Trump news: Ex-president ‘responsible’ for Jan 6 says Bill Barr

Former Attorney General Bill Barr told NBC News he does think former President Donald Trump was “responsible” for the January 6 Capitol riot.

In an interview with anchor Lester Holt, Mr Barr said: “I do think he was responsible in the broad sense of that word.”

“It appears that part of the plan was to send this group up to the Hill,” with the former president’s goal to “intimidate Congress”.

This week, a court filing from the Capitol riot House investigation alleges Mr Trump and a lawyer who assisted with his re-election campaign were part of a “criminal conspiracy” to overturn the 2020 election.

“The facts we’ve gathered strongly suggest that Dr [John] Eastman’s emails may show that he helped Donald Trump advance a corrupt scheme to obstruct the counting of electoral college ballots and a conspiracy to impede the transfer of power,” representatives Bennie Thompson and Liz Cheney, who chair the 6 January investigation committee, said in a statement.

On Thursday, the former president unleashed a 415-word rambling tirade against the committee, repeating his allegations of a “rigged” election.

Meanwhile, lawyers for Mr Trump and the New York attorney general have reached an agreement to postpone depositions in the civil investigation, giving the former president at least a few months before he has to testify as part of an investigation into his business.

Key Points

• Bill Barr says Trump was ‘responsible’ for Jan 6 and slams ‘clown show’ legal team

• Trump got ‘very angry’ after hearing election fraud claims were ‘bulls***’

• Trump strikes deal to delay deposition

• Trump and lawyer accused of ‘criminal conspiracy’ to overturn election by January 6 committee

• Why Republicans and Trump suddenly have an unexpected Putin problem

• Trump angrily repeats claim Ukraine war wouldn’t happen if he was president

Outrage continues at Carlson’s ‘racist’ Brown Jackson comments

Friday 4 March 2022 00:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Andrew Feinberg takes a look at the fallout from Tucker Carlson’s tirade last night against Ketanji Brown Jackson, Joe Biden’s Supreme Court nominee, in which the increasingly caustic Fox News host questioned why she had not surrendered the results of her law school entry exam.

“Is Ketanji Brown Jackson – a name that even Joe Biden has trouble pronouncing -- one of the top legal minds in the entire country?” he asked. “We certainly hope so … so it might be time for Joe Biden to let us know what Ketanji Brown Jackson’s LSAT score was”.

Read more below:

‘Patently racist’: Tucker Carlson slammed for Ketanji Brown Jackson’s LSAT fixation

Nancy Pelosi on hecklers: “Shut up"

Friday 4 March 2022 01:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Speaking at her weekly press conference, Nancy Pelosi has weighed in on Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene’s heckling of Joe Biden at the State of the Union.

“Let me just say this,” she said. “I agree with what Senator Lindsey Graham said, shut up. That’s what he said to them, I think they should just shut up.”

Pelosi hammers Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene: ‘They should just shut up’

Jan 6: Member of Oath Keepers pleads guilty to seditious conspiracy

Friday 4 March 2022 02:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Many of the hundreds of people arrested for their part in the Capitol riot have faced only minor misdemeanour charges, but at the other end of the scale, some have been charged with seditious conspiracy. Now, for the first time, a member of the Oath Keepers – a self-proclaimed “militia” movement – has pleaded guilty to the charge and begun co-operating with the FBI as it investigates his group’s role in the riot.

Bevan Hurley reports on the case of Joshua James, who authorities said moved through the crowd with other Oath Keepers in a military-style “stack” formation and used force to gain entry to the Capitol.

Oath Keeper becomes first to plead guilty to seditious conspiracy over Capitol riot

Attorney for Trump lawyer responds to Jan 6 committee criminal conspiracy allegation

Friday 4 March 2022 02:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Charles Burnham, the attorney for Trump lawyer John Eastman responds to Capitol riot committee alleging in a court filing last night that Dr Eastman and former President Donald Trump were part of a criminal conspiracy to overturn 2020 election.

“Like all attorneys, Dr John Eastman has a responsibility to protect client confidences, even at great personal risk and expense. The Select Committee has responded to Dr Eastman’s efforts to discharge this responsibility by accusing him of criminal activity,” Mr Burnham writes.

“Because this is a civil matter, Dr Eastman will not have the benefit of the Constitutional protections normally afforded to those accused by their government of criminal conduct. Nonetheless, we look forward to responding in due course.”

Boebert votes against burn pits legislation

Friday 4 March 2022 03:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Rachel Sharp reports on the latest turn in the story of Lauren Boebert heckling Joe Biden as he talked about his deceased son: the far-right Colorado Congresswoman has now voted against the Honoring our PACT act, the most comprehensive legislation put forward to date to help veterans impacted by burn pits while serving their country.

Lauren Boebert votes against bill for veterans sick and dying from burn pits

Rachel has also written in depth about burn pits and whether there is about to be a final reckoning for them.

Beau Biden and the real crime of Boebert’s heckling. Is this it for burn pits?

Trump claims credit for weapons used by Ukrainians

Friday 4 March 2022 04:00 , Oliver O'Connell

In an interview with Fox Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo, Donald Trump took credit for the effectiveness of the Ukrainian response to the Russian invasion, claiming it could be chalked up to the weapons his administration sent to the country.

Speaking over the phone to Ms Bartiromo, who is one of his most devoted sympathisers on the Fox roster, Mr Trump – who declined to criticise Vladimir Putin directly even when prompted – claimed that it was American supplies that led to Russia coming up short in its assault.

Andrew Naughtie has the story.

