Trump shares threatening video as midnight deadline to appear before Jan 6 grand jury closes in - live

Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump could be indicted by a grand jury investigating his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and the January 6 Capitol riot by Friday.

The Independent learned that a possible indictment could be handed down as soon as this week, charging the former president in his third criminal case.

Mr Trump announced on Tuesday that he had been sent a letter by special prosecutor Jack Smith informing him that he is the “target” of a grand jury investigation.

The target letter cites three statutes under which he could be charged including conspiracy to commit offence or to defraud the United States, deprivation of rights under colour of law and tampering with a witness, victim or informant, multiple outlets reported.

William Russell, a former White House aide who now works for the Trump presidential campaign and spent much of January 6 with the then-president, is believed to have testified before the grand jury on Thursday.

The former president was given until today to report to the Washington, DC, federal courthouse but with a midnight deadline is not expected to appear.

Instead, he shared a fan video on Truth Social with a threatening mob boss feel using audio featuring an expletive and lifted from comments he made in 2020 on Iran.

Key points

Voices: Marjorie Taylor Greene can’t get out of her own way

11:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Speaking of which, here’s Eric Garcia’s take on the Georgia lawmaker’s apparent insistence in playing into right-wing fever dreams.

Marjorie Taylor Greene can’t get out of her own way

‘I fight no longer’: Right-wing Georgia radio host says he’s finally had enough of Marjorie Taylor Greene

11:15 , Joe Sommerlad

After her Hunter Biden stunt at the House Oversight Committee this week, you’ll understand why the likes of Brian K Pritchard on the Voice of Rural America station have reached a breaking point with the attention-seeking populist.

Right-wing Georgia radio host says he’ll ‘fight no longer’ for Marjorie Taylor Greene

Trump taunts Republican enemies and says Christie hopes ‘as dead as his stomach band’

11:00 , Joe Sommerlad

In a seeming bid to distract from his latest legal troubles, Donald Trump has been being nasty to his Republican enemies on Truth Social again.

“Fox backed Ron DeSanctimonious is DONE. Against Social Security & Medicare - and, less importantly, has NO PERSONALITY!!! Thanks Karli,” he wrote in one post to his social account.

Clearly fancying himself on a roll, he followed that up by declaring: “Vivek Ramaswamy is now beating DeSanctimonious. Christie dead as his stomach band. “Aida” Hutchinson a solid minus 1%. I’m up 44 points!!! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.”

Ooof. That’s just cruel.

Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie (Getty)
Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie (Getty)

Majorie Taylor Greene doubles down on showing Hunter Biden nudes at congressional hearing

10:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene said she was “uncomfortable” showing graphic, sexually explicit photos of Hunter Biden to Congress, but insisted that “the American people deserve to see” the photos.

Ms Greene showed the images during a House Oversight Committee hearing on Wednesday. The photos appeared to show the president’s son having sex with sex workers. Black boxes were used to cover the genitals and faces of the individuals who aren’t Mr Biden.

The committee was discussing the claims of IRS whistleblowers who said Mr Biden received preferential treatment during a federal tax investigation when Ms Greene unveiled her photos.

The stunt drew expected criticism from Congressional Democrats, many who offered scathing rebukes of the congresswoman’s judgement.

Graig Graziosi has the story.

Majorie Taylor Greene doubles down on showing Hunter Biden nudes to Congress

Voices: The walls are closing in on Donald Trump

10:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Ahmed Baba writes:

The former president of the United States, who took an oath to uphold the Constitution, could be imminently indicted for seeking to destroy it.

Read on...

The walls are closing in on Donald Trump

Is Trump going to prison?

09:45 , Oliver O'Connell

It’s the question on everyone’s mind...

Is Donald Trump going to prison?

Trump attempt to move Manhattan hush money case to federal court rejected by judge

08:45 , Oliver O'Connell

A federal judge has shot down Donald Trump’s attempt to move his Manhattan criminal charges into US District Court, sending the case stemming from hush money payments back to state court in New York City.

