Jan 6 hearings – live: Donald Trump attends Ivana Trump’s funeral as judge warns Bannon lawyers

After months trying to have his trial delayed, far-right agitator and Trump ally Steve Bannon is now in court facing a charge of criminal contempt of Congress, with prosecutors arguing he simply “decided he was above the law” when refusing to comply with a subpoena from the 6 January select committee.

“This case is not about what happened on Jan. 6,” said assistant US attorney Amanda Vaughan in court. “This case is about the defendant thumbing his nose at the orderly processes of our government.”

Meanwhile, Rudy Giuliani has been ordered by a judge to testify to the grand jury convened in Fulton County, Georgia to hear evidence on Donald Trump’s efforts to throw out Joe Biden’s victory in that state.

Tomorrow will see the eighth of the 6 Jaunary committee’s summer hearings, this one focusing on Mr Trump’s hours of inaction at the White House while a mob of his supporters violently attacked Congress.

Key Points

• Bannon ‘decided he was above law’ trial hears in opening statement

• Thursday hearing still on, despite Chair Bennie Thompson’s Covid diagnosis

• Jan 6 committee alerts Department of Justice to more Trump witness tampering, Liz Cheney reveals

• Report says Trump watching hearings live and demanding to know when they’ll be over

• Who are ex-Trump aides Matt Pottinger and Sarah Matthews, set to testify at the next hearing?

Arizona Republicans censure key Jan 6 witness

05:10 , Graeme Massie

ICYMI: Rusty Bowers, Republican speaker of the Arizona state House, was censured by his own party on Tuesday as his political punishment for testifying to the January 6 committee continues.

The 69-year-old Republican lawmaker is likely to lose his primary election on 2 August against a Trump loyalist who has claimed that Satan helped Joe Biden steal the election from Donald Trump.

But that isn’t enough revenge for allies of the former president in the state, including GOP state party chair Kelli Ward, another far-right supporter of election fraud conspiracy theories: the state party has now formally voted to censure Mr Bowers, a largely meaningless gesture that states that he is no longer in “good standing” with the party.

John Bowden has more.

Arizona GOP censures Republican House speaker who testified before Jan 6 committee

Donald Trump, Melania and his kids attend Ivana Trump’s funeral

04:49 , Arpan Rai

Donald Trump, his current wife Melania, and his three children paid their respect to Mr Trump’s first wife Ivana yesterday in New York City at a funeral mass.

Before heading out to pay his respect, Mr Trump said: “A very sad day, but at the same time a celebration of a wonderful and beautiful life.”

“This will not be easy!!!” the former president said on his social media platform Truth Social.

He was joined in by Donald Jr, Ivanka, and Eric to commemorate the 1980s style icon and businesswoman credited to be behind Mr Trump’s empire which paved his road to presidency.

Her gold-coloured coffin was taken into St Vincent Ferrer Roman Catholic Church on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

04:05 , Graeme Massie

ICYMI: Donald Trump has seized on a recent Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling which outlaws ballot drop boxes in future elections, claiming that the court’s ruling that the Wisconsin Election Commission exceeded its authority by authorising drop box use as a pandemic mitigation measure means President Joe Biden’s win in state is invalid.

The former president is now pressuring Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos to do something about this. “So what’s Speaker Robin Vos doing on the Great Wisconsin Supreme Court Ruling declaring hundreds of thousands of Drop Box votes to be illegal?” he asked in a statement.

In reality, the court ruling did not invalidate a single vote cast by drop box. And neither Mr Vos nor the Wisconsin legislature have the authority to retroactively invalidate votes or rescind electoral votes.

But that has not stopped Mr Trump from arguing to the contrary.

Andrew Feinberg has more.

Wisconsin official says Trump phoned to pressure him to change election results

Giuliani called to appear in Georgia election probe

03:01 , Graeme Massie

ICYMI: Rudy Giuliani has been ordered by a New York Supreme Court judge to appear for testimony in front of a grand jury investigating election tampering in Georgia.

Mr Giuliani, who was part of a legal team assembled by Donald Trump to challenge the results of the 2020 presidential election, failed to appear at the “show cause” hearing in which he was due to challenge a subpoena that called him to testify.

Richard Hall has the story.

Rudy Giuliani ordered by judge to testify in Georgia election tampering probe

The mystery of the Secret Service’s Jan 6 text exchange

02:03 , Graeme Massie

ICYMI: The Secret Service has only provided one text exchange to the DHS inspector general despite receiving a request for a month of texts from 24 members of staff.

