Trump news - today: Former president’s attorney quits and reveals infighting among his legal team

A top attorney to former President Donald Trump is leaving his legal defence effort, and blaming Mr Trump’s top aide Boris Epshteyn for supposedly being dishonest and unforthcoming in his work to assist the ex-president’s lawyers with his defence against an investigation into whether he retained classified documents illegally.

His exit comes as the National Archives announced it found a trove of records proving that Donald Trump and his advisors knew they were breaking rules by taking those classified documents to Mar-a-Lago, according to a report.

The agency sent a letter, obtained by CNN, to Mr Trump this week revealing it had found 16 records showing he and his top advisers were aware of the correct declassification process when he was president.

“The 16 records in question all reflect communications involving close presidential advisers, some of them directed to you personally, concerning whether, why, and how you should declassify certain classified records,” wrote archivist Debra Steidel Wall.

These records will be turned over to Special Counsel Jack Smith as part of the criminal investigation into Mr Trump’s handling of classified documents.

Key points

• ‘Ron’s magic is GONE!’: Trump floods Truth Social with negative DeSantis posts

• Trump lawyer exits legal team as Mar-a-Lago classified documents probe heats up

• Trump takes ‘credit’ for overturning of Roe v Wade and questions DeSantis’s six-week ban

• Florida governor expected to enter US presidential race next week

• Trump lashes out at DC ‘cockroaches’ following release of Durham report

Village People slap Trump with cease-and-desist after his ‘Macho Man’ dance

06:00 , John Bowden

70’s disco band the Village People has asked Donald Trump to stop using impersonators while playing their music without consent.

The wife of one of the band members on Monday sent a cease-and-desist letter to the former president, according to reports.

Mr Trump has been using the band’s songs such as “YMCA” and “Macho Man” at his events and rallies for years now.

Trump campaign knocks DeSantis over Disney’s cancelled Florida expansion

05:00 , John Bowden

Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign is going after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over the news that Disney is cancelling a $1bn plan to expand its business in Florida.

The campaign for the former president to return to the White House sent out a fundraising email on 18 May after the news broke about the shelving of the planned relocation of some thousands of staff to the Orlando area.

Headlined: “President Trump is always right”, the email included a Truth Social post from Mr Trump dated 18 April.

Oliver O’Connell and Alex Woodward report:

Trump campaign knocks DeSantis over Disney’s cancelled Florida expansion plan

The most disturbing allegations from the Giuliani lawsuit

Sunday 21 May 2023 20:15 , John Bowden

Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City and personal attorney to Donald Trump, has been hit by a $10m sexual assault and harassment lawsuit from a former aide who worked for him between 2019 and 2021.

In a civil complaint filed with the Manhattan Supreme Court on Monday, Mr Giuliani’s ex-employee Noelle Dunphy, 43, alleges that he began sexually abusing her almost immediately after hiring her as an off-the-books business development director and public relations consultant in January 2019, thereafter routinely pestering her for sex, drinking to excess, withholding her salary, bragging about being able to sell presidential pardons for $2 million apiece and engaging in alcohol-fuelled racist rants.

Joe Sommerlad reports:

The most disturbing allegations from the Rudy Giuliani lawsuit

Damning new evidence spells trouble for Trump in Mar-a-Lago classified documents probe

Sunday 21 May 2023 19:30 , John Bowden

Donald Trump’s legal troubles could be heating up after the National Archives found a trove of records proving the former president knew he shouldn’t have taken classified documents to Mar-a-Lago, according to a report.

The National Archives sent a letter, obtained by CNN, to Mr Trump this week revealing that it had found 16 presidential records showing he and his top advisers were aware of the correct declassification process when he was in the White House.

Rachel Sharp reports:

Damning evidence spells trouble for Trump in Mar-a-Lago classified documents probe

Chris Christie could enter 2024 race for president in a matter of days

Sunday 21 May 2023 18:49 , John Bowden

Chris Christie will reportedly be entering the 2024 presidential race soon.

The Republican former New Jersey governor will make an announcement in a matter of days, and focus on the key primary state of New Hampshire, according to New Hampshire Today, citing multiple anonymous sources with knowledge of the campaign.

Josh Marcus has more in The Independent:

Chris Christie could enter 2024 race for president in a matter of days

Trump uses Tim Scott’s announcement to mock Ron DeSantis

Sunday 21 May 2023 18:04 , John Bowden

Former president Donald Trump’s campaign used the entrance of Sen Tim Scott (R - South Carolina) into the 2024 Republican presidential race to hit his main rival, Florida governor Ron DeSantis.

Mr Scott, the Senate’s sole Black Republican, filed paperwork to run for president. He is largely expected to announce his candidacy on Monday.

But Mr Trump’s campaign spokesman Taylor Budowich used Mr Scott’s planned announcement to continue the campaign’s attacks on Mr DeSantis.