Alex Woodward reports.

Judge rejects Trump attempt to move Manhattan hush money case to federal court

Trump is the first former president arrested on federal charges. Can he still run in 2024?

07:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump is now the subject of two criminal cases after being arrested over a state case in New York and a federal case in Miami – at a time when he is hot on the trail for another stint in the White House.

With a third looming, can he still run for office?

Can Donald Trump run for president in 2024 after arrest?

Jan 6 rioter who stormed Capitol with loaded pistol is sentenced to 7 years in prison

06:45 , Oliver O'Connell

A military veteran who stormed the U.S. Capitol with a loaded pistol, metal-plated body armor and a gas mask was sentenced on Wednesday to seven years in prison, one of the longest among hundreds of Jan. 6 riot cases.

Christopher Michael Alberts isn’t accused of brandishing his concealed gun during the riot on Jan. 6, 2021. But he used a wooden pallet as a makeshift battering ram against police officers who were guarding a stairwell outside the Capitol, according to federal prosecutors.

Read on...

Military veteran who stormed Capitol with loaded pistol is sentenced to 7 years in prison

Trump probe ‘subpoenaed CCTV from Georgia 2020 ballot counting centre’

05:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The Department of Justice used a grand jury subpoena to obtain CCTV security footage from the Atlanta, Georgia, arena where ballots were counted following the 2020 election, indicating that federal prosecutors are examining some of the same matters as the Fulton County, Georgia district attorney who may soon bring charges against former president Donald Trump and others in his orbit.

Andrew Feinberg has the details.

Trump probe ‘subpoenaed CCTV from Georgia 2020 ballot counting centre’

E Jean Carroll tells Trump to pay up

04:45 , Oliver O'Connell

E Jean Carroll has called on Donald Trump to pay up after losing his bid for a new trial in a civil sexual assault lawsuit brought by the advice columnist.

In a decision released on Wednesday, Judge Lewis Kaplan said the jury did not reach a “seriously erroneous result” when it found the former president liable for sexual assault and defamation and ordered him to pay $5m.

Bevan Hurley has been following the case.

E Jean Carroll tells Trump to pay up her $5m after judge denies motion for mistrial

Giuliani denies claims he flipped on Trump

03:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Long-time Donald Trump ally Rudy Giuliani has denied accusations that he may have flipped on his close friend.

This comes on the heels of the former president’s announcement that he is readying himself for an indictment related to the Jan 6 riots and the revelation of three federal statutes, including conspiracy and obstruction, that could form the basis of fresh charges against him.

Arpan Rai reports.

Rudy Giuliani is denying claims he flipped on Trump

Report: Trump ‘faces Jan 6 charges of conspiracy, obstruction and civil rights violations’

02:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The letter Donald Trump said he had received from special counsel Jack Smith reportedly listed three federal statutes that could constitute charges against him over the Jan 6 riots.

The three federal statutes mentioned in the letter by Mr Smith, according to several reports, are conspiracy to commit offence or to defraud the United States, deprivation of rights under colour of law and tampering with a witness, victim or informant.

Mr Trump is the sole individual mentioned in the letter and there are no other names mentioned, according to a source with knowledge of the matter cited by Rolling Stone magazine.

Maroosha Muzaffar filed this report.

Trump ‘faces Jan 6 charges of conspiracy, obstruction and civil rights violations’

Gaetz launches bill to defund Jack Smith probe

01:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Rep Matt Gaetz of Florida said on his podcast that he will in the coming days introduce a bill to defund Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into former President Donald Trump as Mr Trump reportedly asks Capitol Hill allies for help as he faces another potential indictment.

Abe Asher has the details.

