Trump news – live: Trump makes sinister threat to Democrats over indictments

Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump issued a sinister warning to Democrats on Tuesday calling the criminal indictments against him a “new low in presidential politics” and repeating baseless claims that they amount to election interference and were pushed by President Joe Biden.

The former president added: “To the Democrats, I say, ‘be careful what you wish for’.”

Meanwhile, Ray Smith and Sidney Powell, once attorneys for Donald Trump around the 2020 campaign, have waived their arraignment and entered a plea of not guilty to all counts against them in the Fulton County 2020 election case. Mr Trump and the other 17 defendants are all expected to appear in court for their arraignment on 6 September.

On Monday, former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows took the historic step of testifying about the allegations in court for the first time as he seeks to have the case moved to federal court. The judge has yet to issue a ruling.

Also on Monday, a trial date was set for the federal 2020 election interference case brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith. Judge Tanya Chutkan said jury selection will begin on 4 March 2024, the day before the Super Tuesday primaries.

Key Points

Trump codefendant finally posts bond in Georgia after spending six nights in jail

10:10 , Rachel Sharp

A codefendant of Donald Trump has finally posted bond in Georgia after spending six nights in jail.

Harrison Floyd, who was the director of “Black Voices for Trump” during his 2020 campaign, surrendered to authorities in Fulton County on Thursday where he was arrested for his part in the sweeping 41-count criminal indictment.

Mr Trump and the other dozen defendants who have so far turned themselves in for arrest sailed in and out of the jail quickly after posting bond.

But Mr Floyd wasn’t so lucky.

Unlike the others, the inmate – under booking number 2313818 – did not have a pre-arranged bond and so was held inside the notorious jail. In a court appearance on Friday, he was denied bond by the judge.

On Tuesday, he was finally granted a $100,000 bond and is expected to be released at around 9am ET Wednesday morning.

Special counsel Jack Smith is asking Trump witnesses about Giuliani’s drinking, report says

09:50 , Rachel Sharp

Special Counsel Jack Smith’s prosecutors have questioned witnesses about the drinking habits of Donald Trump’s former lawyer Rudy Giuliani, according to a report.

The questioning is an attempt to discover if the former president was knowingly taking legal advice from an inebriated attorney, reported Rolling Stone.

Federal investigators have asked witnesses if the former New York mayor was intoxicated on and after the 2020 election as Mr Trump allegedly tried to overturn his defeat to Joe Biden, sources told the magazine.

Read more...

Special counsel Jack Smith is asking Trump witnesses about Giuliani’s drinking

ICYMI: Call with Trump at centre of Georgia case was ‘extraordinary’ says official told to find votes

09:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Georgia’s top elections official received a phone call from Donald Trump on 2 January, 2021, with a warning that he would be taking a “big risk” declaring Joe Biden the victor weeks after then-President Trump lost the state in the 2020 presidential election.

“I just want to find 11,780 votes,” then-President Trump told Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger during the hour-long call, four days before a joint session of Congress convened to certify the electoral college results – a ceremony violently interrupted by a mob of Mr Trump’s supporters.

Mr Raffensperger, a Republican, told a federal courtroom on 28 August that Mr Trump’s “outreach to that extent was extraordinary.”

Alex Woodward reports.

Georgia official told by Trump to ‘find’ votes testifies about infamous phone call

Trump may waive his Georgia arraignment: report

09:10 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump may avoid what would have been his first ever televised court hearing as he is said to be considering waiving his arraignment in the Georgia 2020 election interference case.

Two sources told CBS News that the former president is mulling entering a plea on the charges and waiving his arraignment appearance.

The arraignment of him and his 18 codefendants is currently scheduled to take place in Fulton County on 6 September.

At least two of his codefendants in the case – attorneys Ray Smith and Sidney Powell – have already waived their arraignment and entered a plea of not guilty to all counts.

Trump leads GOP rivals in Georgia despite election interference indictment, new poll shows

08:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The latest poll has revealed that former president Donald Trump is still leading his Republican rivals in Georgia – despite being indicted in Fulton County over his efforts to overturn his election loss in the state.

The poll, conducted by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, asked 807 likely Republican primary voters in the state who they would vote for in the presidential primary.

Kelly Rissman has the details.

New poll shows Trump still leads GOP rivals in Georgia after indictment

How Trump administration officials are preparing for a second White House term

07:30 , Associated Press

With more than a year to go before the 2024 election, a constellation of conservative organizations is preparing for a possible second White House term for Donald Trump, recruiting thousands of Americans to come to Washington on a mission to dismantle the federal government and replace it with a vision closer to his own.

Led by the long-established Heritage Foundation think tank and fueled by former Trump administration officials, the far-reaching effort is essentially a government-in-waiting for the former president’s second term — or any candidate who aligns with their ideals and can defeat President Joe Biden in 2024.

Read more...

How Trump administration officials are preparing for a second White House term

New Hampshire state office ambushed over false rumour Trump removed from primary ballot

05:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The office of the New Hampshire secretary of state was flooded with calls from Trump supporters concerned about a false rumour that the former president was being kept off the primary ballot.

Hundreds of outraged supporters called the office on Monday after conservative talk show host Charlie Kirk inaccurately told his listeners that the state was moving to push out Donald Trump.

Gustaf Kilander has the story.

Trump voters ambush state office over false rumour he was removed from primary ballot

Navarro scolded by judge for ‘weak sauce’ excuse for refusing to testify to Jan 6 committee

03:30 , Oliver O'Connell

A federal judge in Washington on Monday appeared unlikely to let ex-White House aide Peter Navarro tell a jury that he was following orders from former president Donald Trump when he refused to honour a subpoena from the House January 6 select committee.

Mr Navarro, who served as Mr Trump’s top trade adviser, is facing two counts of criminal contempt of Congress stemming from his decision not to respond to the House panel’s subpoena.

Andrew Feinberg has the details.

Former Trump adviser scolded by judge for ‘weak sauce’ Jan 6 excuse

ICYMI: House GOP leader Steve Scalise announces cancer diagnosis

02:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The number two Republican in the House of Representatives announced a diagnosis of blood cancer on Tuesday.

Steve Scalise, leader of the Republican majority and deputy to Speaker Kevin McCarthy, announced the news in a press release Monday morning, and explained that he expected to work through his treatment period.

John Bowden reports from Washington, DC.

