Trump news – latest: E Jean Carroll targets Trump again after his derogatory CNN town hall smears

Author E Jean Carroll is amending her remaining defamation lawsuit against Donald Trump to include the derogatory emarks made by the former president at a CNN town hall.

Roberta Kaplan filed a proposed update to the $10m Manhattan civil court complaint on Monday to include comments made by Mr Trump after he was found liable for the sexual assault and defamation of Ms Carroll by jury trial in New York.

Meanwhile, Mr Trump’s media company has filed a $3.78bn lawsuit against The Washington Post over alleged defamation regarding his social media platform Truth Social. The suit claims the paper had been on a “years-long crusade” to undermine Trump Media, which was founded in February 2021.

Following the release of the Durham report last week, the former president has used his social media platform to make the claim that the FBI wanted to pay up to $1m to “frame” him in regard to collusion with Russia.

Meanwhile, a top attorney to Mr Trump is leaving his legal defence effort, and blaming the former president’s top aide Boris Epshteyn for supposedly being dishonest and unforthcoming in his work to assist lawyers with his defence against an investigation into whether he retained classified documents illegally.

His exit comes as the National Archives announced it found a trove of records proving that Donald Trump and his advisors knew they were breaking rules by taking those classified documents to Mar-a-Lago, according to a report.

These records will be turned over to Special Counsel Jack Smith as part of the criminal investigation into Mr Trump’s handling of classified documents.

Key points

• ‘Ron’s magic is GONE!’: Trump floods Truth Social with negative DeSantis posts

• E Jean Carroll moves to amend defamation case against Trump to include CNN town hall insults

• Trump lawyer exits legal team as Mar-a-Lago classified documents probe heats up

• Trump takes ‘credit’ for overturning of Roe v Wade and questions DeSantis’s six-week ban

• Trump’s media company sues Washington Post for $3.78bn

Lauren Boebert denies rumours of romance with MAGA country star after shock divorce

09:30 , Shweta Sharma

Lauren Boebert hit out at unsubstantiated claims that she was in a romantic relationship with a pro-Trump country singer following her divorce from her longtime husband.

The hard-right congresswoman told The Daily Beast that there was “absolutely nothing romantic” between her and Christian strummer Sean Feucht, nor had there ever been.

“How can I be with a man with better hair than me?” she quipped, referring to Mr Feucht’s chest-length mane of blond curls.

For his part, Mr Feucht called the claims “false and defamatory”, threatening to sue anyone making the accusation.

Lauren Boebert denies rumours of romance with MAGA country star after shock divorce

Trump bashes DeSantis as he shares surprisingly positive response to Scott

08:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump took yet another swing at Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as he welcomed South Carolina Senator Tim Scott to the Republican presidential race.

“Good luck to Senator Tim Scott in entering the Republican Presidential Primary Race,” the former president wrote on Truth Social on Monday morning. “It is rapidly loading up with lots of people, and Tim is a big step up from Ron DeSanctimonious, who is totally unelectable. I got Opportunity Zones done with Tim, a big deal that has been highly successful. Good luck Tim!”

Gustaf Kilander has the story.

Trump slams DeSantis as he welcomes Tim Scott to presidential race

Donald Trump to appear by video as judge reinforces ban on attacking witnesses

08:00 , Shweta Sharma

Donald Trump will not have to show up in court for a hearing at a Manhattan courthouse to bar him from using evidence to attack witnesses.

He will instead appear through a video link, with his face beaming onto courtroom TV monitors. However, his lawyers and prosecutors will still appear in person.

Judge Juan Manuel Merchan agreed to the extra step of personally instructing Mr Trump on the restrictions after listing them on 8 May in what’s known as a protective order.

Mr Trump is allowed to speak publicly about the case, but he risks being held in contempt if he uses evidence turned over by prosecutors in the pretrial discovery process to target witnesses or others involved.

The protective order bars the former president and his lawyers from disseminating evidence to third parties or posting it to social media, and it requires that certain, sensitive material shared by prosecutors be kept only by Mr Trump‘s lawyers, not Mr Trump himself.

Prosecutors sought the order soon after Mr Trump‘s arrest, citing what they say is his history of making “harassing, embarrassing, and threatening statements” about people he’s tangled with in legal disputes.

Judge dismisses Kari Lake's final claim in election loss for Arizona governor

07:30 , Shweta Sharma

A judge on Monday dismissed the only remaining legal claim in Republican Kari Lake’s challenge of her loss in last year’s race for Arizona governor, affirming the election of Democrat Katie Hobbs.

