Trump news – latest: New allegations in Mar-a-Lago boxes case as Trump attorneys ask for Garland meeting

As competition builds for the Republican Party 2024 presidential nomination, Donald Trump’s legal woes also continue to mount.

This week, his attorneys called for a meeting with Attorney General Merrick Garland in the clearest sign yet that an indictment could be on the horizon over the former president’s handling of classified documents.

In a further development in that case, The Washington Post reports that two members of Donald Trump’s staff moved boxes of documents just a day before the Department of Justice visited Mar-a-Lago.

The timing of the move is suspicious and a sign that obstruction may have taken place, according to the paper, which also reports a “dress rehearsal” of such a move took place even before a subpoena for the boxes was issued.

Mr Trump also appeared in court by video for a second hearing in his criminal hush money case on Tuesday, and E Jean Carroll has amended an outstanding defamation case against the former president to include remarks he made on CNN after he was found liable for her sexual assault in a civil case.

Meanwhile, Mr Trump has been busily mocking his new 2024 Republican rival Ron DeSantis for the glitchy rollout of his campaign.

Key points

• Trump posts fake DeSantis Twitter Spaces video featuring Hitler, George Soros and the devil

• Trump lawyers request meeting with AG Merrick Garland

• With insult-riddled post, Trump tries to hijack DeSantis 2024 announcement day

• Trump appears virtually in Manhattan criminal court as trial date set

• E Jean Carroll moves to amend defamation case against Trump to include CNN town hall insults

Exclusive: IRS agent who claimed Hunter Biden case was ‘slow-walked’ won’t talk to Democratic-led Senate panel

20:30 , Oliver O'Connell

An Internal Revenue Service criminal investigator who has accused Justice Department officials of show-walking a long-running probe into President Joe Biden’s son Hunter’s tax affairs has cut off communication with a key congressional committee amid questions about the veracity of his claims and his motivations for coming forward.

The special agent, Gary Shapley, is a veteran of the IRS criminal investigations department who on Thursday revealed his identity in an interview with CBS News.

Andrew Feinberg filed this exclusive report for The Independent from Washington, DC.

Agent who says Hunter Biden case ‘slow-walked’ won’t talk to Senate

Is the Mar-a-Lago classified papers investigation reaching its conclusions?

20:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Lawyers for Donald Trump on Tuesday asked for a meeting with Attorney General Merrick Garland as a Justice Department investigation into the former president’s handling of classified documents shows signs of winding down.

Read more...

Trump lawyers seek meeting with Garland as Mar-a-Lago investigation shows signs of winding down

Trump Mar-a-Lago employees moved boxes of documents day before DoJ visit, report says

20:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Two members of Donald Trump’s staff moved boxes of documents just a day before the Department of Justice visited Mar-a-Lago, according to a report.

The files were moved the day before FBI agents and a prosecutor visited the private club in Florida’s Palm Beach. The timing of the move is suspicious and a sign that obstruction may have taken place, according to The Washington Post.

Gustaf Kilander is following this developing story.

Trump staff moved documents at Mar-a-Lago day before DoJ visit, report says

DeSantis says he will consider pardon for Trump if elected

19:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Thursday said he would “aggressively” use presidential pardons to free people who’ve been charged or convicted of crimes stemming from participation in the January 6 attack on the Capitol as well as former president Donald Trump.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Ron DeSantis says he will consider pardon for Trump if elected

Trump workers moved Mar-a-Lago boxes of papers before DOJ visit, report says

19:21 , Oliver O'Connell

Per The Washington Post:

Two of Donald Trump’s employees moved boxes of papers the day before FBI agents and a prosecutor visited the former president’s Florida home to retrieve classified documents in response to a subpoena — timing that investigators have come to view as suspicious and an indication of possible obstruction, according to people familiar with the matter.

Trump and his aides also allegedly carried out a “dress rehearsal” for moving sensitive papers even before his office received the May 2022 subpoena, according to the people familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe a sensitive ongoing investigation.

Prosecutors in addition have gathered evidence indicating that Trump at times kept classified documents in his office in a place where they were visible and sometimes showed them to others, these people said.

