Trump news – live: Ex-president responds after Jan 6 committee accuses him of ‘criminal conspiracy’

Donald Trump and a lawyer who assisted with his re-election campaign were part of a “criminal conspiracy” to overturn the 2020 election, according to a court filing from the congressional 6 January US Capitol riot investigation.

“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.

Among the documents released is an image of Mr Trump’s private schedule for the day, which includes various names scrawled in pen. Among them is Kelly Loeffler, the Georgia Senator who lost her seat the night before the riot.

Meanwhile, Mr Trump is still declining to criticise Vladimir Putin directly. Speaking to Fox Business’s Maria Bartiromo, the president said the war Russia has launched in Ukraine “is a holocaust.”

However, his overriding verdict was that “the biggest problem we have is that our president and our country is no longer respected,” and that the solution is to “work out a deal”.

Key Points

• 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

• Biden laughs off Trump’s ‘genius’ comments on Putin

• Flashback: How Trump sided with Putin

Trump slams ‘unselect committee’ in grievance-laden statement about ‘rigged election’

18:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump has attacked the “unselect committee” in a wild, grievance-laden statement following the announcement that the probe into the events of the January 6 Capitol riot is accusing him of criminal conspiracy.

The statement reads: “The actual conspiracy to defraud the United States was the Democrats rigging the Election, and the Fake News Media and the Unselect Committee covering it up. Few things could be more fraudulent, or met with more irregularities, than the Presidential Election of 2020.

“They refuse to cover the facts, such as just this week the special counsel in Wisconsin called for the decertification of the 2020 Election because of massive illegality, including election bribery, and the preying on the elderly for votes, which resulted in fraud of “95-100 per cent turnout,” an impossibility, in at least 91 nursing homes.

“This is true with many other states, especially swing states. In Arizona, 204,430 mail-in ballotshad broken chain of custody, all far more necessary than the votes needed, 10,457, for “President Trump to win.” In Georgia, over 240 ballot harvesters have been identified in an illegal operation spanning multiple swing states, all caught on video.

Boebert votes against burn pits legislation

17:45 , 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.

Read more:

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

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

17:19 , 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.”

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

17:00 , Andrew Naughtie

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

Nancy Pelosi on hecklers: “Shut up"

16:32 , Andrew Naughtie

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’

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

16:14 , Andrew Naughtie

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

Long read: Are the days of ‘burn pits’ finally numbered?

15:50 , Andrew Naughtie

Joe Biden was heckled at the State of the Union on Thursday while discussing a subject close to his heart: the human damage done by “burn pits”, makeshift waste incineration facilities sometimes used in the field by the US military. Mr Biden and many other bereaved military family members are convinced that living next to such pits exposed their loved ones to toxins that ultiamtely killed them.

Rachel Sharp has this deep dive into the long-running story.

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

Read Trump’s private schedule from 6 January

15:18 , Andrew Naughtie

Among the documents released along with the 6 January committee’s court filing is an image of Donald Trump’s handwritten private schedule from the day of the Capitol riot.

Scrawled in handwriting at the top of the page are various appointments, among them a call with Georgia Senator Kelly Loeffler – who lost her seat just the day before.

Here’s more on what we can glean from the stark document.

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

Anti-vax extremists embrace pro-Putin conspiracy theory

14:47 , Andrew Naughtie

A tendency of hardcore conspiracy theorists who subscribe to anti-vaccine beliefs are apparently embracing a new fringe idea: that Vladimir Putin is trying to dismantle Ukrainian biological facilities where the coronavirus was created by Dr Anthony Fauci.

That this isn’t the most bizarre Covid-related conspiracy theory in circulation says a lot in itself, but it’s worth reflecting on the fact that in this worldview, Mr Putin is a hero to Dr Fauci’s villain.

Graig Graziosi has more:

Conspiracy theorists in US turning to antisemitic pro-Putin propaganda, report says

Three Republicans vote against Ukrainian solidarity resolution

14:15 , Andrew Naughtie

The House of Representatives yesterday passed a resolution affirming its solidarity with the people of Ukraine as they fight back against the devastating Russian invasion of their country. But while 426 members of the House backed it, three voted against.

