Trump disparaged MAGA fans in private, says former Pence aide - live

Donald Trump used to mock his followers behind closed doors according to Olivia Troye, once an aide to former Vice President Mike Pence. Ms Troye told The View on Tuesday that the way he spoke “was so disparaging to them”.

In legal news, Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg took the witness stand in the New York civil fraud trial of Donald Trump. The former president’s longtime finance chief was jailed for around three months earlier this year for tax evasion at the organisation.

He is now named alongside Mr Trump, his adult sons and other executives in the $250m civil case which could result in wiping out the former president’s business empire in New York. Mr Weisselberg was particularly evasive when questioned by prosecutors and was chided by Judge Arthur Engoron.

Mr Trump was not in court to see Weisselberg testify in the case, coming hours after he appeared at a rally in New Hampshire where he called the attacks on Israel “incredible” and claimed it never would have happened under his watch.

The former president has also been roundly denounced by his niece Mary Trump for allegedly leaking Israeli national security secrets to Vladimir Putin while he was president.

Key Points

• Mary Trump unloads on ‘maniac’ uncle for allegedly leaking Israel security secrets

• Trump claims Hamas attack on Israel wouldn’t have happened if he were president

• Special counsel asks for jury protections in DC election interference case

• Trump would disparage MAGA fans in private, says former Pence aide

• Weisselberg testimony punctured with repeated bouts of memory loss

• Fulton County prosecutors seek testimony of Alex Jones and Ronna McDaniel

Special counsel fires back as Trump tries to delay classified documents trial

09:45 , Kelly Rissman

Special Counsel Jack Smith has blasted former president Donald Trump’s request to postpone his classified documents trial until after the 2024 election.

Mr Smith pointed out that not only is Mr Trump asking “the Court to continue the trial for an additional seven months” but that a delay had already been rejected by the court “less than three months ago”.

The classified documents trial is set to begin in May 2024.

“The defendants provide no credible justification to postpone a trial that is still seven months away,” Mr Smith wrote.

“They are fully informed about the charges and the theory of the Government’s case from a highly detailed superseding indictment and comprehensive, organized unclassified and classified discovery.”

Read more...

Jack Smith fires back as Trump tries to delay trial until after 2024 election

Gaetz calls McCarthy’s insults a ‘death rattle’

08:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The House GOP remains in disarray.

Congressmen Jim Jordan and Steve Scalise have expressed their intentions to become the next speaker of the House. However, it’s unclear if either of the men can secure the 217 votes needed to win an election.

The party has been embroiled in a civil war since former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted by a group of eight Republicans led by Congressman Matt Gaetz.

The MAGA Republicans moved against Mr McCarthy shortly after he worked with Democrats to avert a government shutdown at the end of last month.

Since then, the speakership has been in limbo and the war of words continues.

Graig Graziosi reports.

Matt Gaetz calls McCarthy’s insults a ‘death rattle’ as House GOP remains in disarray

Trump calls attacks on Israel ‘incredible'

07:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has said that the “incredible” attacks on Israel by Hamas wouldn’t have happened if he had been president.

During a campaign speech in New Hampshire on Monday, Mr Trump said: “What happened yesterday was incredible ... so many people killed ... the number was much bigger than they reported even this morning. It’s a very big number, very, very big number”.

The former president went on to call it a “vicious” attack and noted that “young children” were “just slaughtered”.

“It’s terrible what’s going on,” he added.

Mr Trump then quickly segued into a reading of the song The Snake by Al Wilson.

Read more...

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

05:45 , Oliver O'Connell

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

Is DeSantis wearing ‘hidden heels’? Trump thinks so...

04:15 , Martha McHardy

Donald Trump has roasted his 2024 rival Ron DeSantis for supposedly wearing “hidden heels”.

The former president took to his Truth Social platform on Monday to accuse the Florida governor of wearing heels to mask his height — or lack thereof.

He posted a montage of photos of Mr DeSantis during a recent appearance on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, where it looks as though he could be wearing heeled boots.

“Tell me he’s not wearing hidden heels,” the post read.

Mr Trump also outlined where he claimed the Florida governor’s feet supposedly really are.

Trump roasts DeSantis for supposedly wearing ‘hidden heels’

ICYMI: Biden interview by special counsel over classified documents

03:15 , Andrew Feinberg

President Joe Biden has been interviewed by Department of Justice prosecutors who’ve been looking into how documents with classification markings ended up at his Delaware homes and a Washington, DC office he used while out of government, the White House has said.

In a statement, White House spokesman Ian Sams said the “voluntary interview,” which started on Sunday and finished on Monday, was part of the probe being overseen by Robert Hur, the former Maryland US Attorney who was tasked with investigating the documents at locations linked to Mr Biden.

Mr Hur, who was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland this past January, has spent the last nine months interviewing various figures connected with Mr Biden’s term as vice president, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and a former assistant, Kathy Chung.

Both Mr Blinken and Mr Chung played roles in packing Mr Biden’s office in late 2008 and early 2009 during the transition between the Obama administration and the Trump administration.

Continued...

Biden sat for ‘voluntary interview’ with prosecutors in documents probe

Lawmaker calls on House colleagues to end civil war and elect speaker

02:15 , Graig Graziosi

House Republicans are urging their colleagues to end the “civil war” that has erupted since the ousting of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Congressman Mike McCaul, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs committee, urged his party to unify as “we have got to move quickly, we cannot paralyse democracy, especially when we have hotspots all over the world,” likely a reference to the erupting violence in Israel and the West Bank.

“I’m just worried about the messaging this sends,” he said, during an interview with CNN.

Last week eight hard-right Republicans, led by Congressman Matt Gaetz, managed to oust Mr McCarthy from the Speakership. The move was largely seen as a punishment for his decision to work with Democrats to avert a government shutdown.

Mr McCaul told CNN’s State of the Union that it was imperative that the House choose a speaker to ensure legislation makes it back to the floor.

Read full story.

Trump not the only Republican with mounting legal problems...

01:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Congressman George Santos has become infamous for his seemingly endless string of absurd — and easily debunked — lies, but his latest alleged falsehood may be the one that brings with it the heftiest consequence.

In May, Mr Santos was charged with 13 felony charges stemming from a trio of unrelated financial schemes. He has pleaded not guilty to all of his charges and has denied any wrongdoing.

However, his campaign treasurer, Nancy Marks, pleaded guilty to a count of conspiracy related to her managing of the congressman’s finances, according to the New York Times.

Details from her case have now revealed that a $500,000 loan that Mr Santos lent to his campaign reportedly does not exist...

Graig Graziosi reports.

George Santos could be implicated in fake $500k loan, report says

With Biden Iran deal accusations, is GOP exploiting Israel tragedy for partisan purposes

01:15 , Oliver O'Connell

John Bowden writes:

Images of the violence have enraged supporters of Israel and Palestine alike across America, and with the 2024 presidential election looming in the background, efforts to politicise the conflict have begun in earnest.

That was clear over the weekend as every Republican candidate in the race blamed Joe Biden and his administration for the outbreak in violence — a result, they say, of the Biden administration’s softened approach towards Iran. The Iranian government’s involvement in the conflict has been hotly debated, with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)’s support for Hamas well known but no clear evidence yet pointing to Iranian tactical or military support for the militants involved in the fight today. A Wall Street Journal report directly linked Iran’s government to the weekend attacks on Israel, citing senior Hamas and Hezbollah members, but has since been contradicted by statements from US officials.

Even Israel’s government seems conflicted over whether Iran is directly involved in the renewed fighting.

Read more...

Is Biden’s $6bn Iran deal really behind Hamas attacks – or is GOP exploiting tragedy?

Fulton County prosecutors seek testimony of Alex Jones and Ronna McDaniel

Wednesday 11 October 2023 00:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Fulton County prosecutors in Georgia are seeking the testimony of conspiracy theorist and broadcaster Alex Jones and RNC chair Ronna McDaniel in the upcoming trial of the State of Georgia v Kenneth Chesebro and Sidney Powell.

They are both described as necessary and material witnesses to the proof of the state’s case.

Mr Jones participated in the “Stop the Steal” rally at the Georgia State Capitol alongside members of the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, and others, and was also at the 6 January 2021 march on the US Capitol alongside Mr Chesebro.

Ms McDaniel received a phone call from Donald Trump and John Eastman about the importance of the RNC in helping the campaign gather “contingent” electors for the 2020 presidential election. Her response was handed to the then-president by his executive assistant.

Former general reminds GOP of time Trump leaked Israeli intel

Wednesday 11 October 2023 00:15 , Martha McHardy

A former US general took to Twitter on Sunday to remind Republicans laying blame on the Biden administration after Hamas militants launched the deadliest attack on Israel in decades that Donald Trump shared classified intelligence from Israel with Iran-allied Russia when he was president.

Retired army general Mark Hertling shared a story about allegations the former president told top Russian officials that Israel had successfully hacked Isis computers in order to gain intelligence about bomb plots against the West in a meeting at the White House in 2017.

At the time, the former president’s actions reportedly ignited fears by Israel that Russia could have passed the information to its ally Iran, which has long been a supporter of the Palestinian cause.

Mr Trump reportedly leaked the information in a meeting in the Oval Office in May 2017 with the Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, and the then-Russian ambassador to the US, Sergey Kislyak. Amid uproar over the revelation, Mr Trump insisted he had every right to give Russia the information.

Former US general reminds GOP Trump leaked Israeli intel to Russians in White House

Trump lays into ‘RINO’ opponents saying Republicans ‘eat their young’

Tuesday 10 October 2023 23:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has posted another screed on Truth Social saying that his rivals for the Republican Party nomination are “getting together with RINO Paul RINO, Mitt ‘The Loser’ Romney, Bill ‘No Guts or Talent’ Barr, and some broken political ‘investors’ that will soon come to me”.

The former president says that by opposing him for the nomination they are only helping “Crooked Joe Biden” with their “failed ideas and policies”.

Here’s what he posted:

I understand Candidates that are losing by 57 to 70 Points are getting together with RINO Paul RINO, Mitt “The Loser” Romney, Bill “No Guts or Talent” Barr, and some broken political “investors” that will soon come to me, as most others already have. These failed Candidates should have started by campaigning effectively, which they didn’t because they don’t have the skill or the talent! Romney, who today couldn’t get elected “dogcatcher” in the Great State of Utah, should have beaten an absolutely failed first term Obama. If he and RINO Paul fought as hard against Obama as they do against President Donald J. Trump, they would never have lost, but remember, Republicans “Eat Their Young,” and that’s the problem with so many in our Party, they go after the people who are on their side, rather than the Radical Left Democrats that are DESTROYING OUR COUNTRY. These are LOSERS, and the Republican Nation must stop following their failed ideas and policies. They only help Crooked Joe Biden!

Nikki Haley warned about refusal to condemn Trump

Tuesday 10 October 2023 23:15 , Alex Woodward

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley has refused to say whether Donald Trump should be disqualified for the GOP’s 2024 nomination after his comments suggesting that the outgoing chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff should be executed for treason.

During NBC’s Meet the Press on 8 October, Ms Haley, a former South Carolina governor and US ambassador to the United Nations during the Trump administration, called his comments “irresponsible” but did not say whether she believes his comments are disqualifying.

“I think any man or woman who served our country deserves our highest respect,” she said. “They sacrifice a lot. Their families sacrifice a lot. And we should honour them every chance we get.”

Authoritarianism expert Ruth Ben-Ghiat of New York University said Ms Haley’s refusal to outright condemn Mr Trump’s increasingly violent rhetoric offers a grim warning of a growing tolerance for authoritarian violence.

Authoritarianism expert has a warning about Nikki Haley’s refusal to condemn Trump

Is Mar-a-Lago really worth $1bn? Depends who you ask...

Tuesday 10 October 2023 22:45 , Oliver O'Connell

How much is Donald Trump‘s Mar-a-Lago worth? That’s been a point of contention after a New York judge ruled that the former president exaggerated the Florida property’s value when he said it’s worth at least $420 million and perhaps $1.5 billion.

