Trump handed two key court dates as bid to delay trials until after election falls apart - latest

A trial date has been set for the federal 2020 election interference case against Donald Trump brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith. Judge Tanya Chutkan said jury selection will begin on 4 March 2024, the day before the Super Tuesday primaries.

Meanwhile, Georgia prosecutor Fani Willis laid out her election subversion case against Mr Trump and 18 associates in court for the first time today.

Fulton County’s district attorney was in court in Atlanta to deal with the request by former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows that his case be moved to federal court, with a judge set to hear arguments for and against.

It will be the first time in any of Mr Trump’s four criminal cases that major arguments have been made in front of a judge.

Mr Trump was booked and released from Fulton County Jail last week after surrendering to authorities on 13 charges related to his alleged attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.

His booking photo represents the first and only time a current or former president has been forced to undergo a mugshot. The arraignment has been set for next week.

Key Points

• Georgia official told by Trump to ‘find’ votes testifies phone call was ‘extraordinary’

• Trump federal election interference trial set for March 4 2024

• Trump arraignment scheduled for next week in Georgia election case

• Trump has already raised $7.1m since his booking at Atlanta jail last week

• Ex-president claims he won golf club championship in fewer shots than legendary player Phil Mickelson

• Trump scowls in historic mugshot after Fulton County arrest

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise diagnosed with blood cancer

16:01 , Oliver O'Connell

Republican House Majority Leader Steve Scalise has announced that he has been diagnosed with a treatable form of blood cancer. In a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, Mr Scalise said:

After a few days of not feeling like myself this past week, I had some blood work done. The results uncovered some irregularities and after undergoing additional tests, I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a very treatable blood cancer.

I have now begun treatment, which will continue for the next several months. I expect to work through this period and intend to return to Washington, continuing my work as Majority Leader and serving the people of Louisiana’s First Congressional District.

I am incredibly grateful we were able to detect this early and that this cancer is treatable. I am thankful for my excellent medical team, and with the help of God, support of my family, friends, colleagues, and constituents, I will tackle this with the same strength and energy as I have tackled past challenges.

Mr Scalise has represented Louisiana’s 1st congressional district since 2009, and before that served in state government.

In June 2017 he was shot and seriously wounded by an anti-Trump domestic terrorist who attacked a practice for that year’s Congressional Baseball Game, specifically targeting Republicans. Mr Scalise underwent many months of treatment for his wounds before returning to Congress.

This morning on Truth Social...

15:50 , Oliver O'Connell

This morning on Truth Social, in what you would usually expect to be in all-caps, former president Donald Trump issued a warning to Democrats regarding the four indictments against him: “This is a new low in Presidential Politics. To the Democrats, I say, ‘be careful what you wish for.’”

Here’s the full post:

These Indictments and lawsuits are all part of my political opponents campaign plan. It is Election Interference, and they are going to use the DOJ/FBI to help them, which is illegal. Crooked Joe pushed this litigation hard to get it done. This is a new low in Presidential Politics. To the Democrats, I say, “be careful what you wish for.”

He then added:

My Poll numbers are UP since the very boring, record setting low (ratings!), Debate. Leading by BIG numbers. I made the right decision, and broke all records with the Tucker Carlson Interview!

Here’s why his claim to have broken records with viewership of his interview with Tucker Carlson may not be exactly true:

Trump misleadingly claims 250 million viewers watched his Tucker Carlson interview

Why a government shutdown won’t stop the Trump trials

15:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Voices: The Trump drama is unfolding in two major hearings. And it’s all starting to unravel

15:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Ahmed Baba writes:

The hearings greatly impact how these 2020 election subversion cases will be prosecuted. The DC case, in particular, will have an enormous impact on the 2024 campaign season, as Donald Trump will be compelled to jump between the courthouse and the campaign trail.

Read more...

The Trump drama is unfolding in two major hearings. And it's all starting to unravel

15:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Electric Avenue singer Eddy Grant took Donald Trump to court over ‘lack of respect’

Eminem tells Vivek Ramaswamy to stop using his music

15:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Eminem has formally objected to the use of his music by Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy during his campaign trail.