All three are Republicans: Paul Gosar of Arizona (notorious for associating with white nationalists), Thomas Massie of Kentucky (who has many times been pilloried for voting against uncontroversial bipartisan legislation), and Matt Rosendale of Montana.

Sravasti Dasgupta has the story.

Three Republicans refuse to vote to ‘stand with Ukraine’

Capitol re-emerges from SOTU security fencing

13:46 , Andrew Naughtie

The protests that many worried could disrupt Joe Biden’s State of the Union (or worse) failed to materialise this week, and the security measures put in place at the US Capitol are duly being removed.

Prosecutor: First Capitol rioter to face trial “lit the match that started the fire”

13:18 , Andrew Naughtie

Yesterday saw opening arguments in the trial of Guy Wesley Reffitt, who was caught on video at the west front of the Capitol on 6 January 2021. The first alleged rioter to face trial, he is charged with bringing a gun onto Capitol grounds, interfering with police officers guarding the building and threatening his teenage children if they reported him to authorities.

As a prosecutor put it yesterday, Mr Reffitt is accused of being “the tip of this mob’s spear”. In his own words, said Assistant US Attorney Jeffrey Nestler, “he lit the match that started the fire”.

Read more on yesterday’s proceedings below:

Prosecutor says the first Capitol rioter on trial ‘lit the match’

Recap: What the Jan 6 committee has announced

12:45 , Andrew Naughtie

The announcement of possible criminal offences is one of the 6 January committee’s biggest moves yet, so it pays to get a handle on what’s at the core of the announcement.

The tightest summary is the statement from Bennie Thompson and Liz Cheney, the committee’s chair and vice chair, who said bluntly that “The facts we’ve gathered strongly suggest that Dr 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”.

Here’s Josh Marcus’s roundup of the news:

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

Trump claiming credit for Ukrainian fighters’ performance

12:10 , Andrew Naughtie

In his interview with Fox News’s Maria Bartiromo yesterday (in which he again refused to specifically condemn Vladimir Putin), Donald Trump took credit for the performance of the Ukrainian army, saying Russia has gotten in “deeper than they ever thought possible” because of “the weapons that I gave and that the Ukrainians used so well”.

It has long been a Republican talking point that the Obama administration only sent “blankets” to Ukraine even as it faced aggression from Russia and its proxy forces, but in fact the US sent tens of millions of dollars in military aid after the events of 2014.

Eastman’s attorney responds to Jan 6 committee

11:35 , Andrew Naughtie

As the 6 January select committee unveils its claim of criminal conduct by Donald Trump, John Eastman and others, Politico has this comment from Mr Eastman’s own lawyer:

Tucker Carlson called out for ‘racist’ tirade against Ketanji Brown Jackson

11:00 , Andrew Naughtie

Veteran news anchor Dan Rather has torn into Tucker Carlson for a bizarre segment last night in which he questioned her mental fitness to be a Supreme Court justice, ostensibly because he hadn’t seen her qualifications. And he’s not the only one who’s pounced on the Fox News opinionator’s remarks.

Jan 6 committee releases emails to Trump lawyer

10:27 , Andrew Naughtie

As part of the bombshell new release and court filing from the committee investigating the 6 January riot, we can now read email correspondence involving Trump lawyer John Eastman, who helped formulate the never-enacted plan to have Mike Pence throw out the result in Congress.

Here’s a sample of some of his correspondence during the riot itself, where a Pence adviser blames the situation on Mr Eastman’s actions.

Anti-Trump candidate takes on right-wing Utah senator over Ukraine

09:16 , Andrew Naughtie

Evan McMullin, who stood as a third-party candidate in 206, is running in the state’s Republican Senate primary against incumbent right-winger Mike Lee. He’s now dropped an ad that pins Lee down on his supposed sympathy towards Russia even as the Ukrainian crisis was brewing. Watch it below:

Calling Putin a 'genius' was a mistake, Republican senator says

07:45 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, said that it was a “mistake” by Donald Trump to call the Russian president a “genius.”

He said: “I think that was a mistake. I think I know what he was trying to say, you know, going into the Donbas. But, no. Let’s just make it clear, Putin’s not a genius, he’s a war criminal.”

