Trump news – live: Trump lashes out at ‘deranged’ Jack Smith as potential indictment over Jan 6 looms

Donald Trump has gone on the attack over the grand jury investigation into the January 6 Capitol riot and his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election – as he could be indicted on criminal charges as soon as this week.

In a Truth Social rant on Sunday night, the former president lashed out at special counsel Jack Smith and Attorney General Merrick Garland claiming that the investigations are a “coordinated Hoax” and a ploy to “STEAL ANOTHER ELECTION through PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT at levels never seen before in the U.S.”.

This comes as former vice president Mike Pence downplayed Mr Trump’s actions leading up to the Capitol riot, claiming that he is not sure if they were criminal or not.

“While his words were reckless, based on what I know, I am not yet convinced that they were criminal,” Mr Pence, who is also a Republican presidential contender, told CNN’s “State of the Union”.

In one of the clearest signs that Mr Trump could face federal charges for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, the former president said last week that he had received a letter saying he is a target of a grand jury investigation.

Key points

Mike Pence ‘not convinced’ yet that Donald Trump’s Jan 6 actions were criminal
Judge sets May 2024 date for Trump classified documents trial
Trump demands cameras in courtroom for expected federal case
Trump taunts Republican enemies and says Christie hopes ‘as dead as his stomach band’
Deadline for Trump to give evidence in Jan 6 probe passes as third indictment looms
Trump insists Jan 6 indictment doesn’t ‘frighten’ him

Which presidential candidates have met the criteria to join first RNC debate?

08:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Six 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

Haley leads DeSantis in South Carolina, Fox poll shows

07:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Eric Garcia has the latest as the home state candidate Nikki Haleuy bests Ron DeSantis for the number two spot behind Donald Trump in South Carolina.

Nikki Haley leads Ron DeSantis in South Carolina: Fox poll

ICYMI: Jack Smith has contacted Georgia Governor Brian Kemp

06:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has given insight into the possible scope of special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation of Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

The Republican governor - who survived a Trump-backed attempt to oust him from office last year - told USA Today on Sunday that Mr Smith’s office had contacted him.

However, it is unclear what stage Mr Smith’s investigation has reached or whether Mr Kemp’s office had provided, or agreed to provide, evidence or testimony.

John Bowden reports.

Jack Smith has contacted Brian Kemp over Trump’s effort to overturn 2020 election

How Trump is gaining an advantage in the battle for delegates

05:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Set aside the polls, the fundraising numbers or Donald Trump’s name recognition as metrics of his early dominance of the Republican presidential contest. He has what could prove to be the most important advantage in the race: a leg up in winning the delegates needed to clinch the GOP nomination.

How Trump is gaining an advantage in the nitty-gritty battle for delegates

Nervous GOP candidates turn to New Hampshire in hopes of stopping Trump

04:45 , Oliver O'Connell

They acknowledge Donald Trump‘s dominance, but weary Republicans across New Hampshire — even inside the governor’s office — are fighting to stop the former president from winning the first-in-the-nation primary.

For now, however, they’re relying on little more than hope and prayers.

Nervous Republicans turn to New Hampshire in hopes of stopping Trump

The judge with Trump’s fate in her hands was appointed by him

03:45 , Oliver O'Connell

A Florida district judge assigned to oversee Donald Trump’s classified documents case is attracting criticism given that it was Mr Trump himself who elevated her to the bench three years ago.

Aileen Cannon, a federal judge with the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida overseeing the Espionage Act and obstruction of justice case against Mr Trump, has rejected the disgraced ex-president’s bid to delay his trial until after the 2024 election.

Judge Cannon issued an order on 21 July granting the government’s request to set a speedy trial date and schedule for pretrial motions, with a start date of 20 May 2024.

Joe Sommerlad reports.

Aileen Cannon: The judge with Trump’s fate in her hands was appointed by him

Explained: Trump, January 6 and a conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election

02:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward reports on how a sprawling Justice Department probe into Donald Trump and his allies could result in several criminal charges against the former president.

The federal investigation into Trump and January 6, explained

Voices: Ron DeSantis is caught in a death spiral of his own making

01:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Eric Garcia writes:

At this point, almost everyone, including his fans, acknowledges Florida Gov Ron DeSantis’s presidential campaign has severely underperformed its expectations. He failed to raise more money than former president Donald Trump and his campaign has burned through cash, which has led to him shedding staff.

This weekend, two polls from Fox Business offered a double body blow to Mr DeSantis, with one showing that Mr Trump leads the governor by 30 points while Sen Tim Scott (R-SC) is biting at his heels. Even more brutally, a poll in South Carolina shows he now trails the state’s former Gov Nikki Haley by one point.

Read on...

Ron DeSantis is caught in a death spiral of his own making

DeSantis has already blown 40 per cent of his campaign donations

00:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Ron DeSantis’s campaign advisers took the rare (and sometimes fatal) step of acknowledging mismanagement of the Florida governor’s presidential bid this weekend, as reports revealed that he is burning through cash with little to show for it.

The Florida governor’s top staff and advisers were in Utah on Sunday where, according to Politico, they appeared in front of dozens of restless campaign donors who have expressed concern about a return on their investments and the overall trajectory of Mr DeSantis’s bid for the White House.

John Bowden reports.

Ron DeSantis has already blown 40 per cent of his campaign donations

Could prosecutors charge Trump with racketeering in Georgia case?

00:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward explores the possibility that the Fulton County grand jury could lead to racketeering charges against former president Donald Trump.

How prosecutors could charge Trump with racketeering in Georgia case

Nervous GOP candidates turn to New Hampshire in hopes of stopping Trump

23:15 , Oliver O'Connell

For now, however, they’re relying on little more than hope and prayers.

Nervous Republicans turn to New Hampshire in hopes of stopping Trump

Man who beat officer with flagpole during Capitol riot is sentenced

22:45 , Oliver O'Connell

An Arkansas truck driver who beat a police officer with a flagpole attached to an American flag during the US Capitol riot was sentenced Monday to more than four years in prison.

Read on...

Man who beat officer with flagpole during Capitol riot is sentenced to over 4 years in prison

ICYMI: Jack Smith has contacted Georgia Governor Brian Kemp

22:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has given insight into the possible scope of special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation of Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

The Republican governor - who survived a Trump-backed attempt to oust him from office last year - told USA Today on Sunday that Mr Smith’s office had contacted him.

However, it is unclear what stage Mr Smith’s investigation has reached or whether Mr Kemp’s office had provided, or agreed to provide, evidence or testimony.

John Bowden reports.

