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Alex Swoyer

Alex Swoyer serves as The Washington Times' editor-at-large, covering law and politics in Washington. Alex leads "The Sitdown with Alex Swoyer" and her column, "Seen, Heard & Whispered," where she interviews officials and discusses the latest political noise echoing through the nation's capital.
She also hosts a podcast, "Court Watch," showcasing high-stakes legal battles. She has covered presidential campaigns, Capitol Hill, and the Supreme Court for more than a decade.
Originally from Texas, Alex left the Lone Star State to attend the Missouri School of Journalism where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism with an emphasis in broadcast.
After graduating from Ave Maria School of Law in Florida, she decided to leave the courtroom and return to the newsroom with The Washington Times.
She can be reached by email at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.

Seen, Heard & Whispered

Written by Alex Swoyer, "Seen, Heard & Whispered” is a weekly column taking you inside the conversations happening in Washington’s power corridors, the moves being made and the whispers that explain what’s really going on in the nation’s capital. Email tips to whispered@washingtontimes.com

Click here to receive Seen, Heard & Whispered in your inbox every Friday.

The Sitdown with Alex Swoyer

Washington Times' Editor-at-Large Alex Swoyer dives into political and legal news with lawmakers, administration officials and politicos inside Washington.

Court Watch Podcast

The 'Court Watch' podcast breaks down the Supreme Court's major cases and top news stories about the justices, federal courts and perplexing legal battles with key insight from court watchers from both sides of the aisle.

Articles by Alex Swoyer

Gorsuch declines to say whether Trump travel policy is legal

Judge Neil Gorsuch refused to tip his hand on how he might rule on President Trump's extreme vetting executive order, telling senators Tuesday that he wouldn't want to hurt his ability to hear the case either on his current appeals court or on the Supreme Court, should he win confirmation.

March 21, 2017

Neil Gorsuch promises independence from Trump, Congress

Judge Neil Gorsuch assured senators Tuesday that he is willing to rule against President Trump from the Supreme Court and repeatedly declared himself a blank slate on the big issues that are likely to come before the high court.

March 21, 2017

Neil Gorsuch presents himself as a Westerner at confirmation hearing

Judge Neil Gorsuch promised senators Monday he would follow the law where it takes him and defended the role of federal judges in the American justice system, seeming to try to put some distance between himself and President Trump, the man who nominated him to the U.S. Supreme Court.

March 20, 2017

Neil Gorsuch: Senate Judiciary Committee to vote on his nomination April 3

The Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on Supreme Court nominee Judge Neil Gorsuch April 3, the committee's chairman announced Monday as he kicked off confirmation hearings.

March 20, 2017

Neil Gorsuch opening statement to set tone for Supreme Court confirmation hearing

At some point Monday afternoon, Judge Neil Gorsuch will sit alone at the witness table and deliver his opening statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee, setting the initial tone for the week's worth of probing.

March 19, 2017

Judicial Watch still waiting for Hillary Clinton’s emails to be released

Despite attacking Hillary Clinton over her email controversy during the 2016 campaign, President Trump's administration isn't rushing to release documents related to the Clinton email investigation or begin action on locating her missing emails.

March 16, 2017

Charles Schumer: Neil Gorsuch will pursue ‘pro-corporate’ agenda on Supreme Court

Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer on Wednesday accused Judge Neil Gorsuch of being beholden to corporations, as Democrats tried to regroup and find an avenue of attack against President Trump's Supreme Court nominee.

March 15, 2017

Ken Paxton, Texas attorney general, backs up Donald Trump claim of illegal immigrants at polls

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton supports President Trump's claim that noncitizens are voting in U.S. elections, saying prosecutors in his own state have won convictions for voter fraud.

March 14, 2017

Neil Gorsuch blocking strategy by Democrats lacks, strategy falters

Republicans say they've outdistanced Democrats 6-to-1 when it comes to floor time spent on President Trump's Supreme Court nominee, signaling that all the momentum is with Judge Gorsuch as he prepares for his confirmation hearing next week.

March 14, 2017

Noel J. Francisco, Trump’s solicitor general pick, fought Obama on recess appointments

President Trump's pick for solicitor general -- the government's chief lawyer to the Supreme Court -- has been there before.

March 9, 2017

Cork Wine Bar, a D.C. restaurant, files lawsuit against Donald Trump and his hotel

A D.C. restaurant announced Thursday that it is suing the Trump International Hotel and President Trump himself, charging that he is violating the terms of his lease because he is a government employee who retains an ownership stake in the hotel.

March 9, 2017

Donald Trump’s claim of FISA use against him puts focus on spying scope

President Trump's claim that the Obama administration used a law meant for snooping on foreign agents against him during the presidential campaign has raised new questions about the scope of government spying, just months before the law is due for renewal.

March 8, 2017

Ken Paxton, Texas attorney general, says Donald Trump will return powers back to the states

Texas led the charge in challenging President Barack Obama's expansion of executive powers, but Attorney General Ken Paxton says he expects that to change under President Trump, who he said appears ready to leave far more discretion in the hands of states.

March 8, 2017

Liberals threaten Democrats over support for Supreme Court nominee Gorsuch

Liberal activists are increasingly upset at what they see as too little opposition to President Trump's Supreme Court nominee and are even threatening to run primary challengers against Democrats in the Senate who end up supporting Judge Neil Gorsuch.

March 7, 2017

Al Franken: Jeff Sessions’ letter ‘absolutely ridiculous and contradictory’

Sen. Al Franken said Tuesday it's difficult to come up with any conclusion other than that Attorney General Jeff Sessions committed perjury when he failed to disclose during confirmation hearings he'd met with the ambassador to Russia.

March 7, 2017

Michael Bennet, Colorado senator, facing pressure to back home-state Neil Gorsuch for Supreme Court

Sen. Michael Bennet, Colorado Democrat, is facing increasing pressure to support home-state Judge Neil Gorsuch's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court, as Republicans try to build support for the nomination among Democrats one-by-one.

March 5, 2017

House committee addresses Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act amendments set to expire

The House Judiciary Committee held the first meeting of the year Wednesday to address Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) amendments that are set to expire by the end of the year unless Congress takes action.

March 1, 2017

Neil Gorsuch’s work under scrutiny by advocacy groups, senators

Judge Neil Gorsuch's time in the Justice Department is coming under increasing scrutiny, with senior senators and advocacy groups demanding access to his work as principal deputy associated attorney general before the Judiciary Committee takes action on his nomination to the Supreme Court.

February 28, 2017

Dianne Feinstein seeks to slow Neil Gorsuch Supreme Court nomination, requests more information

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Tuesday she's lodged a number of requests for more information from Judge Neil Gorsuch before the panel considers his Supreme Court nomination.