Mr Graham said he expects Russia’s strategy to be “scorched earth” as Putin gets “more desperate” and “as you see that happen, we need to get international law organisations on board behind this complaint.”

He added: “The world has let him get away with too much for too long. He’s stolen the Russian people blind, he’s murdered Russian citizens to maintain his iron grip on the country.”

“To the Russian people, I doubt if you can hear my words, but our fight is not with you, you’re a victim of Putin as much as anyone, maybe more than most, and I just wanted to let you know that we understand the difference between the Russian people and Putin, but we’re going to need your help. In bringing justice to the table, you’re going to have to suffer,” Mr Graham continued.

ICYMI: Trump adviser skips deposition with January 6 committee

07:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Peter Navarro, former President Donald Trump’s onetime trade adviser, said that he did not appear for his scheduled deposition on Wednesday with the committee investigating the 6 January riots.

It was reported that the deposition had been scheduled to take place over Webex.

Mr Navarro said in a statement: “My hands are tied in this matter as the Executive Privilege asserted by President Trump is not my privilege to waive. The Committee has a firm legal obligation to negotiate this matter directly with Trump and his attorneys before attempting to coerce and bully me into cooperating with its highly partisan effort. If the president waives the privilege, I will appear.”

Trump Hotel chief announces exit

07:15 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Donald Trump’s top hotel executive, Eric Danziger, is stepping down from his role as CEO of Trump Hotels after six years.

It was reported that he is joining the Braintree Group as CEO.

He was hired in August 2015 and has now cited “family reasons” for his departure, the New York Times reported.

Mr Danziger, 67, announced his departure in an email on Wednesday to his colleagues in the hotel industry.

This comes as 6 January Capitol riot investigations continue against the former president.

Trump slams Biden’s energy policies amid Russia-Ukraine war

07:01 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Donald Trump warned that the United States should “stop buying Russian oil” and also encouraged the country to “open up your own oil.”

During his SOTU address, Joe Biden had said that “America will lead that effort, releasing 30 million barrels of oil Strategic Petroleum Reserve. We are prepared to do more united with our allies.”

He had said that “these steps will help blunt gas prices here at home.”

But the former president countered this by saying that “our country is run by fools.” He added that the war in Ukraine would have “never happened if he were president, especially since the US would have been exporting oil to all countries.

He argued that that “would have kept it from happening in itself because Russia wouldn’t have been making a fortune on oil.”

“It’s crazy, and we have more oil than they do,” Mr Trump added.

ICYMI: Mitch McConnell clears up ‘confusion’ about Putin

06:26 , Maroosha Muzaffar

In an appearance on Fox News, Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said that “there should be no confusion about Vladimir Putin. There has been some confusion lately. He is a thug. He is a killer. He has been on a rampage and this will not end well for him.”

The senator’s comments come on the back of praise heaped on Mr Putin by former President Donald Trump, who called the Russian leader “savvy” and a “genius” for his invasion of Ukraine.

At CPAC last weekend he called the US a “stupid country” and called Mr Putin “smart”.

Trump says Taiwan is next as Xi 'watching with glee'

06:08 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Donald Trump has said Taiwan will be invaded by China next as “President Xi is watching with glee” the developments of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Speaking with Fox Business, the former president said that “President Xi happens to be a man with a high intelligence level, and he looks at what happened in Afghanistan … He saw the way that we left Afghanistan … left American citizens there – is still trying to get out – he sees that, and this is his opportunity to do what he wants to do.”

“Taiwan is going to be next. Just watch Taiwan; President Xi is watching with glee,” he said.

He added: “Ukraine has put up a very good fight against Russia, far better than most people thought possible. Many people are dying, and we’re allowing this to happen. It would have never happened [if I was still president]. It should have never happened.”Mr Trump continued: “Putin never would have done it with me. I can tell you that.”

Former US solicitor general calls court filing ‘incredibly powerful’

05:46 , Maroosha Muzaffar

The former US Solicitor General Neal Katyal reacted to the news of Donald Trump and his lawyer John Eastman being a part of the “criminal conspiracy” by saying that this was “big.”

He wrote on Twitter: “The House has just slammed John Eastman for invoking the privilege. It’s an incredibly powerful brief, arguing that Eastman looks like he committed crimes and cannot assert attorney/client privilege.”

