Trump news – live: Ex-president ‘mulled’ blanket Jan 6 pardon in office and now accused of ‘witness tampering’

Donald Trump floated the idea of a blanket pardon for January 6 rioters before leaving office, according to a report by Politico.

The news comes as the former president has turned on one of his most loyal Republican allies, Lindsey Graham, after he dismissed Mr Trump’s latest suggestion that he would pardon rioters who stormed the US Capitol that have faced criminal sentences should he return to office in 2024.

The former president floated the idea over the weekend, putting him at odds even with many Republicans. When Mr Graham also took against it, Mr Trump told a Newsmax interviewer that his dogged ally “doesn’t know what he’s talking about” and even called him a “RINO”.

As the 6 January House Select Committee looks into the former president’s role in sowing distrust over the outcome of the 2020 election, Democrat congressman Pete Aguilar of California, who is on the investigation panel, was asked if the comments about pardoning Capitol rioters amounted to witness tampering.

He replied: “Absolutely.”

Follow the latest developments.

Key points

• Trump considered blanket pardon for Capitol riot before leaving office, report says

• Trump comments on Jan 6 pardons are 'witness tampering;, says Aguilar

• Trump calls for Pence to be investigated by January 6 committee

• Some Trump documents given to Capitol riot committee had been ripped up

• Ex-president in ‘burn it all down mode'

Trump considered blanket pardon for Capitol riot before leaving office, report says

20:28 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump seriously considered issuing a blanket pardon for all participants in the Capitol riot, Politico reports citing two people with direct knowledge of the matter.

Between January 6 and Joe Biden’s inauguration on January 20, then-President Trump made three calls to one adviser to discuss the idea. “Do you think I should pardon them? Do you think it’s a good idea? Do you think I have the power to do it?” Mr Trump reportedly asked.

Another adviser to the former president said he asked questions about how participants in the riot might be charged criminally, and how a uniform pardon could provide them protection going forward, the source told Politico.

“Is it everybody that had a Trump sign or everybody who walked into the Capitol” who could be pardoned? Mr Trump asked, according to that adviser.

“He said, ‘Some people think I should pardon them.’ He thought if he could do it, these people would never have to testify or be deposed.”

Conspiracy theorists defend Fauci being compared to Nazi doctor

20:16 , Oliver O'Connell

Far-right figures and conspiracy theorists Alex Jones and Marjorie Taylor Greene have defended a Fox News personality’s comparison of White House chief medical adviser Dr Anthony Fauci to Josef Mengele, the Nazi doctor who performed lethal medical experiments and assisted in mass killings inside concentration camps.

Alex Woodward reports.

Alex Jones and Marjorie Taylor Greene compare Fauci to Nazi doctor

Marjorie Taylor Greene says she may run for president

20:02 , Oliver O'Connell

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene said she may consider running for president in the future after conspiracy theorist Alex Jones encouraged her to seek the nation’s highest office.

Grag Graziosi reports.

Marjorie Taylor Greene says she may run for president on Alex Jones show

New York judge’s son who stormed Capitol dressed as caveman pleads guilty

19:54 , Oliver O'Connell

A 35-year-old man who stormed the US Capitol on 6 January while dressed as a caveman, and who also grabbed a police vest and riot shield while doing so, has pleaded guilty.

Trump supporter Aaron Mostofsky of Brooklyn told a friend that “fraud in the 2020 Presidential Election was so obvious, even a caveman would know the election was stolen,” a court document said.

Mr Mostofsky is the son of a New York judge, NBC News reports.

Trump ‘said the criminal part out loud’, says Raskin

19:35 , Oliver O'Connell

Democrat congressman and former impeachment manager Jamie Raskin has argued that Donald Trump has admitted to planning to overturn the results of the 2020 election along with Mike Pence, his vice president.

Mr Raskin told CBS News on Tuesday that a statement issued by the former US president on Sunday was proof that he had “said the criminal part out loud” about his intentions to remain in power.

Mr Trump said in the statement that Mr Pence “did have the right to change the outcome” of the election when Congress met on 6 January, and “unfortunately, he didn’t exercise that power”.

“He could have overturned the Election,” Mr Trump added.

The remarks were among the most open admissions to date by Mr Trump that his inner circle had thought about overturning the 2020 election.

Gino Spocchia reports.

Donald Trump ‘said the criminal part out loud’ with election plan, says Jamie Raskin

Trump ‘absolutely’ tampering with witnesses, says Jan 6 committee member

19:16 , Oliver O'Connell

California Democratic Representative Pete Aguilar has said that former President Donald Trump is “absolutely” tampering with witnesses as he dangles possible pardons if he gets elected again in 2024.

Mr Trump said at a rally in Texas over the weekend that “if I run and if I win” in 2024, “we will treat those people from January 6 fairly. We will treat them fairly. And if it requires pardons, we will give them pardons because they are being treated so unfairly”.

Mr Aguilar, a member of the House Select Committee investigating 6 January, was asked by CNN if Mr Trump was witness tampering by offering pardons to the rioters who laid siege to the Capitol.