House GOP leader Steve Scalise announces cancer diagnosis

‘That’s a fuzzy line’: Lawyer’s indicted with Trump argue they were just doing their jobs

01:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The argument suggests a desire to turn at least part of the sprawling prosecution into a referendum on the boundaries of ethical lawyering in a case that highlights anew how Trump's own attorneys have become entangled over the years in his own legal problems.

But while attorneys do have wide berth to advance untested or unconventional positions, experts say a “lawyers being lawyers” defense will be challenging to pull off, to the extent prosecutors can directly link the indicted lawyers to criminal schemes alleged in the indictment. That includes efforts to line up fake electors in Georgia and other states to falsely assert that Trump, not Democrat Joe Biden, had won their respective contests.

Lawyer’s indicted with Trump argue they were doing their jobs

Christie becomes first GOP candidate to use Trump’s mugshot in attack ad

01:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Less than a week after former President Donald Trump had his mugshot taken in the Fulton County jail, one of his primary opponents is using it in an attack ad.

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has included the mugshot in his latest campaign ad, drawing attention to the Republican frontrunner’s indictment in Georgia over election interference allegations.

The spot was produced by the Tell It Like It Is PAC, a third-party group supporting Mr Christie’s bid for the presidency, according to NBC News.

Graig Graziosi has the story.

Chris Christie becomes first GOP candidate to use Trump’s mugshot in attack ad

Earlier: Francis Suarez becomes first Republican to drop out of 2024 primary

Wednesday 30 August 2023 00:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The 2024 Republican field has officially shrunk by one.

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez officially suspended his campaign on Tuesday after failing to make last week’s debate in Milwaukee, the first matchup of the GOP candidates onstage. His suspension came a day after an NBC News report detailed two sharp dropoffs in campaign spending following the announcement of Mr Suarez’s exclusion from the debate and the subsequent event itself.

John Bowden reports.

Francis Suarez becomes first Republican to drop out of 2024 primary

Why the GOP claims Joe Biden wants to take away Americans’ beer

Wednesday 30 August 2023 00:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Republicans have whipped up a storm in a beer glass over baseless fears that Joe Biden’s administration is secretly plotting to limit Americans to no more than two alcoholic drinks per week.

Joe Sommerlad takes a look at where these claims came from...

Why are Republicans claiming Joe Biden wants to take away Americans’ beer?

All of the candidates running for president in 2024

Tuesday 29 August 2023 23:30 , Oliver O'Connell

With less than two years remaining until US voters will decide who will serve as president of the United States from January 2025 to January 2029, former Republican government officials are starting to jockey for position in the coming fight for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, while at least two Democrats challenge President Joe Biden in a Democratic primary.

As the campaign takes shape, here are the names you need to know.

Who is running for president in 2024?

Ramaswamy accused of racist dog whistle over Haley’s ‘real’ name

Tuesday 29 August 2023 23:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Vivek Ramaswamy has been accused of employing a racist dog whistle by using former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley’s maiden name on his website.

Alyssa Farah Griffin, once the director of strategic communications in Donald Trump’s White House and now a TV pundit, wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter: “Of course, Vivek is referring to Nikki Haley by her maiden name – Namrata Randhawa – on his website.”

“Reminder: Nikki is her name on her birth certificate & this is a dog whistle. Crazy to see it coming from a fellow Indian American,” she added.

Gustaf Kilander reports.

Vivek Ramaswamy accused of racist dog whistle over Nikki Haley’s ‘real’ name

Former GOP congressman Mike Rogers expected to run for US Senate in Michigan, report says

Tuesday 29 August 2023 22:30 , Associated Press

Former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, a Republican who served in the U.S. House for seven terms and chaired its intelligence committee, is expected to soon announce a bid for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat, according to three people familiar with the matter.

Rogers would become the first prominent Republican in the state to announce a campaign more than eight months after longtime Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow announced that she would retire next year after her fourth term. The people familiar with the matter spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity ahead of an official announcement expected in the coming days.

Read on...

Former Republican congressman Mike Rogers expected to run for US Senate in Michigan, AP sources say

Don Jr complains people are selling merch with dad’s mug shot instead of supporting ‘the cause’

Tuesday 29 August 2023 22:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump, Jr, said he doesn’t “feel right” about people making money off his father’s Georgia mug shot, even as the Trump campaign has raised millions since the former president’s latest indictment.

“I don’t feel right about profiting from it. I guess other people have made very good livings doing the MAGA merch, even if none of the money goes towards the campaign or the cause,” the former president’s eldest son said during a recent episode of his web show Triggered.

“I can’t do that. I wouldn’t feel right doing it,” he added. “I’d probably actually get killed in the press doing it, thinking about that now.”

Josh Marcus reports.

Donald Trump Jr complains that people are selling merch with dad’s mug shot

When is Trump on trial? All the court dates you need to know...

Tuesday 29 August 2023 21:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s 2024 calendar is quickly booking up with court dates corresponding to his plentiful criminal indictments and civil lawsuits.

The ex-president and his legal team are preparing for a busy year ahead as they attempt to juggle the many trial dates while Mr Trump continues his campaign for 2024 president.

So far, Mr Trump has been criminally indicted four times – two of which are on the federal level and two are on the state level. This is on top of two civil lawsuits the ex-president is involved in New York City.

Though Mr Trump’s legal team has continuously pushed judges to delay trial dates until after the 2024 election, nearly all of the dates for his criminal indictments have been set for next spring.

Here are the trial dates for Mr Trump thus far.

When is Donald Trump going on trial?

DA Fani Willis asks judge to move forward with speedy trials for all 19 Fulton County defendants

Tuesday 29 August 2023 21:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has asked the judge in the Georgia racketeering case to fast-track all 19 of the defendants and take them to trial on 23 October unless they file to sever from the main case.

Currently, former Trump lawyer Ken Chesebro has filed for a speedy trial and trial is scheduled for 23 October. Sidney Powell has also done the same but has not been given a trial date.

“The State maintains its position that severance is improper at this juncture and that all Defendants should be tried together, but at an absolute minimum, the Court should set Defendant Powell’s trial and that of any other defendant who may file a speedy trial demand on the same date as Defendant Chesebro’s.”

Voices: Why stormy weather this week could make or break Ron DeSantis

Tuesday 29 August 2023 21:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Eric Garcia explains why this could be a crucial week for the Florida governor and his White House ambitions.

Why stormy weather this week could make or break Ron DeSantis

‘Be careful what you wish for’: Trump threatens Democrats and ‘Crooked Joe’ over criminal cases

Tuesday 29 August 2023 21:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump has again hit out at Democrats over his four criminal indictments, suggesting that they were brought as part of a sprawling conspiracy somehow coordinated by President Joe Biden.

