Trump insists Democrats are angry at his indictment too as Georgia jail booking nears – live updates

Oliver O'Connell and Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
·19 min read
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Donald Trump insists that people “on both sides” are angered by his indictment in Georgia this week. The former president made the remarks in a pre-recorded interview with former White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow on Fox Business.

The former president and 18 of his allies were indicted on Monday for running a criminal enterprise to try to thwart the will of the American people and keep Mr Trump in power at all costs.

They have been ordered to surrender for arrest by 25 August where they will be booked into Fulton County Jail for mugshots and fingerprints to be taken – just like any other criminal defendant.

Following the announcement, Mr Trump claimed in a Truth Social rant that he would share an “irrefutable” report on his baseless claims of election fraud at a press conference on Monday morning.

In the post, he also used what appears to be a racist dog whistle – “RIGGERS” – while discussing Black litigators and political opponents.

“The fact that he’s introducing race into this prosecution surprises me, it’s disgusting, it’s textbook Donald Trump, but it comes as no surprise,” Ms Farah told CNN of his comments.

Key points

Why Trump wants to move Georgia case to federal court

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 Tuesday, 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.

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.

But removing the case to federal court would not necessarily provide either of them with an advantage should the case proceed to trial.

Andrew Feinberg explains.

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

How ‘America’s mayor’ tied his fate to Trump and got indicted

09:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Giuliani — feted, knighted and named Time magazine’s person of the year for his leadership as New York City mayor after the 2001 terrorist attack — has seen his reputation eviscerated and now his liberty imperiled for his steadfast defense of former President Donald Trump’s false claims about the 2020 election.

On Monday, Giuliani’s downfall sank to its lowest level yet with his indictment in Georgia on charges he acted as Trump’s chief co-conspirator in a plot to subvert President Joe Biden‘s victory.

Read on...

The fall of Rudy Giuliani: How ‘America’s mayor’ tied his fate to Donald Trump and got indicted

As Trump rakes in supporters’ donations to pay for his legal battles., some of his co-defendants go broke

07:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Andrew Feinberg reports.

While Trump’s codefendants struggle, he’s raking in donations to pay for his battles

Trump’s ‘riggers’ attack and GOP’s ‘blatant racism and blatant violence’ slammed by Al Sharpton

04:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The Rev Al Sharpton has joined a growing chorus against Donald Trump’s use of the word “riggers” as the former president lashes out at Black prosecutors and judges overseeing the criminal cases against him for his attempts to subvert the 2020 election.

The civil rights activist also condemned an apparent refusal from Republican Party leadership and other GOP officials to denounce Mr Trump’s statement, received by his supporters in far-right online forums and on social media as an apparent appeal to their racism and support for political violence.

Alex Woodward reports.

Al Sharpton slams Trump’s ‘riggers’ attack and GOP’s ‘blatant racism’

Will Trump go to prison?

02:30 , Oliver O'Connell

It’s what everyone wants to know...

Will Donald Trump go to prison?

Court tosses Jan 6 sentence , but what does that mean for other low-level Capitol riot cases

Saturday 19 August 2023 00:30 , Oliver O'Connell

A federal appeals court on Friday ordered a new sentence for a North Carolina man who pleaded guilty to a petty offence in the Capitol riot — a ruling that could impact dozens of low-level cases in the massive Jan. 6, 2021 prosecution.

The appeals court in Washington said James Little was wrongly sentenced for his conviction on a misdemeanour offence to both prison time and probation, which is court-ordered monitoring of defendants who are not behind bars.

Read on...

Court tosses Jan. 6 sentence in ruling that could impact other low-level Capitol riot cases

Florida man who attacked officers with flagpole at Capitol riot sentenced

Friday 18 August 2023 23:30 , Oliver O'Connell

A Florida man who used a flagpole to attack officers who were trying to defend the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, was sentenced Thursday to four years in prison.

Michael Steven Perkins, 40, of Plant City, was sentenced in District of Columbia federal court, according to court records. His co-defendant, Joshua Christopher Doolin, 25, of Lakeland, received one year and six months on Wednesday.

