Two Men Claiming to Be Trump Appointees Blocked From Entering US Copyright Office

[blogslug]

Source: WIRED

Two men claiming to be newly appointed Trump administration officials tried to enter the US Copyright Office in Washington, DC, on Monday, but left before gaining access to the building, sources tell WIRED. Their appearance comes days after the White House fired the director of the copyright office, Shira Perlmutter, who had held the job since 2020. Perlmutter was removed from her post on Saturday, one day after the agency released a report that raised concerns about the legality in certain cases of using copyrighted materials to train artificial intelligence.

A source familiar with the matter tells WIRED that the two men who tried to enter the Copyright Office showed security at the building a document stating that they had been appointed by the White House to new roles within the office. The source identified the men as Brian Nieves, who claimed he was the new deputy librarian, and Paul Perkins, who said he was the new acting director of the Copyright Office, as well as acting registrar. It is unclear whether the men accurately identified themselves.

There is an official with the name Brian Nieves currently employed as deputy chief of staff at the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, and a Paul Perkins is currently employed as an associate deputy attorney general at the Department of Justice, according to their LinkedIn profiles. The Department of Justice and the White House did not immediately respond to questions from WIRED about whether the two officials had been appointed to work in the Copyright Office.

Sources told WIRED that Capitol Police prevented the men from entering the copyright office, but a spokesperson for the law enforcement agency denied that officers escorted anyone out or denied them entry...

Read more: https://www.wired.com/story/us-copyright-office-trump-takeover/

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There's a lot going on in this article. I suggest reading the whole thing.

Here's an archive link: https://archive.ph/bTb7z

[CrispyQ]

1. They've stolen all our personal data & now they're going after everything we've created.

[erronis]

2. Guessing all copyrights and patents will become Musk's property.

With commissions paid to slob-father and putin.

[LymphocyteLover]

6. Totally criminal and FUBAR

[24601]

3. Sorry, you can't go inside without your government ID. Where do I get that? Inside. NT

[ultralite001]

4. "The document the two men cited also stated that deputy attorney general Todd Blanche,

who previously served as a personal defense lawyer for Trump, was now the acting Librarian of Congress."

This development is concerning...

https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2025/05/12/librarian-of-congress-todd-blanche-carla-hayden

The Library of Congress operates under the authority of Congress + supports legislative activities by providing research + information services. It also has several divisions + offices, including the Congressional Research Service (CRS) + the U Copyright Office.

The Library of Congress is controlled + overseen by the Librarian of Congress, who is appointed by the President of the United States + confirmed by the Senate. The Librarian of Congress serves as the head of the library + is responsible for its management, policies + overall direction.

The Librarian of Congress has immense responsibility in preserving + managing one of the world's largest libraries.

Role + Responsibilities
Overseeing the Library of Congress – The Librarian manages the library’s vast collection, which includes millions of books, manuscripts, maps, photographs, sound recordings + films.

Guiding National Research Efforts – The library provides research services to Congress through the Congressional Research Service (CRS), helping lawmakers make informed decisions.

Managing the US Copyright Office – The Librarian oversees the office responsible for copyright registration + protection in the US.

Promoting Literacy + Education – The office supports public outreach efforts, including educational programs + exhibitions.

Preserving Historical + Cultural Materials – The library works to digitize + archive essential documents, ensuring access to future generations.

Todd Blanche is qualified for this position how???

[Karasu]

5. The same way everyone in this administration is "qualified." They're fucking not. All formal processes were thrown out

during the transition period so they can appoint any piece of dogshit as long as they're loyal to the regime. That's the one and only requirement. Actually knowing anything about what they're being put in charge of is not. Hell, to conservatives, knowledge and experience are a fucking detriment.

[markodochartaigh]

7. "Todd Blanche is qualified for this position how?"

At this point I'm just hoping that it isn't because he has experience hosting bbq parties using burning books as fuel.