The objection to the use of his songs comes after a video of the multimillionaire former biotech executive singing “Lose Yourself” went viral earlier this month.

Namita Singh reports.

Eminem tells Vivek Ramaswamy to stop rapping his music on the campaign trail

Watch: Nominating Trump will be ‘enormous gift to the Democrats’ says Christie

15:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Four-day Proud Boys sentencing process underway in DC court

14:56 , Oliver O'Connell

Leaders of the Proud Boys group are gathered at a Washington DC courtroom for the first day of a four-day sentencing process regarding their involvement in the January 6 Capitol riot. The process begins with victim impact statements.

New Hampshire state office ambushed over false rumour Trump was removed from primary ballot

14:50 , Oliver O'Connell

The office of the New Hampshire secretary of state was flooded with calls from Trump supporters concerned about a false rumour that the former president was being kept off the primary ballot.

Hundreds of outraged supporters called the office on Monday after conservative talk show host Charlie Kirk inaccurately told his listeners that the state was moving to push out Donald Trump.

Gustaf Kilander has the story.

Trump voters ambush state office over false rumour he was removed from primary ballot

Watch: Monday was ‘reality hit’ for Trump’s team and he will have to physically be in court for trials

14:40 , Oliver O'Connell

First defendant enters plea in Georgia election interference case

14:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The first defendant in the Georgia election interference case has entered a plea to the charges.

Ray Smith, an attorney for Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign in the state, waived his arraignment and entered a plea of not guilty to all 12 counts against him, according to a court filing.

Now, he will not need to appear for his arraignment next week.

The other 18 defendants – including Mr Trump – are yet to enter a plea and are all expected to appear for their arraignment on 6 September.

Trump slumps while Pence and DeSantis get surprising poll boost

14:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Support for former president Donald Trump among Republican primary voters dipped slightly after the ex-president skipped out on the first debate among GOP presidential hopefuls last week, according to a new poll from Emerson College.

The survey, which was conducted from 25 to 26 August, found just 50 per cent of GOP primary voters expressing an intention to vote for Mr Trump. That’s a six-point drop from a similar Emerson survey conducted before last week’s Milwaukee, Wisconsin debate.

But multiple candidates who participated in the face-off saw gains in the same survey compared with the drop in support for Mr Trump.

Andrew Feinberg has the details.

Trump slumps while Pence and DeSantis get poll boost after first GOP debate

Trump’s Georgia arraignment scheduled for next week

13:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s arraignment in Fulton County, Georgia has been scheduled for 9.30am on 6 September, a court docket has revealed.

The remaining 18 defendants in the 2020 election subversion case have been scheduled to be arraigned after Mr Trump in 15-minute increments.

Gustaf Kilander has the details.

Trump arraignment scheduled for next week in Georgia election case

Trump accuses federal judge of Super Tuesday ‘interference’ over trial date

13:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump’s federal trial for conspiring to overturn his 2020 election defeat has been scheduled to begin on 4 March 2024 despite the ex-president’s legal team’s push to have the case delayed until nearly two years after the 2024 general election.

Judge Tanya Chutkan on Monday issued a trial schedule that will start on 9 October, when both sides will face a deadline to file any pretrial motions. On 27 December, both sides will file any motions in limine to govern what can be said during Mr Trump’s trial, and proposed questions for potential jury members will be due on 15 January 2024.

Jury selection will begin on the 4 March start date — one day before Super Tuesday, the height of the presidential primary season.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Trump federal election interference trial set for March 2024

Has Francis Suarez quietly quit the GOP presidential race?

13:10 , Oliver O'Connell

The 2024 Republican field may have just seen its first casualty.

NBC News first reported on Monday that the campaign of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez has gone dark, both in terms of messaging and money spent, since last week’s GOP primary debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The second-youngest candidate in the race at 45 (Vivek Ramaswamy is 38), Mr Suarez had sought to build a brand as a representative of a new generation of Republican leadership.

John Bowden reports.