Matt Gaetz launches bill to defund Jack Smith probe into Trump

16 Trump-backing fake electors charged in scheme to overturn 2020 election

Friday 21 July 2023 00:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has announced criminal charges against 16 people who signed certificates falsely declaring that Donald Trump won the 2020 presidential election, part of a nationwide scheme to upend the results in states that the former president lost to Joe Biden.

Alex Woodward reports.

Trump-backing fake electors charged in scheme to overturn election results

Punishing trans students and rewriting the history of slavery: Meet Florida’s new school guidelines

Thursday 20 July 2023 22:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Outrage over Florida’s new guidelines for schools that allow for the punishment of trans students and teach that slavery ‘developed skills’ for Black people that could be “applied for personal benefit”.

Florida school guidelines can teach how slavery ‘developed skills’ for Black people

‘I fight no longer’: Right-wing Georgia radio host says he’s finally had enough of Marjorie Taylor Greene

Thursday 20 July 2023 22:15 , Oliver O'Connell

A Georgia-based political commentator said he’s done backing Georgia Republican Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene, suggesting she has lost support in her own district.

“We have worked so hard for this individual,” said Brian K Pritchard, host of #BKPPolitics on Voice of Rural America. “When there was an attempt to keep this individual off the ballot from running, we fought against the media. We fought against Brad Raffensperger,” Georgia’s secretary of state, he added.

The host also said he stuck by her side when she touted conspiracy theories. “Every time the media wanted to say ‘QAnon’ or ‘Jewish space lasers,’ we pushed back. We fought for this individual,” he said. “But I fight no longer.”

Everyone has their limit, as Kelly Rissman reports.

Right-wing Georgia radio host says he’ll ‘fight no longer’ for Marjorie Taylor Greene

‘Talking about obstructions of an official proceeding'

Thursday 20 July 2023 21:45 , Oliver O'Connell

There was bizarre moment in court in Washington today when the work of the grand jury investigating Donald Trump’s involvement in January 6th and overturning the 2020 election clashed with the trial of one of the rioter who stormed the US Capitol on that fateful day in 2021.

Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump appointee, was presiding over the verdict in the case of Freddie Klein, a former state department official who spent a long time in the Lower West Terrace tunnel during the attack on Congress, and Steven Cappuccio.

Kyle Cheney, senior legal affairs correspondent for Politico, was in court and reports that attorney Stanley Woodward, who represents a number of Trump associates in both the classified documents federal case and the 2020 election case, arrived 25 minutes late to court.

The “visibly frustrated” judge made Mr Woodward explain his delay to the open court, rejecting a request to huddle in private about the reason citing grand jury secrecy.

According to several reports from earlier today, Trump aide William Russell was expected to testify for the grand jury today and is likely represented by Mr Woodward.

Cheney reports that the defence attorney said prosecutors began grilling his client on matters that “potentially involve executive privilege”, and so he felt obligated to remain just outside the grand jury room until the questioning had ended.

Judge McFadden said he absolved the attorney of anything improper but was upset with prosecutors who had assured him they would not let the grand jury matter interfere with the other court business set for 2pm today.

“Talking about obstructions of official proceedings,” Judge McFadden said sharply, playing on the charge against many January 6th defendants. “The government has not acted as I required.”

He then sent ent a court officer to summon special counsel prosecutors from the grand jury room to his court.

Cheney reports that Thomas Windom, a prosecutor on Jack Smith’s team, and three others duly showed up and were made to wait in the front row of the court while Judge McFadden read the lengthy verdict.

He then called up Mr Windom for a sealed bench conference in which they both talked a lot, before the prosecutor and another grand jury official left the court.

Cheney notes that the fact questioning was in the realm of executive privilege likely means that prosecutors were pressing the witness for information directly relating to Mr Trump’s conduct following the 2020 election and ahead of the Capitol riot.

Amid music video backlash Trump defends Jason Aldean

Thursday 20 July 2023 21:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump spoke out in favor of country singer Jason Aldean amid controversy around one of his new music videos.