Jack Smith has contacted Brian Kemp over Trump’s effort to overturn 2020 election

GOP’s Hunter Biden gambit jeopardises national security, say House Oversight Democrats

22:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee issued a memo saying that Chairman James Comer (R-KY) and Sen Chuck Grassley’s (R-IA) release of an unclassified document related to their probe of Hunter Biden jeopardises national security.

Mr Grassley released what is called an FD-1023 form, which includes claims that a confidential informant made about President Joe Biden’s son Hunter’s work with Ukrainian energy company Burisma.

The informant claimed that they were told by officials at Burisma about their relationships with then-vice president Biden and his son Hunter. But top Republicans admit they cannot verify the claims in the form.

But a memo from the Democratic members of the committee characterised the claims, which were memorialised “second-hand” from Ukrainian Oligarch Mykola Zlochevsky, the owner of Burisma, to the FBI by a confidential source, as coming “years after the fact.”

Eric Garcia has the latest from Capitol Hill.

House Oversight Committee Democrats call out GOP for jeopardising national security

How Trump is gaining an advantage in the battle for delegates

22:00 , Oliver O'Connell

While the delegate count won’t begin taking shape until voting begins next January, Trump’s edge in the race to win their votes is years in the making.

Read on...

How Trump is gaining an advantage in the nitty-gritty battle for delegates

Pennsylvania mayor seeking reimbursement of costs from Trump as he prepares another rally

21:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The Erie-Times News reports that the city of Erie is once again seeking reimbursement from the Trump campaign for any costs incurred by the taxpayer as a result of the former president’s rally planned for Saturday.

The president did not repay more than $35,000 to the city to cover the costs of a rally in 2018.

Erie Mayor Joe Schember’s administration will once again seek reimbursement from former President Donald J. Trump’s campaign for any taxpayer-funded, employee related costs incurred as a result of Trump’s planned Saturday rally at Erie Insurance Arena.

Schember told the Erie Times-News Monday morning that the city plans to pursue reimbursement from the Trump campaign, despite the fact that the former president's campaign committee did not repay more than $35,000 to the city in relation to a Trump rally which took place at Erie Insurance Arena almost five years ago.

‘I gave $1 to you and $20 to Biden’

21:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Republican presidential candidate and North Dakota Gov Doug Burgum is offering $20 gift cards to donors who give $1 to his campaign — but some supporters of Joe Biden say they have been funnelling the gift card money to the president’s re-election campaign.

Kelly Rissman has the story.

Biden supporters exploit Republican’s $1 cashback campaign pledge

Giuliani team that tried to find evidence of 2020 fraud hands over hundreds of documents to Jan 6 probe

21:00 , Oliver O'Connell

The former New York City Police Department commissioner who collected spurious evidence of alleged voter fraud and manipulation for Donald Trump’s campaign has agreed to turn over hundreds of documents, according to court filings.

Alex Woodward has the details.

Jack Smith receives hundreds of documents from Giuliani team

Watch: Miles Taylor reveals Trump ‘desperately wanted to create his own armed mercenary group'

20:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Former White House staffer Miles Taylor revealed in an interview that former president Donald Trump desperately wanted to create an American version of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Wagner Group.

Wow. Miles Taylor reveals Trump "desperately wanted to create his own armed mercenary group" like Putin's Wagner Group and that Trump had plans to deploy the U.S. military domestically to intimidate political opposition and achieve his political aims. https://t.co/mYKXUuvsns pic.twitter.com/PF9xQuGvxx
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) July 24, 2023

Voices: Is Donald Trump a legal unicorn?

20:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Benedict Cosgrove writes:

As the legal troubles facing Donald Trump grow, many of us are torn by conflicting responses to the spectacle of a former president facing multiple felony criminal indictments.

Yes, we’re grateful that the most depraved, transparently autocratic president in US history is facing justice. But our satisfaction is tempered by the knowledge that, like any mob boss, Trump sees the indictments as a badge of honor, and countless MAGA die-hards see them that way, too.

Read on...

Is Donald Trump a legal unicorn?

Watch: Christie says Trump threat to suspend Constitution should disqualify him from 2024 race

20:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Chris Christie on Donald Trump:

"He said that it was ok to suspend the Constitution if you think the election was stolen from you...Anybody, in my opinion, who says that it's okay to suspend the Constitution is disqualified from being President of the United States." pic.twitter.com/A3fZQMBkKP
— Republican Accountability (@AccountableGOP) July 24, 2023

What does the Kerik evidence mean for the next Trump indictment?

20:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Referencing The Daily Beast reporting, MSNBC’s Katie Phang notes what the evidence handed over by former NYPD commissioner Bernie Kerik could mean for the special counsel investigation into Donald Trump’s alleged election interference, and the likely third indictment of the former president.

"Smith is expected to now receive nearly 2,000 pages of material describing how Kerik looked into bogus fraud allegations. The records could prove pivotal for federal prosecutors, who are seeking evidence of Trump’s decision-making process..." https://t.co/o7QK6Ar3mv
— Katie Phang (@KatiePhang) July 24, 2023

"Smith is expected to now receive nearly 2,000 pages of material describing how Kerik looked into bogus fraud allegations. The records could prove pivotal for federal prosecutors, who are seeking evidence of Trump’s decision-making process..."

"Kerik has agreed to sit down with the feds for a formal interview sometime in mid-August, Kerik said. That timing could indicate that Smith isn’t as close to indicting Trump as the former president has recently suggested..."

"...but Smith could also conduct the Kerik interview after an indictment. Investigators typically wrap up interviews and collect a full picture of evidence before asking a grand jury to vote on criminal charges."

"...but Smith could also conduct the Kerik interview after an indictment. Investigators typically wrap up interviews and collect a full picture of evidence before asking a grand jury to vote on criminal charges."
— Katie Phang (@KatiePhang) July 24, 2023

Unanswered questions about Donald Trump’s looming third indictment

19:45 , 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.

Mr Trump took to Truth Social last Tuesday (18 July) to gripe to his followers about receiving a letter from Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith informing him that he is the target of a grand jury investigation, adding to his ever-mounting legal woes at a time when he is attempting to secure the Republican Party’s backing to be its candidate for the White House in 2024.

The development comes after he was arraigned in New York on 4 April over the alleged misrepresentation of business records to conceal hush money payments during the 2016 campaign and again in Florida on 13 June over the alleged mishandling of classified documents belonging to the US government in the aftermath of his presidency.

