Trump lashes out at Biden over prisoner swap deal with Iran after demanding Jan 6 judge recuse herself - live

Donald Trump has attacked Joe Biden over his administration’s move to clear the way for the release of five American citizens detained in Iran by issuing a blanket waiver for international banks to transfer $6bn in frozen Iranian money from South Korea to Qatar, without fear of US sanctions.

In addition, as part of the same deal, the Biden administration has agreed to release five Iranian citizens held in the United States.

Never missing a chance to attack his successor, Mr Trump called Mr Biden “an incompetent FOOL”, insisting the money would be used to spread terrorism and accusing him of disrespect by announcing it on the anniversary of 9/11.

That followed the 45th president’s legal team filing a motion to have Judge Tanya Chutkan removed from his federal January 6 criminal case in Washington, DC, the motion stating that the justice had said, in connection with other cases, that Mr Trump should be prosecuted and imprisoned, arguing that this disqualifies her from his case.

All of which came a day after Mr Trump bizarrely demanded that his media enemies, including Rupert Murdoch and his family, submit to mental acuity tests to prove their fitness for work.

Key Points

• 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

• Mark Meadows loses bid to move Georgia election subversion case to federal court

Joe Biden’s approval rating reaches highest level since March

21:37 , Gustaf Kilander

President Joe Biden’s approval rating has risen to its highest level since March – 42 per cent – according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.

The increasing support stems from Democratic voters coalescing around Mr Biden as House Republicans launch an impeachment inquiry.

Eighty per cent of Democrats approved of Mr Biden while 91 per cent of Republicans disapproved.

Trump accuses DeSantis of spreading ‘Missing Melania’ flyers at Iowa football game

21:30 , Graeme Massie

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 four-times indicted former president in January 2021.

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.

Now the former president has posted an article on Truth Social by far-right activist Laura Loomer, claiming that “DeSantis’s campaign staff passed out flyers attacking former First Lady Melania Trump.”

Loomer claimed that the flyers showed a picture of Melania with “MISSING” written in large red letters.

Read more:

Trump accuses DeSantis of spreading ‘Missing Melania’ flyers at Iowa football game

What's ahead now that Republicans are opening an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden

21:00 , Farnoush Amiri, AP

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said he is launching an impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden, yielding to mounting pressure from former President Donald Trump and his allies in what’s shaping up as an election-year clash between Congress and the White House.

In a statement Tuesday, McCarthy said the House investigations into the Biden family this year have uncovered a “culture of corruption” that demands deeper review.

“These are allegations of abuse of power, obstruction and corruption,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy said he will direct the chairmen of the House Judiciary, Oversight and Ways and Means committees to lead the impeachment inquiry. The panels have been working together for months on various probes related to the Biden family.

A look at what happens next as House Republicans inch closer to possible impeachment charges against Biden:

What's ahead now that Republicans are opening an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden

McCarthy endorses impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden

20:30 , 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

VIDEO: House Speaker McCarthy opens formal impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden

20:00 , The Independent

Judge may delay Trump’s hush money trial because ex-president has so many legal cases on schedule

19:30 , 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

19:00 , 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

VIDEO: Putin says legal cases against Donald Trump are 'persecution of a political rival'

18:30 , The Independent

Marjorie Taylor Greene marks September 11 by suggesting red states secede from US and calling president a ‘traitor’

18:00 , 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

17:30 , 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

It's Google versus the US in the biggest antitrust trial in decades

17:00 , Paul Wiseman, Michael Liedtke, AP

Google will confront a threat to its dominant search engine beginning Tuesday when federal regulators launch an attempt to dismantle its internet empire in the biggest U.S. antitrust trial in a quarter century.

Over the next 10 weeks, federal lawyers and state attorneys general will try to prove Google rigged the market in its favor by locking its search engine in as the default choice in a plethora of places and devices. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta likely won’t issue a ruling until early next year. If he decides Google broke the law, another trial will decide what steps should be taken to rein in the Mountain View, California-based company.

Top executives at Google and its corporate parent Alphabet Inc., as well as those from other powerful technology companies are expected to testify. Among them is likely to be Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, who succeeded Google co-founder Larry Page four years ago. Court documents also suggest that Eddy Cue, a high ranking Apple executive, might be called to the stand.

The Justice Department filed its antitrust lawsuit against Google nearly three years ago during the Trump administration, charging that the company has used its internet search dominance to gain an unfair advantage against competitors. Government lawyers allege that Google protects its franchise through a form of payola, shelling out billions of dollars annually to be the default search engine on the iPhone and on web browsers such as Apple’s Safari and Mozilla’s Firefox.

Read more:

It's Google versus the US in the biggest antitrust trial in decades

Man charged with aiding Whitmer kidnap plot says he should have called police

16:30 , Ed White, AP

A man charged with assisting the leaders of a plan to kidnap Michigan‘s governor denied any role Monday but conceded he should have contacted police when talk turned to obtaining explosives.