Gustaf Kilander reports.

Trump ‘absolutely’ tampering with witnesses by dangling pardons, panel member says

Rachel Maddow shoots down Don Jr tweet

18:58 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump Jr was put on the back foot by MSNBC host Rachel Maddow on social media after he tweeted about her hiatus from TV.

The host of The Rachel Maddow Show informed viewers on Monday of her departure from the nightly MSNBC show.

Mr Trump tweeted that it “Seems the TRUTH finally broke her!” and shared a report about her four month long hiatus, which is set to begin on Friday.

Maddow tweeted back on Tuesday night by saying: “LOL do you think he knows it’s a film about a criminal in the White House? And ... prosecuting him? For crimes?”

Gino Spocchia reports.

Rachel Maddow delights fans by shooting down Donald Trump Jr tweet

Former president to speak at CPAC 2022

18:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump will be speaking at this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on 24-27 February in Orlando, Florida, according to a press release from organisers.

Mr Trump has previously confirmed in a video message he would be attending the event.

Alexander Vindman sues Trump family and ex-White House officials for smear campaign

18:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman has filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump Jr, ex-New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and two former Trump White House officials, Julia Hahn and Daniel Scavino, for allegedly conspiring to retaliate against the decorated combat veteran after he testified during the 2019 House hearings that led to the first impeachment trial of former president Donald Trump.

Andrew Feinberg in Washinton, DC has the details for The Independent.

Vindman sues Trump Jr, Giuliani and ex-Trump White House officials

Trump revels in resignation of longtime foe Jeff Zucker

18:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump has issued a gleefully scathing statement celebrating Jeff Zucker’s shock resignation as CNN president.

“Jeff Zucker, a world-class sleazebag who has headed ratings and real-news-challenged CNN for far too long, has been terminated for numerous reasons, but predominantly because CNN has lost its way with viewers and everybody else. Now is a chance to put Fake News in the backseat because there may not be anything more important than straightening out the horrendous LameStream Media in our Country, and in the case of CNN, throughout the World. Jeff Zucker is gone—congratulations to all!”

Trump revels in resignation of longtime foe CNN boss Jeff Zucker

Trump: ‘Lindsey Graham is wrong’

17:42 , Oliver O'Connell

Trump turned on his most loyal advocate, Senator Lindsey Graham, after the South Carolina lawmaker said he was against the former president’s plan to pardon January 6th rioters.

‘RINO’ Graham out to lunch with fellow senator and Democrat whip

17:37 , Oliver O'Connell

Fresh off being called a “RINO” by former President Trump, Lindsey Graham has posted a photo of him having lunch with fellow South Carolina lawmakers Republican Senator Tim Scott and Democrat House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn.

The senator wrote: “Great fellowship today with my colleagues @SenatorTimScott and @WhipClyburn.”

He added: “Very proud of who we are in South Carolina. Smiling Faces, Beautiful Places!”

What are they talking about?

Rep Aguilar: ‘Absolutely’ Trump comments on Jan 6 pardons are witness tampering

17:27 , Oliver O'Connell

Representative Pete Aguilar of California was asked by CNN’s Brianna Keilar if former President Trump’s comments about pardoning January 6 rioters amounted to witness tampering.

“Absolutely,” he replied. "And I think the question is more from my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, you know where — where are they? Do they support this? When is enough enough?"

Mr Aguilar, a Democrat from California, is a member of the House panel investigating the attack on the US Capitol.

The comments made by Mr Trump over the weekend and reiterated in a Tuesday night interview with Newsmax have added fresh urgency to the committee’s work. The investigation into the storming of Congress could be derailed by a GOP takeover of the House in midterm elections this November, as well as a reelection bid by Trump in 2024.

Premium: The political rehabilitation of Dick Cheney

17:17 , Oliver O'Connell

Andrew Buncombe writes that once Democrats called him Darth Vader, but now they line up for selfies with the former vice president — and it’s all down to Donald Trump.

The political rehabilitation of Dick Cheney –courtesy of Donald Trump

Trump adversary Jeff Zucker resigns from CNN

16:57 , Oliver O'Connell

Once a close associate of Donald Trump, and often credited with making him a TV star before his run for the White House, CNN boss Jeff Zucker has sensationally resigned after admitting a consensual relationship with colleague Allison Gollust.

Trump and Zucker’s relationship began to sour almost as soon as the former reality TV star began his campaign for the White House.

CNN soon became a punching bag for the president who lashed out at their constant criticism of his campaign and administration and called for Zucker to be fired in 2018.

“The hatred and extreme bias of me by CNN has clouded their thinking and made them unable to function. But actually, as I have always said, this has been going on for a long time. Little Jeff Z has done a terrible job, his ratings suck, & AT&T should fire him to save credibility!”

Bevan Hurley has the story of Zucker’s sudden departure from the helm of the news network.

