Trump news - live: Trump makes brash Georgia election case prediction as DoJ ‘prepares new charges’

The Department of Justice is prepared to seek indictments against multiple figures in former president Donald Trump’s orbit and may yet bring additional charges against the ex-president in the coming weeks, The Independent has learned.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the department has made preparations to bring what is known as a “superseding indictment” — a second set of charges against an already-indicted defendant that could include more serious crimes — against the ex-president, and could do so in a number of different venues, depending on how prosecutors feel the case they have brought against him in a Florida federal court is proceeding.

Mr Trump’s other legal troubles also appear to be hotting up, with former campaign official Mike Roman reportedly cooperating with investigators probing his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Sources told CNN on Thursday that Mr Roman, who was involved in the fake electors scheme, has reached a proffer agreement with special counsel Jack Smith’s office. Rudy Giuliani is also said to have taken such an agreement.

Meanwhile, three investors in the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) that took the Trump Media & Technology Group public have been indicted for insider trading.

Key Points

Exclusive — Prosecutors are prepared to hit Trump and his allies with new charges, sources say
Trump makes Georgia probe prediction in latest grievance-laden rant
Ex-Trump aide reportedly joins Giuliani in cooperating with special counsel
Trump Media investors charged in $22m insider trading case
Trump’s latest defence in the classified documents case: ‘Bravado’
CNN plays tape of Trump appearing to show off military documents that he says are still classified

DeSantis’ earnings jump due to book advance

15:41

Republican presidential hopeful and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis saw his earnings spike this year from a book deal.

He earned $1.25million as an advance for the memoir he released earlier this year, according to an annual financial disclosure form, significantly boosting his net worth.

The book titled The Courage to be Free was published by HarperCollins in February and made the New York Times bestsellers list the following month.

House GOP expand their Hunter Biden investigation

15:15 , Oliver O'Connell

House Republicans on Thursday requested voluntary testimony from nearly a dozen Justice Department officials involved in the investigation of President Joe Biden‘s son Hunter as GOP lawmakers widen their scrutiny into what they claim is improper interference by the agency.

Republicans expand their Hunter Biden investigation by seeking an interview with the lead prosecutor

Three investors charged in $22m Trump Media insider trading case

13:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Three investors in the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) that took Trump Media public have been indicted for insider trading concerning the deal, making $22m in alleged illegal trades.

Trump Media investors charged in $22m insider trading case

Christie says McCarthy spoke correctly about Trump the first time

10:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Former New Jersey governor and presidential Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie told CNN that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was right in his initial assessment about whether former president Donald Trump was the strongest candidate to beat Joe Biden in a general election contest.

Earlier this week, Mr McCarthy said he was not sure that Mr Trump was the strongest candidate to beat Mr Biden.

Eric Garcia reports.

Chris Christie says McCarthy spoke correctly about Trump the first time

DeSantis says if elected he would abolish education, energy and IRS agencies

08:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Gov Ron DeSantis of Florida said in an interview on Fox News on Wednesday morning that he supports eliminating multiple federal government agencies including the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

To fight “woke ideology”...

DeSantis says he would abolish education and energy departments and IRS

Trump’s GOP support dips slightly after second indictment

05:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump‘s criminal indictment on charges of mishandling government secrets appears to have dented his popularity among Republicans — but only slightly —- according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Trump's GOP support dips slightly after his indictment over classified documents, AP-NORC poll finds

Voices: Kevin McCarthy knows he crossed the line with Donald Trump

03:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Few people embody Republicans’ relationship and acquiescence to Donald Trump more than House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Eric Garcia charts the latest developments in their relationship.

Kevin McCarthy knows he crossed the line with Donald Trump

New DeSantis-backed laws in Florida address immigration, guns and more

01:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Employers who hire immigrants in the country illegally will face tough punishments and gun owners will have more freedoms when more than 200 new Florida laws take effect Saturday, many of which Gov. Ron DeSantis will highlight as he seeks the Republican presidential nomination.

Florida's new DeSantis-backed laws address immigration, guns and more

Biden blames GOP for student loan ruling

Saturday 1 July 2023 00:45 , Oliver O'Connell

President Joe Biden insisted Friday that “this fight is not over” after the Supreme Court struck down his $400 billion student loan forgiveness plan. Biden blamed Republicans’ opposition, aiming to direct the ire of millions of borrowers toward them rather than his own party in next year’s elections.

The president planned an afternoon address to lay out a series of actions to provide continued relief to 43 million student loan borrowers, and in the meantime tried to stay on the political offensive against the GOP.

Biden blames GOP for student loan ruling as 2024 political consequences loom

Biden: It would be ‘a mistake’ to expand Supreme Court

Friday 30 June 2023 23:45 , Oliver O'Connell

President Joe Biden has said it would be a mistake to expand the Supreme Court, despite its recent rulings against affirmative action in higher education, LGBT+ rights, and student loan debt forgiveness.

Biden says expanding Supreme Court would be ‘mistake’, despite recent rulings

Voices: The Supreme Court just made me a second-class citizen

Friday 30 June 2023 22:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Skylar Baker-Jordan reacts to today’s Supreme Court ruling.

The Supreme Court just made me a second-class citizen

Trump: ‘They got me on nothing’

Friday 30 June 2023 22:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump: "It turns out with me I did nothing wrong...They got me on nothing. Got me on nothing and all of the things that they do have. It's like the pundits are saying, 'Wow, that's nothing.'" pic.twitter.com/3YIo38pJpz
— Republican Accountability (@AccountableGOP) June 30, 2023

Watch: Trump receives a warm welcome in Philadelphia

Friday 30 June 2023 22:26 , Oliver O'Connell

"F**k you traitor!" - screams heard as Donald Trump arrived at #MomsForLiberty conference in Philadelphia

Video by Olga Fe Desk@freedomnews.tv to license pic.twitter.com/UZFi7WZfly
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) June 30, 2023

Republicans are planning a national abortion ban, warns senator who once worked at a Planned Parenthood

Friday 30 June 2023 22:15 , Oliver O'Connell

When a draft of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v Jackson opinion that would overturn Roe v Wade leaked in May of last year, US Senator Tina Smith had only three words.

