Trump news – live: Codefendants surrender to Fulton County Jail as former president’s fourth arrest looms
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Donald Trump’s codefendants have started surrendering to authorities to face charges in the Georgia election interference case.
Scott Hall and John Eastman were the first to turn themselves in on Tuesday, surrendering for arrest at Fulton County Jail before being released on bond.
In the early hours of Wednesday morning, two more codefendants Cathy Latham and David Shafer were also booked into the jail. The first mugshots have started to emerge with a smiling Mr Shafer posting his online.
Mr Trump has announced that he plans to surrender on Thursday – hours after skipping the first Republican presidential debate on Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case, a key witness has flipped his testimony and implicated the former president and his associates on the charges.
Yuscil Taveras, the former director of IT at Mar-a-Lago, accused Mr Trump and his employees Walt Nauta and Carlos de Oliviera of being involved in a scheme to delete security footage relating to the handling of classified documents, according to a new filing from the special counsel’s office.
This move came “immediately” after Mr Taveras switched attorneys from a lawyer paid for by a Trump PAC group to a public defender.
Key points
First mugshots of Trump codefendants released
Two more Trump codefendants surrender to authorities in Georgia
Key witness in Mar-a-Lago documents case flips to implicate Trump
Trump granted $200,000 bail in Georgia and ordered not to make threats on social media
What’s next for Donald Trump after his Georgia indictment
10:20 , Namita Singh
Donald Trump will face yet another arraignment, this time in Fulton County, Georgia, after he was indicted on 13 charges related to his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election in the state.
On 14 August evening, Mr Trump was charged with violating the RICO Act as well as other charges alleging conspiracy, making false statements and filing false documents related to his combined efforts with 18 other named defendants in changing election results.
The charges stem from an investigation by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis into Mr Trump and his allies’ actions in the state in the days and weeks after the 2020 election.
These actions included an infamous phone call that Mr Trump made to Brad Raffensperger, Georgia’s Republican secretary of state, in which Mr Trump asked him to “find” 11,780 votes. It also detailed a plot to install fake state electors.
Now, Mr Trump will have to add another series of court hearings for this case, including his official arraignment, to his already packed schedule.
Here’s what we know about what’s next for Mr Trump in the Georgia indictment.
What’s next for Donald Trump after his Georgia indictment?
Two more Trump codefendants surrender to authorities in Georgia
10:06 , Rachel Sharp
Two more codefendants in Donald Trump’s election interference case in Georgia have now surrendered to authorities.
Online jail records reveal that Cathy Latham and David Shafer were booked into Fulton County Jail in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
As of 5am ET, records show that they had both been released from the jail.
Now, a total of four codefendants have turned themselves into authorities.
Scott Hall, a former bail bondsman in Atlanta, was the first co-defendant to surrender on Tuesday. Attorney John Eastman then also surrendered the same day.
How are candidates for debate shortlisted?
10:00 , Namita Singh
Donald Trump won’t be on the Republican debate stage on Wednesday. But the former president is driving the conversation on and off the debate stage anyway.
Trump supporters including representative Marjorie Taylor Greene will be in Milwaukee. There are questions about how many of his campaign surrogates will be allowed into Fox News’ spin room. The network has restricted their access unless they are the guests of another media organization.
Eight other candidates met the donor and polling qualifications to be on stage, according to the Republican National Committee. For those who didn’t, missing the debate could be a decisive moment in their campaigns.
Conservative radio host Larry Elder has said he plans to sue the RNC over being left out, despite what he says is proof that he qualified for the debate. It also wasn’t immediately clear what Miami Mayor Francis Suarez — who didn’t make the cut — would do, following his Iowa State Fair comments that he might drop out of the race if that happened.
To qualify for the 23 August debate, candidates needed to satisfy polling and donor requirements set by the RNC: at least one per cent in three national polls or a mix of national and early-state polls deemed acceptable by the committee, between 1 July and 21 August , and a minimum of 40,000 donors, with 200 in 20 or more states.
Candidates also needed to commit at least 48 hours before the Wednesday evening debate, according to RNC criteria, which also required participants to sign a pledge promising to support the party’s eventual nominee.
Trump teases ‘very busy’ night during GOP debate
09:40 , Rachel Sharp
Donald Trump has teased that he will be having a “very busy” night on Wednesday during the first Republican debate.