This development comes on the back of a request for a meeting between the Trump legal team and Attorney General Merrick Garland that some have suggested is indicative that the case of the classified document is coming to a head.

Trump lawyers seek meeting with Garland as Mar-a-Lago investigation shows signs of winding down

Fury in Trump’s inner circle as Fox News host seemingly backs Ron DeSantis

19:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Members of Donald Trump’s inner circle called out Fox News host Mark Levin on Twitter for tweeting the link to Ron DeSantis’ campaign and accused the conservative commentator of fundraising for the Florida governor.

On Wednesday (24 May) evening, Levin tweeted the link hours after Mr DeSantis announced he would be joining the race for 2024 president.

Ariana Baio reports on what happened next.

Trump’s inner circle furious as Fox News host seemingly backs Ron DeSantis

A tale of two campaign launches, as told on Truth Social

18:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump had very different takes on this week’s two campaign launches as Tim Scott and Ron DeSantis joined the race to be the Republican Party nominee for president in the 2024 election.

Last night he wrote on Truth Social: “Wow! The DeSanctus TWITTER launch is a DISASTER! His whole campaign will be a disaster. WATCH!”

And shortly after, he added: “Tim Scott’s Presidential launch, even with the broken microphone (don’t pay the contractor, Tim!), was by far the best Presidential launch of the week. Robs was a catastrophe!”

On Monday when Mr Scott launched his campaign, the former president posted a warm and welcoming message to the new contender.

Good luck to Senator Tim Scott in entering the Republican Presidential Primary Race. It is rapidly loading up with lots of people, and Tim is a big step up from Ron DeSanctimonious, who is totally unelectable. I got Opportunity Zones done with Tim, a big deal that has been highly successful. Good luck Tim!

There was a cooler reception for Mr DeSantis.

I’d like to personally congratulate “Rob” DeSanctimonious on finally announcing that he will be entering the race for President of the United States. Hopefully he will get the full experience of being attacked by the Marxists, Communists, and Radical Left Lunatics of our Country, without which he will never know the kind of job he is doing. These Lowlifes & Misfits are far worse than the leaders of hostile foreign countries. They must be soundly defeated in order to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

That post came after several others, laden with insults, in which Mr Trump called the Florida governor “disloyal” and said he need a “personality transplant”.

Stewart Rhodes, leader of the Oath Keepers, sentenced to 18 years in prison for January 6 sedition

18:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward reports on a damning assessment from the judge:

US District Judge Amit Mehta told the court on 25 May that seditious conspiracy “is among the most serious crimes an individual American can commit” and an “offense against the people of the country.”

“What we cannot have, we absolutely cannot have, is a group of citizens who because they didn’t like the outcome … were then prepared to take up arms in order to foment a revolution. That’s what you did,” he told Rhodes. “You are not a political prisoner, Mr Rhodes.”

For decades, Rhodes wanted American democracy to “devolve into violence,” Judge Mehta said.

“You, sir, present an ongoing threat and a peril to this country and its democracy and the very fabric of this country,” he added. “You are smart, you are compelling, and you are charismatic. Frankly, that is what makes you dangerous.”

Read the full report:

Oath Keepers leader sentenced to 18 years in prison for January 6 sedition

Trump lawyers ignite speculation of further indictment with letter to Garland

18:00 , Oliver O'Connell

A recent letter by Donald Trump’s lawyers requesting a meeting with US attorney general Merrick Garland has sparked speculation that a fresh indictment could be looming against the former president.

Arpan Rai reports.

Trump lawyers ignite speculation that former president could be indicted yet again

Steve Bannon trial set for May 2024

17:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Steve Bannon, the conservative strategist and longtime all of Donald Trump, will stand trial next May on charges that he duped donors who gave money to build a wall along the U.S. southern border, a judge said Thursday.

Bannon’s trial in the “We Build the Wall” case will start May 27, 2024, right after the former president is scheduled to stand trial in the same Manhattan courtroom in an unrelated criminal case.

Read more...

Steve Bannon’s trial in ‘We Build the Wall’ scheme set for May 2024

‘Just call me winner’: DeSantis laughs off Trump’s endless list of nicknames

17:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Newly-announced presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis laughed off name-calling from his top rival Donald Trump, saying the former president can call him whatever he likes as long as he ‘calls me winner’.

