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Latest SCOTUS leak a gift to liberals ‘salivating’ over control of high court narrative: experts
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A Supreme Court leak is giving liberals new ammunition in their long-running criticism of the emergency docket after recently published internal memos showed how the high court fast-tracks major cases, a process that critics say has served to advance key parts of President Donald Trump’s agenda in his second term.
«The liberals are salivating over this. They’re very happy because it reinforces their narrative,» South Texas College of Law professor Josh Blackman told Fox News Digital.
The memos, published Saturday by the New York Times, offered a rare look at how Chief Justice John Roberts pressed the court in 2016 to quickly block President Barack Obama’s Clean Power Plan. But the immediate concern now is not about what the documents revealed about the Supreme Court’s emergency docket but rather the leak itself, according to experts, who said it was a deliberate attempt to damage the court’s credibility.
«The bigger issue is people are leaking stuff to try to hurt the court,» Blackman said. «That’s the bigger story. This was done to try to make the court look bad. Roberts, I think, doesn’t come out looking very good in this one. … I think it’s designed to hurt the chief in particular.»
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President Donald Trump greets Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. as he arrives to deliver an address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 4, 2025. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
The leaked internal memos appeared centered on the 5-4 decision along ideological lines in February 2016 to block Obama’s signature energy plan. The memos, written by and circulated among the justices, showed Roberts urging his colleagues to quickly intervene and halt the plan, a revelation that fueled attacks from the left on the so-called shadow docket.
«The new reporting highlights the role of this rashly issued stay in inaugurating the Supreme Court’s use of unexplained and hastily issued ‘shadow docket’ proceedings to alter major national policies,» Environmental Defense Fund general counsel Vickie Patton said in a statement Monday.
The leak incident has generated several theories in legal circles that a liberal justice or retired liberal justice, or one of their former clerks, passed the 16 pages of memos off to the New York Times to weaken confidence in high-profile emergency docket decisions, which have often favored Trump since he took office. A similar, smaller-scale leak to the same New York Times reporters occurred in 2024.
A ‘deteriorating culture at the court’
Blackman noted the person who gave the decade-old memos to the New York Times could share even more.
«This person probably kept a lot of things and decided to leak this, and there might be even more coming,» Blackman said. «I think this is absolutely partisan, and it’s done in a way to hurt and wound the court and to reaffirm this notion that the shadow docket is an evil, nefarious regime.»
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Former President Barack Obama speaks to supporters during a get out the vote rally at Essex County College gymnasium in Newark, N.J., on Nov. 1. (Kyle Mazza/Anadolu)
George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley echoed Blackman’s sentiments in an op-ed, saying «the controversy over the use of the shadow docket is immaterial to this story.»
Turley pointed to the Dobbs opinion leak to Politico from 2022, which was, at the time, a stunning violation of the high court’s confidentiality. Turley noted while that breach was an apparent «effort to influence the final opinion,» this latest one is about an old case and therefore «had a purely malicious purpose to embarrass or disrupt the court.»
«The leaks appear to reflect a deteriorating culture at the court,» Turley added.
The Supreme Court’s press office did not respond to an inquiry from Fox News Digital about the leaks.
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Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., told Fox News on Monday the memos were «100%» intended to discredit the court. Hawley and his wife, Erin, a lawyer at the conservative Alliance Defending Freedom, both previously worked as law clerks for Roberts.
«You can tell from the news article that builds it that way,» Hawley said. «They criticize the court for how they’re managing their docket. They say this is some big conspiracy. The only conspiracy is the multi-year effort funded by somebody to undermine the institution of the court from within, from without. … We need to find out who’s doing this.»
Shadow docket criticism
The emergency docket allows litigants to bypass lengthy court proceedings and seek immediate relief from the Supreme Court if lower courts block them through restraining orders or preliminary injunctions.
Democrats have criticized the Supreme Court for the higher frequency of emergency decisions, which often contain little explanation but have increased because of what legal experts say is a rise in executive actions in lieu of Congress passing laws. In Trump’s second term, the justices have ruled in favor of Trump on emergency decisions most of the time, clearing the way for Trump to fire masses of federal employees, cancel hundreds of millions of dollars in federal contracts, move forward with aggressive immigration policies and more.
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Last week, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, a Biden appointee, tore into the high court’s majority during a Yale Law School speech for issuing what she said were rushed, «scratch-paper musings» that advance «harmful» policies.
