Trump news – latest: SNL mocks Trump for claim NYPD ‘cried’ during arrest

Financial disclosures with the Federal Election Commission show 2024 candidate Donald Trump raked in millions of dollars after news of his criminal indictment and his prediction of his “arrest” last month.

Filings also reveal that he made more than $5m from speaking engagements, between $100,000 and $1m with his NFT scheme and less than $200 from Truth Social.

The filings come a day after he addressed a National Rifle Association conference with his vow to protect gun ownership rights “forever” despite several recent mass shootings across the US.

Mr Trump returned to New York on Thursday to sit for a deposition in the civil case brought against him, his adult children and the Trump Organization by New York Attorney General Letitia James, alleging a decade-long fraud scheme that gave lenders false financial statements overvaluing assets.

His appearance marked his first return to New York since he was arraigned on a 34-count criminal indictment of felony charges of falsifying business records. Mr Trump has sued his former lawyer at the centre of that case, Michael Cohen, for $500m. Cohen said he is considering countersuing.

Key Points

• Trump’s financial disclosures reveal his post-White house earnings

• Trump’s presidential campaign has raised $34m so far this year

• Trump tells NRA conference he will end Biden’s ‘war’ on guns: ‘What they’re doing is crazy’

• Michael Cohen considers countersuing Trump

• Trump met with chants of ‘New York hates you!’ as he arrives for deposition

Why is everyone always crying in Donald Trump’s stories? SNL asks

17:41 , Josh Marcus

Saturday Night Live is rarely short of material when it comes to Donald Trump, and last night was no different.

During “Weekend Update,” host Colin Jost mocked the former president’s recent claim that New York police were crying when he was arrested over his indictment for hush money payments.

“Why is everyone in Trump’s stories always crying?” the comedian asked, before a supercut of Mr Trump’s insistence, probably false, everyone around him is constantly in waterworks.

Watch the full clip here.

Mike Pompeo won’t be running for president

14:00 , Alex Woodward

Mike Pompeo, who served as US Secretary of State during the Trump administration, will not be running for president in 2024 after all, despite what his ongoing book promotion, CPAC appearance and his speculative remarks in the press would lead one to believe.

“We’re not going to join the race in 2024,” he Fox News’ Bret Baier.

Mr Pompeo and his wife “came to the conclusion that this wasn’t the moment for us,” he added.

13:00 , Alex Woodward

Trump made less than $200 from Truth Social and millions from speaking gigs and overseas deals, filings show

Trump’s personal financial disclosure reports with the Federal Election Commission offer the first public glimpse into his earnings and financial state since leaving the White House in 2021.

His campaign also said he raised more than $15m between the announcement of criminal charges against him and the end of the filing deadline, with a massive $34m haul within the first few months of the year alone.

Trump’s financial disclosures reveal ex-president’s financial state

Audio reveals Rudy Giuliani and Trump campaign had no evidence to back up Dominion claims

12:00 , Alex Woodward

Audio released by MSNBC includes Rudy Giulani privately admitting to Fox News personality Maria Bartiromo that he knew little about Dominion Voting Systems and had difficulty defending false claims that the company was involved with election fraud.

Recordings aired by the network on 12 April also include audio from a Donald Trump campaign official stating that a review from Georgia’s top election official did not discover any physical issues with Dominion machines.

The release of the audio comes at the start of a trial against the network stemming from a $1.6bn defamation lawsuit from Dominion, which has accused the network and its leadership of spreading false claims and baseless conspiracy theories about the company’s role in the 2020 presidential election.

The trial begins on Monday.

Giuliani and Trump campaign had no evidence for Dominion claims, recordings reveal

NRA crowd greets Mike Pence with boos: ‘I love you too’

10:00 , Alex Woodward

Mike Pence’s reception at the NRA’s event on Friday was in sharp contrast to that for the former president, who pressured Mr Pence to reject the results of the 2020 presidential election while overseeing a joint session of Congress on 6 January 2021 as a mob of Mr Trump’s supporters stormed the halls of the US Capitol.

“I hope you gave Pence a good, warm approval,” Mr Trump said in his remarks. “No, because he is a nice man, if you want to really know the truth, he is. He’s a good man. And I heard it was very rough.”

NRA crowd greets Mike Pence with boos: ‘I love you too’

ICYMI: Trump tells NRA conference he will end Biden’s ‘war’ on guns: ‘What they’re doing is crazy’

09:00 , Alex Woodward

Donald Trump’s keynote address to the NRA’s conference in Indiana this week came just four days after a gunman used an AR-15 rifle to murder five people and wound eight in a mass shooting at a bank in Louisville, Kentucky.

His labelling of Joe Biden’s “war” on guns comes after the president announced a sweeping executive order to “accelerate” the White House’s efforts on gun reform and combat the proliferation of firearms. There have been more than 150 mass shootings and more than 12,000 Americans have died from gun violence in this year alone.

Mr Trump called actions to curb the spread of guns “crazy”.

Trump tells NRA conference he will end Biden’s ‘war’ on guns

Trump paid off six outstanding loans since leaving office – and he took out new ones

08:00 , Alex Woodward

Financial disclosures show that the former president has more than $200m in total debts, though he paid off six outstanding loans since leaving the White House, including one valued at more than $50m on Trump Tower and Trump Doral golf club in Florida, the organisation’s biggest money maker, according to The New York Times’ review of his 101-page filing with the FEC.

He also took out some new loans on each of those properties, totaling $50m each.

Mr Trump also paid off a loan valued at more than $50m on the Washington hotel he sold last year.

Most of the loans are from Deutsche Bank, where he once had a balance of more than $295. His still owes $45m.

If elected, Trump wants federal employees to take apparent political loyalty test

07:00 , Alex Woodward

In a video released by his campaign, Trump said he wants “every federal employees to pass a new civil service test” if he is elected.

His test appears to run through a checklist of conservative ideological bulletpoints, including an understanding of “our constitutional, limited government,” the role of federalism, “religious liberty,” and “unreasonable search and seizure,” mentioning the FBI’s lawful search of his Mar-a-Lago property connected to long-running investigation into his withholding of classified documents.