Eric Garcia reports:

Pro-Trump Super PAC uses Tim Scott’s announcement to mock Ron DeSantis

Trump-supporting congressman dodges on six-week abortion ban

Sunday 21 May 2023 17:10 , John Bowden

Rep Byron Donalds, a freshman Florida Republican who became a standout member of his caucus during the negotiations over the speaker’s gavel in January, wouldn’t commit on Sunday to supporting a six-week abortion ban at the national level. Such a ban has been introduced as legislation by Republicans in numerous states, including Florida where it recently became law.

Watch the moment, via Meet the Press:

FBI veterans admit to taking money from ex-Trump aide Kash Patel

Sunday 21 May 2023 16:25 , John Bowden

A pair of federal law enforcement veterans who accused the FBI of drumming them out of service because of their conservative political beliefs have admitted to receiving money from a prominent ex-aide to former president Donald Trump, Kash Patel.

The shocking admission came during a Thursday hearing of the House Select Subcommittee on the Weaponisation of the Federal Government.

The GOP-led panel has largely devoted its time to investigating conspiracy theories about social media companies’ cooperation with law enforcement, as well as advancing allegations that the Department of Justice probes into prominent Republicans who may have committed crimes are politically motivated.

Eric Garica and Andrew Feinberg report:

Anti-FBI witnesses at GOP hearing say they took money from ex-Trump aide

Republican Senator Tim Scott launches 2024 presidential bid

Sunday 21 May 2023 15:41 , John Bowden

South Carolina Senator Tim Scott has officially declared himself a candidate for president in next year’s Republican primary election.

According to a statement of candidacy filed on Friday with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), Mr Scott has designated his official campaign committee as “Tim Scott for America,” with a campaign address in the state’s capital, Charleston.

Mr Scott, who has served as South Carolina’s junior senator since 2013, was first appointed to his Senate seat by one of his presidential primary opponents, then-South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley. He filled a vacancy left by the resignation of Jim DeMint, who left the Senate to lead the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.

Mr Scott, whose campaign website has teased a “special announcement” on 22 May, joins a GOP primary field that includes Ms Haley, former president Donald Trump, ex-Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and ex-New Jersey Governor Chris Christie are also expected to officially enter the GOP presidential field in the coming days.

Trump attorney quits legal team

Sunday 21 May 2023 15:21 , John Bowden

One of Donald Trump’s attorneys, Timothy Parlatore, has departed the former president’s legal team and in a statement Saturday accused a top adviser to Mr Trump of being dishonest.

In an interview with CNN, he said that Mr Trump’s aide Boris Epshteyn was stonewalling members of the legal team and preventing them from adequately defending the former president against an investigation into whether he illegally retained classified documents.

“The real reason is because there are certain individuals that made defending the president much harder than it needed to be,” said Mr Parlatore on Saturday. “There is one individual who works for him, Boris Epshteyn, who had really done everything he could to try to block us, to prevent us from doing what we could to defend the president.”

Damning new evidence spells trouble for Trump in Mar-a-Lago classified documents probe

Sunday 21 May 2023 14:00 , Graig Graziosi

Donald Trump’s legal troubles could be hotting up after the National Archives found a trove of records proving the former president knew he shouldn’t have taken classified documents to Mar-a-Lago, according to a report.

The National Archives sent a letter, obtained by CNN, to Mr Trump this week revealing that it had found 16 presidential records showing he and his top advisers were aware of the correct declassification process when he was in the White House.

Rachel Sharp reports:

Damning evidence spells trouble for Trump in Mar-a-Lago classified documents probe

Sunday 21 May 2023 13:00 , Graig Graziosi

The most disturbing allegations from the Giuliani lawsuit

Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City and personal attorney to Donald Trump, has been hit by a $10m sexual assault and harassment lawsuit from a former aide who worked for him between 2019 and 2021.

Joe Sommerlad reports:

The most disturbing allegations from the Rudy Giuliani lawsuit

ICYMI: New Hampshire college condemns Trump after ‘deeply troubling’ CNN town hall on its campus

Sunday 21 May 2023 12:00 , Graig Graziosi

The New Hampshire college that hosted Donald Trump’s CNN town hall has condemned the former president for the “deeply troubling” event.

Saint Anselm College criticised both the comments of the ex-president and the reactions to his statements by the Trump-friendly audience in the auditorium.

Gustaf Kilander reports:

New Hampshire college condemns Trump after ‘troubling’ CNN town hall on its campus

Bill Barr indicates classified documents investigation could be bad for Trump

Sunday 21 May 2023 11:00 , Graig Graziosi

Bill Barr, the former Attorney General under the Trump administration and Bush administration, indicated that the classified documents investigation into Donald Trump could be bad news for the former president.

While speaking with CBS on Thursday, Mr Barr said the situation could ‘expose’ Mr Trump if he ‘played games’ after the government requested the classified documents.

“He was given a long time to send them back. And they were subpoenaed. And I’ve said all along that he wouldn’t get in trouble, probably, just for taking them, just as Biden I don’t think is going to get in trouble or Pence is not going to get in trouble.”