Siding with New York’s attorney general in a lawsuit accusing Trump of grossly overvaluing his assets, Judge Arthur Engoron found that Trump consistently exaggerated Mar-a-Lago’s worth. He noted that one Trump estimate of the club’s value was 2,300% times the Palm Beach County tax appraiser’s valuations, which ranged from $18 million to $37 million.

But Palm Beach real estate agents who specialize in high-end properties scoffed at the idea that the estate could be worth that little, in the unlikely event Trump ever sold.

“Ludicrous,” agent Liza Pulitzer said about the judge citing the county’s tax appraisal as a benchmark. Homes a tenth the size of Mar-a-Lago on tiny inland lots sell for that in the Town of Palm Beach, a wealthy island enclave.

“The entire real estate community felt it was a joke when they saw that figure,” said Pulitzer, who works for the firm Brown Harris Stevens.

“That thing would get snapped up for hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars,” said Rob Thomson, owner of Waterfront Properties and a Mar-a-Lago member. “There is zero chance that it’s going to sell for $40 million or $50 million.”

In the ongoing trial over the lawsuit, though, what a private buyer might pay for a place like Mar-a-Lago isn’t the only factor in determining whether Trump is liable for fraud.

Continued...

Trump wants to reinstate Muslim ban if he wins in 2024

Tuesday 10 October 2023 22:15 , Graeme Massie

Donald Trump says that he would reintroduce his Muslim travel ban as violence deepens in the Middle East after the brutal Hamas attack on Israel.

“As president, I will once again stand strongly with the state of Israel, and we will cut off the money to the terrorists on day one,” said Mr Trump, who is leading the race to be the Republican 20204 nominee.

And he told a campaign rally in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, on Monday that he would “reimpose the travel ban on terror-afflicted countries.”

Mr Trump imposed a similar ban on people from seven countries entering the US after taking office in 2017, and spouted anti-Muslim rhetoric during the 2016 campaign.

The former president claimed during the rally on Monday that “tens of thousands of probable terrorists” had entered the US since Joe Biden rescinded the travel ban.

Read the full article

Recap: Trump begins day by attacking Biden and DeSantis

Tuesday 10 October 2023 22:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump began his day by hitting out at both President Joe Biden and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in his usual self-aggrandising way.

He first wrote about the president:

I see that Crooked Joe Biden is working on his documents situation. He moved documents, many classified, all over the place, for years, including to CHINATOWN. He even took documents as a Senator, an absolute no, no! I come under the Presidential Records Act, he doesn’t - A big difference!!! I did nothing wrong, he did, and so did many others!

Turning his attention to Mr DeSantis, he posted:

Ron DeSanctimonious has the Poll numbers of a wounded bird falling from the sky. I am up on him by 57 points, and going higher. He has proven to be a terrible and inept candidate who even fought Social Security and MediCare. He will SOON be out of money and dropping out of the race for President. After having single handidly gotten him elected Governor, with no thanks or glory, it has been a beautiful thing to watch. Good luck Ron!

Voices: The race for House speaker can hardly be called a race

Tuesday 10 October 2023 21:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Eric Garcia writes:

On Wednesday, the House GOP conference will convene to pick a new speaker. As of right now, the House has two major candidates: House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, the favoured pick of the establishment and a prolific fundraiser with a strong whipping operation; and Rep Jim Jordan (R-OH), a co-founder of the House Freedom Caucus who has spent his 16 years in Congress as a hellraiser who appeals largely to the conservative base of the GOP.

Meanwhile, on Monday, after the news of Hamas’s assault on Israel which left hundreds dead, and Israel’s military response in Gaza, Mr McCarthy seemed to crack the door open to once again returning to the speakership. Meanwhile, Democrats, despite internal divisions on a host of issues, are wholly united in supporting House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

But as of right now, there’s a brutal truth – nobody can get to the magic number of votes needed to become speaker.

Read the full article...

The race for House speaker can hardly be called a race

Haley campaign raises $11m as poll puts her as Trump’s closest rival

Tuesday 10 October 2023 21:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley raised over $11m from July to September, her campaign has said, further boosting her chances of being the person to take on current favourite Donald Trump.

The former South Carolina governor is vying for position with Ron DeSantis, having recently taken the lead in some polls with just over three months to go before the first GOP nominating contest in Iowa.

Despite her increased haul – up from $7.3m last quarter – Ms Haley still lags behind the Florida governor in terms of fundraising, and even further behind former president Trump.

Ms Haley’s campaign said she had attracted nearly 40,000 new donors in the third quarter alone and that she had $9.1m cash on hand. It follows strong performances in both GOP debates and a tireless campaign schedule.

“We have seen a big surge in support and have real momentum,” Haley spokesperson Olivia Perez-Cubas said in a statement.

Continued...

Nikki Haley’s campaign raises $11m as poll puts her as Trump’s closest rival

Weisselberg testimony punctured with repeated bouts of memory loss

Tuesday 10 October 2023 21:25 , Oliver O'Connell

Reporters in court in Lower Manhattan today note that Allen Weisselberg’s testimony has a distinct feature... he cannot recall much while under questioning.

Trump would disparage MAGA fans in private, says former Pence aide

Tuesday 10 October 2023 21:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Former Vice President Mike Pence’s homeland security adviser Olivia Troye has claimed that former President Donald Trump used to mock his “Make America Great Again” followers behind closed doors.

On The View, co-host Sunny Hostin pointed to a Tuesday poll by Morning Consult that showed the former president with 61 per cent of GOP primary support. Hostin then asked Ms Troye, “Why do you think so many people still have this blind loyalty to him? What does that say about the party now?”

“Well, I think it speaks to an unfortunate state of the Republican Party,” Ms Troye replied. “It is certainly not the party that I want it to be and not the party that I believe it has been in the past.”

“I think he has done a great job of sort of marketing himself as the champion for all of these people who are behind him in this movement,” she continued. “But, like, we’ve sat in these meetings. What is so frustrating and angering to me is he has nothing in common with any of his supporters and I detest the way he speaks about them.”