Fresh off the heels of a glitchy announcement about his bid for the Republican nomination for 2024, Mr DeSantis was asked about Mr Trump’s myriad nicknames for him (which include, but are not limited to, Meatball Ron, Ron DeSanctimonious, Tiny D, and RonDishonest) and laughed them off.

Read more...

DeSantis laughs off Trump’s endless list of mocking nicknames: ‘Just call me winner’

DeSantis’s glitchy 2024 launch shows he could be more dangerous than Trump

16:30 , Oliver O'Connell

John Bowden reports on last night’s Twitter launch of the DeSantis 2024 campaign.

DeSantis’s 2024 bid ridiculed as Musk’s Twitter event melts down

Trump campaign launches new ad after DeSantis formally enters 2024 race

16:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s campaign launched a new ad on Twitter taking aim at Ron DeSantis moments after the Florida governor announced his formal bid for the 2024 presidency.

The ad includes images of Mr DeSantis with President Joe Biden and asks: “Why would we ever settle for Trump imposters?”

It also includes a clip of Mr DeSantis sitting with a child and pointing to a Trump campaign sign as the governor is heard reading, “Make America Great Again.”

How the Trump and DeSantis relationship deteriorated

15:30 , Oliver O'Connell

It wasn’t always this way.

Before Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis were leading rivals for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, they were allies.

Trump gave DeSantis’ gubernatorial bid an early boost by tweeting his support even before DeSantis formally entered the race. In his 2018 victory speech, DeSantis made sure to thank the president, saying, “I think we’ll have a great partnership.”

Here’s how DeSantis and Trump’s relationship has evolved — and broken down — as the two face off to take on Democrat Joe Biden:

Friends to foes: How Trump and DeSantis' relationship has deteriorated over the years

‘Trump is just so damned undeservedly lucky’

15:15 , Oliver O'Connell

MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan tweeted on Wednesday night following Mr DeSantis’s disastrous Twitter Spaces campaiugn launch: “What a lucky man Donald Trump is.”

“Consider his CNN Town Hall versus DeSantis’s Twitter Spaces ‘launch’ tonight. Trump is just so damned undeservedly lucky,” he added.

“Congratulations to DeSantis’s crack comms team, @BryanDGriffin, @ChristinaPushaw, and @JeremyRedfernFL, for organizing a totally effective and non-humiliating campaign launch for their boss with tech genius @elonmusk. Bravo! Remember, their pitch is ‘Trump but competent.’ Lol,” he said earlier in the night.

Hitler, George Soros, the devil? Trump posts fake DeSantis Twitter Spaces video

15:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has posted a fake clip of Ron DeSantis’ 2024 launch on Twitter Spaces – featuring George Soros, Adolf Hitler and the devil.

The former president went on the attack against the Florida governor before, during and after the hotly-anticipated launch event, as the two men prepare to go head-to-head for the Republican nomination.

In one of his most bizarre attacks, Mr Trump posted a two-minute video on his Truth Social page which had been doctored to look like Mr DeSantis’ Twitter Spaces event.

Rachel Sharp reports.

Trump posts fake DeSantis Twitter Spaces video with Hitler, George Soros and devil

CNN to host Pence for town hall

14:41 , Oliver O'Connell

CNN will host a third Republican town hall on 7 June in Iowa.

Former Vice President Mike Pence will sit down with Dana Bash at Grand View University in Des Moines.

Mr Pence is yet to officially enter the 2024 race for the party’s nomination.

On 10 May, CNN hosted a controversial and much-derided town hall for Donald Trump. Rising network star Kaitlan Collins moderated the event which was held in New Hampshire.

On 4 June, the network will host a town hall moderated by senior Washington correspondent Jake Tapper for the former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, also in Iowa. Ms Haley like Mr Trump has officially declared her candidacy for the GOP nomination.

Can DeSantis beat Trump in the Republican primaries?

13:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Andrew Feinberg and Eric Garcia write:

He’s a ubiquitous presence in conservative media with a reputation as an anti-woke warrior who has used a compliant state legislature to make Florida a mecca for Trump-era Republicanism.

