Trump severed from two co-defendants in Georgia case as he hails ‘best polls ever’ - latest
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Donald Trump and 16 other co-defendants in the Georgia election interference case will be tried separately from lawyers Kenneth Chesebro and Sidney Powell, the judge in the case has ruled.
“Defendants Chesebro and Powell will join each other at trial, however, the other 17 defendants are severed from these two. Additional severances may follow. All pretrial deadlines will proceed as scheduled without a stay of proceedings,” Judge Scott McAfee at the Superior Court of Fulton County wrote in a ruling issued on Thursday.
The move comes after Mr Chesebro and Ms Powell invoked their right to a speedy trial, the judge noted.
This comes as Mr Trump celebrated the “best polls ever,” writing on Truth Social that they were “rarely shown on television. Leading by 50 and 60 points. Just like they don’t like showing our big Rally CROWDS, they don’t like showing our GREAT POLL NUMBERS. WE HAVE RIGGED ELECTIONS, AND RIGGED TELEVISION!”
Meanwhile, Mr Trump celebrated Mitt Romney’s retirement plans in a gloating post where he called it “fantastic news for America” that the Republican senator will not be seeking a second term.
Key Points
Judge signs order restricting Trump access to classified documents ahead of trial
Trump waives right to speedy trial in Fulton County
Trump lashes out at Biden over prisoner swap deal with Iran
Legal team files motion demanding Judge Tanya Chutkan recuse herself in election interference case
Trump challenges Rupert Murdoch, Joe Biden and Wall Street Journal executives to mental acuity tests
‘Where’s Melania?’ banner flies above Trump during Iowa football game
Fulton County prosecutors will reveal 30 unindicted co-conspirators to Trump and other Georgia defendants
15:40 , Alex Woodward
Fulton County prosecutors will share the identities of 30 unnamed and unindicted co-conspirators listed throughout a sweeping criminal indictment targeting alleged effort from Donald Trump and his allies to overturn 2020 presidential election results in Georgia.
Attorneys for co-defendants Kenneth Chesebro and Sidney Powell, Trump-linked attorneys implicated in an alleged criminal enterprise that unlawfully rejected the former president’s loss, have asked a judge to compel prosecutors to reveal those names with them.
During a hearing in Atlanta on 14 September, prosecutors with the Fulton County District Attorney’s office agreed to share those names with the defendants, a practise that Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee said is an “otherwise fairly routine part of the discovery” process as the case heads to trial.
Read more:
Georgia prosecutors will reveal unindicted co-conspirators to Trump and co-defendants
Jan 6 rioter compares herself to Jesus as she is sentenced to 30 months in prison
15:30 , Amelia Neath
A January 6 rioter has compared herself to Jesus after she was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison for her involvement in the Capitol insurrection.
Yvonne St Cyr, 55, was sentenced on Wednesday to 30 months in jail, 36 months of supervised release, a $1,000 fine and $2,000 restitution to the Architect of the Capitol following her conviction on two felony counts of civil disorder and several misdemeanours.
After the sentence was handed down, she immediately took to Facebook to claim that she now knows how Jesus felt.
“I understood what Jesus felt like when he was in the garden of Gethsemane praying and felt so alone,” she said, according to KTVB.
She then launched a Facebook Live where she stated that “the spirit” assured her that she was not going to go to prison – but that if she did, it would give her “plenty of time to write a book”.
Read more:
Jan 6 rioter compares herself to Jesus as she’s sentenced to 30 months in prison
VIDEO: Pence refuses to say if he would dine alone with a female VP
15:17 , Gustaf Kilander
Trump will be tried separately from Powell and Chesebro in Georgia election interference case, judge rules
15:01 , Gustaf Kilander
Donald Trump and 16 other co-defendants in the Georgia election interference case will be tried separately from lawyers Kenneth Chesebro and Sidney Powell, the judge in the case has ruled.
“Defendants Chesebro and Powell will join each other at trial, however, the other 17 defendants are severed from these two. Additional severances may follow. All pretrial deadlines will proceed as scheduled without a stay of proceedings,” Judge Scott McAfee at the Superior Court of Fulton County wrote in a ruling issued on Thursday.
The move comes after Mr Chesebro and Ms Powell invoked their right to a speedy trial, the judge noted.
Read more:
Trump will be tried separately from Powell and Chesebro in Georgia case, judge rules
Ted Cruz calls Biden impeachment evidence circumstantial
15:00 , Oliver O'Connell
Texas Senator Ted Cruz declared that any evidence against President Joe Biden is only circumstantial, arguing convictions have been based on such evidence in the past.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced an impeachment inquiry into Mr Biden on Tuesday, claiming that there are serious allegations of corruption, including that Mr Biden worked to aid his son’s foreign business interests while he was vice president and that he benefitted financially from the arrangement.
No public evidence has been shared to substantiate the claims against the president.
“It’s pretty damn good evidence – circumstantial evidence – people are convicted and sent to jail every day of the week based on circumstantial evidence,” Mr Cruz said on Fox News. “Circumstantial evidence is you draw inferences from the circumstances.”
Ted Cruz says evidence for Biden impeachment inquiry is circumstantial
Hunter Biden sues former Trump aide over laptop hacking
14:40 , Alex Woodward
Attorneys for Hunter Biden have filed a lawsuit accusing a former Trump-era White House aide of launching a “sustained, unhinged and obsessed campaign” against President Joe Biden’s son and the Biden family, including hacking the alleged contents of a laptop.
Since leaving Donald Trump’s administration, Garrett Ziegler has “devoted most of his waking time and energy to accessing, tampering with, manipulating, altering, copying and otherwise using” allegedly compromised computer and iPhone data, emails and photos, according to the lawsuit filed in US District Court in California on 13 September.
“While Defendant Ziegler is entitled to his extremist and counterfactual opinions, he has no right to engage in illegal activities to advance his right-wing agenda,” the suit alleges.
Hunter Biden sues former Trump aide tied to laptop hack
Ramaswamy pitches mass federal layoffs
14:20 , AP
Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy on Wednesday laid out his ideas to shut down the FBI and fire more than 1 million federal workers, lining up with increasingly sweeping conservative proposals targeting the federal government and particularly law enforcement.
Candidates trying to beat former President Donald Trump have responded to growing anger among GOP primary voters about the indictments against Trump as well as federal investigations and policies seen as unfairly targeting conservatives.
Ramaswamy’s proposals are among the broadest in the field. Speaking at the America First Policy Institute in Washington, he said he would try to reduce the federal employee headcount by half in his first year in office and by 75% during his first term if he makes it to the White House.
Trump delights in Mitt Romney not seeking re-election
14:00 , Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump has reacted with glee that one of his chief foes, Senator Mitt Romney of Utah, is not seeking re-election.
The Republican senator and former presidential nominee in the 2012 election announced he would not seek a second term in the Senate.
Mr Romney, who also served as the governor of Massachusetts, has held the seat since 2018 and said in a video message that at the age of 76 he did not think he would be capable of continuing in the role.