“It seemed to be getting serious,” William Null, 41, told jurors in a northern Michigan courtroom. “I don’t know if they were ever going to go through with it, but it was enough for me to not want to be involved.”

Null, brother Michael Null and Eric Molitor are on trial in Antrim County, the last of 14 men charged in state or federal court since FBI agents broke up a kidnapping conspiracy against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer just weeks before the 2020 presidential election.

Authorities said the men were anti-government extremists who were also furious over restrictions ordered during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Nulls and Molitor are charged with providing material support for terrorist acts, namely aiding leaders Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr., who were convicted last year in federal court.

Read more:

Man charged with aiding Whitmer kidnap plot says he should have called police

Prosecutors drop charges against Bijan Kian, a onetime business partner of Michael Flynn

16:00 , Matthew Barakat, AP

Federal prosecutors on Monday dropped charges against Bijan Kian, a onetime business partner of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn who had been accused of acting as an unregistered agent of the Turkish government.

Monday’s decision ends a five-year legal saga for Kian, whose case received significant attention when he was charged in 2018 as a spinoff from special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of Russian election interference.

Prosecutors alleged that Kian and Flynn, who were partners in an entity called the Flynn Intel Group, were acting at Turkey’s behest when they undertook a project to discredit exiled Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen. Gulen has been sought for extradition from the U.S. by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who blames Gulen for an attempted coup in that country.

Flynn wrote a November 2016 op-ed piece, shortly before he was named to be then-President-elect Donald Trump’s national security adviser, comparing Gulen to former Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Prosecutors said Turkey directed the effort and pointed to a series of irregular payments flowing back and forth between Kian and an alleged Turkish middleman, businessman Kamal Alptekin.

Read more:

Prosecutors drop charges against Bijan Kian, a onetime business partner of Michael Flynn

Team Biden fires back at criticism after he announced his 9pm bedtime during press conference

15:30 , 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

VIDEO: Donald Trump brags about mental acuity test and challenges rivals to take one

15:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Trump says Biden isn’t too old to be president

14:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Donald Trump on Monday said president Joe Biden was not “too old” for the 2024 election campaign while questioning his competency.

The former president’s statement comes at a time when there have been calls for ageing politicians, such as Mitch McConnell and 90-year-old Dianne Feinstein, to retire from public offices.

Mr Biden, who will turn 81 in November, is just three years older than Mr Trump, but there has been concern about his ability to continue as a president. Mr Biden is also eyeing a re-election in 2024, where he could go against Mr Trump for a second time.

“CROOKED JOE BIDEN is NOT too OLD, he is too INCOMPETENT!” Mr Trump, 77, wrote in a Truth Social post.

Read more:

Trump says Biden isn’t too old to be president

Putin calls Trump’s laundry list of criminal charges ‘persecution’

14:00 , Martha McHardy

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has condemned Donald Trump’s laundry list of criminal charges as “persecution” and branded the US political system “rotten”.

At an Eastern Economic Forum gathering in Russia’s Pacific Coast city of Vladivostok, the Russian president claimed the prosecution of the former US president is an act of political revenge.

“As for the prosecution of Trump, for us what is happening in today’s conditions, in my opinion, is good because it shows the rottenness of the American political system, which cannot pretend to teach others democracy,” Mr Putin said.

“Everything that is happening with Trump is the persecution of a political rival for political reasons. That’s what it is. And this is being done in front of the public of the United States and the whole world.”

Mr Putin also discussed Mr Trump’s claim that he could resolve the conflict in Ukraine in a matter of days.

Read more:

Putin calls Trump’s laundry list of criminal charges ‘persecution’

Democrats are on the offensive as GOP flounders over Biden impeachment

13:30 , Joe Sommerlad

Democrats are seizing their advantage over a Republican Party that returns to Capitol Hill this week bitterly divided over the issue of Joe Biden’s impeachment — among others.

John Bowden reports from Washington, DC.

Democrats take the offensive as Republicans flounder over Biden impeachment

Vladimir Putin says prosecution of Trump shows US political system is ‘rotten’

13:00 , Joe Sommerlad

The Russian leader said yesterday that the criminal cases against Mr Trump are political revenge that show the fundamental corruption of the United States.

“As for the prosecution of Trump, for us what is happening in today’s conditions, in my opinion, is good because it shows the rottenness of the American political system, which cannot pretend to teach others democracy,” Mr Putin said at an Eastern Economic Forum gathering in Vladivostok, helpfully echo Mr Trump’s own narrative about what many would consider his inevitable comeuppance.

Putin says prosecution of Trump shows US political system is 'rotten'

Republican congressman delivers epic takedown of Marjorie Taylor Greene’s ‘absurd’ Biden impeachment quest

12:30 , Joe Sommerlad

Georgia Republican representative Marjorie Taylor Greene is determined to go forward with articles of impeachment against President Joe Biden – though not all of her GOP colleagues are on board.

Colorado’s Ken Buck, who serves on the House Freedom Caucus alongside Ms Greene, publicly denounced there was any evidence that Mr Biden committed high crimes or a misdemeanor, while speaking with Jen Psaki on MSNBC this weekend.