NRA crowd greets Mike Pence with boos: ‘I love you too’

05:00 , Alex Woodward

Mike Pence’s reception at the NRA’s event on Friday was in sharp contrast to that for the former president, who pressured Mr Pence to reject the results of the 2020 presidential election while overseeing a joint session of Congress on 6 January 2021 as a mob of Mr Trump’s supporters stormed the halls of the US Capitol.

“I hope you gave Pence a good, warm approval,” Mr Trump said in his remarks. “No, because he is a nice man, if you want to really know the truth, he is. He’s a good man. And I heard it was very rough.”

NRA crowd greets Mike Pence with boos: ‘I love you too’

Trump made less than $200 from Truth Social and millions from speaking gigs and overseas deals, filings show

03:00 , Alex Woodward

Trump’s personal financial disclosure reports with the Federal Election Commission offer the first public glimpse into his earnings and financial state since leaving the White House in 2021.

His campaign also said he raised more than $15m between the announcement of criminal charges against him and the end of the filing deadline, with a massive $34m haul within the first few months of the year alone.

Trump’s financial disclosures reveal ex-president’s financial state

ICYMI: Trump threatens trans healthcare in NRA speech baselessly blaming gender-affirming care for violence

01:30 , Alex Woodward

In his remarks to a National Rifle Association event on Friday, Donald Trump vowed to use the full force of the federal government to investigate gender-affirming care for transgender Americans, a statement that elevates his anti-trans rhetoric and Republican threats to LGBT+ people ahead of 2024 elections.

There have been more than 155 mass shootings and more than 12,000 gun-related deaths in 2023, which the GOP presidential candidate blamed on a “mental health problem” and a “spiritual problem” in his remarks in Indiana on 14 April.

He said he would direct the US Food and Drug Administration to study the effects of gender-affirming healthcare and so-called “trans ideology” on mental health and “violence”, should he be elected.

Trump threatens trans healthcare in NRA speech

Marjorie Taylor Greene spent more than $65,000 in campaign funds on home fence

Sunday 16 April 2023 00:30 , Alex Woodward

Far-right congressmember and staunch Trump ally Marjorie Taylor Greene reportedly spent more than $65,000 of her campaign funds installing a fence at her home, according to Federal Election Commission records.

Marjorie Taylor Greene spent more than $65,000 in campaign funds on home fence

Judge who wants to block mifepristone removed his name from anti-abortion article before Senate confirmation

Saturday 15 April 2023 23:30 , Alex Woodward

The federal judge appointed by Donald Trump presiding over a challenge to a widely used abortion drug reportedly failed to disclose to members of Congress that he authored an article attacking abortion rights and transgender healthcare in a right-wing legal journal.

US District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, then an attorney for an influential conservative Christian legal group, removed his name from the article before a judicial nomination process under then-President Donald Trump, according to The Washington Post.

The article did not come up during his testimony to the US Senate, which ultimately approved his appointment to the federal bench in 2019.

Judge in mifepristone case failed to disclose writing anti-abortion article

Top Trump lawyer recuses himself from Mar-a-Lago case, report says

Saturday 15 April 2023 22:30 , Alex Woodward

Evan Corcoran will no longer be representing the former president in the federal case involving classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, according to The Washington Post.

Federal prosecutors have recently won a court battle that allows them to question Mr Corcoran in the Justice Department special counsel investigation, with judges determining that he could not use attorney-client privilege to avoid discussing his communication with the former president.

Trump lawyer Tim Parlatore told the newspaper in a statement that “the legal team handling all matters involving the special counsel – myself, James Trusty, John Rowley, Lindsey Halligan, and Evan Corcoran is intact and we continue to work closely with Evan as we do with the entire team to protect our client.”

Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung told The Post that reports about Mr Corcoran’s recusal are inaccurate. Mr Corcoran’s lawyer declined to comment.

NRA crowd greets Mike Pence with boos: ‘I love you too’

Saturday 15 April 2023 21:30 , Alex Woodward

Mike Pence’s reception at the NRA’s event on Friday was in sharp contrast to that for the former president, who pressured Mr Pence to reject the results of the 2020 presidential election while overseeing a joint session of Congress on 6 January 2021 as a mob of Mr Trump’s supporters stormed the halls of the US Capitol.

“I hope you gave Pence a good, warm approval,” Mr Trump said in his remarks. “No, because he is a nice man, if you want to really know the truth, he is. He’s a good man. And I heard it was very rough.”

NRA crowd greets Mike Pence with boos: ‘I love you too’

Full story: Trump made less than $200 from Truth Social and millions from speaking gigs and overseas deals, filings show

Saturday 15 April 2023 20:30 , Alex Woodward

Trump’s personal financial disclosure reports with the Federal Election Commission offer the first public glimpse into his earnings and financial state since leaving the White House in 2021.

His campaign also said he raised more than $15m between the announcement of criminal charges against him and the end of the filing deadline, with a massive $34m haul within the first few months of the year alone.

Trump’s financial disclosures reveal ex-president’s financial state

Melania Trump’s two-year-old company earned millions, report shows

Saturday 15 April 2023 19:30 , Alex Woodward

Former first lady Melania Trump’s MKT World LLC, which was incorporated in 2021 with the same address as the Trump International Golf Club, earned somewhere between $1m and $5m, financial disclosure reports show.

It’s unclear what, exactly, the company does, though Ms Trump has launched several ventures since departing the White House, including a deal with Parler and a line of NFTs.

Trump paid off six outstanding loans since leaving office – and he took out new ones

Saturday 15 April 2023 18:51 , Alex Woodward

Financial disclosures show that the former president has more than $200m in total debts, though he paid off six outstanding loans since leaving the White House, including one valued at more than $50m on Trump Tower and Trump Doral golf club in Florida, the organisation’s biggest money maker.

He also took out some new loans on each of those propertiries, totaling $50m each.

Mr Trump also paid off a loan valued at more than $50m on the Washington hotel he sold last year.

Most of the loans are from Deutsche Banke, where he once had a balance of more than $295. His still owes $45m.

Trump’s presidential campaign has raised $34m so far this year, mostly off his criminal indictment and ‘arrest’ prediction

Saturday 15 April 2023 17:30 , Alex Woodward

Trump’s presidential campaign has raised more than $34m since the start of the year ahead of his 2024 run for the White House, according to reporting from Politico and the Associated Press.