Mr Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing and, despite these setbacks, his popularity with his supporters remains largely undimmed: he leads the field in the quest for the GOP nomination to challenge Joe Biden and has turned adversity to his advantage by raising campaign funds off the back of his insistence that he is really the victim of political persecution by his enemies and a Justice Department “weaponised” against him by the Biden administration.

Unanswered questions about Trump’s looming January 6 indictment

Haley leads DeSantis in South Carolina, poll shows

19:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Two new polls from Fox Business show that Florida governor Ron DeSantis’s numbers in the Republican presidential primary continue to tumble in Iow in South Carolina, where the state’s former governor Nikki Haley has eclipsed him.

Eric Garcia reports.

Nikki Haley leads Ron DeSantis in South Carolina: Fox poll

Former NYPD commissioner hands Trump records to special counsel, report says

19:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Per The Daily Beast:

Bernie Kerik, the former NYPD commissioner who collected evidence of supposed election fraud for the Trump campaign in 2020, has cut a deal to turn over records to Department of Justice Special Counsel Jack Smith as part of the investigation into Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Smith previously sought the documents, which are related to Kerik’s role as the former president’s on-the-ground investigator looking into eventually disproven conspiracy theories about ballot stuffing and fake voters. However, Kerik’s legal team had refused to turn those documents over, citing attorney-client privilege stemming from the fact that Kerik was working on behalf of Trump’s lawyer, Rudy Giuliani.

But on Friday, Trump himself waived that privilege and agreed to have the documents turned over, according to Kerik’s defense lawyer, Timothy Parlatore.

Watch: Trump alleged 2020 election interference was drama in three acts

19:00 , Oliver O'Connell

As I explained @CNN, Trump’s alleged 2020 election interference was a drama in 3 parts

Act 1 yielded the phony electoral certificates

Act 2 used them to press Pence

& when that failed, Act 3 was the violence of 1/6 pic.twitter.com/Rz90JhB9fT
— Norm Eisen (@NormEisen) July 24, 2023

Voices: What Donald Trump’s trial date means for the 2024 election

18:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Eric Garcia writes:

Another day, another wrench thrown into the Republican presidential primary. On Friday, US District Judge Aileen Cannon issued an order announcing Donald Trump’s court date for his trial for charges related to the Espionage Act and obstruction of justice will take place on 20 May 2024.

Read on...

What Donald Trump’s trial date means for the 2024 election

Watch: Haley says she will support Trump if he is nominated but adds he cannot win a general election

18:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Nikki Haley on Trump: "But I will tell you, you look at these indictments. There's probably going to be a fourth indictment. We can't have as Republicans him as the nominee. He can't win a general election. That's the problem. We've got to go & have someone who can actually win."
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) July 24, 2023

Which presidential candidates have met criteria to join first RNC debate?

17:30 , Oliver O'Connell

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

Read on...

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

Trump shares meme calling Jan 6 a ‘government staged riot’ even though he was in power

17:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump reposted a meme on Truth Social that suggested the government led the Capitol riot on January 6, despite the fact that he was president at the time.

The meme, which Mr Trump “re-truthed,” said: “January 6 will go down in history as the day the government staged a riot to cover up the fact that they certified a fraudulent election.”

The meme has been liked nearly 9,000 times and shared 2,400 times as of Monday. In reaction to Mr Trump’s repost, journalist Aaron Rupar sarcastically wrote on Twitter: “rubbing my last 2 brain cells together as I try to remember who ran the government on January 6.”

Kelly Rissman reports.

Trump confuses by sharing meme blaming government for Jan 6 despite holding office

Judge with Trump’s fate in her hands was appointed by him

16:40 , Oliver O'Connell

A Florida district judge assigned to oversee Donald Trump’s classified documents case is attracting criticism given that it was Mr Trump himself who elevated her to the bench three years ago.

Judge Cannon issued an order on 21 July granting the government’s request to set a speedy trial date and schedule for pretrial motions, with a start date of 20 May 2024.

Read on...

Aileen Cannon: The judge with Trump’s fate in her hands was appointed by him

The many lawsuits and criminal charges involving Donald Trump and where they stand

16:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Since leaving the White House, Donald Trump has continued to face a cloud of lawsuits and investigations, which could frustrate his hopes to win back the presidency in 2024.

The Independent’s US news team has been closely following the former president’s legal woes.

Here’s a summary of where each of the cases against him stands:

All the investigations Trump still faces following his second arrest

Is Trump going to prison?

16:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Andrew Feinberg explains.

Is Donald Trump going to prison?

When will Trump next be indicted?

15:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Despite leading the race to be the Republican Party’s next presidential candidate, Donald Trump’s legal woes continue to mount.

Last week, Mr Trump was informed by Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smith that he is the target of a grand jury investigation into his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and his role in the deadly Capitol riot of 6 January 2021.

This comes after he has already been indicted twice this year – once over hush money payments allegedly made during his 2016 election campaign and second over his alleged mishandling of classified documents since leaving the White House.

Rachel Sharp takes a look at what might happen next.

When is Donald Trump’s next indictment?

Explained: The Trump federal investigation

15:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward reports on how a sprawling Justice Department probe into Donald Trump and his allies could result in several criminal charges against the former president.

The federal investigation into Trump and January 6, explained

Jack Smith: The prosecutor overseeing the Trump federal investigations

15:20 , Oliver O'Connell

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

The Department of Justice veteran returned to the US last November after being appointed a special counsel by Attorney General Merrick Garland.

The first mission was to consider, “whether any person or entity violated the law in connection with efforts to interfere with the lawful transfer of power following the 2020 presidential election or the certification of the electoral college vote held on or about January 6, 2021”.

The second, which led to Mr Trump being indicted and arraigned in 37 federal charges, was about whether the former president had violated US laws prohibiting unlawful retention of national defence information and obstruction of justice.

Read on...

Who is Jack Smith, the prosecutor overseeing the Trump probes

Pelosi slams ‘pathetic’ McCarthy for ‘playing politics’ with plans to expunge Trump impeachments

15:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi slammed her successor Kevin McCarthy for plans to expunge former president Donald Trump’s two impeachments, in an interview with CNN on Sunday.

Ms Pelosi presided over both impeachments of Mr Trump, the first in 2019 when Mr Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate Joe Biden’s son Hunter in exchange for military aid to the country, and the second in 2021 for the January 6 riot.

“The president was impeached because we had no choice,” she said on CNN’s State of the Union. “He had undermined our national security, jeopardised our wellbeing of our country.”

Ms Pelosi said she was very cautious about bringing forward the two impeachments.

Eric Garcia reports.

