Trump news – live: Trump hit with new charges as aide becomes third person added to classified documents case

Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump and an aide were hit Thursday with a new set of federal charges related to alleged mishandling of classified documents after leaving the White House.

Federal prosecutors accuse the former president of retaining defence information and conspiring with club employee Carlos De Oliveira to delete security footage to hide evidence of misconduct.

The new charges come as a seperate federal grand jury is considering indicting Mr Trump on charges over the January 6 Capitol riot and his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

A court official in Washington announced to reporters that there would be no charges on Thursday, even as the former president’s legal and political teams are getting ready for the possibility that Mr Trump will be hit with his third criminal indictment. His legal team met with prosecutors in the morning.

Last week, Mr Trump said he had received a letter from special counsel Jack Smith’s office saying he is the target of a grand jury investigation.

Key points

After his plea deal derails, what’s next for Hunter Biden?

09:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The unravelling of Hunter Biden‘s plea agreement has thrust his criminal case into uncertain waters and given new fodder to Republican critics in Congress as they push ahead with investigations into the president’s youngest son.

Read on...

What's next for Hunter Biden in court and Congress after his plea deal derails

Profil: Jack Smith — the ex-war crimes prosecutor coming for Trump

08:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Jack Smith, the experienced war crimes prosecutor who unveiled an unprecedented federal indictment against former US president Donald Trump, is no stranger to high-profile probes of public figures, as Andrew Feinberg reports.

Who is Jack Smith? The ex-war crimes prosecutor who indicted Trump

Tucker Carlson reveals what he claims to be real reason he was fired

07:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Tucker Carlson has claimed that his firing from Fox News was part of the $787.5m defamation settlement between the network and Dominion Voting Systems.

Gustaf Kilander has the story.

Tucker Carlson reveals what he claims to be real reason he was fired from Fox News

Is Trump going to prison?

06:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Everyone wants to know...

Is Donald Trump going to prison?

Feinstein appears confused and is instructed to vote ‘aye’ by fellow senator at meeting

04:15 , Oliver O'Connell

One of the frequent instances in which Senator Dianne Feinstein has appeared confused and unsure of the business of the Senate at hand has been caught on camera, a day after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell froze at a press conference and was ushered away after appearing unable to talk.

The Democratic senator from California was attending a meeting Thursday of the Senate Appropriations Commitee, where during votes she appeared to lose track of the proceedings and began to motion for a vote that was already in progress.

John Bowden reports on what happened next.

Sen Dianne Feinstein appears confused at meeting

Biden won’t pardon son for tax and firearms charges, White House says

03:15 , Oliver O'Connell

The White House on Thursday said President Joe Biden would not use his authority as president to grant any pardons or other relief that would short-circuit the criminal case against his son, Hunter Biden.

The younger Mr Biden, an attorney and lobbyist turned visual artist, is currently facing two misdemeanour charges for allegedly failing to pay taxes for two years, as well as a felony charge for allegedly lying on a gun background check form.

Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.

White House says Biden won’t pardon son for tax and firearms charges

Trump campaign leaps to support Byron Donald against DeSantis

02:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Trump 2024 campaign spokesperson Jason Miller calls the “smear” of Congressman Byron Donalds over the topic of African American history teaching in Florida by the office of Governor Ron DeSantis a “disgrace”.

GOP rep faces wrath of DeSantis campaign with call to ‘correct’ Black history standards

02:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Republican US Rep Byron Donalds has repeatedly echoed other GOP officials in a specious crusade against “critical race theory” and “woke” indoctrination in American schools.

But on 26 July, the Florida congressman called on Florida’s Department of Education to “correct” newly approved curriculum guidelines for middle school students to learn how enslaved people “developed skills” that could be “applied for personal benefit”.

Alex Woodward reports.

GOP congressman faces wrath of DeSantis with call to ‘correct’ slavery curriculum

Which presidential candidates have met RNC debate criteria?

01:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Seven Republican presidential candidates have met the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) new criteria to participate in the first GOP debate on 23 August.

Ariana Baio reports.

The presidential candidates who have so far met criteria to join first RNC debate

Trump ally Matt Gaetz called a ‘murderer’ during an ‘all-time low’ anti-trans House committee hearing

01:13 , Josh Marcus

As Republican-led states pass legislation to restrict or ban transgender youth from accessing gender-affirming healthcare, Republicans in Congress have held a series of hearings or steered discussion around implementing national bans while raising dubious claims and dismissing guidance from major medical groups.

On 27 July, Democratic members of a Republican-led House committee condemned the latest “cynical and dangerous attack” on trans children and their families during one of the first congressional hearings against affirming care and health providers.

The panel heard from a former college athlete who advocates against trans women and girls from participating in sports that match their gender, members of right-wing special interest groups that support legislation targeting LGBT+ people, and a person who formerly received affirming healthcare and now advocates against other receiving it.

The committee also heard from a Texas mother whose 18-year-old son is transgender, as well as the trangender legal director of a prominent LGBT+ legal advocacy group.

Alex Woodward has the story.

Giuliani won’t contest defamation claims from Georgia election workers

Friday 28 July 2023 00:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Rudy Giuliani will not contest claims from two Georgia election workers who have accused the former attorney to Donald Trump of smearing them with false and defamatory statements surrounding the 2020 presidential election.

Read more...

Rudy Giuliani won’t contest defamation claims from Georgia election workers

Trump responds to latest charges from special counsel

Friday 28 July 2023 00:01 , Josh Marcus

Donald Trump has responded to the latest round of charges against him from the special counsel’s office.

Here’s what his campaign told The Independent:

This is nothing more than a continued desperate and flailing attempt by the Biden Crime Family and their Department of Justice to harass President Trump and those around him.

Deranged Jack Smith knows that they have no case and is casting about for any way to salvage their illegal witch hunt and to get someone other than Donald Trump to run against Crooked Joe Biden.

More charges for Trump in Florida documents case

Thursday 27 July 2023 23:28 , Josh Marcus

Federal prosecutors have added more charges against former president Donald Trump for allegedly obstructing the investigation into whether he unlawfully retained national defence information at his Palm Beach, Florida property.

In a superceding indictment filed late Thursday, prosecutors alleged that Mr Trump called a worker at his Mar-a-Lago club, Carlos De Oliveira, to order the deletion of security camera footage after the Trump Organisation was served with a subpoena as part of the probe into Mr Trump’s possession of documents with classification markings after the end of his presidency.

Mr De Oliveira, who has also been charged with conspiracy and obstruction of justice, subsequently told another Mar-a-Lago employee that “the boss” wanted the footage deleted.

Andrew Feinberg has the details for The Independent.

Trump aide Carlos De Oliveira third person charged in documents case

Thursday 27 July 2023 23:16 , Josh Marcus

The big January 6 indictment of Trump did not materialise today, as some thought it would, but there still were some major announcements.

A third person has been charged as part of the federal case against Donald Trump and his associates over allegedly mishandling classified documents after leaving the White House.

Aide Carlos De Oliveira is the latest in the Trump circle ensnared in the probe, according to court documents obtained by The Washington Post.

Will Trump’s history of lies finally catch up to him?

Thursday 27 July 2023 23:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Did he believe the “truth” of his claims? And how often was he told, by both his advisers and White House officials, that he was wrong?

Federal prosecutors want to know, as Alex Woodward reports.

How Trump’s history of election lies could finally catch up with him

Civil rights leaders see pattern of ‘policy violence’ as DeSantis defends new slavery teachings

Thursday 27 July 2023 22:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Civil rights activists cheered when Ron DeSantis pardoned four Black men wrongfully convicted of rape as one of his first actions as Florida’s governor. But four years later, as DeSantis eyes the presidency, their hope that the Republican would be an ally on racial justice has long faded.