A huge surge in contributions came from fundraising after he predicted his “arrest” and after criminal charges in New York were filed against him.

His reports with the Federal Election Commission will show he raised roughly $18.8m between a campaign account and a joint fundraising account over the the first three months of the year – $4m of which came after his indictment on 30 March.

His campaign said he raised more than $15m between the announcement of charges against him and the end of the filing deadline.

Here’s how his campaign pushed for donations after he predicted his “arrest”:

How Trump’s campaign is raking in millions after his arrest prediction and indictment

Trump’s financial disclosures reveal his post-White house earnings

Saturday 15 April 2023 16:40 , Alex Woodward

Trump’s financial disclosures with the Federal Election Commission show that he made more than $5m from speaking engagements, between $100,000 and $1m with his NFT scheme and less than $200 from Truth Social.

The 101-page document also shows that he earned $5m in royalties through “DT Marks Oman LLC,” one of his overseas business ventures.

A report from The New York Times last year found that his Trump Organization inked a deal with a Saudi real estate company to build a Trump-affiliated hotel, villa and golf course in Oman as part of a $4bn project.

Mr Trump also claimed to earn revenue from 16 different books, though most made him less than $201, according to the filing.

Truth Social, which is reportedly valued between $5m and $25m, made him less than $201, according to the document.

He owns 90 per cent of Trump Media & Technology Group Corp, the umbrella group for Truth Social.

Trump threatens trans healthcare in NRA speech baselessly blaming gender-affirming care for violence

Saturday 15 April 2023 16:00 , Alex Woodward

In his remarks to a National Rifle Association event, Donald Trump vowed to use the full force of the federal government to investigate gender-affirming care for transgender Americans, a statement that elevates his anti-trans rhetoric and Republican threats to LGBT+ people ahead of 2024 elections.

Trump threatens trans healthcare in NRA speech

Michael Cohen says he may file countersuit to Trump’s $500m case: ‘I can’t believe how stupid he was’

Saturday 15 April 2023 15:30 , Alex Woodward

Michael Cohen has suggested he will file a countersuit against Donald Trump, who he said should have listened to lawyers who told him that doing so would be “a mistake”.

The former president had slapped a $500m lawsuit on Wednesday against his former lawyer Mr Cohen alleging a breach of his attorney-client relationship and unjust enrichment, among other claims.

On Thursday’s Political Breakdown podcast, Mr Cohen weighed in on the lawsuit against him.

“It’s possibly one of the most important cases for our democracy. I can’t believe how stupid he was to have actually filed it,” Mr Cohen said.

Michael Cohen says he may file countersuit to Trump’s $500m case

Who is the Trump-appointed judge trying to ban a widely used abortion drug?

Saturday 15 April 2023 14:40 , Alex Woodward

Good morning in America.

Yesterday, the US Supreme Court temporarily halted a federal court ruling from a Texas judge that would have blocked the government’s approval of a commonly used abortion drug, which was first approved more than 20 years ago.

The judge who took up the case and issued a ruling that has been widely criticised by abortion rights advocates and legal analysts is Matthew Kacsmaryk, who was appointed by Donald Trump.

Who is Trump-appointed judge Matthew Kacsmaryk trying to ban abortion drug?

Pro-Trump ad attacks ‘pudding fingers’ Ron DeSantis

Saturday 15 April 2023 14:00 , Graeme Massie

Ex-president has launched a series of attacks on Ron DeSantis as the Florida Governor is expected to announce his campaign for the White House.

Pro-Trump ad attacks ‘pudding fingers’ Ron DeSantis

Judge denies Trump bid to delay rape trial after his lawyers accuse LinkedIn co-founder of funding accuser

Saturday 15 April 2023 13:06 , Graeme Massie

This is the second time Trump has tried and failed to delay the lawsuit.

Ariana Baio has all the details.

Judge denies Trump bid to delay rape trial over questions of accuser’s legal support

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg is sent a second package containing white powder after Trump arrest

Saturday 15 April 2023 12:08 , Graeme Massie

On Wednesday, two law enforcement agents officials told NBC News that an envelope, which was addressed to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, was reported to authorities after being found to contain an explicit note, a photo of Mr Bragg and Donald Trump, and a mysterious white powder.

It’s the second instance of Mr Bragg receiving such a threatening package since his prosecution of the former president began.

New York police were called to the mailroom at the office located in Lower Manhattan as a precaution and determined the white powder was nonhazardous.

Read more in The Independent:

Alvin Bragg sent a second package containing white powder after Trump arrest

Audio reveals Rudy Giuliani and Trump campaign had no evidence to back up Dominion claims

Saturday 15 April 2023 11:05 , Graeme Massie

A second audio recording in which former Trump lead attorney Rudy Giuliani admits that the Trump campaign had no evidence to back up their claims about Dominion Voting Systems has been released.

The latest revelation is thanks to the $1.6bn lawsuit the company has filed against Fox News, which is resulting in a cascade of humiliation for the right-leaning network as private communications between top personalities who publicly defended these claims on air have been publicised.

Read more:

Giuliani and Trump campaign had no evidence for Dominion claims, recordings reveal

Republican Tim Scott launches exploratory 2024 committee

Saturday 15 April 2023 10:18 , Graeme Massie

The Senate’s lone Black Republican member is entering the 2024 race.

Sen Tim Scott on Wednesday announced the launch of an exploratory political campaign for the Republican nomination; in doing so, he also previewed what is likely to be the defining weakness of his campaign. His announcement interview carried no mention of Donald Trump and reflected little of the actual realities of today’s modern-day GOP.

Read more:

Republican Senator Tim Scott launches exploratory committee

Legal troubles ramp up for Fox as Rupert Murdoch is sued by investor over ‘stolen election claims’

Saturday 15 April 2023 09:01 , Graeme Massie

An individual shareholder of Fox Corporation is suing Chairman Rupert Murdoch and his son, Lachlan Murdoch, as well as other members of the company’s board alleging they breached their fiduciary duty to the company.

In a lawsuit filed in Delaware Chancery Court on 11 April, investor Robert Schwarz brought forth a derivative suit claiming that board members chose to promote “false stolen election claims” which negatively impacted the company’s reputation and led to two defamation cases.