“I WILL BE VERY BUSY TOMORROW NIGHT - ENJOY!!!” he posted on Truth Social on Tuesday night.
Eight GOP presidential hopefuls will take to the stage in Wisconsin for the debate at 9pm ET.
Mr Trump is skipping the event – but is instead holding a rival, though pre-recorded, interview with Tucker Carlson at the time.
First mugshots of Trump codefendants released
09:22 , Rachel Sharp
The first mugshots of Donald Trump’s codefendants in the Georgia election interference case have been released.
Scott Hall and John Eastman were the first to surrender to authorities in Fulton County on Tuesday.
Will Trump go to prison?
09:00 , Oliver O'Connell
America wants to know...
Will Donald Trump go to prison?
ICYMI: Scott Hall becomes first Trump co-defendant to surrender for arrest in Georgia
08:30 , Namita Singh
Scott Hall has become the first co-defendant of Donald Trump to surrender to authorities on Georgia to face charges over their alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election in the state.
Fulton County Jail records reveal that Mr Hall was arrested on Tuesday 22 August by Fulton County Sheriff’s Office on seven charges.
Rachel Sharp reports.
Scott Hall becomes first Trump co-defendant to surrender for arrest in Georgia
Who takes advantage of Donald Trump’s absence in the Republican debate
08:00 , Namita Singh
Eight Republican candidates will meet on the debate stage for the first time Wednesday night in what may be the biggest moment in the GOP’s young 2024 presidential primary so far.
The overwhelming front-runner in the contest, former president Donald Trump, won’t participate.He says he’s so far ahead that he’d be helping his opponents by showing up. But his absence also offers them opportunity.
Who is likely to gain from his absence? Report:
Who takes advantage of Donald Trump's absence and other things to watch in the Republican debate
GOP debate: What is the net worth of each candidate?
07:30 , Oliver O'Connell
Ahead of Wednesday’s showdown, here’s a guide to the personal wealth of those taking part, with a brief outline of how they made their fortunes.
Fellow candidates Will Hurd, Perry Johnson, Francis Suarez and Larry Elder have not been included as, at the time of writing, they had not met the threshold to earn spots on the debate stage.
What are the Republican presidential candidates’ net worths?
Trump won’t be at the GOP’s first presidential debate. But his presence will be felt
07:00 , Namita Singh
He’ll be missing from the stage, but former president and GOP frontrunner Donald Trump will nonetheless loom large at the first Republican presidential primary debate Wednesday night as the candidates hoping to take on Democrat Joe Biden in November face off for the first time.
Trump won't be at the GOP's first presidential debate. But his presence will be felt
A major witness in the Mar-a-Lago document case flipped his testimony after switching from Trump PAC lawyer
06:31 , Namita Singh
A key witness in the special counsel’s classified documents case against Donald Trump reversed his testimony and implicated the former president and his associates after switching from a lawyer paid for by a Trump PAC group, according to a filing from the special counsel’s office.
Last month, Yuscil Taveras, the former director of IT at Mar-a-Lago, identified in some court documents as Trump Employee 4, switched from his attorney Stanley Woodward to a public defender.
At the same time, he gave federal officials new statements they said implicated the former president and his employees Walt Nauta and Carlos de Oliviera in an alleged scheme to delete security footage relating to the the handling of classifed documents.
My colleague Josh Marcus has more:
A witness in the Mar-a-Lago case flipped testimony after switching from Trump lawyer
Fox News’ ability to pivot again tested by Trump's decision to back out of debate
06:30 , Oliver O'Connell
If 2023 has taught anything to the people running Fox News, it’s the importance of being able to pivot.
The decision by former President Donald Trump to skip Wednesday’s first debate of the 2024 presidential primary season likely deprives Fox of a huge late-summer audience. Even worse for the network, Trump has talked of appearing in an online interview with former Fox star Tucker Carlson at the same time.
Trump’s announcement on Sunday wasn’t necessarily a surprise. Fox debate moderators Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum had been preparing for two events — one if he were there and one if he wasn’t.
Trump's decision to back out of debate tests Fox News' ability to pivot again
Trump claims $200,000 bond was set so he doesn’t ‘fly to Russia'
05:30 , Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump has claimed that he was slapped with a high bond in his Georgia election interference case so that he doesn’t fly to Russia to “share a gold-domed suite” with Vladimir Putin.