“Jason Aldean is a fantastic guy who just came out with a great new song. Support Jason all the way. MAGA!!!” the former president wrote on Truth Social on Thursday.

Kelly Rissman reports.

Trump defends Jason Aldean amid music video backlash

Even in three-party race, Biden tops Trump, new poll says

Thursday 20 July 2023 21:00 , Oliver O'Connell

The latest polling from Monmouth University shows Joe Biden leading Donald Trump in a head-to-head matchup by seven per cent in the 2024 presidential election, with the president winning the definite or probably support of 47 per cent of voters, and the former president getting 40 per cent.

In a Biden-Trump rematch, just under half of registered voters say they will either definitely (36%) or probably (11%) vote for the Democratic incumbent and 4 in 10 will definitely (26%) or probably (14%) support the Republican. Majorities, though, say they will not vote for either Biden (46% definitely not and 6% probably not) or Trump (50% definitely not and 8% probably not).

The data shows that electoral support for both candidates runs a few points higher than their underlying favorability ratings.

Specifically, 47% of American voters are likely to vote for Biden while 43% have a favourable opinion of him, and 40% are likely to vote for Trump while 36% have a favorable opinion of him.

“In a replay of the 2020 election, some voters clearly feel they have to back a candidate they don’t really like. That suggests there may be an opening for a third party in 2024, but when you drill down further, there doesn’t seem to be enough defectors to make that a viable option,” said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute.

According to the polling, 30 per cent of voters would definitely or probably back a generic third-party ticket. This falls to 16 per cent when Senator Joe Manchin and former Utah Governor Jon Hunstman’s names are applied to the ticket.

When a generic bipartisan ticket is offered as an alternative, Biden’s support drops from 47% to 37% and Trump’s support falls from 40% to 28%. With a Manchin/Huntsman ticket as the alternative, Biden’s support drops from 47% to 40% and Trump’s support falls from 40% to 34%.

Read the full polling results.

Watch: Actor Jim Caviexel calls Trump ‘the new Moses'

Thursday 20 July 2023 20:45 , Oliver O'Connell

New Jersey con artist pardoned by Trump is arrested again for fraud

Thursday 20 July 2023 20:30 , Oliver O'Connell

A New Jersey con man who was pardoned by former President Donald Trump has been arrested and is accused of defrauding investors out of millions of dollars.

Eliyahu “Eli” Weinstein was charged alongside four others with a number of crimes, including conspiring to defraud investors of more than $35m and conspiracy to obstruct justice, according to a statement from the office of the US attorney for New Jersey. Each of the five defendants was charged with one count of wire fraud conspiracy and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice.

Kelly Rissman has the story.

Convicted con artist pardoned by Trump is arrested again for fraud

QAnon Shaman loses bid to have conviction thrown out

Thursday 20 July 2023 20:24 , Oliver O'Connell

Jacob Chansley, the January 6th rioter who famously wore a horned helmet and became known as the QAnon Shaman, has had a federal judge deny his bid to have his conviction thrown out. The basis of effort was to cite videos aired in February by then-Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

Politico reports:

US District Court Judge Royce Lamberth said the videos aired by Carlson, which showed Chansley roaming the halls of the Capitol, occasionally alongside outnumbered Capitol Police officers, were devoid of meaningful context, especially when contrasted with the extraordinary volume of evidence of Chansley’s crimes.

In fact, if Chansley, who pleaded guilty in September 2021 to obstructing Congress’ proceedings, were sentenced today, Lamberth wrote in a 35-page opinion on Thursday, he might be inclined to sentence him to a lengthier prison term than the 41 months he received.

Biden again touts Marjorie Taylor Greene’s support

Thursday 20 July 2023 20:00 , Oliver O'Connell

“As you may have seen, apparently 40 million people watched, Marjorie Taylor Greene, said, Biden is doing things like Roosevelt and creating these jobs. I never had an endorsement from her before,” said President Joe Biden today at a Bidenomics-themed event in Philadelphia.

