Trump news – live: Trump posts video attacking four criminal probes after he claimed he will be arrested today

Alex Woodward and Sravasti Dasgupta

Donald Trump posted a scathing, late-night video on Truth Social on Monday attacking the four ongoing criminal investigations into his actions – after he claimed that he will be arrested by Manhattan prosecutors today.

In the video, the former president took aim at what he claims to be the “most disgusting witchhunt in the history of our country” as he listed off the four probes and told his followers that he will “stand in their way” of their political “enemies”.

“They are not coming after me – they are coming after you. I’m just standing in their way. And I always will stand in their way,” he claimed.

His comments came hours after ally Robert Costello testified before the grand jury at the request of the former president’s lawyers – in an attempt to cast doubts on the prosecution’s star witness Michael Cohen.

On Saturday, Mr Trump claimed that he will be arrested on Tuesday by Manhattan prosecutors investigating hush money payments to Stormy Daniels.

His camp later walked back his comments saying they had not been informed if or when an indictment could take place.

Key Points

Trump posts late-night Truth Social video attacking four criminal probes

10:00 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump posted a late-night video on Truth Social on Monday night attacking the four criminal investigations into his actions.

In the video – where the former president looking exceptionally tanned stood against a backdrop of the US flag – he took aim at what he claims to be the “most disgusting witchhunt in the history of our country”.

“These four horrible radical left Democrat investigations of your all time, favourite president – me – is just a continuation of the most disgusting witchhunts in the history of our country,” he fumed.

“It’s an absolute disgrace. Whether its the Mar-a-Lago raid, the unselect-Committee hoax, the perfect Georgia phone call that was absolutely perfect, or the Stormy ‘horseface’ Daniels extortion plot... They’re all sick and it’s fake news.”

Mr Trump vowed to “defeat” the investigations and claimed that he was “standing in their way” of political “enemies” for his supporters.

“They are not coming after me – they are coming after you. I’m just standing in their way. And I always will stand in their way,” he said.

How did a porn star become one of the most powerful people in politics?

09:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Io Dodds explains how Stormy Daniels landed in the middle of a political firestorm.

How porn star Stormy Daniels became one of the most powerful people in politics

Trump loses bid to keep key evidence out of E. Jean Carroll rape trial

09:30 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump’s effort to keep key evidence out of his civil rape trial next month was rejected by a federal judge Monday.

Judge Lewis A. Kaplan in Manhattan ruled that key witnesses will be allowed to testify and misogynistic remarks Trump made about women in 2005 when he apparently didn’t realize he was being recorded can be played for a jury that will hear quarter-century-old rape allegations made by a former magazine columnist.

A trial in the case filed by E. Jean Carroll is scheduled to start April 25. Carroll and Trump are expected to testify.

Carroll said in a 2019 memoir that she was raped by Trump in the mid-1990s in a dressing room at Bergdorf Goodman, an upscale Manhattan department store. She said a chance encounter filled with lighthearted banter turned violent when they entered a small room while teasing one another about who would try on a piece of lingerie.

Trump has repeatedly insisted he never met Carroll at the store and that he didn’t know who she was. During an October deposition, he misidentified a decades-old photograph of her as one of his ex-wives.

In the deposition, Trump was dismissive of Carroll’s claims, saying: “Physically she’s not my type.”

Kaplan had previously ruled that taped remarks Trump made in an “Access Hollywood” tape could be used in a defamation case Carroll brought against him before she filed a rape claim against him in November, when a temporary law took effect allowing adult rape victims to sue their abusers, even if attacks happened decades ago.

He also ruled that two women who made sexual abuse claims in circumstances similar to those alleged by Carroll could testify at trial.

The Access Hollywood tape was revealed just weeks before Trump won the November 2016 presidential election.

In the tape, he said that sometimes when he sees beautiful women: “I just start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait.” And he added that, “When you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything,” including grabbing women between their legs.

Afterward, he issued a rare apology, saying the comments were “locker room banter” caught on a hot mic.

Lawyers for Trump and Carroll had agreed that the defamation claim, made in a separate lawsuit, could be tried along with the rape claim, but the judge rejected that proposal Monday, saying the defamation lawsuit could be tried separately or not at all if the Justice Department successfully replaces Trump as a defendant with the United States.

In an order Monday, Kaplan ruled specifically that he would allow the “Access Hollywood” tape and testimony by two other women who say Trump attacked them sexually to be included in next month’s trial, repeating his rulings from the defamation case.