Read on...

Trump gives sinister warning to Democrats and ‘Crooked Joe’ over criminal cases

Only detained Trump codefendant released on bond

Tuesday 29 August 2023 21:01 , Oliver O'Connell

The only detained defendant in the Fulton County Trump election conspiracy case, Harrison Floyd, has been released on bond.

Tuesday 29 August 2023 20:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Mr Trump then reiterated his insistence that all of the criminal proceedings against him are part of a wild conspiracy cooked up by “Radical Left Democrats”:

Please realize that all of these Indictments and Lawsuits against me are conceived and run by Radical Left Democrats, the same lunatics that are destroying our Country. The Indictments and Litigation are highly partisan Election Interference! Now we are in a partially corrupt “System of Justice,” filled up with Marxists, Fascists, Communists, and Radical Left Democrats, but also with Great American Patriots who see what is happening to our Country, and won’t allow it to continue. WE WILL WIN!

The former president then decided to cheer himself up a bit with some good news out of Georgia:

Big win in Georgia for President Trump! Georgia, which is absolutely a Republican State, is showing up BIG. They demand accountability, and demand it now. So sad what has happened to one of the greatest places on Earth—But we will win in 2024, Georgia will lead the way, and we will Make America Great Again!

This appears to be a reference to an earlier report about new polling out of Georgia. Here’s Kelly Rissman reporting on it for The Independent:

New poll shows Trump still leads GOP rivals in Georgia after indictment

Meanwhile on Truth Social...

Tuesday 29 August 2023 20:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump has been posting to Truth Social to break up his afternoon and perhaps let off some steam about what’s bothering him today.

First he calls on “Sloppy Chris Christie” to drop out of the 2024 Republican primary race:

Sloppy Chris Christie, who was rated the Worst Governor in the History of New Jersey, had the lowest approval rating, 8%, had 11 straight downgrades of New Jersey Bonds, a record, was thrown out of New Hampshire after his last debate, and endlessly suffered from the horrible and never ending Bridgegate scandal, SHOULD DROP OUT OF THE RACE. HE IS GOING NOWHERE AND IS VERY BAD FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY!

The former New Jersey Governor was on MSNBC’s Morning Joe today and said: “Nominating Donald Trump is going to be an enormous gift to the Democrats."

Next up, Mr Trump attacked John Roberts of Fox News for his reporting on the latest polling:

Would somebody please tell RINO John Roberts of FoxNews that my poll numbers went up after the last “debate,” they didn’t go “slightly down.” I am leading DeSanctimonious by more than 50 Points, and Crooked Joe Biden by a lot. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

Texas floating border barrier did virtually nothing to slow immigration, data shows

Tuesday 29 August 2023 20:30 , Oliver O'Connell

A controversial floating border wall Texas governor Greg Abbott installed across the Rio Grande river appears to have done little to change immigration, according to data.

The floating barrier, made of razor-tipped buoys, was installed in mid-July, but migrant encounters in the Del Rio sector only decreased by about 100, falling from 24,632 in June to 24,513 in July, according to data from US Customs and Border Patrol.

Josh Marcus reports.

Greg Abbott’s floating border wall did nothing to slow immigration, data shows

Lawyers indicted with Trump say they were doing their jobs. But that may be a tough argument to make

Tuesday 29 August 2023 20:10 , Oliver O'Connell

...while attorneys do have wide berth to advance untested or unconventional positions, experts say a “lawyers being lawyers” defense will be challenging to pull off, to the extent prosecutors can directly link the indicted lawyers to criminal schemes alleged in the indictment. That includes efforts to line up fake electors in Georgia and other states to falsely assert that Trump, not Democrat Joe Biden, had won their respective contests.

Read on...

Lawyers indicted with Trump say they were doing their jobs. But that may be a tough argument to make

Watch: Haley calls Ramaawamy ‘pathetic’ for attacking her with legal first name and maiden name

Tuesday 29 August 2023 20:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Full story: Francis Suarez becomes first Republican to drop out of 2024 primary

Tuesday 29 August 2023 19:50 , Oliver O'Connell

The 2024 Republican field has officially shrunk by one.

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez officially suspended his campaign on Tuesday after failing to make last week’s debate in Milwaukee, the first matchup of the GOP candidates onstage.

John Bowden reports.

Francis Suarez becomes first Republican to drop out of 2024 primary

PAC supporting Christie is first to use Trump mug shot in attack ad

Tuesday 29 August 2023 19:40 , Oliver O'Connell

The Tell It Like It Is PAC, an outside group supporting former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s bid for the Republican nomination, has become the first group to use Donald Trump’s Fulton County mug shot in an attack ad that is now airing in New Hampshire, NBC News reports.

“Tired of the drama, the distractions, the lies? It’s time for conservatives to win again,” a narrator says as the camera zooms in on the image of the former president.

You can see the ad here and catch a glimpse of the mug shot in the opening few moments:

Fox News host questions why racist shootings haven’t stopped under Biden

Tuesday 29 August 2023 19:30 , Oliver O'Connell

A Fox News anchor asked a question of Joe Biden: why haven’t you solved racism yet, Mr President?

On Monday, Fox News anchor John Roberts tossed around the question of why — if Joe Biden said he was going to unify Americans — a white supremacist would still carry out a racially motivated mass shooting.

Graig Graziosi reports.

Fox News host questions why racist shootings haven’t stopped under Biden

Define ‘a few minutes’...

Tuesday 29 August 2023 19:20 , Oliver O'Connell

There was an awkward pause during a Fox News interview with Nikki Haley on Tuesday as they cut away to the White House press briefing, asking her to wait “a few minutes”. Journalist Aaron Rupar reportst that they didn’t come back to resume the interview for approximately half an hour...

Sidney Powell pleads ‘not guilty’ in Fulton County case

Tuesday 29 August 2023 19:17 , Oliver O'Connell

Sidney Powell, one of the lawyers indicted alongside Donald Trump in the Fulton County, Georgia case, has become the second defendant to enter a “not guilty” plea and waive the right to an arraignment.

Lawyer Ray Smith did the same on Monday.

What to expect after Donald Trump’s Georgia surrender

Tuesday 29 August 2023 19:10 , Oliver O'Connell

The former president surrendered to authorities at Fulton County Jail on 24 August, where he was arrested and had his mug shot taken.

He and his co-defendants are now expected to face arraignment on 6 September.