Read more...

Florida man who attacked officers with flagpole at Capitol riot gets 4 years in prison

FBI releases wanted poster for missing Jan 6 defendant

Friday 18 August 2023 22:45 , Oliver O'Connell

He backed the Iowa winner three times – here is his 2024 prediction

Friday 18 August 2023 22:30 , Oliver O'Connell

If a Republican presidential candidate wants to win the Iowa caucus, with its heavily white, heavily evangelical and churchgoing population, they need to win over Bob Vander Plaats.

Few people have had a front-row seat to Iowa’s evangelical politics than Bob Vander Plaats. In 2008, he served as Mike Huckabee’s state party chairman when he pulled off an improbable win in the Iowa caucus. Then in 2012, he endorsed Rick Santorum before he pulled off a squeaker against Mitt Romney in the first in the nation contest. In 2016, he backed Sen Ted Cruz (R-TX) before the senator pulled off a victory against Donald Trump.

So, what does he think about the 2024 race? Eric Garcia reports.

This man backed the Iowa winner three times – here is his 2024 prediction

Christie calls Trump ‘certified loser, verified coward’ after decision to skip debate

Friday 18 August 2023 22:14 , Oliver O'Connell

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie didn’t hold back (as usual) in his criticism of Donald Trump, this time over his decision to not join his rivals on stage in the first Republican primary debate of the 2024 election.

“Surprise, surprise… the guy who is out on bail from four jurisdictions and can’t defend his reprehensible conduct, is running scared and hiding from the debate stage,” Mr Christie wrote on X.

“Trump - certified loser, verified coward,” he added.

The former president has already been accused of skipping the debate because he is “scared of Chris Christie” as we reported earlier this week.

Trump accused of skipping debate because he’s ‘scared of Chris Christie’

Proud Boy on house arrest in Jan 6 case absconds before sentencing

Friday 18 August 2023 22:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Authorities are searching for a member of the Proud Boys extremist group who disappeared days before his sentencing in a U.S. Capitol riot case, where prosecutors are seeking more than a decade in prison, according to a warrant made public Friday.

Christopher Worrell of Naples, Florida, was supposed to be sentenced Friday after being found guilty of spraying pepper spray gel on police officers, as part of the mob storming the Capitol as Congress was certifying Joe Biden’s presidential victory on Jan. 6, 2021. Prosecutors had asked a judge to sentence him to 14 years.

Read on...

Proud Boy on house arrest in Jan 6 case disappears ahead of sentencing

‘Reagan didn’t’: Trump takes to Truth Social to give excuse for why he won’t join GOP debate

Friday 18 August 2023 21:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump is still insisting he will not participate in the upcoming Republican primary debates, citing his lead over his opponents and the precedent set by former President Ronald Reagan.

Mr Trump made his proclamation in a typical rambling post on his Truth Social platform.

Graig Graziosi reports.

Trump gives excuse for why he won’t join GOP debate: ‘Reagan didn’t’

‘Big mistake’ to count Ron DeSantis out, says Iowa’s evangelical kingmaker

Friday 18 August 2023 21:10 , Oliver O'Connell

One of Iowa’s top evangelical leaders has told The Independent that Republicans and the press are writing off Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s presidential campaign too soon.

Bob Vander Plaats, the chief executive of the Family Leader, is one of the leading voices in heavily evangelical Iowa. Earlier this year, the Family Leader hosted a forum with many of the Republican candidates for president with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson serving as the moderator.

He has had a track record of betting on the right horse before the Iowa caucus.

Eric Garcia reports.

Iowa’s evangelical kingmaker says it would be ‘a mistake’ to count Ron DeSantis out

Experts warn ex-president is going to Truth Social himself into trouble

Friday 18 August 2023 20:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump should really keep his mouth shut.

That’s the advice that experienced litigators of all stripes are giving the former president as he faces a tide of criminal investigations into his conduct both as president and during the 2016 election.

John Bowden reports.

Experts warn Trump is going to Truth Social himself into trouble

What have each of the Republican candidates said about the war in Ukraine?

