Trump news – live: Trump lashes out at ‘deranged’ Jack Smith as potential indictment over Jan 6 looms

Oliver O'Connell,Joe Sommerlad and Shweta Sharma
·37 min read
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Donald Trump has gone on the attack over the grand jury investigation into the January 6 Capitol riot and his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election – as he could be indicted on criminal charges as soon as this week.

In a Truth Social rant on Sunday night, the former president lashed out at special counsel Jack Smith and Attorney General Merrick Garland claiming that the investigations are a “coordinated Hoax” and a ploy to “STEAL ANOTHER ELECTION through PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT at levels never seen before in the U.S.”.

This comes as former vice president Mike Pence downplayed Mr Trump’s actions leading up to the Capitol riot, claiming that he is not sure if they were criminal or not.

“While his words were reckless, based on what I know, I am not yet convinced that they were criminal,” Mr Pence, who is also a Republican presidential contender, told CNN’s “State of the Union”.

In one of the clearest signs that Mr Trump could face federal charges for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, the former president said last week that he had received a letter saying he is a target of a grand jury investigation.

Key points

Jack Smith has contacted Georgia Governor over Trump’s effort to overturn 2020 election

12:00 , Rachel Sharp

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has given insight into the possible scope of special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation of Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

The Republican governor - who survived a Trump-backed attempt to oust him from office last year - told USA Today on Sunday that Mr Smith’s office had contacted him.

However it is unclear what stage Mr Smith’s investigation has reached or whether Mr Kemp’s office had provided, or agreed to provide, evidence or testimony.

Read more here:

Jack Smith has contacted Brian Kemp over Trump’s effort to overturn 2020 election

Trump classified documents trial set for May 2024

11:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The Florida federal judge overseeing the Espionage Act and obstruction of justice case against former president Donald Trump has rejected the disgraced ex-president’s bid to delay his trial until after the 2024 election.

US District Judge Aileen Cannon on Friday issued an order granting the government’s request to set a speedy trial date and schedule for pretrial motions, with a start date of 20 May 2024.

Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.

Judge sets May 2024 date for Trump classified documents trial

Trump lashes out at ‘deranged’ Jack Smith in Sunday night rant at legal woes

11:00 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump has gone on the attack over the grand jury investigation into the January 6 Capitol riot and his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election – as he could be indicted on criminal charges as soon as this week.

In a Truth Social rant on Sunday night, the former president lashed out at special counsel Jack Smith and Attorney General Merrick Garland claiming that the investigations are a “coordinated Hoax” and a ploy to “STEAL ANOTHER ELECTION through PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT at levels never seen before in the U.S.”.

“Just think of it! Between Mueller, Deranged Jack Smith, and Congressional Committees, over 100 Million Dollars has been spent investigating me since I came down the escalator in Trump Tower,” Trump fumed.

“Biden is a criminal, and almost no money, by comparison, has been spent investigating him. Get smart, Republicans, they are trying to steal the Election from you!”

How might prosecutors charge Trump with racketeering in Georgia case?

10:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The Georgia prosecutor investigating Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in that state is reportedly weighing a racketeering indictment against the former president and others.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis could rely on evidence tied to Mr Trump’s infamous call to the state’s top elections official to “find” votes for him, as well as the breach of voting machines by a group of Trump-connected operatives, according to The Guardian, citing two people briefed on the matter.

Prosecutors are reportedly reviewing a racketeering indictment including statutes related to influencing witnesses and computer trespass.

An indictment is expected within the first two weeks of August.

Alex Woodward reports.

How prosecutors could charge Trump with racketeering in Georgia case

Explained: Trump, January 6 and a conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election

09:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward explains how a sprawling Justice Department probe into Donald Trump and his allies could result in several criminal charges against the former president.

The federal investigation into Trump and January 6, explained

How Trump is gaining an advantage in the nitty-gritty battle for delegates

07:54 , Shweta Sharma

Set aside the polls, the fundraising numbers or Donald Trump’s name recognition as metrics of his early dominance of the Republican presidential contest. He has what could prove to be the most important advantage in the race: a leg up in winning the delegates needed to clinch the GOP nomination.

While the delegate count won’t begin taking shape until voting begins next January, Trump’s edge in the race to win their votes is years in the making.

Many state Republican parties made changes to their rules ahead of the 2020 election by adding more winner-take-all contests and requiring candidates to earn higher percentages of the vote to claim any delegates.