“This is bulls***,” the Minnesota Democrat tweeted. She had similar words when Walgreens announced in March of this year it would not dispense abortion pills in states where abortion remained legal.

Eric Garcia spoke with Ms Smith for The Independent.

Senator who worked at Planned Parenthood warns of an abortion ban if the GOP wins

Full story: Biden reveals ‘new path’ to student debt relief

Friday 30 June 2023 21:55 , Oliver O'Connell

President Biden on Friday hit out at the Republican state officials and legislators who supported the lawsuit which enabled the Supreme Court to strike down his student debt forgiveness initiative, accusing many of them of hypocrisy for taking money from pandemic-era relief programmes while opposing relatively meager relief for student loan borrowers.

“Some of the same elected Republicans, members of Congress who strongly opposed relief for students, got hundreds of thousands of dollars themselves ... several members of Congress got over a million dollars — all those loans are forgiven,” he said.

“The hypocrisy is stunning,” he said.

Andrew Feinberg in Washington, DC, and Alex Woodward in New York filed this report.

Biden reveals ‘new path’ to student debt relief

Trump makes Georgia probe prediction in latest grievance-laden rant

Friday 30 June 2023 21:35 , Oliver O'Connell

Here’s what the twice-indicted, twice-impeached former president posted to Truth Social at lunchtime today:

I predict that the Racist District Attorney in Atlanta, with the per capita WORST crime record in the Country, Fani Willis, where murderers “get away with murder,” and are seldom charged and almost never prosecuted, will be dropping all charges against me for lack of a case. I made a PERFECTLY LEGAL PHONE CALL, AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, ABOUT AN ELECTION THAT I STRONGLY FEEL WAS RIGGED AND STOLLEN. NONE of the MANY LAWYERS on the call minded my words, or even hinted at wrongdoing. SCAM!

Lawyer Ron Filipkowski noted the odd timing of the prediction:

This makes me think that he, or his lawyers, were told something. Maybe not, but this seems rather random for him to make this prediction today. pic.twitter.com/VakCVDFnVD
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) June 30, 2023

Friday 30 June 2023 21:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Watch live: Karine Jean-Pierre holds White House briefing

Watch: Biden announces new path for student debt relief

Friday 30 June 2023 21:14 , Oliver O'Connell

Biden: I'm announcing today a new path consistent with today's ruling to provide student debt relief to as many borrowers as possible as quickly as possible. We will ground this new approach in a different law than my original plan with the higher education act. pic.twitter.com/d70zEDIPf4
— Acyn (@Acyn) June 30, 2023

Biden outlines new path to student loan forgiveness after SCOTUS decision

Friday 30 June 2023 21:10 , Oliver O'Connell

BREAKING: President Biden announces he will seek student loan forgiveness through an alterative legal authority -- the Higher Education Act of 1965 -- after the SCOTUS defeated his plan today.
— Joey Garrison (@joeygarrison) June 30, 2023

Latest Trump campaign video mocked for ‘weird apocalyptic’ tone

Friday 30 June 2023 20:45 , Oliver O'Connell

While the footage was posted on Mr Trump’s own Truth Social site, it was later posted on Twitter where it was roundly ridiculed by social media users.

Rachel Sharp reports.

Trump mocked for ‘weird apocalyptic’ campaign video

Three charged in $22m Trump Media insider trading case

Friday 30 June 2023 20:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Three investors in the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) that took Trump Media public have been indicted for insider trading concerning the deal, making $22m in alleged lillegal trades.

Michael Shvartsman, Gerald Shvartsman and Bruce Garelick were named in a federal indictment unsealed on Thursday (29 June) in Manhattan federal court.

All three were charged with trading in securities of Digital World Acquisition Corporation (DWAC) based on non-public information about the company’s planned business combination with Trump Media & Technology Group — founded by former President Donald Trump — the parent company of social media platform Truth Social.

They were arrested on Thursday morning in Florida.

Trump Media investors charged in $22m insider trading case

DeSantis hits back at Trump disloyalty claim

Friday 30 June 2023 20:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Thursday hit back at former president Donald Trump’s allegation that the Sunshine State executive is betraying him by mounting a presidential campaign of his own during an appearance on Fox News.

Mr DeSantis, who currently trails the twice-impeached, twice-indicted ex-president by a wide margin in most polls of likely GOP primary voters, told Fox host Jesse Watters that no politician — even a former president such as Mr Trump — is entitled to support from anyone after Watters raised Mr Trump’s criticisms during a televised interview.

Andrew Feinberg reports on the rest of the Florida governor’s remarks.

DeSantis hits back at Trump disloyalty claim: ‘Politicians have to earn support’

Fox reaches $12m settlement with former producer Abby Grossberg

Friday 30 June 2023 19:53 , Oliver O'Connell

Fox Corporation has reached a $12m settlement in a lawsuit from a former Fox New producer who alleged a culture of misogyny at the network and accused Fox lawyers of pressuring her into making misleading statements in a blockbuster defamation case from a voting machines company.

Alex Woodward has the latest.

Fox reaches $12m settlement over ‘toxic’ workplace lawsuit from former producer

DeSantis slammed for backing use of radioactive waste in road study

Friday 30 June 2023 19:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Republican presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis is under fire after giving the go-ahead to the study of “radioactive” mining waste in the use of road-building projects.

On Thursday, the Florida governor greenlit a bill adding phosphogypsum, which has been linked to cancer, to a list of materials that can be studied by the Florida Department of Transportation and used in road construction in the state.

Gustaf Kilander reports.

DeSantis slammed after backing use of radioactive waste in road study

Angry onlookers shout ‘dog killer’ at George Santos

Friday 30 June 2023 19:35 , Oliver O'Connell

Angry protesters called congressman George Santos a “dog killer” on Friday as the Republican made an appearance at a Long Island federal court house, his first hearing since pleading not guilty last month to a13-count indictment related to fraud and money laundering charges.

