Rachel Maddow

They wiped our IT system, canceled contracts, shredded documents, took down our website, including all of our 40 years of research and work we had done. They seized not only our building, but also all of our funding, including our endowment funds.

Well, now, perhaps predictably, a federal judge has ruled that all of that, from the armed takeover of the building to the firing of the employees to the seizing all the Institute's assets, all of that was quite flagrantly illegal.

Well, now, perhaps predictably, a federal judge has ruled that all of that, from the armed takeover of the building to the firing of the employees to the seizing all the Institute's assets, all of that was quite flagrantly illegal.

The judge called it a gross usurpation of power and a way of conducting government affairs that unnecessarily traumatized the committed leadership and employees of the U.S. Institute of Peace, who deserved better. everything back. And so, Musk and all his minions have been forced to give it all back. And when the reinstated actual leaders of the U.S.

The judge called it a gross usurpation of power and a way of conducting government affairs that unnecessarily traumatized the committed leadership and employees of the U.S. Institute of Peace, who deserved better. everything back. And so, Musk and all his minions have been forced to give it all back. And when the reinstated actual leaders of the U.S.

Institute of Peace returned to their building for the first time in over two months, just a few days ago, what they found was water damage and rats and roaches, things they had never had before.

Institute of Peace returned to their building for the first time in over two months, just a few days ago, what they found was water damage and rats and roaches, things they had never had before.

The acting director of the Institute of Peace told Judge Howell in a sworn statement that the Trump administration essentially abandoned the building as soon as they stole it, and that, quote, failure to maintain and secure the building resulted, among other things, in the rats and roaches. And apparently, whole juicy buds.

The acting director of the Institute of Peace told Judge Howell in a sworn statement that the Trump administration essentially abandoned the building as soon as they stole it, and that, quote, failure to maintain and secure the building resulted, among other things, in the rats and roaches. And apparently, whole juicy buds.

The Economist reports tonight that cleaners also found a whole bunch of marijuana that was apparently left behind by Doge staffers after they left the place. So, maximum destruction, leaving everything soiled and in disrepair and littered with drugs. And now, because all of that was totally illegal, the folks at the U.S.

The Economist reports tonight that cleaners also found a whole bunch of marijuana that was apparently left behind by Doge staffers after they left the place. So, maximum destruction, leaving everything soiled and in disrepair and littered with drugs. And now, because all of that was totally illegal, the folks at the U.S.

Institute of Peace will have to, like, repair everything and stand everything back up in order to even start to get back to where they were before this whole thing started. It's just pure... pure pointlessness and waste.

Institute of Peace will have to, like, repair everything and stand everything back up in order to even start to get back to where they were before this whole thing started. It's just pure... pure pointlessness and waste.

And may I suggest that, yes, the black guy was cute, but may I suggest that this is perhaps more on the nose as the legacy of what the Trump administration has done through Trump's top campaign donor, Elon Musk, as Elon Musk leaves Washington.

And may I suggest that, yes, the black guy was cute, but may I suggest that this is perhaps more on the nose as the legacy of what the Trump administration has done through Trump's top campaign donor, Elon Musk, as Elon Musk leaves Washington.

A building seized, pointlessly, shut down, pointlessly, left to be infested by vermin, all so its rightful owners can eventually come back and have to put it all back together again... for no reason at all. I think that's a better metaphor. I'm just going to say it. I'm pleased that we're going to be joined this evening by the outside general counsel for the U.S. Institute of Peace.

A building seized, pointlessly, shut down, pointlessly, left to be infested by vermin, all so its rightful owners can eventually come back and have to put it all back together again... for no reason at all. I think that's a better metaphor. I'm just going to say it. I'm pleased that we're going to be joined this evening by the outside general counsel for the U.S. Institute of Peace.

The Institute finally had its staff reinstated, finally got back its building from Elon Musk and Doge, only to find that after Musk and his team had essentially stolen the building, they just abandoned it for weeks, which means the returning staff had to contend, among other things, with the disrepair of how Doge left things, including graffiti and breakage and reportedly rats and roaches.

The Institute finally had its staff reinstated, finally got back its building from Elon Musk and Doge, only to find that after Musk and his team had essentially stolen the building, they just abandoned it for weeks, which means the returning staff had to contend, among other things, with the disrepair of how Doge left things, including graffiti and breakage and reportedly rats and roaches.

The Economist reporting tonight that among the things Doge left behind was apparently a bunch of marijuana. Again, left behind when Doge finally got out. George Foote is outside general counsel for the U.S. Institute of Peace. Mr. Foote, thank you very much for being here with us tonight. Congratulations on getting your building back. I'm sorry to hear about the state in which you are receiving it.