The news was revealed in a letter to the January 6 committee, CNN reported.

Assistant Director Ronald Rowe said in a letter to the panel that “the Secret Service submitted the responsive records it identified, namely, a text message conversation from former US Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund to former Secret Service Uniformed Division Chief Thomas Sullivan requesting assistance on January 6, 2021, and advised the agency did not have any further records responsive to the DHS OIG’s request for text messages”.

California Democrat and January 6 panel member Zoe Lofgren told MSNBC on Tuesday that the committee had been sent “one text message” that she hadn’t reviewed at that time. She said the committee would be “pursuing more information as a committee soon”.

Read more from Gustaf Kilander:

Secret Service handed over a single text exchange to Jan 6 committee

Why the Garland memo matters

01:05 , Graeme Massie

ICYMI: In a 25 May internal memo, Attorney General Merrick Garland has extended a 2020 Department of Justice (DOJ) policy instituted by his predecessor, Trump Attorney General Bill Barr. The policy states that investigators must get approval for any investigations into presidential candidates or their staff with the country’s top law enforcement official.

The memo was obtained by MSNBC, with host Rachel Maddow revealing it on Monday night.

According to the policy, investigators must obtain written approval from the attorney general before opening an investigation into people who have declared that they are running for either president or vice president. The policy also applies to presidential campaigns, as well as senior members of campaigns for president, such as advisors.

The news comes as Mr Garland is facing increasing pressure to bring charges against former President Donald Trump as the House Select Committee investigating January 6 reveals more and more about his actions in relation to the 2021 insurrection.

While he’s yet to announce a 2024 campaign, Mr Trump has hinted on several occasions that he’ll run again.

Gustaf Kilander has the story.

Merrick Garland’s private DOJ memo prompts outrage: ‘Nothing will happen to Trump’

Republican Senators really don’t want to talk about same-sex marriage

Thursday 21 July 2022 00:08 , Graeme Massie

Even after 47 Republican members of the House of Representatives voted to codify same-sex marriage into law on Tuesday, many Republican Senators would rather talk about anything else.

Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that he had tasked Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin to talk to Republican Senators about the legislation.

Eric Garcia has the story.

Republican Senators really don’t want to talk about same-sex marriage legislation

Exactly who is the Secret Service protecting?

Wednesday 20 July 2022 22:12 , Oliver O'Connell

Did personal loyalty to Donald Trump blind the actions of some Secret Service agents.

Andrew Buncombe investigates.

Just who is the Secret Service protecting?

Bipartisan legislation unveiled to prevent the next Jan 6

Wednesday 20 July 2022 21:25 , Oliver O'Connell

Following Donald Trump’s assault on US elections and attempts to subvert the peaceful transfer of power in the chaotic aftermath of his 2020 loss, a bipartisan group of senators has unveiled plans for legislation to block future candidates from trying to steal a presidential election.

The proposals from Republican Senator Susan Collins and Democratic Senator Joe Manchin – joined by more than a dozen other senators from both parties, after months of planning – would update an archaic 19th century law that Mr Trump and his allies sought to exploit by pressuring Mike Pence to block the certification of votes during a joint session of Congress to affirm Joe Biden’s election on 6 January, 2021.

The Independent’s Alex Woodward has the details.

Senators reveal bipartisan legislation to prevent the next Jan 6

Garland asked about possibility of charging former president

Wednesday 20 July 2022 21:02 , Oliver O'Connell

Attorney General Merrick Garland was asked about the possibility of charging a former president related to January 6 2021: “No person is above the law in this country.”

Watch below:

Bannon trial: Jan 6 panel said executive privilege claim had ‘no basis in law’

Wednesday 20 July 2022 19:55 , Oliver O'Connell

Prosecutor Amanda Vaughn asked Kristin Amerling, deputy staff director and general counsel of the House January 6 committee about a letter from Robert Costello, a lawyer representing Steve Bannon, to the committee after a deadline saying his client could not comply with the subpoena due to the legal doctrine of executive privilege that can keep certain presidential communications confidential.

“The select committee’s position was this was not a valid rationale for refusing to comply,” Ms Amerling testified.

Ms Vaughn entered as evidence a letter sent by Committee chair Bennie Thompson stating that Mr Costello’s legal position on why Mr Bannon could not comply had “no basis in law”.

