Trump goes after judge in Jan 6 indictment as Pence undermines key defence - latest news

Donald Trump and his attorneys spent much of the weekend attempting to discredit his latest federal indictment and attacking the people involved in it – just days after being arraigned on four federal charges related to his alleged conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election.

On Truth Social, Mr Trump criticised Judge Tanya Chutkan, who will be overseeing his case, saying he does not think he will get a “fair trial.”

“WE WILL BE IMMEDIATELY ASKING FOR RECUSAL OF THIS JUDGE ON VERY POWERFUL GROUNDS, AND LIKEWISE FOR VENUE CHANGE, OUT IF D.C.” Mr Trump wrote on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Mr Trump’s attorney, John Lauro, went on several network news shows where he argued that the ex-president only exercised his First Amendment right to claim the election was stolen.

Mr Lauro claimed that Mr Trump only asked then-vice president Mike Pence to “pause the counts and allow the states to weigh in” in the days leading up to 6 January.

But Mr Pence disputed this.

“They were asking me to overturn the election,” Mr Pence told CNN. He said attorneys for Mr Trump asked him “outright” to reject votes.

Key points

• DoJ requests protective order after Trump threatens revenge in Truth Social post

• Trump goes on erratic tangent about washing his hair

• Donald Trump indicted with four criminal charges relating to 2020 election interference

• Trump pleads not guilty to federal conspiracy charges in plot to overturn 2020 election

• Read Trump’s indictment from the Jan 6 grand jury in full

Federal judge wants Giuliani to clarify ‘incongruous’ and ‘puzzling’ court filing

10:00 , Namita Singh

A federal judge has asked Rudy Giuliani to clarify his “seemingly incongruous and certainly puzzling caveats” in a recent filing in which he appears to admit he made false and defamatory statements about two Georgia election workers in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election.

But Mr Giuliani and his attorney have argued that the extremely carefully worded filing – which attempts to move the case along to avoid revealing more evidence – is not an admission.

Alex Woodward reports.

Giuliani must clarify his ‘puzzling’ court filing in Georgia defamation case

Trump has meltdown over US’s Women’s World Cup loss

09:47 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump had a meltdown on Sunday night where he attacked President Joe Biden, striker Megan Rapinoe and “wokeness” for the US’s unexpected early defeat in the Women’s World Cup.

The former president took to Truth Social to bizarrely claim the loss was a sign of the influence “Crooked Joe Biden” has had on the nation. He also somehow blamed the “WOKE”-ness and cruelly trolled Rapinoe for missing a penalty.

“The “shocking and totally unexpected” loss by the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team to Sweden is fully emblematic of what is happening to the our once great Nation under Crooked Joe Biden,” he fumed.

“Many of our players were openly hostile to America - No other country behaved in such a manner, or even close. WOKE EQUALS FAILURE. Nice shot Megan, the USA is going to Hell!!! MAGA.”

Mr Trump’s tirade came after his attorney John Lauro spent much of the weekend attempting to discredit his latest federal indictment and attacking those involved in it.

After third Trump indictment, Pence tries to break through in crowded GOP field

09:30 , Namita Singh

As Donald Trump was being arraigned in Washington on yet another round of criminal charges, his running mate-turned-rival Mike Pence hurried to capitalise on the news.

Read on...

Pence seizes on Trump's latest indictment as he looks to break through in crowded GOP field

Trump demands Judge Tanya Chutkan be removed from election case after ruling against him

09:00 , Namita Singh

Donald Trump has called for the judge in his most recent federal indictment to be removed from the case after she issued a ruling against him.

The ex-president launched his attack on District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan on Sunday morning, days after he appeared before her in court to plead not guilty to four federal charges stemming from a Department of Justice investigation into his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election and the subsequent January 6 attack on the Capitol.

“THERE IS NO WAY I CAN GET A FAIR TRIAL WITH THE JUDGE ‘ASSIGNED’ TO THE RIDICULOUS FREEDOM OF SPEECH/FAIR ELECTIONS CASE. EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS, AND SO DOES SHE!” he wrote.