CNN boss Jeff Zucker resigns after admitting relationship with colleague

Raskin: Trump ‘said the criminal part out loud’ about Pence election plan

16:47 , Oliver O'Connell

Democrat congressman and former impeachment manager Jamie Raskin has argued that Donald Trump has admitted to planning to overturn the results of the 2020 election along with Mike Pence, his vice president.

Mr Raskin told CBS News on Tuesday that a statement issued by the former US president on Sunday was proof that he had “said the criminal part out loud” about his intentions to remain in power.

Mr Trump said in the statement that Mr Pence “did have the right to change the outcome” of the election when Congress met on 6 January, and “unfortunately, he didn’t exercise that power”.

“He could have overturned the Election,” Mr Trump added.

The remarks were among the most open admissions to date by Mr Trump that his inner circle had thought about overturning the 2020 election.

Gino Spocchia reports.

Donald Trump ‘said the criminal part out loud’ with election plan, says Jamie Raskin

475 witnesses have spoken with Jan 6 comittee

16:41 , Oliver O'Connell

An aide has told NBC News’ Sahil Kapur that the January 6 select committee has so far heard from 475 witnesses, has received 60,000 pages of records, and is in possession of more than 700 pages from the National Archives that former President Donald Trump tried to keep hidden.

RNC to debate ouster of Cheney and Kinzinger

16:33 , Oliver O'Connell

One topic the Republican National Committee will reportedly debate at their meeting this week is whether to endorse the ouster of representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger from the House GOP conference.

David Bossie, a close ally of former President Donald Trump and an RNC member from Maryland, submitted a resolution endorsing the removal of the two lawmakers from the House Republican caucus, NBC News reports.

The resolution, first reported by The Washington Post, would be purely symbolic in nature, but its passage would serve as yet another reminder that the party’s interests and the former president’s are one and the same.

Both Ms Cheney of Wyoming and Mr Kinzinger of Illinois deeply angered the former president for voting to impeach him in 2021. They are now both also serving on the January 6 committee that’s investigating the storming of the US Capitol by a mob of pro-Trump supporters.

It is not clear if the resolution will move through RNC committees and win approval from the 168-member body at Friday’s meeting in Salt Lake City.

RNC meeting in Salt Lake City as Trump looks set to be GOP standard bearer for midterms

16:21 , Oliver O'Connell

Utah is a deep-red state that’s also home to some of Donald Trump’s most vocal conservative critics, but this week it will welcome members of the Republican National Committee for a meeting in which party officials are expected to solidify the former president’s status as the GOP standard-bearer ahead of the midterm elections.

There are few overwhelmingly Republican states where Trump’s demeanor clashes with the political culture like he does in Utah, a conservative bastion that prides itself on maintaining political civility in polarising times.

AP

Utah, home of conservative Trump critics, hosts GOP meeting

Mary Trump removes podcast from Spotify over Joe Rogan Covid row

16:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Mary Trump, the niece of former President Donald Trump, has announced that she has removed her podcast from Spotify, amid the platform’s ongoing and controversial platforming of Joe Rogan – who has been accused of spreading Covid misinformation.

Tom Fenton reports.

Mary Trump removes podcast from Spotify amid Joe Rogan row

TODAY - Join our live expert panel on the first year of the Biden presidency

15:50 , Oliver O'Connell

A full assessment of Biden’s first year and answers to these questions will be given during a live event being hosted by The Independent. US news editor David Taintor will be chairing the discussion. He will be joined on the panel by our Washington correspondent and in house D.C. expert Eric Garcia as well as Congressman Hakeem Jeffries and Dr Julie Norman to analyse the current presidency, what it means for the US and for the wider world.

Our event will be hosted on Zoom on 2 February at 6.30pm GMT, 1.30pm ET and will last one hour. It is free to attend.

To find out more about the event and to sign up click here

Join our expert panel as they discuss a year of President Biden

Capitol riot suspect growing beard until all accused rioters are free

15:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Is this an insurgency homage to Movember?

The suspect Capitol rioter who was pictured with his feet on Nancy Pelosi’s desk on 6 January 2021 has told a court he will not shave his facial hair until all accused rioters are free.

Richard Barnett, who has been released on bail, appeared virtually for a status hearing on Tuesday when he announced his protest. The 61-year-old has been forced to wear a GPS monitor at his home in Arkansas.

“I’m not shaving it until the J6ers are free,” Mr Barnett told US district court judge Christopher Cooper on Tuesday, according to reports.

His remarks were an apparent reference to calls from Republicans and the right for hundreds of 6 January suspects (or “J6ers”) to be released from jail.

Gino Spocchia reports.

Capitol riot suspect growing his beard ‘until all the J6ers are free’

Lt Col Vindman suing Donald Trump Jr, Rudolph Giuliani, and former White House officials

15:23 , Oliver O'Connell

Lt Col Alexander Vidman is suing Donald Trump Jr, Giuliani and other former White House staff in a civil suit, alleging “coordinated attacks” on him in connection with his testimony in former President Trump’s first impeachment.

