Trump news – live: Trump gives ‘bravado’ defence for classified documents tape as he sues E Jean Carroll
Donald Trump is now suing E Jean Carroll for defamation, one month after he was found liable for sexually abusing her in a Manhattan department store and then defaming her by denying the attack took place.
The former president filed a counterclaim on Tuesday claiming that she defamed him when she stood by her rape accusation in an interview with CNN one day after the jury verdict.
The counterclaim was in response to the first of two lawsuits the magazine columnist brought against Mr Trump.
In a civil trial in the second lawsuit last month, a jury awarded Ms Carroll $5m in damages.
Meanwhile, Rudy Giuliani has confirmed that he recently spoke to federal investigators as part of their probe into efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. Mr Giuliani, the former New York City mayor, was part of Mr Trump’s legal team who made false claims of election fraud.
In other news relating to the former president’s legal troubles, Mr Trump’s new defence regarding the recording of him talking about classified military plans at his Bedminster golf club in 2021 was that it was “bravado” and there were no secret papers present among his other documents.
Key Points
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
Trump’s chief of staff said his ideas were ‘flat-out illegal,’ book alleges
Trump countersues E Jean Carroll for defamation over rape claims
Paul Ryan says Trump is only Republican who would lose to Biden in 2024
‘Guess what – Bidenomics is working’
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
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
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
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
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.
Read more...
Ivanka Trump dismissed from fraud lawsuit filed against her father by New York AG
SCOTUS rejects fringe theory that could give GOP state lawmakers unchecked election authority
01:45 , Oliver O'Connell
The US Supreme Court has shot down a fringe legal theory supported by Republican officials and Donald Trump’s allies that was invoked to try to toss out election results and radically reshape the nation’s elections.
A 6-3 decision in Moore v Harper on 27 June determined that Republican-drawn congressional districts in North Carolina amounted to a partisan gerrymander that violated the state’s constitution, but the majority dismissed the so-called “independent state legislature” theory that fuelled the state’s arguments.
Alex Woodward reports.
Supreme Court rejects GOP theory that opponents warned could sow election chaos
‘Planned in plain sight’: Senate’s Jan 6 report blasts missed warning signs
Thursday 29 June 2023 00:45 , Oliver O'Connell
A new report from the Senate Homeland Security Committee offers a withering look at the inability of America’s intelligence agencies to guard against insurrection following the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.
The report was finally released this week, more than two years after hundreds of Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the US Capitol and prevented, for several hours, the certification of the 2020 election while lawmakers hid in fear for their lives. Helmed by Democratic Senator Gary Peters of Michigan, the committee spent months investigating a fundamental question that has remained despite months of hearings in the House last year by the select committee to investigate the attack on the Capitol: Why DC-area law enforcement, including US Capitol Police, were caught so off-guard by the violence.
John Bowden has the details.
Senate’s Jan 6 report blasts missed warning signs: ‘Planned in plain sight’
Voices: The Trump audio reveals key details we didn’t know before. He should be worried
Wednesday 28 June 2023 23:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Ahmed Baba writes:
Classified documents could be heard loudly rustling with laughter filling the room as the former President appeared to casually commit multiple federal crimes. This newly released audio of Donald Trump not only showcases the strength of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s case, it also undercuts Trump’s shifting defenses. This tape has some key new details that weren’t previously reported or included in Trump’s federal indictment.
Reading the previous reporting on the tape’s transcript is one thing, but hearing the brazen hubris as Donald Trump exposed America’s secrets to people without a security clearance is another thing entirely.
Read more...
The Trump audio reveals key details we didn’t know before. He should be worried
Watch: DeSantis mirrors Trump in threat of death to drug dealers at border
Wednesday 28 June 2023 23:15 , Oliver O'Connell
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL): “My view as commander-in-chief would be ... if you’re cutting through a border wall on sovereign U.S. territory, and you’re trying to poison Americans, you’re gonna end up stone-cold dead.” pic.twitter.com/IgQbTbPSu1
— The Recount (@therecount) June 28, 2023
ICYMI: Judge denies special counsel’s request to seal witness list in classified documents case
Wednesday 28 June 2023 22:45 , Oliver O'Connell
The judge overseeing the federal case against Donald Trump has denied special counsel Jack Smith’s motion to seal the list of witnesses that the former president is barred from contacting.
In a ruling on Monday, US District Judge Aileen Cannon – who was appointed by Mr Trump and is now overseeing the criminal case over his handling of classified documents on leaving the White House – said that the government had not provided a reason as to why the list needed to be kept from public view.
Ariana Baio reports.