This news comes as more and more Fox employees are fretting in comments to journalists about the future of their company thanks to the massive $1.6bn lawsuit from Dominion Voting Systems that threatens the company’s finances in an unprecedented way.

Ariana Baio has more:

Fox investor sues Rupert Murdoch over ‘stolen election claims’

Inside the Stormy Daniels hush money case that led to Trump’s arrest

Saturday 15 April 2023 07:57 , Graeme Massie

The origins of Donald Trump’s current legal woes date all the way back to his first bid for the presidency, when he faced Hillary Clinton as a mostly-untested political newcomer and was (at the time) facing a barrage of criticism over revolting sexist remarks made on a leaked Access Hollywood tape.

With the US now facing the historic prospect of a former president being prosecuted as a criminal in open court, let’s go back to the beginning, and look at the major milestones of the Stormy Daniels saga and how it led to this moment:

What did Donald Trump do?

2024 contender Tim Scott says he backs 20-week federal abortion ban

Saturday 15 April 2023 07:04 , Graeme Massie

Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina said Thursday that he supports a federal abortion ban after 20 weeks of pregnancy and would sign such legislation into law if he became president.

“It makes total sense to me,” Scott told reporters in New Hampshire, where he was meeting with GOP officials and pastors a day after announcing his exploratory committee for a 2024 presidential campaign.

Read more:

GOP's Tim Scott says he backs 20-week federal abortion ban

Capitol riot navy veteran sentenced to three years in jail

Saturday 15 April 2023 06:12 , Graeme Massie

A former Navy reservist and Proud Boys member who stormed the US Capitol on 6 January 2021, and expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler, was sentenced on Thursday to three years in prison on firearms charges.

Read more:

Navy veteran who stormed Capitol gets 3 years on gun charges

In shadow of multiple mass shootings, GOP 2024 hopefuls to address NRA convention

Saturday 15 April 2023 05:03 , Graeme Massie

Last year it was Uvalde. Now it’s Nashville and Louisville. For the second year in a row, the National Rifle Association is holding its annual convention within days of mass shootings that shook the nation.

The three-day gathering, beginning Friday, will include thousands of the organization’s most active members at Indianapolis’ convention center and is attracting a bevy of top Republican presidential candidates — enough that it could help shape the early part of next year’s GOP primary race.

Read more:

Top 2024 hopefuls to address NRA convention after shootings

New Yorkers love to hate Trump

Saturday 15 April 2023 04:09 , Graeme Massie

Donald Trump’s motorcade was met with chants of “New York hates you” after he returned to the city for a deposition in a $250m civil lawsuit alleging fraud by his company and him.

Shweta Sharma has the story.

Trump met with chants of ‘New York hates you!’ as he arrives for Manhattan deposition

‘I can’t believe how stupid he was’: Cohen may file countersuit to Trump case

Saturday 15 April 2023 03:04 , Graeme Massie

Michael Cohen has suggested he will file a countersuit against Donald Trump, who he said should have listened to lawyers who told him that doing so would be “a mistake”.

The former president had slapped a $500m lawsuit on Wednesday against his former lawyer Mr Cohen alleging a breach of his attorney-client relationship and unjust enrichment, among other claims.

On Thursday’s Political Breakdown podcast, Mr Cohen weighed in on the lawsuit against him.

Sebastian Miño-Bucheli reports on what he said:

Michael Cohen says he may file countersuit to Trump’s $500m case

Voices: Trump’s legal trouble could make or break his campaign

Saturday 15 April 2023 02:03 , Graeme Massie

Chris Stevenson writes:

Trump’s team will want to make as much political hay as they can now, with the aim of trying to build up a momentum that would be difficult to stop once the voting for the Republican presidential nominees begins.

Trump’s legal trouble could make or break his campaign | Chris Stevenson

Mike Pompeo will not challenge Trump in 2024

Saturday 15 April 2023 00:36 , Graeme Massie

“Susan and I have concluded, after much consideration and prayer, that I will not present myself as a candidate to become President of the United States in the 2024 election,” the Republican tweeted on Friday afternoon.

Trump attacks NY AG in NRA speech

Friday 14 April 2023 23:55 , Graeme Massie

Trump told NRA members that they share a common enemy in New York Attorney General Letitia James, who has filed a civil case against the one-term president.

“The very same raging radical left lunatic attorney general that is coming after me in New York state is also waging war on the NRA, shamefully trying to destroy this legendary organisation that’s been an American institution since 1871,” Mr Trump said.

Pence says Trump not right for 2024 bid

Friday 14 April 2023 23:14 , Graeme Massie

“I really do believe no one could have defeated Hillary Clinton in 2016 other than Donald Trump. But with all the challenges that we’re facing ... I truly do believe that different times call for different leadership,” said Mr Trump’s former vice president.

Trump tells NRA conference he will end Biden’s ‘war’ on guns: ‘What they’re doing is crazy’

Friday 14 April 2023 22:46 , Graeme Massie

The former president said he would remain a ‘loyal friend and fearless champion’ of the much-maligned group.

Trump tells NRA conference he will end Biden’s ‘war’ on guns

Marjorie Taylor Greene should lose her security clearance after defending Pentagon leaker, Liz Cheney says

Friday 14 April 2023 22:34 , Graeme Massie

The far-right MAGA lawmaker from Georgia has been widely criticised for coming to the defence of Airman Jack Teixeira following his arrest by the FBI in Massachusetts.

Liz Cheney attacks Marjorie Taylor Greene over defence of Pentagon leaker

Michael Cohen says he may file countersuit to Trump’s $500m case: ‘I can’t believe how stupid he was’

Friday 14 April 2023 21:46 , Graeme Massie

“It’s possibly one of the most important cases for our democracy. I can’t believe how stupid he was to have actually filed it,” Mr Cohen said.

Michael Cohen says he may file countersuit to Trump’s $500m case

Trump leaves Trump Tower after New York deposition

Friday 14 April 2023 20:59 , Graeme Massie

Special counsel on Mar-a-Lago papers investigating whether Trump showed off secret map, report says

Friday 14 April 2023 20:02 , Graeme Massie

Federal investigators are probing whether or not Donald Trump showed off a map containing sensitive intelligence information to his visitors after he left the White House.