The judge previously ruled that Mr Bannon could not claim in the trial that he failed to comply because he believed his documents and testimony were protected by executive privilege.

The prosecution showed another letter from Mr Costello reiterating that, absent an agreement between the committee and former Preisdent Donald Trump or a court order, Mr Bannon would not comply with the subpoena.

The committee subsequently sent Mr Costello a letter saying it believed Mr Bannon had willfully violated the federal law regarding criminal contempt of Congress, and gave the former Trump adviser another chance to comply, but he did not.

Presentation of the prosecution’s case is not expected to last long. It is not yet clear what witnesses, if any, Mr Bannon’s defence team would call. His attorneys have pushed for permission to call Rep Thompson as a witness.

With reporting from Reuters

Bannon trial: Former Trump adviser snubbed Jan 6 panel says committee’s general counsel

Wednesday 20 July 2022 19:15 , Oliver O'Connell

A senior staff member of the congressional panel probing last year’s US Capitol attack testified on Wednesday that Steve Bannon, Donald Trump’s prominent former presidential adviser, disregarded deadlines to respond to its subpoena, sought no extensions, and offered an invalid rationale for his defiance.

US District Judge Carl Nichols admonished defense attorney Evan Corcoran for interrupting Kristin Amerling during his cross-examination after the prosecution completed its questioning.

Ms Amerling, deputy staff director and general counsel of the Democratic-led House of Representatives select committee, was the first witness called by the prosecution. She said Mr Bannon missed multiple deadlines in October 2021 to provide documents and testimony under a subpoena issued the prior month and neither sought an extension nor told the committee he had no documents responsive to its request.

That testimony could complicate Mr Bannon’s defence. On Tuesday, Mr Corcoran told jurors that his client believed the subpoena deadlines were not set in stone and that negotiations between his attorney and the committee would continue.

Today, the defence pressed Ms Amerling on what role Bennie Thompson, the panel’s Democratic chairman, played in drafting the subpoena and setting its deadlines — an apparent attempt to suggest political motivations.

“What human set that deadline?” he asked Ms Amerling.

She testified that deadlines were formulated by senior committee staff including her, but that the ultimate decision rested with Rep Thompson, who possessed the legal authority to sign the subpoena.

Ms Amerling said the panel set deadlines requiring an “expeditious response” because it had reason to believe Bannon had relevant information.

With reporting by Reuters

Fox News busts Trump-backed candidate for anti-Trump post

Wednesday 20 July 2022 15:05 , Andrew Naughtie

Kari Lake enjoys Donald Trump’s backing as she seeks the GOP nomination Arizona governor, and as the race has worn on, she has tacked ever harder to the extreme right in an effort to rile up his base in her favour.

But now, her history of opposing the former president from the left is coming back to haunt her more and more – and the latest embarrassment has been unearthed by none other than Fox News:

Democrats get their GOP candidate of choice in Maryland

Wednesday 20 July 2022 13:15 , Andrew Naughtie

In certain competitive statewide races, Democrats have been quietly backing hardline Republican candidates whom they consider all but unelectable. The strategy is to set up their own nominees to campaign against the extremism of the other side, a rationale that makes some sense in the light of polling saying that even many Republicans are finding the 6 January hearings chilling.

The latest gamble to have paid off is in the Maryland governor’s race, where the primary to replace outgoing anti-Trump GOP governor Larry Hogan has yielded a shocking result: the nomination of Dan Cox, a hardcore 2020 election denier who tweeted during the Capitol riot that Mike Pence was a “traitor” and tried to get Mr Hogan impeached.

Wisconsin GOP official describes call from Trump

Wednesday 20 July 2022 12:40 , Andrew Naughtie

Wisconsin has always been one of the top targets of Donald Trump’s obsessive campaign to overturn the 2020 election, and he has lately been repeatedly calling for the state legislature to act on what he says is a report proving that the election there was illegally compromised.

Here’s a statement he put out last night putting pressure on the Republican statehouse speaker:

For his part, Mr Vos has described how Mr Trump has been pressuring him both directly and on social media.