“There is no reason, and Mr. Trump has made no persuasive argument, for me to rule differently,” he wrote.

He also said he will allow testimony from two individuals who worked at the department store at the time of the alleged rape to testify, even though Trump’s lawyers objected, saying they hadn’t been notified in a timely fashion of the testimony and hadn’t had a chance to depose the witnesses.

The judge said lawyers for Carroll had notified them of the witnesses in a timely fashion.

Lawyers for Trump and Carroll did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

All NYPD officers ‘told to wear full uniform on Tuesday’ ahead of possible Trump indictment

09:15 , Sravasti Dasgupta

All New York Police Department (NYPD) officers have reportedly been ordered to wear their full uniform on Tuesday in the event of a possible indictment of Donald Trump.

Maroosha Muzaffar reports:

NYPD officers ‘to wear full uniform on Tuesday’ ahead of possible Trump indictment

Trump asks court to toss entire Georgia grand jury probe

08:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Attorneys for former president Donald Trump have asked a Georgia court to toss out any evidence gathered by the months-long special purpose grand jury empaneled last year to investigate his attempt to overturn his 2020 election loss, and to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from prosecuting him.

In a 50-page motion filed with the Fulton County Superior Court, Mr Trump’s legal team claims the Georgia law authorising the establishment of special purpose grand juries — which are investigative in nature but cannot issue indictments — is unconstitutional because it does not specify whether such grand juries are civil or criminal in nature.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Trump asks court to toss entire Georgia grand jury probe

In Trump case, NY grand jury appears near end of its work

08:15 , Sravasti Dasgupta

A New York grand jury investigating Donald Trump over a hush money payment to a porn star appears poised to complete its work soon as law enforcement officials make preparations for possible unrest in the event of an indictment.

Read this report by the Associated Press:

In Trump case, NY grand jury appears near end of its work

House GOP demand Alvin Bragg be hauled to Congress over Trump indictment

07:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Republicans have rallied in Donald Trump’s defence after the one-term president predicted that he will be arrested on Tuesday, with a trio of House committee chairs threatening to haul New York City’s top prosecutor in front of Congress to explain himself.

In a letter sent to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg on Monday, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, and House Administration Committee Chair Bryan Steil accused the Democratic prosecutor of being “about to engage in an unprecedented abuse of prosecutorial authority” by indicting Mr Trump.

“In light of the serious consequences of your actions, we expect that you will testify about what plainly appears to be a politically motivated prosecutorial decision,” they said.

Graeme Massie and Andrew Feinberg report.

House Republicans demand Alvin Bragg be hauled to Congress over Trump indictment

Trump supporters ‘plan run on banks’ to protest his arrest

07:15 , Sravasti Dasgupta

Some Trump supporters are planning a bank run protest in the event that the former president gets arrested in Manhattan this week.

According to the George Washington Initiative (GWI), an organisation that highlights disinformation, Donald Trump’s supporters have increasingly advocated for a bank run in recent days as a “nonviolent form of social disobedience”.

Read more:

Trump supporters ‘plan run on banks’ to protest his arrest

Trump lashes out at DeSantis over Stormy Daniels jibe

06:45 , Sravasti Dasgupta

Donald Trump has lashed out at Ron DeSantis for a muted response to the potential indictment against him in the Stormy Daniels hush money case.

In a Truth Social post, the former president wrote: “Ron DeSanctimonious will probably find out about FALSE ACCUSATIONS & FAKE STORIES sometime in the future, as he gets older, wiser, and better known, when he’s unfairly and illegally attacked by a woman, even classmates that are ‘underage’ (or possibly a man!). I’m sure he will want to fight these misfits just like I do!”

Earlier the Florida governor an expected GOP criticised the investigation against Mr Trump but also threw one of his first jabs at the former president.

“I don’t know what goes into paying hush money to a porn star to secure silence over some kind of alleged affair,” Mr DeSantis said at a news conference in Panama City on Monday.“I can’t speak to that.”

Read the full story here:

Trump launches lewd attack on DeSantis over dig at possible Stormy Daniels indictment

Can Trump still be elected president if he’s arrested and indicted?

06:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump appears to be at the centre of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s grand jury investigation into a hush payment made to a porn star by Mr Trump’s attorney Michael Cohen in 2016.

