WASHINGTON (AP) – The ousted head of the Internal Revenue Service apologized to Congress on Friday for his agency's tougher treatment of tea party and other conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status. He said they resulted from a misguided effort to handle a flood of applications, not political bias.

2. Obama: No Special Prosecutor to Investigate IRS - Friday, May 17, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama dismissed the idea of a special prosecutor to investigate the Internal Revenue Service Thursday, saying probes by Congress and the Justice Department should be able to figure out who was responsible for improperly targeting tea party groups when they applied for tax-exempt status.

3. Holder: Potential Civil Rights Violations at IRS - Thursday, May 16, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – The FBI's criminal investigation of the Internal Revenue Service could include potential civil rights violations, false statements and potential violations of the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from engaging in some partisan political activities, Attorney General Eric Holder said Wednesday.

4. Justice Department to Investigate IRS Targeting of Tea Party - Wednesday, May 15, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Justice Department is opening a criminal investigation into the Internal Revenue Service's targeting of tea party groups for extra scrutiny over whether they qualified for tax exempt status, Attorney General Eric Holder announced Tuesday.

5. US Sues Standard & Poor's Over Pre-Crisis Mortgage Ratings - Wednesday, February 06, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. government says Standard & Poor's knowingly inflated its ratings on risky mortgage investments that helped trigger the 2008 financial crisis.

The credit rating agency gave high marks to mortgage-backed securities because it wanted to earn more business from the banks that issued the investments, the Justice Department alleges in charges filed in federal court in Los Angeles .

6. BP Suspended From New US Government Contracts - Thursday, November 29, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Obama administration put a temporary stop to new federal contracts with British oil company BP on Wednesday, citing the company's "lack of business integrity" and criminal proceedings stemming from the Deepwater Horizon disaster in 2010.

7. Holder Marks Meredith Anniversary in Oxford - Monday, October 01, 2012

Civil rights cases pursued by the U.S. Justice Department are defined differently than they were 50 years ago when department attorneys were literally by James Meredith’s side during the integration of the University of Mississippi.

8. Holder Evokes Memories of 1962 At Ole Miss - Friday, September 28, 2012

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder marked the 50th anniversary of James Meredith’s admission to the University of Mississippi Thursday, Sept. 27, during a visit to the Oxford campus.

9. Gov't Stepping Up Fight Against Health Care Fraud - Friday, July 27, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Obama administration is upping the ante in the fight against health care fraud, joining forces with private insurers and state investigators on a scale not previously seen in an attempt to stanch tens of billions of dollars in losses.

10. Hart Discusses Congressional Bid With The Memphis News - Monday, July 02, 2012

Countywide school board member Tomeka Hart talked with The Memphis News editorial board this month about her candidacy in the Aug. 2 Democratic Congressional primary – a challenge of incumbent Congressman Steve Cohen in the 9th District.

11. Hart Seeks Debate With Rep. Cohen - Monday, June 18, 2012

Democratic candidate for the 9th Congressional District Tomeka Hart wants a debate with incumbent U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen. But Cohen’s campaign is not responding to the debate call a month before early voting begins in the Democratic congressional primary contest between the two.

12. Conspiracy Theory - Thursday, April 12, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) — Tennessee joined 14 other states along with the U.S. Justice Department in suing Apple Inc. and major book publishers Wednesday, alleging a conspiracy to raise the price of electronic books they said cost consumers more than $100 million in the past two years by adding $2 to $5 to the price of each e-book.

13. Justices Take Up Heart of Health Care Overhaul Law - Tuesday, March 27, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Supreme Court is taking up the key question in the challenge to President Barack Obama's historic health care overhaul: Can the government force people to carry insurance or pay a penalty?

14. Justices Ready to Move to Heart of Health Case - Tuesday, March 27, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Supreme Court plunged into debate Monday on the fate of the Obama administration's overhaul of the nation's health care system, and the justices gave every indication they will not allow an obscure tax law to derail the case.

15. U.S. Justice Unit to Probe Mortgage-Backed Securities - Monday, January 30, 2012

Federal and state law enforcement officials announced Friday, Jan. 27, that they have launched a fraud-fighting initiative to root out wrongdoing in the market for residential mortgage-backed securities.