Trump now claiming credit for weapons used ‘so well’ by Ukrainians

Trump releases 415-word rambling response to accusation of criminal conspiracy

Friday 4 March 2022 04:30 , Oliver O'Connell

President Donald Trump released a 415-word meandering rant in response to the House select committee investigating the January 6 riot on the Capitol accusing him of criminal conspiracy.

Mr Trump’s statement comes after he and his attorney John Eastman, who helped lead Mr Trump’s “war room” to challenge President Joe Biden’s election win, were charged with criminal conspiracy to overturn the election.

Eric Garcia unpacks the mammoth list of grievances and allegations.

Trump ‘s 415-word rambling response to Jan 6 committee criminal conspiracy claim

How bad could things get for the ex-president?

Friday 4 March 2022 04:55 , Oliver O'Connell

The January 6 committee has made its boldest move yet.

In a court filing, the panel’s lawmakers have alleged that there is enough evidence to suggest that Donald Trump and his attorney, John Eastman, were engaged in a criminal conspiracy to defraud the United States with their attempts to overturn the 2020 election.

Such an accusation is still a long way away from actually resulting in a criminal charge. But the late-Wednesday development is no doubt the most significant development of the January 6 committee’s work to hold those responsible for the attack on Congress accountable.

John Bowden explains how things might shape up.

Trump accused of criminal attempt to overturn election – how bad is it for ex-POTUS?

Kimberly Guilfoyle receives Jan 6 subpoena

Friday 4 March 2022 05:10 , Stuti Mishra

The House select committee investigating the 6 January insurrection has issued a subpoena for documents and testimony to Kimberly Guilfoyle, the former Fox News host and ex-Trump campaign fundraiser who is also the fiancee of Donald Trump Jr.

In a letter to Ms Guilfoyle, select committee chairman Bennie Thompson the committee’s investigation “has revealed credible evidence” of her involvement in “events within the scope of the select committee’s inquiry”.

Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.

Jan 6 select committee subpoenas Kimberly Guilfoyle

Trump got ‘very angry’ after hearing election fraud claims were ‘bulls***’

Friday 4 March 2022 05:30 , Stuti Mishra

Former Attorney General Bill Barr has said that former President Donald Trump became “very angry” when he was told that his election fraud claims were “bulls***”.

“I told him that all this stuff was bulls***... about election fraud. And, you know, it was wrong to be shovelling it out the way his team was,” Mr Barr told NBC News.

Gustaf Kilander reports.

Trump got ‘very angry’ after hearing election fraud claims were ‘bulls***’ ex-AG says

Former Trump aide fails an on-air quiz about congressional district she’s running in

Friday 4 March 2022 05:54 , Stuti Mishra

Former US State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus appeared on local radio in Nashville earlier this week to participate in a quiz for local congressional candidates to showcase their knowledge of the district.

Problem was, Ms Ortagus didn’t appear to have any.

Abe Asher has more on this here:

Former Trump aide fails in on-air quiz about congressional district she’s running in

Takeaways as 6 January panel eyes Trump ‘criminal conspiracy’

Friday 4 March 2022 06:20 , Stuti Mishra

The House panel investigating the 6 January insurrection at the Capitol has previewed some of its findings in a federal court filing, and investigators for the first time said they have enough evidence to suggest then-President Donald Trump committed crimes.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that Mr Trump will be charged, or even that the Justice Department will investigate. But the legal document offers an early look at some of the panel’s likely conclusions, which are expected to be submitted in the coming months.

Here are the takeaways from the 221-page filing:

Takeaways as Jan. 6 panel eyes Trump 'criminal conspiracy'

Why GOP governors who spurned Trump are refusing to run for Senate

Friday 4 March 2022 06:53 , Andrew Naughtie

Arizona’s Doug Ducey on Thursday joined a growing list of Republican governors who have spurned their party’s leadership in the Senate and ruled out bids for the upper chamber this year, writes John Bowden.

Mr Ducey made the announcement that he would not seek a Senate seat in a letter to some of his campaign donors that was obtained on Thursday by several news outlets.

Here’s more:

Trump strikes deal to delay deposition

Friday 4 March 2022 07:37 , Stuti Mishra

Lawyers of former President Donald Trump and the New York attorney general have reached an agreement to postpone depositions in the civil investigation, allowing Mr Trump to get at least a few months before he has to testify as part of an investigation into his business.

The deal struck between the two sides agrees on delaying the deposition and for an expedited briefing schedule, with court papers due by 31 March.

The Trumps would be required to sit for depositions, if they lose the appeal, 14 days after a decision.

This comes after an appeal filed by Mr Trump against the order of a New York judge that mandated Mr Trump and his two eldest children, Donald Jr and Ivanka, to appear for a deposition as part of allegations into wrong business practices of Trump organisations and inflating the value of its assets.

Trump claims the media is lying about his repeated public praise of Putin

Friday 4 March 2022 08:00 , Stuti Mishra

Former president Donald Trump has lashed out at the press and much of the party he remains the de facto leader of for reporting on and criticising his decision to praise Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

In a emailed statement sent out by his political action committee because he is banned from most social media platforms, Mr Trump accused “the RINOs [Republicans in Name Only], the Warmongers], and the Fake News” of “continuing[ing] to “blatantly lie and misrepresent my remarks on Putin”.

Read more:

Trump angrily claims the media is lying about his repeated public praise of Putin

Bill Barr says Trump was ‘responsible’ for Jan 6 and slams ‘clown show’ legal team

Friday 4 March 2022 22:42 , Oliver O'Connell

Former Attorney General Bill Barr told NBC News he does think former President Donald Trump was “responsible” for the January 6 Capitol riot.