Nancy Pelosi slams ‘pathetic’ Kevin McCarthy for plans to expunge Trump impeachments

Marjorie Taylor Greene addresses conspiracy theory linking her to Jan 6 pipe bomber

14:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has taken to social media to address “one of many absolutely stupid conspiracy theories” linking her to the January 6 pipe bomber.

Back on 6 January 2021, authorities identified two pipe bombs in the Washington DC area — one each outside of the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee headquarters on Capitol Hill.

The devices were discovered just minutes before Donald Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol, prompting concerns that they were planted as a distraction ahead of the chaos.

Graig Graziosi reports.

Marjorie Taylor Greene addresses online conspiracy linking her to Jan 6 pipe bomber

Trump demands Senate act to thwart ‘most corrupt President in the history of the United States'

14:23 , Oliver O'Connell

In a post-breakfast Monday morning Truth Social post, Donald Trump demanded that Republican leadership in the Senate rebukes “Crooked Joe Biden and the Radical Left Democrats, Fascists, and Marxists for their criminal acts against our Country”.

Here’s the full post:

Joe Biden is the most corrupt President in the history of the United States, which is being undeniably proven in the House of Representatives every single day. But with all of these horrible revelations and facts, why hasn’t Republican “leadership” in the Senate spoken up and rebuked Crooked Joe Biden and the Radical Left Democrats, Fascists, and Marxists for their criminal acts against our Country, some of them against me. How long does America have to wait for the Senate to ACT?

Trump lashes out at ‘deranged’ Jack Smith in Sunday night Truth Social rant about legal woes

14:00 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump lashed out at Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smith, US Attorney General Merrick Garland and his own successor President Joe Biden in his latest tirade on Truth Social on Sunday night, where he once again claimed to be the victim of a “coordinated HOAX” orchestrated by his enemies to rob him of a return to the White House.

Mr Trump was informed by Mr Smith last week that he is the target of a grand jury investigation into his role in the deadly Capitol riot of 6 January 2021 and in his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election in his favour.

He could be charged as soon as this week, having already been indicted twice this year over hush money payments allegedly made during his 2016 election campaign and over his alleged mishandling of classified documents in the aftermath of his presidency.

Read the story here:

Trump lashes out at ‘deranged’ Jack Smith in nighttime rant about legal woes

Trump demands cameras in courtroom for potential federal trial

13:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s new lawyer will ask a judge to allow cameras in a federal courtroom if the one-term president is indicted with January 6 election fraud charges by the Department of Justice.

Mr Trump has said that he received a target letter from special counsel Jack Smith who could be set to bring criminal charges against the GOP front-runner within days.

“I would hope that the Department of Justice would join in that effort so that we can take the curtain away and all Americans can see what’s happening,” Mr Lauro said in an appearance on Fox News.

There’s a major obstacle in the way though, as Graeme Massie reports.

Trump demands cameras in courtroom for potential election fraud case

WATCH: Nancy Pelosi slams 'pathetic' Kevin McCarthy for 'playing politics' with plans to expunge trump impeachments

13:00 , Rachel Sharp

“These people are pathetic": Nancy Pelosi just ripped Kevin McCarthy and Republicans for their proposed plan to pass a bill to 'expunge' Donald Trump's impeachments. There is no such thing as 'expunging' an impeachment. pic.twitter.com/vjg8UJemGZ
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) July 23, 2023

Judge says ex-president did ‘rape’ columnist E Jean Carroll

12:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The judge overseeing Donald Trump’s sexual abuse case brought by columnist E Jean Carroll has denied his bid to toss the jury’s verdict, and let the air out of his legal team’s argument.

Judge Lewis Kaplan ruled this week that a jury’s award of $2m to Ms Carroll over its finding that Mr Trump had indeed sexually abused her was not excessive, given that while the actions alleged by his accuser did not fit the legal definition of rape, they certainly fit the colloquial meaning of the word.

John Bowden reports.

Trump bid to toss E Jean Carroll ruling backfires as judge says he did ‘rape’ her

Jack Smith has contacted Georgia Governor over Trump’s effort to overturn 2020 election

12:00 , Rachel Sharp

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has given insight into the possible scope of special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation of Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

The Republican governor - who survived a Trump-backed attempt to oust him from office last year - told USA Today on Sunday that Mr Smith’s office had contacted him.

However it is unclear what stage Mr Smith’s investigation has reached or whether Mr Kemp’s office had provided, or agreed to provide, evidence or testimony.

Trump classified documents trial set for May 2024

11:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The Florida federal judge overseeing the Espionage Act and obstruction of justice case against former president Donald Trump has rejected the disgraced ex-president’s bid to delay his trial until after the 2024 election.

US District Judge Aileen Cannon on Friday issued an order granting the government’s request to set a speedy trial date and schedule for pretrial motions, with a start date of 20 May 2024.

Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.

Judge sets May 2024 date for Trump classified documents trial

Trump lashes out at ‘deranged’ Jack Smith in Sunday night rant at legal woes

11:00 , Rachel Sharp

“Just think of it! Between Mueller, Deranged Jack Smith, and Congressional Committees, over 100 Million Dollars has been spent investigating me since I came down the escalator in Trump Tower,” Trump fumed.

“Biden is a criminal, and almost no money, by comparison, has been spent investigating him. Get smart, Republicans, they are trying to steal the Election from you!”

How might prosecutors charge Trump with racketeering in Georgia case?

10:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The Georgia prosecutor investigating Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in that state is reportedly weighing a racketeering indictment against the former president and others.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis could rely on evidence tied to Mr Trump’s infamous call to the state’s top elections official to “find” votes for him, as well as the breach of voting machines by a group of Trump-connected operatives, according to The Guardian, citing two people briefed on the matter.

Prosecutors are reportedly reviewing a racketeering indictment including statutes related to influencing witnesses and computer trespass.

An indictment is expected within the first two weeks of August.

Alex Woodward reports.

How prosecutors could charge Trump with racketeering in Georgia case

Explained: Trump, January 6 and a conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election

09:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward explains how a sprawling Justice Department probe into Donald Trump and his allies could result in several criminal charges against the former president.

The federal investigation into Trump and January 6, explained

How Trump is gaining an advantage in the nitty-gritty battle for delegates

07:54 , Shweta Sharma

While the delegate count won’t begin taking shape until voting begins next January, Trump’s edge in the race to win their votes is years in the making.

Many state Republican parties made changes to their rules ahead of the 2020 election by adding more winner-take-all contests and requiring candidates to earn higher percentages of the vote to claim any delegates.