In response to the news that one of his most vocal critics was stepping away from politics, the former president took to his social media platform Truth Social in celebration.
In an all-caps post, he wrote: “Fantastic news for America, the great state of Utah, & for the Republican Party.”
Trump: Putin using Biden’s ‘illegal Banana Republic style treatment’ of him to condemn US
13:40 , John Bowden
Donald Trump newest complaint about his four criminal prosecutions: They are supposedly ammo for Vladimir Putin as he criticises the United States.
The ex-president took to Truth Social on Wednesday to protest what he derided as “illegal Banana Republic style treatment” of him by the US government — continuing his baseless insistence that Joe Biden is somehow involved in the separate cases against him.
“The whole World is watching as the USA is being torn apart by dreams of Election Interference!” the ex-president wailed.
Worth mentioning, a “banana republic” is a term to describe politically unstable nations with few constitutional protections, derived from South and Central American dictatorships typically propped up by the United States. The capitalised alternative, “Banana Republic”, is a famous clothing brand.
Trump says Putin using Biden’s ‘Banana Republic style treatment’ of him to condemn US
Might Trump go to prison?
13:20 , Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump faces four criminal indictments in three separate jurisdictions. Nearly 100 felony criminal charges are leveled against the former president, who remains the odds-on favourite to win the 2024 Republican primary.
As his legal battles grow more complex by the day, a serious question has emerged: Whether Mr Trump will win the nomination and campaign for the general election as a convicted criminal.
That possibility, in turn, raises another, simpler question: Will the 45th President of the United States go to prison?
Will Donald Trump go to prison?
Can Trump still run for president after four indictments?
13:00 , Oliver O'Connell
It’s complicated and the framers of the Constitution probably didn’t think Donald Trump’s unique situation would arise, but here we are...
Mr Trump remains the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican nomination for president and has insisted that he will remain in the race regardless of any outcome of the criminal cases against him.
He also has relied on news of the investigations and indictments to raise money for his campaign, which has netted millions of dollars from sympathetic supporters buying into his “political persecution” narrative.
But with potential convictions and judgments in both federal and state indictments and with multi-million dollar lawsuits to fight, what will all of this rolling chaos mean for Mr Trump’s political future?
Pence gives hilarious deadpan response to heckler at Iowa campaign event
12:40 , Oliver O'Connell
Mike Pence is characterised as unflappable and someone who keeps his cool in the face of adversity.
While he can get fired up on the campaign trail when dealing with more emotive issues, he also appears to know when to engage and when not to.
This was especially evident at an event in which the former vice president was sipping coffee and meeting voters out on the 2024 campaign trail in Iowa.
As Mr Pence chatted with a crowd of older people, a heckler appeared in an open doorway to the shock of event organisers.
The bearded man in a black baseball cap then shouted into the room at the former vice president.
Here’s what happened next:
Mike Pence gives hilarious deadpan response to heckler at Iowa 2024 campaign event
Trump waives right to speedy trial
12:10 , AP
Former President Donald Trump is waiving his right to seek a speedy trial in the Georgia case in which he and 18 others are accused of participating in an illegal scheme to overturn his loss in the 2020 presidential election.
Trump’s filing is part of the legal maneuvering as Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willisseeks to try all 19 defendants together starting next month. Most of the defendants have sought to separate their cases from some or all of the others, with many saying they will not be ready by Oct. 23, when a trial has been set for two defendants who have already filed demands for a speedy trial. The judge has expressed skepticism that all defendants could go to trial that day.
Trump’s latest move is in line with efforts the early front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination has taken in his other cases to delay proceedings while he seeks a return to the White House in the 2024 election. He is facing prosecution in a state case in New York, as well as federal cases in Washington and Florida.
The waiver of a speedy trial, which an attorney for Trump said was filed Tuesday, came on the heels of a brief filed by Willis’ office that all the defendants should be tried together because of efficiency and fairness issues. Prosecutors said holding several lengthy trials instead of one beginning on Oct. 23 would “create an enormous strain on the judicial resources” of the court and would favor the defendants tried later, who would have the advantage of seeing the state’s evidence and arguments ahead of time.
According to Georgia law, any defendant who files a demand for a speedy trial has a right to have a trial begin within the court term when the demand is filed or in the next court term. Court terms in Fulton County are two months long and begin the first Mondays in January, March, May, July, September and November.
Trump accuses DeSantis of spreading ‘Missing Melania’ flyers
11:40 , Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump has accused his 2024 rival Ron DeSantis of spreading “Missing Melania” flyers at the Iowa football game he attended.
The former first lady has barely been seen since departing the White House with the now four-times indicted former president in January 2021. She reportedly wants “nothing to do with” his legal troubles.
Mr Trump was heckled by fans at the Iowa State game on Saturday in the key early-voting state, and a plane with a “Where’s Melania?” banner even flew over the stadium.
Graeme Massie has the story.
Trump accuses DeSantis of spreading ‘Missing Melania’ flyers at Iowa football game
McCarthy still facing MAGA opposition despite agreeing to impeachment inquiry
10:40 , Oliver O'Connell
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is still under fire from the far right of the Republican Party despite agreeing to back an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden.
Florida Rep Matt Gaetz is especially ardent in his opposition to Mr McCarthy who agreed to a number of demands in order to secure the votes of the right-wing of the party to become speaker.
As Eric Garcia reports from Capitol Hill:
“Mr Speaker, you are out of compliance with the agreement that allowed you to assume this role,” Mr Gaetz said. “The path forward for the House of Representatives is to either bring you into immediate total compliance or remove you, pursuant to a motion to vacate the chair.”
A motion to vacate would trigger a no-confidence vote, even though Mr Gaetz acknowledged it might not pass. Specifically, Mr Gaetz criticised the fact that the House had not staged a vote on term limits for members, an amendment to balance the federal budget or to release all of the tapes from the January 6 riot.
“There’s been insufficient accountability for the Biden crime family, and instead of cutting spending to raise the debt limit, you relied on budgetary gimmicks and rescissions so that you ultimately ended up serving as the valet to underwrite Biden’s debt and advance his spending agenda,” he said. “The only thing the 118th Congress is known for at this point is electing Kevin McCarthy speaker and underwriting Biden’s debt and unfortunately there’s only one of those things we can remediate at this time.”
Trump called out for ‘vile lie’ about 9/11 by MSNBC host
09:40 , Oliver O'Connell
MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell has slammed Donald Trump for his “vile lie” about 9/11, accusing the former president of trying to “steal the grief” of those who lost loved ones in the terror attack.
“Donald Trump has been lying about 9/11 since 9/11,” O’Donnell said on Monday night. “Here is Donald Trump’s most vile lie about 9/11.”
The MSNBC presenter then played a clip of Mr Trump claiming during a Republican debate that he “lost hundreds of friends” on 9/11 — a claim O’Donnell said was a lie.