“WE WILL BE IMMEDIATELY ASKING FOR RECUSAL OF THIS JUDGE ON VERY POWERFUL GROUNDS, AND LIKEWISE FOR VENUE CHANGE, OUT IF (sic) D.C.”

Trump says Pence has ‘Gone to the dark side’

08:30 , Namita Singh

Donald Trump attacked Mike Pence as “delusional” just days after the former vice president was revealed to play a central role in the latest federal indictment against him.

Mr Trump appeared to be trying to do damage control on Truth Social after he was charged with four federal charges related to his alleged conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election and the subsequent attack on the Capitol.

“Liddle’ Mike Pence, a man who was about to be ousted as Governor Indiana until I came along and made him V.P., has gone to the Dark Side,” Mr Trump wrote on Saturday.

The statement appeared to be in reference to Mr Pence’s more recent outspoken condemnation of Mr Trump’s behaviour leading up to the 6 January riot.

“I never told a newly emboldened (not based on his 2% poll numbers!) Pence to put me above the Constitution or that Mike was ‘too honest.’ He’s delusional, and now he wants to show he’s a tough guy,” Mr Trump added.

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

08:00 , Namita Singh

Alex Woodward reports on how a sprawling Justice Department probe into the former president and his allies yielded four criminal charges in a stunning indictment outlining a path to power at whatever cost...

The federal investigation into Trump and January 6, explained

ICYMI: Judge Chutkan denies Trump attorneys request for extension

07:30 , Namita Singh

Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing Donald Trump’s 2020 election conspiracy case, denied the ex-president’s request to extend his response date from Monday until Wednesday.

The final decision comes after a day’s worth of back and forth between prosecutors in the Department of Justice (DoJ) and Mr Trump’s attorneys.

Prosecutors filed a request for a protective order on Friday night after Mr Trump posted a seemingly threatening statement to Truth Social. Judge Chuktan gave Mr Trump’s legal team until Monday at 5pm ET to which, Mr Trump’s team asked for an extension.

Judge Chutkan denied their request on Saturday evening.

Trump rants about his ‘gorgeous head of hair’ at rally

07:00 , Namita Singh

Trump calls for Senate to save him from indictment

06:30 , Namita Singh

“These guys, what they’re doing with this election interference ... the Senate needs to step up. The House is doing a lot of things…They have something on Mitch McConnell,” the former president argued at a an event in South Carolina.

John Bowden reports:

Trump calls for Senate to save him from latest indictment

06:00 , Namita Singh

Pence skirts crucial questions about Trump’s election indictment

05:30 , Namita Singh

Mike Pence was evasive when answering questions from a CBS reporter in a new interview touching upon Donald Trump’s indictment on charges related to the effort to overturn the 2020 election.

John Bowden reports:

Pence skirts crucial questions about Trump’s election indictment

Trump defiantly attacks Nancy Pelosi over ‘scared puppy’ comment

05:00 , Namita Singh

Donald Trump is on the defence after his third criminal indictment was handed to him this past week, lashing out at several people, including Nancy Pelosi, for providing commentary on his federal charges.

The ex-president didn’t hold back against Ms Pelosi in a post on Truth Social on Sunday after the ex-speaker of the house said Mr Trump looked like a “scared puppy” attending his arraignment last week.

“I purposely didn’t comment on Nancy Pelosi’s very weird story concerning her husband, but now I can because she said something about me, with glee, that was really quite vicious,” Mr Trump wrote.

Ms Pelosi told MSNBC on Friday that when she saw Mr Trump emerge from his car for the arraignment in Washington DC she saw “a scared puppy” who “knows the truth that he lost the election”.

Ariana Baio reports:

Trump insists he isn’t a ‘scared puppy’ in defiant attack on Nancy Pelosi

Lincoln Project posts mocking montage of Trump attorney

04:30 , Namita Singh

Trump calls for Senate to save him from indictment

04:00 , Ariana Baio

Donald Trump was in attack mode as he spoke to supporters Saturday evening in Columbia, South Carolina.

