MyPillow CEO sued the DOJ over seizure of cell phone; and the U.S. House will vote on a police reform package.

Appeals court rules in DOJ’s favor – A federal appeals court has allowed the Department of Justice to continue looking into classified documents seized last month at former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence. The court said Trump had presented no evidence that he had declassified the records following similar doubts expressed by the special master. Trump has maintained he did declassify records.

MyPillow CEO sues DOJ, FBI – MyPillow CEO and prominent Trump supporter Mike Lindell is suing the Justice Department and FBI looking to recover his cellphone after it was seized last week. Lindell claims his constitutional rights of free speech and against unlawful search and seizure were violated. The seizure was part of an investigation into an alleged voting system breach. Lindell has been a prominent promoter of claims that voting machines were manipulated in the 2020 election.

U.S. House to vote on police reform package – The House of Representatives is expected to vote on a long-awaited police reform package a day after a deal between progressive and centrist Democrats was announced. The package includes reforms to ensure police funding is used to support smaller police departments. It includes investments in de-escalation training and mental health resources for officers.

To get progressives onboard, the package includes limited language around police accountability and provides funding for data collection on police practices. This is the latest attempt to get police reform through Congress stemming from George Floyd’s death two years ago. Previous attempts to pass similar police reform bills have stalled in the Senate.