“The problem is what did he do after the government asked for them back and subpoenaed them? And if there’s any games being played there, he’s going to be very exposed,” Mr Barr said.

ICYMI: More Trump indictments would give Biden and Democrats huge 2024 boost, poll finds

Sunday 21 May 2023 10:00 , Graig Graziosi

President Joe Biden would be vaulted to a massive lead over Donald Trump if the former president faces further criminal charges from the federal and state criminal investigations into his conduct, according to a new poll obtained by The Independent.

The poll of 1,571 registered voters was conducted by WPA Research, a Republican polling firm. The CEO of WPA is an adviser to Never Back Down, the Super PAC supporting Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, but the survey was conducted independently without his input and was not sponsored by the Super PAC.

It found that voters currently prefer Mr Biden over Mr Trump by a margin of 47 per cent to 40 per cent, including a 14-point lead for the sitting president among registered independents.

Andrew Feinberg reports:

More Trump indictments would give Biden and Democrats huge 2024 boost, poll finds

Court finds FBI improperly used surveillance tool on Jan. 6 suspects, racial justice protests

Sunday 21 May 2023 09:00 , Graig Graziosi

FBI officials repeatedly violated their own standards when they searched a vast repository of foreign intelligence for information related to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the US Capitol and racial justice protests in 2020, according to a heavily blacked-out court order released Friday.

FBI officials said the violations predated a series of corrective measures that started in the summer of 2021 and continued last year.

But the problems could nonetheless complicate FBI and Justice Department efforts to receive congressional reauthorization of a warrantless surveillance program that law enforcement officials say is needed to counterterrorism, espionage and international cybercrime.

Prosecutor suggests any indictments in Trump election investigation would likely come in August

Sunday 21 May 2023 08:00 , Graig Graziosi

The Georgia prosecutor investigating whether former president Donald Trump and his allies broke the law while trying to overturn his 2020 election in Georgia is seemingly hinting that any grand jury indictments in the case would likely come in August.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis sent a letter on Thursday to other Fulton County judges indicating that she plans to have much of her staff work remotely during the first three weeks of August.

In the letter, Ms Willis asked that judges not schedule trials and in-person hearings during part of that time.

“Thank you for your consideration and assistance in keeping the Fulton County Judicial Complex safe during this time,” Willis wrote in the letter, first reported by The New York Times.

The Georgia investigation is one of several that threatens his campaign for 2024 president.

DeSantis privately shares Trump cannot win election, report says

Sunday 21 May 2023 07:00 , Graig Graziosi

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is confident in his abilities to win the 2024 presidential election, according to statements he made on a call as heard by The New York Times.

On Thursday, Mr DeSantis reportedly called donors and supporters to unofficially declare his campaign.

On the call, Mr DeSantis allegedly said, “You have basically three people at this point that are credible in this whole thing,- Biden, Trump and me.”

“And I think of those three, two have a chance to get elected president — Biden and me, based on all the data in the swing states, which is not great for the former president and probably insurmountable because people aren’t going to change their view of him,” Mr DeSantis added.

Trump whines that he is a ‘victim’ of ‘weaponisation of justice’

Sunday 21 May 2023 06:00 , Graig Graziosi

Donald Trump has again complained that he is the “victim” of what Republicans baselessly claim is the “weaponisation” of the federal government.

The one-term president made the remark in response to the Jim Jordan-led House Judiciary Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government hearing on Thursday.

The committee descended into chaos with lawmakers shouting at each other as two suspended FBI agents and one fired agent spoke about how the agency had retaliated against them for claims they had made about it.

Graeme Massie reports:

Trump whines that he is a ‘victim’ of ‘weaponisation of justice’

Trump could be handed Georgia indictment this summer

Sunday 21 May 2023 04:59 , Graig Graziosi

The Georgia prosecutor investigating former president Donald Trump and his allies’ possible interference in the 2020 election has indicated there could be an indictment by August.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis sent a letter to Fulton County judges asking to not schedule trials during the first three weeks of August and announced remote working days for most of her staff.

Already, Ms Willis has requested additional security around the courthouse.

Ms Willis and her office have spent more than two years investigating the case.

Chris Christie rumoured to be planning presidential run

Sunday 21 May 2023 04:00 , Graig Graziosi

Chris Christie, the former Governor of New Jersey and former presidential candidate, is apparently gearing up to announce another bid for 2024 president.

Mr Christie, who has been outspoken about his disdain for Donald Trump, told supporters last month during an event in New Hampshire that, “Tonight is the beginning of the case against Donald Trump.”

“You’re not going to beat someone by closing your eyes, clicking your heels together three times and saying, ‘There’s no place like home.’ That’s not going to work. In American politics, you want to beat somebody? You have to go get them,” he added.

Though Mr Christie has not formally announced a campaign, rumours are swirling that he may announce next week as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is also expected to.