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Peter A Thompson said Ms Lake failed to prove her claim that Maricopa County did not verify signatures on mail ballots as required by law.

“The evidence the Court received does not support Plaintiff’s remaining claim,” he wrote.

While most other election deniers around the country conceded after losing their races in November, Ms Lake did not. She has touted her legal battle in fundraising appeals and speeches around the country.

Ms Lake did not immediately comment on the ruling.

Haley v Scott: From South Carolina allies to 2024 rivals

06:45 , Oliver O'Connell

As the GOP field begins to take shape, the Haley-Scott faceoff is putting some of their mutual supporters in the critical early voting state of South Carolina in a conundrum as they weigh which candidate to support.

Read more...

Haley vs. Scott: From South Carolina allies to 2024 rivals

Prosecutor suggests any indictments in Trump election investigation would likely come in August

06:15 , Shweta Sharma

The Georgia prosecutor investigating whether former president Donald Trump and his allies broke the law while trying to overturn his 2020 election in Georgia is seemingly hinting that any grand jury indictments in the case would likely come in August.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis sent a letter on Thursday to other Fulton County judges indicating that she plans to have much of her staff work remotely during the first three weeks of August.

In the letter, Ms Willis asked that judges not schedule trials and in-person hearings during part of that time.

“Thank you for your consideration and assistance in keeping the Fulton County Judicial Complex safe during this time,” Willis wrote in the letter, first reported by The New York Times.

The Georgia investigation is one of several that threatens his campaign for 2024 president.

Hillary Clinton says ‘people have the right to consider Biden’s age’

05:30 , Shweta Sharma

Former first lady Hillary Clinton said that Joe Biden has a “good record” as president but the “people still have the right to consider” his age as he is running for another term in office.

She was asked about the moment when Mr Biden almost tripped while walking down the stairs during the G7 summit meeting in Hiroshima, Japan.

“Well, I mean, it’s a concern for anyone. And we’ve had presidents who’ve fallen before who are a lot younger, and people didn’t go into heart palpitations,” Ms Clinton said at the Financial Times Weekend Festival in Washington.

“But his age is an issue. And people have every right to consider it.”

“And I am of the camp that I think he’s determined to run. He has a good record that three years ago people would not have predicted would have gotten done,” Ms Clinton added.

Tim Scott launches 2024 bid for Republican nomination

04:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Sen Tim Scott (R - South Carolina), the sole Black Republican in the United States Senate, announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president, joining a crowded field.

Tim Scott launches 2024 bid: ‘America is not a nation in decline’

Trump v DeSantis: A timeline of their growing rivalry

03:15 , Oliver O'Connell

No one will be watching more keenly than Donald Trump this week as Florida governor Ron DeSantis finally makes the long-awaited announcement that he will seek the Republican nomination for the presidency in 2024.

During his own tenure in the White House in 2018, Mr Trump loudly cheered Mr DeSantis’s bid for the governor’s mansion, throwing his weight behind the former congressman and appearing at rallies to stump for him, playing an important role in the candidate’s narrow defeat of Democratic rival and Tallahassee mayor Andrew Gillum.

Since then, however, a great deal of water has passed beneath the bridge and the two men are now increasingly antagonistic towards each other.

Joe Sommerlad reports.

A timeline of Donald Trump’s rivalry with Ron DeSantis

Trump Media files $3.78bn defamation lawsuit against Washington Post

02:15 , Oliver O'Connell

The company behind Donald Trump’s Truth Social platform has filed a $3.78bn defamation lawsuit against the Washington Post.

The lawsuit, filed by Trump Media & Technology Group Corp (TMTG) in Florida’s Sarasota County, claims that a 13 May article that alleged the company may have committed securities fraud was false and defamatory, and posed an “existential threat”.

Read on...

Trump Media files $3.78bn defamation lawsuit against Washington Post

From Trump to Tyson: The powerful men finally being held to account by sexual assault accusers

01:15 , Oliver O'Connell

An ex-president, a disgraced comedian, a world heavyweight boxing champion, a deceased music mogul and a former New York City mayor.

In the six months since New York passed the Adult Survivors Act, which removed the statute of limitations for certain sexual misconduct, powerful men from the worlds of politics, business, entertainment and sport have had to answer their accusers in civil court.

Bevan Hurley reports.

The powerful men finally being forced to face their sexual assault accusers

Tuesday 23 May 2023 00:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump supporter gets former president’s signature tattooed on arm

Trump bashes DeSantis as he shares surprisingly positive response to Tim Scott

Monday 22 May 2023 23:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump took yet another swing at Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as he welcomed South Carolina Senator Tim Scott to the Republican presidential race.