The way he spoke “was so disparaging to them,” she described.

Read on...

Former Pence aide says Trump would disparage MAGA fans in private

Judge McAfee wraps up by addressing jury questionnaire

Tuesday 10 October 2023 20:59 , Oliver O'Connell

Addressing the state’s arguments, Grubman tells Judge McAfee that their argument is circular reasoning.

While the state says its own indictment is sufficient to pierce attorney-client privilege through the crime-fraud exception, Grubman argues that “accusations are not evidence” and the indictment is just an accusation.

Judge McAfee tells Grubman to submit to the court an email that establishes an attorney-client relationship between Chesebro and the Trump campaign, and copies of legal documents Chesebro is asking to have excluded. He will then decide whether the crime-fraud exception has been made.

In a discussion about the jury questionnaire, the defence complains that the prosecution’s suggested questions boil down to “Are you a Republican?” Judge McAfee says that both sides have submitted similar questions and there is no way around exploring the political views of the jury pool.

Tuesday 10 October 2023 20:35 , Oliver O'Connell

Back in Fulton County...

Tuesday 10 October 2023 20:24 , Oliver O'Connell

Attorney Scott Grubman, representing Kenneth Chesebro, argued for the motion to exclude the legal memorandum.

He said the memos Chesebro wrote regarding electors were subject to attorney-client privilege and he said the Trump campaign (the client) has not waived that privilege.

The fact that Chesebro is the subject of the indictment is not sufficient to invoke the crime-fraud exception to attorney-client privilege, Mr Grubman argues.

Similarly, he argues the January 6 Committee report is also not sufficient as it was prepared by a political body and Chesebro had no opportunity to cross-examine witnesses.

Responding for the state, Donald Wakeford says the crime-fraud exception is noa high bar to meet and the state only has to make a “prima facie” case.

The indictment alone is sufficient to make a prima facie case, Wakeford claims. He also points to the January 6 report and Special Counsel Jack Smith’s federal indictment against Mr Trump, which mentions an unindicted co-conspirator who appears to be Chesebro.

Meanwhile, at the Trump New York fraud trial...

Tuesday 10 October 2023 19:57 , Oliver O'Connell

Former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg is still on the stand and has to be reminded by both Assistant Attorney General Louis Solomon and Justice Arthur Engoron to answer questions in the format in which they are posed — i.e. yes, or no.

For example, Solomon asks Weisselberg if he understood that Donald Trump wanted his assets described in the most flattering way in his financial statements.

Weisselberg confirms this but his response is meandering.

Weisselberg admitted that until Mr Trump became president, he was given the statements of financial condition before they were finalised. This gave Mr Trump the opportunity to review them and he “periodically” gave Weisselberg comments.

After Mr Trump became president, Weisselberg would give the statements to either Donald Trump Jr or Eric Trump — though he can’t remember who (which has been a running theme throughout his testimony). Both Trump sons are co-defendants with their father.

Fulton County prosecutors seek testimony of Alex Jones and Ronna McDaniel

Tuesday 10 October 2023 19:51 , Oliver O'Connell

Fulton County prosecutors in Georgia are seeking the testimony of conspiracy theorist and broadcaster Alex Jones and RNC chair Ronna McDaniel in the upcoming trial of the State of Georgia v Kenneth Chesebro and Sidney Powell.

They are both described as necessary and material witnesses to the proof of the state’s case.

Mr Jones participated in the “Stop the Steal” rally at the Georgia State Capitol alongside members of the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, and others, and was also at the 6 January 2021 march on the US Capitol alongside Mr Chesebro.

Ms McDaniel received a phone call from Donald Trump and John Eastman about the importance of the RNC in helping the campaign gather “contingent” electors for the 2020 presidential election. Her response was handed to the then-president by his executive assistant.

Tuesday 10 October 2023 19:33 , Oliver O'Connell

In response to the First Argument, Wooten says that Chesebro’s charges are not rooted in freedom of speech but in conspiracy.

“The heart of a conspiracy charge is not expression, it’s agreement,” he says.

Trump attacks DeSantis over ‘hidden heels'

Tuesday 10 October 2023 19:30 , Martha McHardy

Donald Trump has roasted his 2024 rival Ron DeSantis for supposedly wearing “hidden heels”.

The former president took to his Truth Social platform on Monday to accuse the Florida governor of wearing heels to mask his height — or lack thereof.

He posted a montage of photos of Mr DeSantis during a recent appearance on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, where it looks as though he could be wearing heeled boots.

“Tell me he’s not wearing hidden heels,” the post read.

Mr Trump also outlined where he claimed the Florida governor’s feet supposedly really are.

Read more...

Trump roasts DeSantis for supposedly wearing ‘hidden heels’

Tuesday 10 October 2023 19:12 , Oliver O'Connell

Judge McAfee says he will take everything under advisement and a written order will follow in response to the motion to dismiss.

Mr Arora begins his First Amendment argument.

Much like the previous argument, Judge McAfee doesn’t seem convinced this is the moment for this argument and should instead probably be raised at the directed verdict stage.

Tuesday 10 October 2023 19:07 , Oliver O'Connell

Judge McAfee says the case being made by the defence might be getting ahead of itself, and that there are facts included in their argument that have yet to be established. This might be better argued when requesting a directed verdict before the jury deliberates at trial, he says.

Mr Arora argues that all of his client’s acts occurred after the safe harbour date and therefore fall under federal remit.

Representing the prosecution is Will Wooten, who opens by saying: “I don't think this motion is really going anywhere, frankly.”

He says that the arguments of the defence do not apply in these circumstances.

Chesebro lawyer argues Georgia has no power to charge his client

Tuesday 10 October 2023 18:56 , Oliver O'Connell

Kenneth Chesebro's counsel, Manny Arora, is first up to argue the Supremacy Clause motion in which he says that the state of Georgia does not have the power to charge his client for actions relating to organising electors for Donald Trump because this is governed by federal law after the “safe harbour” deadline.

Per Anna Bower of Lawfare.