In an interview with anchor Lester Holt, a clip of which was shown on the Today show ahead of its Sunday night broadcast, Mr Barr said that the former president wanted to “intimidate Congress”.

“I do think he was responsible in the broad sense of that word,” he told Holt about the events of January 6 2021.

“It appears that part of the plan was to send this group up to the Hill.”

The former attorney general also slammed the “clown show” of “crackerjack” lawyers advising the then-president — Rudy Giuliani among others.

Mr Barr told Mr Trump that he believed the claims of electoral fraud were “bulls***”.

Son testifies against father charged with storming Capitol

Friday 4 March 2022 08:40 , Andrew Naughtie

The son of a Texas man charged with storming the US Capitol with a holstered gun testified Thursday that he secretly recorded his father proudly describing his role in the riot and gave the audio file to an FBI agent after his father, a militia member, threatened him and his sister.Jackson Reffitt, then 18, said he was terrified and “pretty grossed out” when his father, Guy Wesley Reffitt, told him and his 16-year-old sister that they would be “traitors” if they reported him to law enforcement after the Capitol attack on Jan 6, 2021.

And he told his children that “traitors get shot,” Jackson Reffitt recalled.

Read more here:

Son testifies against father charged with storming Capitol

ICYMI: Trump releases 415-word rambling response

Friday 4 March 2022 09:20 , Andrew Naughtie

President Donald Trump released a 415-word meandering rant in response to the House select committee investigating the January 6 riot on the Capitol accusing him of criminal conspiracy.

Mr Trump’s statement comes after he and his attorney John Eastman, who helped lead Mr Trump’s “war room” to challenge President Joe Biden’s election win, were charged with criminal conspiracy to overturn the election.

Trump ‘s 415-word rambling response to Jan 6 committee criminal conspiracy claim

Harris to travel to Warsaw and Bucharest

Friday 4 March 2022 21:21 , Oliver O'Connell

Per the White House:

Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Warsaw, Poland and Bucharest, Romania March 9-11. Her visit will demonstrate the strength and unity of the Nato Alliance and US support for Nato’s eastern flank allies in the face of Russian aggression. It will also highlight our collective efforts to support the people of Ukraine. During her meetings with the leaders of Poland and Romania, the Vice President will advance our close coordination in response to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine. They will discuss our continuing support for the people of Ukraine through security, economic, and humanitarian assistance and our determination to impose severe economic consequences on Russia and those complicit in Russia’s invasion. The Vice President’s meetings will also focus on how the United States can further support Ukraine’s neighbors as they welcome and care for refugees fleeing violence. More details on the Vice President’s engagements will be forthcoming in the coming days.

Analysis: How bad could the “criminal conspiracy” allegations be for Trump?

Friday 4 March 2022 10:00 , Andrew Naughtie

John Bowden takes a look at the bombshell dropped yesterday by the 6 January committee and weighs up its potential consequences for the former president.

The court filing, he writes, is “the strongest indication thus far that the committee, which cannot directly issue criminal charges itself, plans to ask the Justice Department to review the evidence it has obtained... and consider issuing charges targeting the ex-president himself”.

Read more:

Trump accused of criminal attempt to overturn election – how bad is it for ex-POTUS?

ICYMI: Read Trump’s private schedule from 6 January

Friday 4 March 2022 10:35 , Andrew Naughtie

Among the papers newly released by the 6 January committee is Donald Trump’s private schedule from the day of the Capitol riot, which gives further clues as to whom the then-president spoke to as the insurrection was brewing. Among the names is Kelly Loeffler, the GOP Georgia Senator who lost her seat the night before.

Gino Spocchia has more.

Trump’s private schedule on the day of the Capitol riot released

“An exceptionally bad idea”: Cruz and Fox News condemn Graham for Putin assassination remarks

Friday 4 March 2022 11:10 , Andrew Naughtie

GOP Senator Lindsey Graham, a longtime foreign policy hawk, raised eyebrows last night with an explicit call to assassinate Vladimir Putin, alluding to the murder of Julius Cesar and a failed attempt to kill Adolf Hitler. The notion has received angry pushback – including from conservatives...

Jan 6 committee member: Trump may face multiple criminal investigations

Friday 4 March 2022 11:40 , Andrew Naughtie

Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff, who sits on the 6 January select committee, told MSNBC last night that he couldn’t comment on any “link of causation between the president’s actions and his words and the violence of that day” – but pointed to other things already in the public realm that are “deeply disturbing” and fit the definition of criminal acts.

“I think, for example, the Justice Department ought to be investigating the president’s role in Georgia, his efforts to get the secretary of state to find 11,780 votes that did not exist, the exact number needed to overturn the result.”

Watch the clip below.

Anti-Trump GOP group prepares ad on his praise for Putin

Friday 4 March 2022 12:10 , Andrew Naughtie

The Republican Accountability Project, a group formed to campaign against Donald Trump and those in his party who support him, has put together an ad compiling his praise for Vladimir Putin – and announced that it will be running it during Tucker Carlson’s Fox News show next week.

Have a watch...

Watch: Lindsey Graham goes on TV to suggest assassinating Putin

Friday 4 March 2022 12:40 , Andrew Naughtie

In a remarkable appearance on Fox News last night, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham explicitly suggested that the best way to head off the escalation of the war in Ukraine would be for someone to assassinate Vladimir Putin.

Watch the clip below.

ICYMI: Trump furious at reporting of his kind words for Putin

Friday 4 March 2022 13:10 , Andrew Naughtie

Donald Trump has spent years lavishing respect, affection and praise on his Russian counterpart, but since Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine got underway, he has been incensed at accusations that he flattered the president’s strategy in Russia’s supposed “sphere of influence”.