According to a court filing from the congressional 6 January investigation, Mr Trump and a lawyer who assisted with his re-election campaign were part of a “criminal conspiracy” to overturn the 2020 election.

The documents, filed on Wednesday, come as the House special committee seeks to gain access to emails from John Eastman, a lawyer who helped lead Mr Trump’s “war room” challenging Joe Biden’s election win.

Smugglers have been sawing through Trump’s wall

05:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Nick Miroff of The Washington Post reports that smugglers in Mexico have sawed through Donald Trump’s border wall 3,272 times over the past three years.

The figure comes from Customs & Border Patrol maintenance reports obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.Repairs have reportedly cost $2.6m to date.

Mitch McConnell clears up ‘confusion’ about Putin

04:15 , Oliver O'Connell

In an appearance on Fox News on Wednesday morning, Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell felt he needed to address the recent “confusion” about Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Said Mr McConnell: “There should be no confusion about Vladimir Putin. There has been some confusion lately. He is a thug. He is a killer. He has been on a rampage and this will not end well for him.”

The senator’s comments come on the back of praise heaped on Mr Putin by former President Donald Trump, who called the Russian leader “savvy” and a “genius” for his moves on Ukraine prior to the unprovoked invasion.

At CPAC last weekend he called the US a “stupid country” and called Mr Putin “smart”.

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

03:26 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Donald Trump and a lawyer who assisted with his re-election campaign were part of a “criminal conspiracy” to overturn the 2020 election, according to a court filing from the congressional 6 January US Capitol riot investigation.

Read the full story here:

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

All the drama - The six most memorable moments of the State of the Union

03:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Just over a year into his presidency — and with nine months until the midterm elections — President Joe Biden delivered his first official State of the Union message to Congress.

With the House of Representatives’ mask mandates gone, Mr Biden’s speech was delivered to a packed, albeit socially distant, House chamber, with most of Congress, the Supreme Court, his cabinet, and a First Lady’s box full of guests including Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova.

Andrew Feinberg reports on the standout moments.

From heckling to Ukraine: The 6 most dramatic moments at Biden’s State of the Union

03:01 , Phil Thomas

Donald Trump and a lawyer who assisted with his re-election campaign were part of a “criminal conspiracy” to overturn the 2020 election results, according to a court filing from the congressional 6 January US Capitol riot investigation.

The documents, filed on Wednesday, come as the House special committee seeks to gain access to emails from John Eastman, a lawyer who helped lead Mr Trump’s “war room” challenging the election results. Mr Eastman was reportedly the one who first proposed pressuring then vice-president Mike Pence to reject the election results.

The Independent has reached out to both men named in the filing for comment.

Josh Marcus has the breaking story:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-eastman-criminal-conspiracy-capitol-b2027368.html

03:01 , Phil Thomas

Donald Trump and a lawyer who assisted with his re-election campaign were part of a “criminal conspiracy” to overturn the 2020 election results, according to a court filing from the congressional 6 January US Capitol riot investigation.

The documents, filed on Wednesday, come as the House special committee seeks to gain access to emails from John Eastman, a lawyer who helped lead Mr Trump’s “war room” challenging the election results. Mr Eastman was reportedly the one who first proposed pressuring then vice-president Mike Pence to reject the election results.

The Independent has reached out to both men named in the filing for comment.

Josh Marcus has the breaking story:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-eastman-criminal-conspiracy-capitol-b2027368.html

Fact check: What did Biden get wrong in the State of the Union?

02:14 , Oliver O'Connell

President Joe Biden’s first State of the Union address posed little trouble for fact checkers, with some major outlets left quibbling over minor details rather than calling out blatant lies as they did with his predecessor.

According to CNN, Mr Biden only made one claim in his remarks that turned out to be completely false.

Andrew Feinberg runs through the mistakes and falsehoods.

State of the Union fact check – what did Biden get wrong?

Joe Walsh: Republican base want a dictator not a president

01:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Former congressman and tea party member turned anti-Trumper Joe Walsh tweets: “Republican base voters no longer want a democratically-elected President. They want a dictator. They want a dictator who is an a**hole. They want a bully who is above the law. That’s why they love Trump and DeSantis.”