The former president agreed on Monday to his bond being set at $200,000 as he faces 13 charges including racketeering over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election in the state.
Read on...
Trump claims bond set at $200k so he won’t flee to Russia to be with Putin
Recap: Trump says he will be arrested in Georgia on Thursday
04:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Former president Donald Trump will officially be arrested and booked on racketeering and conspiracy charges in Fulton County, Georgia on Thursday, one day before the court-ordered deadline for the ex-president and his 18 co-defendants to surrender to authorities.
Here’s what we know, so far...
Trump will be arrested in Georgia on Thursday for alleged efforts to subvert election
John Eastman gets $100,000 bail in Georgia election case
04:00 , Oliver O'Connell
John Eastman, the former Chapman University law professor who was indicted along with former president Donald Trump and 17 other co-conspirators by a Fulton County, Georgia grand jury last week, has been allowed to remain free pending trial on $100,000 bail.
Andrew Feinberg reports.
Trump co-defendant John Eastman gets $100,000 bail in Georgia election case
Even following indictments, Trump and his allies double down on election lies
03:15 , Oliver O'Connell
A federal indictment and one in Georgia charging Donald Trump with lying about the 2020 election to overturn President Joe Biden’s win have done nothing to slow the geyser of election falsehoods flowing from the former president and his supporters.
Read on...
Trump and his allies double down on election lies following indictments
Viral video questioning DeSantis debate leaks appears to show him on edge
02:30 , Oliver O'Connell
GOP presidential hopeful and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has once again found himself made a punching bag online after he was caught in an embarrassing video on the campaign trail.
Graig Graziosi reports.
DeSantis appears on edge in viral video questioning his debate leaks
Abortion right: What the GOP candidates have said
01:45 , Oliver O'Connell
The issue of abortion rights in the United States is staring the 2024 GOP presidential candidates in their faces as they prepare to kick their campaigns into high gear.
Since the Supreme Court overturned the landmark case Roe v Wade (1973) last summer, abortion has become a top concern for many voters.
Though the anti-abortion stance has long been associated with the Republican Party, approximately 61 per cent of adults in the US believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases, according to Pew Research Center – that statistic includes Republican and Democratic voters.
As Americans look toward their next Republican presidential nominee, no doubt many will be considering where the candidate stands on abortion when determining who they support.
Here is what each GOP presidential candidate has said on the issue.
What the GOP candidates have said about abortion rights
Analysis: Trump’s barely veiled ‘riggers’ dog whistle underlines former president’s history of racist statements
01:00 , Oliver O'Connell
Facing four criminal indictments as he seeks the Republican nomination for president, Donald Trump has repeatedly lashed out at the prosecutors and judges handling his cases, while his supporters spin volatile rhetoric into threats of political violence.
His inflammatory remarks, threats to political rivals and borderline incitement have galvanised his supporters, who echo and amplify his statements and hear his alleged dogwhistles loud and clear.
Mr Trump has repeatedly said he is the “least racist” person, but his statements surrounding the criminal cases against him are seen as some of his most explicit and most desperate racist attacks yet, following decades of bigoted statements.
Alex Woodward reports.
Trump’s barely veiled ‘riggers’ dog whistle underlines history of racist statements
GOP senator calls Trump’s classified documents case a ‘slam dunk’
Wednesday 23 August 2023 00:15 , Oliver O'Connell
One of the Republican senators who voted to convict Donald Trump for his role in the January 6 Capitol riot has described the criminal case regarding the former president’s handling of classified documents as a “slam dunk”.
Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) spoke to Kasie Hunt on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday where he said that Mr Trump should drop out of the 2024 presidential race.
Eric Garcia reports.
Republican senator calls Trump’s classified documents case a ‘slam dunk’
Mayor Francis Suarez unhappy about being excluded from debate
Tuesday 22 August 2023 23:50 , Oliver O'Connell
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez echoes Larry Elder in his criticism of being excluded from tomorrow night’s Republican debate due to ineligible poll numbers but says he respects “the rules and process set forth by the RNC”.
In a statement, he said:
Throughout the debate verification process, my team was in touch with the RNC as we worked towards meeting the qualifications for the first debate.
On Thursday afternoon, in consultation with the RNC, we believed the polling requirement would be met by two polls that were yet to be reported.