In one of his angered email statements this week, Mr Trump accused “the RINOs [Republicans in Name Only], the Warmongers], and the Fake News” of continuing to “blatantly lie and misrepresent my remarks on Putin”.

Andrew Feinberg has the story.

Trump angrily claims the media is lying about his repeated public praise of Putin

Can Bill Barr salvage his reputation?

Friday 4 March 2022 13:40 , Andrew Naughtie

As Donald Trump’s attorney general, Bill Barr was despised by the president’s critics as the enabler of some of his most insidious plans and his defender in the face of serious legal jeopardy.

With a new book out about his time in the Trump White House, Mr Barr is seeking to recast himself as having tried to limit the president’s worst impulses, rather than serve them – and as Bolts Magazine’s Daniel Nichanian points out, other attorneys general with dire reputations have pulled off the same trick before...

Read more on Mr Barr’s book below.

Bill Barr launches blistering attack on Trump in new book

Georgia governor mounts massive effort to fend off Trump-backed challenger

Friday 4 March 2022 14:10 , Andrew Naughtie

Incumbent Republican Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, who refused to subscribe to Donald Trump’s false claims that his state was stolen in the 2020 election, is fighting hard to keep his office in the face of a primary challenge from Trump-backed former senator David Perdue. And with less than three months to go until the primary, Mr Kemp is pulling out all the stops, promising to spend at least $4.2m on TV ads alone between now and then – this while Mr Perdue has a total campaign war chest of less than $1m.

Mr Trump’s chosen candidates had a great primary night in Texas on Tuesday, but the power of his endorsement has yet to be fully tested across the country – and Georgia is as important an election as any.

Read more:

Kemp says he'll spend millions against Perdue in Georgia

Capitol riot select committee subpoenas Kimberly Guilfoyle

Friday 4 March 2022 14:36 , Oliver O'Connell

The House select committee investigating the 6 January insurrection has issued a subpoena for documents and testimony to Kimberly Guilfoyle, the former Fox News host and ex-Trump campaign fundraiser who is also the fiancee of Donald Trump Jr.

In a letter to Ms Guilfoyle, select committee chairman Bennie Thompson the committee’s investigation “has revealed credible evidence” of her involvement in “events within the scope of the select committee’s inquiry”.

Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.

Jan 6 select committee subpoenas Kimberly Guilfoyle

US economy adds 678,000 jobs in February

Friday 4 March 2022 14:42 , Oliver O'Connell

The United States added 678,000 jobs in the month of February while the unemployment rate inched down to 3.8 per cent in a boon for President Joe Biden.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics said in its report that the unemployment rate is almost back down to the level it was before the coronavirus pandemic in February 2020, when unemployment was at 3.5 per cent.

Nine in ten jobs lost in the pandemic have now returned and wage growth is now at 5.1 per cent.

Eric Garcia reports.

US economy adds 678,000 jobs

Clinton Global Initiative meeting returning in September

Friday 4 March 2022 14:52 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Bill Clinton is bringing back his annual Clinton Global Initiative summit.

The meeting was last held in 2016, but wound down amid scrutiny of conflicts of interest during Hillary Clinton’s campaign.

It will reportedly be held in New York in September.

Lindsey Graham tones down death to Putin comments

Friday 4 March 2022 14:57 , Oliver O'Connell

During an appearance on Fox & Friends on Friday morning, Senator Lindsey Graham toned down his call for someone to kill Vladimir Putin.

After listing off the atrocities being committed in Ukraine, and Russia’s history in Syria and Chechnya, the South Carolina Republican said Putin should “go to jail”.

In a remarkable appearance on Fox News on Thursday night, Mr Graham explicitly suggested that the best way to head off the escalation of the war in Ukraine would be for someone to assassinate Putin.

“Is there a Brutus in Russia?” he asked.

Lindsey Graham calls for Putin to be assassinated: ‘Is there a Brutus in Russia?’

Pro-Trump Texas Senate candidate who said God ‘appointed’ her loses in landslide

Friday 4 March 2022 15:10 , Oliver O'Connell

A candidate for Texas’ state legislature who’d said the seat was preordained for her by God has lost in a landslide.

Bianca Gracia, a pro-Trump Republican and first-time candidate for office, ran in the GOP primary to represent District 11 in Texas’ State Senate. Last month, she told the conservative podcast The Mc Files that she’d just met with a group of pastors, and hectored them to vote for her or face God’s wrath.

Nathan Place reports.

Texas Senate candidate who said God ‘appointed’ her loses miserably

Florida Senate passes bill banning abortions after 15 weeks

Friday 4 March 2022 15:22 , Oliver O'Connell

Florida legislators voted on Thursday to ban most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, with no exceptions for rape, incest, or human trafficking.

The move will restrict access to abortion in Florida and will put it one step closer to adopting a gestational limit — currently under review by the US Supreme Court.

Maroosha Muzaffar reports.

Florida Senate passes 15-week abortion ban with no exceptions for rape or incest

Jan 6 riot suspect turned in to the FBI by his ex-girlfriend

Friday 4 March 2022 15:45 , Oliver O'Connell

A Texas man was arrested after his now ex-girlfriend identified him to the FBI as allegedly being at the US Capitol on 6 January.

Geoffrey Shough, 37, is facing civil disorder charges for allegedly joining the crowd of rioters that overwhelmed police officers and forcibly entered the US Capitol building.

Despite allegedly being one of the first to enter the US Capitol building, his identity remained unknown until his girlfriend and anonymous tipsters helped identify him to federal agents.

Justin Vallejo has the story.