Trump lays into ‘RINO’ opponents saying Republicans ‘eat their young'

Tuesday 10 October 2023 18:44 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has posted another screed on Truth Social saying that his rivals for the Republican Party nomination are “getting together with RINO Paul RINO, Mitt ‘The Loser’ Romney, Bill ‘No Guts or Talent’ Barr, and some broken political ‘investors’ that will soon come to me”.

The former president says that by opposing him for the nomination they are only helping “Crooked Joe Biden” with their “failed ideas and policies”.

Here’s what he posted:

I understand Candidates that are losing by 57 to 70 Points are getting together with RINO Paul RINO, Mitt “The Loser” Romney, Bill “No Guts or Talent” Barr, and some broken political “investors” that will soon come to me, as most others already have. These failed Candidates should have started by campaigning effectively, which they didn’t because they don’t have the skill or the talent! Romney, who today couldn’t get elected “dogcatcher” in the Great State of Utah, should have beaten an absolutely failed first term Obama. If he and RINO Paul fought as hard against Obama as they do against President Donald J. Trump, they would never have lost, but remember, Republicans “Eat Their Young,” and that’s the problem with so many in our Party, they go after the people who are on their side, rather than the Radical Left Democrats that are DESTROYING OUR COUNTRY. These are LOSERS, and the Republican Nation must stop following their failed ideas and policies. They only help Crooked Joe Biden!

Fulton County hearing gets underway

Tuesday 10 October 2023 18:36 , Oliver O'Connell

Judge Scott McAfee has entered the courtroom at the Fulton County Courthouse for motions hearings in the State of Georgia v Kenneth Chesebro and Sidney Powell.

Mr Chesebro is in court.

The hearing will cover a motion to dismiss under the Supremacy Clause; First Amendment protections; and a motion to exclude legal memoranda under attorney-client privilege.

You can watch here:

How will the race to replace McCarthy as speaker unfold?

Tuesday 10 October 2023 18:25 , Gustaf Kilander

House Republicans are hoping to choose a new speaker within the next 24 hours, but nothing is clear about the outcome as the conference remains divided and enveloped in chaos.

Neither of the candidates – Louisiana Republican Rep Steve Scalise and Ohio Republican Rep Jim Jordan – are close to having majority support within the House Republican Party, and are even further away from reaching a majority on the floor of the chamber.

On Monday night, the House Republicans met for a meeting in the basement of the US Capitol as they shared their frustrations following last week’s ouster of then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy. While Mr McCarthy, who didn’t attend the meeting, has said he isn’t a candidate for the post, he has kept the door ajar to possibly returning.

Here’s how things are expected to unfold:

House speaker race: How the vote for McCarthy’s replacement will unfold

Full story: Jack Smith seeks jury protections after Trump’s Truth Social outbursts

Tuesday 10 October 2023 18:00 , Alex Woodward

Following Donald Trump’s outbursts in his New York fraud trial that resulted in a gag order against him, US Department of Justice special counsel Jack Smith has requested protections for jurors and prospective jurors ahead of the former president’s trial in his election subversion case.

Last week, the judge presiding over a lawsuit from New York Attorney General Letitia James against Mr Trump’s business empire warned he could face “serious sanctions” if he continues to speak out against members of the court after he falsely attacked Judge Arthur Engoron’s chief clerk on his Truth Social account.

“There are other good reasons in this case for the court to impose these restrictions and enforce this District’s standard prohibition against publicizing jurors’ identities,” Mr Smith wrote in a filing on 10 October to US District Judge Tanya Chutkan. “Chief among them is the defendant’s continued use of social media as a weapon of intimidation in court proceedings.”

The filing notes that “just last week the defendant escalated his conduct and publicly attacked” Judge Engoron’s clerk in the New York Supreme Court.

Read more...

Jack Smith seeks jury protections after Trump’s Truth Social outbursts

Meanwhile, in Fulton County

Tuesday 10 October 2023 17:32 , Oliver O'Connell

At the Fulton County courthouse in Atlanta, Georgia, Judge Scott McAfee was preparing for two hearings this morning: a status conference for two Trump co-defendants, Ray Smith and Mike Roman; and a motions hearing in State v Kenneth Chesebro and Sidney Powell.

However, a court officer informed members of the press that the scheduled 11am status conference was cancelled after the judge met with defence attorneys for Mr Roman and Mr Smith in chambers. Both will file speedy trial waivers.

Before this, it was possible that the pair could be tried alongside Mr Chesebro and Ms Powell, as they had not waived their speedy trial rights in full. They could also have been severed from the larger group of non-speedy defendants, but that has now been resolved.

The motions hearing for Mr Chesebro and Ms Powell is still scheduled for 1.30pm ET.

Tuesday 10 October 2023 17:21 , Oliver O'Connell

The agreement with Mazars states: “We have not knowingly withheld from you any financial records or related data that in our judgment would be relevant to your compilation.”

“We relied on the Mazars firm to understand GAAP,” Weisselberg says.

“Is it your testimony that in making a representation to Mazars, you were relying on Mazars to make a representation back to Mazars?” Solomon responds.

“No,” Weisselberg replies.

His explanation for certifying to Mazars that all the info the Trump Organization reported was legitimate is that he only looked at the big picture and didn’t get involved in the details: “I reviewed it from a 30,000-foot level.”

Weisselberg concedes Trump Organization did not fulfil obligations to Mazars

Tuesday 10 October 2023 17:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Solomon asks Weisselberg about his certification to Mazars that the preparation of the Trump financial statements was done in compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, or GAAP.

“Do you believe the Trump Org. fulfilled that responsibility, yes or no?” Solomon asks.

Weisselberg hesitates and looks around the courtroom for his attorney, before eventually conceding, “No.”

Special counsel wants deadline for Trump to declare ‘advice of counsel’ defence in election conspiracy case

Tuesday 10 October 2023 17:10 , Oliver O'Connell

In a new court filing, Special Counsel Jack Smith has asked the court to set a deadline for Donald Trump to declare if he will be using an “advice of counsel” defence in his federal 2020 election conspiracy criminal case.