The probe is part of the federal investigation into Mr Trump’s handling of classified documents following his presidency.

Investigators have questioned several witnesses about the map, according to sources familiar with the matter who spoke to The New York Times. The nature of the map’s contents are unknown.

Graig Graziosi reports:

Special counsel investigating whether Trump showed off secret map, report says

Trump’s ‘crying’ court staff claim? ‘Absolute BS’

Friday 14 April 2023 17:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s bizarre claim that New York court staff were “crying” when he was arrested and arraigned is “absolute BS”, according to a report.

Graeme Massie reports on the contradiction to the former president’s claim that surprised literally no one.

Trump’s ‘crying’ court staff claim is ‘absolute BS’ say law enforcement

MAGA Inc releases stomach-turning anti-DeSantis pudding ad

Friday 14 April 2023 14:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Not what you want to see during the morning news shows (especially while on a treadmill at the gym).

Enjoy!

LinkedIn founder is helping to fund E Jean Carroll rape case against Trump

Friday 14 April 2023 13:55 , Rachel Sharp

LinkedIn co-founder and major Democratic donor Reid Hoffman is helping to fund E Jean Carroll’s rape case against Donald Trump, it has been revealed.

Ms Carroll has claimed that Mr Trump raped her in the dressing room of the Bergdorf Goodman department store in the 1990s.

On Thursday, Mr Trump’s attorneys made court filings accusing Ms Carroll of intentionally failing to disclose that Mr Hoffman was funding her case.

A federal judge ruled that Mr Trump’s attorneys can question his rape accuser about the funding when the case heads to trial.

The judge also rejected a request from the former president’s team to delay the trial start date – after they claimed there needed to be a cooling off period after Mr Trump’s arrest in the hush money case.

Michael Cohen considers countersuing Trump

Friday 14 April 2023 13:25 , Rachel Sharp

Michael Cohen has suggested he will file a countersuit against Donald Trump, who he said should have listened to lawyers who told him that doing so would be “a mistake”.

The former president had slapped a $500m lawsuit on Wednesday against his former lawyer Mr Cohen alleging a breach of his attorney-client relationship and unjust enrichment, among other claims.

On Thursday’s Political Breakdown podcast, Mr Cohen weighed in on the lawsuit against him.

“This will be a civil suit that’s brought by him, with a countersuit. So, could you imagine, in a case that you’re the plaintiff on, despite the fact that you’ll be technically a defendant in the countersuit, that you’re now not going to answer questions?”

“That’s fantastic,” Mr Cohen said sarcastically.

Mr Cohen also dubbed the former president’s lawyers “the clown show, crackerjack lawyers” and dubbed the new case as a “David and Goliath” story.

The lawyer referred to himself as David and “the big, 3,000 pound gorilla over there” as Goliath.

“At the end of the day, I’m gonna hit him again with another rock right in the forehead, because the documents are stupid. They don’t make any sense,” Mr Cohen said.

“He’s gonna get countersued, there’s no doubt about that one, for what he’s doing.”

Andy Biggs introduces legislation to strip Bragg’s office of federal funds

Friday 14 April 2023 12:25 , John Bowden

An Arizona congressman and fierce Trump ally has announced a bill aimed at stripping Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office of any federal funding in revenge for the prosecution of Donald Trump by Mr Bragg. It faces a steep road to passage in House, which is controlled by a thin GOP majority. It will not pass the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats.

“District Attorney Alvin Bragg ran on a campaign pledge to indict President Trump. Bragg took the unprecedented action of converting alleged minor business misdemeanors to 34 individual felonies in an attempt to put President Trump behind bars and humiliate him and his supporters,” he told The Daily Caller.

In video: Trump claims courthouse staff ‘were crying’ when he was indicted

Friday 14 April 2023 11:55 , John Bowden

Donald Trump has claimed that court officials “were crying” when he was indicted on charges of business fraud.

The ex-US president has become the first former US president to face criminal charges after the indictment on 30 March by a Manhattan grand jury in a probe over hush money paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

During a fawning interview this week with Fox’s Tucker Carlson, Mr Trump described the courtroom staff as “incredible.”

Watch below:

Trump claims he spent deposition ‘educating’ Letitia James about his ‘American success story'

Friday 14 April 2023 10:55 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump has claimed that he spent his seven-hour deposition “educating” New York Attorney General Letitia James about his “American success story”.

The former president appeared for a deposition in New York on Thursday in the civil case brought against him, his adult children and the Trump Organization claiming that they gave lenders false financial statements overvaluing assets over a decade of deals.

During seven hours of testimony, Mr Trump “spent nearly seven hours today describing in detail his extraordinary business success,” according to his lawyer Chris Kise.

“This is an American success story. Last I checked, capitalism is still legal in America.“

His willingness to answer questions comes after he pleaded the Fifth more than 400 times when he sat for his first deposition in the case in August.

His appearance marked his first return to New York since he was arraigned on a 34-count indictment in the hush money case last week.

Jim Jordan to hold ‘field hearing’ of House Judiciary Committee on Bragg’s home turf

Friday 14 April 2023 08:25 , John Bowden

House Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Jordan will host a “field hearing”, likely to be attended by the committee’s Republican members, in New York next week as he continues his efforts to try and politically punish District Attorney Alvin Bragg for his prosecution of former President Donald Trump.

Mr Jordan plans to highlight victims of crime in New York City as he tries to argue that the Manhattan DA is ignoring his responsibilities to prosecute street crime as his office pursues charges against Mr Trump. Mr Bragg has fiercely denied this, and decried Mr Jordan’s efforts as blatant political intimidation.

Republican Tim Scott launches exploratory 2024 committee

Friday 14 April 2023 07:24 , John Bowden

The Senate’s lone Black Republican member is entering the 2024 race.

Sen Tim Scott on Wednesday announced the launch of an exploratory political campaign for the Republican nomination; in doing so, he also previewed what is likely to be the defining weakness of his campaign. His announcement interview carried no mention of Donald Trump and reflected little of the actual realities of today’s modern-day GOP.