But if Ron DeSantis wants to be president, he has to defeat Donald Trump and Joe Biden, and prominent Florida politicians aren’t so sure either of those things will ever happen.

Read on:

Can Ron DeSantis beat Donald Trump? These Florida political veterans aren’t so sure

Timeline: Trump v DeSantis

12:15 , Oliver O'Connell

During his own tenure in the White House in 2018, Donald Trump loudly cheered Ron DeSantis’s bid for the governor’s mansion, throwing his weight behind the former congressman and appearing at rallies to stump for him, playing an important role in the candidate’s narrow defeat of Democratic rival and Tallahassee mayor Andrew Gillum.

Since then, however, a great deal of water has passed beneath the bridge and the two men are now increasingly antagonistic towards one another.

Mr Trump has been busy yelling a steady stream of insults and barbed nicknames across the state from Mar-a-Lago, the majority of which Mr DeSantis has wisely allowed to pass without public comment.

Here is a timeline of their disintegrating relationship.

A timeline of Donald Trump’s rivalry with Ron DeSantis

Trump lawyers ignite speculation of further indictment with letter to Garland

11:15 , Oliver O'Connell

A recent letter by Donald Trump’s lawyers requesting a meeting with US attorney general Merrick Garland has sparked speculation that a fresh indictment could be looming against the former president.

Arpan Rai reports.

Trump lawyers ignite speculation that former president could be indicted yet again

10:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump ‘follower’ threatened to ‘slit my throat’, says Stormy Daniels

After much-maligned Trump town hall, CNN sees rating plummet

08:15 , Oliver O'Connell

CNN‘s ratings appear to have taken a hit in the wake of its much-maligned town hall featuring former President Donald Trump.

More than a week after the controversial television spectacle, the network weathered its lowest-rated week since June 2015, according to The Daily Beast.

Graig Graziosi has the details.

CNN ratings plummet after much-maligned Trump town hall

Laura Ingraham thinks DeSantis would do better against Biden... Trump is not amused

06:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has lashed out at his longtime booster and Fox News host Laura Ingraham after she reported on polls suggesting the former president’s Republican rival would be a better match to take back the White House in 2024.

Graig Graziosi has the story.

Trump slams Fox News’ Laura Ingraham over ‘hit piece’ praising DeSantis

Trump calls E Jean Carroll a stalker

04:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump appears to have defamed E Jean Carroll again after calling her a “stalker” for a decade-old social media post in which she called herself a “massive fan” of The Apprentice.

Bevan Hurley has the story.

Trump calls E Jean Carroll a stalker over 2012 Facebook comment

ICYMI: Trump launches bizarre jealous rant at Dominion payout

03:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump launched into a bizarre rant on Truth Social about the payout to Dominion Voting Systems.

“So Dominion gets almost a Billion Dollars and I, after years of Fake News, Hoaxes, Scams, and Investigations, am entitled to NOTHING? Is that really the way it’s supposed to work? I don’t think so!” the former president wrote on Tuesday.

Gustaf Kilander reports.

Trump launches bizarre jealous rant at Dominion payout: ‘I am entitled to NOTHING?’

Trump’s speaking style draws legal attention amid probes

02:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump speaks about his legal woes in a way that would make most defence attorneys wince.

Read on:

Trump's freewheeling, stream-of-consciousness speaking style draws legal attention amid probes

Is the Mar-a-Lago classified documents probe coming to a conclusion?

01:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Lawyers for Donald Trump on Tuesday asked for a meeting with Attorney General Merrick Garland as a Justice Department investigation into the former president’s handling of classified documents shows signs of winding down.

Read on...

Trump lawyers seek meeting with Garland as Mar-a-Lago investigation shows signs of winding down

For second year, Trump Org at bottom of list of corporate reputations

Thursday 25 May 2023 00:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s namesake company remained at the bottom of the list in the annual Axios-Harris survey of the brand reputations for the 100 most prominent companies in America.

John Bowden reports.