The suit says: “As the result of being called to testify before Congress, Lt Col Vindman immediately became the target of a dangerous campaign of witness intimidation by President Trump and a group of conspirators.”

It continues: “The campaign destroyed Lt Col Vindman’s ability to serve in any national security position or foreign affairs role, and indeed, to continue the career he had pursued for his entire adult life.”

Further: “President Trump and his allies — including members of his White House staff, members of his family and personal legal team, and at least one on-air personality employed by an allied media outlet — engaged in an intentional, concerted campaign of unlawful intimidation & retaliation.”

Are some Trump supporters looking at DeSantis as an alternative

15:10 , Oliver O'Connell

There was something different next to the “TRUMP WON!” T-shirts, the “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN” hats and the “LET’S GO BRANDON” flags for sale at former President Donald Trump’s recent Texas rally: a collection of “DeSantis 2024” bumper stickers.

Nikki Rye, who lives in Florida and has been selling Trump gear at his events since 2015, said the merchandise hyping her state’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, “is a very, very sought-after item.” Beyond the stickers, a life-size cutout of DeSantis stood at one side of her shop, with Trump flanking the other.

As Trump aims for a political comeback, the DeSantis memorabilia signaled a shift emerging among the MAGA faithful. While the vast majority of the more than two dozen people interviewed at his rally at a Texas fairground cheered the prospect of another Trump White House bid, some began to concede that there might be better options.

Trump's heir? Some supporters eye DeSantis as alternative

Morning Joe: More GOP lawmakers believe Jan 6 rioters should face consequences

15:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Joe Scarborough, the former Republican lawmaker and host of Morning Joe on MSNBC, believes that more in the GOP are joining Mitch McConnell’s consistent stance that January 6th rioters deserve to face the consequences of their actions. They do not deserve to be pardoned as former President Donald Trump has suggested they may be if he were to return to office.

“Americans, the more they find out about the planning to commit sedition against this Madisonian democracy, the angrier even the Republican base is getting,” says Scarborough.

Trump turns on 'RINO’ Lindsey Graham

14:49 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump appears to have soured on one of his most ardently oleaginous supporters, South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham, after the Palmetto State Republican said pro-Trump rioters who attacked the Capitol on 6 January 2021 should be jailed and not pardoned as the twice-impeached ex-president has suggested.

But the ex-president hit back in an interview with Newsmax on Tuesday, saying Mr Graham was “wrong” and calling him a RINO [Republican In Name Only].

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Trump turns on Graham after senator suggests Capitol rioters should be punished

Why Lindsey Graham is siding with Biden on the Supreme Court

14:30 , Andrew Naughtie

As Donald Trump takes a swipe at his ally Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina senator is taking a surprisingly pragmatic attitude to Joe Biden’s upcoming Supreme Court nomination. Politico’s Burgess Everett has this analysis...

Trump donated to former Chief of Staff’s campaign group after 6 January committee was formed

14:00 , Andrew Naughtie

CNN’s Eric Bradner reports that just after the 6 January committee was formed, Donald Trump gave $1m to the organization employing his former chief of staff Mark Meadows – who has become a key figure in the committee’s investigation. The group in question is the Conservative Partnership Institute, a Republican group with strong ties to the conservative Christian lobby.

Texts sent to Mr Meadows were infamously read out in public after he refused to fully co-operate with the panel, humiliating many other figures (including Fox News hosts and Trump family members) who texted him during the riot to try and persuade the president to call his supporters off.

Ivanka in the frame

13:29 , Andrew Naughtie

It seems that yet another member of the Trump family is in trouble over their property portfolio. According to MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, Mr Trump’s daughter had the chance to purchase a rented apartment for $8.5m – an apartment that the Trump Organization allegedly later declared was worth more than $20m.

As Ms Maddow put it, “Attorney General James is looking into exactly that type of potentially illegally inflation of the Trump family and Trump Organization’s financial situation for a whole bunch of Trump properties.”

Watch the segment below:

Eric Trump rants against “vicious”, “opportunistic” Letitia James

13:00 , Andrew Naughtie

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Eric Trump delivered what amounts to a character assassination attempt against Letitia James, the New York Attorney General investigating the Trump Organization for alleged fraud related to its real estate dealings.

“Letitia James is not working on behalf of the Attorney General's office,” he told the paper. “She is working for the DNC and using the resources of the State of New York to further her own political ambition.”

His broadside comes as the Trumps yet again begin legal action to try and block Ms James’s investigation, claiming that she is on a political “fishing expedition”.

Read the interview here.

Drawing the line: Mary Trump leaves Spotify over Joe Rogan’s Covid disinformation

12:29 , Andrew Naughtie

Donald Trump’s niece Mary, who has written and spoken at length about her uncle’s “pathology”, is joining the likes of Joni Mitchell and Neil Young and pulling her podcast from Spotify over its continued platforming of Joe Rogan, who has repeatedly shared misleading and incorrect information about Covid-19 on his show.

What’s really going on between Trump and Pence?