Has Francis Suarez silently quit the Republican presidential race?

Will Trump go to prison?

12:30 , Oliver O'Connell

America wants to know...

Will Donald Trump go to prison?

Meadows and Trump want to move Georgia case to federal court. Here’s why

11:30 , Oliver O'Connell

It took less than a day after a Fulton County, Georgia grand jury indicted former president Donald Trump, his former chief of staff Mark Meadows, and 17 other defendants in a sprawling racketeering case for one of them to invoke a rarely used federal law in an attempt to move the case into federal court.

On 15 August, attorneys for Mr Meadows, who a Fulton County grand jury charged with a single racketeering count and another sole count of solicitation of violation of oath by a public officer, quickly filed papers in the US District Court for the Northern District of Georgia to “remove” the case from Fulton County Superior Court.

Read more...

Why does Trump want to move Georgia case to federal court?

Trump raises over $7m from his Georgia mug shot

10:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has turned every attempt by prosecutors to put his alleged crimes before a jury into a spectacle that has benefited him financially and contributed to his persecution narrative.

His latest arrest in Georgia is no different., as John Bowden reports.

Trump has raised more than $7m off of his Georgia mug shot

Can Trump still run for president after four indictments?

09:30 , Oliver O'Connell

It’s certainly going to make things complicated...

Can Donald Trump still run for president after four indictments?

Trump threatens ‘oblivion’ for GOP if Congress doesn’t impeach Biden

08:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump warned that Republicans could face “OBLIVION” if they do not impeach President Joe Biden on charges rooted in false claims.

The twice-impeached, four-times-indicted former president posted on his Truth Social platform that Republicans need to move beyond an impeachment inquiry of the president.

Eric Garcia reports.

Trump threatens ‘oblivion’ for Republicans if Congress doesn’t impeach Biden

Poll: Biden is ‘old,’ Trump is ‘corrupt’

07:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Old. Confused. Corrupt. Dishonest.

Those are among the top terms Americans use when they’re asked to describe President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, the Republican best positioned to face him in next year’s election.

Unflattering portraits of both emerge clearly in a new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, which asked an open-ended question about what comes to mind when people think of them.

Read on...

Biden is ‘old,’ Trump is ‘corrupt’: New poll has ominous signs for possible rematch

Green Day selling Trump mugshot shirt to raise money for Maui wildfire victims

06:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Rock band Green Day are selling Donald Trump “Nimrod” mug shot t-shirts to raise cash for Maui fire charities.

The design of the limited-edition shirt mimics the band’s 1997 Nimrod album, but with Mr Trump’s face on it.

Green Day are selling a Trump mugshot shirt to raise money for Maui victims

Ramaswamy defends calling Trump a ‘sore loser’

05:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Upstart Republican primary candidate Vivek Ramaswamy sought to explain his past criticism of Donald Trump on Sunday following a debate performance this week in which he praised the former president as the greatest commander-in-chief of the last century.

John Bowden has the story.

Vivek Ramaswamy defends calling Trump a ‘sore loser’

Trump claims he won golf club championship in 67 shots, besting Phil Mickelson

04:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has claimed he won Bedminster’s Senior Club Championship with an impressive five-under-par score of 67 - eight shots better than Phil Mickelson took at the course earlier this month.

Graeme Massie has the story.

Trump ‘won’ golf championship with fewer shots than Phil Mickelson made two weeks ago

McCarthy: House impeachment inquiry of President Biden is ‘natural step forward,’

03:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Speaker Kevin McCarthy suggested Sunday that an impeachment inquiry of President Joe Biden was becoming more likely, calling it “a natural step forward” as Congress soon ends its summer break and House Republicans seek to expand their investigative powers.

A House impeachment inquiry of President Biden is a 'natural step forward,' Speaker McCarthy says

Jesse Watters ridiculed for raving that Trump ‘looks good and looks hard’ in Georgia mug shot

02:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Fox News host Jesse Watters has been ridiculed for telling his audience that Donald Trump “looks good and looks hard” in his Georgia mug shot.