Report: Secret Service gives committee a single text message

Wednesday 20 July 2022 12:00 , Andrew Naughtie

The Guardian reports that as it struggles to explain fully how it ended up deleting messages from 5 and 6 January 2021, the Secret Service has handed the Jan 6 committee a single text message:

Jan 6 committee member on Secret Service text messages

Wednesday 20 July 2022 11:25 , Andrew Naughtie

Stephanie Murphy, a Democratic member of the Capitol riot committee, appeared on MSNBC last night to discuss the murky story of the Secret Service’s deleted text messages from 5 and 6 January 2021 – and told host Nicole Wallace that the agency’s behaviour had left her and her fellow investigators with more questions than answers.

CNN has reported that according to a letter sent to the select committee, the Department of Homeland Security last year issued a subpoena to the Secret Service for text messages sent and received by 24 members of its staff between December 7, 2020 and January 8, 2021 – and responded with only one exchange: “a text message conversation from former US Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund to former Secret Service Uniformed Division Chief Thomas Sullivan requesting assistance on January 6, 2021”.

Trump-endorsed GOP congressman now says ex-president had ‘lost his mind’

Wednesday 20 July 2022 10:45 , Andrew Naughtie

Chris Jacobs, a Republican member of the House retiring later this year said in a new interview that former President Donald Trump “lost his mind” and tried to burn down the US system of government after losing his election to Joe Biden.

“I just think his judgment from Election Day to January 6 was – I just think he lost his mind,” Mr Jacobs said in an interview with Buffalo News.“Even if it was fraud and I’m not saying it was, should you try to burn the whole place down?” the congressman continued.

“And I think the answer is definitively no.”

John Bowden has the story:

Trump-endorsed GOP congressman now says ex-president ‘lost his mind’ after 2020 loss

Mississippi abortion clinic drops lawsuit against state’s ban

Wednesday 20 July 2022 10:00 , Sravasti Dasgupta

Jackson Women’s Health Organization’s “Pink House” clinic – named for its bright pale-pink exterior- the last-standing Mississippi abortion clinic at the centre of the US Supreme Court decision to strike down Roe v Wade is ending its lawsuit against the state.

The state’s “trigger” law went into effect on 7 July after a Mississippi court denied the clinic’s motion to block it, forcing the clinic’s closure and the end of abortion care in the state.

The state’s Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal, and the clinic’s owner Diane Derzis sold the building.

“Accordingly, we have dismissed our case on the clinic’s behalf,” said Rob McDuff, an attorney for the Mississippi Center for Justice, which is representing the clinic. “If the clinic is not in a position to reopen in Mississippi, it no longer has a basis to pursue this case in the courts.”

Alex Woodward reports:

Mississippi abortion clinic at centre of Supreme Court case drops lawsuit

Secret Service told to investigate ‘unauthorised deletion’ of Jan 6 texts

Wednesday 20 July 2022 09:15 , Oliver O'Connell

The National Archives is getting involved in the growing scandal enveloping the US Secret Service over whether agents improperly deleted text messages sent during the January 6 attack after being ordered to preserve them.

The Archives issued a statement on Tuesday instructing the Secret Service to investigate and determine indeed whether text messages had been deleted by the agency as part of a supposed software overhaul after the agency had been explicitly instructed by the Department of Homeland Security’s watchdog office, the Office of the Inspector General, to preserve them.

John Bowden has the story.

National Archives instructs Secret Service to investigate deletion of Jan 6 texts

More Republicans are prepared to turn away from Trump amid Jan 6 hearings, says pollster

Wednesday 20 July 2022 08:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The Independent’s Andrew Buncombe spoke with Sarah Longwell.

Pollster says more Republicans ready to turn away from Trump amid Jan 6 hearings

Ivana Trump's life to be celebrated at a funeral Mass in NYC

Wednesday 20 July 2022 08:15 , Sravasti Dasgupta

Donald Trump’s former wife Ivana Trump is set to be celebrated at a funeral Mass in New York City on Wednesday following her death last week.

Ivana’s three children with the former president — Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric — are expected at the Wednesday afternoon gathering at St. Vincent Ferrer Roman Catholic Church on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

It is not clear whether Mr Trump will join his children.

Ivana Trump was an icon of 1980s style, wealth and excess who also took part in her husband’s businesses, managing one of his Atlantic City casinos and picking out some of the design elements in New York City’s Trump Tower.

Read this report from the Associated Press:

Ivana Trump's life to be celebrated at a funeral Mass in NYC

Who are the ex-Trump aides and lead witnesses at next Jan 6 hearing?