Instead, African American leaders decry what they call a pattern of “policy violence” against people of color executed by the DeSantis administration that reached a low point after the recent release of an “anti-woke” public school curriculum on Black history.

Specifically, Florida’s teachers are now required to instruct middle-school students that enslaved people “developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit.”

DeSantis is defending new slavery teachings. Civil rights leaders see a pattern of 'policy violence'

Karl Rove brings whiteboard to Fox News to explain that RFK Jr is a ‘nut’

Thursday 27 July 2023 22:01 , Oliver O'Connell

Republican strategist Karl Rove used whiteboards to illustrate Robert F Kennedy’s conspiracy theories during a bizarre Fox News interview on Thursday.

After Florida governor Ron DeSantis said he would be prepared to “sic” RFK Jr onto the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mr Rove told Fox host Bill Hemmer it was a “nutty idea”.

Bevan Hurley reports.

Karl Rove brings whiteboard to Fox News to explain that RFK Jr is a ‘nut’

Grand jurors are leaving the DC courthouse

Thursday 27 July 2023 21:53 , Oliver O'Connell

Who has qualified for the first RNC debate?

Thursday 27 July 2023 21:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Seven Republican presidential candidates have met the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) new criteria to participate in the first GOP debate on 23 August.

Here’s who has made the cut so far...

The presidential candidates who have so far met criteria to join first RNC debate

Hannity says he’ll ‘throw his staff down the stairs’ after he got congressman’s name wrong

Thursday 27 July 2023 21:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Fox News host Sean Hannity joked that he was going to throw his staff down the stairs after he flubbed the name of a Congressman during a broadcast.

Every reporter gets a name wrong once in awhile, but Hannity had the misfortune of getting Congressman Tim Burchett’s name wrong not only in front of the man himself, but in front of a live studio audience.

The fumble occurred as Hannity was introducing Mr Burchett to discuss the much-hyped House Subcommittee hearing on unidentified aerial phenomena.

Graig Graziosi has the story.

Fox News’ Sean Hannity fumbles lawmaker’s name, then throws his staff under the bus

Trump warns new indictment would ‘only further destroy our Country'

Thursday 27 July 2023 21:16 , Oliver O'Connell

Following the meeting between his legal team and prosecutors working for Special Counsel Jack Smith, former president Donald Trump warned that a third criminal indictment of him would “only further destroy our Country”.

His full post on Truth Social reads:

My attorneys had a productive meeting with the DOJ this morning, explaining in detail that I did nothing wrong, was advised by many lawyers, and that an Indictment of me would only further destroy our Country. No indication of notice was given during the meeting — Do not trust the Fake News on anything!

Andrew Feinberg filed this report earlier:

Trump dismisses looming Jan 6 indictment: ‘Do not trust the Fake News’

Grand Jury still meeting, report says

Thursday 27 July 2023 21:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Watch: McCarthy says he supported Biden ‘impeachment inquiry’ not Biden ‘impeachment'

Thursday 27 July 2023 21:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Ramaswamy tries to rap in Fox News interview

Thursday 27 July 2023 21:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Republican 2024 presidential candidate and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy concluded an interview on Fox & Friends by trying to rap.

Host Steve Doocy said, “Someone has uncovered that in college … you were a libertarian rapper.”

“Some of these opposition research stories are false, but I will confirm that one is true,” Mr Ramaswamy replied with a smile.

Doubtless that’ll have the donations pouring in...

Viewers horrified as Vivek Ramaswamy tries to rap in Fox News interview

Report: Trump won’t be indicted over Jan 6 today

Thursday 27 July 2023 20:50 , Oliver O'Connell

A federal court in Washington DC said on Thursday there were no indictments returned today and none were expected, despite heavy speculation charges from special counsel Jack Smith’s office against Donald Trump could be announced any moment.

The deputy clerk of the US District Court for the District of Columbia said no such indictment was likely on Thursday, Politico reports.