Watch:

Here’s the full story concerning her apparent endorsement of the presdient:

Biden’s latest campaign video is a Marjorie Taylor Greene speech

As midnight deadline for Trump response ticks closer, ex-president not expected to testify

Thursday 20 July 2023 19:49 , Oliver O'Connell

When Donald Trump received the target letter from special counsel January 6th grand jury investigation on Sunday night, he was given four days in which to report to give testimony.

As we reported earlier in the week:

A source familiar with the special counsel’s probe and Department of Justice operating procedures told The Independent that the earliest an indictment could be handed down is late Thursday or Friday, after the deadline prosecutors set for Mr Trump to avail himself of their invitation to testify before the grand jury investigating crimes relating to the Capitol attack.

The clock is now ticking down toward midnight and it is looking increasingly unlikely that the former president is going to speak to the grand jury — though his aide William Russell, who spent much of January 6th with him, is testifying this afternoon.

On Sunday Mr Trump posted on Truth Social:

“On Sunday night, while I was with my family...HORRIFYING NEWS for our country was given to me by my attorneys,” said Mr Trump. “Deranged Jack Smith...sent a letter (again, it was Sunday night!) stating that I am a TARGET of the January 6th Grand Jury investigation, and giving me a very short 4 days to report to the Grand Jury, which almost always means an Arrest and Indictment.”

It later transpired that the letter he received listed three federal statutes that could constitute charges against him over the Jan 6 riots.

The three federal statutes mentioned in the letter by Mr Smith, according to several reports, are conspiracy to commit offence or to defraud the United States, deprivation of rights under colour of law and tampering with a witness, victim or informant.

Mr Trump is the sole individual mentioned in the letter and there are no other names mentioned, according to a source with knowledge of the matter cited by Rolling Stone magazine.

Alex Woodward explains how the whole federal investigation into the former president fits into the wider set of legal troubles facing the former president.

The federal investigation into Trump and January 6, explained

Trump reposts fan video of mob-like threat on Truth Social

Thursday 20 July 2023 19:28 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump has reposted a fan-made video of him threatening his enemies by saying: “If you f*ck around with us, if you do something bad to us, we are going to do things to you that have never been done before.”

The mob-like sentiment aside, the audio used in the video is actually from when he called into Rush Limbaugh’s radio show in October 2020 after recovering from Covid-19 and the topic being discussed in which he dropped the expletive was... Iran.

Here’s our coverage from the time:

Trump drops expletive when talking about Iran on radio show

Democrat lawmaker gives blistering takedown of RFK Jr’s most outrageous claims

Thursday 20 July 2023 19:00 , Oliver O'Connell

It’s really been a banner week for House Republicans with posterboards of amateur porn on Wednesday, and anti-vax conspiracies and Nazi comparisons on Thursday.

Still, some are pushing back as new lows are reached. Rep Stacey Plaskett, who represents the US Virgin Islands and is the top Democrat on the select subcommittee on the weaponisation of the government, excoriated her GOP colleagues for giving a platform to presidential candidate and vaccine conspiracy theorist Robert F Kennedy Jr in this morning’s hearing.

Eric Garcia reports from Washington, DC.

Democrat lawmaker gives blistering takedown of RFK Jr’s most outrageous claims

Marjorie Taylor Greene doubles down having reached a ‘new low’ in Congress

Thursday 20 July 2023 18:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene said she was “uncomfortable” showing graphic, sexually explicit photos of Hunter Biden to Congress, but insisted that “the American people deserve to see” the photos.

The stunt drew expected criticism from Congressional Democrats, many who offered scathing rebukes of the congresswoman’s judgement.

Graig Graziosi reports.