Trump Org at bottom of list of corporate reputations for second year in a row

With insult-riddled post, Trump tries to hijack DeSantis 2024 announcement day

Wednesday 24 May 2023 23:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump tried to steal the spotlight away from Ron DeSantis’ 2024 campaign announcement day by launching into an insult-packed rant about the Florida governor on his Truth Social platform.

On Wednesday morning, the former president began his day by spewing a series of attacks on the man expected to be his biggest rival for the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential race.

Rachel Sharp has the details.

Trump tries to hijack DeSantis 2024 announcement day with insult-packed rant

Trump supporters mock DeSantis site for featuring ‘swamp creature’

Wednesday 24 May 2023 22:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Supporters of Donald Trump have mocked Ron DeSantis for having an image on his soon-to-launch campaign website of an alligator — what they call a literal “swamp creature”.

Although the logo is obviously a reference to Florida, fans of the former president were quick to link it to Mr Trump’s promise to “drain the swamp” that is Washington, DC.

Far-right activist Laura Loomer tweeted: “So he’s admitting he’s a Swamp creature? Got it.”

“I’m amazed at how shitty @GovRonDeSantis’s political instincts are… When he loses the primary, I’m going to eat some fried gator to celebrate,” she added.

Senior Trump 2024 campaign figure Chris LaCivita had a succinct response to the image regarding how he thought the Florida governor would fare against the former president:

Latest polling shows Trump well-ahead, but GOP voters are open to other candidates

Wednesday 24 May 2023 21:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The latest polling from CNN shows that while Donald Trump is the first choice of 53 per cent of Republican and Republican-leaning voters in the upcoming 2024 primaries — double Ron DeSantis at 26 per cent — it also found that the same voters are open to either candidate as well as others.

Per CNN:

More than 8 in 10 either support or say they’re open to considering Trump (84%) and DeSantis (85%), and smaller majorities say they support or would consider former UN ambassador Nikki Haley (61%), [Tim] Scott (60%) and former Vice President Mike Pence (54%). Haley and Pence are currently the first choice of 6%, according to the poll, with Scott at 2% along with former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and five other candidates hold 1% support or less.

The poll (see the full results here) also found that several names who are thought to be considering joining the race for the nomination may want to think twice...

The survey also finds that most of the possible electorate has already ruled out a few names in the primary. Sixty percent say they would not support Christie for the nomination under any circumstances, and 55% say they’d never support former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson or New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, respectively.

Trump calls E Jean Carroll a stalker over 2012 Facebook comment

Wednesday 24 May 2023 21:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump appears to have defamed E Jean Carroll again after calling her a “stalker” for a decade-old social media post in which she called herself a “massive fan” of The Apprentice.

Read on:

Trump calls E Jean Carroll a stalker over 2012 Facebook comment

Can DeSantis beat Trump?

Wednesday 24 May 2023 20:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Sunshine State political veterans tell Andrew Feinberg and Eric Garcia they aren’t sure Florida Governor Ron DeSantis can best Donald Trump.

Read the full story:

Can Ron DeSantis beat Donald Trump? These Florida political veterans aren’t so sure

All the other major lawsuits and investigations facing Trump

Wednesday 24 May 2023 20:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Since leaving the White House, Donald Trump has continued to face a cloud of lawsuits and investigations, which could frustrate his hopes to win back the presidency in 2024.

On 30 March, one of those investigations took a major step forward when a Manhattan grand jury voted to indict Mr Trump on criminal charges over the hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels in the days before the 2016 presidential election.

On 4 April 2023, Mr Trump pleaded not guilty in Manhattan Criminal Court to a slew of criminal charges – making him the first current or former US president to ever be charged with a crime.

Read on...

Donald Trump under arrest: All the other major lawsuits he is also facing

Can Donald Trump still run for the presidency?

Wednesday 24 May 2023 19:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump has now been found to be both a sexual abuser and a defendant in a criminal case — at a time when he is eyeing a third run for the White House.

How is this possible? John Bowden explains.

Can Donald Trump run for president in 2024?

Trump’s speaking style draws legal attention amid probes

Wednesday 24 May 2023 19:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump speaks about his legal woes in a way that would make most defense attorneys wince.