Trump judge denies request to seal witness list in classified documents case
Voices: Kevin McCarthy knows he crossed the line with Donald Trump
Wednesday 28 June 2023 22:30 , Oliver O'Connell
Few people embody Republicans’ relationship and acquiescence to Donald Trump more than House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Eric Garcia explains why.
Kevin McCarthy knows he crossed the line with Donald Trump
Report: Federal investigators planned classified document search of Trump’s Bedminster club
Wednesday 28 June 2023 22:15 , Oliver O'Connell
Investigators for the Justice Department wanted to search Donald Trump’s New Jersey golf club for top secret documents but lacked probable cause to secure a warrant, says a report.
The team working for special counsel Jack Smith were concerned that the former president was hiding more documents at the 520-acre Bedminster club, sources told The New York Times.
Graeme Massie has the story.
Federal investigators planned search of Trump’s Bedminster club in documents search
Walt Nauta arraignment date and time set
Wednesday 28 June 2023 22:02 , Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump’s co-defendant and aide, Walt Nauta, has had a new arraignment date and time confirmed, Scott MacFarlane of CBS News reports.
It is now set for 6 July at 11am in the same Miami courthouse and with the same judge — Chief Magistrate Edwin Torres — as yesterday’s cancelled hearing.
Mr Nauta was still looking for local Florida attorney and was prevented from getting to Miami by travel disruption at Newark Airport in New Jersey.
Trump's co-defendant, Walt Nauta, has a new arraignment date and time
It's set for July 6 at 11am. Same courthouse and same judge (Chief Magistrate Edwin Torres) as yesterday's scuttled arraignment hearing
Nauta was still looking for local Florida attorney— Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) June 28, 2023
Watch: Former NSA and CIA director condemns Trump mishandling classified docuemnts
Wednesday 28 June 2023 21:55 , Oliver O'Connell
Watch former NSA and CIA director General Michael Hayden speak out against Trump's mishandling of classified documents. pic.twitter.com/YAOFTX1Nx0
— Republican Accountability (@AccountableGOP) June 27, 2023
Liz Cheney lays out damning problem with US politics
Wednesday 28 June 2023 21:45 , 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’
RNC loyalty pledge will come after candidates qualify for debate, report says
Wednesday 28 June 2023 21:38 , Oliver O'Connell
Per ABC News:
Republican presidential candidates who qualify for the first primary debate will have to satisfy one final, somewhat controversial requirement, sources say: signing a pledge to back whomever the party's eventual nominee is, including if it's Donald Trump.
Two sources familiar with the discussion told ABC News that the pledge will only be presented to candidates for their signature after they earn their spot on the debate stage, in Milwaukee in August, rather than earlier in the process.
This order would signal that they cannot lean on the pledge as a reason not to participate.
Three GOP hopefuls who are critical of Trump — former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson and former Texas Rep Will Hurd — have expressed concerns about the pledge.
Watch: DeSantis says he will abolish education, IRS, commerce and energy fed departments
Wednesday 28 June 2023 21:35 , Oliver O'Connell
Question: Are you in favor of eliminating any agencies?
DeSantis: We would do education, commerce, energy, and the IRS. If Congress won’t go that far, I’m going to use those agencies to push back against woke ideology… pic.twitter.com/cAoZIXfESu— Acyn (@Acyn) June 28, 2023
Trump lawyers deposit $5.5m with court in E Jean Carroll case
Wednesday 28 June 2023 21:25 , Oliver O'Connell
As he sues her for defamation, Donald Trump’s lawyers have deposited $5.5m with the district court in conjunction with the judgment in E Jean Carroll’s case.
Under an agreed order from Judge Kaplan, Ms Carroll will be able to receive the money, with interest, after the former president’s appeals are complete, provided the
judgment stands.
Here is the agreement, which Judge Kaplan agreed to on June 23: https://t.co/6Y7l7vIT6i
— Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner) June 28, 2023
‘Guess what – Bidenomics is working’
Wednesday 28 June 2023 21:15 , 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 on the president’s remarks.
Biden touts his economic record in fiery speech: ‘Guess what – Bidenomics is working’
Watch: DeSantis dodges polling question on Fox News
Wednesday 28 June 2023 21:05 , Oliver O'Connell
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) sidesteps question about whether he’s disappointed about the 2024 GOP primary poll numbers he’s seen so far. pic.twitter.com/WAaCr4DJNj
— The Recount (@therecount) June 28, 2023
Trump camp blamed for leaking racist and antisemitic messages by DeSantis supporter
Wednesday 28 June 2023 20:55 , Oliver O'Connell
A right-wing influencer who left the Trump camp to instead support Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for the GOP presidential nomination has blamed the circle around the former president for supposedly leaking racist and antisemitic messages he sent in private chats.