The investigation entered a new phase in recent weeks, and now Mr Bragg’s office has contacted the president’s lawyers to offer an opportunity for voluntary testimony, a sign that multiple sources close to the investigation told The New York Times means that an indictment or multiple indictments are likely in the works. Mr Trump himself predicted on 18 March that he would be arrested the following week.

John Bowden looks at what that means for his 2024 campaign to return to the Oval Office.

Can Donald Trump still be elected president if he’s arrested and indicted?

Police and public safety officials prepare for possible Trump indictment

05:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Law enforcement agencies at the local, state and federal levels have met to discuss the possibility that Donald Trump may be indicted as early as next week over a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels, after the former president urged supporters to protest if he is arrested.

More than a dozen senior figures in the New York Police Department and two public safety aides to the city’s mayor, Eric Adams, held a virtual meeting on Sunday, the New York Times reports.

Read more:

Police and public safety officials prepare for possible Trump arrest

Uproar at White House press briefing as reporters turn on journalist who shouted down press secretary

04:45 , Oliver O'Connell

A visit to the White House by the cast of AppleTV’s Ted Lasso was interrupted when a journalist began shouting down press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

The outburst eventually resulted in other reporters remonstrating with the heckler, saying he was impeding their ability to work.

Graig Graziosi has the story.

Reporter disrupts White House press briefing featuring Ted Lasso cast

Lawyers and rights groups want examination of DeSantis’s Guantanamo record

03:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Lawyers and human rights activists have called for greater scrutiny of Florida governor Ron DeSantis’s time serving as a Navy JAG lawyer at Guantanamo Bay, amid accusations from former detainees that he observed their torture.

The calls come as a former detainee at the camp, Mansoor Adayfi, claimed in an interview with The Independent that Mr DeSantis witnessed his force-feeding, a practice he described as torture.

Mr DeSantis served at Guantanamo between March 2006 and January 2007, a time when the notorious prison camp was rocked by riots, hunger strikes and death.

Richard Hall reports for The Independent.

Lawyers and rights groups calls for greater scrutiny of DeSantis’s Guantanamo record

Indictment of Trump would be unprecedented historical moment

02:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The decision whether to indict former President Donald Trump over hush-money payments made on his behalf during his 2016 presidential campaign lies in the hands of a Manhattan grand jury that has been hearing evidence in secret for weeks.

An indictment of Trump, who is seeking the White House again in 2024, would be an unprecedented moment in American history, the first criminal case against a former US president.

Law enforcement officials are bracing for protests and the possibility of violence after Trump called on his supporters to protest ahead of a possible indictment.

Trump indictment would be unprecedented moment in US history

ICYMI: Trump's call for protests get muted reaction from supporters

01:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump’s calls for protests ahead of his anticipated indictment in New York have generated mostly muted reactions from supporters, with even some of his most ardent loyalists dismissing the idea as a waste of time or a law enforcement trap.

Read more:

Trump's call for protests get muted reaction from supporters

Voices: Republicans play the Trump indictment waiting game

00:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Eric Garcia writes:

Republicans are now anticipating whether former president Donald Trump will actually be indicted and how to proceed accordingly.

The former president took a sledgehammer to the best laid plans this weekend when he alleged that the Manhattan District Attorney’s office would indict him based on supposedly paying adult film actress Stormy Daniels money to keep quiet about their affair on Tuesday and called on his supporters to protest.

His announcement served as a stark reminder that beyond any policy goal – more than tax cuts, anti-immigration sentiments or spreading fear about teenages transitioning their gender – defending the twice-impeached former president is an article of faith for the modern-day GOP.

Read on:

Republicans play the Trump indictment waiting game

Who is Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg?

00:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump fired out three furious all-caps posts on his Truth Social page on 18 March, invoking images of burning cities and World War III while stoking unrest with a call for his supporters to “protest, protest, protest” what he predicted would be his arrest in New York.

Alvin Bragg – the Manhattan district attorney whose office is overseeing a criminal investigation into the former president’s business practices following long-running allegations of fraud – issued a memo to his staff in response, stressing that he does “not tolerate attempts to intimidate our office or threaten the rule of law in New York.”

His internal message did not mention the former president by name or his incendiary rhetoric, but he referred to “public comments surrounding an ongoing investigation by this office.”

Alex Woodward reports.

Alvin Bragg: The district attorney who could criminally prosecute Donald Trump

Trump issues a chilling warning of what could happen if he is indicted

Monday 20 March 2023 23:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward writes:

On 18 March, [Donald Trump] demanded that his supporters “protest” his imminent “arrest” in New York in a furious all-caps social media post typical of his violent visions of America in chaos: a “dying” and “third world” country where “leftist thugs” are “killing and burning with no retribution”.