Ketanji Brown Jackson attends the 2026 Recording Academy Honors presented by The Black Music Collective during the 68th Grammy Awards on Jan. 29, 2026, in Los Angeles, Calif. (Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Upon introducing a bill to «increase transparency» of the emergency docket in December, Rep. Jamie Raskin, the leading Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, said the Supreme Court was losing credibility by not allowing cases to first play out in the lower courts.
«The Roberts Court’s reliance on the Shadow Docket to covertly fast-track one-paragraph decisions on major cases drives tremendous mistrust toward Justices already facing record-low levels of public confidence,» Raskin said at the time.
Roberts the ‘bulldozer’
The Clean Power Plan would have involved the Obama Environmental Protection Agency imposing regulations on coal-powered plants under the Clean Air Act, a move that red states and industry groups implored the Supreme Court to quickly stop in 2016. Roberts, an appointee of former President George W. Bush, wrote, according to the memos, that without the high court stepping in, «both the states and private industry will suffer irreparable harm from a rule that is — in my view — highly unlikely to survive.»
The New York Times described Roberts as acting like a «bulldozer.» Blackman said «it’s very clear» that Roberts stepped in to stop the EPA administrator from ramming through a plan in Obama’s last year in office that could reshape the energy sector with only the «very liberal» D.C. appellate court weighing in.
In another memo, Justice Elena Kagan, an Obama appointee, disagreed with Roberts, saying «the unique nature of the relief sought in these applications gives me real pause.»
In a matter of days, the high court issued its brief, unexplained decision along ideological lines to temporarily block Obama’s plan. The move would become a death blow to Obama’s efforts because Democrats would lose the White House later that year.
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Blackman noted that accountability for leaking the private memos, which framed Roberts as spearheading a reckless decision, would be difficult, saying any possible crime would fall outside of statutes of limitations and that, outside of the possibility of attempting to disbar the culprit for an ethics violation, there was no real recourse, especially for conservatives seeking to punish a possible left-leaning leaker.
«If a liberal leaks they’ll get a medal,» Blackman said. «They’ll become a hero. They’ll suffer zero professional consequences. In fact, they’ll probably be better off.»
supreme court, judiciary, law, federal judges, democrats senate
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Contradicciones, suspicacias y cruce de declaraciones por la presencia de dos agentes de la CIA muertos en México en un operativo antidrogas
La labor que realizaban dos agentes de la CIA muertos en un accidente al regresar supuestamente de un operativo antidrogas en el estado mexicano de Chihuahua no solo sigue provocando contradicciones y dudas sobre quién autorizó su actividad, sino que ha empezado a generar suspicacias en la administración de Donald Trump.
El suceso avivó las especulaciones sobre el alcance de las acciones estadounidenses en suelo mexicano pese a la reiterada defensa de la soberanía hecha por la presidenta Claudia Sheinbaum y su negativa a aceptar las ofertas de Trump de intervenir contra los carteles narco.
Sheinbaum dijo este miércoles en su conferencia de prensa que analiza posibles sanciones contra el gobierno de Chihuahua porque cualquier colaboración de miembros de agencias de Estados Unidos en México debe ser aprobada por el gobierno federal, cosa que no ocurrió.
Horas después, la portavoz de la Casa Blanca, Karoline Leavitt, pidió a la mandataria en declaraciones a Fox News “un poco más de empatía” ante la muerte de dos estadounidenses “teniendo en cuenta todo lo que Estados Unidos está haciendo con este presidente para detener el flagelo del tráfico de drogas a través de México».
Los dos agentes murieron el domingo junto a dos miembros de la fiscalía estatal cuando su camioneta derrapó y cayó por un barranco en las escarpadas montañas que unen Chihuahua —fronteriza con Texas—y Sinaloa, donde se desmanteló un enorme laboratorio de drogas sintéticas.
Su pertenencia a la agencia central de inteligencia de Estados Unidos (CIA) fue confirmada el martes a The Associated Press por un funcionario estadounidense y otras dos personas familiarizadas con el asunto que hablaron bajo condición de anonimato para poder abordar cuestiones de inteligencia.
“No se informó de la participación de estas personas», afirmó Sheinbaum sin mencionar expresamente a la CIA. “No puede haber agentes de alguna institución del gobierno de Estados Unidos operando en campo… Esto no es parte del protocolo de seguridad que hemos acordado, del entendimiento que tenemos con ellos”.