Capitol riot suspect is turned in to the FBI by his ex-girlfriend

Biden declares war on oligarchs

Friday 4 March 2022 16:01 , Oliver O'Connell

The White House has added Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov and seven Russian oligarchs and their families to the list of “Putin cronies” who will be subject to US sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

Speaking during a cabinet meeting on Thursday, President Joe Biden said the newest round of sanctions was part of US efforts to go after “the crimes of Russian oligarchs … who line their pockets with Russian peoples’ money while Ukraine and [its] people are hiding in the subway from Russian missiles that are being fired indiscriminately”.

“Today I’m announcing that we’re adding dozens of names to the list including one of Russia’s wealthiest billionaires and I’m banning travel to America by more than 50 Russian oligarchs, their families and their close associates,” said Mr Biden, who added that the US would “continue to support Ukrainian people with direct assistance”.

Andrew Feinberg reports on the latest sanctions from Washington, DC.

Biden declares war on oligarchs with 8 sanctioned and 50 banned from US

Melania Trump event cancelled over fundraising questions

Friday 4 March 2022 16:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Two weeks after former first lady Melania Trump blasted reports that a charity meant to benefit from her appearance at an April fundraising event was not registered with Florida authorities as “inaccurate, misleading, and outright incorrect,” that same event has been cancelled.

Andrew Feinberg reports on the fate of the “Tulips & Topiaries” event.

Melania Trump event cancelled over fundraising questions

Bill Barr says Trump was ‘responsible’ for Jan 6 and slams ‘clown show’ legal team

Friday 4 March 2022 16:23 , Oliver O'Connell

Former Attorney General Bill Barr told NBC News he does think former President Donald Trump was “responsible” for the January 6 Capitol riot.

In an interview with anchor Lester Holt, a clip of which was shown on the Today show ahead of its Sunday night broadcast, Mr Barr said that the former president wanted to “intimidate Congress”.

“I do think he was responsible in the broad sense of that word,” he told Holt about the events of January 6 2021.

“It appears that part of the plan was to send this group up to the Hill.”

The former attorney general also slammed the “clown show” of “crackerjack” lawyers advising the then-president — Rudy Giuliani among others.

Mr Barr told Mr Trump that he believed the claims of electoral fraud were “bulls***”.

Former Fox News director indicted for violating Crimea sanctions

Friday 4 March 2022 17:03 , Oliver O'Connell

A former Fox News director has been arrested on charges of aiding a Russian oligarch and violating US sanctions imposed following Russia’s invasion of Crimea in 2014.

Jack Hanick, also known as “John”, was arrested in London last month following “his years-long work for the sanctioned Russian oligarch Konstantin Malofeyev”, the US Justice Department (DOJ) announced on Thursday.

Gino Spocchia reports.

Former Fox News director indicted for violating sanctions, aiding Russian billionaire

Biden sees polls numbers rise after State of the Union and Ukraine invasion

Friday 4 March 2022 17:22 , Oliver O'Connell

The latest polling by PBS NewsHour, NPR, and Marist shows a bounce in President Joe Biden’s approval ratings 24 hours after the State of the Union address to Congress and after Russia invaded Ukraine.

In response to the question: “Do you approve of the job Joe Biden is doing as president?”, Mr Biden saw a jump from 39 per cent saying yes to 37 per cent agreeing with the statement.

His disapproval rating dropped from 55 per cent down to 50 per cent, so Mr Biden does remain more unpopular, but the improvement is significant — particularly when it comes to Russia’s attack on Ukraine and the US response.

NPR

A total of 46 per cent of Americans say Mr Biden’s handling of the situation, while 43 per cent think he is being too cautious. Only six per cent think he is being too aggressive.

However, Americans are not entirely sold on his ability to lead and were split over whether he has strengthened or weakened the country’s presence on the world’s stage.

Only 45 per cent say he has boosted the nation’s standing — down from 50 per cent in July 2021 before the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. Half (51 per cent) think he has weakened the nation’s standing.

Compared to his predecessor, the public has slightly greater public confidence in him than former President Donald Trump — 54 per cent of Americans said weakened the country’s reputation in July of 2018, around the time of his infamous one-on-one meeting with Vladimir Putin.

Lindsey Graham walks back call for Putin’s assassination

Friday 4 March 2022 17:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Less than 24 hours after calling for Russian president Vladimir Putin’s assassination, South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham has walked back his comments after they elicited outrage from prominent Republicans and legal and foreign policy experts.

Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.

Lindsey Graham walks back call for Putin’s assassination

‘Marjorie Taylor Greene should take her own advice'

Friday 4 March 2022 18:05 , Oliver O'Connell

The Republican Accountability Project says “‘Marjorie Taylor Greene should take her own advice” after her performance heckling the president during the State of the Union.

“Stop acting like a bunch of high schoolers,” they quote her saying in a tweet.

Biden’s approval ratings rise after State of the Union address

Friday 4 March 2022 18:30 , Oliver O'Connell

A new poll showed that President Joe Biden’s approval rating jumped by eight percentage points after he delivered his State of the Union address and reveals that Americans’ views of how he is handling multiple other crises has improved.

The NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist National Poll showed that Mr Biden’s approval rating rose from 39 per cent last week to 47 per cent this week. Similarly, the number of Americans who disapprove of his presidency is down from 55 per cent to only 50 per cent.

Eric Garcia has the details.