DeSantis says he’d accept Trump being prosecuted for a ‘traditional crime’

07:30 , Oliver O'Connell

There is a scenario in which Gov Ron DeSantis would applaud the prosecution of former President Donald Trump — but only if Mr Trump were to do a “traditional crime” like “robbing a bank.”

“Look, nobody is above the law,” Mr DeSantis said in an appearance on Newsmax.

“If Donald Trump or any big political person gets caught robbing a bank or doing things that we know are traditional crimes that people get prosecuted for every day, that’s just the way the cookie crumbles.”

Abe Asher reports on the governor’s comments.

DeSantis says he’d accept prosecution of Trump for a ‘traditional crime’

Mike Pence says he is not convinced yet that Donald Trump’s Jan 6 actions were criminal

05:53 , Shweta Sharma

Former vice president Mike Pence has said that he is not yet convinced that Donald Trump’s actions leading up to the Capitol attacks on 6 January 2021 were criminal as his former boss is expected to face federal criminal charges.

“While his words were reckless, based on what I know, I am not yet convinced that they were criminal,” Mr Pence, who is also a Republican presidential contender, told CNN’s “State of the Union”.

In one of the clearest signs that Mr Trump could face federal charges for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, the former president said he had received a letter saying he is a target of a grand jury investigation.

“I hope it does not come to that,” Mr Pence said on a potential Mr Trump indictment over efforts to overturn the 2020 election. He said it should be left to the American public to determine whether Mr Trump was responsible.

“His actions were reckless,” Pence said. He added: “I don’t honestly know what his intention was” on January 6 2021.

Jim Caviezel proclaims Trump ‘the new Moses’

05:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Actor Jim Caviezel has proclaimed Donald Trump “the new Moses” after visiting him in New Jersey.

Caviezel, who played Jesus in Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, made the biblical comparison to the twice-indicted and twice-impeached one-term president on Fox News.

The conservative actor appeared on Fox & Friends on Fox News on Thursday to promote his new anti-trafficking movie Sound of Freedom.

Graeme Massie reports.

Actor Jim Caviezel proclaims Trump ‘the new Moses’ after visiting him at Bedminster

ICYMI: Trump shares sinister new video issuing apocalyptic threat

03:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump shared a menacing new video on his Truth Social account on Thursday in which he promises to “do things that have never been done before” to people who “f*** around with us.”

Abe Asher has the story.

Trump shares video issuing apocalyptic threat to anyone who ‘f***s around with us’

Trump suggest ‘ALL TRUMP ALL THE TIME’ to fix Fox News ratings

01:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Seeming to ignore that a federal trial date has been set for the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case brought against him by Special Counsel Jack Smith — dismissing his request to postpone it until after the 2024 election — Donald Trump instead took to Truth Social to attack two of his favourite foes: Fox News and Ron DeSantis.

He posted:

Fox is down 58%, at least, all because they don’t treat “TRUMP” and “MAGA” well. They are focused on someone who can’t win, Ron DeSanctimonious, who will never be able to bring it home. The only reason DeSanctus won in Florida is because I Endorsed him, and Campaigned for him—He would have lost by 40 points. The sadder part is, he TOTALLY forgot! He also forgot he wanted to close down Social Security, Ethanol, and obliterate Medicare…

He continued:

…Fox is gone, just like in 2016, and the only way they come back is if they go “ALL TRUMP ALL THE TIME.” Our people have had it! MAGA and America First are stronger than ever before, but we want and deserve support like the Radical Left Democrat Fascists get from so many sources, including the Fake News Media and Law Enforcement. Bring back Fox, before it’s too late!

The former president linked to a Breitbart article attacking both CNN and Fox News for suffering a “brutal ratings collapse”.

Journalist Aaron Rupar notes: “Fox’s coverage of Trump these days is overwhelmingly positive, and the entire primetime lineup of hosts are Trump supporters. Still not enough for him though.”

ICYMI: Grassley releases full FBI memo with unverified claims about Hunter Biden

Sunday 23 July 2023 23:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley released an unclassified document Thursday that Republicans claim is significant in their investigation of Hunter Biden as they probe the financial affairs of the president’s son and revive previously debunked claims of wrongdoing.

Grassley of Iowa has been working alongside House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., as Republicans deepen their probe of the President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, ahead of the 2024 election. Comer had issued a subpoena for the document from the FBI.

While lawmakers on the Oversight Committee have already been able to partly review the information, this is the first time the full form -- which contains raw, unverified information -- is being made public. Called an FD-1023 form, it involves claims a confidential informant made in 2020 about Hunter Biden’s alleged business dealings when he served on the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma. Top Republicans have acknowledged they cannot confirm whether the information is true.