DeSantis says he’d accept Trump being prosecuted for a ‘traditional crime’

07:30 , Oliver O'Connell

There is a scenario in which Gov Ron DeSantis would applaud the prosecution of former President Donald Trump — but only if Mr Trump were to do a “traditional crime” like “robbing a bank.”

“Look, nobody is above the law,” Mr DeSantis said in an appearance on Newsmax.

“If Donald Trump or any big political person gets caught robbing a bank or doing things that we know are traditional crimes that people get prosecuted for every day, that’s just the way the cookie crumbles.”

Abe Asher reports on the governor’s comments.

DeSantis says he’d accept prosecution of Trump for a ‘traditional crime’

Mike Pence says he is not convinced yet that Donald Trump’s Jan 6 actions were criminal

05:53 , Shweta Sharma

Former vice president Mike Pence has said that he is not yet convinced that Donald Trump’s actions leading up to the Capitol attacks on 6 January 2021 were criminal as his former boss is expected to face federal criminal charges.

In one of the clearest signs that Mr Trump could face federal charges for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, the former president said he had received a letter saying he is a target of a grand jury investigation.

“I hope it does not come to that,” Mr Pence said on a potential Mr Trump indictment over efforts to overturn the 2020 election. He said it should be left to the American public to determine whether Mr Trump was responsible.

“His actions were reckless,” Pence said. He added: “I don’t honestly know what his intention was” on January 6 2021.

Jim Caviezel proclaims Trump ‘the new Moses’

05:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Actor Jim Caviezel has proclaimed Donald Trump “the new Moses” after visiting him in New Jersey.

Caviezel, who played Jesus in Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, made the biblical comparison to the twice-indicted and twice-impeached one-term president on Fox News.

The conservative actor appeared on Fox & Friends on Fox News on Thursday to promote his new anti-trafficking movie Sound of Freedom.

Graeme Massie reports.

Actor Jim Caviezel proclaims Trump ‘the new Moses’ after visiting him at Bedminster

ICYMI: Trump shares sinister new video issuing apocalyptic threat

03:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump shared a menacing new video on his Truth Social account on Thursday in which he promises to “do things that have never been done before” to people who “f*** around with us.”

Abe Asher has the story.

Trump shares video issuing apocalyptic threat to anyone who ‘f***s around with us’

Trump suggest ‘ALL TRUMP ALL THE TIME’ to fix Fox News ratings

01:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Seeming to ignore that a federal trial date has been set for the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case brought against him by Special Counsel Jack Smith — dismissing his request to postpone it until after the 2024 election — Donald Trump instead took to Truth Social to attack two of his favourite foes: Fox News and Ron DeSantis.

He posted:

Fox is down 58%, at least, all because they don’t treat “TRUMP” and “MAGA” well. They are focused on someone who can’t win, Ron DeSanctimonious, who will never be able to bring it home. The only reason DeSanctus won in Florida is because I Endorsed him, and Campaigned for him—He would have lost by 40 points. The sadder part is, he TOTALLY forgot! He also forgot he wanted to close down Social Security, Ethanol, and obliterate Medicare…

He continued:

…Fox is gone, just like in 2016, and the only way they come back is if they go “ALL TRUMP ALL THE TIME.” Our people have had it! MAGA and America First are stronger than ever before, but we want and deserve support like the Radical Left Democrat Fascists get from so many sources, including the Fake News Media and Law Enforcement. Bring back Fox, before it’s too late!

The former president linked to a Breitbart article attacking both CNN and Fox News for suffering a “brutal ratings collapse”.

Journalist Aaron Rupar notes: “Fox’s coverage of Trump these days is overwhelmingly positive, and the entire primetime lineup of hosts are Trump supporters. Still not enough for him though.”

Fox’s coverage of Trump these days is overwhelmingly positive, and the entire primetime lineup of hosts are Trump supporters. Still not enough for him though. pic.twitter.com/PEK59ggDNP
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 21, 2023

ICYMI: Grassley releases full FBI memo with unverified claims about Hunter Biden

Sunday 23 July 2023 23:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley released an unclassified document Thursday that Republicans claim is significant in their investigation of Hunter Biden as they probe the financial affairs of the president’s son and revive previously debunked claims of wrongdoing.

Grassley of Iowa has been working alongside House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., as Republicans deepen their probe of the President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, ahead of the 2024 election. Comer had issued a subpoena for the document from the FBI.

While lawmakers on the Oversight Committee have already been able to partly review the information, this is the first time the full form -- which contains raw, unverified information -- is being made public. Called an FD-1023 form, it involves claims a confidential informant made in 2020 about Hunter Biden’s alleged business dealings when he served on the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma. Top Republicans have acknowledged they cannot confirm whether the information is true.

Read on...

Grassley releases full FBI memo with unverified claims about Hunter Biden's work in Ukraine

Trump isn’t frightened by ack Smith Jan 6 indictment but warns it would be 'dangerous’ to jail him

Sunday 23 July 2023 21:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Hours after former President Donald Trump announced that he was a “target” in Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into the efforts to overturn the 2020 election, Mr Trump told Sean Hannity that he was “bothered” by the news but it doesn’t “frighten” him.

In a radio interview in Iowa though, the former president said he thought it would be “very dangerous” for Mr Smith to jail him prior to any trial because of his “tremendously passionate group of voters”.

Kelly Rissman has the story.

Trump not frightened by Jan 6 indictment but it would be ‘dangerous’ to jail him

Explained: Trump, January 6 and a conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election

Sunday 23 July 2023 19:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward explains how a sprawling Justice Department probe into Donald Trump and his allies could result in several criminal charges against the former president.

The federal investigation into Trump and January 6, explained

Trump demands cameras in courtroom for potential federal trial

Sunday 23 July 2023 17:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s new lawyer will ask a judge to allow cameras in a federal courtroom if the one-term president is indicted with January 6 election fraud charges by the Department of Justice.

Mr Trump has said that he received a target letter from special counsel Jack Smith who could be set to bring criminal charges against the GOP front-runner within days.

“I would hope that the Department of Justice would join in that effort so that we can take the curtain away and all Americans can see what’s happening,” attorney John Lauro said in an appearance on Fox News.

As Graeme Smith reports, there’s a slight obstacle in the way...

Trump demands cameras in courtroom for potential election fraud case

Trump leads new Fox polls in Iowa, South Carolina

Sunday 23 July 2023 16:15 , John Bowden

Donald Trump remains under the scrutiny of prosecutors across the country over a wide range of issues, and at the same time appears to be solidifying his dominance over the 2024 Republican primary field.