Read on…
MSNBC host slams Trump for his 'vile lie' about 9/11
Christie vows to follow Trump ‘wherever he goes’
08:40 , Oliver O'Connell
Chris Christie is still keen on a showdown with Donald Trump, despite the former president’s continuing refusal to debate the other candidates running for the Republican Party’s 2024 nomination.
Mr Christie, in an interview that aired Sunday on Fox News, vowed not to let his opponent off that easy.
“I’m sure he’s not coming to the Reagan debate. We’ll give him another chance in Alabama,” Mr Christie said, referencing another upcoming scheduled matchup of the GOP field.
“But if he doesn’t come there, then I’m going to follow him around the country,” vowed the former governor. “Wherever he goes, I’ll go. And we’ll wind up talking to each other one way or another.”
John Bowden has the story.
07:10 , Oliver O'Connell
Theresa May on bizarre moment Donald Trump held her hand at Blenheim Palace
Trump met with MAGA lawmakers ahead of McCarthy impeachment inquiry announcement
05:40 , Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump secretly met with MAGA Republicans to discuss the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden before the announcement by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
The veiled effort, which also included public missives on Truth Social, to push House Republicans to impeach Mr Biden comprised a discussion with a member of the House Republican leadership ahead of the announcement on Tuesday that an inquiry was being launched.
Mr Trump has been speaking on a weekly basis with New York Representative Elise Stefanik, the House Republican Conference Chair and the first member of the leadership to publically back impeachment, Politico and The New York Times reported.
The former president also hosted Marjorie Taylor Greene on Sunday night.
Here’s Gustaf Kilander’s full report:
Trump secretly met with MAGA Republicans to discuss Biden impeachment inquiry
Trump called out for ‘vile lie’ about 9/11 by MSNBC host
03:40 , Oliver O'Connell
MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell has slammed Donald Trump for his “vile lie” about 9/11, accusing the former president of trying to “steal the grief” of those who lost loved ones in the terror attack.
“Donald Trump has been lying about 9/11 since 9/11,” O’Donnell said on Monday night. “Here is Donald Trump’s most vile lie about 9/11.”
The MSNBC presenter then played a clip of Mr Trump claiming during a Republican debate that he “lost hundreds of friends” on 9/11 — a claim O’Donnell said was a lie.
Read on…
MSNBC host slams Trump for his 'vile lie' about 9/11
AOC slams McCarthy on Biden impeachment
02:40 , Oliver O'Connell
The top two Democrats on the committee that will lead the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden slammed Kevin McCarthy’s announcement on Tuesday.
Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) told The Independent that Mr McCarthy’s announcement showed how little evidence Republicans have.
“I mean, I think he’s making a joke of himself,” the number two Democrat on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee said. “What I find most amusing is that he has opened an impeachment inquiry, and it seems as though they are opening an inquiry into themselves as to why they’re even trying to impeach President Biden.”
Eric Garcia filed this report from Capitol Hill.
AOC slams McCarthy on Biden impeachment: ‘He’s making a joke of himself’
Fulton County prosecutors continue to insist Trump and 18 others should be tried together
01:40 , AP
Prosecutors who have accused former President Donald Trump and 18 others of participating in an illegal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 election in Georgia maintain that all of the defendants should be tried together, citing efficiency and fairness.
The case was brought under the state’s anti-racketeering law, meaning the same witnesses and evidence will be used in any trial, they wrote in a brief they said was filed Tuesday. Holding several lengthy trials instead would “create an enormous strain on the judicial resources” of the county superior court and would randomly favor the defendants tried later, who would have the advantage of seeing the state’s evidence and arguments ahead of time, prosecutors wrote.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis said last month in announcing the charges that she wanted to try all 19 defendants together. Two of the people charged have filed speedy trial demands, and Judge Scott McAfee set their trial for 23 October. At a hearing last week, he said it seemed “a bit unrealistic” to imagine that all of the defendants could be tried that soon and asked Willis’ team for a brief explaining why they felt that was necessary.
Sheriff describes ‘heartbreaking’ moment Trump had mugshot taken
Wednesday 13 September 2023 23:40 , Oliver O'Connell
The sheriff of Fulton County, Georgia, recalled the moment that Donald Trump sat for his mugshot at his jail, calling the moment “heartbreaking.”
“On a personal level, it was heartbreaking to see someone of that stature who represents our country in that fashion having to go through this,” Sheriff Pat Labat said during an interview with CNN.
Mr Trump was booked last month in Fulton County after he was indicted in a racketeering case focused on his alleged attempt to steal the 2020 presidential election by requesting state officials “find” votes for him.
Graig Graziosi has the story.
Sheriff describes ‘heartbreaking’ moment Trump had his mugshot taken
In a dig at both Trump and Biden, Romney blames his age for not seek re-election in 2024
Wednesday 13 September 2023 22:40 , Oliver O'Connell
Sen Mitt Romney, the former Republican presidential nominee for president who has become the most vocal critic of former president Donald Trump in his party, announced on Wednesday he would not seek a second term in the Senate.
The former Utah governor, who first won election in 2018, made the announcement in a video, citing his accomplishments, but also saying that at age 76, he did not think he would be capable of doing the job in another term.
“I spent my last 25 years in public service of one kind or another,” he said. “At the end of another term, I’d be in my mid-80s. Frankly, it’s time for a new generation of leaders. They’re the ones that need to make the decisions that will shape the world they will be living in.”
Eric Garcia reports from Capitol Hill.
Romney makes a dig at both Trump and Biden as he announces retirement
Watch: Romney says age was factor in decision to not run again
Wednesday 13 September 2023 22:24 , Oliver O'Connell
Ted Cruz calls Biden impeachment evidence circumstantial
Wednesday 13 September 2023 22:14 , Oliver O'Connell
Texas Senator Ted Cruz declared that any evidence against President Joe Biden is only circumstantial, arguing convictions have been based on such evidence in the past.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced an impeachment inquiry into Mr Biden on Tuesday, claiming that there are serious allegations of corruption, including that Mr Biden worked to aid his son’s foreign business interests while he was vice president and that he benefitted financially from the arrangement.
No public evidence has been shared to substantiate the claims against the president.
“It’s pretty damn good evidence – circumstantial evidence – people are convicted and sent to jail every day of the week based on circumstantial evidence,” Mr Cruz said on Fox News. “Circumstantial evidence is you draw inferences from the circumstances.”
Ted Cruz says evidence for Biden impeachment inquiry is circumstantial
Ramaswamy pitches mass federal layoffs
Wednesday 13 September 2023 22:10 , AP
Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy on Wednesday laid out his ideas to shut down the FBI and fire more than 1 million federal workers, lining up with increasingly sweeping conservative proposals targeting the federal government and particularly law enforcement.
Candidates trying to beat former President Donald Trump have responded to growing anger among GOP primary voters about the indictments against Trump as well as federal investigations and policies seen as unfairly targeting conservatives.