Onlookers shout ‘dog killer’ at George Santos as he arrives for fraud hearing

Trump makes Georgia probe prediction in latest grievance-laden rant

Friday 30 June 2023 19:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Here’s what the twice-indicted, twice-impeached former president posted to Truth Social at lunchtime today:

Lawyer Ron Filipkowski noted the odd timing of the prediction:

This makes me think that he, or his lawyers, were told something. Maybe not, but this seems rather random for him to make this prediction today. pic.twitter.com/VakCVDFnVD
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) June 30, 2023

Watch: SCOTUS decisions activates young people to speak out and vote, says Psaki

Friday 30 June 2023 19:25 , Oliver O'Connell

"All of this is going to have a huge impact I suspect on the courts and popularity of the courts. These type of decisions are something that activates young people. Activates them to speak out, to vote, to have their voice heard."@jrpsaki on SCOTUS decisions w/ @mitchellreports pic.twitter.com/2qeO83ubNY
— Inside with Jen Psaki (@InsideWithPsaki) June 30, 2023

Sources: Prosecutors are prepared to hit Trump and his allies with new charges

Friday 30 June 2023 20:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Andrew Feinberg filed this exclusive report for The Independent.

Prosecutors are prepared to hit Trump and his allies with new charges, sources say

Geraldo Rivera praises affirmative action in final Fox News appearance

Friday 30 June 2023 18:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Geraldo Rivera used his final appearance on Fox News to praise affirmative action amid the Supreme Court ruling against colleges considering race in their admissions process.

The Fox News host revealed on Thursday that he was quitting the network after he claimed that he had been fired from The Five.

Gustaf Kilander and Shweta Sharma have the story.

Geraldo Rivera praises affirmative action in final Fox News appearance

Watch: LAAD president slams SCOTUS ruling in favour of a Christian web designer who opposed same-sex weddings

Friday 30 June 2023 18:25 , Oliver O'Connell

“I think that this is an open license to discriminate against LGBTQ people in America.” https://t.co/Ebc8JosA0A
— The Recount (@therecount) June 30, 2023

Supreme Court deals major blow to LGBT+ rights

Friday 30 June 2023 18:15 , Oliver O'Connell

A wedding website designer may refuse to create work for people in the LGBT+ community if it conflicts with their religious beliefs, the Supreme Court ruled on Friday.

In a 6-3 decision, the conservative majority of the Court ruled in favor of Lorie Smith, a Colorado-based website creator, who wanted to refuse service to same-sex couples but couldn’t as it was a violation of a public accommodation law.

The Court argued that the public accommodation law in Colorado impedes Ms Smith’s First Amendment right to deny conveying messages she disagrees with.

Ariana Baio reports on today’s decision.

Supreme Court allows Colorado designer to deny LGBT+ customers in ruling

Christie says McCarthy spoke correctly about Trump the first time

Friday 30 June 2023 17:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Earlier this week, Mr McCarthy said he was not sure that Mr Trump was the strongest candidate to beat Mr Biden.

Eric Garcia reports.

Chris Christie says McCarthy spoke correctly about Trump the first time

Report: Top Trump aide revealed as individual he allegedly showed classified map

Friday 30 June 2023 20:18 , Oliver O'Connell

The identity of an aide to Donald Trump whose voice was heard in an audio recording wherein the former president can be heard brandishing a paper he explicitly claims is classified has been revealed.

Top Trump aide revealed as individual he allegedly showed classified map, report says

Hours before arrest, Jan 6 fugitive shared Trump post revealing Obama’s address

Friday 30 June 2023 16:55 , Oliver O'Connell

A January 6 rioter on the run from the law who was arrested outside the Washington DC home of former President Barack Obama shared a social media post by ex-president Donald Trump revealing his predecessor’s address hours before he was detained.

Taylor Taranto, 37, was arrested on Thursday on charges stemming from his activities during the Capitol riot in early 2021. But he was also discovered to have several firearms and the materials needed to make a Molotov cocktail in the neighbourhood of the US capital where the Obamas live.

The matter is being reviewed by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.

Gustaf Kilander has the story.

Jan 6 fugitive shared Trump post revealing Obama’s address hours before arrest

RFK Jr says he is ‘proud’ to have Trump’s praise

Friday 30 June 2023 16:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Robert F Kennedy Jr., the longshot presidential candidate and latest scion of the storied Kennedy political dynasty, appears to be leaning in to the “Democrat in name only” label that is beginning to follow his campaign.

John Bowden explains.

Robert F Kennedy Jr says he is ‘proud’ to have Trump’s praise

US envoy for Iran has security clearance suspended

Friday 30 June 2023 16:15 , Oliver O'Connell

The US special envoy for Iran, Rob Malley, had his security clearance suspended pending a review of allegations he may have mishandled classified information, said US officials.

Namita Singh has the details.

US envoy for Iran has security clearance suspended amid probe

Trump demanded get ‘my boxes’ back from feds

Friday 30 June 2023 15:45 , Oliver O'Connell

As Donald Trump’s lawyers began preparing for a federal indictment, the ex-president was allegedly still hoping to get the documents and boxes seized from Mar-a-Lago back, according to a report.

Mr Trump referred to the classified material as “my boxes” and “my documents” and asked his lawyers to retrieve the material, sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Rolling Stone.

Ariana Baio reports.

Trump demanded to get ‘my boxes’ back from feds as indictment loomed

Biden groans when asked if Trump would have tipped Putin off to coup attempt

Friday 30 June 2023 15:15 , Oliver O'Connell

President Biden on Thursday said he tries not to consider the national security issues that would’ve been in play had Donald Trump defeated him in the 2020 election and remained in the White House during Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Biden groans when asked if Trump would have tipped Putin off to coup attempt

Ex-Trump aide reportedly joins Giuliani in cooperating with special counsel

Friday 30 June 2023 15:08 , Oliver O'Connell

A former Trump campaign aide has joined Rudy Guiliani in cooperating with the special counsel in the Department of Justice’s 2020 election probe, according to a new report.

Mike Roman, a senior adviser on Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign in charge of Election Day operations, is cooperating with federal prosecutors working for special counsel Jack Smith in the criminal investigation reviewing the efforts to overturn the 2020 election, according to CNN.

Gustaf Kilander has the details.

Ex-Trump aide joins Giuliani in cooperating with special counsel in election probe

Trump loses bid to throw out E Jean Carroll defamation lawsuit

Friday 30 June 2023 15:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has lost his bid to throw out the first defamation lawsuit brought against him by E Jean Carroll.

On Thursday, US district judge Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan rejected the former president’s claims that he had absolute presidential immunity from the civil case, paving the way for the magazine columnist to pursue around $10m in damages from him.

