Keep your finger on the legal world's pulse

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has moved to drop a long-running bribery case against two former executives of Cognizant Technology Solutions. In a filing in the Newark, New Jersey federal court, the SEC said it dismissed claims against Gordon Coburn and Steven Schwartz "in the exercise of its discretion and as a policy matter," and not on the merits. Coburn and Schwartz were charged by U.S. authorities in February 2019 with authorizing a $2m bribe to an Indian official for helping to obtain a construction permit for a new Cognizant office in Chennai. Bloomberg describes the move as the latest sign of the Trump administration’s shift away from enforcing the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

 

Bloomberg

Reuters

President Donald Trump has said Attorney General Pam Bondi should release "whatever she thinks is credible" on late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as he faces a backlash from supporters after seeking to draw a line under the case. Bondi has been criticized by some of Trump's political base after her department recently said there was no evidence that Epstein kept a "client list." This appeared to contradict her previous statements, and those of other Trump allies who have previously called for the release of more information on Epstein. Trump also said yesterday he did not understand "what the interest or what the fascination is" with the case. At a news conference at the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bondi sidestepped questions about the fallout of the White House's decision not to release more records related to the wealthy financier's sex trafficking investigation. Some high profile members of Trump's base are calling for her resignation, but Bondi made clear she intends to remain Attorney General. “I'm going to be here for as long as the president wants to be here,” she said. “And I believe he's made that crystal clear.”

 

BBC News

NPR / National Public Radio

U.S. News

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has become largely inactive under the Trump administration, with employees reporting a significant decline in productivity. One employee described the situation as “quite demoralizing,” highlighting a shift from protecting consumers to inaction. The bureau, which has returned approximately $21bn to consumers over its 15-year history, is now focused on reversing previous regulations. Recent actions include rescinding agreements with companies including Navy Federal Credit Union and Toyota, allowing them to avoid penalties for wrongdoing. A report by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) revealed that the bureau is processing only 2,200 complaints daily, a stark drop from 10,500. With funding cuts looming, the CFPB faces potential mass layoffs, leaving employees in a state of uncertainty and frustration.

 

US News and World Report

The Los Angeles Times reports that Trump Administration immigration sweeps show no signs of slowing despite lawsuits, a court order and growing signs the aggressive actions are not popular with the public. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has announced plans to escalate enforcement, citing a $150bn funding boost from the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”; however, a recent Gallup poll indicates declining support for strict immigration measures, with only 30% of Americans favoring reduced immigration. Legal challenges are mounting, including a ruling by U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong that temporarily blocks racial profiling in arrests. The White House has defended its actions, stating: “No federal judge has the authority to dictate immigration policy - that authority rests with Congress and the President.” 

 

Los Angeles Times

The Trump administration has filed a lawsuit against three board members of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPS) who have not left their posts despite an attempt to fire them. In a complaint filed in federal court in Washington D.C., the U.S. Justice Department said President Donald Trump lawfully fired the three board members and requested a court order ousting them. In April, White House Deputy Director of Presidential Personnel Trent Morse sent emails to Laura Ross, Diane Kaplan and Tom Rothman saying they had been terminated from their posts. The CPB responded by filing its own lawsuit, saying that "because the president has no authority over the CPB, he has no authority to terminate its board members as he has purported to do here."

 

Washington Post

Wisconsin is one of 24 states and Washington, D.C. suing the Trump administration over its decision to withhold over $6bn in funding for K-12 schools and adult education programmes. The lawsuit, filed on July 14 in U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, claims the funding pause is "contrary to law, arbitrary and capricious, and unconstitutional." Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly said: "Wisconsin schools depend on these dollars to serve kids," as she highlighted the impact on budgets and hiring decisions. The freeze affects $72.6m in K-12 grants and over $7.5m in adult education funding, threatening services for nearly 34,000 adult learners. Wisconsin Attorney General John Kaul condemned the decision as "unconstitutional, unlawful, and arbitrary," and called for the funding freeze to be lifted. The lawsuit names U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget Russell Vought, and Trump as defendants.

 

Green Bay Press Gazette

JS online

As the one-year anniversary of a devastating cyberattack approaches, Columbus leaders have approved a $23m investment to enhance the city's cybersecurity. Councilmember Nick Bankston said that the adoption of a "zero trust network" will be "transformational" for the city. The attack, attributed to the Rhysida cybercriminal group, compromised sensitive data of residents and employees, leading to two lawsuits against the city. “In today's world, cybersecurity is public safety. This $23 million investment in a Zero Trust Network is not just about protecting servers - it's about protecting the people of Columbus. By modernizing our infrastructure and adopting industry best practices, we are taking responsible, proactive steps to ensure that residents can trust their government to keep their information safe and services running securely,” Bankston said.

 

The Columbus Dispatch

The recent deployment of United Auto Workers (UAW) leaders to Korea suggests that union influence could become stronger with respect to joint ventures between Korean battery manufacturers and U.S. automakers. The U.S. labor union representing workers in the automotive industry met peers at Samsung SDI and WCP to discuss unionisation of workers in the battery sector. In solidarity with the militant Korean Metal Workers' Union (KMWU), the UAW appears to be increasing pressure on BlueOval SK, the joint venture between SK On and Ford Motor, which remains the only union-free company among the joint ventures between Korean battery manufacturers and U.S. carmakers.

 

The Korea Times

U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Jim Banks have cautioned Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang against meeting with companies in China that may undermine U.S. chip export controls during his upcoming trip. They expressed concerns that such meetings could legitimize firms collaborating with the Chinese military and emphasized the importance of adhering to export restrictions. Nvidia, meanwhile, is preparing to launch more affordable AI chips for the Chinese market, which has raised further alarms among lawmakers regarding national security implications.

 

Reuters

A Milan court has placed LVMH-owned luxury label Loro Piana under judicial oversight for 12 months for subcontracting production to suppliers that allegedly exploited migrant workers. The court said Loro Piana had handed the production of apparel, including jackets, to Evergreen Fashion Group. In some Italian factories, working hours largely exceeded the eight-hour legal standard, employees slept on shop floors and were paid a fraction of Italy’s legal minimum. The order means that a court will appoint a special administrator to oversee the company’s business and will be tasked to clean up the production process. The brand is not under criminal investigation. The decision by prosecutors at the Milan Tribunal marks the fifth intervention into working conditions in the luxury-goods industry in recent years, following similar probes into a unit of Giorgio Armani and other companies such as Valentino Bags Lab, Manufactures Dior and handbag firm Alviero Martini.

 

Bloomberg

Financial Times

The Trump administration has terminated nearly $15m in research aimed at understanding PFAS contamination in U.S. farmland, a decision that public health advocates deem critical for addressing widespread food contamination linked to these harmful chemicals. Critics argue that this move not only jeopardizes food safety but also exacerbates the ongoing public health crisis. PFAS are known to accumulate in the body and are associated with a variety of health issues.

 

Reuters