Trump Administration: Lawsuits, Controversies, and New Appointments
Rob Reiner (78) and his wife Michele (68) were found dead Sunday at their Brentwood, Los Angeles home. In response, former President Donald Trump blamed Rob Reiner for his death, alleging that Reiner disliked him and referencing "Trump Derangement Syndrome." These comments drew condemnation from celebrities and lawmakers, who called them petty and disgusting, including Patrick Schwarzenegger and Whoopi Goldberg.
Separately, Trump filed a lawsuit against the BBC seeking at least $5 billion over the editing of his January 6 speech on Panorama, which aired a week before the 2024 election. Meanwhile, Hilda Ramirez Sanan, a green-card holder, along with her two US citizen children, sued ICE over a violent and allegedly unlawful detention that occurred in Massachusetts.
Kash Patel, a Trump ally, was criticized for prematurely touting the FBI's work on a shooting investigation on social media. In another development, The Heritage Foundation appointed Scott Yenor as director of the B Kenneth Simon Center for American Studies amid controversy due to his ultra-conservative views and Christian nationalist ties.
According to reports, DOJ lawyers felt pressure from the Trump administration to accuse the University of California of antisemitism, a move described by some as politically motivated. Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom named former CDC officials to lead the state's new Public Health Network Innovation Exchange (PHNIX), with Dr. Susan Monarez appointed to head the initiative.
