We need to stop presenting OLC opinions as anything significant.
OLC has long been too ambitious in its assessment of executive claims. Given what Trump has done to the entire administration, Bondi initially did to DOJ, and Blanche has done since, they’ve rendered OLC opinions meaningless.
OLC has long been too ambitious in its assessment of executive claims. Given what Trump has done to the entire administration, Bondi initially did to DOJ, and Blanche has done since, they’ve rendered OLC opinions meaningless.
JUST IN: New opinion from DOJ's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) claims federal law authorizes Trump administration to obtain full voter rolls from states, despite several judges ruling to contrary. Doc: www.justice.gov/olc/media/14...
www.justice.gov
May 13, 2026 at 1:03 AM
We need to stop presenting OLC opinions as anything significant.
OLC has long been too ambitious in its assessment of executive claims. Given what Trump has done to the entire administration, Bondi initially did to DOJ, and Blanche has done since, they’ve rendered OLC opinions meaningless.
OLC has long been too ambitious in its assessment of executive claims. Given what Trump has done to the entire administration, Bondi initially did to DOJ, and Blanche has done since, they’ve rendered OLC opinions meaningless.
I wish I had my own OLC.
April 2, 2026 at 4:44 PM
I wish I had my own OLC.
OLC opinion here: www.justice.gov/olc/media/14...
www.justice.gov
April 2, 2026 at 4:40 PM
OLC opinion here: www.justice.gov/olc/media/14...
Professor Jack Goldsmith, head of George W. Bush Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC):
"I do not believe that even the Bondi OLC could legally justify the events the Post reported."
"There can be no conceivable legal justification for what the Washington Post reported."
"I do not believe that even the Bondi OLC could legally justify the events the Post reported."
"There can be no conceivable legal justification for what the Washington Post reported."
A Dishonorable Strike
Indulging all assumptions in favor of the administration’s boat strikes, killing helpless men is murder
www.execfunctions.org/p/a-dishonor...
Indulging all assumptions in favor of the administration’s boat strikes, killing helpless men is murder
www.execfunctions.org/p/a-dishonor...
A Dishonorable Strike
Indulging all assumptions in favor of the administration’s boat strikes, killing helpless men is murder
www.execfunctions.org
November 29, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Professor Jack Goldsmith, head of George W. Bush Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC):
"I do not believe that even the Bondi OLC could legally justify the events the Post reported."
"There can be no conceivable legal justification for what the Washington Post reported."
"I do not believe that even the Bondi OLC could legally justify the events the Post reported."
"There can be no conceivable legal justification for what the Washington Post reported."
Man, I’ll tell you something. If Garland refuses to release the Jack Smith report based on that OLC memo about prosecuting sitting presidents, I’ll be on the fuck Garland train with all y’all. Promise.
December 13, 2024 at 4:03 AM
Man, I’ll tell you something. If Garland refuses to release the Jack Smith report based on that OLC memo about prosecuting sitting presidents, I’ll be on the fuck Garland train with all y’all. Promise.
When you forget to have OLC withdraw this opinion before posting on social media about the inability to sign Presidential documents by autopen.
March 17, 2025 at 1:45 PM
When you forget to have OLC withdraw this opinion before posting on social media about the inability to sign Presidential documents by autopen.
OLC view is reflected here www.justice.gov/olc/opinion/...
www.justice.gov
June 23, 2025 at 3:28 PM
OLC view is reflected here www.justice.gov/olc/opinion/...
Guys this isn’t a joke it’s a real OLC opinion: www.justice.gov/olc/media/14...
(Axios story here: www.axios.com/2026/04/01/t...)
(Axios story here: www.axios.com/2026/04/01/t...)
April 2, 2026 at 4:42 PM
Guys this isn’t a joke it’s a real OLC opinion: www.justice.gov/olc/media/14...
(Axios story here: www.axios.com/2026/04/01/t...)
(Axios story here: www.axios.com/2026/04/01/t...)
“His own counsel” = private citizens who bribe him (and who now enjoy executive privilege per that new OLC memo)
JUST IN: AG Blanche, at presser in PR, says he doesn't advise POTUS on pardons. 'I do not talk to President Trump about pardons....The president takes his own counsel when he determines whether to to grant a pardon or a commutation...That's what I expect he'll continue to do.'
August 27, 2026 at 4:35 PM
“His own counsel” = private citizens who bribe him (and who now enjoy executive privilege per that new OLC memo)
This OLC opinion declaring the Presidential Records Act invalid makes a number of astonishing claims, including that retention of presidential records serves no valid legislative purpose. . . . www.justice.gov/olc/media/14...
www.justice.gov
April 2, 2026 at 10:09 PM
This OLC opinion declaring the Presidential Records Act invalid makes a number of astonishing claims, including that retention of presidential records serves no valid legislative purpose. . . . www.justice.gov/olc/media/14...
JUST IN: New opinion from DOJ's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) claims federal law authorizes Trump administration to obtain full voter rolls from states, despite several judges ruling to contrary. Doc: www.justice.gov/olc/media/14...
www.justice.gov
May 13, 2026 at 12:45 AM
JUST IN: New opinion from DOJ's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) claims federal law authorizes Trump administration to obtain full voter rolls from states, despite several judges ruling to contrary. Doc: www.justice.gov/olc/media/14...