Ramaswamy’s proposals are among the broadest in the field. Speaking at the America First Policy Institute in Washington, he said he would try to reduce the federal employee headcount by half in his first year in office and by 75% during his first term if he makes it to the White House.
Vivek Ramaswamy proposes mass federal layoffs as more GOP hopefuls look to slash US government
Prosecutors argue Meadows cannot move trial to federal court as he is not a current federal official
Wednesday 13 September 2023 22:05 , Oliver O'Connell
In a new brief, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis argues that former Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows is not permitted to remove his case to federal court because the removal statute only applies to current federal officials.
Voices: Mitt Romney is stepping down because he’s too old. What about McConnell and Biden?
Wednesday 13 September 2023 22:00 , Oliver O'Connell
In some ways, Sen Mitt Romney’s decision to not seek a second term isn’t surprising. Mr Romney is the only Republican senator who voted to convict Donald Trump during both of his impeachment trials, and he has taken numerous other votes that would make him seem downright heretical in the modern-day GOP.
Conversely, Mr Romney remains one of the few Republicans actually interested in governing, having brokered deals on Covid-19 relief, the bipartisan infrastructure bill and the first major piece of gun control legislation in almost three decades. Few senators, let alone freshmen, have accomplished as much.
But perhaps the most surprising part of his decision is the specific reason why the 2012 Republican presidential nominee said he would leave the United States Senate. Specifically, Mr Romney cited his age.
Quinnipiac poll: Biden and Trump statistical tie in latest 2024 election survey
Wednesday 13 September 2023 21:40 , Oliver O'Connell
President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump are in a statistical tie in a new poll of voters by Quinnipiac University about a hypothetical 2024 contest.
According to the poll released today, Mr Biden leads Mr Trump by one percentage point, 47 per cent to 46 per cent. The margin of error of 2.4 percentage points.
The results were unchanged from polling one month ago.
With Mr Trump still holding a commanding lead over his Republican rivals, the matchup looks increasingly likely.
The former president has 62 per cent support (up five per cent) among Republicans in the poll, followed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis at 12 per cent (down six per cent) and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy with 6 per cent (up one percent).
With Romney not seeking reelection, who might run in his place?
Wednesday 13 September 2023 21:20 , Oliver O'Connell
Mitt Romney has announced that he won’t seek re-election in 2024 and that he’ll leave the Senate after a single term.
The Utah Republican’s departure will likely further diminish the ranks of the already-shrinking anti-Trump coalition within the GOP when the seat opens up in the safe red state.
Mr Romney, the former Massachusetts governor and 2012 Republican presidential nominee, was the only member of the GOP to vote to convict Mr Trump in both of his impeachment trials.
In an exit interview with The Washington Post, Mr Romney, 76, called for a new generation to “step up” and “shape the world they’re going to live in,” in a not-so-veiled dig at President Joe Biden, 80, and former President Donald Trump, 77.
Gustaf Kilander reports on what might happen next.
What Mitt Romney not seeking re-election means and who might run in his place
Former Trump aide tied to laptop hack being sued by Hunter Biden
Wednesday 13 September 2023 21:10 , Oliver O'Connell
Attorneys for Hunter Biden have filed a lawsuit accusing a former Trump-era White House aide of launching a “sustained, unhinged and obsessed campaign” against President Joe Biden’s son and the Biden family, including hacking the alleged contents of a laptop.
Since leaving Donald Trump’s administration, Garrett Ziegler has “devoted most of his waking time and energy to accessing, tampering with, manipulating, altering, copying and otherwise using” allegedly compromised computer and iPhone data, emails and photos, according to the lawsuit filed in US District Court in California on 13 September.
“While Defendant Ziegler is entitled to his extremist and counterfactual opinions, he has no right to engage in illegal activities to advance his right-wing agenda,” the suit alleges.
Alex Woodward has the details.
Hunter Biden sues former Trump aide tied to laptop hack
How did two former US senators end up in the crosshairs of a Georgia grand jury?
Wednesday 13 September 2023 21:00 , Oliver O'Connell
Alex Woodward explains how Georgia’s two former Republican US senators — David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler — were on the list of those recommended by the grand jury to be charged in relation with 2020 election interference but neither of them were by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis in the sweeping racketeering indictment against Donald Trump and his allies.
How did Mr Perdue and Ms Loeffler – who were sitting members of Congress during the time of the alleged crimes – end up in the crosshairs of the sprawling investigation?
Mr Perdue was first elected to office in 2014 and lost his bid for re-election in a closely watched runoff against Democratic candidate Jon Ossoff in the smoldering aftermath of the 2020 election. Ms Loeffler – who was appointed to the seat in 2019 following the retirement of her predecessor – lost a runoff election to Democratic candidate Raphael Warnock.
Trump: Putin using Biden’s ‘illegal Banana Republic style treatment’ of him to condemn US
Wednesday 13 September 2023 20:40 , Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump newest complaint about his four criminal prosecutions: They are supposedly ammo for Vladimir Putin as he criticises the United States.
The ex-president took to Truth Social on Wednesday to protest what he derided as “illegal Banana Republic style treatment” of him by the US government — continuing his baseless insistence that Joe Biden is somehow involved in the separate cases against him.
“The whole World is watching as the USA is being torn apart by dreams of Election Interference!” the ex-president wailed.
Worth mentioning, a “banana republic” is a term to describe politically unstable nations with few constitutional protections, derived from South and Central American dictatorships typically propped up by the United States. The capitalised alternative, “Banana Republic”, is a famous clothing brand.
John Bowden has the story.
Trump says Putin using Biden’s ‘Banana Republic style treatment’ of him to condemn US
Fetterman gives sarcastic reaction to Biden impeachment inquiry
Wednesday 13 September 2023 20:20 , Oliver O'Connell
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat, gave a sarcastic response when asked about the Republicans’ impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden.
On Tuesday, when a reporter asked Mr Fetterman for a reaction to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s announcement that he would launch an impeachment inquiry into the president, the Pennsylvania Democrat responded, “Oh my god, really?” while grabbing his head and taking a step backward.
“Oh my gosh,” Mr Fetterman said, “It’s devastating.”
He then laughed and wiggled his fingers toward the reporter’s camera, while giving eerie ghost noises sarcastically.
Kelly Rissman reports on one of the more candid reactions to the news.
Fetterman gives sarcastic reaction to Biden impeachment inquiry
Trump name to be removed from New York golf course
Wednesday 13 September 2023 20:00 , Oliver O'Connell
New York City elected officials are celebrating the Trump Organization’s decision to sell its lease on a public golf course that will see the former president’s name removed from one of his flagship properties.
Eric Trump announced the sale of Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point Park to Bally’s Corporation in a statement on Tuesday, bringing an end to a two-and-a-half-year legal battle with the city.
“While we had no prior intention of selling this trophy asset, Bally’s Corporation stepped in and made us an exceptional offer,” Mr Trump said.
The Trump Organization’s operation of the publicly owned golf course in the Bronx, which enjoys sweeping views over the Manhattan skyline, came under scrutiny after the Capitol riots in January 2021.