His recent remarks echo his calls to supporters that fuelled the attack on the US Capitol and his apocalyptic visions of America from his time in office and on the campaign trail, depicting his us-versus-them political stakes and a brewing civil war with grim conclusions – rhetoric that has gripped the GOP in the wake of Mr Trump’s candidacy.

Read on:

Trump’s chilling warning of what will happen after his indictment

Monday 20 March 2023 23:15 , Oliver O'Connell

The president and the porn star: A timeline of the Stormy Daniels case

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

Former President Donald Trump has been out of office for two years, and is already itching to go back.

But one figure from his first run for president has refused to go away, and may end up being a major headache for him as he pursues a third White House bid.

We’re talking, of course, about adult film star Stormy Daniels, also known by her real name, Stephanie Clifford. Ms Daniels made headlines in 2018 when she came forward with an allegation that she had been in a romantic extramarital relationship with the president in 2006, and had been threatened and later bribed to keep her mouth shut.

That story may now be coming to a head as John Bowden explains.

Inside the Stormy Daniels hush money payment that could lead to first Trump charges

Does Ron DeSantis have the power to stop Trump’s arrest?

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

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis finds himself in a bind: as of right now, he is by far the person with the best possible chance of beating former president Donald Trump for the Republican nomination for president.

But does he, as some have supposed, have the power as governor of Florida to stop the former president from answering any out-of-state charges?

Eric Garcia and Andrew Feinberg report from Washington, DC.

Could Ron DeSantis stop Trump’s arrest?

Trump ally Costello says Cohen not reliable witness on which to base indictment

Monday 20 March 2023 21:44 , Oliver O'Connell

Robert Costello, the attorney who previously represented Trump allies like Steve Bannon and Rudy Giuliani, has spoken with reporters after testifying before the grand jury in New York.

Mr Costello spoke to the jury for nearly three hours on Monday afternoon after appearing at the request of the former president’s legal team. He said he brought a catalogue of emails with him to show the jury, but only a small number were submitted.

Mr Costello accused his former client Michael Cohen of having a “lie, cheat, steal” mindset and called him an unreliable witness on which to base an indictment of former President Donald Trump.

“I’m trying to tell the truth to the grand jury. If they want to go after Donald Trump and they have solid evidence then so be it. Michael Cohen is not solid evidence,” Mr Costello said.

Earlier, Lanny Davis, attorney for Mr Cohen, says his client would not be asked to testify again having already sat for two days of questioning.

“Mr Cohen was available for over two hours today, but we are pleased to report Mr Cohen was not needed. Once again we repeat — the facts and documents speak for themselves. Facts do matter.”

What is the process for indicting Donald Trump on criminal charges?

Monday 20 March 2023 21:20 , Oliver O'Connell

The looming criminal indictment now widely expected to be coming down on Donald Trump’s shoulders has left many, including seasoned legal experts and journalists who have followed the justice system for years wondering exactly what to expect when it actually happens.

Sources close to the investigation told Politico on Monday that an indictment could be coming as soon as later that day; a possibility that led to law enforcement officials erecting barricades outside of the Manhattan courthouse where Mr Trump’s arraignment would occur.

Several questions remain about the step-by-step process for criminally indicting a former president, including the logistics of actually carrying out the task of bringing Mr Trump to the courtroom. Some of the decisions are admittedly still up in the air: “We’ll be discussing how we bring Trump in,” one person involved in the planning told Politico on Monday, adding somewhat cryptically: “No decisions have been made yet.”

Many of those questions likely centre around how much of this process will be carried out in person, a time-consuming and complicated endeavour given Mr Trump’s ongoing Secret Service protection and status as an active candidate for the 2024 GOP nomination.

Let’s break down what we do know:

What is the process for indicting Donald Trump on criminal charges?

Four Oath Keepers associates found guilty of conspiracy in Jan 6 trial

Monday 20 March 2023 21:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Four people associated with the Oath Keepers were convicted on Monday of conspiracy and obstruction charges stemming from the attack on the US Capitol in the latest trial involving members of the far-right antigovernment extremist group.

A Washington DC jury found Sandra Parker, of Morrow, Ohio; Laura Steele, of Thomasville, North Carolina; William Isaacs, of Kissimmee, Florida and Connie Meggs, of Dunnellon, Florida guilty of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and other felony charges.