The former president, not known for holding back against his enemies, was more combative than ever as he spoke at a South Carolina Republican Party fundraiser in the wake of his indictment on criminal charges related to his attempt to overturn the 2020 election.

While some moments were clearly scripted and focused his rage against President Joe Biden and the Department of Justice, others were not as he veered into attacks against Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Republicans tied to leadership in the Senate who have resisted his calls to use their power to help him — both on January 6, and now, as he faces criminal prosecution.

“These guys, what they’re doing with this election interference ... the Senate needs to step up. The House is doing a lot of things…They have something on Mitch McConnell,” the former president argued, presumably meaning either Democrats or the Department of Justice, or both.

“There’s no way he’s doing this. They got something on Mitch McConnell.”

Poll: Trump and Biden tied in hypothetical 2024 rematch

02:00 , Ariana Baio

The 2024 election looks set to be a rematch between President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump.

Despite his mounting legal problems, Mr Trump is by far the most popular candidate in the Republican field.

Only Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has reached double digits but he remains miles behind Mr Trump.

Trump and Biden tied in hypothetical 2024 rematch: poll

ICYMI: Bill Barr dismisses Donald Trump's First Amendment defence following indictment

Monday 7 August 2023 00:00 , Ariana Baio

Mike Pence and Trump’s lawyer share opposite stories of what ex-president said ahead of Jan 6

Sunday 6 August 2023 23:00 , Ariana Baio

Donald Trump‘s defence attorney, John Lauro, claimed the ex-president never asked then-vice president Mike Pence to overturn the 2020 elections – but Mr Pence says differently.

Mr Lauro went on several network news shows on Sunday to defend Mr Trump, claiming he was within his First Amendment right when he asked Mr Pence to “pause the counts and allow the states to weigh in,” in the days before 6 January.

But Mr Pence’s recount of those events was slightly different.

Mr Pence said the former president’s attorneys approached him and asked him to “reject votes outright.”

“They were asking me to overturn the election,” Mr Pence told CNN. “I had no right to overturn the election.”

Trump goes on kooky rant about how long it takes to wash his ‘gorgeous head of hair’

Sunday 6 August 2023 22:30 , Ariana Baio

With a trio of indictments looming overhead, Donald Trump took time to assure his voters that he was focused on what really matters heading into 2024 — his shower‘s water pressure.

During the keynote speech of a GOP dinner in South Carolina on Saturday, Mr Trump told the crowd that modern water pressures just weren’t getting the job done.

Though Mr Trump has proven in past speeches that he does not need segues — preferring instead to crash from topic to topic without regard for logic or causality — he did lead into his shower rant, sort of, by complaining about regulations.

Graig Graziosi reports:

Trump goes on kooky rant about how long it takes to wash his ‘gorgeous head of hair’

Pence skirts crucial questions about Trump’s election indictment

Sunday 6 August 2023 22:00 , Ariana Baio

Mike Pence was evasive when answering questions from a CBS reporter in a new interview touching upon Donald Trump’s indictment on charges related to the effort to overturn the 2020 election.

The former vice president, whom Mr Trump’s team has spoken openly about cross-examining in the ex-president’s upcoming trial, has largely remained on Mr Trump’s side when it comes to the barrage of legal threats now facing him. But he has not reserved that same loyalty amid Mr Trump’s newest criminal charges, on which he refused to take a side.

Speaking with Major Garrett, Mr Pence dodged questions about whether the prosecution of Mr Trump specifically was “politicised” — a charge the Trump team has levelled —while making those same gratuitous swipes at the Justice Department over unrelated issues, like the ongoing prosecution of Hunter Biden.

“I don’t want to prejudge this indictment. I don’t know whether the government has the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt to support this case,” said the former vice president, who was at the very centre of the events now being examined for prosecution by the Department of Justice.