Ariana Baio reports.

GOP rep calls Marjorie Taylor Greene’s campaign to impeach Biden ‘absurd’

‘We never bow, we never bend, we never yield’: Biden commemorates 9/11 with servicemembers in Alaska

12:00 , Joe Sommerlad

President Joe Biden commemorated the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks with US servicemembers in Alaska, calling for national unity.

The president spoke at Elmendorf-Richardson Air Force Base in Anchorage, where commended servicemembers for their bravery in the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Eric Garcia reports.

Biden commemorates 9/11 in Alaska: ‘We never bow, we never bend, we never yield’

Trump lashes out at Biden over prisoner swap deal with Iran

11:30 , Joe Sommerlad

Over on Truth Social, Donald Trump has been bashing Joe Biden over his administration’s move to clear the way for the release of five American citizens detained in Iran by issuing a blanket waiver for international banks to transfer $6bn in frozen Iranian money from South Korea to Qatar without fear of US sanctions.

In addition, as part of the same deal, the administration has agreed to release five Iranian citizens held in the United States.

Never missing a chance to attack his successor, Mr Trump writes: “Can you believe that Crooked Joe Biden is giving $6 Billion to the terrorist regime in Iran? That money be used for terrorism all over the Middle East, and, indeed, the World. This incompetent FOOL is absolutely destroying America. He had the audacity to announce this terrible deal today, September 11th. To pay for hostages will lead to kidnapping, ransom, and blackmail against Americans across the globe. I freed many dozens of our people from various unfriendly countries and never paid a dime!”

Here’s what he’s so angry about.

US makes deal with Iran to swap prisoners and release $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds

Full story: Trump files motion demanding judge in election interference case recuse herself

10:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Attorneys for former President Trump have filed a motion asking that federal district court judge Tanya Chutkan recuse herself from his Jan 6 criminal case.

Read more...

Trump files motion demanding judge in election interference case recuse herself

Trump called ‘liar’ amid lawsuit to bar ex-president from ballot

09:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Colorado’s secretary of state has responded after Donald Trump accused her of working to prevent him from taking the presidency once again.

The ex-president has fumed over the last few days in response to a lawsuit filed by a top Washington DC ethics group aimed at preventing Mr Trump from appearing on the 2024 ballot.

John Bowden reports.

Colorado secretary of state calls Trump a ‘liar’ amid lawsuit to bar him from ballot

GOP senator explains what he might do if Trump is party’s 2024 nominee

08:00 , John Bowden

A Republican senator who has long voiced his opposition to Donald Trump winning the GOP primary in 2024 is now saying he may not vote for either Joe Biden or Mr Trump next year if the two are their respective parties’ nominees.

Bill Cassidy spoke on Meet the Press on Sunday and explained that he would likely write in another candidate, essentially tossing away his vote, were the two to be on the ballot in November of 2024.

GOP senator explains what he might do if Trump is the nominee in 2024

ICYMI: A ‘Where’s Melania?’ banner, cheers, jeers and middle fingers

06:30 , Oliver O'Connell

In one of his first public appearances after he was formally booked on racketeering charges in Georgia, Donald Trump arrived at the closely watched football match-up between the University of Iowa and Iowa State University on Saturday to a wave of cheers, audible booing and a banner asking “Where’s Melania?”

Alex Woodward reports.

‘Where’s Melania?’ banner flies above Iowa game as Trump met with cheers and jeers

White House thanks Fox News reporter for appearing to regret defending Biden

04:30 , Kelly Rissman

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre thanked a Fox News correspondent after he seemed to sympathise with Joe Biden’s rigourous schedule – ever-so briefly.

Although the right-wing media often describes Mr Biden as “Sleepy Joe,” things changed for a moment when Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy, reporting from Hanoi, Vietnam, acknowledged that the president was probably tired because he had been working nonstop.

Read more...

White House thanks Fox News reporter after he appeared to regret defending Biden

That’s what friends are for...

03:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Former President Donald Trump hosted a $100,000-a-plate fundraiser for Rudy Giuliani at his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club last Thursday night as the disgraced former New York mayor struggles to pay his mounting legal bills.

Read more...

Trump hosts $100,000-per-person fundraiser to help Giuliani pay legal bills

ICYMI: Trump defends Graham and other allies as Georgia jury report reveals they narrowly avoided charges

02:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump defended Senator Lindsey Graham after learning the Fulton County, Georgia grand jury wanted to charge the senator in its election interference case alongside the former president.

The grand jury’s full report was released on Friday, prompting backlash from Mr Trump.

Graig Graziosi has the story.

Trump defends Graham and allies as Georgia jury report reveals they avoided charges

‘I want to press charges’: Navarro mercilessly heckled at press conference after contempt conviction

01:30 , Oliver O'Connell

An ex-advisor to Donald Trump who was found guilty of contempt of Congress was constantly interrupted at a press conference after his trial.

Peter Navarro was charged with two counts of criminal contempt of Congress on the grounds of his refusal to cooperate with an inquiry into the alleged attempt to overturn the 2020 election results.