The right-wing host echoed many conservatives in complimenting the four-times indicted, former president over his historic booking photo.

Read more...

Jesse Watters ridiculed for raving that Trump ‘looks hard’ in Georgia mug shot

Aileen Cannon: The Florida judge with Trump’s fate in her hands

01:30 , Oliver O'Connell

A Florida district judge assigned to oversee Donald Trump’s classified documents case is attracting criticism given that it was Mr Trump himself who elevated her to the bench three years ago.

Aileen Cannon, a federal judge with the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida overseeing the Espionage Act and obstruction of justice case against Mr Trump, has rejected the disgraced ex-president’s bid to delay his trial until after the 2024 election.

Judge Cannon issued an order on 21 July granting the government’s request to set a speedy trial date and schedule for pretrial motions, with a start date of 20 May 2024.

Aileen Cannon: The judge with Trump’s fate in her hands was appointed by him

Trump’s criminal charges and lawsuits - where they all currently stand

Tuesday 29 August 2023 00:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has never been more vulnerable.

Without the privileges and prestige of the presidency to protect him, Mr Trump is facing serious lawsuits and criminal indictments across New York, Florida, Georgia and Washington.

Federal officials, local prosecutors, and individuals are going after him for everything from his private conduct to his political manoeuvering during the 2020 election. If even just one of these efforts is successful, the US could see its first-ever former president in prison.

Josh Marcus reports.

Tracking Trump’s criminal charges and lawsuits - and where they stand

Trump accuses federal judge of Super Tuesday ‘interference’ over trial date

Tuesday 29 August 2023 00:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump’s federal trial for conspiring to overturn his 2020 election defeat has been scheduled to begin on 4 March 2024 despite the ex-president’s legal team’s push to have the case delayed until nearly two years after the 2024 general election.

Judge Tanya Chutkan on Monday issued a trial schedule that will start on 9 October, when both sides will face a deadline to file any pretrial motions. On 27 December, both sides will file any motions in limine to govern what can be said during Mr Trump’s trial, and proposed questions for potential jury members will be due on 15 January 2024.

Jury selection will begin on the 4 March start date — one day before Super Tuesday, the height of the presidential primary season.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Trump federal election interference trial set for March 2024

Raskin says Trump is ‘disqualified’ from the presidency

Monday 28 August 2023 23:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Rep Jamie Raskin (D-MD) said on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday that former president Donald Trump is “disqualified” from seeking the presidency.

Host Dana Bash quoted former Arkansas governor and 2024 Republican presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson saying that the 14th amendment of the US Constitution disqualified the former president.

Eric Garcia reports.

Jamie Raskin says Trump is ‘disqualified’ from the presidency

Fani Willis: The Georgia prosecutor who could take down Trump

Monday 28 August 2023 23:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Her first day as the chief prosecutor for Fulton County came with news that then-President Donald Trump attempted to pressure Georgia’s top election officials to reverse his loss in the state during the 2020 presidential election.

A phone call between Mr Trump and Georgia’s Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger was published by The Washington Post late at night on 3 January, 2021.

Hours later, Fani Willis would walk into her first day on the job as Fulton County’s district attorney, an office that is now spearheading a criminal investigation into Mr Trump, with the phone call serving as a central damning piece of evidence against him.

Read more...

Who is Fani Willis, the Georgia prosecutor who could take down Trump

Phone call was ‘extraordinary’ testifies Georgia official told by Trump to ‘find’ votes

Monday 28 August 2023 23:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Georgia’s top election official received a phone call from Donald Trump on 2 January, 2021, with a warning that he would be taking a “big risk” declaring Joe Biden the victor weeks after then-President Trump lost the state in the 2020 presidential election.

Alex Woodward reports.

Georgia official told by Trump to ‘find’ votes testifies about infamous phone call

Has Francis Suarez quietly quit the GOP presidential race?

Monday 28 August 2023 23:00 , Oliver O'Connell

The 2024 Republican field may have just seen its first casualty.