Wednesday 20 July 2022 07:45 , Oliver O'Connell

When the January 6 committee’s next prime-time hearing airs on Thursday, lawmakers will hope to show how Donald Trump’s “dereliction of duty” on the day the US Capital was attacked was a key element of what unfolded.

On Thursday evening, the panel will reportedly have the help of two star witnesses from within the former US president’s White House, who sources familiar with the matter informed CNN of on Monday night.

According to reports, the pair are Matthew Pottinger, a former deputy national security adviser, and Sarah Matthews, a former press aide.

Here’s what we know about the duo:

The ex-Trump aides set to be lead witnesses at next Jan 6 hearing

South Carolina conservatives push almost total ban on abortion

Wednesday 20 July 2022 07:15 , Sravasti Dasgupta

A House committee reviewing South Carolina’s abortion law suggested Tuesday the state ban almost all abortions other than when the life of the mother is at risk.

The state currently has a ban at roughly six weeks that includes exceptions for rape and incest. After the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, conservatives in the General Assembly started to look if they could join the growing number of states banning the procedure.

S. Carolina conservatives suggest almost total abortion ban

House of Representatives passes marriage equality bill

Wednesday 20 July 2022 06:45 , Sravasti Dasgupta

Only 47 Republicans joined Democrats in the House of Representatives to pass the Respect for Marriage Act to protect marriage equality, on Tuesday.

The bill is a direct response to the US Supreme Court’s suggestion that it could revisit cases that affirm same-sex marriage protections in its recent decision to strike down abortion rights.

All Democratic lawmakers supported the bill’s passage with only 47 Republicans joining in support; 157 Republicans voted against it.

Alex Woodward reports:

47 House Republicans join Democrats to pass marriage equality bill

'Steve Bannon thought he was above the law’

Wednesday 20 July 2022 06:15 , Sravasti Dasgupta

Former senior adviser to Donald Trump and the man widely credited with getting him elected, Steve Bannon, considered he was “above the law”, a criminal trial heard on Tuesday.

Federal prosecutor Amanda Vaughn told a court in Washington DC that told that Mr Bannon, 68, had refused to comply with a request to provide information to the committee of the House of Representatives which is investigating the Jan 6 attack on the US Capitol, and the circumstances leading up to it.

Ms Vaughn said the subpoena “was not optional”.

“It wasn’t a request. And it wasn’t an invitation. It was mandatory,” she said. “The defendant decided he was above the law. That’s why we’re here today.”

Chief US Correspondent Andrew Buncombe reports:

Steve Bannon thought he was ‘above the law’ trial hears

Furious AOC says Manchin has no authority to speak on climate

Wednesday 20 July 2022 05:45 , Sravasti Dasgupta

Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York criticised Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia on Tuesday for his call to pause discussions on climate negotiations, saying he has no authority to discuss climate change.

She spoke with Eric Garcia on Tuesday.

AOC says Manchin has no authority to speak on climate ‘for the rest of our term here’

Trump-backed far right legislator wins Maryland governor Republican primary

Wednesday 20 July 2022 05:30 , Sravasti Dasgupta

Dan Cox, a far-right Maryland legislator endorsed by former president Donald Trump, won the Republican primary for state governor on Tuesday.

Mr Cox has opposed outgoing governor Larry Hogan’s policies including suing over his stay-at-home orders and regulations in the early days of the pandemic.

He also tried to unsuccessfully impeach him for Covid-19 orders that Mr Cox called “restrictive and protracted.”

“We will never again give over our bodies, our churches and our businesses to a lockdown state,” Mr Cox said on Tuesday night after his victory.

Mr Cox also organised busloads of protesters to Washington for the “Stop the Steal” rally that preceded last year’s Capitol insurrection.

He has also said that president Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory shouldn’t have been certified, and referred to former Vice President Mike Pence a “traitor.”

Pro-Trump ‘fake electors’ in Georgia now targets of criminal investigation

Wednesday 20 July 2022 05:15 , Sravasti Dasgupta

A group of pro-Trump “fake electors” in Georgia who tried to interfere to secure his 2020 election victory in the state are now the targets of a criminal investigation.

In court documents filed in Atlanta on Tuesday prosecutors said: “Each of the sixteen persons who signed the unofficial Elector Certificate ultimately submitted to the National Archives received a similar target letter alerting, that person both that his testimony was required by the special purpose grand jury and that he was a target of the investigation.”