16. Tenn. Photo ID Law Could Face Challenge - Wednesday, January 04, 2012

A requirement that Tennessee voters show photographic identification could be challenged in a lawsuit.

Unless or until there is legislative or court action to change the statute that took effect Sunday, Jan. 1, it remains the law. Tennessee Election Coordinator Mark Goins said his office anticipates voters will be required to show a photo ID when they go to the polls for the March primary elections, according to The Tennessean.

17. BofA in $335M Settlement Over Countrywide Loans - Thursday, December 22, 2011

Bank of America agreed to pay $335 million to resolve allegations that its Countrywide unit engaged in a widespread pattern of discrimination against qualified African-American and Hispanic borrowers on home loans.

18. Obama Nominates Fowlkes for Vacancy - Tuesday, December 20, 2011

The White House nomination of Criminal Court Judge John Fowlkes to be a U.S. District Court judge would return Fowlkes to the building where he once worked as a federal prosecutor.

19. Lawmakers Seek Probe on Banks' New Debit Card Fees - Friday, October 14, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Democratic lawmakers are asking the Justice Department to investigate whether Bank of America and other major banks improperly worked together to charge customers new monthly fees for using their debit cards.

20. White House Sets New Cybersecurity Safeguards - Monday, October 10, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – The White House is taking new steps to safeguard classified information and protect government computer networks against unauthorized disclosures such as last year's release of thousands of pages of secret documents by the website WikiLeaks.

21. Still a Newspaperman - Monday, October 10, 2011

Faith, family, philanthropy, a love of basketball and a passion for the newspaper business are the foundations of Memphian John Paul Jones’ life.

22. FBI: Violent Crime Down by 6 Percent Last Year - Wednesday, September 21, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Violent crime dropped 6 percent in 2010, marking the fourth straight year-to-year decline, while property crime was down for the eighth straight year, falling 2.7 percent, the FBI said Monday, referring to crimes reported to authorities.

23. Artists, Politicians Weigh in on Gibson Raids - Wednesday, September 14, 2011

British singer-songwriter James Blunt has filmed a brief video of himself praising Gibson Guitar Corp., the embattled guitar maker whose Memphis and Nashville facilities were raided last month by federal agents.

24. US Malaise, Debt Stalemate Shake Allies Globally - Monday, August 01, 2011

BEIJING (AP) — America's debt crisis and economic malaise are shaking confidence in its global leadership.

Many governments see Washington's paralysis as political theater ahead of a presidential election and wonder how American hardliners can be allowed to hold up a deal and bring a globalized economy to the brink.

25. On the Bandwagon – A Look at Google+ - Wednesday, July 27, 2011

What do Snoop Dogg, Lance Armstrong and Newt Gingrich all have in common? Each has a Google+ account. As of early this month, the “latest and greatest” social networking site has entered the limelight.

26. Picnic Kicks Off Political ‘Offseason’ - Tuesday, July 19, 2011

There is no campaign literature in Pleasantville. The family spread in Arlington of former state Rep. Bubba Pleasant drew several hundred people – most politicians or the politically minded – over the weekend for the annual “Pleasantville” picnic hosted by Pleasant and state Rep. Ron Lollar.

27. Senators Concerned by Photo ID Requirement to Vote - Thursday, June 30, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Sixteen Democratic senators want the Justice Department to look into whether voting rights are being jeopardized in states that require photo identification in order for people to vote.

28. Feds Dismissed From Schools Consolidation Suit - Monday, May 30, 2011

Federal Judge Hardy Mays has dismissed the federal government from the schools consolidation lawsuit.

Mays’ court order follows a motion for dismissal by the Shelby County Schools system, which had included the U.S. departments of education and justice as well as Education Secretary Arne Duncan and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder in its Feb. 11 lawsuit.

29. Feds Dismissed From Schools Consolidation Suit - Friday, May 27, 2011

Federal Judge Hardy Mays has dismissed the federal government from the schools consolidation lawsuit.

Mays¹ court order follows a motion for dismissal by the Shelby County Schools system, which had included the U.S. departments of education and justice as well as Education Secretary Arne Duncan and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder in its Feb. 11 lawsuit.