On Monday night, we learned that a Cygnal poll would not be counted due to its affiliation with Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign, despite multiple published reports confirming the poll was not paid for by any campaign. Two polls were certified by the RNC - Kaplan and Morning Consult (Aug 11-13) - however, we believed an equivalent Morning Consult poll (July 1-3) showing me at over 1% would certainly be certified.
I am sorry that this debate will not include my perspectives from the largest growing voting block in our country - young, conservative Hispanics. Additionally, Republicans will not be able to hear my story of how conservative principles of keeping taxes low, keeping people safe and focusing on creating prosperity for all created the most successful big city in America.
I respect the rules and process set forth by the RNC, and I look forward to working with my party to ensure we win back the White House and restore the path to a brighter future for our country.
Throughout the debate verification process, my team was in touch with the RNC as we worked towards meeting the qualifications for the first debate.
On Thursday afternoon, in consultation with the RNC, we believed the polling requirement would be met by two polls that were yet…— Mayor Francis Suarez (@FrancisSuarez) August 22, 2023
Trump attacks Fox News for using ‘worst’ photos of him
Tuesday 22 August 2023 23:30 , Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump has taken to lashing out at Fox News, claiming that the network is working with other Republican candidates to figure out who can beat him in the GOP primary, while using unflattering “orange” photos of him and negative polls.
Read more...
Trump attacks Fox for using ‘worst’ photos of him: ‘Especially the big orange one’
Watch: Fani Willis denies Meadows extension
Tuesday 22 August 2023 23:05 , Oliver O'Connell
Wallace: The Fulton county DA fired back with a letter to Meadows’ attorneys saying, I am not granting any extensions. I gave two weeks for people to surrender.. your client is no different than any other criminal defendant in this jurisdiction… pic.twitter.com/7TBSkF9HBD
— Acyn (@Acyn) August 22, 2023
DeSantis responds to Trumpworld ‘listless vessels’ blowback
Tuesday 22 August 2023 22:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Ron DeSantis is doubling down after calling Donald Trump and some of his supporters “listless vessels” in a weekend interview that enraged Trumpworld and drew criticism from the ex-president’s allies who accused him of insulting GOP voters.
John Bowden reports.
DeSantis responds to Trumpworld blowback over ‘listless vessels’ remark
How will Trump will be arrested in Fulton County? This viral TikTok explains it all...
Tuesday 22 August 2023 22:30 , Oliver O'Connell
A recently uploaded TikTok video has gone viral that gives viewers insight into how former President Donald Trump will be booked after he turns himself in to authorities in Fulton County, Georgia, later this week.
In a segment recorded on August 18, TikTok personality Chris Mowrey sets the scene outside the jail — walking viewers through the logistics of where the lockup is located, where media covering the arraignment will gather and some of the precautions law enforcement officials are taking in advance of the former president’s visit
Abe Asher has the story.
Tiktok video breaking down how Trump will be arrested in Fulton County goes viral
Analysis: Ron DeSantis isn’t over yet – here’s why
Tuesday 22 August 2023 22:15 , Oliver O'Connell
Ron DeSantis supporters tell Eric Garcia there is still time for the governor to break through, even as he becomes a target during Wednesday’s debate.
Ron DeSantis isn’t over yet – here’s why
Kinzinger thinks Trump is ‘scared to death’ of this 2024 GOP rival
Tuesday 22 August 2023 22:00 , Oliver O'Connell
Former Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger said that former president Donald Trump is “scared to death” of his one-time confidant Chris Christie, the former governor of New Jersey.
Eric Garcia reports.
Adam Kinzinger thinks Trump is ‘scared to death’ of this 2024 GOP rival
Meanwhile on Truth Social...
Tuesday 22 August 2023 21:55 , Oliver O'Connell
Having been silent all day, former president Donald Trump fired up his Truth Social machine this afternoon to issue his latest missal:
I WILL BE VERY BUSY TOMORROW NIGHT - ENJOY!!!
Trump has humiliated Fox News. He's humiliated the RNC. He's humiliated the other candidates. All of them continue to enable him anyway. pic.twitter.com/xYhlrlKdam
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 22, 2023
He then took aim at New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, who has said the Republican Party will lose the presidential election with Trump as the nominee.