In a statement Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ office said: “As our investigation has matured and new evidence has come to light, in a spirit of integrity we feel it only fitting to inform you that your clients’ status has changed to ‘Target’.”

Graeme Massie reports:

Pro-Trump ‘fake electors’ in Georgia now targets of criminal investigation

Jan 6 hearing still on despite chairman’s Covid diagnosis

Wednesday 20 July 2022 04:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The House select committee investigating the Capitol riot on January 6 will proceed with its primetime hearing despite Chairman Bennie Thompson testing positive for Covid-19.

Communications director Tim Mulvey said the hearings would proceed as scheduled, sharing in a statement that “while Chairman Thompson is disappointed with his COVID diagnosis, he has instructed the Select Committee to proceed with Thursday evening’s hearing. Committee members and staff wish the Chairman a speedy recovery.”

Jan 6 hearing still on despite chairman Bennie Thompson testing positive for Covid

‘MAGA movement is dying’ warns Dr Oz

Wednesday 20 July 2022 03:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Pennsylvania’s Senate race may represent a setback for Donald Trump’s “MAGA” wing of the Republican Party, and his chosen candidate seems to know it.

Dr Mehmet Oz declared in a fundraising email, first reported by The Daily Beast, on Monday that the former president’s political movement was “dying” as he trails Democrat John Fetterman in both poll numbers and fundraising totals in the hotly-contested Rust Belt state.

John Bowden reports.

Trump-backed Dr Oz warns ‘MAGA movement is dying’ in Senate campaign ad

Georgia voter water bottle ban faces legal challenge

Wednesday 20 July 2022 02:45 , Oliver O'Connell

A group of voting rights advocates in Georgia have asked a judge to block enforcement of a measure that outlaws handing out food and water to people standing in line to vote, part of a sweeping election law that has faced widespread criticism and a series of legal challenges from civil rights groups.

Alex Woodward reports.

Georgia’s ban on handing out water to voters challenged in court

Buttigieg shuts down GOP congressman for claiming electric vehicles too expensive

Wednesday 20 July 2022 01:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg came prepared with a list of prices to a hearing where a GOP congressman claimed electric vehicles are too expensive.

Pennsylvania Republican Representative Scott Perry said suggestions have been made that Americans “should buy an electric vehicle and absolve themselves of that 80 per cent increase per gallon”.

“Just look at a Kelly Blue Book, the price of an [electric vehicle] is about $55,000”, he said.

But Mr Buttigieg was ready with his own figures, and better yet they were American-made.

Buttigieg recites list of prices to shut down GOP congressman

Georgia fake electors fighting election probe subpoenas

Wednesday 20 July 2022 01:00 , Oliver O'Connell

A group of Georgia Republicans who have been informed that they are at risk of being indicted in an investigation into whether former President Donald Trump and others illegally interfered in the 2020 election in Georgia are fighting subpoenas to testify before a special grand jury.

All 11 signed a certificate declaring falsely that then-President Donald Trump had won the 2020 presidential election and declaring themselves the state’s “duly elected and qualified” electors even though Joe Biden had won the state and a slate of Democratic electors was certified. They filed a motion Tuesday to quash their subpoenas, calling them “unreasonable and oppressive.”

Georgia fake electors seek to quash election probe subpoenas

Russia preparing sham vote as pretext to annex Ukrainian territory says NSC

Wednesday 20 July 2022 00:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Russia is preparing to illegally annex territory it has captured during its’ unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby has said.

Speaking at the daily White House press briefing on Tuesday, Mr Kirby said Russia is “laying the groundwork” for annexation “in direct violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty,” and pointed to “ample evidence in the intelligence and in the public domain” showing Moscow’s intentions.

Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.

US says Russia preparing sham vote as pretext to annex Ukrainian territory

Herschel Walker claims to be former FBI agent

Tuesday 19 July 2022 23:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Georgia Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker falsely claimed that he used to be an FBI agent and told a crowd about how he once came close to killing a man in a newly-resurfaced footage.

Mr Walker has repeatedly mentioned having a varied past in law enforcement over the course of his campaign, despite reporting showing that the assertion is untrue.

Gustaf Kilander reports.

Herschel Walker falsely claims to be former FBI agent in resurfaced clip

Who are ex-Trump aides Matt Pottinger and Sarah Matthews, set to testify at the next hearing?