12:00 , Andrew Naughtie

As Mike Pence continues touring the country in presidential candidate mode, a new theory of Trump’s attack on him is taking hold...

Democrats’ extravagant fundraising against ultra-safe Republicans raises concern

11:32 , Andrew Naughtie

On the surface, the news that Marjorie Taylor Greene has been outraised by her Democratic opponent looks encouraging for the left – but given that Donald Trump carried her seat by a gigantic margin, many are warning that vital campaign dollars are still being siphoned off to long-shot or unwinnable races in a year where every seat counts more than ever.

How much would you pay for dinner with Donald Trump?

11:02 , Andrew Naughtie

The New York Times’s Maggie Haberman shares an invitation to a “MAGA Again!” fundraising event featuring Donald Trump and several Congressional candidates he’s endorsed. A photo and private dinner with President Trump along with VIP seating at the “candidate forum” will set you back $125,000 a head.

If you’re quick about booking your table, you can get priority booking for a 2-night stay at Mar-a-Lago (which you’ll still have to pay for separately).

ICYMI: NY Attorney General demands records on Trump’s DC hotel

10:34 , Andrew Naughtie

New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is probing the Trump Organization’s real estate dealings, has subpoenaed the General Services Administration to see if the company misled the federal government to secure the lease on the historic Old Post Office building near the White House.

The hotel has been a bone of contention since Mr Trump became president, with many administration critics pointing out that charging money to foreign delegations staying there could potentially violate the constitution’s emoluments clause.

Andrew Feinberg has the story.

New York attorney general subpoenas records on Trump’s DC hotel

Watch: Trump pours scorn on Lindsey Graham

10:00 , Andrew Naughtie

South Carolina’s Lindsey Graham made one of his party’s most dramatic about-faces when he switched from calling candidate Donald Trump a “race-baiting xenophobic religious bigot” to becoming one of his most vicious Capitol Hill allies. He briefly detoured away from the president after 6 January 2021, but has since got back into his good graces.

Unfortunately, Mr Trump keeps close tabs on those who claim loyalty to him, and nobody is safe from his disgust.

Former Republican Party chair: Trump is laying ground to jail opponents

09:30 , Andrew Naughtie

Michael Steele, who led the RNC for several years and has since become a vocal Trump critic, warned MSNBC’s Joy-Ann Reid last night that concern about how Republicans feel should not stop people from making clear what nearly happened in 2021.

“Let me tell you, folks, this was all a warm-up,” he said of the events after the last election.

Watch the clip below.

Catch up: Trump turns fire on Pence

08:58 , Andrew Naughtie

As former president Trump calls for Mike Pence to be investigated over his decisions on 6 January 2021,The Independent’s John Bowden has this analysis.

Trump is now calling for Pence to be investigated by January 6 committee

Trump intervening in effort to unseat GOP Georgia governor

08:30 , Andrew Naughtie

According to CNN, Donald Trump is ringing around potential Republican candidates for the Georgia gubernatorial primary in an effort to keep the field clear for David Purdue, one of the two Senators who lost his seat in January 2021, thus handing the Democrats their wafer-thin majority.

ICYMI: Former Pence chief of staff has testified to the Jan 6 committee

08:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Marc Short — former chief of staff to Mike Pence — has testified privately last week to the House Select Committee that is investigating the 6 January Capitol riots.

A report by CNN said that Mr Short appeared in response to a subpoena from the committee. Investigators believe that the participation of Mr Pence and his inner circle is crucial.

Mr Short has firsthand knowledge of the former president’s pressure campaign on his vice president to overthrow the election results.

Trump says ‘Kemp let us down'

07:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Donald Trump, appearing in an ad for Georgia’s Senator David Perdue, who wants to unseat Brian Kemp in midterm elections, said the governor “let us down.”

He said: “The Democrats walked all over Brian Kemp. He was afraid of Stacey ‘the Hoax’ Abrams. Brian Kemp let us down. We can’t let it happen again.”

Mr Trump called Mr Perdue an “outstanding man” adding that “he’s tough. He’s smart. He has my complete and total endorsement.”The former president also called Mr Kemp a “very weak governor.”

Trump says Jan 6's ‘sole casualty’ was a ‘disgrace’

07:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Talking about Ashli Babbitt — the rioter who was fatally shot while attempting to breach the Capitol Building on 6 January — the former president said that her death was a “disgrace.”

He said: “Don’t forget, with the exception of one young fine woman, nobody died on Jan. 6. They like to say five people, but nobody died on Jan. 6. The one who died was Ashli Babbitt.”

He continued: “She was killed by a ruthless man that never should have used his gun to shoot her. I think it’s a disgrace. In fact, they wanted to shield him, but he couldn’t get on television fast enough.”

Mr Trump said that “I saw his interview, and he thinks it was great that he shot her and killed her. And she didn’t have a gun. She didn’t have anything. There was no reason to do that. It was a disgrace.”

'Our country is going to hell,' Trump says

06:25 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Donald Trump believes that “we have a great country that’s going to hell. And it’s going to hell very fast.”

