Watch CBS News

Sarah N. Lynch

Sarah N. Lynch is the senior Justice Department reporter for CBS News. She previously worked as the Justice Department correspondent at Reuters in Washington where she covered everything from the criminal cases stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol to former special counsel Jack Smith's investigations into Donald Trump for his retention of classified records and his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

Lynch has covered a variety of high-profile trials of public figures including Paul Manafort, Roger Stone, Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro. In 2025, she documented the Trump administration's dismantling of its Public Integrity Section tasked with prosecuting public corruption, and the massive shift in the mission of the Civil Rights Division, leading to the exodus of approximately 75% of its staff. Prior to covering the Justice Department, Lynch covered the Securities and Exchange Commission and Wall Street regulations at both Reuters and the Wall Street Journal. The collapse of Lehman Brothers took place two weeks into her tenure at the Wall Street Journal, and she worked on a reporting team covering bank bailouts, the role that over-the-counter derivatives played in the housing crisis, and the passage of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act.

Lynch holds a bachelor's degree from Barnard College and a Master's Degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism where she studied investigative reporting at the Toni Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism. She enjoys running, biking, lifting weights, cooking, theatre, music of all kinds and film. She lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband, their daughter and their dog Chewbacca.

National Guardsman in D.C. charged after pointing gun at colleague

Zion Mitchell, 21, was arrested earlier this month and faces firearms and assault charges after he admitted he pointed his gun at a fellow National Guard member.

Sep 9

Judge lets Pentagon move forward with firing Stars and Stripes journalists

The Pentagon accused two of the Stars and Stripes journalists of insubordination after one of them had told "CBS Sunday Morning" in a July interview that she worked for Stars and Stripes, "not for the Pentagon, not for any administration, not for any policymaker."

Sep 4

BOP faces scrutiny over exclusive deal to sell nicotine pouches to prisoners

The BOP in July entered into an exclusive arrangement with a Florida startup that allows the company to sell federal prisoners nicotine pouches that are not authorized by the FDA.

Sep 4

Federal prosecutor fired after investigating ICE officer for civil rights offenses

A federal prosecutor in Minnesota who was investigating an ICE officer for possible civil rights crimes has been fired, four sources familiar with the matter told CBS News.

Sep 3

ICE officer who shot immigrant in Minnesota in federal custody, source says

Federal prosecutors have charged an ICE officer who shot a Venezuelan immigrant in Minnesota with making false statements about the incident, sources said. He is now in custody.

Sep 3

At FBI, history of hiring prostitutes may not be employment barrier

In June, the FBI quietly lowered some of the standards it uses when it conducts background checks on would-be federal agents and other personnel.

Aug 28

Bureau of Prisons No. 2 official who was pardoned for drug crimes departs

Josh Smith had a tense relationship with BOP's employees, and some staffers had raised questions about contracts awarded during his year-long tenure.

Aug 25

Feds consider charging ICE officer accused of shooting immigrant in Minnesota

The shooting took place in January during the Trump administration's immigration operation in Minnesota.

Aug 25

Ed Martin speaks during a press conference on May 13, 2025, in Washington, D.C.

Controversial pro-Trump attorney Ed Martin leaving administration

Ed Martin, the pro-Trump lawyer who has been at the center of several controversies, is departing the administration, the president announced.

Aug 21

Rep. Eric Swalwell speaks during a hearing in the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.

FBI seizes Swalwell's devices, executes warrants in sexual misconduct probe

FBI agents executed search warrants targeting former Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell and seized his electronic devices, two sources told CBS News.

Aug 20

A person runs past Dunster House at Harvard University on March 17, 2025, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Former DOJ lawyer alleges government improperly targeted Ivy League schools

The Trump admin. pressured attorneys to investigate allegations of antisemitism at elite universities even though there was no factual or legal basis to do so, former DOJ lawyer says.

Aug 18

Voting booths are set up at a polling place in Newtown, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, April 23, 2024.

Justice Department to send a record 1,000 monitors to midterm polling places

The Justice Department is planning to deploy a record 1,000 federal monitors to polling places throughout the U.S. for the midterm elections.

Aug 18

Department Of Justice Holds News Conference On Unaccompanied Migrant Children

DOJ to stop using outside experts to help vet competitive grant applicants

The Justice Department is scrapping its longtime practice of hiring outside experts to help review competitive grant applications, multiple sources told CBS News.

Aug 18

The Internal Revenue Service Headquarters In Washington, DC

IRS proposal would force nonprofits to disclose leaders' terrorism convictions

The disclosure requirement would be added to the Form 990, the annual return that nonprofit groups file with the IRS.

Aug 18

Ex-prosecutor fired over FACE Act case sues DOJ for unlawful termination

Sunita Doddamani argues that she was terminated as an assistant U.S. attorney because she prosecuted activists accused of blocking an entrance to an abortion clinic.

Aug 17