Desde hace décadas, la presencia en México de la CIA —con un legado turbio en América Latina ligado a golpes de Estado y dictaduras militares— al igual que la de la DEA, la agencia antidrogas, y de otros agentes estadounidenses ha estado marcada por los claroscuros y controversias, como por ejemplo sobre la portación de armas. Sus actividades suelen salir a la luz pública cuando hay problemas, como ocurrió en 2012 cuando una camioneta de la embajada fue baleada en las afueras de Ciudad de México dejando a dos agentes de la CIA heridos.
Durante la administración de Andrés Manuel López Obrador (2018-2024), sus movimientos fueron restringidos con una ley que exige a los agentes informar previamente al gobierno mexicano de sus acciones, que sigue vigente. Sheinbaum ha incrementado la cooperación con Washington y endurecido su estrategia de seguridad.
Hasta las declaraciones de Leavitt, la administración Trump no había hecho comentarios públicos sobre los sucesos en Chihuahua y la CIA declinó el miércoles comentar sobre el tema. Sin embargo, las autoridades mexicanas han abundado en contradicciones.
César Jaúregui, fiscal de Chihuahua, dijo el domingo que el ejército mexicano y su fiscalía habían participado en el desmantelamiento del mayor laboratorio de drogas sintéticas ubicado hasta el momento y que los “oficiales instructores” de la embajada murieron en un accidente al regresar de esa acción. Al día siguiente se retractó y dijo que los funcionarios de la embajada se unieron al grupo después del operativo.
Según la presidenta, la Secretaría de Defensa no sabía que algunos de los participantes en la acción «no eran ciudadanos mexicanos y que no eran parte de las agencias de seguridad del estado de Chihuahua”.
Por eso, envió una carta “de extrañamiento” por lo sucedido al embajador estadounidense para que dé toda la información disponible y prevé hablar en breve con la gobernadora de Chihuahua, la opositora María Eugenia ‘Maru’ Campos. “Es muy importante que no se deje pasar algo así”, agregó Sheinbaum.
Horas más tarde, el secretario de Seguridad, Omar García Harfuch, fue tajante al asegurar que “nunca” ha habido agentes extranjeros participando físicamente en un operativo federal. «No nos lo permite la ley”.
También dijo que el ejército recibió una solicitud “específicamente de acompañamiento” para dar seguridad a las fuerzas de Chihuahua. “Es muy distinto ir en apoyo de una operación a ser parte de, como tal, de la planeación”, agregó.
Pero según explicó el fiscal de Chihuahua el domingo, la investigación que llevó a desmantelar el enorme laboratorio había comenzado meses atrás y se había realizado en colaboración con la Secretaría de Defensa. “Cuando ya tuvimos la certeza mediante drones de la ubicación del lugar, acudimos en conjunto a realizar el aseguramiento de las instalaciones”.
El Senado pidió a la gobernadora que acuda la semana que viene a explicar lo ocurrido.
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Iran agrees not to execute eight women tied to anti-regime protests after Trump’s public appeal
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President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Iran will no longer execute eight women linked to anti-regime protests after he urged their release a day earlier.
«Very good news! I have just been informed that the eight women protestors who were going to be executed tonight in Iran will no longer be killed,» Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Four of the women will reportedly be released immediately, while the remaining four will serve one-month prison sentences.
The president thanked Iran for halting the executions, saying, «I very much appreciate that Iran, and its leaders, respected my request.»
FREED IRANIAN PRISONER SAYS ‘IN TRUMP, THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC HAS MET ITS MATCH’
President Donald Trump speaks to the media on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., on April 16, 2026. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Trump previously said on social media Tuesday that releasing the women could work in Iran’s favor during negotiations scheduled later that day, when he ultimately announced an extension of a two-week ceasefire.
«To the Iranian leaders, who will soon be in negotiations with my representatives: I would greatly appreciate the release of these women,» Trump said Tuesday, responding to an activist’s post on X that included photos of eight unidentified women.
«I am sure that they will respect the fact that you did so. Please do them no harm! Would be a great start to our negotiations!!!»
Iran’s judiciary, however, quickly responded to Trump’s claims, denying that the women ever faced execution, according to Middle East-focused media outlet New Arab.
«Trump was misled once again by fake news,» the judiciary’s official Mizan Online website said. «The women who were claimed to be on the verge of execution, some of them have been released, while others face charges that, if convictions are upheld, would at most result in imprisonment.»
IRAN TO EXECUTE FIRST FEMALE PROTESTER TIED TO ANTI-REGIME UNREST
Iranians attend an anti-government protest in Tehran, Iran, on Jan. 9, 2026. (UGC/AP)
According to human rights groups, Iran reportedly last week scheduled the execution of a female protester linked to the January uprising, marking Tehran’s first publicly reported death penalty case involving a woman.