Trump won’t be indicted over Jan 6 today, report says

Now one of their biggest supporters, Trump once condemned the Jan 6 rioters

Thursday 27 July 2023 20:40 , Oliver O'Connell

The day after Jan. 6, 2021, then-President Donald Trump denounced the rioters who violently stormed the Capitol building, breaking through barricades, battling law enforcement and sending members of Congress — who were set to formally certify his reelection loss — running for their lives.

“Like all Americans, I am outraged by the violence, lawlessness and mayhem,” he said in a video, condemning what he called a “heinous attack.”

That condemnation was delayed and only offered amid widespread criticism — including from fellow Republicans — for his role in sparking the mayhem. But 2 1/2 years later, any sign of regret or reprimand from Trump has vanished as he prepares to face federal criminal charges for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Trump once condemned the Jan. 6 rioters. Now he's become one of their biggest supporters

Grand jury still appears to be meeting at courthouse

Thursday 27 July 2023 20:33 , Oliver O'Connell

Per Daniel Barnes of NBC News:

The grand jury investigating the 2020 election appears to still be meeting. While some members were seen briefly leaving the jury room midday to get a snack, the panel didn't appear to take a lunch break as it often does on days that it is working.

Biden won’t pardon son for tax and firearms charges, White House says

Thursday 27 July 2023 20:25 , Oliver O'Connell

The White House on Thursday said President Joe Biden would not use his authority as president to grant any pardons or other relief that would short-circuit the criminal case against his son, Hunter Biden.

The younger Mr Biden, an attorney and lobbyist turned visual artist, is currently facing two misdemeanour charges for allegedly failing to pay taxes for two years, as well as a felony charge for allegedly lying on a gun background check form.

Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.

White House says Biden won’t pardon son for tax and firearms charges

Court official says no indictment today

Thursday 27 July 2023 20:09 , Oliver O'Connell

A deputy clerk at the US District Court in Washington, DC told reporters that no indictments were returned today and none are expected for the remainder of the day.

The grand jury investigating former President Donald Trump and the 2020 election has been meeting at the courthouse today and Mr Trump’s legal team met with prosecutors this morning and has reportedly been told that an indictment is coming, but were not given any timing.

Tucker Carlson claims real reason he was fired from Fox News was part of Dominion settlement

Thursday 27 July 2023 20:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Tucker Carlson has claimed that his firing from Fox News was part of the $787.5m defamation settlement between the network and Dominion Voting Systems.

In a new book, the ousted host says that Fox “agreed to take me off the air, my show off the air, as a condition of the Dominion settlement,” according to The Guardian.

Gustaf Kilander has the details.

Tucker Carlson reveals what he claims to be real reason he was fired from Fox News

DC protests law enforcement officer seen at courthouse

Thursday 27 July 2023 19:53 , Oliver O'Connell

Zachary Petrizzo of The Daily Beast reports that one of the law enforcement officers seen at the DC courthouse today, ahead of an expected indictment of former president Donald Trump, was Commander Jason Bagshaw who is known for his units handling of protests in the city.

Feinstein appears confused and is instructed to vote ‘aye’ by fellow senator at meeting

Thursday 27 July 2023 19:40 , Oliver O'Connell

One of the frequent instances in which Senator Dianne Feinstein has appeared confused and unsure of the business of the Senate at hand has been caught on camera, a day after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell froze at a press conference and was ushered away after appearing unable to talk.

The Democratic senator from California was attending a meeting Thursday of the Senate Appropriations Commitee, where during votes she appeared to lose track of the proceedings and began to motion for a vote that was already in progress.

John Bowden reports from Washington, DC.

Sen Dianne Feinstein appears confused at meeting

What don’t we know yet about Trump’s looming January 6 indictment?

Thursday 27 July 2023 19:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump is widely expected to be hit with his third indictment of the year this week over his attempts to overturn the result of the 2020 US presidential election and his role in the ensuing Capitol riot of 6 January 2021.

Here’s what we don’t yet know...