The former president led in two polls of crucial early primary-season states commissioned and released by Fox News on Sunday. Mr Trump has an impressive 30-point gap separating him from his nearest competitor, Florida Gov Ron DeSantis, who himself has been making an aggressive play for the state and seeking to align himself politically with Kim Reynolds, the state’s Republican governor.

Mr Trump has done so by sticking to his traditional style of insult first, ask questions later — even fuming openly at Ms Reynolds on his Truth Social platform for not endorsing his candidacy outright.

The twice indicted, twice impeached ex-president also leads the pack in South Carolina, where his closest rival is the state’s former governor, Nikki Haley; she trails him by 34 points in the Fox survey.

Trump calls for ‘immediate’ death penalty for child traffickers

Sunday 23 July 2023 15:30 , Oliver O'Connell

After watching “Sound of Freedom,” the movie associated with QAnon, former president Donald Trump said that he would require the death penalty for “anyone caught trafficking children across our border.”

Kelly Rissman has the story.

Trump calls for death penalty for child traffickers after watching QAnon-linked movie

Voices: What Donald Trump’s trial date means for the 2024 election

Sunday 23 July 2023 13:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Eric Garcia writes:

On the surface, that might make Mr Trump wince because of the fact that it denies his request to delay the trial until after the 2024 presidential election. Still, it means that Mr Trump’s legal troubles will make him the centre of attention within the GOP primary and his court case will entirely define that contest as well as the general election.

What Donald Trump’s trial date means for the 2024 election

ICYMI: Trump and Cohen reach settlement over $1.3m in unpaid legal bills

Sunday 23 July 2023 11:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has reached a settlement with his former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen over claims the former president’s company broke an agreement to pay the attorney’s legal bills, leaving him owing an estimated $1.3m.

Josh Marcus reports.

Trump and Michael Cohen reach settlement over $1.3m in unpaid legal bills

What charges does Trump face in the classified documents case?

Sunday 23 July 2023 09:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Here’s how the Mar-a-Lago classified papers case against Donald Trump unfolded and what charges he now faces.

What charges does Donald Trump face in the classified documents case?

Who is Aileen Cannon, the judge with Trump’s fate in her hands?

Sunday 23 July 2023 07:30 , Oliver O'Connell

A Florida district judge assigned to oversee Donald Trump’s classified documents case is attracting criticism given that it was Mr Trump himself who elevated her to the bench three years ago.

Judge Cannon issued an order on 21 July granting the government’s request to set a speedy trial date and schedule for pretrial motions, with a start date of 20 May 2024.

Joe Sommerlad explains her involvement in the case.

Aileen Cannon: The judge with Trump’s fate in her hands was appointed by him

Trump claims ‘Clinton socks case’ gets him off the hook, but what is he talking about?

Sunday 23 July 2023 05:30 , Oliver O'Connell

For Americans who lived through the 1990s, the words “Clinton” and “Socks” may bring to mind a whimsical image of a certain famous feline, of the black-and-white tuxedo variety, who prowled the most prestigious halls of American power at a time when the US was emerging as the world’s sole unchallenged superpower.

But for former president Donald Trump, those two words represent the latest attempt to manifest a legal defence for his alleged unlawful retention of hundreds of documents with classification markings at levels up to “top secret,” long after his term.

Andrew Feinberg explains.

Trump says ‘Clinton socks case’ gets him off the hook – what was it and is he right?

The question everyone wants an answer to...

Sunday 23 July 2023 03:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Is Donald Trump going to prison?

What’s the story behind Trump’s claim that George Bush Sr stashed documents in a bowling alley?

Sunday 23 July 2023 01:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump accused former president George HW Bush of hiding classified documents in a “bowling alley” during a rally in Arizona on Sunday 9 October 2022.

Mr Trump also claimed that many former presidents had likewise stored millions of pages of documents in warehouses “with damaged main doors”.

The blustering Republican said that Bush Sr “took millions and millions of documents to a former bowling alley pieced together with what was then an old and broken Chinese restaurant”.

Maroosha Muzaffar has the story.

The story behind Trump’s claim that Bush Sr stashed documents in a bowling alley

Timeline: How former president Trump’s second criminal case unfolded

Saturday 22 July 2023 23:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has now been arrested and formally charged with a string of federal charges relating to the storage of classified national defence documents dating from his presidency at his Mar-a-Lago mansion in Palm Beach, Florida.

The 45th president of the United States appeared in federal court in Miami on 13 June where he pleaded not guilty to all 37 counts. Should he ultimately be convicted, he could face a maximum combined sentence of 100 years in prison.

Joe Sommerlad takes us through a timeline of the case.

A timeline of the investigation into Trump’s Mar-a-Lago documents

What do a trans whistleblower, a Soviet spy, and Donald Trump have in common?

Saturday 22 July 2023 21:30 , Oliver O'Connell

No, it’s not the start of a joke, as Io Dodds explains.

A trans whistleblower, a Soviet spy and Donald Trump all have one thing in common

What is the key difference between Biden and Trump having classified documents at home?

Saturday 22 July 2023 19:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Andrew Feinberg explains.

The key difference between Biden and Trump’s classified papers

Trump classified documents trial set for May 2024

Saturday 22 July 2023 17:30 , Oliver O'Connell

US District Judge Aileen Cannon on Friday issued an order granting the government’s request to set a speedy trial date and schedule for pretrial motions, with a start date of 20 May 2024.

Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.

Judge sets May 2024 date for Trump classified documents trial

How might prosecutors charge Trump with racketeering in Georgia case?

Saturday 22 July 2023 15:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Prosecutors are reportedly reviewing a racketeering indictment including statutes related to influencing witnesses and computer trespass.

An indictment is expected within the first two weeks of August.

Alex Woodward reports.

How prosecutors could charge Trump with racketeering in Georgia case

Trump issues apocalyptic threat to anyone who ‘f***s around with us’ by sharing sinister video

Saturday 22 July 2023 13:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The video, produced by MAGA.com, features audio of the former president’s appearance on the late Rush Limbaugh’s radio show three years ago. During that appearance, Mr Trump was discussing Iran. Now, with Mr Trump set to face another federal indictment over his attempts to overturn the result of the 2020 presidential election, the audio has been repurposed.

Abe Asher has the story.

Trump shares video issuing apocalyptic threat to anyone who ‘f***s around with us’

Jim Caviezel proclaims Trump ‘the new Moses’

Saturday 22 July 2023 11:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Actor Jim Caviezel has proclaimed Donald Trump “the new Moses” after visiting him in New Jersey.