The former president had claimed that he had absolute presidential immunity from the lawsuit and that many of his statements about the magazine columnist were protected under free speech rights because they were his opinion.

Read the full story here:

Trump loses bid to throw out E Jean Carroll lawsuit

Trump deadline to respond to trial date set for 10 July

Friday 30 June 2023 14:58 , Oliver O'Connell

A Florida federal judge is giving Donald Trump’s defence team until 10 July to respond to special counsel Jack Smith’s request to delay his federal criminal trial until December.

New: Trump deadline to respond to DOJ request to have trial starting in December pushed back to July 10 after Trump valet Walt Nauta had his arraignment postponed until next Thursday, per minute order from Judge Cannon — delays already starting to add up on this docket.
— Hugo Lowell (@hugolowell) June 30, 2023

Watch: Ron DeSantis talks about his war on ‘woke’ text books

Friday 30 June 2023 14:47 , Oliver O'Connell

Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) on "woke" textbooks at Moms for Liberty summit:

“We've been actively involved in rejecting textbooks that have ideological indoctrination … And guess what happens, because we’re an 800-pound gorilla, they make the appropriate changes to the textbooks.” pic.twitter.com/Q5ph34zy0U
— The Recount (@therecount) June 30, 2023

Moms for Liberty gathering draws Trump, DeSantis

Friday 30 June 2023 14:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the main rivals for the Republican presidential nomination, are speaking today at the annual gathering of Moms for Liberty, a two-year-old group that has fiercely opposed instruction related to race and gender identity in the nation’s classroom.

Trump, DeSantis among 2024 GOP hopefuls set to appear at Moms for Liberty gathering

Exclusive: Prosecutors are prepared to hit Trump and his allies with new charges, sources say

Friday 30 June 2023 14:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Andrew Feinberg reports for The Independent.

Prosecutors are prepared to hit Trump and his allies with new charges, sources say

ICYMI: Paul Ryan says former president is only GOP candidate who would lose to Biden

Friday 30 June 2023 13:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Former House Speaker Paul Ryan says he believes any 2024 Republican presidential candidate could beat incumbent president Joe Biden provided they are not named Donald Trump, but that it will be “a disaster if we nominate Trump”.

Mr Ryan, a Trump adversary and member of the board of Fox News’s parent company, made the remarks in an appearance on CNBC’s Squawk Box on Wednesday morning.

Paul Ryan says Trump is only Republican candidate who would lose to Biden in 2024

‘We’re electing idiots’: Cheney lays out damning problem with US politics

Friday 30 June 2023 13:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Former Rep Liz Cheney of Wyoming took aim at the state of American politics, telling a crowd at the 92nd Street Y in New York that the country is “electing idiots.”

“Look, I think that the country right now faces hugely challenging and fundamentally important issues,” Ms Cheney said during an appearance at the community center, in quotes reported by The Hill. “What we’ve done in our politics is create a situation where we’re electing idiots.”

Abe Asher reports on what else the former representative had to say.

Liz Cheney lays out damning problem with US politics: ‘We’re electing idiots’

Ron DeSantis hits back at Trump claims he’s disloyal: ‘Politicians have to earn support’

Friday 30 June 2023 12:45 , Rachel Sharp

DeSantis on Trump claims that he’s disloyal: Politicians have to earn support. They’re not entitled to it. No more excuses on the issues Americans care about, I’m here to get stuff done. pic.twitter.com/Eji1cuY26i
— Jesse Watters (@JesseBWatters) June 30, 2023

Report says top Trump aide revealed as individual he allegedly showed classified map

Friday 30 June 2023 12:15 , Oliver O'Connell

The identity of an aide to Donald Trump whose voice was heard in an audio recording wherein the former president can be heard brandishing a paper he explicity claims is classified has been revealed.

John Bowden reports on the aide’s identity.

Top Trump aide revealed as individual he allegedly showed classified map, report says

Trump loses bid to throw out E Jean Carroll case

Friday 30 June 2023 11:45 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump has lost his bid to throw out the first lawsuit brought against him by E Jean Carroll.

The former president had claimed that he had absolute presidential immunity from the lawsuit and that many of his statements about the magazine columnist were protected because they were his opinion.

He argued that Ms Carroll “consented” to his statements by purposely waiting decades to go public, until he was in the White House, leaving him “no choice” but to defend himself.

Ultimately, he said the case should be thrown out.

On Thursday, US district judge Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan rejected this claim saying there was no merit to his argument.

Joe Biden gives emphatic response to question on Hunter Biden texts

Friday 30 June 2023 11:15 , Oliver O'Connell

President Joe Biden is facing increasing pressure to answer questions — in detail — about his son Hunter Biden and a concerning text message that has been unearthed as the questions surrounding the latter’s business activities are growing more serious.

And on Wednesday, the president bristled at a reporter who asked him about it, just days after Karine Jean-Pierre, his press secretary, was inundated with questions on the topic at her daily news briefing.

Mr Biden was boarding Marine One as he began a trip to Chicago to tout his administration’s economic record when a reporter questioned him about one message in which the younger Biden appears to directly put pressure on an individual named Henry Zhao to resolve an unknown matter — while explicitly naming his father as an interested party.

John Bowden has the story.

Biden gives emphatic response to question about troubling Hunter text

WATCH: Trump releases bizarre ‘apocalyptic’ campaign video

Friday 30 June 2023 10:45 , Rachel Sharp

Weird apocalyptic video posted by Trump on Truth Social tonight: “This is the final battle …” pic.twitter.com/lBzgqCRYz3
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) June 30, 2023

Top Democrat says GOP had evidence disproving Biden bribery claims in 2019

Friday 30 June 2023 10:15 , Oliver O'Connell

The top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee has released evidence that casts significant doubt on GOP claims that the FBI ignored evidence that President Joe Biden accepted a bribe from a Ukrainian energy mogul during his time as vice president.

In a letter to House Oversight Committee chair James Comer, Maryland Representative Jamie Raskin reminded his GOP counterpart that Congress has had evidence “that directly contradicts the allegations” levied against Mr Biden in an FBI form which Republicans have claimed to be proof of alleged corruption on the part of the president.

Andrew Feinberg has the details.