CNN’s Christiane Amanpour criticises network over Trump town hall

Sunday 21 May 2023 03:00 , Graig Graziosi

CNN’s town hall with Donald Trump proved so divisive that even its own staff have taken issue with the event - with Christiane Amanpour the latest of the network’s high-profile names to voice their dissatisfaction.

The New Hampshire event drew 3.3 million viewers, who watched as the former president sparred with CNN moderator Kaitlan Collins, whom Mr Trump referred to as a “nasty person”.

Speaking in an address to Columbia Journalism School on Wednesday, Amanpour said if she were Collins, she would have “dropped the mic” as soon as Mr Trump called her nasty, adding that she had spoken with the network’s CEO Chris Licht and told him the ex-president should not have been able “to appear in that particular format”.

‘I would have dropped the mic’: CNN’s Christiane Amanpour hits out at Trump town hall

Trump uses Tim Scott’s announcement to mock Ron DeSantis

Sunday 21 May 2023 02:00 , Graig Graziosi

Former president Donald Trump’s campaign used the entrance of Sen Tim Scott (R - South Carolina) into the 2024 Republican presidential race to hit his main rival, Florida governor Ron DeSantis.

Mr Scott, the Senate’s sole Black Republican, filed paperwork to run for president. He is largely expected to announce his candidacy on Monday.

But Mr Trump’s campaign spokesman Taylor Budowich used Mr Scott’s planned announcement to continue the campaign’s attacks on Mr DeSantis.

Eric Garcia reports:

Pro-Trump Super PAC uses Tim Scott’s announcement to mock Ron DeSantis

FBI veterans admit to taking money from ex-Trump aide Kash Patel

Sunday 21 May 2023 01:00 , Graig Graziosi

A pair of federal law enforcement veterans who accused the FBI of drumming them out of service because of their conservative political beliefs have admitted to receiving money from a prominent ex-aide to former president Donald Trump, Kash Patel.

The shocking admission came during a Thursday hearing of the House Select Subcommittee on the Weaponisation of the Federal Government.

The GOP-led panel has largely devoted its time to investigating conspiracy theories about social media companies’ cooperation with law enforcement, as well as advancing allegations that the Department of Justice probes into prominent Republicans who may have committed crimes are politically motivated.

Eric Garica and Andrew Feinberg report:

Anti-FBI witnesses at GOP hearing say they took money from ex-Trump aide

Village People slap Trump with cease-and-desist after his ‘Macho Man’ dance

Sunday 21 May 2023 00:00 , Graig Graziosi

Seventies disco band Village People has asked Donald Trump to stop using impersonators while playing their music without consent.

The wife of one of the band members on Monday sent a cease-and-desist letter to the former president, according to reports.

Mr Trump has been using the band’s songs such as “YMCA” and “Macho Man” at his events and rallies for years now.

WATCH: Former White House lawyer predict Trump will go to jail

Saturday 20 May 2023 23:00 , Graig Graziosi

Jim Jordan blocks Democrats from seeing evidence in chaotic ‘weaponization of government’ hearing

Saturday 20 May 2023 22:00 , Graig Graziosi

A hearing of the House Judiciary Committee descended into chaos on Thursday morning when Ohio representative and chair Jim Jordan asserted that the Republicans on the committee do not have to turn over key evidence to their Democratic colleagues because it came from a “whistleblower.”

Mr Jordan convened the committee on Thursday for a hearing on the “weaponisation of government,” calling witnesses to testify to alleged biases in federal law enforcement agencies such as the FBI.

Shortly after the hearing began, however, Democrats began raising an issue: Mr Jordan’s refusal to turn over evidence, including witness testimony, to the Democrat members of the committee.

Trump encourages Republicans not to seek common ground in debt ceiling talks

Saturday 20 May 2023 21:00 , Graig Graziosi

Donald Trump dished out some advice for Republicans in Congress on Friday (19 May) when it comes to negotiating for the debt ceiling with President Joe Biden.

“REPUBLICANS SHOULD NOT MAKE A DEAL ON THE DEBT CEILING UNLESS THEY GET EVERYTHING THEY WANT (Including the “kitchen sink”). THAT’S THE WAY THE DEMOCRATS HAVE ALWAYS DEALT WITH US. DO NOT FOLD!!!” Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The advice comes as Republicans are trying to find middle ground with the President and other Democrats when discussing budgets.

The US is expected to default by June should lawmakers fail to reach a deal.

Republican Senator Tim Scott launches 2024 presidential bid

Saturday 20 May 2023 20:00 , Graig Graziosi

South Carolina Senator Tim Scott has officially declared himself a candidate for president in next year’s Republican primary election.

According to a statement of candidacy filed on Friday with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), Mr Scott has designated his official campaign committee as “Tim Scott for America,” with a campaign address in the state’s capital, Charleston.

Mr Scott, who has served as South Carolina’s junior senator since 2013, was first appointed to his Senate seat by one of his presidential primary opponents, then-South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley. He filled a vacancy left by the resignation of Jim DeMint, who left the Senate to lead the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.

