The Justice Department has rules to resist politics, but President Trump is putting them to the test. "CBS Evening News" John Dickerson explains what's at stake.

Washington

The Justice Department operates under strict guidelines intended to insulate its legal decisions from political influence, ensuring impartiality in investigations and prosecutions. This principle was highlighted by two recent events: the FBI's investigation of Tom Homan, which ended without charges due to insufficient evidence, and President Trump's public urging of the Attorney General to prosecute several political opponents.

The article notes that the same standards should apply to all cases, regardless of political affiliation, but suggests the president's actions may breach these norms. Legal experts warn that such pressure can undermine the department's integrity, lead to staff resignations, and erode public trust in the justice system. The article concludes that public adherence to neutral rules is essential for maintaining confidence in the courts and government.

Testing the Justice Department's independence

The Justice Department has a rule book for how to handle political pressure. It reads, the legal judgments of the Department of Justice must be impartial and insulated from political influence. Its investigatory and prosecutorial powers must be exercised free from partisan consideration. That's the rule insulating DOJ casework from a president's wishes. The idea can seem abstract, but Saturday gave us two concrete examples. MSNBC reported that in 2024, the FBI investigated Border Czar Tom Homan over a $50,000 bribe. The Trump DOJ later declined to charge for lack of evidence. On Saturday, President Trump publicly urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to prosecute his political enemies, former FBI Director James Comey, Senator Adam Schiff, and New York Attorney General Letitia James. If DOJ follows its own manual, the restraint applied to Homan when the elements were not met would also govern any inquiry into the president's opponents. And the scrutiny of the president's opponents would have been used in the Homan case. Same triggers to open a case, same test to charge or decline, same treatment, friend or foe. But that is not the standard the president is applying to his political foes. We don't know what evidence he's citing, but by pressing DOJ about specific prosecutions, the president crosses the manual's free-from-partisan-consideration rule. A defense attorney could argue that any such case rests on presidential anger, not evidence, citing public posts and the president's statement Sunday that he, quote, hates his opponents. Maybe the president just wants to make life tough for those he targets, but even nuisance pressure exacts a cost. Honest litigators quit DOJ rather than break its rules. Technology is drained from investigating actual crimes, and cases blow up when judges call foul. Trust in courts and government sits near modern lows. Jurors come from that public. If citizens see prosecutions as driven by the ruler's will, convictions will look like vendettas. The cure is making adherence to neutral rules as public and unmistakable, as the president's own posts.

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New York

In major shift, Trump says Ukraine can win back territory lost in war

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West Palm Beach

Ryan Routh found guilty of trying to assassinate Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday (September 23) spoke with reporters while meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.

Trump takes questions during meeting with Zelenskyy

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Santa Clara

Rise of AI

Nvidia to invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI

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Houston

NASA prepares to send astronauts around the moon

U.S. President Donald Trump addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, where he pushed back on countries that have formally recognized a Palestinian state. Trump also touted U.S. immigration policy.

Trump delivers address at U.N. General Assembly

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Hong Kong Island

Super Typhoon Ragasa targets Southern China, Hong Kong

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Moscow

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President Trump announced Monday the FDA believes pregnant women should not take acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, claiming there could be a link between the medication and autism, despite objections from medical experts.

Trump, FDA tell pregnant women not to take Tylenol

ABC announced Monday that "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" will return to the air Tuesday night (September 23). The network pulled the show last week following a remark from Kimmel about the death of Charlie Kirk.

Los Angeles

Jimmy Kimmel returning to air

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Rome

Middle East Conflict

Thousands strike across Italy in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza

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President Donald Trump urged Attorney General Pam Bondi in a social media post to move forward with cases against several people connected to the U.S. government. CBS News justice correspondent Scott MacFarlane has more.

Trump urges Pam Bondi to go after his political foes

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Ukraine Invasion

Russia denies violating Estonian airspace

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Glendale

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Portugal, the UK, Australia and Canada joined over 150 countries that now recognise a Palestinian state. The announcements come ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in the week ahead.

Lisbon

Portugal formally recognises Palestinian state

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Nashua

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Phoenix

Trump, others remember Charlie Kirk at memorial service

The United Kingdom, Canada and Australia officially recognized Palestine as a state Sunday, a move that has long been opposed by the U.S. and Israel. More countries are expected to do the same this week as world leaders gather in New York for the U.N. General Assembly.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Israel continuing assault on Gaza after countries recognize Palestinian statehood

A group of US Republicans has sent a letter to France, Canada, the UK and Australia, urging them to re-consider their decision to recognise a Palestinian state.  It's warning there may be consequences if the countries move ahead with plan at the upcoming UN General Assembly.

US Republicans warn allies over decision to recognise Palestinian state

Britain, Canada and Australia all recognized a Palestinian state on Sunday (September 21) in a move borne out of frustration over the Gaza war and intended to promote a two-state solution, but which is also bound to anger Israel and its main ally, the U.S.

Britain, Canada and Australia all recognize Palestinian state

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Nations ratify world's first treaty to protect international waters

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London

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Manhattan

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Melbourne

Telco vows to cooperate after deadly outage

Dozens more Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s military offensive. Amid mounting international criticism of Israel, there has been a renewed push for a two-state solution, with Portugal being the latest advocate.

Breakdown