In a rare loss for prosecutors, Sandra Parker’s husband, Bennie Parker, was acquitted of obstruction as well as one conspiracy charge, and a sixth defendant — Michael Greene, of Indianapolis, Indiana — was acquitted of two conspiracy charges.

Read on:

Four Oath Keepers associates found guilty of conspiracy in latest Jan 6 trial

More fury from former president as Trump lashes out at Cohen and Bragg

Monday 20 March 2023 20:42 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump has continued to angrily post at a range of foes throughout the afternoon, posting a video attacking Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, before taking a shot at his former fixer Michael Cohen.

Here’ the video:

And here’s what he had to say about Mr Cohen: “If disbarred and fully discredited lawyer Michael Cohen is not indicted for PERJURY, THEN PERJURY DOES NOT EXIST!”

Voices: Trump is going to drag the entire Republican party down with him

Monday 20 March 2023 20:31 , Oliver O'Connell

Noah Berlatsky writes:

“If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed.......and we will deserve it,” South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham famously tweeted in 2016.

Donald Trump won in 2016, and Graham has become one of his most ardent supporters. But his tweet has nonetheless been prescient. The GOP lost elections in 2018, 2020, and 2022. Now former President and current 2024 candidate Trump faces multiple indictments for a range of illegal activities. And he’s made it clear that he intends to force the GOP to tie itself to his rapidly sinking garbage scow.

Read on:

Trump is going to drag the entire Republican party down with him

Trump furiously attacks DeSantis

Monday 20 March 2023 20:18 , John Bowden

After the Florida governor addressed the possibility that Mr Trump would be criminally indicted this week, the former president resurfaced a picture of Mr DeSantis from his teaching days and insinuated that the governor’s political enemies would suggest some kind of wrongdoing in his past.

Uproar at White House press briefing as reporters turn on journalist who held up Ted Lasso cast appearance

Monday 20 March 2023 19:07 , John Bowden

The White House press briefing was interrupted several times on Monday by reporter Simon Ateba of Africa News Today.

Ateba interrupted Karine Jean-Pierre at several points, exclaiming that the US was “not China” and claiming that he was being suppressed from being allowed to ask questions.

Other reporters in the room grew visibly agitated as Ateba’s outbursts continued, and Ms Jean-Pierre was eventually forced to threaten to end the briefing.

Read more:

Reporter disrupts White House press briefing featuring Ted Lasso cast

Eric Trump says DeSantis ‘not the guy I [thought] he was'

Monday 20 March 2023 18:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Responding to a tweet about the muted response from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to “political persecution” of Donald Trump, the former president’s second son Eric, tweeted: “Until that day where they do the exact same thing to him, his friends and his family… at which time he will neither have the backbone, nor the resources, to fight off the corrupt system. He’s not the guy I [thought] he was…”

Trump reposts longer version of deleted attack on DeSantis

Monday 20 March 2023 18:10 , Oliver O'Connell

The former president presumably needed a moment to finesse his below-the-belt attack on Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, reposting a longer version and doubling down with his accusations of his alleged partying with “classmates that are ‘underage’ (or possibly a man!)”

Don Jr slams DeSantis as ‘pure weakness’ and ‘100% controlled'

Monday 20 March 2023 17:59 , Oliver O'Connell

The former president’s oldest son also stepped up to attack Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, tweeting: “So DeSantis thinks that Dems weaponizing the law to indict President Trump is a ‘manufactured circus’ & isn't a ‘real issue’."

“Pure weakness. Now we know why he was silent all weekend. He's totally owned by Karl Rove, Paul Ryan & his billionaire donors. 100% Controlled Opposition.”

Trump snaps back at DeSantis

Monday 20 March 2023 17:47 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has followed his spokesperson Liz Harrington in snapping back at Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for his comments on the grand jury investigation in to the hush money payment to Stormy Daniels.

The former president posted on Truth Social: “Ron will probably find out about this sometime in the future when he’s unfairly and illegally attacked by a woman (or possibly a man!) with false accusations.”

He then deleted the post...

Insiders now say Trump indictment is imminent

Monday 20 March 2023 17:39 , John Bowden

More news sites, including most recently Politico, are reporting that Donald Trump’s indictment could come as early as this afternoon.

Barricades are being set up outside of the courthouse in Manhattan as officials brace for potential protests.