Gustaf Kilander reports from Washington, DC.

Trump slams DeSantis as he welcomes Tim Scott to presidential race

E Jean Carroll moves to amend defamation case against Trump

Monday 22 May 2023 22:20 , Oliver O'Connell

E Jean Carroll has moved to amend her remaining defamation lawsuit against Donald Trump to include his statement during his CNN town hall, the day after the verdict in the first defamation case.

Bevan Hurley has the full story.

E Jean Carroll applies to expand lawsuit against Trump to include CNN town hall

From South Carolina allies to 2024 rivals: Haley v Scott

Monday 22 May 2023 22:15 , Oliver O'Connell

As the GOP field begins to take shape, the Haley-Scott faceoff is putting some of their mutual supporters in the critical early voting state of South Carolina in a conundrum as they weigh which candidate to support.

Read on...

Haley vs. Scott: From South Carolina allies to 2024 rivals

Monday 22 May 2023 21:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Trump campaign knocks DeSantis over latest development in Disney feud

Monday 22 May 2023 21:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign wasted no time in knocking Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over the news that Disney is cancelling a $1bn plan to expand its business in Florida.

The campaign for the former president to return to the White House sent out a fundraising email on 18 May after the news broke about the shelving of the planned relocation of some thousands of staff to the Orlando area.

Read more:

Trump campaign knocks DeSantis over Disney’s cancelled Florida expansion plan

Damning new Mar-a-Lago papers evidence spells trouble for Trump

Monday 22 May 2023 20:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s legal troubles could be hotting up after the National Archives found a trove of records proving the former president knew he shouldn’t have taken classified documents to Mar-a-Lago, according to a report.

The National Archives sent a letter, obtained by CNN, to Mr Trump this week revealing that it had found 16 presidential records showing he and his top advisers were aware of the correct declassification process when he was in the White House.

Rachel Sharp has the details.

Damning evidence spells trouble for Trump in Mar-a-Lago classified documents probe

Pro-Trump Super PAC uses Tim Scott’s announcement to mock Ron DeSantis

Monday 22 May 2023 20:15 , Oliver O'Connell

A super PAC supporting former president Donald Trump’s campaign used the entrance of Sen Tim Scott (R - South Carolina) into the 2024 Republican presidential race to hit his main rival, Florida governor Ron DeSantis.

Make America Great Again Inc, a super PAC that supports Mr Trump, used Mr Scott’s planned announcement to repeat Mr Trump’s attacks on Mr DeSantis.

Eric Garcia reports.

Pro-Trump Super PAC uses Tim Scott’s announcement to mock Ron DeSantis

ICYMI: Trump whines that he is a ‘victim’ of ‘weaponisation of justice’

Monday 22 May 2023 19:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has again complained that he is the “victim” of what Republicans baselessly claim is the “weaponisation” of the federal government.

The one-term president made the remark in response to the Jim Jordan-led House Judiciary Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government hearing on Thursday.

Graeme Massie has the story.

Trump whines that he is a ‘victim’ of ‘weaponisation of justice’

As Mar-a-Lago probes heats up, Trump’s White House lawyer predicts ex-president will end up in jail

Monday 22 May 2023 19:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s former attorney has boldly predicted that the former president is going to jail as the criminal investigation into the trove of classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago continues to heat up.

Ty Cobb, who worked as a White House attorney for the Trump administration from July 2017 to May 2018, told CNN that he believes the evidence against Mr Trump will lead to a conviction and prison time.

Rachel Sharp reports.

Trump’s White House lawyer predicts he’ll end up in jail as Mar-a-Lago probe heats up

In-fighting among former president’s legal team revealed

Monday 22 May 2023 18:45 , Oliver O'Connell

An attorney working Donald Trump’s legal team has quit, citing in-fighting among the former president’s inner circle.

Timothy Parlatore left his role this week, according to The New York Times, after working for Mr Trump for at least a year.

In an interview with CNN on Saturday, Mr Parlatore explained that the reason for his departure was ongoing friction with Boris Epshteyn, another legal adviser to Mr Trump.

John Bowden reports.

Ex-Trump lawyer reveals in-fighting among former president’s legal team

From Trump to Tyson: The powerful men finally being held to account by sexual assault accusers

Monday 22 May 2023 18:15 , Oliver O'Connell

An ex-president, a disgraced comedian, a world heavyweight boxing champion, a deceased music mogul and a former New York City mayor.

