May 23

DOJ scrubs its Jan. 6 prosecution database from its website

The Trump Justice Department removed hundreds of press releases on May 23, 2026, documenting charges and sentences against roughly 1,600 January 6 defendants from its official website. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche — Trump's former personal attorney — defended the deletion, with the DOJ calling the records "partisan propaganda." CREW argued the deletion violated the Federal Records Act, which requires agencies to notify the National Archives before removing federal records. The DC Circuit vacated the seditious conspiracy convictions of Oath Keepers leaders the same day.

Trump says proposed Iran peace MOU is largely negotiated

President Donald Trump said a proposed peace memorandum with Iran was largely negotiated and tied the potential deal to reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Reporting described the framework as still unfinished: the emerging terms included a possible 60-day negotiation period, sanctions relief tied to Iranian compliance, ending the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, and possible steps involving Iran's enriched uranium stockpile. Iran disputed parts of Trump's framing, including any suggestion that it would give up control over Hormuz. Israeli officials also signaled that they expected any final deal to remove Iran's nuclear threat, while U.S. officials said talks were not complete.

South Carolina Senate invokes cloture to advance map targeting Clyburn's district

On May 23, 2026, the South Carolina Senate voted 26-18 to invoke cloture on H. 5683, limiting debate and pushing a new congressional map toward final passage ([Senate Journal](https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sessphp/senjour.htm), [WRDW](https://www.wrdw.com/2026/05/23/sc-redistricting-map-passes-second-reading-final-vote-set-tuesday/?outputType=amp)). Republican senators used cloture one day after they failed to suspend chamber rules by the two-thirds vote needed to fast-track the bill, and the move followed Gov. Henry McMaster's May 14 order calling lawmakers back for a special session on congressional maps ([Governor's Office](https://governor.sc.gov/news/2026-05/gov-henry-mcmaster-calls-general-assembly-back-extra-session), [Senate Calendar](https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sessphp/sctoday.htm)). The bill targets the 6th District, Jim Clyburn's seat and the state's only majority-Black congressional district, so the next vote would test whether South Carolina Republicans could turn a procedural win into a map likely to face immediate voting-rights litigation ([SC Daily Gazette](https://scdailygazette.com/2026/05/23/redistricting-fight-prompts-something-new-for-sc-legislators-meeting-on-a-sunday/), [Louisiana v. Callais](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-109_21o3.pdf)).

Judge dismisses Michael Wolff lawsuit against Melania Trump over Epstein comments

A federal judge dismissed author Michael Wolff preemptive lawsuit against Melania Trump after her lawyer threatened defamation claims over Epstein-related comments. The judge said Wolff had used an improper procedural tactic and did not decide the underlying defamation dispute.

Released papers show Queen Elizabeth backed Andrew trade-envoy appointment

Released UK government documents showed Queen Elizabeth II strongly supported Andrew appointment as a trade envoy even as officials raised concerns about vetting and suitability. The papers gave Parliament and the public new evidence about how royal preference shaped a government role later scrutinized through the Epstein fallout.

Supreme Court rejects South Carolina racial gerrymandering challenge

The Supreme Court rules in Alexander v. South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP on May 23, 2024, that challengers did not prove South Carolina lawmakers used race as the dominant reason for drawing a congressional district. Justice Samuel Alito writes the majority opinion, and Justice Elena Kagan dissents.\n\nThe dispute centered on whether the state moved Black voters out of a congressional district to protect a Republican seat or whether the map was mainly partisan. The Court says federal courts must presume good faith by state legislatures and cannot treat evidence of partisan goals as proof of racial gerrymandering without stronger evidence.\n\nThe ruling matters because race and party often overlap in Southern redistricting. It makes some racial gerrymandering challenges harder to prove when lawmakers can describe the map as partisan rather than racial.

Biden launches Indo-Pacific Economic Framework with 12 partner countries

President Biden launches the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) with 12 partner countries including Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, and Southeast Asian nations. The economic initiative aims to strengthen U.S. economic engagement in the Indo-Pacific region and provide an alternative to China's economic influence. The framework focuses on trade, supply chains, clean energy, and anticorruption standards. The launch represents a notable U.S. economic policy initiative in Asia following the withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership under the Trump administration.

Mesa County clerk Tina Peters lets an outsider copy voting machine drives

On May 23, 2021, Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters used her security badge to allow Conan Hayes, a man connected to the election denial movement and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, into a secure area during a trusted build software update. Hayes copied the hard drives of vote-counting equipment. Peters had her deputy clerk request that security cameras be turned off beforehand. The copied data and passwords were later posted publicly online in August 2021.