NBC News first reported on Monday that the campaign of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez has gone dark, both in terms of messaging and money spent, since last week’s GOP primary debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The second-youngest candidate in the race at 45 (Vivek Ramaswamy is 38), Mr Suarez had sought to build a brand as a representative of a new generation of Republican leadership.

John Bowden reports.

Has Francis Suarez silently quit the Republican presidential race?

First Fulton County defendant enters plea, waives arraignment appearance

Monday 28 August 2023 22:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Ray Smith is the first of 19 defendants in the Fulton County case to plead not guilty. He has also waived the arraignment appearance according to court documents.

Trump arraignment scheduled for next week in Georgia election case

Trump raises more than $7m from his Georgia mug shot

Monday 28 August 2023 22:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has turned every attempt by prosecutors to put his alleged crimes before a jury into a spectacle that has benefited him financially and contributed to his persecution narrative.

His latest arrest in Georgia is no different.

John Bowden reports.

Trump has raised more than $7m off of his Georgia mug shot

In bid to move Trump Georgia election case to federal court, Mark Meadows takes stand

Monday 28 August 2023 22:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows wants a judge to move the sweeping criminal case against him in Georgia to a federal court, marking the debut of the prosecutorial team that charged the former president and 18 of his allies for their alleged attempts to overturn 2020 election results in that state.

His surprise testimony at a hearing in a federal courthouse on 28 August comes two weeks after a grand jury indictment under Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis presented the largest and most significant case yet facing Mr Trump and others connected to an alleged racketeering scheme in which they “knowingly and willfully joined a conspiracy to unlawfully change the outcome of the election” to ensure he remained in power.

Mr Trump, Mr Meadows and their 17 other co-defendants were booked in Fulton County jail and released on bond last week.

Alex Woodward reports.

Mark Meadows testifies in bid to move Trump Georgia election case to federal court

Watch: Christie denies GOP has authoritarian problem instead says party has ‘a Donald Trump problem’

Monday 28 August 2023 21:55 , Oliver O'Connell

What can we expect next in after Donald Trump’s Georgia case?

Monday 28 August 2023 21:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Ariana Baio lays out what happens next in Fulton County.

What’s next for Donald Trump after his Georgia surrender?

Trump slumps while Pence and DeSantis get surprising poll boost

Monday 28 August 2023 21:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Support for former president Donald Trump among Republican primary voters dipped slightly after the ex-president skipped out on the first debate among GOP presidential hopefuls last week, according to a new poll from Emerson College.

The survey, which was conducted from 25 to 26 August, found just 50 per cent of GOP primary voters expressing an intention to vote for Mr Trump. That’s a six-point drop from a similar Emerson survey conducted before last week’s Milwaukee, Wisconsin debate.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Trump slumps while Pence and DeSantis get poll boost after first GOP debate

Tanya Chutkan: The judge overseeing Trump’s federal 2020 election case

Monday 28 August 2023 21:30 , Oliver O'Connell

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

Here’s what else we know about her...

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

White House laughs off report Biden wants to limit Americans to two beers a week

Monday 28 August 2023 21:25 , Oliver O'Connell

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre laughed off a report that the White House wants to limit Americans to having two beers per week.

Fox News’s Peter Doocy asked the press secretary the question after George Koob, the Director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, toldThe Daily Mail that the United States Department of Agriculture could revise its alcohol advice to match Canada’s.

Eric Garcia reports.

White House laughs off report Biden wants to limit Americans to two beers a week

Jack Smith: The special prosecutor who could take down Trump

Monday 28 August 2023 21:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Jack Smith, the experienced war crimes prosecutor who unveiled two unprecedented federal indictments against former US president Donald Trump, is no stranger to high-profile probes of public figures.

The US Department of Justice veteran oversaw anti-corruption prosecutions against multiple US politicians in his role as the head of the Department of Justice public integrity section from 2010 to 2015.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Who is Jack Smith? The special prosecutor who could take down Trump

Explained: The federal investigation into Trump, January 6, and the 2020 election

Monday 28 August 2023 20:50 , Oliver O'Connell

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

The federal investigation into Trump and January 6, explained

Can Trump appeal trial date?