Majorie Taylor Greene doubles down on showing Hunter Biden nudes to Congress

Important lunchtime post: The meaning of Jack Smith’s Subway sandwich

Thursday 20 July 2023 18:15 , Oliver O'Connell

ICYMI earlier this week, when news of the target letter to Donald Trump swamped the news cycle, Special Counsel Jack Smith emerged from his office to go and grab lunch from a nearby Subway sandwich outlet.

Was this a hungry man taking a moment to get food? Or was it a message to Donald Trump as this CNN panel appears to believe?

Slate notes that Subway discontinued its $5 footlong sub promotion in 2018 and the least expensive sandwich is now $6.39.

At contentious House hearing, RFK Jr baselessly claims he’s never been anti-vaccine

Thursday 20 July 2023 18:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr baselessly claimed in a congressional hearing on Thursday that he has never been anti-vaccine.

Mr Kennedy testified before the House Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government where House Republicans had invited him to testify about being censored by the Biden administration and tech companies.

Mr Kennedy, currently a candidate for the Democratic nomination for president against the incumbent Joe Biden, denied that he opposed vaccines.

Eric Garcia reports from Washington, DC.

RFK Jr baselessly claims he’s never been anti-vaccine at contentious House hearing

Trump gives backing to Jason Aldean’s controversial music video

Thursday 20 July 2023 17:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump has weighed into the controversy over country music singer Jason Aldean’s latest music video.

He posted on Truth Social in the middle of the night: “Jason Aldean is a fantastic guy who just came out with a great new song. Support Jason all the way. MAGA!!!”

Joe Sommerlad explains why the song and video are controversial:

Why Jason Aldean’s new music video is so controversial

What happens next in the January 6 probe?

Thursday 20 July 2023 16:50 , AP

It’s unclear when Smith’s investigation may wrap up. Trump said he was invited to appear before the grand jury this week, though targets of investigations don’t have to testify and rarely agree to do so. The grand jury, which meets in secret, would ultimately vote on whether there is enough evidence to charge him with a crime. Federal grand juries are made up of about 16 to 23 people, and at least 12 must agree in order to hand down an indictment.

Among the potential charges legal experts have said Trump could face are conspiracy to defraud the United States, and obstruction of an official proceeding: Congress’ certification of Biden’s electoral victory. Hundreds of the more than 1,000 people accused of federal crimes in the January 6 riot have been charged with the obstruction offence, which carries up to 20 years in prison.

If charged in the January 6 case, Trump could face a challenging jury pool in overwhelmingly Democratic Washington, whose residents — many of whom work on Capitol Hill — had a front-row seat to the chaos that unfolded after Trump urged his supporters to “fight like hell.”

Many January 6 rioters have tried unsuccessfully to get their trials moved out of the nation’s capital, saying Trump supporters can’t get a fair trial there. Only two defendants have been acquitted of all charges after trials, and those were trials decided by a judge, not a jury. In the most serious January 6 cases brought so far, juries have convicted the leaders of two far-right extremist groups — the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys — of seditious conspiracy and other charges for what prosecutors described as plots to block the transfer of power from Trump to Biden. More than 600 other January 6 defendants have pleaded guilty to federal crimes.

What is the focus of the special counsel’s Trump January 6 probe?

Thursday 20 July 2023 16:30 , AP

The team led by Smith, who was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November, has questioned a host of former White House officials, Trump allies, lawyers and state election officials both in voluntary interviews and before the grand jury that has been meeting behind closed doors in Washington. Those who have testified before the grand jury — which would ultimately hand down any indictment — include Trump’s Vice President Mike Pence, who has spoken extensively in public about the former president’s efforts to pressure him into rejecting President Joe Biden‘s electoral victory.

Smith’s team appears to be interested in a late-night 18 December 2020, White House meeting one aide has called “unhinged” in which Trump’s private lawyers suggested he order the US military to seize state voting machines in an unprecedented effort to pursue his false claims of voter fraud. In videos shown by the US House Committee that investigated the January 6 attack, one White House lawyer said he thought the idea was “nuts.” Judges — including some appointed by Trump — uniformly rejected his claims of voter fraud.