A recent sampling: In a March interview on Fox News, the former president said he had “the right to take” classified documents with him to his Florida resort and wouldn’t say he hadn’t looked at the records since leaving office. During a CNN town hall this month, Trump said he told a Georgia elections official “you owe me” votes in the 2020 election.

At the same town hall on May 10 he insulted a female writer as a “wack job” — only a day after that same woman, E. Jean Carroll, won a $5 million judgment against him in a civil suit alleging defamation and sexual assault. On Monday, Carroll amended a lawsuit to hold him liable for the town hall remarks.

Trump, the leading contender for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, has never hesitated to offer his opinion or joust with his antagonists. The problem, legal experts say, is that the former president is under intensifying scrutiny from state and federal prosecutors, and those same prosecutors can use the former president’s statements against him in a variety of ways.

Read on...

Trump's freewheeling, stream-of-consciousness speaking style draws legal attention amid probes

First seditious conspiracy sentences in January 6 attack to be handed down

Wednesday 24 May 2023 18:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and members of his antigovernment group will be the first Jan. 6 defendants sentenced for seditious conspiracy in a series of hearings beginning this week that will set the standard for more punishments of far-right extremists to follow.

Read more...

1st seditious conspiracy sentences in Jan. 6 attack to be handed down for Rhodes, other Oath Keepers

Wednesday 24 May 2023 18:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump ‘follower’ threatened to ‘slit my throat’, says Stormy Daniels

CNN to host town hall with GOP candidate Nikki Haley

Wednesday 24 May 2023 17:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley will participate in a live CNN town hall on 4 June, the network has announced.

CNN anchor and chief Washington correspondent Jake Tapper with moderate the event live from Iowa.

The former South Carolina governor is one of a growing field of Republican candidates, to be joined later today by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

CNN was pilloried for giving a platform to Donald Trump in a town hall earlier this month that saw him steamroll over questions, repeat lies about the 2020 election, and draw laughs about being found liable for sexual assault from a crowd predominantly consisting of his supporters.

CNN ratings plummet after much-maligned Trump town hall

Watch: Alina Habba says departing Trump lawyer’s comments about legal team ‘unprofessional'

Wednesday 24 May 2023 17:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Here’s what Tim Parlatore had to say about the rest of the Trump legal team:

Ex-Trump lawyer reveals in-fighting among former president’s legal team

And here he is an earlier interview with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins from early April in which he appears to public undermine the credibility of another Trump attorney Joe Tacopina.

CNN anchor stunned as Trump attorney throws another under the bus

Trump calls E Jean Carroll a stalker

Wednesday 24 May 2023 16:53 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has again hit out at writer E Jean Carroll, accusing her of being a stalker on Truth Social, just weeks after a jury found him liable for defamation and sexual abuse of her.

Posting a screenshot of what appears to be a Facebook post from Ms Carroll dating from April 2012 in which she proclaims to be “a MASSIVE Apprentice fan”, the former president commented: “Is she, in actuality, a stalker?”

The Facebook post was brought up at the trial.

Trump lawyers grill E Jean Carroll over rape claim’s similarity to Law & Order plot

Here’s the background and latest developments to the Carroll v Trump case:

Trump defames E Jean Carroll yet again after she sues him over CNN town hall insults

Is the Mar-a-Lago documents probe nearing an end?

Wednesday 24 May 2023 16:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Lawyers for Donald Trump on Tuesday asked for a meeting with Attorney General Merrick Garland as a Justice Department investigation into the former president’s handling of classified documents shows signs of winding down.

In the letter, which Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, attorneys John Rowley and James Trusty asserted that Trump is “being treated unfairly” and asked for a meeting to discuss “the ongoing injustice that is being perpetrated by your Special Counsel and his prosecutors.” The language echoed some of Trump’s own complaints in recent months about the investigations being led by special counsel Jack Smith.

It was not immediately clear what specifically prompted the letter, but the yearlong documents probe appears to be nearing an end. Agents and prosecutors have interviewed a broad cross-section of witnesses, including attorneys for Trump, former White House officials and other close aides.

The investigation is seeking to determine whether Trump illegally retained hundreds of classified documents taken with him from the White House to his Florida home, Mar-a-Lago, after the end of his tenure and whether he sought to obstruct government efforts to get the records back.