Read on...

Grassley releases full FBI memo with unverified claims about Hunter Biden's work in Ukraine

Trump isn’t frightened by ack Smith Jan 6 indictment but warns it would be 'dangerous’ to jail him

Sunday 23 July 2023 21:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Hours after former President Donald Trump announced that he was a “target” in Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into the efforts to overturn the 2020 election, Mr Trump told Sean Hannity that he was “bothered” by the news but it doesn’t “frighten” him.

In a radio interview in Iowa though, the former president said he thought it would be “very dangerous” for Mr Smith to jail him prior to any trial because of his “tremendously passionate group of voters”.

Kelly Rissman has the story.

Trump not frightened by Jan 6 indictment but it would be ‘dangerous’ to jail him

Explained: Trump, January 6 and a conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election

Sunday 23 July 2023 19:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward explains how a sprawling Justice Department probe into Donald Trump and his allies could result in several criminal charges against the former president.

The federal investigation into Trump and January 6, explained

Trump demands cameras in courtroom for potential federal trial

Sunday 23 July 2023 17:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s new lawyer will ask a judge to allow cameras in a federal courtroom if the one-term president is indicted with January 6 election fraud charges by the Department of Justice.

Mr Trump has said that he received a target letter from special counsel Jack Smith who could be set to bring criminal charges against the GOP front-runner within days.

“I would hope that the Department of Justice would join in that effort so that we can take the curtain away and all Americans can see what’s happening,” attorney John Lauro said in an appearance on Fox News.

As Graeme Smith reports, there’s a slight obstacle in the way...

Trump demands cameras in courtroom for potential election fraud case

Trump leads new Fox polls in Iowa, South Carolina

Sunday 23 July 2023 16:15 , John Bowden

Donald Trump remains under the scrutiny of prosecutors across the country over a wide range of issues, and at the same time appears to be solidifying his dominance over the 2024 Republican primary field.

The former president led in two polls of crucial early primary-season states commissioned and released by Fox News on Sunday. Mr Trump has an impressive 30-point gap separating him from his nearest competitor, Florida Gov Ron DeSantis, who himself has been making an aggressive play for the state and seeking to align himself politically with Kim Reynolds, the state’s Republican governor.

Mr Trump has done so by sticking to his traditional style of insult first, ask questions later — even fuming openly at Ms Reynolds on his Truth Social platform for not endorsing his candidacy outright.

The twice indicted, twice impeached ex-president also leads the pack in South Carolina, where his closest rival is the state’s former governor, Nikki Haley; she trails him by 34 points in the Fox survey.

Trump calls for ‘immediate’ death penalty for child traffickers

Sunday 23 July 2023 15:30 , Oliver O'Connell

After watching “Sound of Freedom,” the movie associated with QAnon, former president Donald Trump said that he would require the death penalty for “anyone caught trafficking children across our border.”

Kelly Rissman has the story.

Trump calls for death penalty for child traffickers after watching QAnon-linked movie

Voices: What Donald Trump’s trial date means for the 2024 election

Sunday 23 July 2023 13:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Eric Garcia writes:

Another day, another wrench thrown into the Republican presidential primary. On Friday, US District Judge Aileen Cannon issued an order announcing Donald Trump’s court date for his trial for charges related to the Espionage Act and obstruction of justice will take place on 20 May 2024.

On the surface, that might make Mr Trump wince because of the fact that it denies his request to delay the trial until after the 2024 presidential election. Still, it means that Mr Trump’s legal troubles will make him the centre of attention within the GOP primary and his court case will entirely define that contest as well as the general election.

Read more...

What Donald Trump’s trial date means for the 2024 election

ICYMI: Trump and Cohen reach settlement over $1.3m in unpaid legal bills

Sunday 23 July 2023 11:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has reached a settlement with his former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen over claims the former president’s company broke an agreement to pay the attorney’s legal bills, leaving him owing an estimated $1.3m.

Josh Marcus reports.

Trump and Michael Cohen reach settlement over $1.3m in unpaid legal bills

What charges does Trump face in the classified documents case?

Sunday 23 July 2023 09:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Here’s how the Mar-a-Lago classified papers case against Donald Trump unfolded and what charges he now faces.

What charges does Donald Trump face in the classified documents case?

Who is Aileen Cannon, the judge with Trump’s fate in her hands?