If the former president is going to defend himself in this way, Smith says the prosecution is entitled to additional evidence and discovery. Trump lawyers have indicated in the media that they may pursue this line of defence.

“At least 25 witnesses withheld information, communications, and documents based on assertions of the attorney-client privilege,” the filing states.

Smith wants to keep the case moving swiftly and still wants the trial to begin in May 2024.

Weisselberg pushed on infromation provided to Mazars

Tuesday 10 October 2023 17:01 , Oliver O'Connell

Weisselberg is asked about an October 2011 letter from himself to Trump’s Mazars accountants regarding the statement of financial condition for that year. In the letter, Weisselberg essentially certifies that all the information from the Trump Organization is accurate.

Asked about how the company valued assets for that year, Weisselberg responds with the defence team’s main argument: “There are many, many ways of valuing assets.”

Asked if he was obligated to provide Mazars with contradictory information about valuations, Weisselberg begins to launch into a monologue but is interrupted by Solomon who notes that it was a yes or no question.

Weisselberg answers: “Yes.”

Special counsel asks for jury protections in DC election interference case

Tuesday 10 October 2023 16:46 , Oliver O'Connell

Special Counsel Jack Smith is asking for jury protections in Donald Trump’s federal election interference case in a new court filing, referencing the former president’s recent outburst in the New York fraud trial that resulted in a gag order in that case.

“There are other good reasons in this case for the Court to impose these restrictions and enforce this District’s standard prohibition against publicizing jurors’ identities,” according to Smith’s filing. “Chief among them is the defendant’s continued use of social media as a weapon of intimidation in court proceedings.”

Read the full filing here.

Judge Scott McAfee in Fulton County, Georgia has also agreed to jury and prospective juror protections after prosecutors warned about threats potentially fueled by Mr Trump’s social media soapbox.

Alex Woodward reported on that order in September:

Georgia juror names in Trump case will be kept secret following security fears

Court resumes

Tuesday 10 October 2023 16:41 , Oliver O'Connell

The trial resumes after the morning break and Solomon introduces the result of the efforts of Forbes reporters and editors.

After repeatedly questioning the Trump Organization over the size of the penthouse of Trump Tower, Forbes eventually published an article in May 2017, after Mr Trump became president: “Donald Trump Has Been Lying About The Size Of His Penthouse”.

Judge Engoron admonishes evasisve Weisselberg

Tuesday 10 October 2023 16:19 , Oliver O'Connell

Justice Arthur Engoron steps in on multiple occasions during this line of questioning to remind Weisselberg to give straightforward responses to Mr Solomon’s questions.

“You did not answer the question. Please don’t make speeches, just answer the question,” the judge says.

Weisselberg is largely responding that he doesn’t recall most of what he is being asked.

A technical glitch leads the judge to call the mid-morning break.

“Let’s take our 10-minute break over the next 15 minutes, as usual.”

More questions over Trump penthouse square footage

Tuesday 10 October 2023 16:03 , Oliver O'Connell

Another email from Forbes reporter Noah Kirsch to Weisselberg also notes the discrepancy between the claimed size of the penthouse and the 1994 declaration and asks if the declaration is up to date.

Weisselberg dodges Solomon’s questions as to whether he took any action to respond to the query about the square footage or asked anyone else to. He says he does not recall.

Trump claims ‘incredible’ Israel attacks wouldn’t have happened if he were president

Tuesday 10 October 2023 16:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Donald Trump has said that the “incredible” attacks on Israel by Hamas wouldn’t have happened if he had been president.

During a campaign speech in New Hampshire on Monday, Mr Trump said: “What happened yesterday was incredible ... so many people killed ... the number was much bigger than they reported even this morning. It’s a very big number, very, very big number”.

The former president went on to call it a “vicious” attack and noted that “young children” were “just slaughtered”.

“It’s terrible what’s going on,” he added.

Mr Trump then quickly segued into a reading of the song The Snake by Al Wilson.

Read more...

Trump claims ‘incredible’ Israel attacks wouldn’t happen under his watch

Tuesday 10 October 2023 15:55 , Oliver O'Connell

With Weisselberg having conceded that the square footage of the apartment was incorrect, a document is entered into evidence from 11 October 1994 that lists the actual size of the property as 10,996 sq ft.

Solomon asks about a September 2016 email conversation between Weisselberg and Forbes’s then-assistant managing editor Luisa Kroll regarding the values of various Trump properties.

A year later, Dan Alexander of Forbes told Weisselberg he believed the square footage of the penthouse was the correct figure of 10,996 sq ft. Mr Solomon asks if the then-CFO had ever confirmed to Forbes the correct number or told them their figure was wrong.

Weisselberg says he does not remember.

“I never focused on the triplex, to be honest with you. I looked at the bigger numbers of Jeff [McConney's] spreadsheets,” he says, arguing that the value of the apartment was “de minimis” relative to Mr Trump’s net worth.

Weisselberg questioning turns to Trump Tower triplex valuation

Tuesday 10 October 2023 15:35 , Oliver O'Connell

Having established that Weisselberg has approximately 50 years of experience in Manhattan real estate dating back to beginning to work with Fred Trump in 1973, Mr Solomon shows the court the witness’s separation agreement from the Trump Organization.

Weisselberg was placed on leave on 1 October 2022 and he signed the separation document on 9 January 2023 for $2m.

Getting down to the details of the allegations against Donald Trump and his co-defendants, questioning turns to the valuation of the former president’s Manhattan home, the Trump Tower triplex at the top of his Fifth Avenue building.

This valuation was based on a tripling of the actual square footage of the property. Weisselberg testifies that over time he learned his assumption on the size of the apartment was incorrect but claims not to recall when the assumed 30,000 square feet number was found to be wrong.

Trump fraud trial resumes in Lower Manhattan

Tuesday 10 October 2023 15:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s fraud trial resumes in Lower Manhattan with former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg called to the stand by Assistant New York Attorney General Louis Solomon.

Weisselberg’s testimony is expected to last all day and begins with the usual biographical details about background and eduction.