Smith has also questioned witnesses about schemes by Trump associates to enlist electors in battleground states to sign certificates claiming that Trump — instead of Biden — had won their states. The fake electors’ certificates were mailed to the National Archives and Congress, where some Republicans used them to try to justify delaying or blocking certification of the election.

Smith’s team has also shown interest in the story of a Georgia election worker, Ruby Freeman, who along with her daughter has recounted living in fear following death threats after Trump and his allies falsely accused them of pulling fraudulent ballots from a suitcase in Georgia. That interest is according to a person familiar with the investigation who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing criminal probe.

Jan 6 grand jury to hear testimony from aide who was with Trump during Capitol riot

Thursday 20 July 2023 16:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Per NBC News:

A federal grand jury deciding whether to indict Donald Trump over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election is set to meet Thursday and hear testimony from an aide who was with the former president for much of the day on Jan. 6, 2021.

William Russell, a former White House aide who now works for Trump's presidential campaign, is scheduled to testify before the grand jury convened by special counsel Jack Smith. Russell has previously testified before the grand jury, which is investigating the Jan. 6 riot and efforts to "interfere with the lawful transfer of power following the 2020 presidential election."

Donald Trump, who received a target letter from the special counsel on Sunday, was given until today to testify before the grand jury, but is not expected to make an appearance at the federal courthouse in Washington, DC.

White House sees opportunity in Marjorie Taylor Greene

Thursday 20 July 2023 16:00 , Oliver O'Connell

The Biden administration’s policy towards Marjorie Taylor Greene used to be that it would not dignify her remarks with a response. Now, things have changed as this week’s new campaign ad shows, she could be an electoral asset:

Biden’s latest campaign video is a Marjorie Taylor Greene speech

Per RealClear Politics:

If the White House was hesitant before, Biden World now sees in Greene a target of opportunity, especially as the election looms and as the president touts his economic agenda across the country.

“We knew her feelings about Medicare and Social Security since the Republican Study Committee she belongs to just proposed even more cuts to earned benefits,” a senior Biden adviser explained. “Attacking us for trying to end ‘rural poverty’ was more of a surprise.”

“Then again, she has been trying to deprive her constituents of the high-paying Bidenomics jobs that just arrived,” the adviser continued. “So, I guess we should have seen that coming. Maybe next week, she’ll be coming after our insulin price cap.”

“Wait, she already is,” the adviser added.

Marjorie Taylor Greene sparks outrage by showing explicit photos of Hunter Biden in Congress

Thursday 20 July 2023 15:45 , Oliver O'Connell

During a Republican-led oversight committee hearing regarding IRS whistleblowers connected to a probe into President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden, Marjorie Taylor Greene showed explicit photos of the president’s son on posters.

The Georgia Republican held up a series of posters with images of Hunter Biden naked and photos of him engaging in sexual acts at the Congressional hearing on Wednesday.

“Marjorie Taylor Greene is literally showing dick pics at our Oversight Hearing,” California congressman Robert Garcia tweeted.

Imagine going back in time and explaining this to someone...

Marjorie Taylor Greene faces backlash after showing explicit photos of Hunter Biden

RECAP: All the lawsuits and criminal charges involving Trump and where they stand

Thursday 20 July 2023 15:15 , Oliver O'Connell

The Independent’s US news team has catalogued everything you need to know about all the major investigations and lawsuits against Donald Trump:

All the investigations Trump still faces following his second arrest

Next Trump indictment could drop as soon as today

Thursday 20 July 2023 14:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Prosecutors could ask a grand jury to return an indictment against Donald Trump relating to the January 6 attack on the US Capitol and his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election as soon as this week, The Independent has learned.