Sunday 23 July 2023 07:30 , Oliver O'Connell

A Florida district judge assigned to oversee Donald Trump’s classified documents case is attracting criticism given that it was Mr Trump himself who elevated her to the bench three years ago.

Aileen Cannon, a federal judge with the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida overseeing the Espionage Act and obstruction of justice case against Mr Trump, has rejected the disgraced ex-president’s bid to delay his trial until after the 2024 election.

Judge Cannon issued an order on 21 July granting the government’s request to set a speedy trial date and schedule for pretrial motions, with a start date of 20 May 2024.

Joe Sommerlad explains her involvement in the case.

Aileen Cannon: The judge with Trump’s fate in her hands was appointed by him

Trump claims ‘Clinton socks case’ gets him off the hook, but what is he talking about?

Sunday 23 July 2023 05:30 , Oliver O'Connell

For Americans who lived through the 1990s, the words “Clinton” and “Socks” may bring to mind a whimsical image of a certain famous feline, of the black-and-white tuxedo variety, who prowled the most prestigious halls of American power at a time when the US was emerging as the world’s sole unchallenged superpower.

But for former president Donald Trump, those two words represent the latest attempt to manifest a legal defence for his alleged unlawful retention of hundreds of documents with classification markings at levels up to “top secret,” long after his term.

Andrew Feinberg explains.

Trump says ‘Clinton socks case’ gets him off the hook – what was it and is he right?

The question everyone wants an answer to...

Sunday 23 July 2023 03:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Is Donald Trump going to prison?

What’s the story behind Trump’s claim that George Bush Sr stashed documents in a bowling alley?

Sunday 23 July 2023 01:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump accused former president George HW Bush of hiding classified documents in a “bowling alley” during a rally in Arizona on Sunday 9 October 2022.

Mr Trump also claimed that many former presidents had likewise stored millions of pages of documents in warehouses “with damaged main doors”.

The blustering Republican said that Bush Sr “took millions and millions of documents to a former bowling alley pieced together with what was then an old and broken Chinese restaurant”.

Maroosha Muzaffar has the story.

The story behind Trump’s claim that Bush Sr stashed documents in a bowling alley

Timeline: How former president Trump’s second criminal case unfolded

Saturday 22 July 2023 23:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has now been arrested and formally charged with a string of federal charges relating to the storage of classified national defence documents dating from his presidency at his Mar-a-Lago mansion in Palm Beach, Florida.

The 45th president of the United States appeared in federal court in Miami on 13 June where he pleaded not guilty to all 37 counts. Should he ultimately be convicted, he could face a maximum combined sentence of 100 years in prison.

Joe Sommerlad takes us through a timeline of the case.

A timeline of the investigation into Trump’s Mar-a-Lago documents

What do a trans whistleblower, a Soviet spy, and Donald Trump have in common?

Saturday 22 July 2023 21:30 , Oliver O'Connell

No, it’s not the start of a joke, as Io Dodds explains.

A trans whistleblower, a Soviet spy and Donald Trump all have one thing in common

What is the key difference between Biden and Trump having classified documents at home?

Saturday 22 July 2023 19:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Andrew Feinberg explains.

The key difference between Biden and Trump’s classified papers

Trump classified documents trial set for May 2024

Saturday 22 July 2023 17:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The Florida federal judge overseeing the Espionage Act and obstruction of justice case against former president Donald Trump has rejected the disgraced ex-president’s bid to delay his trial until after the 2024 election.

US District Judge Aileen Cannon on Friday issued an order granting the government’s request to set a speedy trial date and schedule for pretrial motions, with a start date of 20 May 2024.

Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.

Judge sets May 2024 date for Trump classified documents trial

How might prosecutors charge Trump with racketeering in Georgia case?

Saturday 22 July 2023 15:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The Georgia prosecutor investigating Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in that state is reportedly weighing a racketeering indictment against the former president and others.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis could rely on evidence tied to Mr Trump’s infamous call to the state’s top elections official to “find” votes for him, as well as the breach of voting machines by a group of Trump-connected operatives, according to The Guardian, citing two people briefed on the matter.

Prosecutors are reportedly reviewing a racketeering indictment including statutes related to influencing witnesses and computer trespass.

An indictment is expected within the first two weeks of August.

Alex Woodward reports.

How prosecutors could charge Trump with racketeering in Georgia case

Trump issues apocalyptic threat to anyone who ‘f***s around with us’ by sharing sinister video

Saturday 22 July 2023 13:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump shared a menacing new video on his Truth Social account on Thursday in which he promises to “do things that have never been done before” to people who “f*** around with us.”