During an interview with Newsmax on Tuesday night, Mr Trump was asked why he is keen to enter the “war zone” of American politics again, even though the former president has not announced anything yet. He said: “I’ve never had better poll numbers; I’ve never had better support within the party; and I’ve never had more support outside the party.”

He added: “It’s very simple: Our country is going to hell, and we were doing great.”

Talking about investigations against him, he said: “They were staging a coup. They were trying to get us out of office.

“They hit us, before I even got into office, with phony investigation. They continue, always continuing.”

Mr Trump believes that “our country is going to hell and we’re going to make American great again, again, I sort of say. And I smile, but there’s nothing to smile about, because our country is going bad. We’re not going to have a country much longer, if it keeps going. I don’t think any president has done this damage.”

Trump says Tom Rice should be ‘thrown out’

06:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Donald Trump on Tuesday endorsed Republican South Carolina state representative Russell Fry — who is running against Republican Tom Rice.

Tom Rice was one of the GOP members who had voted for Donald Trump’s impeachment.

The former president called Mr Rice a “coward” and said that he should be “thrown out of office ASAP.”

He wrote: “Congressman Tom Rice of South Carolina, the coward who abandoned his constituents by caving to Nancy Pelosi and the Radical Left, and who actually voted against me on Impeachment Hoax #2, must be thrown out of office ASAP—and we have just the man to do it!”

Trump claims Russia-Ukraine tensions ‘unthinkable’ if he were in office

05:26 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Donald Trump claimed that the current tense situation between Kiev and Moscow as Russia builds up troops along the Ukraine border “wouldn’t have happened” if he were still in office.

He said during an interview to Newsmax that had he been in office “this was not even thinkable. This wouldn’t have happened.”

The former president during a weekend rally had suggested that he would pardon all 6 January attendees facing several charges and sentences.

Earlier, Mr Trump had said that Russia controls Germany because of its dependence on Russian gas and that the Russia-Ukraine crisis is a European problem.

Donald Trump calls charges against 6 Jan attendees ‘out of proportion’

04:40 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Former president Donald Trump said that the charges against attendees of 6 January are “out of proportion” and claimed that “these people are being persecuted.”

In an interview with Newsmax, Mr Trump said that the charges and sentences so far have been “like 20 times out of proportion. These people are being persecuted.”

He added: “These people are in jail, in a horrible, disgusting, dirty jail so bad that the court system – which is very left – is angry that people have to live like this. And some of these people are not guilty. Many of these people are not guilty.”

Donald Trump says Lindsey Graham is ‘wrong’ after senator claims Trump's pardons inappropriate

04:20 , Maroosha Muzaffar

After Republican Senator Lindsey Graham called Donald Trump’s promise to pardon all 6 January arrestees “inappropriate,” the former president lashed out at him and said that he is “wrong.”

During an interview with Newsmax, Mr Trump said: “Lindsey Graham’s wrong. I mean, Lindsey’s a nice guy, but he’s a RINO [Republican in name only]. Lindsey’s wrong.”

Mr Trump added: “I would absolutely be prepared, and Lindsey Graham doesn’t know what the hell he’s talking about if he says that because you have to have equal justice.”

During a weekend rally, Mr Trump had suggested that he would pardon all 6 January arrestees — he considers them political prisoners, not offenders.

“It’s very, very unfair what’s happened to this group of people,” he added.

Trump admits he wanted Pence to ‘overturn’ election

04:00 , Nathan Place

Over the weekend, Donald Trump admitted he wanted Mike Pence to “overturn” the 2020 election outcome on 6 January last year.

“If the Vice President (Mike Pence) had ‘absolutely no right’ to change the Presidential Election results in the Senate, despite fraud and many other irregularities, how come the Democrats and RINO Republicans, like Wacky Susan Collins, are desperately trying to pass legislation that will not allow the Vice President to change the results of the election?” Mr Trump seethed in a statement on Sunday. “Actually, what they are saying, is that Mike Pence did have the right to change the outcome, and they now want to take that right away. Unfortunately, he didn’t exercise that power, he could have overturned the Election!”

Trump admits he wanted Pence to 'overturn' result of the 2020 election on January 6

New York AG subpoenas records on Trump’s DC hotel

03:00 , Nathan Place

New York attorney general Letitia James’s long-running investigation into former President Donald Trump’s financial practices has expanded to include the process by which his real estate company won the lease on the historic Washington, DC building where his DC hotel is located.

According to The Washington Post, Ms James’s office has subpoenaed records from the General Services Administration – the government agency that manages federal real estate – pertaining to the process by which the GSA leased the historic Old Post Office building for renovation and redevelopment.

Read more here:

New York attorney general subpoenas records on Trump’s DC hotel

Trump rages as investigations close in on him

02:00 , Nathan Place

The recent avalanche of furious statements from Donald Trump come at an interesting juncture, just as multiple investigations make headway against him.

The former president’s role in sowing distrust over the outcome of the 2020 election result is being looked at by the 6 January Select Committee, while his company’s financial affairs are also being forensically examined by investigators in New York.