Read more:

Republican Senator Tim Scott launches exploratory committee

Inside the Stormy Daniels hush money case that led to Trump’s arrest

Friday 14 April 2023 05:24 , John Bowden

The origins of Donald Trump’s current legal woes date all the way back to his first bid for the presidency, when he faced Hillary Clinton as a mostly-untested political newcomer and was (at the time) facing a barrage of criticism over revolting sexist remarks made on a leaked Access Hollywood tape.

With the US now facing the historic prospect of a former president being prosecuted as a criminal in open court, let’s go back to the beginning, and look at the major milestones of the Stormy Daniels saga and how it led to this moment:

What did Donald Trump do?

Trump seeks delay to rape case – claiming need for ‘cooling off’ period after indictment

Friday 14 April 2023 04:24 , John Bowden

An attorney for Donald Trump is seeking a one-month delay in the trial regarding a columnist’s claims that Mr Trump raped her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s, contending that his client’s right to a fair trial depends on a “cooling off” period following the former president’s indictment and arraignment.

The trial was set for April 25. In a letter Tuesday to Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, attorney Joseph Tacopina cited “the recent deluge of prejudicial media coverage” surrounding Trump’s arrest and court appearance in arguing for a delay. The former president was charged March 30 with 34 felony counts related to allegations that he paid hush money to an adult film star, Stormy Daniels.

The civil case before Judge Kaplan was brought against Mr Trump in November by E. Jean Carroll, a columnist who says the wealthy real estate developer raped her in early 1996 after a chance meeting at the Bergdorf Goodman department store.

Mr Trump has repeatedly and emphatically denied the allegation. A jury will be asked to decide whether the rape occurred and if Trump defamed Carroll with his comments.

A temporary state law that took effect last year allows adult rape victims to sue their abusers, even if attacks happened decades ago.

Mr Tacopina’s letter seeking a delay in the trial for Carroll’s civil suit followed Kaplan’s order on Monday directing parties in the case to notify him by April 20 whether they will be present throughout the trial in Manhattan federal court. Carroll’s attorney has said she will attend; Trump’s attorney has not responded to requests for comment on Kaplan’s order.

Associated Press

Manhattan DA sues Jim Jordan to block ‘transparent campaign’ of intimidation over Trump prosecution

Friday 14 April 2023 02:26 , John Bowden

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is fighting back at what he says is an explicit attempt by House Republicans to interfere in his office’s prosecution of Donald Trump.

On Tuesday, Mr Bragg sued the House Judiciary Committee chair, Jim Jordan, and accused him of undertaking “a transparent campaign to intimidate and attack District Attorney Bragg, making demands for confidential documents and testimony from the District Attorney himself as well as his current and former employees and officials” in federal court.

Republicans, predictably, howled in outrage at the DA’s response to their attempts to attack the credibility of his office.

Read more:

Manhattan DA sues Jim Jordan over Trump prosecution intimidation

Judge in Dominion Voting Systems case says Fox News has a ‘credibility problem’

Friday 14 April 2023 01:26 , John Bowden

Things took a turn for the worse for Fox News’s legal team this week as Dominion Voting Systems’s $1.6bn lawsuit against the channel proceeds.

A judge reprimanded Fox’s lawyers and said that he was no longer confident that attorneys for the company were being “straightforward” with the court.

Find out more in The Independent:

Judge: No separate defamation trials for Fox News, Fox Corp.

Trump is back in New York – for a different legal battle

Friday 14 April 2023 00:26 , John Bowden

Donald Trump returned to New York on Thursday for the first time since his arrest and arraignment last week to face his latest legal battle.

He was scheduled to sit for a deposition on Thursday before Attorney General Letitia James, who has brought a $250m business fraud lawsuit against him and the Trump Organization over alleged wrongdoing, including misleading banks and others that inflated the value of golf courses and hotels that bear his name.

This comes one week after he was arraigned in a Manhattan court on a 34-count indictment in the hush money case.

Andy Biggs introduces legislation to strip Bragg’s office of federal funds

Thursday 13 April 2023 23:26 , John Bowden

An Arizona congressman and fierce Trump ally has announced a bill aimed at stripping Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office of any federal funding in revenge for the prosecution of Donald Trump by Mr Bragg. It faces a steep road to passage in House, which is controlled by a thin GOP majority. It will not pass the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats.

“District Attorney Alvin Bragg ran on a campaign pledge to indict President Trump. Bragg took the unprecedented action of converting alleged minor business misdemeanors to 34 individual felonies in an attempt to put President Trump behind bars and humiliate him and his supporters,” he told The Daily Caller.

Victorious Tennessee Democrats celebrate with parade after reinstatements

Thursday 13 April 2023 22:26 , John Bowden

Two Black Democrats who were ousted from the Tennessee state legislature last week led a parade through the streets of Memphis on Wednesday after being successfully reinstated to their positions.

State Reps Justin Pearson and Justin Jones were both expelled by Republicans in the statehouse last week for joining with gun control protesters for a demonstration in the building; now, their respective local government councils have voted overwhelmingly to return both men to their seats in the capital.

Watch their victorious march, alongside fellow state Rep Gloria Johnson (who was not expelled, despite participating in the same protest):

What does Letitia James’ fraud lawsuit claim?

Thursday 13 April 2023 22:03 , John Bowden

Former president Donald Trump was expected to visit the offices of New York‘s attorney general Thursday for his second deposition in a legal battle over his company’s business practices.

The Republican was scheduled to meet with lawyers for attorney general Letitia James, who sued Mr Trump last year. Her lawsuit claims Mr Trump and his family misled banks and business associates by giving them false information about his net worth and the value of assets such as hotels and golf courses.

The lawsuit is unrelated to the felony criminal charges filed against Mr Trump by the Manhattan district attorney, which led last week to his historic arraignment, the first for a former president.

More in this report:

Trump set to give 2nd deposition in New York fraud lawsuit

Thursday 13 April 2023 20:53 , John Bowden

Donald Trump has sued his former lawyer and “fixer” Michael Cohen for $500m over his testimony before the New York grand jury that landed him with criminal charges.

The lawsuit, filed in US District Court for the Southern District of Florida on Wednesday, alleges a breach of his attorney-client relationship and unjust enrichment, among other claims.

Cohen, who is at the centre of the hush money case against the former president, fired back at Mr Trump, tweeting: “Despite Trump’s attempts to intimidate and harass me, I will NEVER stop fighting and holding him accountable for his dirty deeds.”