GOP had evidence disproving Biden bribery claims in 2019, top Democrat says

Ex-Trump official joins Guiliani in cooperating in 2020 election probe

Friday 30 June 2023 09:45 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump’s legal troubles appear to be heating up, with his former campaign official Mike Roman reportedly cooperating with investigators probing the former president’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Two sources told CNN on Thursday that Mr Roman has taken a proffer agreement to cooperate with special counsel Jack Smith’s office in its investigation.

Mr Roman was involved in Mr Trump’s scheme to put forward fake electors to certify the election in his favour in states that President Joe Biden had won.

This revelation comes after it was reported that Rudy Guiliani had also taken such an agreement.

Under a proffer agreement, an individual shares information with investigators on the agreement that that information cannot be used against them in court.

House GOP expand their Hunter Biden investigation by seeking an interview with the lead prosecutor

Friday 30 June 2023 08:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Republicans expand their Hunter Biden investigation by seeking an interview with the lead prosecutor

Pence meets with Zelensky in Ukraine

Friday 30 June 2023 06:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Former vice president Mike Pence visited with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a sign of solidarity with Ukraine even as many Republicans sour on support for Ukraine, CNN reported.

Eric Garcia reports on the 2024 candidate’s visit.

Mike Pence meets with Zelensky in Ukraine

Did DeSantis break the law with Texas border trip?

Friday 30 June 2023 04:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Gustaf Kilander reports.

DeSantis accused of breaking the law with Texas border trip

Three charged with insider trading in Trump Media deal

Friday 30 June 2023 03:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Three investors in the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) that took Trump Media public have been indicted for insider trading concerning the deal, making $22m in alleged lillegal trades.

Michael Shvartsman, Gerald Shvartsman and Bruce Garelick were named in a federal indictment unsealed on Thursday (29 June) in Manhattan federal court.

They were arrested on Thursday morning in Florida.

Trump Media investors charged in $22m insider trading case

Christie says McCarthy spoke correctly about Trump the first time

Friday 30 June 2023 02:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Earlier this week, Mr McCarthy said he was not sure that Mr Trump was the strongest candidate to beat Mr Biden.

Eric Garcia reports.

Chris Christie says McCarthy spoke correctly about Trump the first time

Trump’s GOP support dips slightly after his indictment, poll finds

Friday 30 June 2023 01:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Sixty percent of Republicans now have a favorable view of Trump, down slightly from April, when 68% of Republicans said they had a favorable view of the 2024 GOP presidential front-runner. The poll found 38% of Republicans have an unfavorable view of Trump, an uptick from 30% in April.

Trump's GOP support dips slightly after his indictment over classified documents, AP-NORC poll finds

Exclusive: Prosecutors are prepared to hit Trump and his allies with new charges, sources say

Friday 30 June 2023 00:15 , Oliver O'Connell

But prosecutors may also choose to bring additional charges against Mr Trump in a different venue, depending on how they feel the case they have brought against him in is proceeding.

Andrew Feinberg reports for The Independent.

Prosecutors are prepared to hit Trump and his allies with new charges, sources say

Biden is wrapping a campaign fundraising blitz aimed at making a bold early statement

Thursday 29 June 2023 23:15 , Oliver O'Connell

President Joe Biden has cozied up to high-dollar donors at posh Upper East Side penthouses and on West Coast decks gussied up with floral arrangements and flags in recent weeks. He has two more fundraisers in New York on Thursday that will close out an end-of-quarter campaign blitz his team believes will put him on strong financial footing for a contest they expect to set new spending records.

Friday’s events will be Biden’s 9th and 10th fundraising receptions of the past two weeks, numbers that have been matched by Vice President Kamala Harris, first lady Jill Biden, and second gentleman Doug Emhoff. The Biden campaign has been mum on how much he has raised at the often free-wheeling events, but it is broadcasting confidence in the size of the haul ahead of the July 15 reporting date.

Biden is wrapping a campaign fundraising blitz aimed at making a bold early statement

Trump celebrates Supreme Court decision on affirmative action

Thursday 29 June 2023 22:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump celebrated the Supreme Court’s decision to reject affirmative action programmes at US colleges and universities on Wednesday morning, calling it a “a great day for America.”

In a post on Truth Social, Mr Trump said that the ruling was “amazing.”

Abe Asher has the story.

Trump celebrates Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action: ‘The way it should be!’

Biden groans when asked if Trump would have tipped Putin off to coup attempt

Thursday 29 June 2023 22:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Specifically, Mr Biden told MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace that he actively attempts to keep such thoughts out of his head when Wallace asked if he thought Mr Trump would have tipped off Russian President Vladimir Putin to the abortive coup attempt waged by Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin over the weekend.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Biden groans when asked if Trump would have tipped Putin off to coup attempt

Trump says DeSantis campaign ‘like a rock heading to Hell’

Thursday 29 June 2023 22:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Another day, another potshot at Ron DeSantis’s 2024 campaign. Here’s what former president Donald Trump had to say today:

The DeSanctimonious campaign is DEAD! His polls are dropping like a rock heading to Hell, and the DOJ/FBI are continuing their illegal and outrageous weaponization against me only because I am leading Biden by so much. It’s called ELECTION INTERFERENCE, and they have NO FEAR against DeSanctus - He’s the one that they are dying to run against, dispute their DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN!

Watch: Biden says ‘there’s still a lot of really good Republicans'

Thursday 29 June 2023 22:00 , Oliver O'Connell

President Biden: "By the way, there's still a lot of really good Republicans."@NicolleDWallace: "Out in the country?"

Biden: "No, and in the Senate!" pic.twitter.com/YrSSgVWxED
— The Recount (@therecount) June 29, 2023

Report: Top Trump aide revealed as individual he allegedly showed classified map

Thursday 29 June 2023 21:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The identity of an aide to Donald Trump whose voice was heard in an audio recording wherein the former president can be heard brandishing a paper he explicity claims is classified has been revealed.

John Bowden has the story.

Top Trump aide revealed as individual he allegedly showed classified map, report says

Watch: Biden defends poll numbers

Thursday 29 June 2023 21:28 , Oliver O'Connell

"I know the polling numbers are not good, but they were the same way when I ran and won — everybody thought I was gonna get clobbered in the primary; I got 80 million votes in the last election."