Here’s a look at the legal trouble surrounding Mr Trump’s “burn it all down” moment:

Trump is in ‘burn it all down mode’ as investigations close in around him

Here’s what Trump said about ‘investigating' Mike Pence

01:00 , Nathan Place

Donald Trump fumed on Tuesday that the Capitol riot committee should not be investigating the attempted coup, but his former vice president’s refusal to go along with it.

“The Unselect Committee should be investigating why Nancy Pelosi did such a poor job of overseeing security and why Mike Pence did not send back the votes for recertification or approval, in that it has now been shown that he clearly had the right to do so!” Mr Trump raged in a statement.

Here’s a look at what the former president said:

Trump is now calling for Pence to be investigated by January 6 committee

Senator Ben Ray Lujan hospitalised after suffering stroke

00:25 , Oliver O'Connell

Democratic senator Ben Ray Lujan is in hospital in his home state of New Mexico after suffering a stroke his office has said.

In a statement, Mr Lujan’s chief of staff Carlos Sanchez said the first-term senator checked himself into Christus St. Vincent Regional Hospital in Santa Fe, New Mexico on Thursday after “experiencing dizziness and fatigue”.

Democratic senator Ben Ray Lujan hospitalised after suffering stroke

Trump war chest tops $122bn

Tuesday 1 February 2022 23:55 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump continued a massive fundraising blitz through the end of 2021 and now has more than $122m cash on hand, his political team announced on Monday.

The ex-president remains in control of a fundraising juggernaut with more than 1.6 million individual donations, 98 per cent of which were under $200. The haul is on par with numbers his team was seeing during his two presidential campaigns, and shows little sign of slowing down ahead of either the 2022 midterms or the 2024 presidential race, when Mr Trump is thought to be considering a third bid for the presidency.

Trump says war chest has more than $122m cash on hand after huge 2021 haul

Naturally, he couldn’t help but complain that the news hadn’t received more coverage in the media, griping at The New York Times in a tweet issued by his spokesperson.

Someone apparently had to tape official Trump White House documents back together

Tuesday 1 February 2022 23:25 , Oliver O'Connell

The National Archives has said that some of the documents handed over by former president Donald Trump to the House Select Committee probing last year’s 6 January’s Capitol Hill riots had been ripped and had to be taped back.

In a statement to The Washington Post and CNN, the National Archives said that some of the records handed over by the White House “included paper records that had been torn up by former President Trump”.

While the National Archives did not confirm to CNN how it knew that the papers were ripped apart by Mr Trump himself, the Archives said that some documents had not been reconstructed at all.

Sravasti Dasgupta has the story.

Some Trump documents sent to Capitol riot committee had to be taped as he ripped them

Liz Cheney raises record funds in Wyoming House race

Tuesday 1 February 2022 23:10 , Oliver O'Connell

The Donald Trump-backed opponent of Liz Cheney finished 2021 with what in any previous year would have been a major fundraising haul for Wyoming but amounted to a small fraction of the over $2 million raised by Cheney for her best quarter yet.

Cheyenne attorney Harriet Hageman raised $443,000 over the last three months of the year, similar to what Cheney raised in her last full quarter before winning a third term in 2020.

Liz Cheney raises more record funds in Wyoming US House race

Trump in ‘burn it all down mode'

Tuesday 1 February 2022 22:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump is reportedly ready to “burn it all down” as several investigations into his and his family’s conduct begin to close in on him.

Tom Fenton reports on the former president’s reaction.

Trump is in ‘burn it all down mode’ as investigations close in around him

Don Jr compares Whoopi and Roseanne race rows

Tuesday 1 February 2022 22:24 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump Jr has compared the controversy surrounding Whoopi Goldberg’s Holocaust comments to the treatment of Roseanne Barr after a racist 2018 tweet that prompted ABC to cancel her sitcom.

“Why is it that Rosanne (a Jewish woman) gets canceled for off color remarks but Whoopi’s gets a total pass for antisemitism and downplaying the Holocaust? I can’t help but notice that only people on the right face consequences for their mistakes,” Mr Trump Jr tweeted on Tuesday.

Ms Goldberg, who has said that she’s Jewish, said on The View on Monday that “the Holocaust isn’t about race”, a remark that was strongly criticised.

Gustaf Kilander reports.

Don Jr compares Whoopi race row treatment to Roseanne’s and blames leftist conspiracy

Will Senator Luján’s hospitalisation impact SCOTUS nomination process?

Tuesday 1 February 2022 22:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Thankfully, Senator Luján is expected to make a full recovery from his stroke on Thursday.

With the Senate evenly split, every Democrat vote counts towards the approval of any legislation or nomination, and with a Supreme Court vacancy approaching there is obviously concern as to how long the senator will be away from the chamber.

The Washington Post’s Amy Wang notes that it shouldn’t impact the process as the senator is not on the Judiciary committee and so his absence will not hold up the vetting process of any nominee, nor the confirmation process.