It is not uncommon for defense lawyers to seek meetings with senior Justice Department officials to argue against potential indictments of their clients, though it is unusual for such meetings to include the attorney general.

Special counsels enjoy broad autonomy within the Justice Department, and officials have repeatedly signaled that the recommendation on whether to pursue charges against Trump or anyone else in the investigation belongs with Smith and his team. Garland did not move once to overrule any of the actions taken in the recently concluded probe by another special counsel, John Durham, into the origins of the Trump-Russia investigation in 2016.

Trump’s lawyers and a Trump spokesperson did not respond Tuesday to requests for comment. A Justice Department spokeswoman declined to comment.

In addition to the documents investigation, Smith is separately investigating efforts by Trump and his allies to undo the results of the 2020 presidential election.

The Associated Press

Trump lawyers request meeting with AG Merrick Garland

Wednesday 24 May 2023 16:30 , Oliver O'Connell

A recent letter by Donald Trump’s lawyers requesting a meeting with US attorney general Merrick Garland has sparked speculation that a fresh indictment could be looming against the former president.

Arpan Rai explains.

Trump lawyers ignite speculation that former president could be indicted yet again

Trump jabs at Cuccinelli for backing DeSantis

Wednesday 24 May 2023 16:12 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has hit out at Ken Cuccinelli, who once worked in the former president’s administration on border security, for now working for the DeSantis campaign and appearing on “Globalist” Fox News and ripping Trump.

Here’s what he said:

A man named Ken Cuccinelli, who failed miserably in his run for Governor of Virginia and then in his running the Ted Cruz campaign against me, worked for the Trump Administration on the Border, but just was not as good as some of the other people I had working on Border Security - “THE BEST IN HISTORY.” He was going nowhere with us, so now he works for DeSanctimonious, at supposedly a big Globalist like salary, and rips “TRUMP” on Globalist FoxNews. Oh well, another one bites the dust!

Here’s some background on Mr Cuccinelli launching a PAC for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis:

Former Trump official launches PAC urging DeSantis to run

CNN: Ratings plummet after much-maligned Trump town hall

Wednesday 24 May 2023 15:45 , Oliver O'Connell

CNN‘s ratings appear to have taken a hit in the wake of its much-maligned town hall featuring former President Donald Trump.

More than a week after the controversial television spectacle, the network weathered its lowest-rated week since June 2015, according to The Daily Beast.

Graig Graziosi has the details.

CNN ratings plummet after much-maligned Trump town hall

Trump tries to hijack DeSantis 2024 announcement day

Wednesday 24 May 2023 15:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump tried to steal the spotlight away from Ron DeSantis’ 2024 campaign announcement day by launching into an insult-packed rant about the Florida governor on his Truth Social platform.

The former president began his day on Wednesday morning by spewing a series of attacks at the man expected to be his biggest rival for the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential race.

Rachel Sharp has the full story:

Trump tries to hijack DeSantis 2024 announcement day with insult-packed rant

Trump hits out at both DeSantis and Fox News

Wednesday 24 May 2023 14:55 , Oliver O'Connell

Another Truth Social post about Ron DeSantis this morning also sees former president Donald Trump take a swipe at Fox News:

I got 1.2 Million more votes in Florida than DeSanctus. Also, Bill Hemmer at FoxNews just used an old April Poll showing me leading by 51% to 25%. Why doesn’t Fox get a more up to date poll, 72% to 18%, with the other candidates much lower. Just like 2016!!! It’s why people are leaving FoxNews. P.S. Without me, DeSanctus would have lost the Primary and the General. Thank you President Trump!

Trump Org suffers worst corporate reputation for second year in a row

Wednesday 24 May 2023 14:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s namesake company remained at the bottom of the list in the annual Axios-Harris survey of the brand reputations for the 100 most prominent companies in America.

The survey, released this week, compiles public opinion for each of the 100 companies named most frequently by participants in the survey.

Respondents were asked to name which two companies currently held the best and worst reputations among average Americans, for a total of four nominations and the individual responses were then aggregated into a list of the 100 most notable brands in the US.