Mr Scott, whose campaign website has teased a “special announcement” on 22 May, joins a GOP primary field that includes Ms Haley, former president Donald Trump, ex-Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and ex-New Jersey Governor Chris Christie are also expected to officially enter the GOP presidential field in the coming days.

Tim Robbins forced to clarify he wasn’t hanging out with ‘Trump’s favourite author'

Saturday 20 May 2023 19:10 , Graig Graziosi

Actor Tim Robbins clarified on Twitter that he was not ‘hanging out’ with self-proclaimed “Alpha Male” and ‘Donald Trump’s favourite author’ Nick Adams.

Nick Adams, an Australian man and Trump enthusiast who frequently posts absurd claims about his status as an “alpha male,” posted a photo of himself with the actor, claiming the two were “hanging out.”

Mr Robbins quote-tweeted the photo and added some necessary context.

“Not ‘hanging out’. Dude asked for a picture. I obliged. He left,” the actor wrote.

DeSantis privately shares Trump cannot win election, report says

Saturday 20 May 2023 19:00 , Graig Graziosi

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is confident in his abilities to win the 2024 presidential election, according to statements he made on a call as heard by The New York Times.

On Thursday, Mr DeSantis reportedly called donors and supporters to unofficially declare his campaign.

On the call, Mr DeSantis allegedly said, “You have basically three people at this point that are credible in this whole thing,- Biden, Trump and me.”

“And I think of those three, two have a chance to get elected president — Biden and me, based on all the data in the swing states, which is not great for the former president and probably insurmountable because people aren’t going to change their view of him,” Mr DeSantis added.

Trump campaign knocks DeSantis over Disney’s cancelled Florida expansion

Saturday 20 May 2023 18:00 , Graig Graziosi

Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign wasted no time in knocking Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over the news that Disney is cancelling a $1bn plan to expand its business in Florida.

The campaign for the former president to return to the White House sent out a fundraising email on 18 May after the news broke about the shelving of the planned relocation of some thousands of staff to the Orlando area.

Headlined: “President Trump is always right”, the email included a Truth Social post from Mr Trump dated 18 April.

Oliver O’Connell and Alex Woodward report:

Trump campaign knocks DeSantis over Disney’s cancelled Florida expansion plan

Former Playboy model who allegedly had ‘affair’ with Trump says she’d work for DeSantis

Saturday 20 May 2023 17:03 , Graig Graziosi

Former Playboy model Karen McDougal, 52, claims she at one point had a "love" affair with Donald Trump, and offered details of their relationship on Friday.

McDougal described Mr Trump as both "crass and vulgar" but said he had "kind moments," during an interview with The Daily Mail.

Ms McDougal has voted Republican her entire life, and voted for Mr Trump in 2016. She reportedly will not be doing so again in the Republican primary.

"I'm hoping [Florida Governor Ron] DeSantis gets in," she told the paper. "I'd be willing to work for his campaign."

Trump’s White House lawyer predicts he’ll end up in jail as Mar-a-Lago probe heats up

Saturday 20 May 2023 16:00 , Graig Graziosi

Donald Trump’s former attorney has boldly predicted that the former president is going to jail as the criminal investigation into the trove of classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago continues to heat up.

Ty Cobb, who worked as a White House attorney for the Trump administration from July 2017 to May 2018, told CNN that he believes the evidence against Mr Trump will lead to a conviction and prison time.

Rachel Sharp reports:

Trump’s White House lawyer predicts he’ll end up in jail as Mar-a-Lago probe heats up

Trump ally could be forced to testify against him

Saturday 20 May 2023 15:00 , Graig Graziosi

One of former president Donald Trump’s loyal allies, and former CFO of the Trump Organisation, Allen Weisselberg, could be forced to testify against Mr Trump or face jail time.

Mr Weisselberg, who was recently released from jail after pleading guilty to tax fraud, could be asked by New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg to testify or face an alleged perjury charge, according to a report from The New York Times.

Mr Weisselberg a longtime associate of Mr Trump, could have information that Mr Bragg could be used against the former president related to his recent indictment.

Should Mr Weisselberg choose not to testify, as he has so far, Mr Bragg could bring forth a false statement that Mr Weisselberg allegedly made under oath in an interview with New York Attorney General Letitia James in 2020.

It is not clear what the statement was nor if Mr Weisselberg intentionally made a false statement.

Who is running for president in 2024?

Saturday 20 May 2023 14:00 , Ariana Baio

Who is running for president in 2024?

Trump releases ad reminding DeSantis of former allyship

Saturday 20 May 2023 13:00 , Ariana Baio

Donald Trump posted a political advertisement video to his Truth Social account on Friday - reminding Florida Governor Ron DeSantis of their former camaraderie while Mr DeSantis was campaigning for governor.

Mr DeSantis was elected the governor of the state of Florida in 2018, partially thanks to an endorsement from the former president.

