Nichols noted that despite Trumpās claim of massive ācorruption and fraudā in the agency, government lawyers had no support for that argument in court. Aside from that assertion, the judge said, the administration was unable to explain āwhat harm would befall the government if it could not immediately place on administrative leave the more than 2000 employees in question.ā
An attorney for the Trump administration ā acting Justice Department Civil Division head Brett Shumate ā had urged Nichols to refrain from intervening in the matter on an emergency basis, saying the issue amounted to an employment dispute that could be resolved through other grievance processes. He noted that the 2,200 employees being placed on leave would still be paid and could challenge any actions they felt were improper.
But Nichols rejected that argument. āAdministrative leave in Syria is not the same as administrative leave in Bethesda: simply being paid cannot change that fact.ā
The judge says the administration lawyers brough no evidence of corruption.
When have we heard of trump lawyers making absurd claims they don't have evidence of before?
Seems like a habit for them.
Of course when they lose, they will blame the judge, not their lack of evidence.
USAID did not give millions of taxpayer dollars to Politico. The spending came from agencies across the federal government for subscriptions to Politico Pro, according to USA Spending, the database that tracks government grants and contracts.
The spokesperson acknowledges the figure is bunk.
Turning Point USA Spokesperson Andrew Kolvet said Kirk was referring to the top-line figure of $8 million in taxpayer dollars going to Politico. Kolvet acknowledged the amount coming from USAID was smaller, but he questioned its necessity.
USAID did not fund a musical in Ireland, the state department did. And it wasn't a musical.
Speaking with reporters Feb. 3, Leavitt said USAID gave a grant for "production of a DEI musical in Ireland." That grant came from the State Department, not USAID.
The grant funded a 2022 music festival (not a musical) in 2022 at the U.S. Embassy in Ireland, according to Irish news site Gript. The event featured performances from Irish musicians.
Further debunking at this link
Elon Musk and Republicans in support of his DOGE efforts have repeatedly made false claims about government spending.
www.statesman.com