I was beating “Governor” Chris Sununu in his home State, New Hampshire, by so much, almost 50 Points, that he didn’t have the courage to run. He’s a selfish guy who should have run for the Senate, but now he’s stuck in never, never land, lonely and virtually unelectable!
He then added:
BEST POLL NUMBERS EVER, STAY TUNED!!!
Watch: Jason Miller and Matt Gaetz confident Trump surrogates will be in debate spin room
Tuesday 22 August 2023 21:48 , Oliver O'Connell
Miller: We’re going to have some really big hitters who are going to be in that spin room. Don Jr, Kim Guilfoyle, Kari Lake, Byron Donalds, Marjorie Taylor Greene… All of our allies that are going to be there tomorrow are more impactful than any of the candidates debating pic.twitter.com/itlavfPNJs
— Acyn (@Acyn) August 22, 2023
Gaetz: The RNC gave control over the spin room to Fox News. We were allowed to go and observe the debate. But there was a little bit of confusion. I can tell you now that's all been sorted out… We are going to have access to the spin room. pic.twitter.com/GaFEwMHPlT
— Acyn (@Acyn) August 22, 2023
Trump plan for surrogates to represent him at debate hits snag
Tuesday 22 August 2023 21:34 , Oliver O'Connell
Building on earlier reporting that only participating candidates and campaigns will be welcome in the Fox News spin room after the GOP debate, The New York Times has obtained a memo first report by Axios that states that representatives of nonparticipating candidates will only be allowed in as guests of media organisations.
“In addition to the (5) Spin Room credentials referenced in a previous email, we’ll also issue (1) Media Row credential to any participating candidate/campaigns,” the memo says. “Any non-participating candidate/campaign is welcome in the Spin Room or Media Row as a guest of one of the media organizations with positions in those locations, using one of their credentials.”
Here’s our earlier reporting:
Fox won’t let Trump aides into post-debate ‘spin room’ as ex-president skips event
Everything Mike Pence has said about Trump, from praying after the Access Hollywood tape to condemning January 6
Tuesday 22 August 2023 21:30 , Oliver O'Connell
Former Vice President Mike Pence has become much more emboldened in his criticism of his former boss, Donald Trump, in recent months, but has refused to stoop to Mr Trump’s online admonishments and name-calling tactics.
Mr Pence is trying to pave a pathway back to the White House – without his name on a ballot next to Mr Trump. But it’s no secret that the former vice president isn’t polling particularly well, with just over five per cent in the polls, putting him in fourth place in a crowded GOP field.
The man who was once described as “cartoonishly loyal as Trump’s vice president” (and who once praised Trump every 12 seconds for three minutes straight during a 2017 Cabinet meeting) is now taking harsher stances and carefully distancing himself, at times, from the former president.
Kelly Rissman reports on what Mr Pence has said about his former boss.
Everything Mike Pence has said about Donald Trump
Kayleigh McEnany rips Trump’s decision to skip debate
Tuesday 22 August 2023 21:20 , Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump‘s former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany thinks her former boss is making a “miscalculation” by choosing to skip the first GOP primary debate.
The comments came after Mr Trump made it clear in a post on Truth Social that he plans to sit out the first debate in the GOP presidential primary race, citing his position as the front runner and arguing that participating would only provide his opponents the chance to sell themselves by attacking him.
Graig Graziosi has the story.
Former ally Kayleigh McEnany rips Trump’s decision to skip debate
Full story: Meadows asks federal court to block his arrest on Georgia election charges
Tuesday 22 August 2023 21:02 , Oliver O'Connell
Attorneys for Mark Meadows, the ex-North Carolina congressman who served as Donald Trump’s final White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, have filed an emergency motion seeking a federal court order barring Fulton County, Georgia authorities from arresting him while a request to move the racketeering and election interference case against him from state court is pending.
Andrew Feinberg has the latest.
Mark Meadows asks federal court to block his arrest on Georgia election charges
Watch: Eastman vows to contest ‘every count of the indictment'
Tuesday 22 August 2023 20:50 , Oliver O'Connell
John Eastman, after turning himself in over his Georgia election interference case indictment, vows to contest “every count of the indictment”:
“I am confident that when the law is faithfully applied in this proceeding, all of my co-defendants and I will be fully vindicated.” pic.twitter.com/Dlsvrn4YHj— The Recount (@therecount) August 22, 2023
Meadows asks federal court to issue an order preventing DA Fani Willis from seeking his arrest
Tuesday 22 August 2023 20:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Mark Meadows is asking a federal court to issue an order that would prevent District Attorney Fani Willis from seeking his arrest if he doesn’t show up by the Friday deadline, citing his Monday hearing for his request to move the state court prosecution to federal court.