Tuesday 19 July 2022 22:45 , Oliver O'Connell

When the January 6 committee’s next prime-time hearing airs on Thursday, lawmakers will hope to show how Donald Trump’s “dereliction of duty” on the day the US Capital was attacked was a key element of what unfolded.

On Thursday evening, the panel will reportedly have the help of two star witnesses from within the former US president’s White House, who sources familiar with the matter informed CNN of on Monday night.

According to reports, the pair are Matthew Pottinger, a former deputy national security adviser, and Sarah Matthews, a former press aide.

Here’s what we know about the pair:

The ex-Trump aides set to be lead witnesses at next Jan 6 hearing

More Republicans are prepared to turn away from Trump over Jan 6, says pollster

Tuesday 19 July 2022 22:15 , Oliver O'Connell

The Independent’s Andrew Buncombe spoke with Sarah Longwell.

Pollster says more Republicans ready to turn away from Trump amid Jan 6 hearings

Despite anger of 9/11 families, Trump tells golfers to ‘take money now’ from Saudi-backed league

Tuesday 19 July 2022 21:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has urged golfers to “take the money now” from LIV Golf, while ignoring pleas from the families of 9/11 victims to shun the Saudi-backed breakaway league.

The Trump National Golf Bedminster course in New Jersey is hosting the next event in the LIV series from 29 to 31 July, and Mr Trump urged golfers to turn their backs on the PGA Tour.

Bevan Hurley reports.

Trump tells golfers to ‘take the money’ from Saudi-backed league despite 9/11 anger

AOC, other lawmakers arrested amid protest for abortion rights

Tuesday 19 July 2022 21:15 , Oliver O'Connell

A group of lawmakers, including Reps Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar, Andy Levin, Cori Bush, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Jackie Speier, Alma Adams, Veronica Escobar, and Carolyn B. Maloney, were detained and arrested on Friday outside of the Supreme Court amid an abortion rights demonstration.

In an official statement from Capitol Police, they reported 34 arrests for “Crowding, Obstructing or Incommoding (DC Code § 22–1307).”

Jenna Amatulli reports.

AOC, other lawmakers arrested outside Supreme Court at protest for abortion rights

Bannon defence claims case about politics

Tuesday 19 July 2022 21:02 , Oliver O'Connell

Steve Bannon’s defence lawyer Even Corcoran told the jury in his opening statement that his client was still negotiating with the January 6 committee about the subpoena when the charge of contempt was brought against him.

“No one ignored the subpoena,” he said, claiming that his client had not committed criminal contempt of Congress as he was charged. “It’s called negotiation, it’s called accommodation … that’s not an excuse.”

Mr Corcoran went on to claim the charge against Mr Bannon was political.

“My single request for you is to think about it and ask yourself: Is this piece of evidence affected by politics?” he asked of the jury.

Bannon 'decided he was above law’

Tuesday 19 July 2022 20:52 , Oliver O'Connell

The prosecution in the trial of Steve Bannon for contempt of Congress has said in opening statements that the former Trump adviser believed he was “above the law” and “chose to show contempt” toward the House committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot.

Assistant US Attorney Amanda Vaughn described Mr Bannon’s actions as a crime and told the jury: “The defendant decided he was above the law, and he didn’t have to follow the government’s orders like his fellow citizens, and that’s why we’re here today.”

She added that the subpoena issued to Mr Bannon by Congress “wasn’t a request, and it wasn’t an invitation. It was mandatory”.

Evidence in the trial will include a series of letters from the committee to Mr Bannon rejecting his claim of executive privilege and warning of criminal prosecution if he did not respond to them by 18 October 2021.

With no response, Congress voted to refer him for prosecution. “It’s not up to the defendant or anyone else whether he can ignore subpoena deadlines for testimony and documents. It’s up to the committee. And the committee told him his claims of privilege did not excuse him from complying,” Ms Vaughn said.

She further characterised his actions as deliberate.

“It wasn’t an accident. It wasn’t a mistake. It was a decision. It was a choice,” Ms Vaughn said noting that was what made the case so simple. “He just decided not to follow the rules.”

National Archives tells Secret Service to investigate ‘unauthorised deletion’ of Jan 6 texts

Tuesday 19 July 2022 20:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The National Archives is getting involved in the growing scandal enveloping the US Secret Service over whether agents improperly deleted text messages sent during the January 6 attack after being ordered to preserve them.