After he emerged from court, a group of protestors stood behind Mr Navarro as he was addressing various news outlets and started to argue behind him, quickly derailing his focus.

Read more...

Protestors feud as Peter Navarro is mercilessly heckled at post-trial media event

Activists host sit-in at McCarthy’s office as GOP abortion politics derail Aids relief funding

01:00 , Oliver O'Connell

The Republican Party’s sudden and extreme turn on abortion rights has just thrown into total uncertainty the future of one of the US’s greatest weapons in the fight against HIV/Aids, one of the deadliest disease outbreaks in modern history.

Activists piled into the chambers of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Monday as his party looks poised to refuse the reauthorization of President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) funding with a deadline to fund the government looming at the end of the month.

John Bowden reports from Washington, DC.

Activists host sit-in at McCarthy’s office as Aids relief derailed

Lindsey Graham defends himself after report reveals grand jury voted to charge him

Tuesday 12 September 2023 00:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Lindsey Graham has defended himself after it was revealed that a grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia, recommended he and two former Republican senators be charged alongside former president Donald Trump.

“At the end of the day, nothing happened,” the US Senator from South Carolina said in the wake of the recommendations. “What I did was consistent with my job as being a United States senator, chairman of the judiciary committee. But it was just not me. Three US senators.”

Kelly Rissman reports.

Lindsey Graham reacts as report reveals grand jury voted to charge him in Trump probe

Republican congressman delivers epic takedown of Marjorie Taylor Greene’s ‘absurd’ Biden impeachment quest

Tuesday 12 September 2023 00:00 , Ariana Baio

Republican representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) is determined to go forward with articles of impeachment against President Joe Biden – though not all of her GOP colleagues are on board.

Ken Buck (R-CO), who serves on the House Freedom Caucus alongside Ms Greene, publicly denounced there was any evidence that Mr Biden committed high crimes or a misdemeanor, while speaking with Jen Psaki on MSNBC this weekend.

GOP rep calls Marjorie Taylor Greene’s campaign to impeach Biden ‘absurd’

Fulton County indictment: How did Lindsey Graham, Michael Flynn and others dodge charges?

Monday 11 September 2023 23:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Why was it that the special grand jury that investigated Donald Trump and allies’ alleged election interference in Georgia initially recommended charges against 39 people while only 19 were charged by the Fulton County district attorney?

Well, clues have now emerged in a final report about the jury’s recommendations which was unsealed on Friday and shows a list of Trump associates — some of them former government officials — who were identified for prosecution for their alleged involvement in helping Mr Trump try to overturn election 2020 results in Georgia.

Ariana Baio reports.

How did Lindsey Graham, Michael Flynn and others dodge charges in Georgia indictment?

Active-duty Marine gets probation and community service for Jan 6 riot

Monday 11 September 2023 23:00 , Oliver O'Connell

One of three active-duty Marines who stormed the U.S. Capitol together was sentenced on Monday to probation and 279 hours of community service — one hour for every Marine who was killed or wounded fighting in the Civil War.

U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes said she can’t fathom why Dodge Hellonen violated his oath to protect the Constitution “against all enemies, foreign and domestic” — and risked his career — by joining the January 6, 2021, riot that disrupted Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral victory.

“I really urge you to think about why it happened so you can address it and ensure it never happens again,” Reyes said.

Active-duty Marine gets probation and community service for storming Capitol with 2 unit members

‘We never bow, we never bend, we never yield’: Biden commemorates 9/11 with servicemembers in Alaska

Monday 11 September 2023 22:35 , Oliver O'Connell

President Joe Biden commemorated the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks with US servicemembers in Alaska, calling for national unity.

The president spoke at Elmendorf-Richardson Air Force Base in Anchorage, where commended servicemembers for their bravery in the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Eric Garcia reports.

Biden commemorates 9/11 in Alaska: ‘We never bow, we never bend, we never yield’

Full story: Trump files motion demanding judge in election interference case recuse herself

Monday 11 September 2023 22:24 , Oliver O'Connell

Attorneys for former President Trump have filed a motion asking that federal district court judge Tanya Chutkan recuse herself from his Jan 6 criminal case.

Trump files motion demanding judge in election interference case recuse herself

Trump moves for recusal of judge in Jan 6 federal case

Monday 11 September 2023 22:01 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump and his legal team have filed a motion for the recusal of federal district court judge Tanya Chutkan in the former president’s January 6 criminal case.

The motion states that Judge Chutkan has said in connection with other cases that Mr Trump should be prosecuted and imprisoned and argues that this disqualifies her from the case.

Here’s what we know about Judge Chutkan:

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

Democrats on the offensive as GOP flounders over Biden impeachment

Monday 11 September 2023 22:00 , John Bowden

Democrats are seizing their advantage over a Republican Party that returns to Capitol Hill this week bitterly divided over the issue of Joe Biden’s impeachment — among others.