30. Mays to Begin Schools Suit Decision in July - Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Federal Judge Hardy Mays will begin deciding the schools consolidation lawsuit in July. And he will do it without further oral arguments or a trial.

The case had originally been scheduled for trial in September.

31. Mays To Decide Schools Consolidation Case Sometime After End Of June - Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Federal Judge Hardy Mays has approved an expedited schedule for deciding the schools consolidation lawsuit.

And he will do it based on the written record in the case as well as affidavits instead of more oral arguments in court.

32. Obama Says New Task Force Will Examine Gas Prices - Friday, April 22, 2011

RENO, Nevada (AP) – President Barack Obama says the Justice Department is assembling a team to investigate fraud or manipulation in the oil markets.

Obama discussed gas prices and mentioned Attorney General Eric Holder's new task force during a town hall in Reno, Nevada, on Thursday. He said he wants to make sure that U.S. consumers aren't being taken advantage of in the short term.

33. 2010 Court Filings Show Mixed Bag - Monday, January 17, 2011

Court filings were a mixed bag in terms of their volume for 2010.

The three civil courts tracked by The Daily News Online (www.memphisdailynews.com) reported more filings in Circuit Court compared to 2009 and fewer filings in Chancery and Probate courts than in 2009.

34. Holder Confirms Criminal Probe on Wall Street - Tuesday, November 30, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) – Attorney General Eric Holder has confirmed that the U.S. attorney's office in the southern district of New York is conducting a criminal investigation of Wall Street.

35. Gov't Targets Web Sites Selling Counterfeit Goods - Tuesday, November 30, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) – The federal government is zeroing in on Internet websites in the illegal sale of counterfeit goods and copyrighted works.

At a news conference Monday, Attorney General Eric Holder said law enforcement authorities have seized 82 domain names of commercial websites, disrupting the sale of thousands of counterfeit items such as sports equipment and illegal copies of music and software.

36. TSA: Some Gov't Officials to Skip Airport Security - Friday, November 26, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) – Cabinet secretaries, top congressional leaders and an exclusive group of senior U.S. officials are exempt from toughened new airport screening procedures when they fly commercially with government-approved federal security details.

37. Tanglewood Foreclosed, to be Sold at Courthouse - Thursday, October 21, 2010

The 199-unit Tanglewood apartment complex at 2171 Sycamore View Road has been foreclosed and will be sold on the Shelby County Courthouse steps, according to a notice in today’s print edition of The Daily News and also at The Daily News Online, www.memphisdailynews.com.

38. White House Doubts Need to Halt All Foreclosures - Tuesday, October 12, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) – A top White House adviser questioned the need Sunday for a blanket stoppage of all home foreclosures, even as pressure grows on the Obama administration to do something about mounting evidence that banks have used inaccurate documents to evict homeowners.

39. DOJ Sues 3 Big Credit Card Cos, May Settle With 2 - Tuesday, October 05, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Justice Department on Monday sued the three largest U.S. credit card companies for anticompetitive practices and reached a proposed settlement with two of them, MasterCard and Visa.

40. Shelby County Receives Grant for "Defending Childhood" - Monday, September 27, 2010

Shelby County is one of eight demonstration sites for a new Justice Department initiative aimed at the exposure of children to violence, either as victims or witnesses.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced the division of the $1.2 million in federal funding in Washington last week.

41. Dem Leaders Prepare for Legal Challenge - Friday, August 13, 2010

Local Democratic Party leaders are collecting affidavits as a start toward formally challenging the Aug. 5 Shelby County election results.

A standing-room-only crowd of more than 200 people gathered at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union hall in Midtown this week.

42. Nearly 500 Arrests Made In Mortgage Fraud Probe - Friday, June 18, 2010

The Justice Department announced Thursday that investigators have made nearly 500 arrests since March in a major crackdown on mortgage fraud.

The nationwide initiative called Operation Stolen Dreams is the largest collective enforcement effort aimed at confronting the problem of mortgage fraud, Attorney General Eric Holder told a news conference. It involves 1,215 criminal defendants in cases that uncovered more than $2.3 billion in losses.