Monday 28 August 2023 20:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Can Donald Trump appeal the trial date set by Judge Tanya Chutkan? Not so fast says senior investigative editor at The New York Times Kurt Eichenwald.

Trump says he is going to rush to appeals court to fight the trial scheduling. The man needs to speak to his lawyers before screaming appeal. The lawyers can make a motion to reconsider to the judge - maybe - but this is not an appealable issue.

Jordan Fischer of WUSA9 concurs:

Trump 2024 campaign issues statement on trial date

Monday 28 August 2023 20:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Crooked Joe Biden, Deranged Jack Smith, and their henchmen continue to abuse the American justice system in their goal of interfering in the 2024 Presidential Election in order to prevent President Trump from returning to the Oval Office. The date set today deprives President Trump of his Constitutional right to a fair trial, a seminal bedrock of America, and continues to expose the corruption of the witch hunts being thrown against President Trump. From setting a trial date for the day before “Super Tuesday” to sending a fundraising email the moment of President Trump’s processing in Fulton County, the Biden regime is no longer hiding its nakedly political motivations. President Trump will not be deterred, he will fight these hoaxes at every turn, and will win for the American people.

— unnamed spokesperson for Trump campaign

Explained: Why Mark Meadows and Trump want to move Georgia case to federal court

Monday 28 August 2023 20:30 , Oliver O'Connell

It took less than a day after a grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia indicted former president Donald Trump, his former chief of staff Mark Meadows, and 17 other defendants in a sprawling racketeering case for one of them to invoke a rarely used federal law in an attempt to move the case into federal court.

On 15 August, attorneys for Mr Meadows, who is charged with a single racketeering count and another sole count of solicitation of violation of oath by a public officer, quickly filed papers in federal court to “remove” the case from Fulton County Superior Court.

The move by the former president’s chief of staff was widely expected by legal experts, many of whom have opined that Mr Trump’s legal team can be expected to use a similar manoeuvre within the next 30 days, citing his former position as president of the United States.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Why do Mark Meadows and Trump want to move Georgia case to federal court?

Haley continues to call out Ramaswamy for ‘naive’ foreign policy

Monday 28 August 2023 20:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Meadows testimony to continue with cross-examination as long afternoon in court looks likely

Monday 28 August 2023 20:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward is following the hearing for The Independent and filed this report.

Mark Meadows grilled on witness stand over Trump’s Georgia call to ‘find’ votes

But wait there’s more...

Monday 28 August 2023 20:06 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s rant about the federal election interference case continues:

Page 2: How do you have an Indictment that is based almost entirely on the findings of the January 6th Unselect Committee of Marxists, Fascists, and Political Hacks, when these same lowlifes, who have been caught lying for years about Russia, Russia, Russia, Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine, FISA, the Fake Dossier, & much more, purposely & Illegally DESTROYED & DELETED all of the Evidence, Findings, & Proof of the January 6th Committee? When will Deranged Jack Smith Criminally Charge the Committee?

Trump vows to appeal trial date decided by ‘Trump Hating Judge'

Monday 28 August 2023 19:57 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has angrily reacted to the news that his federal trial for 2020 election interference is set to begin on 4 March 2024 — the day before the Super Tuesday primaries. The former president has vowed to appeal.

Here’s that he posted on Truth Social moments ago:

Deranged Jack Smith & his team of Thugs, who were caught going to the White House just prior to Indicting the 45th President of the United States (an absolute No No!), have been working on this Witch Hunt for almost 3 years, but decided to bring it smack in the middle of Crooked Joe Biden’s Political Opponent’s campaign against him. Election Interference! Today a biased, Trump Hating Judge gave me only a two month extension, just what our corrupt government wanted, SUPER TUESDAY. I will APPEAL!

Here’s our earlier coverage:

Trump federal election interference trial set for March 2024

Explained: What is an indictment?

Monday 28 August 2023 19:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump was criminally indicted for a fourth time on Monday, 14 August after a grand jury in Georgia charged the ex-president on 13 counts related to his alleged efforts to change the outcome of the 2020 election in the state.