As lawmakers resumed business this week, the entirety of Washington is eyeing a looming government funding deadline at the end of September that threatens to throw Congress back into a chaotic fight over spending levels and other goals of the far right contingent that has held Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s caucus hostage since January.

It’s largely a given that conservatives will seek concessions from leadership in exchange for their votes to avert a government shutdown. The only alternative for Mr McCarthy would be to ice out his own party and pass a clean funding bill that would win Democratic support — something that would cost him with his own party down the line.

Washington is braced for a government shutdown – will McCarthy pass the test?

Voices: Washington is braced for a government shutdown – will McCarthy pass the test?

Monday 11 September 2023 21:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Eric Garcia writes:

In the words of Marshall Mathers, back to reality.

The House of Representatives will finally return after an extended August recess, leaving them less than two weeks to pass spending bills to avoid a government shutdown, which could be the biggest test of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s speakership.

Read more...

Washington is braced for a government shutdown – will McCarthy pass the test?

Tucker Carlson blasts Greg Abbott for refusing to have National Guard shoot migrants at border

Monday 11 September 2023 21:20 , Oliver O'Connell

The former Fox News host Tucker Carlson blasted Texas Gov Greg Abbott for not allowing the state’s National Guard shoot migrants at the US-Mexico border.

“How many Texans do you think are all on board with letting 7 million people cross into their state illegally?” Carlson asked the audience at an event on Sunday in Utica, Michigan, according to Newsweek.

“What percentage? Zero. I don’t care what your race or national origin — nobody is for that. Has the governor of Texas done anything meaningful to stop it? No,” Carlson added.

Read more...

Tucker Carlson attacks Greg Abbott for refusing to have National Guard shoot migrants

Monday 11 September 2023 20:59 , Oliver O'Connell

Watch live: Biden marks anniversary of 9/11 at Alaska military base

Hail Mary time for Pence?

Monday 11 September 2023 20:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Maybe he’s dreaming of a Hail Mary.

That might have been on former Vice President Mike Pence’s mind when he likened his polling gap to former President Donald Trump in the 2024 race to an NFL game after a recent poll revealed a huge margin between the two candidates.

His comments came after a recent CNN poll of Republican-leaning voters showed the former president carrying 52 per cent compared to former VP Pence, who is at 7 per cent.

Kelly Rissman reports.

Hail Mary time? Poll-challenged Pence channels NFL in touting how he can catch Trump

Armed protest in New Mexico over governor’s emergency order suspending right to carry firearms in public

Monday 11 September 2023 20:00 , AP

Heavily armed protesters gathered in Albuquerque, New Mexico to protest the governor’s emergency order suspending the right to carry firearms in public.

Crowds gathered at Old Town Plaza after New Mexico’s Democrat governor Michelle Lujan Grisham instituted a temporary ban on carrying firearms in public in certain parts of the state.

The ban will last for 30 days and will apply to Albuquerque and the surrounding Bernalillo County.

Read more...

Heavily-armed protest held over order suspending right to carry firearms in public

Harris, DeSantis, Giuliani mark 9/11 terror attacks anniversary at ground zero

Monday 11 September 2023 19:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Vice President Kamala Harris, Republican presidential candidate and Florida Gov Ron DeSantis and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani joined New York politicians and mourners at a 9/11 memorial ceremony at ground zero Monday.

The bipartisan group of politicians was not scheduled to speak at the ceremony, marking the 22nd anniversary of the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil. The solemn ceremony in lower Manhattan was instead focused on the hourslong reading of the names of the dead.

Read more...

Harris, DeSantis, Giuliani among politicians marking Sept. 11 terror attacks at ground zero

White House thanks Fox News reporter after viral clip where he appeared to regret defending Biden

Monday 11 September 2023 19:00 , Kelly Rissman

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre thanked a Fox News correspondent after he seemed to sympathise with Joe Biden’s rigourous schedule – ever-so briefly.

Although the right-wing media often describes Mr Biden as “Sleepy Joe,” things changed for a moment when Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy, reporting from Hanoi, Vietnam, acknowledged that the president was probably tired because he had been working nonstop.

White House thanks Fox News reporter after he appeared to regret defending Biden

Jan 6 ‘zip-tie guy’ and his mom sentenced to prison

Monday 11 September 2023 18:30 , Oliver O'Connell

A mother-and-son duo who carried zip ties as they searched for lawmakers after breaching the US Capitol were sentenced to federal prison for several felony and misdemeanour charges in connection with the riots.

Alex Woodward reports.

‘Zip-tie guy’ and his mother sentenced to prison for January 6 crimes

Ramaswamy says he will deport US citizens born to undocumented migrants

Monday 11 September 2023 18:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Vivek Ramaswamy has positioned himself as the hardline immigration candidate in the 2024 race, thanks to one of his latest interviews with reporters on the campaign trail.

John Bowden reports.

Vivek Ramaswamy says he will deport US citizens born to undocumented migrants

Trump challenges rivals to mental acuity test

Monday 11 September 2023 17:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Years after bragging about his “difficult” cognitive test, former president Donald Trump once again touted that he “aced it” and challenged President Joe Biden, Rupert Murdoch, and others to take the same evaluation.