Former Trump attorney and fixer Michael Cohen is also expected to take the stand this week.

Allen Weisselberg expected to testify today at Trump NYC fraud trial

Tuesday 10 October 2023 14:53 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s fraud trial will get back underway in New York City this morning, and it is expected that the next witness will be longtime former CFO of the Trump Organization, Allen Weisselberg.

Mr Weisselberg got out of jail a few months ago after pleading guilty to 15 violations of New York tax law last year. The case against him, prosecutors said, involved a years-long “systemic” fraud scheme and a “sweeping and audacious illegal payment” arrangement in which Trump companies paid him generous benefits – including free rent, luxury car leases, and private school tuition for his grandchildren – that were not reported for tax purposes.

Given his institutional knowledge and close experience with the Trump family’s business empire, his potential testimony and evidence from one of the Trump family’s longest-serving confidants in its sprawling empire could further expose the former president.

Here’s a profile of Mr Weisselberg from his 2022 trial.

Allen Weisselberg: Who is the man who could bring down Donald Trump?

Analysis: RFK Jr has a vision to change America. His family say he’s a crackpot

Tuesday 10 October 2023 14:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Bevan Hurley writes:

As Robert F. Kennedy Jr took to the stage in front of Philadelphia’s Independence Hall on Monday to unveil his vision for ending hundreds of years of two-party rule, a technical hitch with the teleprompter briefly threatened to derail his big moment.

“I need my speech”, he complained as he disappeared from view, stage right. “It’s upside down.”

In the Netflix sci-fi hit Stranger Things, the “Upside Down” is the name given to a mysterious alternate dimension that exists parallel to the known world. In other words, an apt description for Kennedy’s presidential campaign.

Kennedy is often described as paranoid, delusional and dangerous. And that’s just by his own family.

But in his supporters’ eyes, a Kennedy presidency offers the chance to rewrite the rules in Washington, DC to create a more equitable system for all.

Read more...

RFK Jr has a vision to change America. His family say he’s a crackpot

Trump begins day by attacking Biden and DeSantis

Tuesday 10 October 2023 14:35 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump began his day by hitting out at both President Joe Biden and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in his usual self-aggrandising way.

He first wrote about the president:

I see that Crooked Joe Biden is working on his documents situation. He moved documents, many classified, all over the place, for years, including to CHINATOWN. He even took documents as a Senator, an absolute no, no! I come under the Presidential Records Act, he doesn’t - A big difference!!! I did nothing wrong, he did, and so did many others!

Turning his attention to Mr DeSantis, he posted:

Ron DeSanctimonious has the Poll numbers of a wounded bird falling from the sky. I am up on him by 57 points, and going higher. He has proven to be a terrible and inept candidate who even fought Social Security and MediCare. He will SOON be out of money and dropping out of the race for President. After having single handidly gotten him elected Governor, with no thanks or glory, it has been a beautiful thing to watch. Good luck Ron!

Will Hurd drops out of 2024 race and endorses Nikki Haley

Tuesday 10 October 2023 14:25 , Gustaf Kilander

Former Republican Rep Will Hurd has suspended his 2024 presidential campaign and endorsed former UN Ambassador and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.

Mr Hurd, a former undercover CIA operative who spent time in Pakistan, India and Afghanistan, entered the race as a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump but never managed to get a foothold, failing to qualify for the two debates held so far.

In his announcement that his campaign was ending on Monday, he argued that the Republicans needed to come together and back one candidate to beat President Joe Biden, but also to take out Mr Trump.

Ms Haley now has two strong debate appearances behind her and she has seen a bump in the polls, but all the candidates, including Ms Haley, remain far behind Mr Trump.

Continued...

Ex-GOP congressman Will Hurd drops out of 2024 race and endorses rival

Analysis: Trump’s first week in court can’t stop a trial with his business at stake

Tuesday 10 October 2023 14:15 , Alex Woodward

As he left in the middle of the third day of a trial he was voluntarily attending, Donald Trump held another one of his hallway press conferences inside a Manhattan courthouse in front of two rows of cameras staged outside the third-floor courtroom’s door.

“I’m here, stuck here, and I can’t campaign,” he said.

He wasn’t, and he could have, but after stewing in frustration from the defence table for roughly 12 hours across the first three days of a trial on allegations of fraud, he unloaded his grievances and claimed once again that the latest legal threat against him – one that could imperil his business empire – joins a far-reaching political conspiracy to keep him away from the White House.

“I’d rather be right now in Iowa, I’d rather be in New Hampshire, South Carolina, or Ohio, or a lot of other places,” said Mr Trump, referring to a campaign trail ahead of the 2024 Republican nomination. “But I’m stuck here, because I have a corrupt attorney general who communicates with the [US Department of Justice] in Washington to keep me nice and busy, because I’m beating Biden in the polls by a lot.”

After he left, New York Attorney General Letitita James – who sued Mr Trump, his adult sons, chief associates and business entities – told reporters that “the Donald Trump show is over”.

Read the full story.

Recap: Trump’s attempt to halt New York fraud trial denied by appeals judge

Tuesday 10 October 2023 13:45 , Oliver O'Connell

An appellate judge at the New York Supreme Court in Manhattan has blocked Donald Trump’s attempt to pause a blockbuster civil trial on fraud allegations while he continues to challenge a judge’s sweeping order that threatens to cancel his business licenses in the state.

The order issued on 6 October rejected the former president’s attempts to halt the trial, which entered its fifth day on Friday, but the judge agreed to stay a ruling that cancels his business certificates, a sanction that came in a surprise order from Judge Arthur Engoron last week finding Mr Trump liable for fraud.

By cancelling business certificates in New York held by the former president and his co-defendants — his sons, associates, and the Trump Organization — Judge Engoron effectively directed that those companies be dissolved by the end of October.

Justice Peter Moulton said at the outset of oral arguments on Friday afternoon that he was unlikely to halt the trial.

Read more...