Here’s what we know about the case and what’s next for Mr Trump in Georgia:

What’s next for Donald Trump after his Georgia surrender?

Meadows judge asks for more information on charges under Georgia RICO law

Tuesday 29 August 2023 19:03 , Oliver O'Connell

Judge Steve Jones has asked for more information on the charges against Mark Meadows under Georgia’s RICO law as the former White House chief of staff tries to have his Fulton County case moved to federal court.

Raskin: Trump is ‘disqualified’ from the presidency

Tuesday 29 August 2023 18:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Rep Jamie Raskin (D-MD) said on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday that former president Donald Trump is “disqualified” from seeking the presidency.

Host Dana Bash quoted former Arkansas governor and 2024 Republican presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson saying that the 14th amendment of the US Constitution disqualified the former president.

Eric Garcia reports.

Jamie Raskin says Trump is ‘disqualified’ from the presidency

Judge orders release of full Fulton County grand jury report unless objections raised by concerned parties

Tuesday 29 August 2023 18:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Judge Robert McBurney of the Superior Court of Fulton County has ordered the release of the full grand jury report into 2020 election interference, unless any concerned parties object by 5pm on Wednesday 6 September.

If no objections are raised by that time the remainder of the final report will be added to the docket at 10am on Friday 8 September.

Navarro scolded by judge for ‘weak sauce’ excuse for refusing to testify to Jan 6 committee

Tuesday 29 August 2023 18:20 , Oliver O'Connell

A federal judge in Washington on Monday appeared unlikely to let ex-White House aide Peter Navarro tell a jury that he was following orders from former president Donald Trump when he refused to honour a subpoena from the House January 6 select committee.

Mr Navarro, who served as Mr Trump’s top trade adviser, is facing two counts of criminal contempt of Congress stemming from his decision not to respond to the House panel’s subpoena.

Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.

Former Trump adviser scolded by judge for ‘weak sauce’ Jan 6 excuse

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez suspends presidential campaign

Tuesday 29 August 2023 18:05 , Oliver O'Connell

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez has suspended his campaign to be the Republican Party presidential nominee in 2024, having failed to qualify for the first debate.

He released the following statement on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Sinister warning from Trump to Democrats

Tuesday 29 August 2023 17:55 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump issued a sinister warning to Democrats on Tuesday morning repeating unfounded allegations that the criminal charges brought against him in the four indictments in which he is the central figure are “all part of my political opponents campaign plan” and that they amount to “election interference”.

He accused President Joe Biden of masterminding the alleged effort: “Crooked Joe pushed this litigation hard to get it done. This is a new low in Presidential Politics. To the Democrats, I say, ‘be careful what you wish for’.”

Here’s the full post:

These Indictments and lawsuits are all part of my political opponents campaign plan. It is Election Interference, and they are going to use the DOJ/FBI to help them, which is illegal. Crooked Joe pushed this litigation hard to get it done. This is a new low in Presidential Politics. To the Democrats, I say, “be careful what you wish for.”

Full story: House GOP leader Steve Scalise announces cancer diagnosis

Tuesday 29 August 2023 17:50 , Oliver O'Connell

The number two Republican in the House of Representatives announced a diagnosis of blood cancer on Monday.

Steve Scalise, leader of the Republican majority and deputy to Speaker Kevin McCarthy, announced the news in a press release Monday morning, and explained that he expected to work through his treatment period.

John Bowden has the latest from Washington, DC.

House GOP leader Steve Scalise announces cancer diagnosis

Conservative organisations begin to plan for possible second Trump administration

Tuesday 29 August 2023 17:30 , Oliver O'Connell

With more than a year to go before the 2024 election, a constellation of conservative organizations is preparing for a possible second White House term for Donald Trump, recruiting thousands of Americans to come to Washington on a mission to dismantle the federal government and replace it with a vision closer to his own.

Led by the long-established Heritage Foundation think tank and fueled by former Trump administration officials, the far-reaching effort is essentially a government-in-waiting for the former president’s second term — or any candidate who aligns with their ideals and can defeat President Joe Biden in 2024.

Read more...

How Trump administration officials are preparing for a second White House term

Oliver Anthony shocks conservative fans with truth about hit song

Tuesday 29 August 2023 17:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Country singer Oliver Anthony, whose song “Rich Men North of Richmond” became a viral hit and was initially praised by leading conservatives for its anti-establishment message, said he is frustrated that his chart-topping tune was used in a prominent question at the Republican presidential debate this week.

Josh Marcus has the story.

Oliver Anthony tells GOP Rich Men North of Richmond is about them

Trump Tower clock dispute reignited in New York City

Tuesday 29 August 2023 16:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s alleged criminal activity now spans four criminal indictments totaling nearly 100 felony charges. But another comparatively minor dispute between him and officials in New York City has just been reignited.

John Bowden has the details.

Trump in dispute with NYC over installing Trump Tower clock without permission

Trump leads GOP rivals in Georgia despite election interference indictment, new poll shows

Tuesday 29 August 2023 16:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The latest poll has revealed that former president Donald Trump is still leading his Republican rivals in Georgia – despite being indicted in Fulton County over his efforts to overturn his election loss in the state.

The poll, conducted by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, asked 807 likely Republican primary voters in the state who they would vote for in the presidential primary.

Mr Trump earned 57 per cent of the vote, while Florida Governor Ron DeSantis trailed behind the former president with 15 per cent.

Kelly Rissman reports.

New poll shows Trump still leads GOP rivals in Georgia after indictment

Recap: Georgia official told by Trump to ‘find’ votes testifies phone call was ‘extraordinary’

Tuesday 29 August 2023 16:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Georgia’s top elections official received a phone call from Donald Trump on 2 January, 2021, with a warning that he would be taking a “big risk” declaring Joe Biden the victor weeks after then-President Trump lost the state in the 2020 presidential election.

“I just want to find 11,780 votes,” then-President Trump told Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger during the hour-long call, four days before a joint session of Congress convened to certify the electoral college results – a ceremony violently interrupted by a mob of Mr Trump’s supporters.

Mr Raffensperger, a Republican, told a federal courtroom on 28 August that Mr Trump’s “outreach to that extent was extraordinary.”

Alex Woodward reports.

Georgia official told by Trump to ‘find’ votes testifies about infamous phone call

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise diagnosed with blood cancer

Tuesday 29 August 2023 16:01 , Oliver O'Connell

Republican House Majority Leader Steve Scalise has announced that he has been diagnosed with a treatable form of blood cancer. In a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, Mr Scalise said:

After a few days of not feeling like myself this past week, I had some blood work done. The results uncovered some irregularities and after undergoing additional tests, I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a very treatable blood cancer.