43. State AGs Ask Feds for Help on Oil Spill Damages - Friday, May 07, 2010

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The attorneys general of five southern states threatened by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico are asking President Obama for federal help in preparing damage assessments.

44. Bartlett Retail Center Sold After Foreclosure - Tuesday, March 30, 2010

The 20,000-square-foot retail center at 6496 U.S. 70 (Summer Avenue) in Bartlett has sold for $739,000 to IBERIABANK following foreclosure.

The bank bought the center March 24 from Kelly E. McCarthy of Morton & Germany PLLC. She served as substitute trustee in the matter along with Jeffrey D. Germany, both of whom were appointed to that position in June 2009.

45. PROMISES, PROMISES: Records Not So Open with Obama - Wednesday, March 17, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) - One year into its promise of greater government transparency, the Obama administration is more often citing exceptions to the nation's open records law to withhold federal records even as the number of requests for information declines, according to a review by The Associated Press of agency audits about the Freedom of Information Act.

46. Administration May Abandon Civilian 9/11 Trial - Monday, February 15, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) - Attorney General Eric Holder is leaving open the possibility of trying professed Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed before a military commission instead of the civilian trial originally planned for New York City.

47. New Apartment Owner Files Loan on Property - Wednesday, February 03, 2010

The new owner of the Hunter’s Ridge Apartments at 3108 New Allen Road in Raleigh has filed a $1.2 million deed of trust, assignment of leases and rents and security agreement through Texas Capital Bank. The loan closed Jan. 7 but wasn’t recorded with the Shelby County Register of Deeds until last week.

48. Holder Defends Pursuit of White-Collar Criminals - Friday, January 15, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) - Attorney General Eric Holder on Thursday told a panel studying the U.S. financial crisis that combating white-collar crimes is "a real priority" for the government, even if it bumps up against another urgent mission, combatting terrorism.

49. Administration Widening Pursuit of Financial Fraud - Wednesday, November 18, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama administration has formed a new task force to target financial fraud – replacing an earlier corporate fraud task force.

Attorney General Eric Holder says the new group will have a broader scope – and incorporate state investigators as well as federal agencies – to investigate and prosecute financial crimes that worsened the market collapse.

50. Top White House Lawyer Greg Craig Quitting - Monday, November 16, 2009

TOKYO (AP) - The White House's top lawyer is returning to private practice and being replaced by a longtime adviser to Barack Obama.

White House counsel Greg Craig, who's leaving in early January, has been the subject of repeated questions about his future since late summer. Centered on talk that Obama's promise to close the Guantanamo Bay military prison by January had gone awry under Craig's leadership, the questions were settled Friday when the White House announced Craig's departure.

51. Hunter’s Ridge Sells For $1.2M After Foreclosure - Thursday, November 12, 2009

The Hunter’s Ridge Apartments at 3108 New Allen Road in Raleigh sold back to the lender following the property’s second foreclosure in three years. Hunters Ridge Property Holder LLC, an entity related to lender USAM I FUND LLC, bought the 141-unit complex for $1.2 million Oct. 30 on the Shelby County Courthouse steps.

52. Herenton Grand Jury Hears From Four - Friday, October 30, 2009

A federal grand jury probe believed to be an investigation of the private business affairs of former Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton heard from four witnesses Thursday.

The grand jury deliberations drew extra attention when it was revealed late Wednesday that former city attorney Elbert Jefferson – one of the witnesses who appeared before the panel – would be bringing with him a tape recording of Herenton. It was described in some media outlets as a “secret” recording of Herenton generated by an ethics investigation Jefferson conducted into the mayor.

53. UPDATE: Jefferson And Wade Testify At Herenton Grand Jury - Thursday, October 29, 2009

A federal grand jury probe believed to be an investigation of the private business affairs of former Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton appeared to be building Thursday.

Former city attorney Elbert Jefferson appeared before the panel Thursday morning with his attorney Ted Hansom. Jefferson had no comment on his testimony as he left the federal building approximately two hours after he arrived.

54. Herenton Reveals Target Letter From Feds - Wednesday, October 28, 2009

About a week before Memphians went to the polls in the mayoral special election, former Mayor Willie Herenton got a letter from the U.S. Justice Department.