Biden’s approval ratings rise after State of the Union address

Ambassador says world avoided catastrophe ‘by the grace of God’ after Russia shelled Zaporizhzhia plant

Friday 4 March 2022 18:50 , Oliver O'Connell

US ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield on Friday told the UN Security Council a “nuclear catastrophe” at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia power station had only been averted “by the grace of God” and called the attack on the facility “incredibly reckless” and a “dangerous new escalation” in Russia’s unprovoked war against Ukraine.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

US Ambassador says catastrophe avoided by ‘grace of God’ after Zaporizhzhia attack

AOC shares meme mocking infamous photo of Boebert and Greene

Friday 4 March 2022 19:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has shared a meme comparing herself to Republican congresswomen Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene through the medium of pizza.

Gino Spocchia has the story.

AOC shares meme mocking infamous photo of Boebert and Greene at SOTU

Bolton: Putin was waiting for Trump to pull out of Nato

Friday 4 March 2022 19:39 , Oliver O'Connell

Speaking at a Washington Post streamed event, John Bolton, national security adviser to Donald Trump from 2018-19, said his former boss “may well have withdrawn from Nato” in a second term.

He went on to say that Russian President Vladimir Putin “was waiting for that.”

Mr Bolton says he, then-secretary of state Mike Pompeo, and then-defence secretary Mark Esper were “appalled” by Mr Trump’s policies in Ukraine.

White House distances itself from Lindsey Graham’s comments

Friday 4 March 2022 19:50 , Oliver O'Connell

“That is not the position of the United States government and certainly not a statement you would hear coming from the mouth of anyone working in the administration,” said White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki.

Trump Lawyer John Eastman has Covid

Friday 4 March 2022 20:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Trump lawyer John Eastman recently contracted Covid and is still symptomatic, and therefore wants to attend his court hearing about January 6 committee-demanded emails virtually, his lawyer says in a court filing.

Pence set to tell RNC donors there’s ‘no room in this party for apologists for Putin'

Friday 4 March 2022 20:16 , Oliver O'Connell

Former Vice President Mike Pence is giving a speech tonight to RNC donors in which he is going to say: “There is no room in this party for apologists for Putin. There is only room for champions of freedom.”

Excerpts of the speech were provided by Pence aides.

He will also tell top RNC donors: “We cannot win by fighting yesterday’s battles, or by relitigating the past.”

Both statements appear in direct opposition to former President Donald Trump and others’ praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin and continued claims that the 2020 election was rigged.

Video appears to be Trump on speaker phone talking about ‘friend’ Vladimir

Friday 4 March 2022 20:36 , Oliver O'Connell

A video posted to Twitter by Golf.com’s Tim Reilly appears to be a recorded conversation between Donald Trump and John Daly in which he refers to Vladimir Putin as his friend.

The former president brags that the Ukraine invasion didn’t happen when he was in office because he said he would “hit Moscow”.

In response to Mr Daly saying: “Xi didn’t bother you either”, Mr Trump says : “Taiwan will be next; you won’t have any computer chips. They’ll blow them off the face of the earth.”

Pence: ‘Where would our friends in Eastern Europe be today if they were not in Nato?’

Friday 4 March 2022 20:43 , Oliver O'Connell

More excerpts from former Vice President Mike Pence’s speech to RNC donors tonight:

Former Vice President Mike Pence

White House refutes Lindsey Graham call for Putin to be assassinated

Friday 4 March 2022 20:50 , Oliver O'Connell

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Friday distanced the United States government from Senator Lindsey Graham’s call for members of Russian president Vladimir Putin’s inner circle to assassinate the leader.

Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.

White House refutes Lindsey Graham call for Putin to be assassinated

Trump isn’t posting on TRUTH Social

Friday 4 March 2022 21:05 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump, once known for his seemingly infinite, real-time posts on social media, has yet to post a single thing on TRUTH Social, the social media site he founded, besides a boilerplate welcome message.

Josh Marcus reports from San Francisco.

Donald Trump isn’t posting on TRUTH Social, the social media site he founded

Roger Stone pushes back on new documentary footage about his role on January 6

Friday 4 March 2022 21:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Republican operative Roger Stone distanced himself from the “Stop the Steal” rally that preceded the Capitol insurrection last year and efforts to subvert the presidential election results, The Daily Beast reported.

“Any claim assertion or implication that I was involved in or knew about or condoned illegal actions at the capital[sic] on January 6 is baseless and categorically false,” he said over text message.

Eric Garcia reports from Washington, DC.

Roger Stone pushes back on new documentary footage about his role on January 6

Harris to travel to Warsaw and Bucharest

Friday 4 March 2022 21:22 , Oliver O'Connell

Per the White House:

Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Warsaw, Poland and Bucharest, Romania March 9-11. Her visit will demonstrate the strength and unity of the NATO Alliance and U.S. support for NATO’s eastern flank allies in the face of Russian aggression. It will also highlight our collective efforts to support the people of Ukraine. During her meetings with the leaders of Poland and Romania, the Vice President will advance our close coordination in response to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine. They will discuss our continuing support for the people of Ukraine through security, economic, and humanitarian assistance and our determination to impose severe economic consequences on Russia and those complicit in Russia’s invasion. The Vice President’s meetings will also focus on how the United States can further support Ukraine’s neighbors as they welcome and care for refugees fleeing violence. More details on the Vice President’s engagements will be forthcoming in the coming days.

DC, Virginia, Maryland brace for incoming trucker convoy

Friday 4 March 2022 21:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Despite earlier reports of trucker convoy chaos and cancellations, a convoy has made it to the greater Washington, DC area, and governors and local authorities are bracing for possible disruption.

Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin’s press secretary says the governor has received regular briefings and that the state remains “dedicated to ensuring that individuals can express their first amendment rights while continuing the safe flow of traffic for all travellers”.