Friday 18 August 2023 20:30 , Oliver O'Connell

As President Joe Biden likes to remind anyone who’ll listen, “This is not your grandfather’s Republican Party”.

One of the issues where that’s becoming more evident by the day is Ukraine.

Here’s what each of the primary candidates has said about the war.

What each of the Republican candidates have said about the war in Ukraine

‘Especially the big orange one’: Trump attacks Fox News for using ‘worst’ photos of him

Friday 18 August 2023 20:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has taken to lashing out at Fox News, claiming that the network is working with other Republican candidates to figure out who can beat him in the GOP primary, while using unflattering “orange” photos of him and negative polls.

Gustaf Kilander has the story.

Trump attacks Fox for using ‘worst’ photos of him: ‘Especially the big orange one’

What have the Republican candidates said about January 6?

Friday 18 August 2023 19:50 , Oliver O'Connell

The insurrection on January 6, 2021, has become yet another litmus test for Republican presidential candidates and how they respond to questions about the subject may provoke the ire of frontrunner Donald Trump, who’s now facing legal action over his role in the Capitol riot.

Here’s what they have said so far...

What the Republican candidates have said about January 6

Comment: Trump may be down, but he isn’t out – yet

Friday 18 August 2023 19:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Mary Dejevsky writes that while a televised trial of the former president could make a great spectacle, it won’t stop Trump securing the Republican nomination.

Trump may be down, but he isn’t quite out – yet | Mary Dejevsky

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez qualifies for GOP presidential debate

Friday 18 August 2023 19:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said Friday that he has qualified for next week’s Republican presidential debate, becoming the ninth White House hopeful to meet the fundraising and polling thresholds required to participate in the opening face-off of the 2024 campaign.

Suarez, 45 and the only Hispanic in the field, will be perhaps the least-known Republican on the stage Wednesday in Milwaukee.

Read more...

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, a fierce Ron DeSantis critic, qualifies for GOP presidential debate

Analysis: Trump attacks on judges may be ‘crossing the line,’ but experts say he will avoid punishment

Friday 18 August 2023 18:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Josh Marcus reminds us that while the former president’s behaviour would pose serious legal perils for a normal defendant, Donald Trump is no normal defendant.

Trump attacks on judges may ‘cross the line,’ but experts say he’ll avoid punishment

Breaking: Trump to skip first GOP debate for Tucker Carlson interview, report says

Friday 18 August 2023 18:27 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump will skip the first Republican debate of the 2024 primaries and attempt to upstage his rivals for the party’s nomination by instead sitting down for an interview with Tucker Carlson, according to a report.

Citing multiple people briefed on the matter, The New York Times reports that the former president made up his mind to miss the Fox News-hosted GOP debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

On Thursday he again claimed on his Truth Social platform that there was no need for him to debate the other candidates as he was polling so far ahead of them, but was still ambiguous as to what his plans might actually be.

Read more...

Trump to skip first GOP debate for Tucker Carlson interview, report says

After pro-Trump doxxing campaign, Georgia police investigating online threats to jurors

Friday 18 August 2023 18:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Police in Georgia are investigating online threats to members of a grand jury that voted to indict Donald Trump and 18 of the former president’s allies accused of conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in a sprawling criminal case.

The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office is “aware that personal information from members of the jury” has been shared across social media platforms, the agency announced on 17 August, less than three days after a sweeping charging document was unsealed.

Alex Woodward reports.

Georgia police investigating online threats to Trump grand jury

Voices: The DeSantis memo meltdown shows he never learned the first lesson about Trump

Friday 18 August 2023 17:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Eric Garcia writes:

Early in my career in politics, before I got into journalism, a former boss of mine taught us interns a rule I have never forgotten: Never say or do anything that you wouldn’t want published on the front page of The New York Times. Even after I decided a career in partisan politics wasn’t for me, I have tried to abide by that rule in journalism.

Apparently, nobody taught Ron DeSantis’s team that rule.

Read more...