In the six months since New York passed the Adult Survivors Act, which removed the statute of limitations for certain sexual misconduct, powerful men from the worlds of politics, business, entertainment and sport have had to answer their accusers in civil court.

Bevan Hurley reports.

The powerful men finally being forced to face their sexual assault accusers

Trump v DeSantis: A timeline of their rivalry

Monday 22 May 2023 18:00 , Oliver O'Connell

No one will be watching more keenly than Donald Trump this week as Florida governor Ron DeSantis finally makes the long-awaited announcement that he will seek the Republican nomination for the presidency in 2024.

During his own tenure in the White House in 2018, Mr Trump loudly cheered Mr DeSantis’s bid for the governor’s mansion, throwing his weight behind the former congressman and appearing at rallies to stump for him, playing an important role in the candidate’s narrow defeat of Democratic rival and Tallahassee mayor Andrew Gillum.

Since then, however, a great deal of water has passed beneath the bridge and the two men are now increasingly antagonistic towards each other.

Joe Sommerlad reports.

A timeline of Donald Trump’s rivalry with Ron DeSantis

Monday 22 May 2023 17:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump supporter gets former president’s signature tattooed on arm

Full story: Trump Media files $3.78bn defamation lawsuit against Washington Post

Monday 22 May 2023 17:20 , Oliver O'Connell

The company behind Donald Trump’s Truth Social platform has filed a $3.78bn defamation lawsuit against the Washington Post.

The lawsuit, filed by Trump Media & Technology Group Corp (TMTG) in Florida’s Sarasota County, claims that a 13 May article that alleged the company may have committed securities fraud was false and defamatory, and posed an “existential threat”.

Bevan Hurley has the latest.

Trump Media files $3.78bn defamation lawsuit against Washington Post

Voices: Tim Scott, the newest 2024 Republican candidate, is the most interesting -and most frustrating -Senator

Monday 22 May 2023 17:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Why Tim Scott is the most interesting - and most frustrating - Senator

Tim Scott launches 2024 presidential run

Monday 22 May 2023 16:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Sen Tim Scott, the sole Black Republican in the United States Senate, announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president, joining a crowded field.

Mr Scott made the announcement in his home of North Charleston, where he referenced his humble upbringing, noting how his grandfather worked in cotton fields in South Carolina.

“My family went from cotton to Congress in his lifetime. And it was possible because my grandfather had stubborn faith.”

Tim Scott, the Senate’s sole Black Republican, announces 2024 presidential candidacy

Watch: Tim Scott to announce 2024 run

Monday 22 May 2023 16:22 , Oliver O'Connell

Trump wishes good luck to Senator Tim Scott as he enters GOP primary race

Monday 22 May 2023 16:06 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump has wished Senator Tim Scott good luck as he enters the Republican primary race saying he is “a big step up from Ron DeSanctimonious, who is totally unelectable”.

Here’s the full post from Truth Social:

Good luck to Senator Tim Scott in entering the Republican Presidential Primary Race. It is rapidly loading up with lots of people, and Tim is a big step up from Ron DeSanctimonious, who is totally unelectable. I got Opportunity Zones done with Tim, a big deal that has been highly successful. Good luck Tim!

Trump claims FBI offered $1m to frame him

Monday 22 May 2023 15:24 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump claimed on Sunday night that the FBI offered former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele $1m to frame him.

The jaw-dropping allegation comes after the publication of the Durham report which found that the FBI improperly rushed into its investigation of allegations of collusion between Russia and Mr Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.

Here’s what the former president wrote on Truth Social:

The FBI offered Christopher Steele One Million Dollars in order to FRAME me. Why aren’t all of the so called Special “Prosecutors,” together with their bosses at the DOJ, doing something about this. Why aren’t people under arrest. They spied on my campaign, and bribed people all over the place, and then go after ME. The people of our once great Country won’t stand for it. How much more can they take, as the USA goes to HELL? MAGA!!!

The FBI offered Mr Steele “up to $1m” to prove the allegations in his infamous dossier on Mr Trump according to testimony from FBI supervisory analyst Brian Auten at the trial of Igor Danchenko, the primary source of the allegations.

He testified that Mr Steele never got the money because he could not “prove the allegations”, CNN reported.

Mr Danchenko was acquitted on all counts of lying to the FBI.

Trump’s media company sues Washington Post for $3.78bn

Monday 22 May 2023 14:59 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump’s social media company has sued The Washington Post for defamation.

Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG), which owns the Truth Social platform, is seeking $3.78bn in damages.