Far-right site Breitbart reported on Tuesday that in 2019 and 2020, while Donald Trump was president, conservative writer Pedro Gonzalez sent messages in a group chat entitled “Right-Wing Death Squad” as well as to one member of the group individually.
Gustaf Kilander reports.
DeSantis supporter blames Trump camp for leaking racist and antisemitic messages
Trump request to move New York criminal trial expected to be slapped down
Wednesday 28 June 2023 20:38 , 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
Christie hits out at Trump over fundraising for legal fees
Wednesday 28 June 2023 20:25 , Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump has been swindling the working man and woman for decades. His campaign is just the newest version of an old con.
It’s grift all the way down.
Wake up.#kingofgrift#hesstealingyourmoney— Chris Christie (@GovChristie) June 28, 2023
‘Any Republican not named Trump’
Wednesday 28 June 2023 20:15 , 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”.
Read more...
Paul Ryan says Trump is only Republican candidate who would lose to Biden in 2024
Ivanka Trump dismissed from NY AG fraud lawsuit filed against her father
Wednesday 28 June 2023 19:45 , 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.
Read more...
Ivanka Trump dismissed from fraud lawsuit filed against her father by New York AG
Report says Giuliani interviewed by special counsel over 2020 election interference attempts
Wednesday 28 June 2023 19:15 , Oliver O'Connell
Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump’s former attorney, was questioned by investigators with the Justice Department special counsel’s office over his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in battleground states.
A spokesperson for Mr Giuliani confirmed the meeting with the special counsel, saying it was voluntary.
Shweta Sharma has the details.
Rudy Giuliani interviewed by special counsel over 2020 election interference attempts
Newsmax host offers bizarre defence of Trump
Wednesday 28 June 2023 19:00 , Oliver O'Connell
A Newsmax host put up a bizarre defence of former President Donald Trump over the leaked audio in which he speaks about classified documents with guests at his Bedminster, New Jersey golf club two years ago.
On the tape, obtained by CNN on Monday, Mr Trump says that the document, reportedly outlining plans of attack against Iran, was “highly confidential” and “secret information”.
“See, as president I could have declassified it. Now I can’t,” Mr Trump said. The recording lines up with a previously reported transcript of the conversation with biographers working on a book about Mr Trump’s last White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.
Newsmax host Lidia Curanaj argued on Tuesday that Mr Trump could have been lying at the time.
Gustaf Kilander explains.
Newsmax host offers bizarre defence of Trump over leaked audio
Stigma falling away from Congress’ most severe punishments
Wednesday 28 June 2023 18:45 , Oliver O'Connell
House Republicans have held it over Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for months. Attorney General Merrick Garland is facing it too. And President Joe Biden seemingly isn’t far behind.
Driven by the demands of hard-right members, Republicans in the House are threatening impeachment against Biden and his top Cabinet officials, creating a backbeat of chatter about “high crimes and misdemeanors” that is driving legislative action, spurring committee investigations, raking in fundraising money and complicating the plans of Speaker Kevin McCarthy and his leadership team.
Read more...
Impeachment? Censure? Stigma is falling away from Congress' most severe punishments
Watch: Biden mentions Tuberville in economic remarks
Wednesday 28 June 2023 18:39 , Oliver O'Connell
.@POTUS: "To no one's surprise," Bidenomics is bringing "along some converts." @SenTuberville "strongly opposed the legislation. Now he's hailing its passage. Here's what he said, quote, "It's great to see Alabama receive critical funds to boost ongoing broadband efforts!" pic.twitter.com/hXpL2Ddj1e
— Andrew Bates (@AndrewJBates46) June 28, 2023
Wednesday 28 June 2023 18:30 , Oliver O'Connell
Christie attacks Trump for diverting campaign funds to legal battles
Wednesday 28 June 2023 18:15 , 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.
John Bowden reports.
Chris Christie attacks Trump for diverting campaign funds to legal battles
Biden mocks Tuberville for celebrating broadband funding he voted against
Wednesday 28 June 2023 18:00 , Oliver O'Connell
President Joe Biden mocked Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama this morning for celebrating new broadband infrastructure funding coming to his state — despite having specifically voted against it.
“See you at the groundbreaking,” the president tweeted.
See you at the groundbreaking. https://t.co/1kJZ2h3JZW
— President Biden (@POTUS) June 28, 2023
‘Bravado’: Here’s Trump’s latest defence in the classified documents case
Wednesday 28 June 2023 17:45 , 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 from Washington, DC.