Trump lashes out at ‘weak, ineffective’ Barr in response to former AG’s interview

Friday 4 March 2022 21:36 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump has lashed out at Bill Barr, attorney general during his administration.

Mr Barr has a book coming out soon and has given an exclusive interview to NBC News which airs in a special on Sunday night.

He has so far called Mr Trump’s election fraud theories “bulls***” and said his former boss was “responsible” for the January 6 Capitol riot.

In response, a statement from the former president reads: “Former Attorney General Bill Barr wouldn’t know voter fraud if it was staring him in the face—and it was.”

“The fact is, he was weak, ineffective, and totally scared of being impeached, which the Democrats were constantly threatening to do,” he adds. “He never got impeached, contempt charges never went forward, and the Democrats were very happy with him — but I wasn’t.”

“The Unselect Committee of Political Hacks continues to spin its wheels in trying to fabricate a narrative that doesn’t exist. The only thing they refuse to look into is the massive Election Fraud that took place in the 2020 Presidential Election.”

How bad could accusations of criminality get for the ex-president?

Friday 4 March 2022 21:40 , Oliver O'Connell

The January 6 committee has made its boldest move yet.

In a court filing, the panel’s lawmakers have alleged that there is enough evidence to suggest that Donald Trump and his attorney, John Eastman, were engaged in a criminal conspiracy to defraud the United States with their attempts to overturn the 2020 election.

Such an accusation is still a long way away from actually resulting in a criminal charge. But the late-Wednesday development is no doubt the most significant development of the January 6 committee’s work to hold those responsible for the attack on Congress accountable.

John Bowden unpacks the prospects for the former president.

Trump accused of criminal attempt to overturn election – how bad is it for ex-POTUS?

Boebert’s State of the Union antics are catching up with her right on her doorstep

Friday 4 March 2022 21:50 , Oliver O'Connell

As one constituent described her heckling as the president spoke about his late son and burn pits: “That’s lower than snakes***.”

Sheila Flynn reports for The Independent from Western Colorado.

‘Lower than snakes***’: Lauren Boebert’s antics are catching up with her at home

Why GOP governors who spurned Trump are refusing to run for Senate

Friday 4 March 2022 22:10 , Oliver O'Connell

The decisions of Ducey, Hogan, and Sununu are huge blows to the GOP’s effort to retake control of the Senate, writes John Bowden.

Why are GOP governors who spurned Trump refusing to run for Senate?

Kremlin spokesman brands Lindsey Graham a drunk

Friday 4 March 2022 22:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The Kremlin had strong words for Senator Lindsey Graham after he encouraged Russians to assassinate their president, Vladimir Putin.

Graig Graziosi reports.

Kremlin calls Lindsey Graham a drunk over Putin assassination comment

Melania Trump event cancelled over fundraising questions

Friday 4 March 2022 22:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Two weeks after former first lady Melania Trump blasted reports that a charity meant to benefit from her appearance at an April fundraising event was not registered with Florida authorities as “inaccurate, misleading, and outright incorrect,” that same event has been cancelled.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Melania Trump event cancelled over fundraising questions

Pence set to refute Trump in donor speech, calling out election obsession and Putin 'apologists’

Friday 4 March 2022 23:34 , Oliver O'Connell

Former Vice President Mike Pence will urge Republicans to move on from the 2020 election and will declare “there is no room in this party for apologists for Putin” as he escalates his break from former President Donald Trump.

Pence hits Trump: No room in GOP 'for apologists for Putin'

Hello? Moscow? US says Russian defence officials picked up hotline test call

Friday 4 March 2022 23:50 , Oliver O'Connell

The United States has established a “deconfliction hotline” with Russian military commanders in Moscow, allowing for direct lines of communication that could keep the two nuclear powers from being pulled into direct conflict.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Hello? Moscow? US says Russian defence officials picked up test call of ‘hotline’

Trump got ‘very angry’ after hearing election fraud claims were ‘bulls***’

Saturday 5 March 2022 00:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Former Attorney General Bill Barr has said that former President Donald Trump became “very angry” when he was told that his election fraud claims were “bulls***”.

Gustaf Kilander reports.

Trump got ‘very angry’ after hearing election fraud claims were ‘bulls***’ ex-AG says

Biden’s approval ratings rise after State of the Union address

Saturday 5 March 2022 00:40 , Oliver O'Connell

A new poll showed that President Joe Biden’s approval rating jumped by eight percentage points after he delivered his State of the Union address and reveals that Americans’ views of how he is handling multiple other crises has improved.

Eric Garcia has the details.

Biden’s approval ratings rise after State of the Union address

Bolton: Putin was waiting for Trump to pull out of Nato

Saturday 5 March 2022 01:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Speaking at a Washington Post streamed event, John Bolton, national security adviser to Donald Trump from 2018-19, said his former boss “may well have withdrawn from Nato” in a second term.

He went on to say that Russian President Vladimir Putin “was waiting for that.”

Mr Bolton says he, then-secretary of state Mike Pompeo, and then-defence secretary Mark Esper were “appalled” by Mr Trump’s policies in Ukraine.

‘Well, we usually don’t start wars’

Saturday 5 March 2022 01:25 , Oliver O'Connell

Amid the deepening crisis in Ukraine, PresidentJoe Biden hosted his Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinistö for a summit at the White House on Friday.

And during brief appearance before cameras in the Oval Office, Mr Biden joked that the world would be a safer place if Scandinavian nations were in charge of global affairs.

Bevan Hurley reports.

Finnish president quips to Biden: ‘Well, we usually don’t start wars’

Roger Stone pushes back on new documentary footage about his role on January 6

Saturday 5 March 2022 01:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Republican operative Roger Stone distanced himself from the “Stop the Steal” rally that preceded the Capitol insurrection last year and efforts to subvert the presidential election results, The Daily Beastreported.