The ad reminds Mr DeSantis of his polling before Mr Trump endorsed him as well as shows old photos of the two Republican politicians smiling together.

“Instead of being grateful DeSantis is now attacking the very man who saved his career,” the voiceover in the political ad says.

Mr DeSantis is expected to announce his run for president next week, putting himself in direct competition with Mr Trump.

The ad finishes by playing footage from one of Mr DeSantis’ old political ads where he uses Trump-isms like “build the wall” and “you’re fired” to show his support.

Damning new evidence spells trouble for Trump in Mar-a-Lago classified documents probe

Saturday 20 May 2023 12:00 , Ariana Baio

Donald Trump’s legal troubles could be hotting up after the National Archives found a trove of records proving the former president knew he shouldn’t have taken classified documents to Mar-a-Lago, according to a report.

The National Archives sent a letter, obtained by CNN, to Mr Trump this week revealing that it had found 16 presidential records showing he and his top advisers were aware of the correct declassification process when he was in the White House.

Rachel Sharp reports:

Damning evidence spells trouble for Trump in Mar-a-Lago classified documents probe

The most disturbing allegations from the Giuliani lawsuit

Saturday 20 May 2023 11:00 , Ariana Baio

Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City and personal attorney to Donald Trump, has been hit by a $10m sexual assault and harassment lawsuit from a former aide who worked for him between 2019 and 2021.

Joe Sommerlad reports:

The most disturbing allegations from the Rudy Giuliani lawsuit

ICYMI: New Hampshire college condemns Trump after ‘deeply troubling’ CNN town hall on its campus

Saturday 20 May 2023 10:00 , Ariana Baio

The New Hampshire college that hosted Donald Trump’s CNN town hall has condemned the former president for the “deeply troubling” event.

Saint Anselm College criticised both the comments of the ex-president and the reactions to his statements by the Trump-friendly audience in the auditorium.

Gustaf Kilander reports:

New Hampshire college condemns Trump after ‘troubling’ CNN town hall on its campus

WATCH: Former Trump White House lawyer says he believes Trump will go to jail

Saturday 20 May 2023 09:00 , Ariana Baio

Bill Barr indicates classified documents investigation could be bad for Trump

Saturday 20 May 2023 08:00 , Ariana Baio

Bill Barr, the former Attorney General under the Trump administration and Bush administration, indicated that the classified documents investigation into Donald Trump could be bad news for the former president.

While speaking with CBS on Thursday, Mr Barr said the situation could ‘expose’ Mr Trump if he ‘played games’ after the government requested the classified documents.

“He was given a long time to send them back. And they were subpoenaed. And I’ve said all along that he wouldn’t get in trouble, probably, just for taking them, just as Biden I don’t think is going to get in trouble or Pence is not going to get in trouble.”

“The problem is what did he do after the government asked for them back and subpoenaed them? And if there’s any games being played there, he’s going to be very exposed,” Mr Barr said.

ICYMI: More Trump indictments would give Biden and Democrats huge 2024 boost, poll finds

Saturday 20 May 2023 07:00 , Ariana Baio

President Joe Biden would be vaulted to a massive lead over Donald Trump if the former president faces further criminal charges from the federal and state criminal investigations into his conduct, according to a new poll obtained by The Independent.

The poll of 1,571 registered voters was conducted by WPA Research, a Republican polling firm. The CEO of WPA is an adviser to Never Back Down, the Super PAC supporting Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, but the survey was conducted independently without his input and was not sponsored by the Super PAC.

It found that voters currently prefer Mr Biden over Mr Trump by a margin of 47 per cent to 40 per cent, including a 14-point lead for the sitting president among registered independents.

Andrew Feinberg reports:

More Trump indictments would give Biden and Democrats huge 2024 boost, poll finds

Court finds FBI improperly used surveillance tool on Jan. 6 suspects, racial justice protests

Saturday 20 May 2023 06:00 , Ariana Baio

FBI officials repeatedly violated their own standards when they searched a vast repository of foreign intelligence for information related to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the US Capitol and racial justice protests in 2020, according to a heavily blacked-out court order released Friday.

FBI officials said the violations predated a series of corrective measures that started in the summer of 2021 and continued last year.

But the problems could nonetheless complicate FBI and Justice Department efforts to receive congressional reauthorization of a warrantless surveillance program that law enforcement officials say is needed to counterterrorism, espionage and international cybercrime.

Court finds FBI improperly used surveillance tool on Jan. 6 suspects, racial justice protests

Prosecutor suggests any indictments in Trump election investigation would likely come in August

Saturday 20 May 2023 05:00 , Ariana Baio

The Georgia prosecutor investigating whether former president Donald Trump and his allies broke the law while trying to overturn his 2020 election in Georgia is seemingly hinting that any grand jury indictments in the case would likely come in August.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis sent a letter on Thursday to other Fulton County judges indicating that she plans to have much of her staff work remotely during the first three weeks of August.

In the letter, Ms Willis asked that judges not schedule trials and in-person hearings during part of that time.

