Judge who handed Trump controversial win gets federal job: records

A judge who handed Donald Trump a major legal victory was actively lobbying for a federal position — which he has now won, according to newly disclosed Senate records.

Florida Judge Ed Artau was secretly meeting with Republican Sen. Rick Scott's staff about securing a Trump nomination in November, just days after the election. Then, in February, he delivered a ruling for Trump in his lawsuit against the Pulitzer Prize Board.

Within weeks, Artau was interviewing at the White House and, by May, Trump was announcing his nomination on Truth Social, The Daily Beast reported.

Artau's ruling didn't just favor Trump — it attacked press freedom, calling for the Supreme Court to overturn the landmark New York Times v. Sullivan decision that protects journalists from frivolous lawsuits by public figures.

Trump sued the Pulitzer board for refusing to revoke awards given to The New York Times and Washington Post for their reporting on Russian election interference — reporting that has been vindicated by multiple investigations.

Ethics watchdog Caroline Ciccone said the timeline of Artau's appointment "raises serious questions about his impartiality."