Appeals court upholds block on James subpoenas

A federal appeals court in the 2nd Circuit upheld a lower court’s ruling blocking the DOJ from subpoenaing records from New York Attorney General Letitia James’s office in probes tied to civil cases against President Donald Trump and the National Rifle Association. The court ruled that John Sarcone III was not lawfully serving as acting U.S. attorney when he issued the subpoenas, due to Federal Vacancies Reform Act limitations, and disqualified him from further involvement in the investigations. The DOJ said it will appeal to the Supreme Court. The case centers on whether the Trump-aligned appointee could legally oversee investigations into James, a frequent critic of President Donald Trump. James’s office has pursued civil actions against Trump’s business, and while one civil fraud judgment against the company was overturned by a New York appeals court, James has denied any wrongdoing. The rulings illustrate a broader appellate pattern scrutinizing attempts to bypass Senate confirmation for U.S. Attorneys and to extend authority through interim appointees.