Michael Cohen claims Jared Kushner ‘probably a cooperating witness’ in probe

Sunday 6 August 2023 21:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Michael Cohen, the former attorney and fixer for former president Donald Trump, claims the ex-president’s son-in-law and former adviser is one of the witnesses who has given evidence about him to the prosecutors who will seek to convict and imprison him next year.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Michael Cohen claims Trump’s son-in-law is ‘probably a cooperating witness’ in probe

Trump wants venue of case moved out of Washington DC

Sunday 6 August 2023 21:00 , Ariana Baio

Donald Trump says will be asking for Judge Tanya Chutkan to recuse overseeing his 2020 election fraud conspiracy and January 6 case and look to move the case out of Washington DC.

Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social that there is “no way” he can receive a fair trail with Judge Chutkan assigned and so his team will be looking for a different judge and a venue change.

“THERE IS NO WAY I CAN GET A FAIR TRIAL WITH THE JUDGE “ASSIGNED” TO THE RIDICULOUS FREEDOM OF SPEECH/FAIR ELECTIONS CASE. EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS, AND SO DOES SHE!” Mr Trump said.

“WE WILL BE IMMEDIATELY ASKING FOR RECUSAL OF THIS JUDGE ON VERY POWERFUL GROUNDS, AND LIKEWISE FOR VENUE CHANGE, OUT IF D.C.”

Lawyer for Trump says they are preparing for Georgia indictment

Sunday 6 August 2023 20:30 , Ariana Baio

Trump insists he isn’t a ‘scared puppy’ in defiant attack on Nancy Pelosi

Sunday 6 August 2023 20:00 , Ariana Baio

Donald Trump is on the defence after his third criminal indictment was handed to him this past week, lashing out at several people, including Nancy Pelosi, for providing commentary on his federal charges.

The ex-president didn’t hold back against Ms Pelosi in a post on Truth Social on Sunday after the ex-speaker of the house said Mr Trump looked like a “scared puppy” attending his arraignment last week.

“I purposely didn’t comment on Nancy Pelosi’s very weird story concerning her husband, but now I can because she said something about me, with glee, that was really quite vicious,” Mr Trump wrote.

“She is a Wicked Witch whose husbands journey from hell starts and finishes with her. She is a sick & demented psycho who will someday live in HELL!” Mr Trump continued.

Will Trump go to the first RNC debate? It may be up to his supporters to decide

Sunday 6 August 2023 19:00 , Ariana Baio

Donald Trump is calling on his supporters to determine whether or not he goes to the Republican National Committee’s first official debate in the 2024 presidential race.

The ex-president sent a campaign email to supporters asking if he should go to the debate which is set to take place in August.

“President Trump is polling his top supporters on whether he should debate or whether he should instead focus all of his resources and time on firing Crooked Joe, who is trying to JAIL him for life as an innocent man,” the description of the poll read.

It included two options:

“Yes.”

“No – let all of the many other candidates attack each other while President Trump unites the rest of our party to focus on the important battle of beating Biden.”

So far, Mr Trump has said he does not plan to go to the debate, though he has qualified.

Trump attorney plays defence on several network news programmes

Sunday 6 August 2023 18:30 , Ariana Baio

John Lauro, one of Mr Trump’s attorneys in the election conspiracy indictment, was in defensive mode on Sunday as he joined several network news programmes to defend his client.

Mr Lauro went on CNN, Fox News, ABC, CBS and NBC on Sunday to speak about Mr Trump’s indictment.

In each interview, Mr Lauro claimed Mr Trump was being charged unfairly, indicated they wanted to change the venue where Mr Trump will go to trial and claimed the First Amendment was a protection against Mr Trump’s action.

Trump attacks Pence over key role in election indictment: ‘Gone to the dark side’

Sunday 6 August 2023 17:30 , Ariana Baio

Donald Trump attacked Mike Pence as “delusional” days after the former vice president was revealed to play a central role in the latest federal indictment against him.

Mr Trump appeared to be trying to do damage control on Truth Social after he was charged with four federal charges related to his alleged conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election and the subsequent attack on the Capitol.

After attacking Special Counsel Jack Smith and the Department of Justice, Mr Trump turned his attention to his former vice president and current 2024 White House opponent.

“Liddle’ Mike Pence, a man who was about to be ousted as Governor Indiana until I came along and made him V.P., has gone to the Dark Side,” Mr Trump wrote on Saturday.