I have now begun treatment, which will continue for the next several months. I expect to work through this period and intend to return to Washington, continuing my work as Majority Leader and serving the people of Louisiana’s First Congressional District.

I am incredibly grateful we were able to detect this early and that this cancer is treatable. I am thankful for my excellent medical team, and with the help of God, support of my family, friends, colleagues, and constituents, I will tackle this with the same strength and energy as I have tackled past challenges.

Mr Scalise has represented Louisiana’s 1st congressional district since 2009, and before that served in state government.

In June 2017 he was shot and seriously wounded by an anti-Trump domestic terrorist who attacked a practice for that year’s Congressional Baseball Game, specifically targeting Republicans. Mr Scalise underwent many months of treatment for his wounds before returning to Congress.

This morning on Truth Social...

Tuesday 29 August 2023 15:50 , Oliver O'Connell

This morning on Truth Social, in what you would usually expect to be in all-caps, former president Donald Trump issued a warning to Democrats regarding the four indictments against him: “This is a new low in Presidential Politics. To the Democrats, I say, ‘be careful what you wish for.’”

Here’s the full post:

These Indictments and lawsuits are all part of my political opponents campaign plan. It is Election Interference, and they are going to use the DOJ/FBI to help them, which is illegal. Crooked Joe pushed this litigation hard to get it done. This is a new low in Presidential Politics. To the Democrats, I say, “be careful what you wish for.”

He then added:

My Poll numbers are UP since the very boring, record setting low (ratings!), Debate. Leading by BIG numbers. I made the right decision, and broke all records with the Tucker Carlson Interview!

Here’s why his claim to have broken records with viewership of his interview with Tucker Carlson may not be exactly true:

Trump misleadingly claims 250 million viewers watched his Tucker Carlson interview

Why a government shutdown won’t stop the Trump trials

Tuesday 29 August 2023 15:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Voices: The Trump drama is unfolding in two major hearings. And it’s all starting to unravel

Tuesday 29 August 2023 15:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Ahmed Baba writes:

The hearings greatly impact how these 2020 election subversion cases will be prosecuted. The DC case, in particular, will have an enormous impact on the 2024 campaign season, as Donald Trump will be compelled to jump between the courthouse and the campaign trail.

Read more...

The Trump drama is unfolding in two major hearings. And it's all starting to unravel

Tuesday 29 August 2023 15:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Electric Avenue singer Eddy Grant took Donald Trump to court over ‘lack of respect’

Eminem tells Vivek Ramaswamy to stop using his music

Tuesday 29 August 2023 15:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Eminem has formally objected to the use of his music by Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy during his campaign trail.

The objection to the use of his songs comes after a video of the multimillionaire former biotech executive singing “Lose Yourself” went viral earlier this month.

Namita Singh reports.

Eminem tells Vivek Ramaswamy to stop rapping his music on the campaign trail

Watch: Nominating Trump will be ‘enormous gift to the Democrats’ says Christie

Tuesday 29 August 2023 15:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Four-day Proud Boys sentencing process underway in DC court

Tuesday 29 August 2023 14:56 , Oliver O'Connell

Leaders of the Proud Boys group are gathered at a Washington DC courtroom for the first day of a four-day sentencing process regarding their involvement in the January 6 Capitol riot. The process begins with victim impact statements.

New Hampshire state office ambushed over false rumour Trump was removed from primary ballot

Tuesday 29 August 2023 14:50 , Oliver O'Connell

The office of the New Hampshire secretary of state was flooded with calls from Trump supporters concerned about a false rumour that the former president was being kept off the primary ballot.

Hundreds of outraged supporters called the office on Monday after conservative talk show host Charlie Kirk inaccurately told his listeners that the state was moving to push out Donald Trump.

Gustaf Kilander has the story.

Trump voters ambush state office over false rumour he was removed from primary ballot

Watch: Monday was ‘reality hit’ for Trump’s team and he will have to physically be in court for trials

Tuesday 29 August 2023 14:40 , Oliver O'Connell

First defendant enters plea in Georgia election interference case

Tuesday 29 August 2023 14:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The first defendant in the Georgia election interference case has entered a plea to the charges.

Ray Smith, an attorney for Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign in the state, waived his arraignment and entered a plea of not guilty to all 12 counts against him, according to a court filing.

Now, he will not need to appear for his arraignment next week.

The other 18 defendants – including Mr Trump – are yet to enter a plea and are all expected to appear for their arraignment on 6 September.

Ray Smith, a lawyer who previously represented Donald Trump in Georgia, is now a co-defendant of the former president (Reuters)
Ray Smith, a lawyer who previously represented Donald Trump in Georgia, is now a co-defendant of the former president (Reuters)

Trump slumps while Pence and DeSantis get surprising poll boost

Tuesday 29 August 2023 14:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Support for former president Donald Trump among Republican primary voters dipped slightly after the ex-president skipped out on the first debate among GOP presidential hopefuls last week, according to a new poll from Emerson College.

The survey, which was conducted from 25 to 26 August, found just 50 per cent of GOP primary voters expressing an intention to vote for Mr Trump. That’s a six-point drop from a similar Emerson survey conducted before last week’s Milwaukee, Wisconsin debate.

But multiple candidates who participated in the face-off saw gains in the same survey compared with the drop in support for Mr Trump.

Andrew Feinberg has the details.

Trump slumps while Pence and DeSantis get poll boost after first GOP debate

Trump’s Georgia arraignment scheduled for next week

Tuesday 29 August 2023 13:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s arraignment in Fulton County, Georgia has been scheduled for 9.30am on 6 September, a court docket has revealed.

The remaining 18 defendants in the 2020 election subversion case have been scheduled to be arraigned after Mr Trump in 15-minute increments.

Gustaf Kilander has the details.

Trump arraignment scheduled for next week in Georgia election case

Trump accuses federal judge of Super Tuesday ‘interference’ over trial date

Tuesday 29 August 2023 13:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump’s federal trial for conspiring to overturn his 2020 election defeat has been scheduled to begin on 4 March 2024 despite the ex-president’s legal team’s push to have the case delayed until nearly two years after the 2024 general election.

Judge Tanya Chutkan on Monday issued a trial schedule that will start on 9 October, when both sides will face a deadline to file any pretrial motions. On 27 December, both sides will file any motions in limine to govern what can be said during Mr Trump’s trial, and proposed questions for potential jury members will be due on 15 January 2024.