The indictment, which lists Mr Trump and 18 other defendants, accuses the ex-president of engaging in a conspiracy to replace public officials with fake electors as well as engaging in overt acts to further the conspiracy.

The charges stem from a years-long investigation by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.

It is the fourth criminal indictment Mr Trump is facing so far this year.

Read on...

What is an arraignment and what is an indictment?

Trump raises more than $7m from his Georgia mug shot

Monday 28 August 2023 19:49 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has turned every attempt by prosecutors to put his alleged crimes before a jury into a spectacle that has benefited him financially and contributed to his persecution narrative.

His latest arrest in Georgia is no different.

John Bowden reports.

Trump has raised more than $7m off of his Georgia mug shot

Green Day selling Trump mugshot shirt to raise money for Maui wildfire victims

Monday 28 August 2023 19:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Rock band Green Day are selling Donald Trump “Nimrod” mug shot t-shirts to raise cash for Maui fire charities.

The design of the limited-edition shirt mimics the band’s 1997 Nimrod album, but with Mr Trump’s face on it.

Graeme Massie reports.

Green Day are selling a Trump mugshot shirt to raise money for Maui victims

Joe The Plumber, who confronted Obama on 2008 campaign trail, dies at 49

Monday 28 August 2023 19:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Joe The Plumber, the man who confronted then-candidate Barack Obama during the campaign in 2008, has died at the age of 49.

Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher became an important part of Republican candidate John McCain’s campaign after the confrontation with Mr Obama attracted national media attention.

His wife Katie Wurzelbacher told Fox News Digital in an email on Monday that Mr Wurzelbacher had passed away on Sunday.

Gustaf Kilander has the story.

Joe The Plumber, who confronted Obama on 2008 campaign trail, dies at 49

Is Trump still able to run for president after charges over 2020 election?

Monday 28 August 2023 18:50 , Oliver O'Connell

...in addition to a stack of other legal woes.

Can Donald Trump still run for president after four indictments?

Voices: Kevin McCarthy has to choose between his House majority and Trump on Biden impeachment

Monday 28 August 2023 18:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Eric Garcia writes:

As always, Mr McCarthy is trying to please multiple masters. While the primary job of the speaker is to lead Congress, he’s also the highest ranking Republican in Congress and therefore, has to also focus on protecting and expanding his majority.

But with only a 10-seat majority and only four votes more than the requisite 218 to pass anything through Congress, he has to please both the frontline Republicans and also keep the hard-right members of his conference to whom he had to make a series of promises to become speaker.

Read more...

McCarthy has to choose between his House majority and Trump on Biden’s impeachment

Trump pushes ‘roomer’ that DeSantis will drop out of race

Monday 28 August 2023 18:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump suggested that his main rival Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, is about to drop out of the Republican race for president in a Truth Social post with an embarrassing typo.

Read on...

Trump pushes ‘roomer’ that DeSantis is about to drop out of 2024 race

Oliver Anthony shocks conservative fans with revelation about hit song

Monday 28 August 2023 17:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Country singer Oliver Anthony, whose song “Rich Men North of Richmond” became a viral hit and was initially praised by leading conservatives for its anti-establishment message, said he is frustrated that his chart-topping tune was used in a prominent question at the Republican presidential debate this week.

In a YouTube video posted on Friday, the Farmville, Virginia, singer said he doesn’t like seeing people “wrap politics” around his message, which is focused on the lives of people who are, as in the lyrics of “Rich Men North of Richmond,” “workin’ all day/ Overtime hours for bullsh** pay.”

“It was funny seeing my song at the presidential debate, because it’s like I wrote that song about those people. For them to have to sit and have to listen to it, that cracks me up,” Anthony said.

Josh Marcus has the story.

Oliver Anthony tells GOP Rich Men North of Richmond is about them

Trump’s Georgia arraignment scheduled for next week

Monday 28 August 2023 17:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s arraignment in Fulton County, Georgia has been scheduled for 9.30am on 6 September, a court docket has revealed.