The so-called target letter officially acknowledges a months-long federal investigation into some of Herenton’s personal business deals while mayor, including his one-time ownership stake in the Downtown Greyhound bus station property.

55. Herenton Reveals "Target Letter" In Federal Probe - Tuesday, October 27, 2009

About a week before Memphians went to the polls in the mayoral special election, former Mayor Willie Herenton got a letter from the U.S. Justice Department.

The so-called target letter officially acknowledges a months-long federal investigation into some of Herenton’s personal business deals while mayor, including his one-time ownership stake in the Downtown Greyhound bus station property.

56. Pfizer to Pay Record $2.3B Penalty over Promotions - Thursday, September 03, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal prosecutors hit Pfizer Inc. with a record-breaking $2.3 billion in fines Wednesday and called the world's largest drug maker a repeating corporate cheat for illegal drug promotions that plied doctors with free golf, massages, and resort junkets.

57. Dozens Arrested in Medicare Fraud Busts Across US - Thursday, July 30, 2009

MIAMI (AP) - Federal authorities arrested more than 30 suspects, including doctors, and were seeking others in a major Medicare fraud bust Wednesday in New York, Louisiana, Boston and Houston, targeting scams such as "arthritis kits" – expensive braces that many patients never used.

58. U.S. Attorney Touts Civil Rights - Monday, July 27, 2009

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder was in Memphis last week to speak at the 26th annual meeting of the National Black Prosecutors Association.

The nation’s first African-American attorney general, who was among the first cabinet members appointed by President Barack Obama this year, took on a variety of topics in a luncheon speech:

59. Timing Perfect For Holder’s Visit - Friday, July 24, 2009

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder’s stop in Memphis this week came at a critical time for U.S. Department of Justice operations in West Tennessee.

The U.S. Attorney’s office is awaiting the appointment of a new chief prosecutor by President Barack Obama. Local U.S. Reps. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, and John Tanner, D-Union City, have been consulted by the administration, which took up residence seven months ago in the White House. Larry Laurenzi has been acting U.S. attorney since the resignation of David Kustoff took effect in May 2008.

60. Government Cracking Down on Mortgage Scams - Tuesday, April 07, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) - Top federal and state officials on Monday announced a broad crackdown on mortgage modification scams, accusing "criminal actors" of preying on desperate borrowers caught up in the nation's housing crisis.

61. AIG Bonuses Won't Stand, Dem Senators Declare - Wednesday, March 18, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) - Talking tougher by the hour, livid Democrats confronted beleaguered insurance giant AIG with an ultimatum Tuesday: Give back $165 million in post-bailout bonuses or watch Congress tax it away with emergency legislation.

62. Stanford Deployed Web of Lies, Documents Show - Friday, February 20, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) – Disgraced banker R. Allen Stanford’s pitch to investors was equal parts glamour and flattery.

63. Obama Adds Econ Advisers, Says 'Help on the Way' - Friday, November 28, 2008

CHICAGO (AP) - President-elect Barack Obama pledged Wednesday to have an economic plan ready for action on the nation's financial crisis on his first day in office. "Help is on the way," he declared.

64. Robertson Jumps Into Role Promoting Downtown Memphis - Friday, February 15, 2008

When the Center City Commission decided recently to create a new position - chief administrative officer - the group ventured outside its own ranks in tapping the new hire. Eric Robertson, who stepped into the role Jan. 14, had spent almost the past decade in a similar job elsewhere in the city and was already an enthusiastic booster of Downtown Memphis.

65. Archived Article: Newsmakers - Wednesday, March 31, 2004
Nashville Attorney Appointed to 30th Judicial District

Attorney Appointed to 30th Judicial District

Nashville attorney Donna M. Fields was appointed to fill a position in the 30th Judicial District, Circuit Court Division 7, replacing recently...

66. Archived Article: Benchmark - Thursday, January 16, 2003
Felons might soon regain

Felons might soon regain

voting rights in Florida

A group of former law enforcement and senior U.S. Department of Justice officials have filed an amicus brief urging a U.S. Circuit Court to restore voting rights to ...