The video, produced by MAGA.com, features audio of the former president’s appearance on the late Rush Limbaugh’s radio show three years ago. During that appearance, Mr Trump was discussing Iran. Now, with Mr Trump set to face another federal indictment over his attempts to overturn the result of the 2020 presidential election, the audio has been repurposed.

Abe Asher has the story.

Trump shares video issuing apocalyptic threat to anyone who ‘f***s around with us’

Jim Caviezel proclaims Trump ‘the new Moses’

Saturday 22 July 2023 11:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Actor Jim Caviezel has proclaimed Donald Trump “the new Moses” after visiting him in New Jersey.

Caviezel, who played Jesus in Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, made the biblical comparison to the twice-indicted and twice-impeached one-term president on Fox News.

The conservative actor appeared on Fox & Friends on Fox News on Thursday to promote his new anti-trafficking movie Sound of Freedom.

Graeme Massie reports from Los Angeles.

Actor Jim Caviezel proclaims Trump ‘the new Moses’ after visiting him at Bedminster

Third-party bid wouldn’t derail Biden’s shot at re-election, poll says

Saturday 22 July 2023 09:30 , Oliver O'Connell

A new survey out from Monmouth University should have the Biden campaign — and the DC media circuit — breathing slightly easier.

The university’s pollsters surveyed the effect that a prominent third-party presidential bid would have on a matchup between Mr Biden and his 2020 rival, Donald Trump, who is looking more likely to be the Republican nominee with every passing day. The findings were objectively good news for the president: Voters still back him over the twice-impeached former president when a prominent third-party candidate is introduced into the equation.

John Bowden reports.

Poll suggests third-party bid wouldn’t derail Biden’s shot at re-election

Judge says ex-president did ‘rape’ columnist

Saturday 22 July 2023 07:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The judge overseeing Donald Trump’s sexual abuse case brought by columnist E Jean Carroll has denied his bid to toss the jury’s verdict, and let the air out of his legal team’s argument.

Judge Lewis Kaplan ruled this week that a jury’s award of $2m to Ms Carroll over its finding that Mr Trump had indeed sexually abused her was not excessive, given that while the actions alleged by his accuser did not fit the legal definition of rape, they certainly fit the colloquial meaning of the word.

Read more...

Trump bid to toss E Jean Carroll ruling backfires as judge says he did ‘rape’ her

SEC announces settlement with merger partner of Trump’s Truth Social app

Saturday 22 July 2023 05:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The Securities and Exchange Commission announced that it had settled fraud charges with the financial firm tied to former president Donald Trump’s Truth Social platform, Street Insider reported.

The SEC had accused Digital World Acquisition Corporation (DWAC), a special purpose acquisition company, of making material misrepresentations in forms it filed with the SEC as part of its initial public offering and its proposed merger with Trump Media & Technology Group Corp (TMTG), which Mr Trump founded.

DWAC had misled both the SEC and investors when it failed to disclose that it had formulated a plan to acquire and was pursuing the acquisition of TMTG.

Eric Garcia has the details.

SEC announces settlement with merger partner of Trump’s Truth Social app

McCarthy denies he made any deal with Trump to try to expunge his impeachments

Saturday 22 July 2023 04:30 , Oliver O'Connell

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy insisted this week that he had not made a deal with former President Donald Trump over the issue of expunging the latter’s two impeachments.

The Speaker was asked about the issue by reporters in his daily press gaggle on Thursday, according to Politico, as the chamber considers bills brought by a coalition between Rep Elise Stefanik, a member of leadership, and Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene — a far-right bomb-thrower recently expelled from the House Freedom Caucus for cozying up to the Speaker’s team too aggressively.

John Bowden reports from Washington, DC.

Kevin McCarthy denies he made any deal with Trump to try to expunge his impeachments

Trump trashes 2024 rivals

Saturday 22 July 2023 03:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump bashed his main rivals for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination late Thursday evening.

The former president posted on his Truth Social platform that businessman Vivek Ramaswamy is now beating Florida Gov Ron DeSantis in some polling. He also poked fun at former Arkansas Gov Asa Hutchinson and attacked former New Jersey Gov Chris Christie over his weight.

Eric Garcia reports.

Trump trashes 2024 rivals and goes after Chris Christie’s weight

Trump, January 6 and a conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election

Saturday 22 July 2023 02:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward reports how a sprawling Justice Department probe into Donald Trump and his allies could result in several criminal charges against the former president.