Former Mayor Bill de Blasio sought to remove any association between the city and the Trump family, claiming that Donald Trump’s incitement of rioters provided it with the legal authority to do so.
Bevan Hurley has the full story.
New Hampshire secretary of state won't block Trump from ballot
Wednesday 13 September 2023 19:40 , Oliver O'Connell
New Hampshire’s top election official said Wednesday he will not invoke an amendment to the US Constitution to block former President Donald Trump from appearing on ballots in the state, which will hold the first Republican presidential primary next year.
Secretary of State David Scanlan said that under state law the name of anyone who pays the $1,000 filing fee and swears they meet the age, citizenship and residency requirements “shall be printed on the ballots."
“That language is not discretionary,” Scanlan, a Republican, said in a press conference he called to address various legal efforts to bar Trump from the 2024 race.
Scanlan rejected claims made in lawsuits filed in New Hampshire and elsewhere that Trump is ineligible to run for the White House again under a rarely used clause under the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution, which prohibits those who “engaged in an insurrection or rebellion” against the Constitution from holding higher office. While other election officials have said they are looking for guidance from the courts on how to interpret the clause, Scanlan said it doesn’t pertain to running for office.
“This is not the venue to be trying to force this issue into the courts,” Scanlan said.
Trump delights in Mitt Romney not seeking re-election: 'He did not serve with distinction'
Wednesday 13 September 2023 19:30 , Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump has reacted with glee that one of his chief foes, Senator Mitt Romney of Utah, is not seeking re-election.
The Republican sentor and former presidential nominee in the 2012 election announced he would not seek a second term in the Senate.
Mr Romney, who also served as the governor of Utah, has held the seat since 2018 and said in a video message that at the age of 76 he did not think he would be capable of continuing in the role.
In response to the news that one of his most vocal critics was stepping away from politics, the former president took to his social media platform Truth Social in celebration.
In an all-caps post, he wrote: “Fantastic news for America,the great state of Utah, & for the Republican Party.”
“Mitt Romney, sometimes referred to as Pierre Delecto, will not be seeking a second term in the US Senate, where he did not serve with distinction,” he continued.
“A big primary fight against him was in the offing, but now that will not be necessary. Congrats to all. Make America Great Again!”
Scott claims concerns for bachelor status are ‘discrimination'
Wednesday 13 September 2023 19:20 , Oliver O'Connell
Republican presidential candidate and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott has recently been under scrutiny for his unmarried status. He is now saying those concerns are “a form of discrimination.”
After Axios released a story detailing potential donors’ concerns about Mr Scott’s bachelorhood, the presidential hopeful revealed that he has a “wonderful girlfriend,” but did not name her.
“The good news is that God has blessed me with a smart Christian woman,” he said on Fox News after being asked about the article. “But more importantly is: why are the headlines there? The headlines are there because as I rise in the polls, as people show up at my town halls, it scares my opponents.”
Mr Scott doubled down on that take when talking to the Washington Post this week, telling the outlet that pointing to his single status is a way to “sow seeds of doubt” about his campaign.
Kelly Rissman reports.
Tim Scott says concerns about his bachelorhood are a ‘form of discrimination’
Judge delivers stern warning in response to Trump motion to remove her from DC case
Wednesday 13 September 2023 19:00 , Oliver O'Connell
The Washington DC judge presiding over the federal election interference case against Donald Trump has responded to his legal team’s request that she recuse herself from the case with a stern warning.
The former president’s legal team argued that Judge Tanya Chutkan should leave the case because of statements she had made when sentencing defendants for taking part in the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.
Gustaf Kilander reports on how the judge reacted.
Judge responds to Trump motion to remove her from DC case with strong warning
GOP senator reads explicit passages from LGBT+ memoirs
Wednesday 13 September 2023 18:40 , Oliver O'Connell
During a Senate committee hearing about the wave of book ban attempts across the US in recent years, Republican US Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana took aim at two books that are among the most challenged in his state by delivering a sexually explicit reading that is now entered into the congressional record.
He recited two explicit excerpts from George M Johnson’s All Boys Aren’t Blue and Maia Kobabe’s Gender Queer, among the most challenged books in the US, which is facing a surge of attempts to restrict or ban books and materials in schools and libraries.
The American Library Association and free expression advocacy group PEN America have tracked hundreds of attempts among right-wing activist groups to remove books – most of which deal with race and racism or contain LGBT+ characters or themes – including nearly 200 attempts in Louisiana’s St Tammany Parish alone.
Neither of the LGBT+ memoirs All Boys Aren’t Blue and Gender Queer are shelved in children’s sections in parish libraries. That didn’t stop Mr Kennedy from reading explicit passages about strap-ons, dildos and blowjobs in front of the Senate Judiciary committee on 12 September before accusing librarians of making those books “available to kids”.
The excerpt Mr Kennedy chose from All Boys Aren’t Blue was about sexual abuse.
Read more of Alex Woodward’s report below.
Republican senator reads explicit passages from LGBT+ memoirs in book ban hearing
Greene and Gaetz feuding over credit for Biden impeachment inquiry
Wednesday 13 September 2023 18:30 , Oliver O'Connell
The far-right Trump loyalists in the House are turning on each other as Kevin McCarthy launches an impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden in an apparent attempt to stave off a rebellion led by his own party.
Marjorie Taylor Greene and Matt Gaetz feuded openly on Twitter as the two members of Congress fell over each other trying to take credit for an impeachment push that so far looks doomed to fail in the House, to say nothing of its future in the Senate.
John Bowden reports on the squabbling.
Marjorie Taylor Greene and Matt Gaetz are feuding over credit for Biden’s impeachment
McCarthy shores up GOP support for Biden impeachment inquiry
Wednesday 13 September 2023 18:20 , AP
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy‘s sudden decision to launch an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden appears to have won over even the most reluctant Republicans, and some GOP lawmakers are pushing for it to move quickly rather than drag into the 2024 election year.
McCarthy opened and closed a private meeting Wednesday of House Republicans justifying his reasoning for the inquiry sought by former President Donald Trump, the party’s frontrunner to challenge Biden next year.
The White House mobilised to fight allegations against the president regarding his son Hunter.
In a 14-page memo to news media leaders, the White House urged them to accurately report on “the Republicans’ unprecedented, unfounded claims underlying an impeachment inquiry.”
The moment is a politically pivotal one for the embattled Republican speaker McCarthy whose job is targeted Trump’s right-flank allies mounting a daily effort to oust him.
In the inquiry, House Republicans are trying to link Biden to the business dealings of his son, Hunter Biden, and deflect attention away from Trump’s own legal peril as the two men battle anew for the White House. Trump is the only president to be twice impeached — acquitted both times — and he is the first to face criminal charges in four separate indictments, including for trying to overturn the 2020 election he lost to Biden.
The sooner the better to go after Biden, some GOP lawmakers feel.