Jury selection will begin on the 4 March start date — one day before Super Tuesday, the height of the presidential primary season.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Trump federal election interference trial set for March 2024

Has Francis Suarez quietly quit the GOP presidential race?

Tuesday 29 August 2023 13:10 , Oliver O'Connell

The 2024 Republican field may have just seen its first casualty.

NBC News first reported on Monday that the campaign of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez has gone dark, both in terms of messaging and money spent, since last week’s GOP primary debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The second-youngest candidate in the race at 45 (Vivek Ramaswamy is 38), Mr Suarez had sought to build a brand as a representative of a new generation of Republican leadership.

John Bowden reports.

Has Francis Suarez silently quit the Republican presidential race?

Will Trump go to prison?

Tuesday 29 August 2023 12:30 , Oliver O'Connell

America wants to know...

Will Donald Trump go to prison?

Meadows and Trump want to move Georgia case to federal court. Here’s why

Tuesday 29 August 2023 11:30 , Oliver O'Connell

It took less than a day after a Fulton County, Georgia grand jury indicted former president Donald Trump, his former chief of staff Mark Meadows, and 17 other defendants in a sprawling racketeering case for one of them to invoke a rarely used federal law in an attempt to move the case into federal court.

On 15 August, attorneys for Mr Meadows, who a Fulton County grand jury charged with a single racketeering count and another sole count of solicitation of violation of oath by a public officer, quickly filed papers in the US District Court for the Northern District of Georgia to “remove” the case from Fulton County Superior Court.

Read more...

Why does Trump want to move Georgia case to federal court?

Trump raises over $7m from his Georgia mug shot

Tuesday 29 August 2023 10:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has turned every attempt by prosecutors to put his alleged crimes before a jury into a spectacle that has benefited him financially and contributed to his persecution narrative.

His latest arrest in Georgia is no different., as John Bowden reports.

Trump has raised more than $7m off of his Georgia mug shot

Can Trump still run for president after four indictments?

Tuesday 29 August 2023 09:30 , Oliver O'Connell

It’s certainly going to make things complicated...

Can Donald Trump still run for president after four indictments?

Trump threatens ‘oblivion’ for GOP if Congress doesn’t impeach Biden

Tuesday 29 August 2023 08:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump warned that Republicans could face “OBLIVION” if they do not impeach President Joe Biden on charges rooted in false claims.

The twice-impeached, four-times-indicted former president posted on his Truth Social platform that Republicans need to move beyond an impeachment inquiry of the president.

Eric Garcia reports.

Trump threatens ‘oblivion’ for Republicans if Congress doesn’t impeach Biden

Poll: Biden is ‘old,’ Trump is ‘corrupt’

Tuesday 29 August 2023 07:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Old. Confused. Corrupt. Dishonest.

Those are among the top terms Americans use when they’re asked to describe President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, the Republican best positioned to face him in next year’s election.

Unflattering portraits of both emerge clearly in a new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, which asked an open-ended question about what comes to mind when people think of them.

Read on...

Biden is ‘old,’ Trump is ‘corrupt’: New poll has ominous signs for possible rematch

Green Day selling Trump mugshot shirt to raise money for Maui wildfire victims

Tuesday 29 August 2023 06:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Rock band Green Day are selling Donald Trump “Nimrod” mug shot t-shirts to raise cash for Maui fire charities.

The design of the limited-edition shirt mimics the band’s 1997 Nimrod album, but with Mr Trump’s face on it.

Green Day are selling a Trump mugshot shirt to raise money for Maui victims

Ramaswamy defends calling Trump a ‘sore loser’

Tuesday 29 August 2023 05:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Upstart Republican primary candidate Vivek Ramaswamy sought to explain his past criticism of Donald Trump on Sunday following a debate performance this week in which he praised the former president as the greatest commander-in-chief of the last century.

John Bowden has the story.

Vivek Ramaswamy defends calling Trump a ‘sore loser’

Trump claims he won golf club championship in 67 shots, besting Phil Mickelson

Tuesday 29 August 2023 04:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has claimed he won Bedminster’s Senior Club Championship with an impressive five-under-par score of 67 - eight shots better than Phil Mickelson took at the course earlier this month.

Graeme Massie has the story.

Trump ‘won’ golf championship with fewer shots than Phil Mickelson made two weeks ago

McCarthy: House impeachment inquiry of President Biden is ‘natural step forward,’

Tuesday 29 August 2023 03:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Speaker Kevin McCarthy suggested Sunday that an impeachment inquiry of President Joe Biden was becoming more likely, calling it “a natural step forward” as Congress soon ends its summer break and House Republicans seek to expand their investigative powers.

A House impeachment inquiry of President Biden is a 'natural step forward,' Speaker McCarthy says

Jesse Watters ridiculed for raving that Trump ‘looks good and looks hard’ in Georgia mug shot

Tuesday 29 August 2023 02:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Fox News host Jesse Watters has been ridiculed for telling his audience that Donald Trump “looks good and looks hard” in his Georgia mug shot.

The right-wing host echoed many conservatives in complimenting the four-times indicted, former president over his historic booking photo.

Read more...

Jesse Watters ridiculed for raving that Trump ‘looks hard’ in Georgia mug shot

Aileen Cannon: The Florida judge with Trump’s fate in her hands

Tuesday 29 August 2023 01:30 , Oliver O'Connell

A Florida district judge assigned to oversee Donald Trump’s classified documents case is attracting criticism given that it was Mr Trump himself who elevated her to the bench three years ago.

Aileen Cannon, a federal judge with the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida overseeing the Espionage Act and obstruction of justice case against Mr Trump, has rejected the disgraced ex-president’s bid to delay his trial until after the 2024 election.

Judge Cannon issued an order on 21 July granting the government’s request to set a speedy trial date and schedule for pretrial motions, with a start date of 20 May 2024.

Aileen Cannon: The judge with Trump’s fate in her hands was appointed by him

Trump’s criminal charges and lawsuits - where they all currently stand

Tuesday 29 August 2023 00:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has never been more vulnerable.

Without the privileges and prestige of the presidency to protect him, Mr Trump is facing serious lawsuits and criminal indictments across New York, Florida, Georgia and Washington.

Federal officials, local prosecutors, and individuals are going after him for everything from his private conduct to his political manoeuvering during the 2020 election. If even just one of these efforts is successful, the US could see its first-ever former president in prison.