“Thank you for your consideration and assistance in keeping the Fulton County Judicial Complex safe during this time,” Willis wrote in the letter, first reported by The New York Times.

The Georgia investigation is one of several that threatens his campaign for 2024 president.

DeSantis privately shares Trump cannot win election, report says

Saturday 20 May 2023 04:00 , Ariana Baio

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is confident in his abilities to win the 2024 presidential election, according to statements he made on a call as heard by The New York Times.

On Thursday, Mr DeSantis reportedly called donors and supporters to unofficially declare his campaign.

On the call, Mr DeSantis allegedly said, “You have basically three people at this point that are credible in this whole thing,- Biden, Trump and me.”

“And I think of those three, two have a chance to get elected president — Biden and me, based on all the data in the swing states, which is not great for the former president and probably insurmountable because people aren’t going to change their view of him,” Mr DeSantis added.

Trump whines that he is a ‘victim’ of ‘weaponisation of justice’

Saturday 20 May 2023 03:00 , Ariana Baio

Donald Trump has again complained that he is the “victim” of what Republicans baselessly claim is the “weaponisation” of the federal government.

The one-term president made the remark in response to the Jim Jordan-led House Judiciary Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government hearing on Thursday.

The committee descended into chaos with lawmakers shouting at each other as two suspended FBI agents and one fired agent spoke about how the agency had retaliated against them for claims they had made about it.

Graeme Massie reports:

Trump whines that he is a ‘victim’ of ‘weaponisation of justice’

Trump could be handed Georgia indictment this summer

Saturday 20 May 2023 02:00 , Ariana Baio

The Georgia prosecutor investigating former president Donald Trump and his allies’ possible interference in the 2020 election has indicated there could be an indictment by August.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis sent a letter to Fulton County judges asking to not schedule trials during the first three weeks of August and announced remote working days for most of her staff.

Already, Ms Willis has requested additional security around the courthouse.

Ms Willis and her office have spent more than two years investigating the case.

Chris Christie rumoured to be planning presidential run

Saturday 20 May 2023 01:00 , Ariana Baio

Chris Christie, the former Governor of New Jersey and former presidential candidate, is apparently gearing up to announce another bid for 2024 president.

Mr Christie, who has been outspoken about his disdain for Donald Trump, told supporters last month during an event in New Hampshire that, “Tonight is the beginning of the case against Donald Trump.”

“You’re not going to beat someone by closing your eyes, clicking your heels together three times and saying, ‘There’s no place like home.’ That’s not going to work. In American politics, you want to beat somebody? You have to go get them,” he added.

Though Mr Christie has not formally announced a campaign, rumours are swirling that he may announce next week as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is also expected to.

Trump’s White House lawyer predicts he’ll end up in jail as Mar-a-Lago probe heats up

Saturday 20 May 2023 00:00 , Ariana Baio

Donald Trump’s former attorney has boldly predicted that the former president is going to jail as the criminal investigation into the trove of classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago continues to heat up.

Ty Cobb, who worked as a White House attorney for the Trump administration from July 2017 to May 2018, told CNN that he believes the evidence against Mr Trump will lead to a conviction and prison time.

Rachel Sharp reports:

Trump’s White House lawyer predicts he’ll end up in jail as Mar-a-Lago probe heats up

Trump claimed the Durham report would uncover the ‘crime of the century.’ Here’s what it really found

Friday 19 May 2023 23:00 , Ariana Baio

After a two-year investigation by a Trump administration prosecutor charged with undermining and discrediting the FBI’s probe into alleged ties between former president Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign and the Russian government has ended after four years and just a single criminal conviction, a report on the findings of that investigation found that the FBI was justified to open a preliminary probe into the matter.

Eric Garcia and Andrew Feinberg report:

What did the Durham probe uncover?

CNN’s Christiane Amanpour criticises network over Trump town hall

Friday 19 May 2023 22:30 , Ariana Baio

CNN’s town hall with Donald Trump proved so divisive that even its own staff have taken issue with the event - with Christiane Amanpour the latest of the network’s high-profile names to voice their dissatisfaction.

The New Hampshire event drew 3.3 million viewers, who watched as the former president sparred with CNN moderator Kaitlan Collins, whom Mr Trump referred to as a “nasty person”.

Speaking in an address to Columbia Journalism School on Wednesday, Amanpour said if she were Collins, she would have “dropped the mic” as soon as Mr Trump called her nasty, adding that she had spoken with the network’s CEO Chris Licht and told him the ex-president should not have been able “to appear in that particular format”.

‘I would have dropped the mic’: CNN’s Christiane Amanpour hits out at Trump town hall

Trump uses Tim Scott’s announcement to mock Ron DeSantis

Friday 19 May 2023 22:00 , Ariana Baio

Former president Donald Trump’s campaign used the entrance of Sen Tim Scott (R - South Carolina) into the 2024 Republican presidential race to hit his main rival, Florida governor Ron DeSantis.