She was identified as Bita Hemmati and is among the eight women Trump said will no longer face capital punishment.
Hemmati was originally sentenced in a collective case alongside her husband and neighbors, the National Council of Resistance of Iran said.
On Jan. 8 and Jan. 9, the group allegedly threw objects such as concrete blocks and incendiary materials from rooftops, injured security forces and engaged in anti-regime «propaganda» in an effort to undermine security, according to federal authorities.
Demonstrators ignite a fire in the middle of the street during an anti-government protest in Tehran, Iran, on Jan. 9, 2026. (UGC/AP)
One Iranian journalist reported the identities of the other women in a post on X, claiming the defendants are as young as 16 years old.
One victim in particular, identified as Mahboubeh Shabani, 33, was accused of providing assistance to demonstrators injured during January’s uprising, according to the Norway-based Hengaw rights group.
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The women’s rulings are among the latest in a series of punishments issued amid a broader government crackdown on dissent.
Rights groups say thousands of protesters may have been killed since demonstrations erupted earlier this year.
iran, donald trump, world protests, middle east foreign policy, human rights
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Mexican national convicted of illegally voting in US after false citizenship claims faces removal: DHS
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FIRST ON FOX: A Mexican national who illegally voted in U.S. elections and falsely claimed to be a citizen has been convicted and could face removal under federal immigration law.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed to Fox News Digital that Jose Ceballos-Armendariz, a lawful permanent resident who has held a green card since 1990, pleaded guilty to three counts of Disorderly Election Conduct following prosecution by the Kansas Attorney General’s Office.
Officials said Ceballos-Armendariz unlawfully voted multiple times and falsely claimed U.S. citizenship on voter registration forms, including a 1999 application in which he affirmed he was a citizen of the United States.
He later applied for U.S. citizenship in February 2025. DHS said he falsely stated on that application that he had never claimed to be a U.S. citizen.
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Jose Ceballos-Armendariz pleaded guilty to voter fraud charges after authorities said he unlawfully voted and falsely claimed U.S. citizenship, according to the Department of Homeland Security. (Department of Homeland Security)
Under federal immigration law, false claims to U.S. citizenship can make a noncitizen removable, though DHS has not detailed any potential action in this case.
«This alien has now been convicted of illegally voting in American elections, voting in American elections,» DHS acting assistant secretary Lauren Bis said. «The SAVE program is a critical tool for state and local governments to safeguard the integrity of elections across the country.»
Records provided by DHS and reviewed by Fox News Digital show Ceballos-Armendariz checked «yes» when asked if he was a U.S. citizen on a Kansas voter registration form and signed to affirm the information was true.
‘ESSENTIAL TO OUR NATION’S SOVEREIGNTY’: NONCITIZEN VOTER CRACKDOWN LED BY GOP AHEAD OF 2026 MIDTERMS
Documents reviewed by Fox News Digital show Jose Ceballos-Armendariz checked that he was a U.S. citizen on a Kansas voter registration form, which authorities say was false. (Department of Homeland Security)
On his naturalization application, however, he marked «no» when asked whether he had ever claimed to be a U.S. citizen, despite his prior voter registration.
DHS said Ceballos-Armendariz also has a prior criminal conviction, having been found guilty of battery in 1995.
President Donald Trump has made election integrity a central focus of his administration, with officials pointing to enforcement actions like this case as part of broader efforts to prevent noncitizens from participating in U.S. elections.
Existing federal law — 18 U.S.C. § 611: «Voting by aliens» under the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) of 1996 — prohibits noncitizens, including lawful permanent residents, from voting in elections for all federal offices.
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People rally in support of the SAVE America Act outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images, File)
«Nothing is more fundamental than the integrity and security of our elections,» Bis said. «That’s why the Trump Administration has repeatedly called on Congress to pass the SAVE America Act — commonsense legislation that requires voters to present photo ID and implements other critical measures to protect federal elections from fraud.
«Our elections belong to American citizens, not foreign citizens.»
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Despite the IIRIRA, since April 2025, more than 24,000 potential non-U.S. citizens have been identified on voter rolls through the SAVE program and referred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for further investigation, according to DHS.
Officials said more than 60 million voter verification queries have been processed during that time.
Federal officials say the system allows states to verify citizenship status and prevent unlawful voting, and they continue to urge broader adoption nationwide.
voting, elections, illegal immigrants, immigration, voter fraud concerns, mexico, politics
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