DeSantis world should have known better about avoiding criticising Trump

Trump will now answer in court for making life hell for two Black women election workers

Friday 18 August 2023 17:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward reports on how conspiracy theories and false claims fuelled racist threats and harassment towards Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss. Now, their story is central to a massive criminal case against the former president.

Trump made life hell for two Black women. He will have to answer for it in court

Watch: Gov Kemp says Georgia trial ‘not going to happen before the election’

Friday 18 August 2023 17:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Voices: Donald Trump wants Fox to stop using ‘big orange’ photos of him. It’s about more than vanity

Friday 18 August 2023 17:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Jay Black writes:

“They purposely show the absolutely worst pictures of me”, the former President “truthed”, presumably as store-brand ketchup dripped from the walls around him, “especially the big ‘orange’ one with my chin pulled way back.”

Like most people, my initial reaction to Donald Trump’s rant was incredulity: does he think there are GOOD pictures of him?

Read more:

Trump wants Fox to stop using ‘big orange’ photos of him. It’s about more than vanity

Our reporting of the former president’s rant:

Trump attacks Fox for using ‘worst’ photos of him: ‘Especially the big orange one’

Christie tells Trump: ‘Stop being such a coward'

Friday 18 August 2023 17:02 , Oliver O'Connell

Trump attorneys to meet Fulton County DA next week, report says

Friday 18 August 2023 16:54 , Oliver O'Connell

Per ABC News:

Attorneys for former President Donald Trump are expected to meet early next week with the Fulton County district attorney's office in order to negotiate terms of the bond package for the former president following this indictment last Monday, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.

Full story: Trump ally and alleged fake electors plotter Ken Chesebro was at Capitol on Jan 6

Friday 18 August 2023 16:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Kenneth Chesebro, a Donald Trump ally and the alleged mastermind of the scheme to subvert the results of the 2020 election through the use of fake electors, was at the US Capitol on January 6, accompanying conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.

Video and photos taken on the grounds of the Capitol on the day Trump loyalists stormed the building, reviewed and reported on first by CNN, clearly show the attorney, now at the heart of the criminal case concerning the plot to overturn the election, wearing a red Trump 2020 hat and filming Jones with his phone.

Read more...

Alleged Trump fake electors plotter Ken Chesebro pictured at Capitol on Jan 6

ICYMI: Trump proposes date for trial for subverting 2020 election – in three years

Friday 18 August 2023 16:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump wants his federal trial for allegedly trying to subvert the 2020 presidential election to be postponed until April 2026, according to a court filing.

Graeme Massie reports.

Trump proposes date for trial for subverting 2020 election – in three years

Judge rejects Trump’s fourth attempt to block E Jean Carroll case as ‘frivolous’

Friday 18 August 2023 16:10 , Oliver O'Connell

A federal judge has once again dismissed Donald Trump’s attempts to stall litigation from writer E Jean Carroll, who was awarded a $5m jury verdict earlier this year finding the former president liable for sexual abuse and defamation after speaking publicly about it.

His fourth attempt, along with his previous attempts, have not provided a “single reason” to show any likelihood that he will succeed on appeal, according to US District Judge Lewis Kaplan.

Alex Woodward has the details.

Judge rejects Trump’s ‘frivolous’ fourth attempt to block E Jean Carroll case

Watch: Kenneth Chesebro, alleged fake electors plotter, was at Capitol on Jan 6

Friday 18 August 2023 16:07 , Oliver O'Connell

Analysis: Biden’s awkward silence on Trump’s legal woes – and what it could mean for 2024

Friday 18 August 2023 15:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Eric Garcia writes:

All signs point to a rematch between Joe Biden and Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election.

But despite their likely inevitable round two face-off, and the fact that the former president actively schemed to try and prevent Mr Biden from occupying the Oval Office, the incumbent president has stayed mostly silent when it comes to Mr Trump’s mounting legal woes.

But how much longer can Mr Biden afford to keep quiet on his chief rival’s criminal culpability?

Read more...