He adds: “Don’t believe me? It’s what they tell me every day.”

Secret Service billed $1.3m on hotel and travel to protect Trump

00:15 , Oliver O'Connell

The Secret Service spent $1.3m on hotel and transport costs protecting Donald Trump in the 12 months since he left office, newly released figures show.

Bevan Hurley reports.

Secret Service spends at least $1.3m protecting Trump since he left office

DeSantis sparks outrage after suggesting the French would not resist Russian invasion

Wednesday 2 March 2022 23:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis may have been trying to distract from the US right wing’s lovefest for Vladimir Putin on Wednesday when he praised the fighting spirit of Ukraine’s outnumbered military forces.

But the Republican darling and potential 2024 presidential contender left himself open for attack on social media after he tried to do so with an off-colour suggestion that one of America’s oldest allies would not even attempt to mount a defence against a similar invasion.

John Bowden reports.

DeSantis criticised for suggesting France would roll over for a Russian invasion

Don Jr fills in for his banned father with late-night Twitter after SOTU

Wednesday 2 March 2022 23:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump Jr unleashed a series of Twitter attacks on President Joe Biden as he delivered his first State of the Union address to Congress on Tuesday.

Moments before the speech kicked off, Mr Trump posted a meme of Mr Biden with the caption: “Let’s get ready to mumble”.

Then as the president made his way to the podium, the former first son tweeted: “Biden walked into the #SOTU2022 with no mask but walks across the lawn with a mask?”

Sravasti Dasgupta reports.

Donald Trump Jr fills in for banned father with late-night rant at State of the Union

NSC official involved in John Bolton book controversy gets job back

Wednesday 2 March 2022 23:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Ellen Knight is returning to her old role at the the National Security Council, after she was pushed out of the Trump administration over a controversy involving security clearance for former national security adviser John Bolton’s book.

Ms Knight is returning to her post as the senior director for records, access, and information security management at the NSC.

A White House NSC spokesperson says: “Ellen Knight is a dedicated career public servant. We’re thankful to have her return to the National Security Council … and benefit from her extensive experience in classified information management.”

John Bolton: Trump ‘barely knew where Ukraine was’

Wednesday 2 March 2022 22:45 , Oliver O'Connell

John Bolton, who served as Mr Trump’s national security adviser from 2018 to 2019 and previously as the US ambassador to the UN, told Newsmax in an interview that his former boss “barely knew where Ukraine was”.

“He once asked John Kelly, his second chief of staff, if Finland were a part of Russia,” the former ambassador said of the single-term US president on Monday. “The fact is that he barely knew where Ukraine was.”

Mr Bolton argued earlier in the interview that Russia had not been deterred from acting aggressively towards its neighbours, and in particular Ukraine, because of Mr Trump.

Gino Spocchia reports.

Former US ambassador to UN says Trump ‘barely knew where Ukraine was’

Blinken: ‘US doesn’t bluff’, warns Putin of ‘massive unprecedented consequences’ for Ukraine war

Wednesday 2 March 2022 22:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Russian president Vladimir Putin “gravely miscalculated” by invading Ukraine and will now face “massive, unprecedented consequences” from the US and its allies, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during remarks on Wednesday.

“President Putin may have assumed that the US and our allies were bluffing when we warned of massive unprecedented consequences but as President Biden likes to say, big nations can’t bluff,” he said. “The US doesn’t bluff and President Putin has gravely miscalculated.”

Josh Marcus reports.

Antony Blinken warns of ‘unprecedented consequences’ for Russia over Ukraine war

ICYMI: Truth Social goes live

Wednesday 2 March 2022 22:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump’s new social media platform Truth Social has gone live, and is available for download on Apple’s App Store.

However, many users complained on Twitter about a huge waitlist to join the portal.

After being ousted from social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook and Youtube, in January 2021, the former US president took matters in his hands and announced last October that he planned to launch his own platform.

Donald Trump’s Truth Social has huge wait-list to enter, complain users

Trump hails Texas candidate victories

Wednesday 2 March 2022 21:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump is happy at the way the Texas primaries played out for the 33 candidates he endorsed.

They all won or “are substantially leading”.

“Big night! How will the Fake News make it look bad?”