— President Biden to @NicolleDWallace pic.twitter.com/TIYTHZMnbp
— The Recount (@therecount) June 29, 2023

Trump to deliver remarks in Iowa on 7 July

Thursday 29 June 2023 21:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump will deliver remarks at an event in Council Bluffs, Iowa on 7 July.

45th President of the United States Donald J. Trump to Deliver Remarks in Council Bluffs, Iowahttps://t.co/BFZes2AzgF pic.twitter.com/GJ5FuxNaVC
— Liz Harrington (@realLizUSA) June 29, 2023

Lev Parnas reacts to Raskin evidence

Thursday 29 June 2023 20:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Lev Parnas took to Twitter in reaction to Rep Jamie Raskin’s release of evidence that casts doubt on Republican claims that the FBI ignored evidence the President Biden accepted a bribe from a Ukrainian energy mogul.

He wrote:

Ranking Member Jamie Raskin introduces evidence that I provided to the @OversightDems that debunks the lies and conspiracy theories that Rudy Giuliani, @RepMTG, @RepJamesComer and their corrupt cohorts in the @GOP have been pushing on the American people.

@RepRaskin - “Despite being interviewed as part of a campaign by Mr. Giuliani and his proxies in 2019 and 2020 to procure damaging information about the Biden family, Mr. Zlochevsky explicitly and unequivocally denied those allegations. Specifically, Mr. Zlochevsky denied (1) that anyone at Burisma had ‘any contacts’ with then former Vice President Biden or his representatives while Hunter Biden served on the Burisma board, and (2) that former Vice President Biden or his staff ‘in any way’ assisted Mr. Zlochevsky or Burisma,”.

Ranking Member Jamie Raskin introduces evidence that I provided to the @OversightDems that debunks the lies and conspiracy theories that Rudy Giuliani, @RepMTG, @RepJamesComer and their corrupt cohorts in the @GOP have been pushing on the American people. @RepRaskin - “Despite…
— Lev Parnas (@levparnas) June 29, 2023

Raskin: GOP had evidence disproving Biden bribery claims in 2019

Thursday 29 June 2023 20:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Andrew Feinberg reports.

GOP had evidence disproving Biden bribery claims in 2019, top Democrat says

Watch: Bannon rages at Comer over Fox interview

Thursday 29 June 2023 20:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Steve Bannon is fuming after another feckless interview this morning on Fox by James Comer, who looked like a fool again trying to answer questions on the Hunter Biden investigation: “Your staff has to have you ready! You’re not serious. It’s all performative.” pic.twitter.com/63lDJyl9eZ
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) June 29, 2023

DeSantis mocked for apparently photoshopped campaign photo

Thursday 29 June 2023 19:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis has been ridiculed for a seemingly photoshopped campaign photograph that has resurfaced as the Republican presidential primary begins to take shape.

The image was taken for Mr DeSantis’s brief campaign for Senate in 2015 ahead of the 2016 election when incumbent Florida Senator Marco Rubio was running for president before campaigning for re-election to the upper chamber.

Read on...

DeSantis mocked for apparently photoshopped resurfaced campaign photo

EXCLUSIVE: Prosecutors are prepared to hit Trump and his allies with new charges, sources say

Thursday 29 June 2023 19:18 , Oliver O'Connell

Read the full story by The Independent’s Andrew Feinberg in Washington, DC.

Prosecutors are prepared to hit Trump and his allies with new charges, sources say

Federal grand jury still investigating aspects of classified documents case, report says

Thursday 29 June 2023 19:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Three weeks after Donald Trump was indicted on charges of illegally retaining classified national security documents and obstructing the government’s efforts to reclaim them, a federal grand jury in Miami is still investigating aspects of the case, The New York Times reports, citing people familiar with the matter.

Per the Times:

In recent days, the grand jury has issued subpoenas to a handful of people who are connected to the inquiry, those familiar with it said. While it remains unclear who received the subpoenas and the kind of information prosecutors were seeking to obtain, it is clear that the grand jury has stayed active and that investigators are digging even after a 38-count indictment was issued this month against Mr. Trump and a co-defendant, Walt Nauta, one of his personal aides.

Prosecutors often continue investigating strands of a criminal case after charges have been brought, and sometimes their efforts go nowhere. But at other times post-indictment investigations result in additional charges against people who have already been accused of crimes in the case. The investigations can also be used to bring new charges against new defendants.

Watch: Would Chris Christie pardon Donald Trump?

Thursday 29 June 2023 18:40 , Oliver O'Connell

The former New Jersey governor weighs in on the power of the president to pardon people and whether it would apply to Donald Trump were he convicted of the various crimes of which he is accused.

'I don't think I would pardon him,' says Chris Christie, one of Donald Trump's most outspoken critics in the 2024 GOP primary field, in regards to Trump's ongoing prosecution over the DOJ's classified documents probe pic.twitter.com/NGaq9xXxLY
— NowThis (@nowthisnews) June 29, 2023

Joe Biden gives emphatic response to question about troubling Hunter text

Thursday 29 June 2023 18:20 , Oliver O'Connell

John Bowden in Washington, DC, reports on what the president has said so far.

Insider trading: Trump Media investors charged in $22m case

Thursday 29 June 2023 18:05 , Oliver O'Connell

Three investors in the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) that took Trump Media public have been indicted for insider trading concerning the deal, making $22m in alleged lillegal trades.

Michael Shvartsman, Gerald Shvartsman and Bruce Garelick were named in a federal indictment unsealed on Thursday (29 June) in Manhattan federal court.

They were arrested on Thursday morning in Florida.

Full story here:

Trump Media investors charged in $22m insider trading case

Trump hails Supreme Court decision on affirmative action

Thursday 29 June 2023 17:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump hails Supreme Court decision on affirmative action as “a great day for America”.

The former president posted on Truth Social:

This is a great day for America. People with extraordinary ability and everything else necessary for success, including future greatness for our Country, are finally being rewarded. This is the ruling everyone was waiting and hoping for and the result was amazing. It will also keep us competitive with the rest of the world. Our greatest minds must be cherished and that’s what this wonderful day has brought. We’re going back to all merit-based—and that’s the way it should be!

Here’s our coverage of the ruling:

Supreme Court bans colleges from considering race in admissions

Did DeSantis break the law with Texas border trip?