Trump spokeswoman excoriates DeSantis

Monday 20 March 2023 17:07 , John Bowden

Liz Harrington, a spokeswoman for the former president, let Ron DeSantis have it after he responded to a question about the grand jury investigation into Donald Trump’s hush payment to a porn star, Stormy Daniels.

Ms Harrington went after the governor on Twitter, apparently incensed that he had attacked the Manhattan district attorney but at the same time referred to the alleged affair with Ms Daniels in a mocking manner.

Ron DeSantis responds to reports of impending Trump indictment

Monday 20 March 2023 16:27 , John Bowden

Florida Gov Ron DeSantis was asked on Monday about the growing likelihood that Donald Trump will face criminal charges for the hush money payment his lawyer Michael Cohen made to porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016.

Watch his response below:

Trump asks court to toss entire Georgia grand jury probe and disqualify district attorney

Monday 20 March 2023 15:59 , John Bowden

Attorneys for former president Donald Trump have asked a Georgia court to toss out any evidence gathered by the months-long special purpose grand jury empaneled last year to investigate his attempt to overturn his 2020 election loss, and to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from prosecuting him.

It’s Mr Trump’s Hail Mary attempt to quash the criminal investigation that looks to be nearing the possibility of charges for him and/or members of his legal team.

Andrew Feinberg has the story:

Trump asks court to toss entire Georgia grand jury probe

Mike Pence is ‘disappointed’ in Trump over January 6 but mum on ex-president’s trustworthiness

Monday 20 March 2023 14:48 , John Bowden

A conversation between the former vice president and ABC’s Jonathan Karl on Sunday quickly centred around the issue of whether Mike Pence generally trusts the words and public pronouncements of his former boss as he looks currently poised for a dominant performance in the upcoming 2024 GOP primary.

And under repeated questioning from Karl on the issue of Trump’s statement in the hours before the January 6 attack claiming falsely that Pence would aid in his effort to overturn the 2020 election, the former vice president would only say that he was “disappointed” in the former president, not that he did not trust him. He would not even specifically say that Trump had lied.

The Independent’s John Bowden reports:

Pence ‘disappointed’ in Trump’s rhetoric around Jan 6 but mum on the man himself

Trump supporters angry at ‘radio silent’ Ron DeSantis over former president’s potential arrest

Monday 20 March 2023 13:50 , Rachel Sharp

Ron DeSantis is under fire from a number of Republicans and right-wing figures for his silence after Donald Trump called on supporters to speak out over his anticipated arrest in New York.

Nearly two days after Mr Trump claimed on his Truth Social platform that he could be arrested on Tuesday, the conservative Florida governor has not spoken out about the one-time president’s claims as several of his ardent supporters announced plans to protest or simply spoke out against the possibility.

Mr DeSantis is widely expected to confirm his run for the 2024 presidential elections and challenge Mr Trump.

The Independent’s Shweta Sharma reports:

Trump supporters angry at ‘radio silent’ Ron DeSantis over potential arrest

WATCH: Trump attorney claims rich people pay hush money regularly

Monday 20 March 2023 13:30 , Rachel Sharp

Kevin McCarthy calls on Americans not to protest Trump indictment

Monday 20 March 2023 13:10 , Rachel Sharp

Republican leader Kevin McCarthy has called on Americans not to protest or turn to violence if or when Donald Trump is criminally indicted over the hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

Speaking at a press conference at the House GOP issues retreat on Sunday, the House majority leader broke rank with the former president after he claimed his arrest was imminent and called on the American people to “take our nation back”.

“I don’t think people should protest this stuff,” Mr McCarthy said.

He went on to suggest that Mr Trump was not speaking “in a harmful way” but was calling for his followers “to educate people about what’s going on”.

The Independent’s Rachel Sharp reports:

Kevin McCarthy calls on Americans not to protest Trump indictment

Will Fox News settle the Dominion defamation lawsuit?

Monday 20 March 2023 12:50 , Alex Woodward

Embarrassing and potentially reputation-damaging behind-the-scenes revelations, stitched together in Dominion’s sprawling case alleging a media empire that relies on lying to its audience, may be compelling evidence, but they are not necessarily enough to reach the high bar in a billion-dollar defamation case, according to legal analysts.

Has the voting machine company at the centre of right-wing conspiracy theories met the extremely high bar for proving defamation by the press? Maybe, but the network says losing the case would be a blow to all media.

Will Fox News settle with Dominion? First Amendment experts aren’t so sure

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