Watch: Ramaswamy reveals plan for mass layoff of federal workers
Wednesday 13 September 2023 18:12 , Oliver O'Connell
Giuliani wants to be lead counsel on Biden impeachment
Wednesday 13 September 2023 18:00 , Oliver O'Connell
Rudy Giuliani has said that he wants to be the lead counsel during the House Republicans impeachment efforts against President Joe Biden, even as the former New York mayor awaits a trial on charges alongside former President Donald Trump.
Appearing on Steve Bannon’s podcast, Mr Giuliani, a former US attorney and Trump lawyer, claimed to know the case against Mr Biden better than anyone else. He also claimed the case could have been proved years ago, adding that no witnesses are needed as all the necessary evidence can be found on Hunter Biden’s laptop.
Mr Giuliani said that James Comer, the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, and Jim Jordan, the House Judiciary chairman, “are wonderful guys, but this is my profession, not theirs. I know how to question a lot better than they do. This is what I do best”.
Gustaf Kilander and Joe Sommerlad have the story.
Giuliani wants to be lead counsel on Biden impeachment – as he awaits trial
Trump waives right to speedy trial
Wednesday 13 September 2023 17:38 , AP
Former President Donald Trump is waiving his right to seek a speedy trial in the Georgia case in which he and 18 others are accused of participating in an illegal scheme to overturn his loss in the 2020 presidential election.
Trump’s filing is part of the legal maneuvering as Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willisseeks to try all 19 defendants together starting next month. Most of the defendants have sought to separate their cases from some or all of the others, with many saying they will not be ready by Oct. 23, when a trial has been set for two defendants who have already filed demands for a speedy trial. The judge has expressed skepticism that all defendants could go to trial that day.
Trump’s latest move is in line with efforts the early front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination has taken in his other cases to delay proceedings while he seeks a return to the White House in the 2024 election. He is facing prosecution in a state case in New York, as well as federal cases in Washington and Florida.
The waiver of a speedy trial, which an attorney for Trump said was filed Tuesday, came on the heels of a brief filed by Willis’ office that all the defendants should be tried together because of efficiency and fairness issues. Prosecutors said holding several lengthy trials instead of one beginning on Oct. 23 would “create an enormous strain on the judicial resources” of the court and would favor the defendants tried later, who would have the advantage of seeing the state’s evidence and arguments ahead of time.
According to Georgia law, any defendant who files a demand for a speedy trial has a right to have a trial begin within the court term when the demand is filed or in the next court term. Court terms in Fulton County are two months long and begin the first Mondays in January, March, May, July, September and November.
Trump accuses DeSantis of spreading ‘Missing Melania’ flyers
Wednesday 13 September 2023 17:20 , Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump has accused his 2024 rival Ron DeSantis of spreading “Missing Melania” flyers at the Iowa football game he attended.
The former first lady has barely been seen since departing the White House with the now four-times indicted former president in January 2021. She reportedly wants “nothing to do with” his legal troubles.
Mr Trump was heckled by fans at the Iowa State game on Saturday in the key early-voting state, and a plane with a “Where’s Melania?” banner even flew over the stadium.
Graeme Massie has the story.
Trump accuses DeSantis of spreading ‘Missing Melania’ flyers at Iowa football game
Elon Musk planned to hire Rudy Giuliani as political fixer – then he met him
Wednesday 13 September 2023 17:00 , Oliver O'Connell
A new biography reports that Elon Musk planned to recruit Rudy Giuliani as a political fixer two decades ago before chafing at the former New York City mayor’s “goonish confidantes” and mob-style tactics.
Mr Musk met with the recently-indicted MAGA Republican in the early 2000s as he sought political influence to help him turn PayPal, the online payments business he co-founded, into a bank, Walter Isaacson writes in Elon Musk.
But the meeting reportedly turned sour when Mr Giuliani demanded a 10 per cent stake in the business, the new book states.
PayPal investor Mike Moritz, who joined Mr Musk for the ill-fated encounter, told the biographer that it was “like walking into a mob scene”.
Bevan Hurley has the story.
Elon Musk planned to hire Rudy Giuliani as political fixer – then he met him
Watch: Pence demonstrates how to deal with a heckler
Wednesday 13 September 2023 16:37 , Oliver O'Connell
McCarthy still facing MAGA opposition despite agreeing to impeachment inquiry
Wednesday 13 September 2023 16:25 , Oliver O'Connell
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is still under fire from the far right of the Republican Party despite agreeing to back an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden.
Florida Rep Matt Gaetz is especially ardent in his opposition to Mr McCarthy who agreed to a number of demands in order to secure the votes of the right-wing of the party to become speaker.
As Eric Garcia reports from Capitol Hill:
“Mr Speaker, you are out of compliance with the agreement that allowed you to assume this role,” Mr Gaetz said. “The path forward for the House of Representatives is to either bring you into immediate total compliance or remove you, pursuant to a motion to vacate the chair.”
A motion to vacate would trigger a no-confidence vote, even though Mr Gaetz acknowledged it might not pass. Specifically, Mr Gaetz criticised the fact that the House had not staged a vote on term limits for members, an amendment to balance the federal budget or to release all of the tapes from the January 6 riot.
“There’s been insufficient accountability for the Biden crime family, and instead of cutting spending to raise the debt limit, you relied on budgetary gimmicks and rescissions so that you ultimately ended up serving as the valet to underwrite Biden’s debt and advance his spending agenda,” he said. “The only thing the 118th Congress is known for at this point is electing Kevin McCarthy speaker and underwriting Biden’s debt and unfortunately there’s only one of those things we can remediate at this time.”
‘Wherever he goes, I’ll go'
Wednesday 13 September 2023 16:05 , Oliver O'Connell
Chris Christie is still keen on a showdown with Donald Trump, despite the former president’s continuing refusal to debate the other candidates running for the Republican Party’s 2024 nomination.
Mr Christie, in an interview that aired Sunday on Fox News, vowed not to let his opponent off that easy.
“I’m sure he’s not coming to the Reagan debate. We’ll give him another chance in Alabama,” Mr Christie said, referencing another upcoming scheduled matchup of the GOP field.
“But if he doesn’t come there, then I’m going to follow him around the country,” vowed the former governor. “Wherever he goes, I’ll go. And we’ll wind up talking to each other one way or another.”
John Bowden has the story.
Chris Christie vows to follow Trump ‘wherever he goes’
Mar-a-Lago documents: Judge signs order to govern handling of classified documents
Wednesday 13 September 2023 15:59 , Oliver O'Connell
Judge Aileen Cannon has signed an order to govern the handling of classified information in the Trump Mar-a-Lago documents case.
The order is the product of a sealed hearing she led yesterday and includes explicit restrictions on what former President Donald Trump can do with classified info.
George Santos loses temper in CNN meltdown
Wednesday 13 September 2023 15:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Embattled representative George Santos on Tuesday had a meltdown on live television when confronted about his alleged plethora of fabrications during a CNN interview.