Eric Garcia has the story.

Roger Stone pushes back on new documentary footage about his role on January 6

Bill Barr says Trump was ‘responsible’ for Jan 6 and slams ‘clown show’ legal team

Saturday 5 March 2022 02:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Former Attorney General Bill Barr told NBC News he does think former President Donald Trump was “responsible” for the January 6 Capitol riot.

In an interview with anchor Lester Holt, a clip of which was shown on the Today show ahead of its Sunday night broadcast, Mr Barr said that the former president wanted to “intimidate Congress”.

“I do think he was responsible in the broad sense of that word,” he told Holt about the events of January 6 2021.

“It appears that part of the plan was to send this group up to the Hill.”

The former attorney general also slammed the “clown show” of “crackerjack” lawyers advising the then-president — Rudy Giuliani among others.

Mr Barr told Mr Trump that he believed the claims of electoral fraud were “bulls***”.

AOC shares meme mocking infamous photo of Boebert and Greene

Saturday 5 March 2022 02:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has shared a meme comparing herself to Republican congresswomen Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene through the medium of pizza.

AOC shares meme mocking infamous photo of Boebert and Greene at SOTU

Trump lashes out at ‘weak, ineffective’ Barr in response to former AG’s interview

Saturday 5 March 2022 03:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump has lashed out at Bill Barr, attorney general during his administration.

Mr Barr has a book coming out soon and has given an exclusive interview to NBC News which airs in a special on Sunday night.

He has so far called Mr Trump’s election fraud theories “bulls***” and said his former boss was “responsible” for the January 6 Capitol riot.

In response, a statement from the former president reads: “Former Attorney General Bill Barr wouldn’t know voter fraud if it was staring him in the face—and it was.”

“The fact is, he was weak, ineffective, and totally scared of being impeached, which the Democrats were constantly threatening to do,” he adds. “He never got impeached, contempt charges never went forward, and the Democrats were very happy with him — but I wasn’t.”

“The Unselect Committee of Political Hacks continues to spin its wheels in trying to fabricate a narrative that doesn’t exist. The only thing they refuse to look into is the massive Election Fraud that took place in the 2020 Presidential Election.”

Georgia governor mounts massive effort to fend off Trump-backed challenger

Saturday 5 March 2022 04:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Incumbent Republican Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, who refused to subscribe to Donald Trump’s false claims that his state was stolen in the 2020 election, is fighting hard to keep his office in the face of a primary challenge from Trump-backed former senator David Perdue. And with less than three months to go until the primary, Mr Kemp is pulling out all the stops, promising to spend at least $4.2m on TV ads alone between now and then – this while Mr Perdue has a total campaign war chest of less than $1m.

Mr Trump’s chosen candidates had a great primary night in Texas on Tuesday, but the power of his endorsement has yet to be fully tested across the country – and Georgia is as important an election as any.

Read more:

Kemp says he'll spend millions against Perdue in Georgia

White House refutes Lindsey Graham call for Putin to be assassinated

Saturday 5 March 2022 05:30 , Oliver O'Connell

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Friday distanced the United States government from Senator Lindsey Graham’s call for members of Russian president Vladimir Putin’s inner circle to assassinate the leader.

Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.

White House refutes Lindsey Graham call for Putin to be assassinated

How bad could accusations of criminality get for the ex-president?

Saturday 5 March 2022 06:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The January 6 committee has made its boldest move yet.

In a court filing, the panel’s lawmakers have alleged that there is enough evidence to suggest that Donald Trump and his attorney, John Eastman, were engaged in a criminal conspiracy to defraud the United States with their attempts to overturn the 2020 election.

Such an accusation is still a long way away from actually resulting in a criminal charge. But the late-Wednesday development is no doubt the most significant development of the January 6 committee’s work to hold those responsible for the attack on Congress accountable.

John Bowden unpacks the prospects for the former president.

Trump accused of criminal attempt to overturn election – how bad is it for ex-POTUS?

‘Lower than snakes***’

Saturday 5 March 2022 07:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The Colorado Congresswoman stepped up her knack for controversy this week while shouting at Joe Biden and turning her back on the Cabinet. But her antics are dividing her constituents along with the rest of the country, Western Coloradans tell Sheila Flynn.

‘Lower than snakes***’: Lauren Boebert’s antics are catching up with her at home

Why GOP governors who spurned Trump are refusing to run for Senate

Saturday 5 March 2022 08:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The decisions of Ducey, Hogan, and Sununu are huge blows to the GOP’s effort to retake control of the Senate, writes John Bowden.

Why are GOP governors who spurned Trump refusing to run for Senate?

Melania Trump event cancelled over fundraising questions

Saturday 5 March 2022 09:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Melania Trump event cancelled over fundraising questions

Donald Trump isn’t posting on TRUTH Social

Saturday 5 March 2022 10:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump, once known for his seemingly infinite, real-time posts on social media, has yet to post a single thing on TRUTH Social, the social media site he founded, besides a boilerplate welcome message.

Josh Marcus reports from San Francisco.

Donald Trump isn’t posting on TRUTH Social, the social media site he founded

Hello? Moscow? US says Russian defence officials picked up hotline test call

Saturday 5 March 2022 11:40 , Oliver O'Connell

The United States has established a “deconfliction hotline” with Russian military commanders in Moscow, allowing for direct lines of communication that could keep the two nuclear powers from being pulled into direct conflict.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Hello? Moscow? US says Russian defence officials picked up test call of ‘hotline’