When those 100 brands were ranked on a series of nine characteristics including workplace culture, business ethics and customer trust, the Trump Organization came dead last, behind bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX and other brands like Twitter and Spirit Airlines.

John Bowden reports.

Trump Org at bottom of list of corporate reputations for second year in a row

Trump unloads on ‘disloyal’ DeSantis in Truth Social rant on day of governor’s 2024 announcement

Wednesday 24 May 2023 14:16 , Oliver O'Connell

In a notable moment of restraint, Donald Trump waited until this morning to unload on Ron DeSantis despite the news breaking yesterday afternoon that the Florida governor would be announcing his 2024 run this evening during a Twitter live event with Elon Musk.

Here’s what the former president had to say about Mr DeSantis (much of which he has said before...):

Look, Rob DeSanctimonious came to me asking for help. He was losing badly, by 31 points, to popular Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. He was getting ready to drop out of the race - Ran a terrible campaign! Ron told me he had one last chance, my Support & Endorsement, which Putnam, and everyone else, wanted also. I gave it to Ron, and the race was over. In one day, he went from losing badly, to winning by a lot. With 3 LARGE TRUMP RALLIES, he WON THE GENERAL ELECTION in an upset. DISLOYAL!!!

...and then:

Ron DeSanctus can’t win the General Election (or get the Nomination) because he VOTED TO OBLITERATE SOCIAL SECURITY, EVEN WANTING TO RAISE THE MINIMUM AGE TO 70 (or more!), VOTED TO BADLY WOUND MEDICARE, AND FOUGHT HARD AND VOTED FOR A 23% “TAX ON EVERYTHING” SALES TAX. He was, and is, a disciple of horrible RINO Paul Ryan, and others too many to mention. Also, he desperately needs a personality transplant and, to the best of my knowledge, they are not medically available yet. A disloyal person!

...he wasn’t done yet:

I BUILT THE GREATEST ECONOMY IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD, NO INFLATION, ENERGY INDEPENDENCE, AND SOON DOMINANCE, THE STRONGEST BORDER EVER, RECORD BEST EMPLOYMENT NUMBERS, BIGGEST TAX & REGULATION CUTS, REBUILT OUR MILITARY, NO WARS WITH RUSSIA/UKRAINE OR CHINA/TAIWAN (OR ANYWHERE!), AND THE USA WAS RESPECTED ALL OVER THE WORLD! WHAT ELSE CAN I SAY?

...and, finally:

ELECTION INTERFERENCE!!!

Tonight: DeSantis to launch 2024 presidential bid on Twitter with Elon Musk

Wednesday 24 May 2023 13:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Ron DeSantis will launch his 2024 presidential campaign during a Twitter chat with Elon Musk, according to reports.

The Florida Governor, who is seen as the leading rival to Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, will kick off his bid for the White House during a Wednesday night Twitter Spaces event with the billionaire.

Graeme Massie reports.

Ron DeSantis to launch 2024 presidential bid on Twitter with Elon Musk

Trump lawyers ignite speculation that former president could be indicted yet again

Wednesday 24 May 2023 13:15 , Rachel Sharp

A recent letter by Donald Trump’s lawyers requesting a meeting with US attorney general Merrick Garland has sparked speculation that a fresh indictment could be looming against the former president.

Mr Trump just hours ago “truthed” a letter dated 23 May on his social media platform Truth Social in which his lawyers alleged he “is being treated unfairly” in the investigation related to classified documents found stashed in his properties after his run as president got over.

“Unlike president Biden, his son Hunter, and the Biden family, president Trump is being treated unfairly,” said the letter undersigned by Trump attorneys John P Rowley and James M Trusty.

Read more here:

Trump lawyers ignite speculation that former president could be indicted yet again

Trump appears virtually in Manhattan criminal court

Wednesday 24 May 2023 12:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump appeared virtually in Manhattan criminal court on 23 May for the first time since he was charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.

Judge Juan Merchan is disclosing the terms of a protective order that prohibits the former president from publicly discussing evidence in the case after prosecutors with the New York District Attorney’s office share information with Mr Trump’s legal team in a case stemming from hush money payments during his 2016 campaign.

Alex Woodward has the details.

Trump appears virtually in Manhattan court for first time since felony charges