Thursday 29 June 2023 17:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The presidential campaign of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been accused of breaking the law after the team shared an image on Twitter of the candidate exiting a helicopter that records show is owned by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Mr DeSantis was in Eagle Pass, Texas on Monday to visit the US-Mexico border when the campaign shared the photo with the caption “MISSION: Stop the invasion STATUS: Critical LEAD: @RonDeSantis”.

Legal experts now say that the use of Texas government resources in a political ad is a campaign finance violation.

Gustaf Kilander reports.

DeSantis accused of breaking the law with Texas border trip

Pence meets with Zelensky in Ukraine

Thursday 29 June 2023 17:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Former vice president Mike Pence visited with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a sign of solidarity with Ukraine even as many Republicans sour on support for Ukraine, CNN reported.

Eric Garcia has the latest:

Mike Pence meets with Zelensky in Ukraine

Is Rudy Giuliani negotiating a plea deal over efforts to overturn 2020 election?

Thursday 29 June 2023 16:55 , Oliver O'Connell

Slate has followed up on reporting by CNN and The New York Times this week that Rudy Giuliani, former Mayor of New York and Donald Trump’s personal attorney during his administration, has voluntarily met with investigators from Special Counsel Jack Smith’s office as part of a “proffer agreement”.

This raises the possibility that he might flip against his former boss ex-president Trump.

Per Robert Katzberg, former federal prosecutor who has defended high-profile white-collar criminal cases for more than four decades, writing in Slate:

While the Times was not specific about what Giuliani’s voluntary interview means, such proffer sessions are almost always the final step towards a plea deal. If one is consummated in Smith’s investigation of Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election—which were spearheaded by Giuliani—it would both be a deeply ironic end for one of the country’s most bulldog former prosecutors and also a devastating blow to the former president.

As someone deeply enmeshed in the New York City white collar criminal defense world during Giuliani’s tenure as US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, reports that he sat for an extensive proffer session with prosecutors investigating the events surrounding the Jan 6 riot boggles the mind.

He further explains the process:

Once counsel concludes the client has something valuable to offer prosecutors and that the client can be an effective witness, the next step can be taken. Counsel contacts the prosecutors and arranges an “attorney’s proffer,” in which the lawyer, without the client, meets prosecutors to outline the general contours of what the client can provide. If the contours are unacceptable, say the client wants an agreement he will not be prosecuted for providing evidence against a lesser target, the session ends quickly. If, however, both sides see the prospect for getting something they want without giving up too much, the session gets more and more specific. It is only if the attorney’s factual representations offer enough for prosecutors to offer sufficiently reduced criminal exposure, and thus, a realistic deal may be available, that the next to last step, the client proffer, is taken. Giuliani has reportedly now taken that step.

You can read the full piece here.

Christie says McCarthy spoke correctly about Trump the first time

Thursday 29 June 2023 16:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Earlier this week, Mr McCarthy said he was not sure that Mr Trump was the strongest candidate to beat Mr Biden.

Eric Garcia reports from Washington, DC.

Chris Christie says McCarthy spoke correctly about Trump the first time

Voices: Kevin McCarthy knows he crossed the line with Donald Trump

Thursday 29 June 2023 16:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Few people embody Republicans’ relationship and acquiescence to Donald Trump more than House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Eric Garcia explains what is currently happening between the two.

Kevin McCarthy knows he crossed the line with Donald Trump

DeSantis wants to abolish IRS to fight ‘woke ideology'

Thursday 29 June 2023 15:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Mr DeSantis said that if Congress doesn’t allow him to cut agencies like the IRS — a move that could plunge the country’s tax collection system into chaos and hamper federal oversight — he is prepared to use those agencies to advance his political aims.

Abe Asher reports.

DeSantis says he would abolish education and energy departments and IRS

Watch: Christie slams DeSantis’s response on January 6

Thursday 29 June 2023 15:25 , Oliver O'Connell

Chris Christie slammed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s answer to a question about January 6 from a student in New Hampshire.

Mr DeSantis was asked whether he thought then-President Donald Trump has violated the peaceful transfer of power on January 6.

The Florida governor responded that he wasn’t anywhere near Washington that day and had nothing to do with the events of the day but did not like what he saw. He then added that the country should move forward and not be mired in the past.

Former New Jersey Governor Christie was not impressed with the answer from a candidate for president and told Kaitlan Collins on CNN: “’He wasn’t anywhere near Washington’? Did he have a TV? Was he alive that day? Did he see what was going on? I mean, that’s one of the most ridiculous answers I’ve heard in this race so far.”

Watch:

Chris Christie on Ron DeSantis's Jan. 6 answer: “'He wasn’t anywhere near Washington'? Did he have a TV? Was he alive that day? Did he see what was going on? I mean, that's one of the most ridiculous answers I've heard in this race so far." pic.twitter.com/q3N04RWb7T
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) June 29, 2023

Trump’s GOP support dips slightly after his indictment, poll finds

Thursday 29 June 2023 14:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Trump's GOP support dips slightly after his indictment over classified documents, AP-NORC poll finds

‘We’re going to get into that...'

Thursday 29 June 2023 14:41 , Oliver O'Connell

Fox News’ Steve Doocy asks House Oversight Chair James Comer about the GOP Biden investigation: “Make it easy for us. What was the crime?”

“Well the crime is that — trading policy for money,” answers Mr Comer.

Doocy pushes: “Which policy?”

Mr Comer: “We’re gonna get into that.”

Fox News’ Steve Doocy on GOP Biden investigation: “Make it easy for us. What was the crime?”

House Oversight Chair James Comer: “Well the crime is that — trading policy for money.”

Doocy: “Which policy?”

Comer: “We’re gonna get into that.” pic.twitter.com/zm5nT6HcFL
— The Recount (@therecount) June 29, 2023

‘We’re electing idiots’

Thursday 29 June 2023 14:05 , Oliver O'Connell

Former Rep Liz Cheney of Wyoming took aim at the state of American politics, telling a crowd at the 92nd Street Y in New York that the country is “electing idiots.”

“Look, I think that the country right now faces hugely challenging and fundamentally important issues,” Ms Cheney said during an appearance at the community centre, in quotes reported by The Hill. “What we’ve done in our politics is create a situation where we’re electing idiots.”