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) August 22, 2023
Trump supporter downs sign to take photo with Tim Scott
Tuesday 22 August 2023 20:40 , Oliver O'Connell
Only in Milwaukee— a guy in a TRUMP shirt (and holding a Trump sign, which he threw on the ground just out of frame) taking a picture with presidential candidate Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) pic.twitter.com/TDRe6JEiZ7
— Nathaniel Reed (@ReedReports) August 22, 2023
How to watch Trump’s Tucker Carlson interview on Wednesday
Tuesday 22 August 2023 20:30 , Oliver O'Connell
After Donald Trump declared that he would not be participating in the first GOP primary debate on Wednesday, the former president has something else up his sleeve: an interview with disgraced Fox News host Tucker Carlson.
Here’s how to watch it:
How to watch Trump’s Tucker Carlson interview during GOP debate
How the bonds are stacking up
Tuesday 22 August 2023 20:20 , Oliver O'Connell
Anna Bower of Lawfare has been tallying up the bonds so far agreed by the former president and his co-defendants in the Fulton County 2020 election interference case. There are nine more bonds to be finalised.
Trump: $200,000Eastman: $100,000Ellis: $100,000Chesebro: $100,000David Shafer: $75,000Cathy Latham: $75,000Mike Roman: $50,000Ray Smith: $50,000Scott Hall: $10,000Shawn Still: $10,000
Who are the partners of the GOP presidential candidates?
Tuesday 22 August 2023 20:10 , Oliver O'Connell
The Republican Party will begin the thorny business of choosing its nominee for president in earnest this week when the candidates meet in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Wednesday evening to take part in the first televised debate of the campaign season.
Front-runner Donald Trump has declined to participate, however, refusing to sign the GOP’s loyalty pledge and arguing that there is no advantage for him in appearing, given that he is so far ahead of his rivals in the polls.
The broadcast is being hosted by Fox News, with Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum moderating and taking turns to put the questions to the candidates.
The likes of Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley and Mike Pence will relish the opportunity to distinguish themselves in front of a primetime TV audience, having so far struggled to emerge from the former president’s long shadow and convince the MAGA die-hards that they are a viable alternative to a man twice-impeached and now four-times-indicted who could, theoretically, end up contesting the election from a prison cell.
The evening also represents an opportunity for less well-known candidates like Vivek Ramaswamy and Doug Burgum to make a name for themselves on the national stage and prove that they have what it takes to battle Joe Biden.
You might be familiar with the candidates themselves by now but you may not be so well acquainted with their families. Here is a brief introduction to their better halves.
Who are the Republican presidential candidates’ partners?
Watch: Vivek Ramaswamy challenged over 9/11 comments
Tuesday 22 August 2023 19:50 , Oliver O'Connell
Pressed on his 9/11 comments, Vivek Ramaswamy’s response: pic.twitter.com/hVEglgb5t3
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) August 22, 2023
Fox News won’t let Trump surrogates into post-debate ‘spin room’
Tuesday 22 August 2023 19:40 , Oliver O'Connell
Fox News has punched back at Donald Trump after the former president refused to participate in this week’s Republican primary debate. The network has restricted Mr Trump’s aides from participating in the traditional post-debate “spin room”, according to Axios.
Fox, which is hosting the debate in Milwaukee, will limit post-debate spin room appearances to aides of those candidates who are actually participating in the debate.
Read more...
Fox won’t let Trump aides into post-debate ‘spin room’ as ex-president skips event
Watch: Full John Eastman statement as he defends actions in wake of 2020 election
Tuesday 22 August 2023 19:33 , Oliver O'Connell
Eastman: As troubling, it targets attorneys for their zealous advocacy on behalf of their clients, something attorneys are ethically bound to provide and which was attempted here by formally challenging the results of the election through lawful and appropriate means pic.twitter.com/mWwgMvyhI9
— Acyn (@Acyn) August 22, 2023
Jenna Ellis and Mike Roman enter bond agreements in Fulton County case
Tuesday 22 August 2023 19:27 , Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump’s co-defendants Jenna Ellis and Mike Roman have entered bond agreements in Fulton County, Georgia for $100,000 and $50,000, respectively for their charges relating to interference in the 2020 election.