“I never told a newly emboldened (not based on his 2% poll numbers!) Pence to put me above the Constitution or that Mike was ‘too honest.’ He’s delusional, and now he wants to show he’s a tough guy,” Mr Trump added.

The ex-vice president and 2024 candidate has begun selling merchandise that says “Too honest” – something Mr Trump allegedly told Mr Pence after he refused to engage in a scheme to unlawfully decertify election results.

Then in a statement released after Mr Trump’s third criminal indictment, Mr Pence said: “Today’s indictment serves as an important reminder: anyone who puts himself over the Constitution should never be President of the United States.”

Judge Chutkan denies Trump attorneys request for extension

Sunday 6 August 2023 17:00 , Ariana Baio

Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing Donald Trump’s 2020 election conspiracy case, denied the ex-president’s request to extend his response date from Monday until Wednesday.

The final decision comes after a day’s worth of back and forth between prosecutors in the Department of Justice (DoJ) and Mr Trump’s attorneys.

Prosecutors filed a request for a protective order on Friday night after Mr Trump posted a seemingly threatening statement to Truth Social. Judge Chuktan gave Mr Trump’s legal team until Monday at 5pm ET to which, Mr Trump’s team asked for an extension.

Judge Chutkan denied their request on Saturday evening.

Trump demands Judge Tanya Chutkan be removed from election case after ruling against him

Sunday 6 August 2023 16:30 , Ariana Baio

Donald Trump has called for the judge in his most recent federal indictment to be removed from the case after she issued a ruling against him.

The ex-president launched his attack on District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan on Sunday morning, days after he appeared before her in court to plead not guilty to four federal charges stemming from a Department of Justice investigation into his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election and the subsequent January 6 attack on the Capitol.

Ariana Baio and Megan Sheets report:

Trump demands Judge Tanya Chutkan be removed from election case

Trump looking to play First Amendment card

Sunday 6 August 2023 16:00 , Ariana Baio

Donald Trump and his attorneys are looking to use the First Amendment as a defence against the indictment which charged the ex-president with four federal charges.

Last week, Mr Trump’s attorney went on several network news shows to explain that Mr Trump’s words after the 2020 election and leading up to the January 6 insurrection were protected by the First Amendment right to free speech and therefore cannot be illegal.

On Truth Social, Mr Trump wrote: “THERE IS NO WAY I CAN GET A FAIR TRIAL WITH THE JUDGE “ASSIGNED” TO THE RIDICULOUS FREEDOM OF SPEECH/FAIR ELECTIONS CASE. EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS, AND SO DOES SHE! WE WILL BE IMMEDIATELY ASKING FOR RECUSAL OF THIS JUDGE ON VERY POWERFUL GROUNDS, AND LIKEWISE FOR VENUE CHANGE, OUT IF D.C.”

In the indictment, prosecutors acknowledged that Mr Trump had the right to say whatever he wanted but his actions were allegedly unlawful as he tried to use several people, including the vice president, to exercise power they were not authorised to in order to change results.

Trump rants about indictment on Truth Social claiming it is a ‘Bidin opponent case’

Sunday 6 August 2023 15:30 , Ariana Baio

Sunday morning Donald Trump took to Truth Social to rant about the most recent federal indictment against him which he claims is an act of political retaliation.

“DERANGED JACK SMITH AND OUR HIGHLY PARTISAN, AND VERY CORRUPT, DEPARTMENT OF INJUSTICE, COULD HAVE BROUGHT THIS BIDIN “OPPONENT” CASE YEARS AGO, BUT CHOSE TO WAIT AND BRING IT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF MY ELECTION CAMPAIGN,” Mr Trump wrote.

The ex-president believes President Joe Biden encouraged the indictment which charged Mr Trump with four federal charges related to his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Special Counsel Jack Smith in the Department of Justice (DoJ) has been investigating Mr Trump for his actions that led up to the January 6 insurrection.

Trump goes on erratic tangent about washing his hair

Sunday 6 August 2023 14:30 , Ariana Baio

Donald Trump gave a speech in South Carolina on Saturday night that included a long-winded tangent about washing his “gorgeous head of hair” and water pressure.