Trump’s attempt to halt New York fraud trial denied by appeals judge

Former US general reminds GOP attacking Biden of time Trump leaked Israeli intel to Iran ally

Tuesday 10 October 2023 13:15 , Oliver O'Connell

A former US general took to Twitter on Sunday to remind Republicans laying blame on the Biden administration after Hamas militants launched the deadliest attack on Israel in decades that Donald Trump shared classified intelligence from Israel with Iran-allied Russia when he was president.

Retired army general Mark Hertling shared a story about allegations the former president told top Russian officials that Israel had successfully hacked Isis computers in order to gain intelligence about bomb plots against the West in a meeting at the White House in 2017.

At the time, the former president’s actions reportedly ignited fears by Israel that Russia could have passed the information to its ally Iran, which has long been a supporter of Hamas.

Read more...

Trump on trial: Is Mar-a-Lago really worth $1bn?

Tuesday 10 October 2023 12:30 , AP

How much is Donald Trump‘s Mar-a-Lago worth? That’s been a point of contention after a New York judge ruled that the former president exaggerated the Florida property’s value when he said it’s worth at least $420 million and perhaps $1.5 billion.

Siding with New York’s attorney general in a lawsuit accusing Trump of grossly overvaluing his assets, Judge Arthur Engoron found that Trump consistently exaggerated Mar-a-Lago’s worth. He noted that one Trump estimate of the club’s value was 2,300% times the Palm Beach County tax appraiser’s valuations, which ranged from $18 million to $37 million.

But Palm Beach real estate agents who specialize in high-end properties scoffed at the idea that the estate could be worth that little, in the unlikely event Trump ever sold.

“Ludicrous,” agent Liza Pulitzer said about the judge citing the county’s tax appraisal as a benchmark. Homes a tenth the size of Mar-a-Lago on tiny inland lots sell for that in the Town of Palm Beach, a wealthy island enclave.

“The entire real estate community felt it was a joke when they saw that figure,” said Pulitzer, who works for the firm Brown Harris Stevens.

“That thing would get snapped up for hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars,” said Rob Thomson, owner of Waterfront Properties and a Mar-a-Lago member. “There is zero chance that it’s going to sell for $40 million or $50 million.”

In the ongoing trial over the lawsuit, though, what a private buyer might pay for a place like Mar-a-Lago isn’t the only factor in determining whether Trump is liable for fraud.

Continued...

Is Mar-a-Lago worth $1 billion? Trump's winter home valuations are at the core of his fraud trial

Haley warned over refusal to condemn Trump

Tuesday 10 October 2023 11:45 , Alex Woodward

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley has refused to say whether Donald Trump should be disqualified for the GOP’s 2024 nomination after his comments suggesting that the outgoing chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff should be executed for treason.

During NBC’s Meet the Press on 8 October, Ms Haley, a former South Carolina governor and US ambassador to the United Nations during the Trump administration, called his comments “irresponsible” but did not say whether she believes his comments are disqualifying.

“I think any man or woman who served our country deserves our highest respect,” she said. “They sacrifice a lot. Their families sacrifice a lot. And we should honour them every chance we get.”

Authoritarianism expert Ruth Ben-Ghiat of New York University said Ms Haley’s refusal to outright condemn Mr Trump’s increasingly violent rhetoric offers a grim warning of a growing tolerance for authoritarian violence.

Continued:

Authoritarianism expert has a warning about Nikki Haley’s refusal to condemn Trump

Trump on attacks on Israel: ‘Yesterday was incredible'

Tuesday 10 October 2023 11:15 , Rachel Sharp

Jim Jordan gains Mace endorsement after Trump backing

Tuesday 10 October 2023 10:45 , Kelly Rissman

South Carolina Congresswoman Nancy Mace endorsed Rep Jim Jordan to become the new House speaker, echoing former President Donald Trump in advocating for the Ohio Republican to replace Kevin McCarthy.

“I am going to be supporting Jim Jordan for speaker,” the South Carolina Republican said on Face the Nation on Sunday.

She applauded Mr Jordan’s “work ethic” and “his ability to just run circles around everyone with regards to policy and pushing forward.”

“We’ve been one of the least productive Congresses inside of 30 years and he’s going to be a workhorse for our country,” she added.

Read the full story.

Ex-Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg to testify today in NY fraud trial

Tuesday 10 October 2023 10:15 , Rachel Sharp

Former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg is expected to testify today in the New York civil fraud trial against Donald Trump.

The former president’s longtime finance chief was jailed for around three months earlier this year for tax evasion at the organisation.

He is now named alongside Mr Trump, his adult sons and other executives in the $250m civil case which could result wipe out the former president’s business empire in the New York.

GOP lawmaker dismisses possibility of Speaker Trump

Tuesday 10 October 2023 09:45 , Martha McHardy

A Republican lawmaker has dismissed the possibility that Donald Trump could replace Kevin McCarthy as House speaker.

Rep Ken Buck, who voted last week to oust Mr McCarthy as speaker of the House of Representatives, insisted the former president doesn’t stand a chance of taking the gavel after far-right Republicans including Marjorie Taylor Greene and Matt Gaetz floated the idea he could be appointed to the role.

When asked on ABC’s “This Week” about some Republicans calling for Mr Trump to become the next speaker, Mr Buck said “that’s not going to happen”.

“It shouldn’t happen, and we have a lot of talent inside the House,” he said.

Republican lawmaker dismisses possibility Trump could be House speaker

Trump mocked over claim he has ‘better body’ than Biden

Tuesday 10 October 2023 08:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has been mocked for taking aim at Joe Biden’s physique and claimed he could beat the President in a fight.

The 77-year-old former leader made the brash comments while addressing a crowd at a rally in Waterloo, Iowa, on Saturday.

“He’s got a consultant somewhere — this is the worst consultant in politics — that thinks he looks good in a bathing suit, right?” Mr Trump began.

“He spends so much time at the beach. I mean, how do you do that?”

Mr Biden, 80, has previously been pictured in swimming trunks while holidaying at his beach house in Delaware.

Mr Trump went on to detail why he doesn’t partake in similar activity despite his body confidence.

Trump mocked for claim he has ‘much better body’ than Biden