Abe Asher has the story.

Liz Cheney lays out damning problem with US politics: ‘We’re electing idiots’

Newsmax host offers bizarre classified documents defence for Trump

Thursday 29 June 2023 13:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Newsmax host Lidia Curanaj argued on Tuesday that Mr Trump could have been lying at the time.

Which is a pretty novel defence as they run for office.

Newsmax host offers bizarre defence of Trump over leaked audio

Paul Ryan says Trump is only candidate who would lose to Biden

Thursday 29 June 2023 13:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Paul Ryan says Trump is only Republican candidate who would lose to Biden in 2024

‘Bravado’

Thursday 29 June 2023 12:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump has said that he did not show off classified documents in the leaked audio clip in which he referred to “highly confidential” material, claiming he was merely speaking with “bravado.”

Eric Garcia reports.

Trump’s latest defence in the classified documents case: ‘Bravado’

Christie attacks Trump for diverting campaign funds to legal battles

Thursday 29 June 2023 11:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Chris Christie is not resisting any chance to point out his criticisms of former President Donald Trump, and did so again on Tuesday over reports detailing the ex-president’s choice to divert a larger share of his campaign donations toward his legal defence efforts.

The change was first reported by The New York Times on Sunday, and came in the form of an edit to the fine print on Mr Trump’s donation page hosted by the WinRed platform.

John Bowden has the details.

Chris Christie attacks Trump for diverting campaign funds to legal battles

Christie says McCarthy spoke right the first time about Trump

Thursday 29 June 2023 11:15 , Rachel Sharp

Rival GOP 2024 candidate Chris Christie has now weighed in on the saga surrounding Kevin McCarthy’s comments about the former president.

On Tuesday, the House speaker angered Trumpworld when he said “I don’t know” if Mr Trump is the strongest 2024 Republican candidate.

“Can he win that election? Yeah, he can,” Mr McCarthy said. “The question is, is he the strongest to win the election? I don’t know that answer. But can somebody, can anybody beat Biden? Yeah, anybody can beat Biden,” he told CNBC.

He quickly walked back the comments nd accused the media of “driving a wedge” between them.

Mr Christie told CNN on Wednesday that he believes Mr McCarthy said what he truly meant the first time.

“I think his first statement is what he really believes – which is that he doesn’t think Donald Trump is the strongest candidate to be president,” he said.

Trump request to move New York criminal trial expected to be slapped down

Thursday 29 June 2023 10:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump’s legal team suffered a setback on Tuesday as a federal judge commented that his argument for moving a trial on 34 counts of falsifying business records out of state court was “far-fetched”.

John Bowden has the latest.

Judge poised to slap down Trump request to move New York criminal case

Trump complains about Fox News using ‘horrible’ photos of him

Thursday 29 June 2023 10:15 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump has complained that Fox News is deliberately using “horrible” photos of him in its coverage.

In an error-laden Truth Social post on Wednesday, the former president said that he has been asked on the campaign trail about the right-wing network’s use of unflattering images and claimed that this is why its ratings have fallen.

“Three people in New Hampshire asked me why Fox News uses such ‘horrible’ pictures of me when doing or promoting a story,” Trump wrote.

“The coloring, distortions, everything are just so bad. They must sit and look at 100 different shots, and then take the 10 absolute worst. My staff has even complained about it for months, but to no avail. Fox is just bad news, but I’m leading in the Polls by record numbers, so perhaps their bull.... is just not working. They are down 37% for a reason!”

‘Guess what – Bidenomics is working’

Thursday 29 June 2023 09:45 , Oliver O'Connell

President Joe Biden touted his economic record amid continuing dissatisfaction among Americans with the state of the US economy by saying his policies have proven effective.

Mr Biden delivered a fiery speech on Wednesday in Chicago where he sought to flip a term that the Wall Street Journal outlets have used against him--Bidenomics--into a plus.

“I didn’t come up with the name,” he said. “I think it’s a plan I’m happy to call Bidenomics.”

Eric Garcia reports for The Independent.

Biden touts his economic record in fiery speech: ‘Guess what – Bidenomics is working’

ICYMI: Trump fumes about ‘illegally leaked’ CNN tape of him

Thursday 29 June 2023 08:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has taken to Truth Social to fume about a bombshell leaked audio tape where he is heard discussing holding onto “secret” classified documents after leaving office – and admitting that he knows he cannot declassify them.

In the recording, captured during a July 2021 meeting at Mr Trump’s Bedminster golf club and released by CNN on Monday, the former president is heard boasting and laughing with associates about possessing “highly confidential” military documents about Iran.

Rachel Sharp reports.

Trump fumes about ‘illegally leaked’ CNN tape of him boasting about classified papers

McCarthy walks back Trump criticism following backlash from Magaworld

Thursday 29 June 2023 06:45 , Oliver O'Connell

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy demurred on the question of whether Donald Trump is best candidate Republicans can put forward to face Joe Biden in 2024 — before backlash from Magaworld forced him to walk back his criticism and call the former president to apologise.

Abe Asher reports.

Kevin McCarthy walks back Trump criticism following backlash from Magaworld

Trump countersues E Jean Carroll for defamation over rape claims

Thursday 29 June 2023 04:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump sued E Jean Carroll for defamation on Tuesday after a jury held him liable for sexually abusing her.

The former president filed a counterclaim in Manhattan federal court, accusing the author of tarnishing his reputation publicly. He has sought retraction as well as unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

Maroosha Muzzafar reports.

Trump countersues E Jean Carroll for defamation after losing sexual abuse case

Ivanka Trump dismissed from fraud NY AG lawsuit filed against her father

Thursday 29 June 2023 02:45 , Oliver O'Connell

A New York appeals court dismissed Ivanka Trump on Tuesday from a wide-ranging fraud lawsuit brought against her father and his company last year by the state’s attorney general.

The civil lawsuit, brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James, accused former President Donald Trump of padding his net worth by billions of dollars and misleading banks, insurance companies and others about the value of his assets, including golf courses and the Mar-a-Lago estate. It named his three eldest children — Ivanka, Donald Jr and Eric Trump — as defendants, along with multiple Trump Organization executives.

Ivanka Trump dismissed from fraud lawsuit filed against her father by New York AG

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