MORE: Jenna ELLIS and Mike ROMAN have entered bond agreements in Georgia for $100,000 and $50,000, respectively. pic.twitter.com/GL5riy6BFD
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) August 22, 2023
Two more people indicted with Trump in Georgia election probe want case heard in federal court
Tuesday 22 August 2023 19:20 , Oliver O'Connell
Former Justice Department lawyer Jeffrey Clark and former Georgia Republican Party chair David Shafer, who were indicted last week along with former President Donald Trump, have filed paperwork to transfer the case to federal court.
Read more...
Two more people indicted with Trump in Georgia election probe want the case heard in federal court
Watch: John Eastman tells MSNBC he ‘absolutely’ still believes 2020 election was stolen
Tuesday 22 August 2023 19:10 , Oliver O'Connell
John Eastman's attorney tried "several times" to steer his client away from reporters to avoid their questions.
"Clearly, Eastman wasn't paying attention to that," @AliVitali reports after her conversation with Trump's former lawyer and current co-defendant. pic.twitter.com/z0yUncUuHz— MSNBC (@MSNBC) August 22, 2023
GOP candidate Will Hurd decries ‘lack of transparency’ and ‘confusion' around RNC debate requirements
Tuesday 22 August 2023 19:00 , Oliver O'Connell
Republican presidential candidate Will Hurd, a former Texas lawmaker and CIA clandestine officer, has decried the “lack of transparency” and “confusion” around the Republican National Committee’s debate requirements having failed to qualify for the Wednesday’s debate in Milwaukee.
He said on Twitter: “I have said from day one of my candidacy that I will not sign a blood oath to Donald Trump.”
I have said from day one of my candidacy that I will not sign a blood oath to Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/lxMN7NJzza
— Will Hurd (@WillHurd) August 22, 2023
Here’s the rest of Mr Hurd’s defiant statement:
I was the last candidate to enter this race. My team and I met the 40,000 donor threshold in less than 60 days without any gimmicks. We registered in eight reputable national polls and eight reputable state polls. We are close to crossing the 50,000 donor threshold, and in New Hampshire, I'm tied with the former vice president and United Nations ambassador, who have much higher name ID.
The lack of transparency and confusion around the RNC's debate requirements is antithetical to the democratic process. The polling standards are arbitrary, unclear, and lack consistency. This is an unacceptable process for a presidential election. The American people deserve better.
The RNC discounted polls that included independents and Democrats willing to vote for a Republican. If the GOP is looking to grow our electorate and beat Joe Biden, then we better have a clear understanding of what qualifies as a likely Republican voter. Anyone, regardless of party, who is willing to check the box for a Republican should be considered a 'likely Republican voter. Expanding our party should be applauded, not penalized.
I have said from day one of my candidacy that I will not sign a blood oath to Donald Trump. The biggest difference between me and every single candidate who will be on the debate stage in Milwaukee is that I have never bent the knee to Trump. It's disappointing being kept off the debate stage, but I will not be deterred. The stakes are too high.
Jenna Ellis’s lawyers meeting with Fani Willis
Tuesday 22 August 2023 18:58 , Oliver O'Connell
Attorneys for Jenna Ellis, who played a prominent role in Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia but has since lamented that he isn't covering their legal bills, have just arrived at Fani Willis's office.
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) August 22, 2023
Trump plans tariff trade war if re-elected
Tuesday 22 August 2023 18:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump met with economic advisers last week to sketch out a plan for how he might be able to attack President Joe Biden after a spate of positive news on the US economy in recent months.
Per The Washington Post:
Among the ideas they discussed was Trump’s plan to enact a “universal baseline tariff” on virtually all imports to the United States, the people said. This idea, which Trump has taken to describing as creating a “ring around the U.S. economy,” could represent a massive escalation of global economic chaos, surpassing the international trade discord that marked much of his first administration.
Trump’s advisers have for months discussed various potential levels to set the tariff rate, and they say the plan remains a work in progress with major questions left unresolved, the people said. On Fox Business on Thursday, the former president publicly called for setting this tariff at 10 percent “automatically” for all countries — a move that experts warn could lead to higher prices for consumers throughout the economy, and likely lead to a global trade war.