Navarro did not appear before Jan 6 committee today

Wednesday 2 March 2022 21:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Former Trump administration Trade Advisor Peter Navarro has told the House Capitol riot committee that they must negotiate with former President Donald Trump to waive executive privilege allowing him to testify.

He says that only if Mr Trump approves will he appear before them.

Mr Navarro’s deposition was scheduled for today.

In a statement he calls President Joe Biden an “illegitimate president” who illegitimately tried to waive the executive privilege of Mr Trump, “exposing the weak underbelly of its legal case”.

He adds: “That unconstitutional dog won’t hunt at the Supreme Court, where this case is headed — and I welcome an expedited review.”

Smugglers have been sawing through Trump’s wall

Wednesday 2 March 2022 20:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Nick Miroff of The Washington Post reports that smugglers in Mexico have sawed through Donald Trump’s border wall 3,272 times over the past three years.

The figure comes from Customs & Border Patrol maintenance reports obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.

Repairs have cost $2.6m to date.

White nationalist leader deposed by Capitol riot committee

Wednesday 2 March 2022 20:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Patrick Casey, said to be a leader of the “America First “ movement, and former leader of the now-defunct white nationalist group Identity Evropa, appeared before the Jan 6 committee today.

A pool photographer spotted him leaving the panel’s office building and a source has confirmed to Ellis Kim of CBS News that he was scheduled for a deposition today.

Wednesday 2 March 2022 20:10 , Oliver O'Connell

More criticism of Trump acolyte Rep Lauren Boebert from Biden guest at the State of the Union, veteran’s widow Danielle Robinson.

Speaking to The Independent, Ms Robinson says Ms Boebert’s heckling was a “slap in the face” to soldiers like her later husband.

Rachel Sharp spoke with Ms Robinson.

Exclusive: State of the Union widow calls for Boebert to be removed from the House

DC trucker rally flops

Wednesday 2 March 2022 19:41 , Oliver O'Connell

A trucker rally at the Washington Monument failed to materialise as just a handful of protesters showed up at the event.

The National Parks Service had given permission for the demonstration at the Sylvan Theater and organisers expected several thousand people would rally against Covid-19 mandates.

But in the end there was more press and police at the event than protesters, according to The Daily Beast.

Graeme Massie reports.

Trucker convoy protest in Washington DC flops as no-one shows up

Don Jr fill sin for his dad on Twitter

Wednesday 2 March 2022 19:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump Jr unleashed a series of Twitter attacks on President Joe Biden as he delivered his first State of the Union address to Congress on Tuesday.

Moments before the speech kicked off, Mr Trump posted a meme of Mr Biden with the caption: “Let’s get ready to mumble”.

That was just the beginning, as Sravasti Dasgupta reports.

Donald Trump Jr fills in for banned father with late-night rant at State of the Union

Viral photo compares ‘crazy screaming’ Greene and Boebert to ‘historic’ Pelosi and Harris

Wednesday 2 March 2022 18:40 , Oliver O'Connell

A viral photo is unfavourably comparing Trump acolytes Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert’s outbursts at the State of the Union with Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker Nancy Pelosi dignified appearance.

Maroosha Muzaffar reports.

Viral photo compares Greene and Boebert to Pelosi and Harris after their SOTU acts

Jan 6 committee subpoenas disgraced ex-Kansas attorney general and OAN host

Wednesday 2 March 2022 18:10 , Oliver O'Connell

The House select committee investigating the 6 January insurrection has issued subpoenas to six attorneys connected with former president Donald Trump’s failed 2020 campaign who promoted baseless claims of election fraud in the days leading up to the worst attack on the Capitol since 1814.

Two of the highest-profile recipients of these latest subooenas include one former elected official, ex-Kansas attorney General Phillip Kline, and a right-wing television host, Christina Bobb of One America News.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Capitol riot committee subpoenas lawyers who pushed fake election fraud claims

Republicans still fundraising for members who appeared at white nationalist event

Tuesday 1 March 2022 18:50 , Andrew Naughtie

Judd Legum, who covers the flow of political fundraising cash for Popular Information, points out that Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar are still in the fundraising mix for the Republicans’ fall campaign – days after they appeared at a full-on white nationalist event.