The freshman member of Congress was questioned by anchor Erin Burnett about the alleged lies Mr Santos said, ranging from his education to employment, that have landed him 13 criminal counts, along with a House Ethics Panel investigation.
Burnett’s questioning flustered Mr Santos who clashed with the anchor and tried to deflect.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar reports on the bizarre episode.
George Santos loses temper in CNN meltdown as he’s questioned about alleged crimes
Meadows handed another defeat in Georgia courts
Wednesday 13 September 2023 15:38 , Oliver O'Connell
Former Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows has been handed another defeat in court in Georgia.
A federal judge will not order an emergency stay as Mr Meadows makes an appeal seeking to move his Fulton County criminal case to federal court.
On Friday, Mr Meadows saw a bid to get his Georgia election subversion case moved to federal court rejected by a judge.
It could be a bad sign for former President Donald Trump who on Thursday notified the judge overseeing the sprawling racketeering case in Fulton County that he “may” also try to move it to federal court.
Mr Meadows was the first of five of the 19 defendants in the RICO case to file motions to have the venue of the case changed from Georgia state court.
He argued unsuccessfully that the case should be moved because the allegations against him are connected to his official duties while working for the four-times indicted former president at the White House.
US District Court Judge Steve Jones stated in his decision that Mr Meadows had failed to even meet the “quite low threshold for removal” to federal court as his activities on behalf of the Trump campaign were not linked to his federal employment as White House chief of staff.
Trump met with MAGA lawmakers ahead of McCarthy impeachment inquiry announcement
Wednesday 13 September 2023 15:25 , Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump secretly met with MAGA Republicans to discuss the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden before the announcement by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
The veiled effort, which also included public missives on Truth Social, to push House Republicans to impeach Mr Biden comprised a discussion with a member of the House Republican leadership ahead of the announcement on Tuesday that an inquiry was being launched.
Mr Trump has been speaking on a weekly basis with New York Representative Elise Stefanik, the House Republican Conference Chair and the first member of the leadership to publically back impeachment, Politico and The New York Times reported.
The former president also hosted Marjorie Taylor Greene on Sunday night.
Here’s Gustaf Kilander’s full report:
Trump secretly met with MAGA Republicans to discuss Biden impeachment inquiry
Trump maintains Tucker Carlson viewership falsehood
Wednesday 13 September 2023 15:05 , Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump took to Truth Social this morning to attack The New York Times for some of its recent coverage of him [which he calls “fake news” but is actually an opinion piece] and again repeated his deeply misleading claim about the viewership figures for his recent interview with Tucker Carlson.
Here’s what the former president wrote:
Such dishonesty at The Failing New York Times. Recently I did an interview with Tucker Carlson, rather than the debate, which turned out to have more “views,” at 265,000,000, than any interview ever done (The debate had 11,000,000). Second was the famous Oprah interview of Michael Jackson, which did far less. During the interview I talked about the Panama Canal, & how we so stupidly sold it back to Panama for one dollar, very sarcastically mimicking Crooked Joe Biden & how truly lost he is….
Page 2: You see, Crooked Joe had just called “something” the Ninth Wonder of the World, & it made headlines because it had always been the Seventh. I made it clear in the interview that by my jokingly imitating Biden’s recent gaffe, I was just trying to show how truly dumb & out of “it” this guy really is. The Times knowingly tried to make my spoof on him into my making the same mistake as Biden, no sarcasm, no nothing. The writer is untalented & bad, but we always have to call out FAKE NEWS!
And here’s Bevan Hurley to explain why Mr Trump’s comparison of his interview with Oprah Winfrey’s sit-down with Michael Jackson doesn’t add up:
Trump misleadingly claims 250 million viewers watched his Tucker Carlson interview
Trump called out for ‘vile lie’ about 9/11 by MSNBC host
Wednesday 13 September 2023 14:45 , AP
MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell has slammed Donald Trump for his “vile lie” about 9/11, accusing the former president of trying to “steal the grief” of those who lost loved ones in the terror attack.
“Donald Trump has been lying about 9/11 since 9/11,” O’Donnell said on Monday night. “Here is Donald Trump’s most vile lie about 9/11.”
The MSNBC presenter then played a clip of Mr Trump claiming during a Republican debate that he “lost hundreds of friends” on 9/11 — a claim O’Donnell said was a lie.
Read on…
MSNBC host slams Trump for his 'vile lie' about 9/11
Trump ally Boebert kicked out of Beetlejuice performance
Wednesday 13 September 2023 14:22 , Oliver O'Connell
Lauren Boebert was escorted out of a Colorado theatre’s performance of Beetlejuice for allegedly vaping, singing, taking pictures and “causing a disturbance”.
Security footage from the theatre shows Ms Boebert and her companion being escorted from their seats.
An incident report does not name Ms Boebert but details what happened when she was taken down to the theatre lobby where they refused to leave, telling staff “stuff like ‘do you know who I am,’ ‘I am on the board’ (and) ‘I will be contacting the mayor.’ ”
Police arrived and stayed in the theatre until Ms Boebert and her companion left, according to the report.
Graeme Massie has the details.
Lauren Boebert kicked out of Beetlejuice for vaping and singing, says report
GOP senator Lisa Murkowski criticises her party’s move to impeach Joe Biden
Wednesday 13 September 2023 14:00 , Eric Garcia
Alaska Republican Sen Lisa Murkowski criticised House Republicans opening an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, saying it distracts from Congress’ attempts to keep the government open.
Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced on Tuesday that Republicans would open an impeachment inquiry into Mr Biden despite the fact little evidence exists that Mr Biden directly benefited from the business dealings of his son Hunter Biden.
But Ms Murkowski told The Independent that the impeachment process distracts from Congress’ ability to pass appropriations bills.
“Yes,” she said. “That’s the easy answer.”
The US government is set to run out of money on 30 September. The Senate is currently in the process of approving the 12 appropriations bills needed to keep the government open.
Read more:
GOP senator Lisa Murkowski criticises her party’s move to impeach Joe Biden
McCarthy endorses impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden
Wednesday 13 September 2023 13:00 , Eric Garcia
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy threw his support behind opening an impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden on Tuesday morning, amid growing calls by the most extreme members of his conference.
The speaker announced his support for an inquiry but denied it was due to pressure from the most right-wing voices in the House Republican conference.
“These are allegations of abuse of power, obstruction and corruption. And they warrant further investigation by the House of Representatives,” Mr McCarthy said in a brief televised statement.
Mr McCarthy’s words come despite the fact that House Republicans have yet to find evidence of wrongdoing by Mr Biden or any evidence that he directly benefited from the business dealings of his son Hunter Biden, specifically mentioning the younger Biden’s work with Ukrainian energy company Burisma.
Indeed, Mr McCarthy mostly focused on Mr Biden’s alleged foreign business dealings, claiming that more than $20m went to shell companies of Biden family members.
Read more:
McCarthy endorses impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden
What happens if Republicans choose to impeach Biden?
