DOJ apologizes after campaign-style Trump ads air in violation of judge’s order

The Department of Justice apologized late Monday that a controversial ad featuring President Trump continued to run after a court sided with government watchdog groups in temporarily blocking the ads.

Common Cause and a coalition of other groups, including a candidate for congressional office, sued over the ads, arguing the Trump administration broke the law in using federal funds for an ad that amounts to a campaign expenditure.

The plaintiffs won a temporary restraining order in the case late Sunday, but complained to the court that the ad was not yet off the airwaves by Monday.

“The undersigned apologizes to the Court and the plaintiffs,” a Justice Department attorney wrote in an update to the court.

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