This is expected to last approximately two weeks after the president selects his nominee.

Latest: Trump calls for Pence to be investigated by January 6 committee

Tuesday 1 February 2022 22:07 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump issued a rambling, incoherent statement that was filled with nonsense about the 2020 election, the January 6 committee, and a demand for the panel to investigate Mike Pence, his vice president of four years.

John Bowden reports.

Trump is now calling for Pence to be investigated by January 6 committee

Chuck Schumer looks forward to Senator Luján’s return to Senate

Tuesday 1 February 2022 21:56 , Oliver O'Connell

Senator Chuck Schumer tweets: “My thoughts are with Senator Ben Ray Luján and his family. I’m so glad to hear that he will make a full recovery. We look forward to his quick return to the Senate.”

Psaki laughs at Boris Johnson being ‘ambushed by a cake’

Tuesday 1 February 2022 21:40 , Oliver O'Connell

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said she hasn’t discussed UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s “partygate” scandal with President Joe Biden, but stressed Mr Biden’s continued confidence in the UK as a partner in opposing Russia’s continued build-up of troops along its border with Ukraine.

Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.

Psaki laughs at Boris Johnson being ‘ambushed by a cake’

Democrat New Mexico Senator Luján suffers stroke

Tuesday 1 February 2022 21:25 , Oliver O'Connell

Senator Ben Ray Luján has suffered a stroke and has been hospitalised but is expected to make a full recovery.

The New Mexico Democrat’s chief of staff released a statement on Tuesday afternoon saying that the Senator began to feel dizziness and fatigue early on Thursday morning and checked himself into a hospital in Santa Fe before being transferred to University of New Mexico Hospital at Alberquerque.

He was found to have suffered a stroke in his cerebellum, affecting his balance. He underwent decompressive surgery to ease swelling.

The senator is resting comfortably and expected to make a full recovery.

Biden and McConnell speak about SCOTUS vacancy

Tuesday 1 February 2022 21:08 , Oliver O'Connell

President Joe Biden spoke with Mitch McConnell today to discuss the Supreme Court vacancy.

“The leader believes the cornerstone of a nominee’s judicial philosophy should be a commitment to originalism and textualism,” a McConnell spokesman says.

Mr McConnell “emphasised the importance of a nominee who believes in judicial independence and will resist all efforts by politicians to bully the Court or to change the structure of the judicial system.”

White House says ‘more can be done’ by Spotify on Joe Rogan and misinformation

Tuesday 1 February 2022 20:55 , Oliver O'Connell

White House press secretary Jen Psaki called on music and podcast streaming giant Spotify to do “more” in the fight against Covid-19 misinformation on Tuesday.

At her daily press briefing, President Joe Biden’s top spokeswoman was asked about a decision by the company to add disclaimers linking to Covid-19 information hubs to any piece of content that includes discussion of the pandemic, vaccines, or Covid-19 itself. She responded that the change was a good step, but that the company could take steps (if it wanted) to actively prohibit content that contained misinformation that experts have warned is prolonging the pandemic and leading to more deaths.

John Bowden reports.

White House urges Spotify to take further action on Joe Rogan

Manchin praises all give Biden nominees for Federal Reserve

Tuesday 1 February 2022 20:48 , Oliver O'Connell

Bloomberg reports:

Democratic Senator Joe Manchin praised all five of President Joe Biden’s nominees for the Federal Reserve, an important signal for their confirmations in the 50-50 Senate.

“They all look extremely qualified,” the West Virginia senator, who is a pivotal vote, said Tuesday of the nominees.

Banking chair Sherrod Brown of Ohio says he plans to vote in committee on the president’s Fed picks on 15 February.

Confirmation hearings are scheduled for this Thursday.

Biden grins at question on Supreme Court and ‘affirmative action'

Tuesday 1 February 2022 20:42 , Oliver O'Connell

President Joe Biden appeared to grin when reporters asked what he thought of the Republican talking point that his plan to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court amounted to affirmative action.

Eric Garcia reports.

Biden grins as reporter asks if Black Supreme Court nomination ‘affirmative action’

Venezuelans deported to Colombia without chance to seek asylum

Tuesday 1 February 2022 20:35 , Oliver O'Connell

The Biden administration has used a pandemic-related authority to begin expelling Venezuelan migrants to Colombia – without the chance to seek asylum after entering the US from the Mexican border.

The news was confirmed by both US and Colombian officials earlier this week, with the US Department of Homeland Security claiming that Venezuelans will be expelled “on a regular basis”. While the Biden administration didn’t expand on how frequent such deportations will be, they will be limited to only those who have previously resided in Colombia.

Tom Fenton reports.

US starts deporting Venezuelans to Colombia without the chance to seek asylum

Trump to be interviewed on Newsmax

Tuesday 1 February 2022 20:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The former president will be interviewed tonight on Newsmax.

Tuesday 1 February 2022 20:21 , Oliver O'Connell

Both senators left the White House with official gift bags, and I for one would like to know what’s inside.