Mr Scott, the Senate’s sole Black Republican, filed paperwork to run for president. He is largely expected to announce his candidacy on Monday.

But Mr Trump’s campaign spokesman Taylor Budowich used Mr Scott’s planned announcement to continue the campaign’s attacks on Mr DeSantis.

Eric Garcia reports:

Trump uses Tim Scott’s announcement to mock Ron DeSantis

Trump ally could be forced to testify against him

Friday 19 May 2023 21:30 , Ariana Baio

One of former president Donald Trump’s loyal allies, and former CFO of the Trump Organisation, Allen Weisselberg, could be forced to testify against Mr Trump or face jail time.

Mr Weisselberg, who was recently released from jail after pleading guilty to tax fraud, could be asked by New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg to testify or face an alleged perjury charge, according to a report from The New York Times.

Mr Weisselberg a longtime associate of Mr Trump, could have information that Mr Bragg could be used against the former president related to his recent indictment.

Should Mr Weisselberg choose not to testify, as he has so far, Mr Bragg could bring forth a false statement that Mr Weisselberg allegedly made under oath in an interview with New York Attorney General Letitia James in 2020.

It is not clear what the statement was nor if Mr Weisselberg intentionally made a false statement.

FBI veterans admit to taking money from ex-Trump aide Kash Patel

Friday 19 May 2023 21:00 , Ariana Baio

A pair of federal law enforcement veterans who accused the FBI of drumming them out of service because of their conservative political beliefs have admitted to receiving money from a prominent ex-aide to former president Donald Trump, Kash Patel.

The shocking admission came during a Thursday hearing of the House Select Subcommittee on the Weaponisation of the Federal Government.

The GOP-led panel has largely devoted its time to investigating conspiracy theories about social media companies’ cooperation with law enforcement, as well as advancing allegations that the Department of Justice probes into prominent Republicans who may have committed crimes are politically motivated.

Eric Garica and Andrew Feinberg report:

Anti-FBI witnesses at GOP hearing say they took money from ex-Trump aide

Village People slap Trump with cease-and-desist after his ‘Macho Man’ dance

Friday 19 May 2023 20:30 , Ariana Baio

Seventies disco band Village People has asked Donald Trump to stop using impersonators while playing their music without consent.

The wife of one of the band members on Monday sent a cease-and-desist letter to the former president, according to reports.

Mr Trump has been using the band’s songs such as “YMCA” and “Macho Man” at his events and rallies for years now.

WATCH: Former White House lawyer predict Trump will go to jail

Friday 19 May 2023 20:00 , Ariana Baio

Jim Jordan blocks Democrats from seeing evidence in chaotic ‘weaponization of government’ hearing

Friday 19 May 2023 19:30 , Ariana Baio

A hearing of the House Judiciary Committee descended into chaos on Thursday morning when Ohio representative and chair Jim Jordan asserted that the Republicans on the committee do not have to turn over key evidence to their Democratic colleagues because it came from a “whistleblower.”

Mr Jordan convened the committee on Thursday for a hearing on the “weaponisation of government,” calling witnesses to testify to alleged biases in federal law enforcement agencies such as the FBI.

Shortly after the hearing began, however, Democrats began raising an issue: Mr Jordan’s refusal to turn over evidence, including witness testimony, to the Democrat members of the committee.

Trump encourages Republicans not to seek common ground in debt ceiling talks

Friday 19 May 2023 19:00 , Ariana Baio

Donald Trump dished out some advice for Republicans in Congress on Friday (19 May) when it comes to negotiating for the debt ceiling with President Joe Biden.

“REPUBLICANS SHOULD NOT MAKE A DEAL ON THE DEBT CEILING UNLESS THEY GET EVERYTHING THEY WANT (Including the “kitchen sink”). THAT’S THE WAY THE DEMOCRATS HAVE ALWAYS DEALT WITH US. DO NOT FOLD!!!” Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The advice comes as Republicans are trying to find middle ground with the President and other Democrats when discussing budgets.

The US is expected to default by June should lawmakers fail to reach a deal.

Republican Senator Tim Scott launches 2024 presidential bid

Friday 19 May 2023 18:30 , Ariana Baio

South Carolina Senator Tim Scott has officially declared himself a candidate for president in next year’s Republican primary election.

According to a statement of candidacy filed on Friday with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), Mr Scott has designated his official campaign committee as “Tim Scott for America,” with a campaign address in the state’s capital, Charleston.

Mr Scott, who has served as South Carolina’s junior senator since 2013, was first appointed to his Senate seat by one of his presidential primary opponents, then-South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley. He filled a vacancy left by the resignation of Jim DeMint, who left the Senate to lead the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.

Mr Scott, whose campaign website has teased a “special announcement” on 22 May, joins a GOP primary field that includes Ms Haley, former president Donald Trump, ex-Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and ex-New Jersey Governor Chris Christie are also expected to officially enter the GOP presidential field in the coming days.