A source familiar with the special counsel’s probe and Department of Justice operating procedures told The Independent that the earliest an indictment could be handed down is late Thursday or Friday, after the deadline prosecutors set for Mr Trump to avail himself of their invitation to testify before the grand jury investigating crimes relating to the Capitol attack.

Stay tuned...

Next Trump indictment could drop as soon as this week

Don Jr says it will be ‘the end of civilisation’ if his father is charged over Jan 6

Thursday 20 July 2023 14:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump being charged over the January 6 insurrection would mark the end of civilisation – that is, according to his eldest son.

Donald Trump Jr made the comment during an interview with rightwing broadcaster Real America’s Voice, also suggesting that civilisation was actually due to end soon anyway.

Which begs the question why his father is bothering to run for president... 🤔

Donald Trump Jr says January 6 charges will be ‘end of civilisation’

Watch: Robert F Kennedy Jr testifies on Capitol Hill

Thursday 20 July 2023 14:18 , Oliver O'Connell

Warning: This stream may contain misinformation.

Watch live as Democratic presidential hopeful Robert F Kennedy Jr testifies before a House Judiciary subcommittee on the “weaponisation of the Federal Government”.

The hearing is ostensibly about examining the “federal government’s role in censoring Americans” and “Big Tech’s collusion with out-of-control government agencies to silence speech”.

Watch live as presidential hopeful Robert F Kennedy Jr testifies on Capitol Hill

Voices: The walls are closing in on Donald Trump

Thursday 20 July 2023 13:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Ahmed Baba writes:

The former president of the United States, who took an oath to uphold the Constitution, could be imminently indicted for seeking to destroy it.

Read more...

The walls are closing in on Donald Trump

The January 6 federal investigation into Trump, explained

Thursday 20 July 2023 13:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward explains how the sprawling Justice Department probe into the former president and his allies could result in several criminal charges against him.

The federal investigation into Trump and January 6, explained

Fox News chooses to air Trump’s false election claims AGAIN

Thursday 20 July 2023 12:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Months after Fox settled with Dominion Voting Systems for a whopping $787m over false election claims, the network chose to air a portion of a pre-taped town hall with former President Donald Trump where he made false election claims.

Kelly Rissman reports.

Fox chooses to air Trump’s false election claims again despite $787m Dominion payout

DeSantis mocked for referencing ‘pudding’ in CNN interview after bizarre food story

Thursday 20 July 2023 12:10 , Oliver O'Connell

It was an unfortunate reference that Ron DeSantis viewers everywhere picked up on almost immediately.

In response to a question from CNN’s Jake Tapper in one of his first mainstream media interviews, the Florida governor said of his electability that “the proof is in the pudding”.

This immediately recalled a viral story from earlier this year in which The Daily Beast reported that Mr DeSantis once ate a pudding cup with his fingers while on a private jet.

Read on...

Ron DeSantis mocked for referencing ‘pudding’ in CNN interview reviving viral story

Trump attempt to move Manhattan hush money case to federal court rejected by judge

Thursday 20 July 2023 11:40 , Oliver O'Connell

A federal judge has shot down Donald Trump’s attempt to move his Manhattan criminal charges into US District Court, sending the case stemming from hush money payments back to state court in New York City.

In June, Manhattan prosecutors charged the former president with 34 counts of falsifying business records, alleging an effort to silence news of Mr Trump’s alleged affairs as campaigned for the presidency in 2016. He has pleaded not guilty.

Alex Woodward has the latest.

Judge rejects Trump attempt to move Manhattan hush money case to federal court

Don Jr says it will be ‘the end of civilisation’ if his father is charged over Jan 6

Thursday 20 July 2023 11:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump being charged over the January 6 insurrection would mark the end of civilisation – that is, according to his eldest son.

Donald Trump Jr made the comment during an interview with rightwing broadcaster Real America’s Voice, also suggesting that civilisation was actually due to end soon anyway.

Yikes.

Donald Trump Jr says January 6 charges will be ‘end of civilisation’

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