HUH: In the final days of Trump’s first term, his DOJ concluded that the much-maligned Logan Act — the 1798 statute considered against Mike Flynn — remained “valid and enforceable,” per newly released OLC memo. www.justice.gov/olc/media/13...
January 17, 2025 at 11:03 PM
HUH: In the final days of Trump’s first term, his DOJ concluded that the much-maligned Logan Act — the 1798 statute considered against Mike Flynn — remained “valid and enforceable,” per newly released OLC memo. www.justice.gov/olc/media/13...
COONS: Why has 'the most transparent dept' refused to release the OLC opinion that justifies the 66 strikes the military has conducted on boats in the Caribbean that have killed more than 220?
BLANCHE: We made the head of OLC available to explain that to you. That's extraordinarily transparent.
BLANCHE: We made the head of OLC available to explain that to you. That's extraordinarily transparent.
July 15, 2026 at 3:24 PM
COONS: Why has 'the most transparent dept' refused to release the OLC opinion that justifies the 66 strikes the military has conducted on boats in the Caribbean that have killed more than 220?
BLANCHE: We made the head of OLC available to explain that to you. That's extraordinarily transparent.
BLANCHE: We made the head of OLC available to explain that to you. That's extraordinarily transparent.
I think I found the template the OLC uses for its memos
April 3, 2026 at 5:35 PM
I think I found the template the OLC uses for its memos
Does Pete Hegseth have a "golden shield" against prosecution in the form of a DOJ OLC opinion? Ed Whelan thinks not.
November 28, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Does Pete Hegseth have a "golden shield" against prosecution in the form of a DOJ OLC opinion? Ed Whelan thinks not.
Never let it be said that a single former OLC law prof can't preserve federalism.
@martylederman.bsky.social
@martylederman.bsky.social
BREAKING: Huge loss for Trump administration at Supreme Court, which rules that the Trump administration had lacked authority to federalize and deploy the National Guard to execute laws in Illinois. s3.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
December 23, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Never let it be said that a single former OLC law prof can't preserve federalism.
@martylederman.bsky.social
@martylederman.bsky.social
Expect someone in the administration may have dusted off this 1989 OLC opinion.
www.justice.gov/olc/opinion/...
www.justice.gov/olc/opinion/...
Authority of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to Override International Law in Extraterritorial Law Enforcement Activities
www.justice.gov
January 3, 2026 at 12:04 PM
Expect someone in the administration may have dusted off this 1989 OLC opinion.
www.justice.gov/olc/opinion/...
www.justice.gov/olc/opinion/...
Kaine: "The administration is refusing to allow members of this committee to see the OLC opinion stating the legal case for war. We've always that ability. We're being asked to fund a $1.5t budget. What are they hiding?"
May 14, 2026 at 3:52 PM
Kaine: "The administration is refusing to allow members of this committee to see the OLC opinion stating the legal case for war. We've always that ability. We're being asked to fund a $1.5t budget. What are they hiding?"
For decades, the AG has delegated to DOJ's Office of Legal Counsel the job of providing controlling advice to Exec Branch on Qs of law. Since 1960s, OLC has also signed off on the legality of all EOs. OLC is mostly career staff. My guess: OLC balked at this EO especially & is now off law island. /4
February 19, 2025 at 1:49 AM
For decades, the AG has delegated to DOJ's Office of Legal Counsel the job of providing controlling advice to Exec Branch on Qs of law. Since 1960s, OLC has also signed off on the legality of all EOs. OLC is mostly career staff. My guess: OLC balked at this EO especially & is now off law island. /4
they have like fifteen guys total left between OLC and DoJ
1/ Attorney General Pam Bondi makes Ed Martin special attorney/prosecutor to criminally investigate Adam Schiff and Tish James
www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
A reminder on Ed Martin of the infamous line: "If they can’t be charged, we will name them" (re J6 investigators) and more ...
🧵
www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
A reminder on Ed Martin of the infamous line: "If they can’t be charged, we will name them" (re J6 investigators) and more ...
🧵
Pam Bondi taps Ed Martin as 'special attorney' to investigate Letitia James and Sen. Adam Schiff for alleged mortgage fraud
U.S.
www.nbcnews.com
August 8, 2025 at 8:02 PM
they have like fifteen guys total left between OLC and DoJ
Old: OLC Torture Memo
New: OLC Murder Memo
New: OLC Murder Memo
The Senate Judiciary Committee needs to get a copy of this OLC memo publicly released.
www.cnn.com/2025/10/06/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/10/06/p...
Exclusive: Classified Justice Department opinion authorizes strikes on secret list of cartels, sources say | CNN Politics
The Trump administration has produced a classified legal opinion that justifies lethal strikes against a secret and expansive list of cartels and suspected drug traffickers, according to multiple peop...
www.cnn.com
October 6, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Old: OLC Torture Memo
New: OLC Murder Memo
New: OLC Murder Memo
there's no amount of OLC jujitsu that can justify this shit legally
January 3, 2026 at 6:43 AM
there's no amount of OLC jujitsu that can justify this shit legally
Can we just declare the OLC a clown show now?
May 13, 2026 at 12:46 AM
Can we just declare the OLC a clown show now?