Trump’s latest defence in the classified documents case: ‘Bravado’
Wednesday 28 June 2023 17:30 , Oliver O'Connell
Joe Biden says Putin is ‘clearly losing the war in Iraq’
Ivanka Trump dismissed from NY AG fraud lawsuit filed against her father
Wednesday 28 June 2023 17:15 , 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.
Read more...
Ivanka Trump dismissed from fraud lawsuit filed against her father by New York AG
Trump countersues E Jean Carroll for defamation over rape claims
Wednesday 28 June 2023 17:00 , 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 Muzaffar has the story.
Trump countersues E Jean Carroll for defamation after losing sexual abuse case
Paul Ryan says Trump is only Republican who would lose to Biden in 2024
Wednesday 28 June 2023 16:43 , Oliver O'Connell
Former House Speaker Paul Ryan says he believes a 2024 Republican presidential candidate not named Donald Trump will beat President Joe Biden, 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.
The former speaker was asked about comments made by former Republican representative Liz Cheney on Tuesday at a conference in which she warned Democrats that they are “playing with fire” if they assume they can beat the former president in the 2024 general election — should he win the GOP primary.
He said that Ms Cheney is right that Mr Trump “could win,” but Mr Ryan added: “I think we lose with him.”
“I think we’re much more likely to lose — we haven’t won anything with him since he first won in ’16,” Mr Ryan said of the former president. “We lost the House in ‘18, the presidency in ‘20, the Senate in ’20, and we could have won the Senate in 2022 but for him.”
“I’m for anybody not named Trump,” he added, “because I think we beat Biden for sure if we nominate a Republican not named Trump.”
On Tuesday, current House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told Squawk Box that he was not sure Mr Trump was the strongest candidate the Republican Party has in the primaries.
He later had to walk back those remarks in an interview with Breitbart, call the former president to apologise, and send out a fundraising email saying that Mr Trump was stronger than ever.
Watch Mr Ryan’s remarks below:
"It's a disaster if we nominate Trump...but he could win," says Fmr. House Speaker @SpeakerRyan. "I support any Republican not named Trump. We beat Biden for sure if we nominate a Republican not named Trump. Biden and Trump have a symbiotic relationship." pic.twitter.com/NLgRh0cm8l
— Squawk Box (@SquawkCNBC) June 28, 2023
Trump wants to keep ‘communists’ and ‘Marxists’ out of the US. Can he?
Wednesday 28 June 2023 16:15 , Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump has announced a new campaign proposal on United States immigration — barring “communists” and “Marxists” from entering the country.
The Republican former president, who is making another bid in 2024, on Saturday said he would use “Section 212 (f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act” to “order my government to deny entry to all communists and all Marxists.”
Read more...
Trump wants to keep 'communists' and ‘Marxists’ out of the US. Here’s what the law says
McCarthy walks back Trump criticism following backlash from Magaworld
Wednesday 28 June 2023 15:55 , 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.
Abe Asher reports.
Kevin McCarthy walks back Trump criticism following backlash from Magaworld
Watch: McCarthy called Trump to apologise for comments
Wednesday 28 June 2023 15:48 , Oliver O'Connell
“McCarthy called the former president yesterday to apologize... He told the former president he misspoke and blamed the reporters for taking the comments out of context. Later, his campaign sent out a fundraising email saying Trump was stronger than ever” pic.twitter.com/Njra5rAnWG
— Acyn (@Acyn) June 28, 2023
Will Trump mess with the first GOP debate if he doesn’t take part?
Wednesday 28 June 2023 15:35 , Oliver O'Connell
No one can force Donald Trump to join the first Republican Party primary debate, NBC News notes in reporting that says he may also host a competing event that night.
The network reports:
Most of all, none of those rivals are close enough to Trump in polling to make him feel it's necessary. Arguably, like any front-runner, he has more to lose than gain from a debate.
"He is not going to debate unless he’s forced to by changing polling," said a person who has encouraged Trump to take the stage. "I disagree with it, but it is where he is."
All of that helps explain why, in interviews with more than a half-dozen advisers, it was clear that — even in his private conversations — Trump is leaning heavily toward skipping that first debate.
Trump is also exploring options for counterprogramming during the first debate, according to people familiar with his deliberations.
Trump's absence would deprive the RNC, Fox News and GOP primary voters of the Republican Party's most compelling — and most powerful — figure. And Trump knows he can keep attention on himself by making his appearance conditional, at best.
Wednesday 28 June 2023 15:20 , Oliver O'Connell