Kelly Rissman reports.

Trump recalls his infamous mental acuity test as he challenges rivals to a new one

Judge orders expedited briefing on Meadows emergency motion for stay pending appeal

Monday 11 September 2023 17:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Fulton County must respond by 12pm on Tuesday.

Trump tries to move Colorado election lawsuit to federal court

Monday 11 September 2023 17:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s legal team sought this week to move a lawsuit filed by a top ethics watchdog seeking to bar him from office to federal court.

But that strategy may not be successful for the former president, who could be facing the most serious threat yet to his 2024 chances.

John Bowden explains.

Trump wants to move lawsuit seeking to bar him from 2024 race to federal court

Meadows asks judge to stay order denying bid to move Fulton County case to federal court

Monday 11 September 2023 16:36 , Oliver O'Connell

Mark Meadows has asked Judge Jones to stay his order denying the former White House chief of staff’s bid to move his Fulton County criminal case to federal court.

Mr Meadows says he will seek expedited appeal at the 11th Circuit and wants to prevent the state court from entering a verdict while he pursues that appeal.

Graeme Massie filed this earlier report on the judge’s order.

Meadows loses bid to move Trump Georgia election subversion case to federal court

Trump says ending Roe v Wade ‘cost us politically’

Monday 11 September 2023 16:00 , Alex Woodward

In remarks to a crowd of supporters at a South Dakota rally on 8 September, the former president – who once said “I’m the one that got rid of Roe v Wade” – admitted that the Supreme Court decision has “probably cost” the GOP politically.

“Last year, those justices bravely and incredibly ruled on something that everybody has wanted for decades,” Mr Trump said. “They ruled to end Roe v Wade. That was a big thing. And it’s probably cost us politically, because the other side got energised.”

Trump says ending Roe v Wade ‘cost us politically’

Colorado secretary of state calls Trump a ‘liar’

Monday 11 September 2023 15:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Colorado’s secretary of state has responded after Donald Trump accused her of working to prevent him from taking the presidency again.

John Bowden reports.

Colorado secretary of state calls Trump a ‘liar’ amid lawsuit to bar him from ballot

Harris marks 9/11 anniversary in New York

Monday 11 September 2023 15:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Vice President Kamala Harris arrived in New York City on Monday to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks as President Joe Biden heads to Alaska amid some right-wing criticism.

Eric Garcia reports.

Kamala Harris heads to New York 9/11 anniversary as critics say Biden visits Alaska

GOP senator explains what he might do if Trump becomes party’s nominee

Monday 11 September 2023 15:00 , John Bowden

A Republican senator who has long voiced his opposition to Donald Trump winning the GOP primary in 2024 is now saying he may not vote for either Joe Biden or Mr Trump next year if the two are their respective parties’ nominees.

Bill Cassidy spoke on Meet the Press on Sunday and explained that he would likely write in another candidate, essentially tossing away his vote, were the two to be on the ballot in November of 2024.

“I might have to write it in,” he said, after saying that he would vote for a Republican — but not necessarily Mr Trump.

GOP senator explains what he might do if Trump is the nominee in 2024

Military and Republican officials blast Tommy Tuberville’s ‘paralysing’ blockade

Monday 11 September 2023 14:30 , Joe Sommerlad

Alabama football coach turned Republican senator Tommy Tuberville has single-handedly blocked the promotion of hundreds of American military officials since March to protest Pentagon policy to reimburse service members’ travel expenses for abortion care.

His blockade has left three branches of the military without confirmed leaders, a position that senior military officials warn could expose the US to national security threats and put American service members in the middle of a politically caustic anti-abortion crusade.

In recent days, secretaries of the US Army, Navy and Air Force have accused Mr Tuberville of “actively” eroding “the foundation of America’s enduring military advantage” with a misguided protest.

Alex Woodward has more.

Military and GOP officials blast Tommy Tuberville’s ‘paralyzing’ blockade

Republican senator says he will not vote for either Trump or Biden if former is GOP nominee

Monday 11 September 2023 14:00 , Joe Sommerlad

Bill Cassidy, a Republican senator who has long voiced his opposition to Donald Trump winning the GOP primary in 2024, is now saying he may not vote for either Joe Biden or Mr Trump next year if the two are their respective parties’ nominees.

Mr Cassidy spoke on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday and explained that he would likely write in another candidate, essentially tossing away his vote, were the two to be on the ballot in November of 2024.

“I might have to write it in,” he said, after saying that he would vote for a Republican — but not necessarily Mr Trump.

John Bowden has more.

GOP senator explains what he might do if Trump is the nominee in 2024

McCarthy juggles government shutdown and Biden impeachment inquiry as House returns to messy fall

Monday 11 September 2023 13:30 , Joe Sommerlad

House speaker Kevin McCarthy is a man who stays in motion – enthusiastically greeting tourists at the Capitol, dashing overseas last week to the G7 summit of industrial world leaders, raising funds back home to elect fellow Republicans to the House majority.