Biden’s awkward silence on Trump’s legal woes – and what it could mean for 2024

Trump warned by ex-federal judge that his ‘inexcusable’ attacks on judges could ‘imperil’ his cases

Friday 18 August 2023 15:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump’s “inexcusable” online attacks on judges overseeing his legal battles could “imperil” his cases, a retired judge said.

“The former president’s comments and attacks on the federal judiciary and on the specific individual judges who will preside over his trials are unprecedented in American history,” J Michael Luttig, a former federal appeals court judge told CNN.

“They are a grave disservice to the nation. They are inexcusable,” he continued. “And they imperil the former president himself in the defence of his actions on January 6th before the juries that will hear his case.”

Kelly Rissman has the full story.

Ex-federal judge warns Trump that his attacks on judges could ‘imperil’ his cases

Inside Fulton County jail where Donald Trump and 18 allies will be booked

Friday 18 August 2023 14:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Joe Sommerlad takes a look at the Fulton County Jail, also known by the nickname “Rice Street” as it is notoriously overcrowded and in poor repair, with a reputation for “unhygienic living conditions”.

Inside the Georgia jail where Trump and 18 allies will be booked over election plot

Ramaswamy dismisses ‘professional politician’ DeSantis after debate memo revealed

Friday 18 August 2023 14:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Businessman and Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy pushed back after The New York Times reported about a memo from a super PAC supporting Ron DeSantis showed the Florida governor planned to attack him.

Axiom Strategies, which works with Never Back Down, a super PAC that supports Mr DeSantis, released a bevy of research memos on its website to give advice for the governor ahead of the first primary debate in Milwaukee.

One of the memos outlines “four basic must-dos” for Mr DeSantis, whom the memos refer to as “GRD,” saying he would need to attack fellow candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who has begun to ascend in the polls against Mr DeSantis.

Eric Garcia reports from Washington, DC.

Ramaswamy dismisses ‘professional politician’ DeSantis after debate strategy revealed

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

Friday 18 August 2023 14:00 , 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.

Andrew Feinberg explains the rationale behind this tactic.

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

Trump’s ‘riggers’ attack and GOP’s ‘blatant racism and blatant violence’ slammed by Al Sharpton

Friday 18 August 2023 13:20 , Oliver O'Connell

The Rev Al Sharpton has joined a growing chorus against Donald Trump’s use of the word “riggers” as the former president lashes out at Black prosecutors and judges overseeing the criminal cases against him for his attempts to subvert the 2020 election.

Alex Woodward has the story.

Al Sharpton slams Trump’s ‘riggers’ attack and GOP’s ‘blatant racism’

‘They’re his problem, not hers’: Melania wants ‘nothing to do with’ Trump’s legal troubles, says report

Friday 18 August 2023 13:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Seldom seen in public, and even more rarely beside her husband, former first lady Melania Trump is maintaining her distance from the multitude of legal problems dogging former president Donald Trump.

After decamping from their winter home at the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida — the epicentre of one of the federal cases against Mr Trump — the former president has spent much of his time at his golf club at Bedminster, New Jersey.

Ms Trump, People reports, has spent the majority of the summer in Manhattan. She has not been at his side during any of the appearances or campaign events surrounding his indictments.

Read more...

Melania wants ‘nothing to do with’ Trump’s legal troubles, report says

Ex-DOJ official indicted with Trump asks judge to reject March 2024 trial date

Friday 18 August 2023 12:40 , Rachel Sharp

The former Justice Department official who has been indicted along with Donald Trump and 17 other allies for their efforts to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia has asked a judge to reject the March 2024 trial date proposed by prosecutors.

In a new court filing on Thursday, Jeffrey Clark argued that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis requested date “could be interpreted as an attempt to stake out a place at the head of the line of prosecutors seeking the ‘prize’ of trying the former President before the 2024 presidential election”.

He asked the judge to turn down DA Willis’ proposed date – which happens to be one day before Super Tuesday.

Mr Clark is one of the 19 co-defendants who was indicted in the sweeping RICO case on Monday.

He is charged with one count of violating Georgia’ racketeering law and one count of criminal attempt to commit false statements and writings.