The remaining 18 defendants in the 2020 election subversion case have been scheduled to be arraigned after Mr Trump in 15-minute increments.

Gustaf Kilander reports.

Trump arraignment scheduled for next week in Georgia election case

Another angry rant from former president

Monday 28 August 2023 17:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has posted another angry all-caps rant on Truth Social about one of his impeachments;

I NEVER HAD AN IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY, I HAD AN IMPEACHMENT, WHICH I WON! IT WAS STARTED IMMEDIATELY, NO MEETINGS, NO STUDY, NO DELAYS. THE LUNATIC FASCHISTS & MARXISTS PLAY THE GAME DIFFERENTLY. THEY ARE OUT TO DESTROY AMERICA. MAGA!

Full story: Trump federal election interference trial set for 4 March 2024

Monday 28 August 2023 17:05 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump’s trial for conspiring to overturn his 2020 election defeat will begin on 4 March 2024, the federal judge overseeing the case has said.

Judge Tanya Chutkan on Monday said she understood “all too well” the need for Mr Trump’s counsel to prepare for trial, but said the government’s efforts to organise evidence turned over in pre-trial discovery would aid those efforts.

Andrew Feinberg reports from the courthouse in Washington, DC.

Trump federal election interference trial set for March 4 2024

Meadows testifies in bid to move Trump Georgia election case to federal court

Monday 28 August 2023 16:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows wants a judge to move the sweeping criminal case against him in Georgia to a federal court, marking the debut of the prosecutorial team that charged the former president and 18 of his allies for their alleged attempts to overturn 2020 election results in that state.

Alex Woodward reports.

Mark Meadows testifies in bid to move Trump Georgia election case to federal court

DC judge sets trial date as 4 March 2024

Monday 28 August 2023 16:29 , Oliver O'Connell

Judge Chutkan sets a 4 March 2024 trial date for Donald Trump’s federal election interference case.

Jury selection will start on that day which is also the day before the Super Tuesday primaries in more than a dozen states.

Judge Chutkan says she spoke to Judge Juan Merchan in New York and let him know that her case might overlap with the prosecution of the former president there.

Monday 28 August 2023 16:25 , Oliver O'Connell

In regards to the prosecutor’s January 2024 trial date recommendation, Judge Chutkan says Trump’s legal team “needs more than five months to prepare” for trial.

She adds that the defence request of 2026 is “farrrrrrr” too much as witnesses may become unavailable and memories might fade.

DC prosecutor warn Trump could taint jury pool

Monday 28 August 2023 16:01 , Oliver O'Connell

Prosecutor Molly Gaston says the urgency of a speedy trial is particularly strong here because Donald Trump posts about the case daily, attacking witnesses, the court and Washington, DC itself — which could taint the jury pool.

Judge rejects both proposed Trump DC trial dates

Monday 28 August 2023 15:42 , Oliver O'Connell

Trump threatens ‘oblivion’ for GOP if Congress doesn’t impeach Biden

Monday 28 August 2023 15:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump warned that Republicans could face “OBLIVION” if they do not impeach President Joe Biden on charges rooted in false claims.

The twice-impeached, four-times-indicted former president posted on his Truth Social platform that Republicans need to move beyond an impeachment inquiry of the president.

Eric Garcia reports.

Trump threatens ‘oblivion’ for Republicans if Congress doesn’t impeach Biden

John Cusack, Rosie O’Donnell and Kathy Griffin react to Trump mugshot

Monday 28 August 2023 15:00 , Joe Sommerlad

Celebrities from across the entertainment industry have reacted to the latest development in Donald Trump’s sensational legal battle.

Louis Chilton and Roisin O’Connor have the latest round-up.

John Cusack, Rosie O’Donnell and Kathy Griffin react to Trump mugshot

Trump Fulton County arraignment set for 6 September

Monday 28 August 2023 14:48 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s arraignment in Fulton County, Georgia has been set for 9.30am on 6 September, per the court docket there.

The other 18 defendants also appear to be slated for arraignment that day in 15-minute increments.