But beneath the whirlwind of activity is a stubborn standstill, an imbalance of power between the far-right Republicans who hoisted McCarthy to the speaker’s role yet threaten his own ability to lead the House.

It’s a political standoff that will be tested anew as the House returns this week from a long summer recess and McCarthy faces a collision course of difficult challenges – seeking to avoid a government shutdown, support Ukraine in the war and launch an impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden.

McCarthy juggles government shutdown and Biden impeachment inquiry as House returns to messy fall

Colorado secretary of state calls Trump ‘a liar with no respect for the Constitution’

Monday 11 September 2023 13:00 , Joe Sommerlad

Colorado’s secretary of state Jena Griswold has responded after Mr Trump accused CREW of political bias as it pursues its bid to prevent him from taking the presidency again in the aforementioned lawsuit.

The former president had raged on Truth Social: “The group suing me in Colorado to ridiculously try and Unconstitutionally keep me off the ballot (I am leading against DeSanctimonious by almost 50 points, and beating Crooked Joe, BIG!), is TRUMP DERANGED ‘CREW,’ composed of many slime balls & groups like Norm Eisen through Brookings or Just Security, Andrew Weissmann, Joyce Vance, et al. They are, perhaps illegally, working with Weissmann acolyte Lisa Monaco at “Injustice.” I have been beating them for years, including Impeachments. MAGA!!!”

Ms Griswold reacted to that in an interview with MSNBC by saying: “Trump is a liar with no respect for the Constitution.

“To say that a section of the 14th Amendment is election interference and considering how to uphold the Constitution is election interference is un-American. We know that the former president is a liar who will do everything he can to hold onto power.”

John Bowden has more.

Colorado secretary of state calls Trump a ‘liar’ amid lawsuit to bar him from ballot

Trump tries to move 14th Amendment lawsuit seeking to bar him from 2024 race to federal court

Monday 11 September 2023 12:30 , Joe Sommerlad

Mr Trump’s legal team last week sought to move a lawsuit filed by a top ethics watchdog seeking to bar him from taking part in the 2024 election or ever holding office again to federal court.

But that strategy may not be successful for the former president, who could be facing the most serious threat yet to his re-election prospects.

On Wednesday, Washington’s top ethics watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) announced the beginning of a effort to secure Mr Trump’s disqualification from the ballot under the US Constitution’s 14th Amendment.

The plan hinges on language barring those who gave “aid or comfort” to a rebellion or insurrection from holding any state or federal office.

John Bowden has more.

Trump wants to move lawsuit seeking to bar him from 2024 race to federal court

Trump says ending Roe v Wade ‘cost us politically’

Monday 11 September 2023 12:00 , Joe Sommerlad

Before that, Mr Trump had spoken at a rally in South Dakota on Friday evening alongside state governor Kristi Noem – widely tipped as his next running mate – at which he conceded that the conservative movement’s overturning of Roe v Wade had “cost us politically”, despite previously having attempted to take credit for it.

Here’s Alex Woodward again to explain.

Trump says ending Roe v Wade ‘cost us politically’

‘Where’s Melania?’ banner flies above Trump during Iowa football game

Monday 11 September 2023 11:30 , Joe Sommerlad

That astonishing rant (even by his standards) came after he returned to the early primary state of Iowa over the weekend and faced ridicule when a banner was flown over a college football game he was attending asking “Where’s Melania?”.

Mr Trump’s wife has rarely been seen in public of late and appears to want no part in his re-election campaign, having evidently not enjoyed her four-year tenure as US first lady.

The game between the University of Iowa and Iowa State University also marked the first time that he was at the same place as one of his closest rivals, Ron DeSantis, since their appearances at the Iowa State Fair last month, as the Republican candidates vying for the GOP’s 2024 nomination prepare for Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucuses early next year.

While Mr DeSantis sat in the stands at Jack Trice Stadium alongside state governor Kim Reynolds, whom Mr Trump has denounced, the former president sat in a box seat behind glass, where he looked out at a crowd that appeared to be giving him a middle finger.

The former president’s supporters insist the middle fingers were meant for rival fans.

Alex Woodward has more.

‘Where’s Melania?’ banner flies above Iowa game as Trump met with cheers and jeers

Trump challenges Rupert Murdoch, Joe Biden and Wall Street Journal executives to mental acuity tests

Monday 11 September 2023 11:23 , Joe Sommerlad

Donald Trump has taken to Truth Social to rage about “a phony and probably rigged” poll in The Wall Street Journal that asked respondents their opinion of his age and mental competency as he makes a fresh run for the White House in 2024 – despite battling no fewer than four criminal indictments.

At 77, Mr Trump is just three years younger than Joe Biden, whom he has long argued is too old for the demands of the presidency.

Taking to social media, the former commander-in-chief claimed that he had recently “ACED” a psychological examination and fumed as follows:

“In a phony and probably rigged Wall Street Journal poll, coming out of nowhere to softened the mental incompetence blow that is so obvious with Crooked Joe Biden, they ask about my age and mentality. Where did that come from? A few years ago I was the only one to agree to a mental acuity test, & ACED IT. Now that the Globalists at Fox & the WSJ have failed to push their 3rd tier candidate to success, they do this. Well, I hereby challenge Rupert Murdoch & Sons, Biden, WSJ heads, to acuity tests!”