The ex-president spoke at the Silver Elephant Gala where he spoke about his recent federal indictment, the economy and jobs. But while speaking about jobs under the Biden administration Mr Trump used how he washes his hair to describe the difference in his administration’s regulations.

“You know I have this gorgeous head of hair. When I take a shower I want water to pour down on me. When you go into these new homes the water drips down slowly,” Mr Trump said.

“Slowly. You have suds, beautiful, nice, wonderful suds – lot of money, Procter and Gamble, all of that crap they say is good. Probably cost them about two cents and they sell it for $10.”

He added: “But it takes you 10 minutes to wash your hair. You know what you do? You just stay in the shower about 10 times longer than you would’ve. It’s the same. You probably use more water. I broke all of that up.”

Trump’s own lawyer ‘admits’ to indictment charge live on TV

Sunday 6 August 2023 14:00 , Ariana Baio

A lawyer for former President Donald Trump, John Lauro, seemed to admit to a charge listed in the indictment related to January 6 and the efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Kelly Rissman has the story.

Moment Trump’s own lawyer ‘admits’ to indictment charge live on TV

Democrats are calling for Trump’s trial to be televised

Sunday 6 August 2023 13:30 , Ariana Baio

Federal court proceedings are rarely televised.

But Democrats are pushing for the trial to be televised; they wrote a letter on Thursday to Judge Roslynn Mauskopf, the director of the Administrative Office of the US Courts.

The letter, led by Rep Adam Schiff and signed by 37 other Democratic lawmakers, pressed that the trial be shown “unfiltered, to the public.”

The letter asks for the trial to be broadcasted, as it “ensures timely access to accurate and reliable information,” emphasising “the extraordinary national importance to our democratic institutions and the need for transparency.”

“Given the historic nature of the charges brought forth in these cases, it is hard to imagine a more powerful circumstance for televised proceedings,” the Democrats wrote. “If the public is to fully accept the outcome, it will be vitally important for it to witness, as directly as possible, how the trials are conducted, the strength of the evidence adduced and the credibility of witnesses.”

Ex Secret Service agent describes how Trump could have security detail in prison

Sunday 6 August 2023 13:00 , Ariana Baio

Those closest to Trump could be called to testify

Sunday 6 August 2023 11:00 , Ariana Baio

Several former and current aides to Donald Trump could soon be called to testify against their boss as the ex-president faces three criminal indictments.

According to a report from The Washington Post several of Mr Trump’s current advisers are named in one of three indictments or have been interviewed by prosecutors – all while working on his 2024 campaign.

This includes his top adviser, senior communications aide and other staffers, according to The Post.

Mr Trump’s former personal aide, Walt Nauta, was recently named as a co-defendant in the classified documents probe. Carlos De Oliveira, a Mar-a-Lago property manager, was also named as a co-defendant.

In the January 6th and 2020 election conspiracy probe, six unnamed co-defendants were named alongside Mr Trump – most likely those closest to the former president while he was in office.

Trump moans it must be ‘unconstitutional’ for criminal cases to keep him from campaigning

Sunday 6 August 2023 07:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump is now complaining that the myriad of criminal cases against him are keeping him from the campaign trail, claiming that it must be “unconstitutional”.

Gustaf Kilander has the story.

Trump moans criminal cases are keeping him from the campaign trail

In Photos: Trump appears for arraignment on Friday

Sunday 6 August 2023 05:00 , Ariana Baio

Explained: Why Trump is charged under a civil rights law used to prosecute KKK terror

Sunday 6 August 2023 01:00 , Ariana Baio

Mr Trump has been charged with three criminal conspiracies – including a conspiracy to deprive Americans’ right to vote and to have their votes counted, a statute rooted in bedrock civil rights protections enacted in the brutal aftermath of the US Civil War.

A crime of conspiracy against rights invokes Section 241 of Title 18 of US Code, among criminal codes that came from the Enforcement Acts, also known as the Ku Klux Klan Acts. Those laws were designed to protect Americans’ newly enshrined rights under the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments – allowing the federal government to protect the rights of newly enfranchised Black people to vote, hold office, serve on juries and receive equal protection under the law against white supremacist terror.