Josh Marcus reports.

Tracking Trump’s criminal charges and lawsuits - and where they stand

Trump accuses federal judge of Super Tuesday ‘interference’ over trial date

Tuesday 29 August 2023 00:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump’s federal trial for conspiring to overturn his 2020 election defeat has been scheduled to begin on 4 March 2024 despite the ex-president’s legal team’s push to have the case delayed until nearly two years after the 2024 general election.

Judge Tanya Chutkan on Monday issued a trial schedule that will start on 9 October, when both sides will face a deadline to file any pretrial motions. On 27 December, both sides will file any motions in limine to govern what can be said during Mr Trump’s trial, and proposed questions for potential jury members will be due on 15 January 2024.

Jury selection will begin on the 4 March start date — one day before Super Tuesday, the height of the presidential primary season.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Trump federal election interference trial set for March 2024

Raskin says Trump is ‘disqualified’ from the presidency

Monday 28 August 2023 23:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Rep Jamie Raskin (D-MD) said on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday that former president Donald Trump is “disqualified” from seeking the presidency.

Host Dana Bash quoted former Arkansas governor and 2024 Republican presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson saying that the 14th amendment of the US Constitution disqualified the former president.

Eric Garcia reports.

Jamie Raskin says Trump is ‘disqualified’ from the presidency

Fani Willis: The Georgia prosecutor who could take down Trump

Monday 28 August 2023 23:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Her first day as the chief prosecutor for Fulton County came with news that then-President Donald Trump attempted to pressure Georgia’s top election officials to reverse his loss in the state during the 2020 presidential election.

A phone call between Mr Trump and Georgia’s Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger was published by The Washington Post late at night on 3 January, 2021.

Hours later, Fani Willis would walk into her first day on the job as Fulton County’s district attorney, an office that is now spearheading a criminal investigation into Mr Trump, with the phone call serving as a central damning piece of evidence against him.

Read more...

Who is Fani Willis, the Georgia prosecutor who could take down Trump

Phone call was ‘extraordinary’ testifies Georgia official told by Trump to ‘find’ votes

Monday 28 August 2023 23:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Georgia’s top election official received a phone call from Donald Trump on 2 January, 2021, with a warning that he would be taking a “big risk” declaring Joe Biden the victor weeks after then-President Trump lost the state in the 2020 presidential election.

Alex Woodward reports.

Georgia official told by Trump to ‘find’ votes testifies about infamous phone call

Has Francis Suarez quietly quit the GOP presidential race?

Monday 28 August 2023 23:00 , Oliver O'Connell

The 2024 Republican field may have just seen its first casualty.

NBC News first reported on Monday that the campaign of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez has gone dark, both in terms of messaging and money spent, since last week’s GOP primary debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The second-youngest candidate in the race at 45 (Vivek Ramaswamy is 38), Mr Suarez had sought to build a brand as a representative of a new generation of Republican leadership.

John Bowden reports.

Has Francis Suarez silently quit the Republican presidential race?

First Fulton County defendant enters plea, waives arraignment appearance

Monday 28 August 2023 22:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Ray Smith is the first of 19 defendants in the Fulton County case to plead not guilty. He has also waived the arraignment appearance according to court documents.

Trump arraignment scheduled for next week in Georgia election case

Trump raises more than $7m from his Georgia mug shot

Monday 28 August 2023 22:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has turned every attempt by prosecutors to put his alleged crimes before a jury into a spectacle that has benefited him financially and contributed to his persecution narrative.

His latest arrest in Georgia is no different.

John Bowden reports.

Trump has raised more than $7m off of his Georgia mug shot

In bid to move Trump Georgia election case to federal court, Mark Meadows takes stand

Monday 28 August 2023 22:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows wants a judge to move the sweeping criminal case against him in Georgia to a federal court, marking the debut of the prosecutorial team that charged the former president and 18 of his allies for their alleged attempts to overturn 2020 election results in that state.

His surprise testimony at a hearing in a federal courthouse on 28 August comes two weeks after a grand jury indictment under Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis presented the largest and most significant case yet facing Mr Trump and others connected to an alleged racketeering scheme in which they “knowingly and willfully joined a conspiracy to unlawfully change the outcome of the election” to ensure he remained in power.

Mr Trump, Mr Meadows and their 17 other co-defendants were booked in Fulton County jail and released on bond last week.

Alex Woodward reports.

Mark Meadows testifies in bid to move Trump Georgia election case to federal court

Watch: Christie denies GOP has authoritarian problem instead says party has ‘a Donald Trump problem’

Monday 28 August 2023 21:55 , Oliver O'Connell

What can we expect next in after Donald Trump’s Georgia case?

Monday 28 August 2023 21:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Ariana Baio lays out what happens next in Fulton County.

What’s next for Donald Trump after his Georgia surrender?

Trump slumps while Pence and DeSantis get surprising poll boost

Monday 28 August 2023 21:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Support for former president Donald Trump among Republican primary voters dipped slightly after the ex-president skipped out on the first debate among GOP presidential hopefuls last week, according to a new poll from Emerson College.

The survey, which was conducted from 25 to 26 August, found just 50 per cent of GOP primary voters expressing an intention to vote for Mr Trump. That’s a six-point drop from a similar Emerson survey conducted before last week’s Milwaukee, Wisconsin debate.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Trump slumps while Pence and DeSantis get poll boost after first GOP debate

Tanya Chutkan: The judge overseeing Trump’s federal 2020 election case

Monday 28 August 2023 21:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Judge Tanya Chutkan is an appointee of former president Barack Obama and was first appointed to the US District Court for the District of Columbia in June 2014.

Here’s what else we know about her...

Tanya Chutkan: Who is the judge overseeing Trump’s 2020 election probe case?

White House laughs off report Biden wants to limit Americans to two beers a week

Monday 28 August 2023 21:25 , Oliver O'Connell

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre laughed off a report that the White House wants to limit Americans to having two beers per week.

Fox News’s Peter Doocy asked the press secretary the question after George Koob, the Director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, toldThe Daily Mail that the United States Department of Agriculture could revise its alcohol advice to match Canada’s.

Eric Garcia reports.

White House laughs off report Biden wants to limit Americans to two beers a week

Jack Smith: The special prosecutor who could take down Trump

Monday 28 August 2023 21:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Jack Smith, the experienced war crimes prosecutor who unveiled two unprecedented federal indictments against former US president Donald Trump, is no stranger to high-profile probes of public figures.