Donald Trump Jr promotes Trump fan ‘Catturd2’ coming ‘out of the litter box'

Thursday 13 April 2023 20:30 , John Bowden

Just when you thought things couldn’t get any weirder, Donald Trump Jr shows up promoting his upcoming interview with “catturd2”.

The pro-Trump Twitter accoung has become widely known in recent months for the owner’s frequent interactions with Elon Musk, CEO of Twitter, and will now apparently be sitting down for an interview with the son of the former president. Welcome to 2023!

Jury selection to begin today in Fox News’ Dominion lawsuit

Thursday 13 April 2023 19:59 , John Bowden

Jury selection began today in Dominion Voting Systems $1.6bn defamation case against Fox News.

Dominion Voting Systems has accused Fox News of pushing pro-Trump conspiracy theories of voter fraud including claiming that its ballot counting technology rigged the 2020 presidential election against the one-term president.

The voting machine company said the network “recklessly disregarded the truth”.

Fox News has denied the allegations and claimed the lawsuit threatens the First Amendment right.

Jury selection is set to begin on Thursday in the case with opening statements scheduled for 17 April.

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg is sent a second package containing white powder after Trump arrest

Thursday 13 April 2023 19:15 , John Bowden

On Wednesday, two law enforcement agents officials told NBC News that an envelope, which was addressed to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, was reported to authorities after being found to contain an explicit note, a photo of Mr Bragg and Donald Trump, and a mysterious white powder.

It’s the second instance of Mr Bragg receiving such a threatening package since his prosecution of the former president began.

New York police were called to the mailroom at the office located in Lower Manhattan as a precaution and determined the white powder was nonhazardous.

Read more in The Independent:

Alvin Bragg sent a second package containing white powder after Trump arrest

Audio reveals Rudy Giuliani and Trump campaign had no evidence to back up Dominion claims

Thursday 13 April 2023 18:43 , John Bowden

A second audio recording in which former Trump lead attorney Rudy Giuliani admits that the Trump campaign had no evidence to back up their claims about Dominion Voting Systems has been released.

The latest revelation is thanks to the $1.6bn lawsuit the company has filed against Fox News, which is resulting in a cascade of humiliation for the right-leaning network as private communications between top personalities who publicly defended these claims on air have been publicised.

Read more:

Giuliani and Trump campaign had no evidence for Dominion claims, recordings reveal

Legal troubles ramp up for Fox as Rupert Murdoch is sued by investor over ‘stolen election claims’

Thursday 13 April 2023 17:55 , John Bowden

An individual shareholder of Fox Corporation is suing Chairman Rupert Murdoch and his son, Lachlan Murdoch, as well as other members of the company’s board alleging they breached their fiduciary duty to the company.

In a lawsuit filed in Delaware Chancery Court on 11 April, investor Robert Schwarz brought forth a derivative suit claiming that board members chose to promote “false stolen election claims” which negatively impacted the company’s reputation and led to two defamation cases.

This news comes as more and more Fox employees are fretting in comments to journalists about the future of their company thanks to the massive $1.6bn lawsuit from Dominion Voting Systems that threatens the company’s finances in an unprecedented way.

Ariana Baio has more:

Fox investor sues Rupert Murdoch over ‘stolen election claims’

Andy Biggs introduces legislation to strip Bragg’s office of federal funds

Thursday 13 April 2023 17:26 , John Bowden

An Arizona congressman and fierce Trump ally has announced a bill aimed at stripping Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office of any federal funding in revenge for the prosecution of Donald Trump by Mr Bragg.

Mr Biggs introduced the bill on Thursday. It faces a steep road to passage in House, which is controlled by a thin GOP majority. It will not pass the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats.

Jim Jordan to hold ‘field hearing’ of House Judiciary Committee in New York

Thursday 13 April 2023 16:33 , John Bowden

House Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Jordan will host a “field hearing”, likely to be attended by the committee’s Republican members, in New York next week as he continues his efforts to try and politically punish District Attorney Alvin Bragg for his prosecution of former President Donald Trump.

Mr Jordan plans to highlight victims of crime in New York City as he tries to argue that the Manhattan DA is ignoring his responsibilities to prosecute street crime as his office pursues charges against Mr Trump. Mr Bragg has fiercely denied this, and decried Mr Jordan’s efforts as blatant political intimidation.

Special counsel on Mar-a-Lago papers investigating whether Trump showed off secret map, report says

Thursday 13 April 2023 15:06 , John Bowden

Federal investigators are probing whether or not Donald Trump showed off a map containing sensitive intelligence information to his visitors after he left the White House.

The probe is part of the federal investigation into Mr Trump’s handling of classified documents following his presidency.

Investigators have questioned several witnesses about the map, according to sources familiar with the matter who spoke to The New York Times. The nature of the map’s contents are unknown.

Graig Graziosi reports:

Special counsel investigating whether Trump showed off secret map, report says

Bombshell recordings reveal Rudy Giuliani admitting to Fox News there is no evidence of 2020 voter systems fraud

Thursday 13 April 2023 14:00 , Rachel Sharp

Bombshell audio recordings have revealed Rudy Giuliani and other Trump officials admitting to Fox News that there was no evidence of Dominion Voting Machines being rigging the 2020 election.

Listen below:

E Jean Carroll jury selection questions revealed

Thursday 13 April 2023 13:45 , Rachel Sharp

The questionnaire for the pool of prospective jurors in E Jean Carroll’s rape trial against Donald Trump has been revealed.

Ms Carroll claims that Mr Trump raped her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s.

Mr Trump has repeatedly and emphatically denied the allegation.

A jury will be asked to decide whether the rape occurred and if Mr Trump defamed Ms Carroll with his comments.

Some of the jury questions were published by The Daily Beast.

They include: “Are you on Truth Social?”

“What cable news network do you watch?”

“Have you ever used the hashtag #BelieveAllWomen when discussing sexual assault?”

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg is sent a second package containing white powder after Trump arrest

Thursday 13 April 2023 13:34 , Rachel Sharp

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg has been sent a second package containing “white powder” after his office brought charges against Donald Trump.