Caviezel, who played Jesus in Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, made the biblical comparison to the twice-indicted and twice-impeached one-term president on Fox News.

The conservative actor appeared on Fox & Friends on Fox News on Thursday to promote his new anti-trafficking movie Sound of Freedom.

Graeme Massie reports from Los Angeles.

Actor Jim Caviezel proclaims Trump ‘the new Moses’ after visiting him at Bedminster

Third-party bid wouldn’t derail Biden’s shot at re-election, poll says

Saturday 22 July 2023 09:30 , Oliver O'Connell

A new survey out from Monmouth University should have the Biden campaign — and the DC media circuit — breathing slightly easier.

The university’s pollsters surveyed the effect that a prominent third-party presidential bid would have on a matchup between Mr Biden and his 2020 rival, Donald Trump, who is looking more likely to be the Republican nominee with every passing day. The findings were objectively good news for the president: Voters still back him over the twice-impeached former president when a prominent third-party candidate is introduced into the equation.

John Bowden reports.

Poll suggests third-party bid wouldn’t derail Biden’s shot at re-election

Judge says ex-president did ‘rape’ columnist

Saturday 22 July 2023 07:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The judge overseeing Donald Trump’s sexual abuse case brought by columnist E Jean Carroll has denied his bid to toss the jury’s verdict, and let the air out of his legal team’s argument.

Trump bid to toss E Jean Carroll ruling backfires as judge says he did ‘rape’ her

SEC announces settlement with merger partner of Trump’s Truth Social app

Saturday 22 July 2023 05:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The Securities and Exchange Commission announced that it had settled fraud charges with the financial firm tied to former president Donald Trump’s Truth Social platform, Street Insider reported.

The SEC had accused Digital World Acquisition Corporation (DWAC), a special purpose acquisition company, of making material misrepresentations in forms it filed with the SEC as part of its initial public offering and its proposed merger with Trump Media & Technology Group Corp (TMTG), which Mr Trump founded.

DWAC had misled both the SEC and investors when it failed to disclose that it had formulated a plan to acquire and was pursuing the acquisition of TMTG.

Eric Garcia has the details.

SEC announces settlement with merger partner of Trump’s Truth Social app

McCarthy denies he made any deal with Trump to try to expunge his impeachments

Saturday 22 July 2023 04:30 , Oliver O'Connell

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy insisted this week that he had not made a deal with former President Donald Trump over the issue of expunging the latter’s two impeachments.

The Speaker was asked about the issue by reporters in his daily press gaggle on Thursday, according to Politico, as the chamber considers bills brought by a coalition between Rep Elise Stefanik, a member of leadership, and Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene — a far-right bomb-thrower recently expelled from the House Freedom Caucus for cozying up to the Speaker’s team too aggressively.

John Bowden reports from Washington, DC.

Kevin McCarthy denies he made any deal with Trump to try to expunge his impeachments

Trump trashes 2024 rivals

Saturday 22 July 2023 03:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump bashed his main rivals for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination late Thursday evening.

The former president posted on his Truth Social platform that businessman Vivek Ramaswamy is now beating Florida Gov Ron DeSantis in some polling. He also poked fun at former Arkansas Gov Asa Hutchinson and attacked former New Jersey Gov Chris Christie over his weight.

Eric Garcia reports.

Trump trashes 2024 rivals and goes after Chris Christie’s weight

Trump, January 6 and a conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election

Saturday 22 July 2023 02:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward reports how a sprawling Justice Department probe into Donald Trump and his allies could result in several criminal charges against the former president.

The federal investigation into Trump and January 6, explained

Trump legal team tries again to block Georgia 2020 grand jury probe

Saturday 22 July 2023 01:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s legal team has again made a last-minute effort to block the Fulton County, Georgia, investigation into whether the former president and his allies broke the law when they sought to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state. A new motion will now be decided by a judge based outside Fulton County, The Washington Post reports.

In an order issued on Thursday but made public on Friday, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville recused the entire judicial bench in Fulton County from hearing Mr Trump’s motion to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and her office from further investigating the former president.

The motion also calls for throwing out evidence and a final report gathered by a special grand jury that investigated the case.

Mr Glanville, the chief judge in Fulton County Superior Court, reassigned the case to Georgia’s Seventh Judicial Administrative District “for the appointment of a judge who is not a member of the district to preside over the case.”

That court, based in Cartersville, Georgia, oversees 14 counties in the northwest of the state. Future hearings may still occur in Atlanta, the order suggests.

Mr Trump’s attorneys have also filed an amended motion to disqualify Ms Willis and quash the special grand jury filings.

The 650-page filing accused the DA, in part, of “fundraising for her reelection campaign on the back of this case.”

Trump suggest fix for Fox News ratings is ‘ALL TRUMP ALL THE TIME’

Saturday 22 July 2023 00:45 , Oliver O'Connell

He posted:

He continued:

The former president linked to a Breitbart article attacking both CNN and Fox News for suffering a “brutal ratings collapse”.

Journalist Aaron Rupar notes: “Fox’s coverage of Trump these days is overwhelmingly positive, and the entire primetime lineup of hosts are Trump supporters. Still not enough for him though.”

Fox’s coverage of Trump these days is overwhelmingly positive, and the entire primetime lineup of hosts are Trump supporters. Still not enough for him though. pic.twitter.com/PEK59ggDNP
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 21, 2023

Special counsel still interviewing witnesses in Trump probe as third indictment looms

Saturday 22 July 2023 00:00 , Oliver O'Connell

As a potential third indictment of Donald Trump looms, the special counsel investigating his role in attempts to overturn the 2020 election and the build-up to January 6 is still scheduling witnesses.

CNN reports that additional witnesses are expected to appear before the grand jury over the next several weeks, including at least one former Trump attorney.

The former president was informed on Sunday that he is a target of the investigation giving Mr Trump the chance to testify or present evidence before a possible indictment is brought, which typically follows shortly after such letters are sent.

However, prosecutors are talking to at least two more witnesses about setting up interviews and those won’t be completed for at least another month.

Sources tell CNN this includes former New York City police commissioner Bernie Kerik, a Trump ally, and a former Trump lawyer.

It is not clear if prosecutors would wait until after these interviews before filing an indictment.

The structure of the case is also unknown and there are different options — a more discrete first case could be filed and then superseding indictments could be added later, or multiple defendants could face separate cases.

To date, the former president is the only person known to have received a target letter.