The US Department of Justice veteran oversaw anti-corruption prosecutions against multiple US politicians in his role as the head of the Department of Justice public integrity section from 2010 to 2015.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Who is Jack Smith? The special prosecutor who could take down Trump

Explained: The federal investigation into Trump, January 6, and the 2020 election

Monday 28 August 2023 20:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward reports on the sprawling Justice Department probe into Donald Trump and his allies that has yielded four criminal charges in a stunning indictment outlining a path to power at whatever cost...

The federal investigation into Trump and January 6, explained

Can Trump appeal trial date?

Monday 28 August 2023 20:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Can Donald Trump appeal the trial date set by Judge Tanya Chutkan? Not so fast says senior investigative editor at The New York Times Kurt Eichenwald.

Trump says he is going to rush to appeals court to fight the trial scheduling. The man needs to speak to his lawyers before screaming appeal. The lawyers can make a motion to reconsider to the judge - maybe - but this is not an appealable issue.

Jordan Fischer of WUSA9 concurs:

Trump 2024 campaign issues statement on trial date

Monday 28 August 2023 20:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Crooked Joe Biden, Deranged Jack Smith, and their henchmen continue to abuse the American justice system in their goal of interfering in the 2024 Presidential Election in order to prevent President Trump from returning to the Oval Office. The date set today deprives President Trump of his Constitutional right to a fair trial, a seminal bedrock of America, and continues to expose the corruption of the witch hunts being thrown against President Trump. From setting a trial date for the day before “Super Tuesday” to sending a fundraising email the moment of President Trump’s processing in Fulton County, the Biden regime is no longer hiding its nakedly political motivations. President Trump will not be deterred, he will fight these hoaxes at every turn, and will win for the American people.

— unnamed spokesperson for Trump campaign

Explained: Why Mark Meadows and Trump want to move Georgia case to federal court

Monday 28 August 2023 20:30 , Oliver O'Connell

It took less than a day after a grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia indicted former president Donald Trump, his former chief of staff Mark Meadows, and 17 other defendants in a sprawling racketeering case for one of them to invoke a rarely used federal law in an attempt to move the case into federal court.

On 15 August, attorneys for Mr Meadows, who is charged with a single racketeering count and another sole count of solicitation of violation of oath by a public officer, quickly filed papers in federal court to “remove” the case from Fulton County Superior Court.

The move by the former president’s chief of staff was widely expected by legal experts, many of whom have opined that Mr Trump’s legal team can be expected to use a similar manoeuvre within the next 30 days, citing his former position as president of the United States.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Why do Mark Meadows and Trump want to move Georgia case to federal court?

Haley continues to call out Ramaswamy for ‘naive’ foreign policy

Monday 28 August 2023 20:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Meadows testimony to continue with cross-examination as long afternoon in court looks likely

Monday 28 August 2023 20:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward is following the hearing for The Independent and filed this report.

Mark Meadows grilled on witness stand over Trump’s Georgia call to ‘find’ votes

But wait there’s more...

Monday 28 August 2023 20:06 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s rant about the federal election interference case continues:

Page 2: How do you have an Indictment that is based almost entirely on the findings of the January 6th Unselect Committee of Marxists, Fascists, and Political Hacks, when these same lowlifes, who have been caught lying for years about Russia, Russia, Russia, Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine, FISA, the Fake Dossier, & much more, purposely & Illegally DESTROYED & DELETED all of the Evidence, Findings, & Proof of the January 6th Committee? When will Deranged Jack Smith Criminally Charge the Committee?

Trump vows to appeal trial date decided by ‘Trump Hating Judge'

Monday 28 August 2023 19:57 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has angrily reacted to the news that his federal trial for 2020 election interference is set to begin on 4 March 2024 — the day before the Super Tuesday primaries. The former president has vowed to appeal.

Here’s that he posted on Truth Social moments ago:

Deranged Jack Smith & his team of Thugs, who were caught going to the White House just prior to Indicting the 45th President of the United States (an absolute No No!), have been working on this Witch Hunt for almost 3 years, but decided to bring it smack in the middle of Crooked Joe Biden’s Political Opponent’s campaign against him. Election Interference! Today a biased, Trump Hating Judge gave me only a two month extension, just what our corrupt government wanted, SUPER TUESDAY. I will APPEAL!

Here’s our earlier coverage:

Trump federal election interference trial set for March 2024

Explained: What is an indictment?

Monday 28 August 2023 19:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump was criminally indicted for a fourth time on Monday, 14 August after a grand jury in Georgia charged the ex-president on 13 counts related to his alleged efforts to change the outcome of the 2020 election in the state.

The indictment, which lists Mr Trump and 18 other defendants, accuses the ex-president of engaging in a conspiracy to replace public officials with fake electors as well as engaging in overt acts to further the conspiracy.

The charges stem from a years-long investigation by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.

It is the fourth criminal indictment Mr Trump is facing so far this year.

Read on...

What is an arraignment and what is an indictment?

Trump raises more than $7m from his Georgia mug shot

Monday 28 August 2023 19:49 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has turned every attempt by prosecutors to put his alleged crimes before a jury into a spectacle that has benefited him financially and contributed to his persecution narrative.

His latest arrest in Georgia is no different.

John Bowden reports.

Trump has raised more than $7m off of his Georgia mug shot

Green Day selling Trump mugshot shirt to raise money for Maui wildfire victims

Monday 28 August 2023 19:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Rock band Green Day are selling Donald Trump “Nimrod” mug shot t-shirts to raise cash for Maui fire charities.

The design of the limited-edition shirt mimics the band’s 1997 Nimrod album, but with Mr Trump’s face on it.

Graeme Massie reports.

Green Day are selling a Trump mugshot shirt to raise money for Maui victims

Joe The Plumber, who confronted Obama on 2008 campaign trail, dies at 49

Monday 28 August 2023 19:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Joe The Plumber, the man who confronted then-candidate Barack Obama during the campaign in 2008, has died at the age of 49.

Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher became an important part of Republican candidate John McCain’s campaign after the confrontation with Mr Obama attracted national media attention.

His wife Katie Wurzelbacher told Fox News Digital in an email on Monday that Mr Wurzelbacher had passed away on Sunday.

Gustaf Kilander has the story.

Joe The Plumber, who confronted Obama on 2008 campaign trail, dies at 49

Is Trump still able to run for president after charges over 2020 election?

Monday 28 August 2023 18:50 , Oliver O'Connell

...in addition to a stack of other legal woes.

Can Donald Trump still run for president after four indictments?

Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website

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