Unanswered questions about Trump’s looming January 6 indictment

Thursday 27 July 2023 19:18 , Oliver O'Connell

Profile: Jack Smith — The ex-war crimes prosecutor coming for Trump

Thursday 27 July 2023 19:10 , Oliver O'Connell

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

Read on...

Who is Jack Smith? The ex-war crimes prosecutor who is coming for Trump

Trump dismisses looming Jan 6 indictment

Thursday 27 July 2023 18:56 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump on Thursday urged people following him on his Truth Social website not to heed legitimate news outlets’ reporting on the looming indictment that could soon be approved against him by a Washington, DC grand jury.

Mr Trump took to his bespoke social media platform in the early afternoon to confirm that his defence team had concluded what he described as a “productive meeting” with Department of Justice representatives, including Jack Smith, the special counsel currently supervising multiple investigations into his conduct.

Andrew Feinberg has the latest from Washington, DC.

Trump dismisses looming Jan 6 indictment: ‘Do not trust the Fake News’

Recap: Trump told to ‘expect’ indictment after lawyers meet special counsel

Thursday 27 July 2023 18:40 , Oliver O'Connell

The grand jury could vote on charges against Mr Trump as soon as Thursday. According to NBC News, Mr Trump’s lawyers were told to expect that the grand jury will vote in favour of approving charges against him.

Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.

Trump told to ‘expect’ indictment after lawyers meet special counsel

‘Ridiculous, baseless stunt’: White House attacks McCarthy’s impeachment gambit

Thursday 27 July 2023 18:20 , Oliver O'Connell

The White House issued a blistering statement on Thursday morning after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy floated the possibility of backing an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden in order to press Mr Biden for information about his and his son’s financial dealings.

John Bowden reports.

White House attacks McCarthy’s impeachment gambit as ‘ridiculous, baseless stunt’

‘No indication of notice’ given to Trump lawyers

Thursday 27 July 2023 18:17 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump has broken his silence on Truth Social today, posting:

My attorneys had a productive meeting with the DOJ this morning, explaining in detail that I did nothing wrong, was advised by many lawyers, and that an Indictment of me would only further destroy our Country. No indication of notice was given during the meeting — Do not trust the Fake News on anything!

CNN’s Kaitlan Collins notes that the target letter the former president received in the middle of the month was essentially a notice of pending indictment.

US Marshals and law enforcement confer ahead of expected Trump indictment

Thursday 27 July 2023 18:12 , Oliver O'Connell

Per NBC News:

Members of the US Marshals are meeting with other members of law enforcement at the Prettyman Federal Courthouse ahead of an expected indictment against Trump.

Officials from the US Park Police and the Metropolitan Police Department were present.

As Trump faces his third of 2023, what is an indictment?

Thursday 27 July 2023 18:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump is widely expected to be indicted for a third time this year after receiving a letter from Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith warning him that he is under investigation by a grand jury over his role in inciting the US Capitol riot of 6 January 2021.

But what is an indictment?

What is an indictment? Donald Trump facing third of 2023 over Capitol riot

McConnell’s abrupt silence at press conference spurs fresh calls for term limits

Thursday 27 July 2023 17:40 , Oliver O'Connell

After Senator Mitch McConnell’s perplexing and sudden moment of silence during a press conference on Wednesday, people are calling on government officials, once again, to enact term limits.

For years, Americans have called on members of Congress to set term limits to their careers as most representatives and senators are well above the age of the average American.

Ariana Baio reports.

Mitch McConnell’s abrupt silence spurs fresh calls for term limits

Meanwhile, over in DeSantis World...

Thursday 27 July 2023 17:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has said he would consider appointing anti-vaxxer and conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy Jr to head up the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) if he is elected to the White House.

The Republican presidential hopeful made the bizarre comment in an interview wth OutKick’s Clay Travis on Wednesday when he was asked whether he would consider adding RFK Jr to his ticket as vice president.

Rachel Sharp reports.

Ron DeSantis considering RFK Jr to lead the CDC or FDA if elected president

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