Why Trump is charged under a civil rights law used to prosecute KKK terror

Watch: Nancy Pelosi says Donald Trump looked like a ‘scared puppy’ during arraignment

Saturday 5 August 2023 22:30 , Ariana Baio

Federal prosecutors accuse Trump of seeking to ‘delay the process’ in Jan 6 case

Saturday 5 August 2023 21:30 , Ariana Baio

Federal prosecutors accused Donald Trump and his attorneys of trying to delay the process in his January 6 case by filing a motion to delay the time they are given to respond.

“The Government wants to provide discovery to the defendant. By his motion, the defendant seeks to delay that process,” the filing from the Department of Justice on Saturday reads.

Prosecutors urged Judge Tanya Chutkan to deny Mr Trump’s motion to delay the date of response.

Mr Trump’s attorneys asked the judge to move the date from Monday until Wednesday to give them more time to consider the proposed protective order.

ICYMI: Inside the courtroom, it was clear this indictment is different for Donald Trump

Saturday 5 August 2023 21:00 , Ariana Baio

Voices

“If one was to judge Donald Trump’s mood by the various missives he posts to his bespoke social media platform, it’s possible to come away with the impression that the latest indictment filed against him — the third of a possible four criminal cases he could face before next year’s election — is nothing but a boon to his re-election hopes.”

Andrew Feinberg writes:

Inside the courtroom, it was clear this indictment is different for Donald Trump

Texas man who threatened election poll workers is sentenced to 3 1/2 years

Saturday 5 August 2023 20:30 , Ariana Baio

Frederick Francis Goltz, a man who advocated for a mass shooting of poll workers and threatened two Arizona officials and their children, has been sentenced to 3 1/2 years in federal prison.

Prosecutors said court documents showed that Mr Goltz threatened several people including a lawyer with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and a Maricopa County elections official, on far-right social media platforms.

In plea papers, Goltz admitted that on 21 November 2022, he posted the lawyer’s name, home address and telephone number on social media, writing: “It would be a shame if someone got to this children.” On the same date, in response to another post referring to other Maricopa County officials, he wrote: “Someone needs to get these people AND their children. The children are the most important message to send.”

After former President Donald Trump falsely claimed that the 2020 election was stolen from him, there was a rise in threats against elections officials.

Associated Press contributed to this report.

Mike Pence heckled by Trump supporters outside of town hall

Saturday 5 August 2023 20:00 , Ariana Baio

Who is Tanya Chutkan, the judge overseeing Trump’s 2020 election probe case?

Saturday 5 August 2023 19:30 , Ariana Baio

The DC district judge assigned to oversee Donald Trump’s second federal indictment is Tanya Chutkan, a court docket revealed prior to Mr Trump’s arraignment on Thursday 3 August, at which he entered a not guilty plea to all charges.

Judge Chutkan is an appointee of former president Barack Obama and was first appointed to the US District Court for the District of Columbia in June 2014.

Tanya Chutkan: Who is the judge overseeing Trump’s 2020 election probe case?

DoJ requests protective order after Trump threatens revenge in Truth Social post

Saturday 5 August 2023 18:30 , Ariana Baio

Prosecutors in the Department of Justice asked the judge overseeing Donald Trump’s most recent federal indictment for a protective order after the ex-president issued a seemingly threatening statement on Truth Social.

The day after Mr Trump’s arraignment he took to his social media platform where he seemingly threatened revenge on those pursuing him.

“IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I’M COMING AFTER YOU!” the ex-president wrote.

Hours after his post, federal prosecutors asked District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan to issue an order that would limit what discovery evidence Mr Trump and his legal can share publicly, citing Mr Trump’s love for ranting on social media.

Ariana Baio reports:

DoJ requests protective order after Trump threatens revenge in Truth Social post

Former Trump press secretary calls Trump’s posts ‘chilling'

Saturday 5 August 2023 18:00 , Ariana Baio

Ex-White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham criticised her former boss’ posts on Truth Social, claiming they could be considered intimidating to the federal prosecution overseeing his 2020 election lies case.