The Archives issued a statement on Tuesday instructing the US Secret Service to investigate and determine indeed whether text messages had been deleted by the agency as part of a supposed software overhaul after the agency had been explicitly instructed by the Department of Homeland Security’s watchdog office, the Office of the Inspector General, to preserve them.

Meanwhile The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that the Secret Service has had no luck in retrieving any further text messages sent between 5-6 January 2021, a troubling development that does nothing to help the agency’s growing credibility problem.

John Bowden reports.

National Archives instructs Secret Service to investigate deletion of Jan 6 texts

Furious AOC says Manchin has no authority to speak on climate

Tuesday 19 July 2022 20:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York criticised Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia on Tuesday for his call to pause discussions on climate negotiations, saying he has no authority to discuss climate change.

The Independent’s Eric Garcia spoke with Ms Ocasio-Cortez today at the US Capitol.

AOC says Manchin has no authority to speak on climate ‘for the rest of our term here’

Voices: A Democratic apocalypse is drawing near

Tuesday 19 July 2022 20:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Eric Garcia argues that Biden’s polling numbers make things look very concerning for the November midterms and the 2024 presidential election.

Biden’s approval rating proves it — a Democratic apocalypse is near

Trial delayed for man pictured in Pelosi’s office during Capitol riot

Tuesday 19 July 2022 20:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Steve Bannon may not have been able to get his trial delayed, but a federal trial has been delayed for an Arkansas man who was photographed with his feet on a desk in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office during the Capitol riot.

A federal judge on Monday moved the trial for Richard Barnett, of Gravette, from 6 September to 12 December. The delay was requested because Barnett’s attorney has been recovering from Covid-19 and Lyme disease.

Mr Barnett was among supporters of President Donald Trump who stormed the Capitol as lawmakers assembled to certify Joe Biden’s victory over Trump. Prosecutors say Mr Barnett was carrying a stun gun when he entered the building.

Trial delayed for man pictured in Pelosi's office at riot

Bannon jury selection complete

Tuesday 19 July 2022 19:47 , Oliver O'Connell

The jury for the contempt of Congress trial of former Steve Bannon consists of nine men and five women. More than half of them work for Federal or DC government agencies or in related fields.

The panel of 12 jurors and two alternates were seated at about 2pm and is hearing their instructions ahead of opening statements.

The jury includes employees of the Securities and Exchange Commission; the State Department’s Office for International Religious Freedom; NASA ; the US International Development Finance Corporation; and the International Republican Institute, a democracy and development agency that draws funding from the State Department and US Agency for International Development.

Further jurors working in DC government include a Parks and Recreation maintenance manager, a Transportation Department contract driver for special needs children, and a supervisor with a Health Department pandemic vaccination contractor.

Outside of governance, there is a commercial residential architect; a university hospital janitor; an online art seller; and people who work with a Takoma Park appliance distribution company and the EnviroCorps job training group, The Washington Post reports.

Bannon judge denies motion to delay trial

Tuesday 19 July 2022 19:41 , Oliver O'Connell

The judge presiding over the trial of former Trump adviser Steve Bannon on charges of contempt of Congress has denied a motion to delay proceedings for a month.

US District Judge Carl J Nichols refused to delay after Bannon lawyer Evena Corcoran asked for a pause so they could recalibrate their strategy after a misunderstanding over how much of the committee’s correspondence with Mr Bannon could be shown to the jury — evidence that related to his understanding of the subpoena deadline at issue in the case.

The judge said that his previous rulings allowed Mr Bannon to offer a rationale for why he may have thought the committee’s deadlines were not fixed.

Two charged over scheme to sell access to Trump to foreign nationals

Tuesday 19 July 2022 19:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Two alleged fraudsters were arrested and charged for reportedly taking at least $27m from foreign investors in exchange for access to former President Donald Trump.

Sherry Li and Lianbo “Mike” Wang were arrested on Monday. The duo face charges for wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to defraud the US. Prosecutors said that the duo were attempting to obstruct the Federal Election Commission‘s campaign finance laws.

Graig Graziosi has the story.

Two charged over $27m scheme to sell access to Trump to foreign nationals

Watch: January 6 hearings in one minute

Tuesday 19 July 2022 18:46 , Oliver O'Connell

COurtesy of The Recount, here are 10 key takeaways from the January 6 hearings to date, ahead of Thursday’s prime time special that will cover minute-by-minute what went on in the White House during the Capitol riot.