Was that all? Oh no, absolutely not. He continued in a second post:

“Page 2: I will name the place and the test, and it will be a tough one. Nobody will come even close to me! We can also throw some physical activity into it. I just won the Senior Club Championship at a big golf club, with many very good players. To do so you need strength, accuracy, touch and, above all, mental toughness. Ask Bret Baier (Fox), a very good golfer. The Wall Street Journal & Fox are damaged goods after their failed DeSanctimonious push & stupid $780,000,000 “settlement.” MORONS!!!”

Could South Dakota governor be Trump’s running mate?

Saturday 9 September 2023 14:00 , Ariana Baio

Donald Trump will head to South Dakota on Friday for a party fundraiser that will double as an opportunity for the state’s governor, Kristi Noem, to showcase herself as a potential vice presidential pick, two senior Republicans familiar with her told The Associated Press.

Mr Trump will join the South Dakota Republican Party for a “Monumental Leaders Rally” in Rapid City.

Ms Noem will appear alongside the former president and is expected to endorse him, creating an image of the pair that Noem’s allies hope looks like a presidential ticket, according to two senior Republicans familiar with her thinking who spoke on condition of anonymity because she had not yet made her endorsement public.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

Hail Mary time? Poll-challenged Pence channels the NFL in touting how he can catch up with Trump

Saturday 9 September 2023 13:30 , Ariana Baio

Maybe he’s dreaming of a Hail Mary.

That might have been on former Vice President Mike Pence’s mind when likened his polling gap to former President Donald Trump in the 2024 race to an NFL game after a recent poll revealed a huge margin between the two candidates.

Kelly Rissman reports:

Hail Mary time? Poll-challenged Pence channels NFL in touting how he can catch Trump

Trump shares article calling him ‘un-Christian’ for sexual assault of E Jean Carroll and affair with Stormy Daniels

Saturday 9 September 2023 13:00 , Ariana Baio

Former president Donald Trump, who was recently found liable for the second time for defaming E Jean Carroll over his sexual assault of her, shared an article that called him “un-Christian” for his attack on her and his alleged affair with porn star Stormy Daniels.

On Truth Social, Mr Trump shared a Milwaukee Independent article called “A MAGA Idol: Why Trump’s Un-Christian Behavior Makes Him A Hero To Conservative Christians.”

The article features an image of the former president holding a Bible in front of St John’s Parish House with his eyes closed.

“For eight years, Donald Trump has managed to secure the support of many evangelical and conservative Christians despite behavior that often seemed at odds with teachings espoused by Christ in the Gospels,” the article began.

The piece noted that he is the 2024 GOP frontrunner “even after he recently was found liable for sexually abusing a New York woman in 1996 and was indicted in a criminal case related to hush money payments to a porn actress.”

ICYMI: Trump notifies judge he make seek to have Georgia cased moved to federal court

Saturday 9 September 2023 12:00 , Ariana Baio

Texas AG Ken Paxton claims fellow Republicans plotted to oust him

Saturday 9 September 2023 11:00 , AP

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has long denied corruption accusations that have dogged him for years. But as his impeachment trial gets underway, another defense is emerging: that fellow Republicans plotted to oust him.

His attorneys have so far presented no evidence in the trial, which continued Thursday, that Paxton was the victim of an attempt to replace him. But as former aides give testimony about how Paxton pressured them to help a political donor who was under FBI investigation, Paxton’s attorneys have raised questions about lobbyists and a meeting at Gov. Greg Abbott’s office, and have brought up George P. Bush, who lost to Paxton in last year’s Republican primary.

“It was not a mutiny,” Ryan Bangert, one of Paxton’s former aides, testified Thursday about a group of deputies who reported their boss to the FBI in 2020. “We were protecting the interest of the state and protecting the interest of the attorney general and, in my view, signing our professional death warrant at the same time.”

Trump could face an extensive list of trials next year. Here are all the court dates

Saturday 9 September 2023 10:00 , Ariana Baio

Donald Trump’s 2024 calendar is quickly booking up with court dates corresponding to his plentiful criminal indictments and civil lawsuits.

Ariana Baio reports:

When is Donald Trump going on trial?

Voices: Nancy Pelosi’s latest move has changed the game

Saturday 9 September 2023 09:00 , Ariana Baio

“After months of speculation about her next move, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi just announced she’s running for re-election in 2024.

The legendary California lawmaker, who turned 83 this year, has been in Congress for 36 years, led the House Democratic caucus for 20 years, and was the first woman Speaker of the House. Now, with the honorary title of Speaker Emeritus, Pelosi’s announcement clears the potential primary field and puts her on the path toward an almost certain re-election.”

Ahmed Baba writes:

Watch out – Nancy Pelosi’s latest move has changed the game