The suit, filed on Saturday night in Florida state court in Sarasota County, accuses the news outlet of publishing a story that poses an “existential threat” to the social media company.

According to the lawsuit, the Post “published an egregious hit piece that falsely accused TMTG of securities fraud and other wrongdoing” and “has been on a years-long crusade against TMTG characterized by the concealment of relevant information in its possession”.

Further, it says: “WaPo’s false criminal charges exposed TMTG to public ridicule, contempt and distrust, and injured TMTG’s business and reputation.”

Trump rages at ‘liddle lightweights’ like DeSantis in Monday morning Truth Social post

Monday 22 May 2023 14:25 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump began his week ranting on Truth Social that he has to listen to “these liddle’ lightweights like “Ron” [DeSantis] say I can’t win. Like the Dems, it’s just DISINFORMATION. The TRUTH is, they can’t win!!!”

Here’s the full post:

I’ve won two Elections, the second far bigger than the first (it was Rigged!), my Endorsement is considered, far and away, the most powerful in political history, I’m blowing away DeSanctimonious in the Polls, and am leading Biden & Harris BIG, whereas DeSanctus is losing to BOTH. I have gotten more people Elected than any other human being. Yet I have to listen to these liddle’ lightweights like “Ron” say I can’t win. Like the Dems, it’s just DISINFORMATION. The TRUTH is, they can’t win!!!

Damning new evidence spells trouble for Trump in Mar-a-Lago classified documents probe

Monday 22 May 2023 14:00 , John Bowden

Donald Trump’s legal troubles could be heating up after the National Archives found a trove of records proving the former president knew he shouldn’t have taken classified documents to Mar-a-Lago, according to a report.

The National Archives sent a letter, obtained by CNN, to Mr Trump this week revealing that it had found 16 presidential records showing he and his top advisers were aware of the correct declassification process when he was in the White House.

Rachel Sharp reports:

Damning evidence spells trouble for Trump in Mar-a-Lago classified documents probe

Prosecutor suggests any indictments in Trump election investigation would likely come in August

Monday 22 May 2023 13:30 , John Bowden

The Georgia prosecutor investigating whether former president Donald Trump and his allies broke the law while trying to overturn his 2020 election in Georgia is seemingly hinting that any grand jury indictments in the case would likely come in August.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis sent a letter on Thursday to other Fulton County judges indicating that she plans to have much of her staff work remotely during the first three weeks of August.

In the letter, Ms Willis asked that judges not schedule trials and in-person hearings during part of that time.

“Thank you for your consideration and assistance in keeping the Fulton County Judicial Complex safe during this time,” Willis wrote in the letter, first reported by The New York Times.

The Georgia investigation is one of several that threatens his campaign for 2024 president.

FBI veterans admit to taking money from ex-Trump aide Kash Patel

Monday 22 May 2023 13:00 , John Bowden

A pair of federal law enforcement veterans who accused the FBI of drumming them out of service because of their conservative political beliefs have admitted to receiving money from a prominent ex-aide to former president Donald Trump, Kash Patel.

The shocking admission came during a Thursday hearing of the House Select Subcommittee on the Weaponisation of the Federal Government.

The GOP-led panel has largely devoted its time to investigating conspiracy theories about social media companies’ cooperation with law enforcement, as well as advancing allegations that the Department of Justice probes into prominent Republicans who may have committed crimes are politically motivated.

Eric Garica and Andrew Feinberg report:

Anti-FBI witnesses at GOP hearing say they took money from ex-Trump aide

DeSantis super PAC tackles tricky task of organizing support for him in Iowa without the candidate

Monday 22 May 2023 12:30 , John Bowden

Florida Gov Ron DeSantis has yet to officially enter the 2024 presidential race. But that doesn’t mean that his team has ceased laying the groundwork for his (likely) inevitable entry.

Read more:

DeSantis super PAC tackles tricky task of organizing support for him in Iowa without the candidate

Biden and McCarthy to resume talks Monday as debt ceiling deadline looms

Monday 22 May 2023 12:00 , John Bowden

President Joe Biden spoke with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Sunday and agreed they would meet on Monday afternoon to try to break the stalemate over legislation to raise the national debt limit.

A call took place, according to a White House readout, which gave no indication to the tone of the discussion. Mr McCarthy characterised the call as “productive” in a comment to reporters.

The US remains on track to default on its debt obligations on or around 1 June if Congress does not pass legislation to extend the country’s borrowing limit.

John Bowden has more:

Biden and McCarthy to resume talks Monday as debt ceiling deadline looms