ICYMI: ‘Talking about obstructions of an official proceeding’

Friday 21 July 2023 23:15 , Oliver O'Connell

There was a bizarre moment in court in Washington on Thursday when the work of the grand jury investigating Donald Trump’s involvement in January 6th and overturning the 2020 election clashed with the trial of one of the rioters who stormed the US Capitol on that fateful day in 2021.

Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump appointee, was presiding over the verdict in the case of Freddie Klein, a former state department official who spent a long time in the Lower West Terrace tunnel during the attack on Congress, and Steven Cappuccio.

Kyle Cheney, senior legal affairs correspondent for Politico, was in court and reports that attorney Stanley Woodward, who represents a number of Trump associates in both the classified documents federal case and the 2020 election case, arrived 25 minutes late to court.

The “visibly frustrated” judge made Mr Woodward explain his delay to the open court, rejecting a request to huddle in private about the reason citing grand jury secrecy.

According to several reports from earlier today, Trump aide William Russell was expected to testify for the grand jury on Thursday and is likely represented by Mr Woodward.

Cheney reports that the defence attorney said prosecutors began grilling his client on matters that “potentially involve executive privilege”, and so he felt obligated to remain just outside the grand jury room until the questioning had ended.

Judge McFadden said he absolved the attorney of anything improper but was upset with prosecutors who had assured him they would not let the grand jury matter interfere with the other court business set for 2pm.

“Talking about obstructions of official proceedings,” Judge McFadden said sharply, playing on the charge against many January 6th defendants. “The government has not acted as I required.”

He then sent ent a court officer to summon special counsel prosecutors from the grand jury room to his court.

Cheney reports that Thomas Windom, a prosecutor on Jack Smith’s team, and three others duly showed up and were made to wait in the front row of the court while Judge McFadden read the lengthy verdict.

He then called up Mr Windom for a sealed bench conference in which they both talked a lot, before the prosecutor and another grand jury official left the court.

Cheney notes that the fact questioning was in the realm of executive privilege likely means that prosecutors were pressing the witness for information directly relating to Mr Trump’s conduct following the 2020 election and ahead of the Capitol riot.

Judge with Trump’s fate in her hands was appointed by him

Friday 21 July 2023 22:30 , Oliver O'Connell

A Florida district judge assigned to oversee Donald Trump’s classified documents case is attracting criticism given that it was Mr Trump himself who elevated her to the bench three years ago.

Joe Sommerlad profiles Judge Cannon and explains her role in the classified documents case to date.

Aileen Cannon: The judge with Trump’s fate in her hands was appointed by him

What charges does Trump face in the classified documents case?

Friday 21 July 2023 22:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Joe Sommerlad writes:

The most serious charges he now faces over his failure to cooperate are 31 counts brought under the Espionage Act, which criminalises the unauthorised possession of national defence information and is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

The First World War-era law predates the classification of government documents but makes it a crime to willfully retain sensitive information that could be of use to foreign adversaries.

What charges does Donald Trump face in the classified documents case?

ICYMI: Grassley releases full FBI memo with unverified claims about Hunter Biden

Friday 21 July 2023 21:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Read on...

Grassley releases full FBI memo with unverified claims about Hunter Biden's work in Ukraine

Trump claims George Bush Sr stashed documents in a bowling alley... is it true?

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

Donald Trump accused former president George HW Bush of hiding classified documents in a “bowling alley” during a rally in Arizona on Sunday 9 October 2022.

Mr Trump also claimed that many former presidents had likewise stored millions of pages of documents in warehouses “with damaged main doors”.

The blustering Republican said that Bush Sr “took millions and millions of documents to a former bowling alley pieced together with what was then an old and broken Chinese restaurant”.

He continued: “They put them together. And it had a broken front door and broken windows. Other than that it was quite secure.”

Maroosha Muzaffar takes a look at his claims.

The story behind Trump’s claim that Bush Sr stashed documents in a bowling alley

Biden 2024 campaign plans to not engage in talk of Trump legal woes

Friday 21 July 2023 21:15 , Oliver O'Connell

The White House has for many months not commented on the myriad of legal woes swirling around former President Donald Trump in order to maintain its policy of non-interference with the work of the Justice Department.

Writing in Politico, Jonathan Lemire reports that this policy will most likely continue throughout the 2024 campaign.

It’s easy to imagine — as Biden aides have been privately discussing — that Trump spends part of his 2024 campaign having to shuttle from one court date to the next, standing trial in multiple cases, spawning negative headline after negative headline. And while Trump will surely play the victim to fire up his base, Biden’s aides believe his time as a repeated criminal defendant will almost certainly turn off the independent and swing voters who often decide elections.

If Trump’s campaign shows signs of collapsing under the weight of the myriad criminal proceedings, the Biden team feels its best approach may just be to stand back and not engage.

What do a trans whistleblower, a Soviet spy, and Donald Trump all have in common?

Friday 21 July 2023 21:00 , Oliver O'Connell

No, this isn’t a joke.

Io Dodds explains what ties the three of them together:

A trans whistleblower, a Soviet spy and Donald Trump all have one thing in common

After watching QAnon-linked movie, Trump calls for ‘immediate’ death penalty for child traffickers

Friday 21 July 2023 20:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Kelly Rissman has the story.

Trump calls for death penalty for child traffickers after watching QAnon-linked movie

Biden draws laughs after touting Marjorie Taylor Greene ‘endorsement’

Friday 21 July 2023 20:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Days after President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign turned a rant about him by Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene into a massively viral online advertisement, Mr Biden is leaning into the GOP congresswoman’s description of him as continuing the work of Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal and Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society programmes.

Andrew Feinberg reports on the amusing moment in Philadelphia on Thursday.

Biden draws laughs after touting Marjorie Taylor Greene ‘endorsement’

Watch: DeSantis makes bizarre argument Jan 6 was “not an insurrection"

Friday 21 July 2023 20:15 , Oliver O'Connell

I had to watch this video several times to make sure it was real for what DeSantis says here is so bat shit crazy, so unconnected from reality that raises all sorts of questions about his basic grasp of facts and the world around him. https://t.co/xgQqIZNWUB
— Simon Rosenberg (@SimonWDC) July 21, 2023

Trump demands cameras in courtroom for expected federal case

Friday 21 July 2023 20:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s new lawyer will ask a judge to allow cameras in a federal courtroom if the one-term president is indicted with January 6 election fraud charges by the Department of Justice.

Graeme Massie has the latest:

Trump demands cameras in courtroom for potential election fraud case

Voices: What Donald Trump’s trial date means for the 2024 election

Friday 21 July 2023 19:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Eric Garcia writes:

Read on...

What Donald Trump’s trial date means for the 2024 election