Wednesday 13 September 2023 12:00 , AP
If Republicans decide there is enough evidence of wrongdoing and abuse of power by Biden to move forward, the Judiciary Committee would likely mark up the articles of impeachment. If those articles are voted out of committee by a simple majority, it would come to the House floor where a majority vote would be required to impeach Biden.
Only three other presidents have been impeached: Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton and Trump, who was impeached twice.
The impeachment charges would then move to the Senate, where Democratic leaders would likely have no choice but to hold a trial.
The trial is similar to what’s seen in the legal system, with the senators acting as jurors and select House members acting as prosecutors, or impeachment managers. The chief justice of the Supreme Court presides over that process. If the Senate approves an article of impeachment with a two-thirds vote of “guilty,” the president is convicted and removed from office. If all the articles are rejected, the president is acquitted.
If Biden were convicted by the Senate, he would be the first president to ever be removed from office. But such an outcome seems far-fetched, given that Democrats have a 52-48 majority.
Judge may delay Trump’s hush money trial because ex-president has so many legal cases on schedule
Wednesday 13 September 2023 11:00 , Gustaf Kilander
The judge in Donald Trump’s hush money case has said that he may delay the trial because of the former president’s packed court schedule.
The trial is currently scheduled for early 2024, but New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan cancelled a hearing set for this week and wrote in a short letter to Trump lawyer Todd Blanche that “In light of the many recent developments involving Mr. Trump and his rapidly evolving trial schedule, I do not believe it would be fruitful for us to conference this case on September 15 to discuss scheduling”.
US District Judge Tanya Chutkan in Washington DC has scheduled Mr Trump’s case connected to the January 6, 2021 insurrection for 4 March 2024 – the day before Mr Trump is believed to be set to take a strong grip on the Republican presidential nomination on Super Tuesday.
The 4 March date is also just weeks before the original schedule for the hush money trial.
Read more:
Judge may delay Trump’s hush money trial because of number of cases
Trump accuses Biden of taking ‘kickback’ in $6bn Iran deal
Wednesday 13 September 2023 10:00 , Gustaf Kilander
Donald Trump hurled an unsubstantiated accusation at President Joe Biden, baselessly suggesting that he received a “kickback” after the release of Iranian funding in connection to the planned liberation of five Americans in captivity.
Mr Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, writing, “So, let’s get this straight! We did a hostage TRADE with Iran. We gave them 5 very tough, smart people that they desperately wanted. We likewise got back 5 people BUT, we also gave them 6 BILLION DOLLARS!”
“How much of a kickback does Crooked Joe Biden get?” he asked. “Does anyone realize how much money 6 Billion Dollars is? When I was President, I got back 58 hostages for ZERO money. Remember Pastor Brunson? It sets a TERRIBLE precedent. Republicans, call out the 25th Amendment, NOW! Biden is INCOMPETENT!”
Read more:
Trump accuses Biden of taking ‘kickback’ in $6bn Iran deal
How long will the Biden impeachment inquiry take?
Wednesday 13 September 2023 09:00 , AP
There are no rules to how long an impeachment inquiry can or must last. The probe into Biden could last as short as a few months or as long as a year, depending on what McCarthy and Republican leadership believe is the right time to conclude or move to articles of impeachment.
The only real deadline would be the end of this Congress, which is Jan. 2, 2025.
VIDEO: Georgia sheriff says Trump sitting for a mugshot was 'heartbreaking'
Wednesday 13 September 2023 08:00 , The Independent
Marjorie Taylor Greene marks September 11 by suggesting red states secede from US and calling president a ‘traitor’
Wednesday 13 September 2023 07:00 , Gustaf Kilander
Marjorie Taylor Greene marked the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks by suggesting that red states secede from the US and calling President Joe Biden a traitor.
“If the Biden admin refuses to stop the invasion of cartel-led human and drug trafficking into our country, states should consider seceding from the union,” the Georgia Republican wrote Monday on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “From Texas to New York City to every town in America, we are drowning from Biden’s traitorous America last border policies.”
Earlier on Monday, she tweeted a message in remembrance of the victims of the 2001 attacks but not without taking a swipe at Mr Biden.
“Today, we remember the lives taken from us by the hands of Islamic terrorism 22 years ago,” she wrote. “Americans are still dying and suffering from the toxic chemicals and dust they endured after the buildings fell.”
Read more:
Marjorie Taylor Greene marks September 11 by suggesting red states secede from US
Judge responds to Trump motion to remove her from DC case with strong warning
Wednesday 13 September 2023 06:00 , Gustaf Kilander
The Washington DC judge in the election interference case against Donald Trump has responded to his legal team’s request that she recuse herself from the case with a stern warning.
The former president’s legal team argued that Judge Tanya Chutkan should leave the case because of statements she had made when sentencing defendants for taking part in the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.
The lawyers for the former president argued that Judge Chutkan “agreed with portions” of a sentencing memo for one of the January 6 defendants which “wrongly placed blame on President Trump and complained that he had not been charged”.
Read more:
Judge responds to Trump motion to remove her from DC case with strong warning
Team Biden fires back at criticism after he announced his 9pm bedtime during press conference
Wednesday 13 September 2023 05:15 , Kelly Rissman
The White House did not let sleeping dogs lie after the president faced criticism for ending a press conference early in Vietnam by telling reporters that he was headed to bed.
Mr Biden has repeatedly been criticised by figures on the right for his age and mental acuity as the 2024 race heats up. The most recent bout of criticism followed the president telling reporters at a press conference in Hanoi, Vietnam: “I don’t know about you, but I’m going to go to bed.”
But notable White House staffers have stood up for the president in an effort to put the “Sleepy Joe” moniker to rest.
White House Deputy Communications Director Herbie Ziskend posted Mr Biden’s busy 11 September schedule, which included meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, visiting the John McCain memorial, flying to Anchorage, Alaska, and then heading to Washington, DC.
Mr Ziskend mocked critics by sarcastically referencing Donald Trump’s criticism of Mr Biden during the 2020 election campaign, writing, “Hanging in the basement.”
Read more:
Team Biden fires back at criticism after he announced his bedtime at press conference
How will the impeachment inquiry of Joe Biden work?
Wednesday 13 September 2023 04:30 , AP
McCarthy said he’s asked Comer to take the lead on the impeachment inquiry, working alongside House Judiciary chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and House Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo.
While McCarthy had previously said the House would hold a vote to launch the inquiry, he made no such promise on Tuesday.
The Constitution does not require a vote to start an impeachment inquiry, and neither do the rules governing the House. But authorizing resolutions have been passed in previous presidential impeachments.
It’s not clear McCarthy would have enough votes in the House to approve an impeachment resolution. Some House Republicans are opposed to launching an inquiry, saying there is insufficient evidence against the president.
Once an impeachment inquiry is complete, the House has traditionally tasked the Judiciary Committee — the panel authorized to introduce articles of impeachment — to hold hearings and draft impeachment charges.