Two senior law enforcement officials told NBC News that an envelope addressed to Mr Bragg arrived at his office on Wednesday.

The envelope contained white powder, a letter using an expletive to describe thr DA’s weight and a photo of Mr Bragg and Mr Trump.

The powder was later determined to be nonhazardous.

This marks the second time a white powder was sent to Mr Bragg’s office as he has faced multiple threats for his prosecution of Mr Trump.

Jury selection to begin today in Fox News’ Dominion lawsuit

Thursday 13 April 2023 13:30 , Rachel Sharp

Jury selection is set to begin today in Dominion Voting Systems $1.6bn defamation case against Fox News.

Dominion Voting Systems has accused Fox News of pushing pro-Trump conspiracy theories of voter fraud including claiming that its ballot counting technology rigged the 2020 presidential election against the one-term president.

The voting machine company said the network “recklessly disregarded the truth”.

Fox News has denied the allegations and claimed the lawsuit threatens the First Amendment right.

Jury selection is set to begin on Thursday in the case with opening statements scheduled for 17 April.

Judge in Dominion Voting Systems case says Fox News has a ‘credibility problem’

Thursday 13 April 2023 13:15 , John Bowden

Things took a turn for the worse for Fox News’s legal team this week as Dominion Voting Systems’s $1.6bn lawsuit against the channel proceeds.

A judge reprimanded Fox’s lawyers and said that he was no longer confident that attorneys for the company were being “straightforward” with the court.

Find out more in The Independent:

Judge: No separate defamation trials for Fox News, Fox Corp.

Donald Trump calls himself ‘president’ in $500m lawsuit against Michael Cohen

Thursday 13 April 2023 12:45 , John Bowden

Donald Trump has sued his former lawyer Michael Cohen, who is at the heart of the New York hush money payment case against the former president, for $500m.

The lawsuit alleges a breach of his attorney-client relationship and unjust enrichment, among other claims. It was filed in US District Court for the Southern District of Florida on Wednesday.

The former president appears to finally be making an effort to seek revenge against his ex-”fixer”, who would go on to tell Congress that his former employer was a racist and a con man after leaving his position.

Trump calls himself ‘president’ in $500m lawsuit against Michael Cohen

Judge sanctions Fox News ahead of Dominion Voting Systems trial

Thursday 13 April 2023 12:30 , Rachel Sharp

Ahead of jury selection in Dominion Voting Systems’ $1.6bn defamation case against Fox News, the Delaware Supreme Court Judge on the case is planning to appoint a “special master” to help determine whether the news company withheld key information and evidence.

Judge Eric Davis said he was considering the appointment on Wednesday, CNN reports, days before the trial is due to start.

Dominion accuses Fox News of knowingly spreading false information about its voting machines in the wake of the 2020 presidential election in support of Donald Trump‘s false claims that the election had been “stolen” from him.

Read the full story:

Judge in $1.6bn defamation case against Fox may appoint special master

Manhattan DA sues Jim Jordan to block ‘transparent campaign’ of intimidation over Trump prosecution

Thursday 13 April 2023 12:15 , John Bowden

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is fighting back at what he says is an explicit attempt by House Republicans to interfere in his office’s prosecution of Donald Trump.

On Tuesday, Mr Bragg sued the House Judiciary Committee chair, Jim Jordan, and accused him of undertaking “a transparent campaign to intimidate and attack District Attorney Bragg, making demands for confidential documents and testimony from the District Attorney himself as well as his current and former employees and officials” in federal court.

Republicans, predictably, howled in outrage at the DA’s response to their attempts to attack the credibility of his office.

Read more:

Manhattan DA sues Jim Jordan over Trump prosecution intimidation

Trump is back in New York – for latest legal battle

Thursday 13 April 2023 12:00 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump has now returned to New York for the first time since his arrest and arraignment last week to face his latest legal battle.

He is scheduled to sit for a deposition on Thursday before Attorney General Letitia James who has brought a $250m business fraud lawsuit against him and the Trump Organization over alleged wrongdoing, including misleading banks and others that inflated the value of golf courses and hotels that bear his name.

This comes one week after he was arraigned in a Manhattan court on a 34-count indictment in the hush money case.

Trump seeks delay to rape case – claiming need for ‘cooling off’ period after indictment

Thursday 13 April 2023 11:45 , John Bowden

An attorney for Donald Trump is seeking a one-month delay in the trial regarding a columnist’s claims that Mr Trump raped her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s, contending that his client’s right to a fair trial depends on a “cooling off” period following the former president’s indictment and arraignment.

The trial was set for April 25. In a letter Tuesday to Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, attorney Joseph Tacopina cited “the recent deluge of prejudicial media coverage” surrounding Trump’s arrest and court appearance in arguing for a delay. The former president was charged March 30 with 34 felony counts related to allegations that he paid hush money to an adult film star, Stormy Daniels.

The civil case before Judge Kaplan was brought against Mr Trump in November by E. Jean Carroll, a columnist who says the wealthy real estate developer raped her in early 1996 after a chance meeting at the Bergdorf Goodman department store.

Mr Trump has repeatedly and emphatically denied the allegation. A jury will be asked to decide whether the rape occurred and if Trump defamed Carroll with his comments.

A temporary state law that took effect last year allows adult rape victims to sue their abusers, even if attacks happened decades ago.

Mr Tacopina’s letter seeking a delay in the trial for Carroll’s civil suit followed Kaplan’s order on Monday directing parties in the case to notify him by April 20 whether they will be present throughout the trial in Manhattan federal court. Carroll’s attorney has said she will attend; Trump’s attorney has not responded to requests for comment on Kaplan’s order.

Associated Press

Michael Cohen fires back after Trump sues him for $500m

Thursday 13 April 2023 11:30 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump has sued his former lawyer and “fixer” Michael Cohen for $500m over his testimony before the New York grand jury that landed him with criminal charges.

The lawsuit, filed in US District Court for the Southern District of Florida on Wednesday, alleges a breach of his attorney-client relationship and unjust enrichment, among other claims.

Cohen, who is at the centre of the hush money case against the former president, fired back at Mr Trump tweeting: “Despite Trump’s attempts to intimidate and harass me, I will NEVER stop fighting and holding him accountable for his dirty deeds.”