“I just don’t understand does somebody have to get hurt before people take this kind of online intimidation seriously?” Ms Grisham said on CNN.

Mr Trump posted on Truth Social on Friday seemingly threatening those who come after him saying, “IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I’M COMING AFTER YOU!”

Prosecutors filed a request for a protective order so Mr Trump and his legal team are prevented from sharing too much information about the case.

“Legally, it doesn’t seem like it’s very smart but how is that not intimidation?” Ms Grisham asked. She called the ex-president’s speech “chilling”.

Judge orders Trump and attorneys to respond to protective order

Saturday 5 August 2023 17:33 , Ariana Baio

Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing Donald Trump’s federal case pertaining to his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election, ordered Mr Trump and his defence team to respond to prosecutors’ request for a protective order by Monday.

The request was filed on Friday night following a seemingly threatening Truth Social post from the ex-president.

Mr Trump’s team has until Monday to air any disagreements or create revisions to the protective order.

Trump campaign walks back threatening Truth Social post

Saturday 5 August 2023 15:30 , Ariana Baio

Donald Trump’s campaign claimed a seemingly threatening Truth Social post that was cited by federal prosecutors in a protective order request was only ‘political speech’.

“The Truth post cited is the definition of political speech, and was in response to the RINO, China-loving, dishonest special interest groups and Super PACs, like the ones funded by the Koch brothers and the Club for No Growth,” the statement from Mr Trump’s campaign read.

Mr Trump’s campaign issued the statement just hours after federal prosecutors overseeing the latest indictment against the ex-president requested the judge limit the amount of information Mr Trump and his attorneys can share publicly.

The requested protective order cited a Truth Social post from Mr Trump in which he claimed, “IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I’M COMING AFTER YOU!!”

Ron DeSantis condemns Donald Trump’s ‘juvenile’ insults

Saturday 5 August 2023 14:00 , Ariana Baio

As the 2024 race begins ramping up, presidential candidates Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump are becoming less friendly.

During a conversation with a local news station in New Hampshire this week, Mr DeSantis lashed out at Mr Trump calling his attacks “juvenile” and saying the United States needs a different leader.

”These insults are so phony,” Mr DeSantis said. “These insults are juvenile. That’s not the way the president of the US should be conducting himself.”

DeSantis finally says Trump’s claims of stolen 2020 election weren’t ‘true’

Saturday 5 August 2023 13:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Florida governor and 2024 presidential candidate Ron DeSantis said on Friday that Donald Trump’s claims that the 2020 election was rigged are not true.

“All those theories that were put out did not prove to be true,” Mr DeSantis told The New York Times during a campaign stop in Iowa.

Josh Marcus reports.

Ron DeSantis says Trump’s claims of stolen 2020 election weren’t ‘true’

Could Trump’s alleged co-conspirators in the Jan 6 indictment turn on him?

Saturday 5 August 2023 11:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump wasn’t alone in pursuing his alleged plot to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

In his latest federal criminal indictment, the Justice Department refers to six co-conspirators who also conspired with him to cling onto power at all costs.

The six individuals are not named in the charging documents but, based on the details in the indictment and records already known about the events leading up to the January 6 Capitol riot, their identities are clear.

Could one or more of them turn on Mr Trump?

Will Trump’s alleged co-conspirators in the Jan 6 indictment turn on him?

Federal judge wants Giuliani to clarify ‘incongruous’ and ‘puzzling’ court filing

Saturday 5 August 2023 00:45 , Oliver O'Connell

A federal judge has asked Rudy Giuliani to clarify his “seemingly incongruous and certainly puzzling caveats” in a recent filing in which he appears to admit he made false and defamatory statements about two Georgia election workers in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election.

But Mr Giuliani and his attorney have argued that the extremely carefully worded filing – which attempts to move the case along to avoid revealing more evidence – is not an admission.

Alex Woodward reports.

Giuliani must clarify his ‘puzzling’ court filing in Georgia defamation case