The federal investigation into Trump and January 6, explained

Trump legal team tries again to block Georgia 2020 grand jury probe

Saturday 22 July 2023 01:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s legal team has again made a last-minute effort to block the Fulton County, Georgia, investigation into whether the former president and his allies broke the law when they sought to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state. A new motion will now be decided by a judge based outside Fulton County, The Washington Post reports.

In an order issued on Thursday but made public on Friday, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville recused the entire judicial bench in Fulton County from hearing Mr Trump’s motion to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and her office from further investigating the former president.

The motion also calls for throwing out evidence and a final report gathered by a special grand jury that investigated the case.

Mr Glanville, the chief judge in Fulton County Superior Court, reassigned the case to Georgia’s Seventh Judicial Administrative District “for the appointment of a judge who is not a member of the district to preside over the case.”

That court, based in Cartersville, Georgia, oversees 14 counties in the northwest of the state. Future hearings may still occur in Atlanta, the order suggests.

Mr Trump’s attorneys have also filed an amended motion to disqualify Ms Willis and quash the special grand jury filings.

The 650-page filing accused the DA, in part, of “fundraising for her reelection campaign on the back of this case.”

Trump suggest fix for Fox News ratings is ‘ALL TRUMP ALL THE TIME’

Saturday 22 July 2023 00:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Seeming to ignore that a federal trial date has been set for the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case brought against him by Special Counsel Jack Smith — dismissing his request to postpone it until after the 2024 election — Donald Trump instead took to Truth Social to attack two of his favourite foes: Fox News and Ron DeSantis.

He posted:

Fox is down 58%, at least, all because they don’t treat “TRUMP” and “MAGA” well. They are focused on someone who can’t win, Ron DeSanctimonious, who will never be able to bring it home. The only reason DeSanctus won in Florida is because I Endorsed him, and Campaigned for him—He would have lost by 40 points. The sadder part is, he TOTALLY forgot! He also forgot he wanted to close down Social Security, Ethanol, and obliterate Medicare…

He continued:

…Fox is gone, just like in 2016, and the only way they come back is if they go “ALL TRUMP ALL THE TIME.” Our people have had it! MAGA and America First are stronger than ever before, but we want and deserve support like the Radical Left Democrat Fascists get from so many sources, including the Fake News Media and Law Enforcement. Bring back Fox, before it’s too late!

The former president linked to a Breitbart article attacking both CNN and Fox News for suffering a “brutal ratings collapse”.

Journalist Aaron Rupar notes: “Fox’s coverage of Trump these days is overwhelmingly positive, and the entire primetime lineup of hosts are Trump supporters. Still not enough for him though.”

Special counsel still interviewing witnesses in Trump probe as third indictment looms

Saturday 22 July 2023 00:00 , Oliver O'Connell

As a potential third indictment of Donald Trump looms, the special counsel investigating his role in attempts to overturn the 2020 election and the build-up to January 6 is still scheduling witnesses.

CNN reports that additional witnesses are expected to appear before the grand jury over the next several weeks, including at least one former Trump attorney.

The former president was informed on Sunday that he is a target of the investigation giving Mr Trump the chance to testify or present evidence before a possible indictment is brought, which typically follows shortly after such letters are sent.

However, prosecutors are talking to at least two more witnesses about setting up interviews and those won’t be completed for at least another month.

Sources tell CNN this includes former New York City police commissioner Bernie Kerik, a Trump ally, and a former Trump lawyer.

It is not clear if prosecutors would wait until after these interviews before filing an indictment.

The structure of the case is also unknown and there are different options — a more discrete first case could be filed and then superseding indictments could be added later, or multiple defendants could face separate cases.

To date, the former president is the only person known to have received a target letter.

ICYMI: ‘Talking about obstructions of an official proceeding’

Friday 21 July 2023 23:15 , Oliver O'Connell

There was a bizarre moment in court in Washington on Thursday when the work of the grand jury investigating Donald Trump’s involvement in January 6th and overturning the 2020 election clashed with the trial of one of the rioters who stormed the US Capitol on that fateful day in 2021.

Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump appointee, was presiding over the verdict in the case of Freddie Klein, a former state department official who spent a long time in the Lower West Terrace tunnel during the attack on Congress, and Steven Cappuccio.

Kyle Cheney, senior legal affairs correspondent for Politico, was in court and reports that attorney Stanley Woodward, who represents a number of Trump associates in both the classified documents federal case and the 2020 election case, arrived 25 minutes late to court.

The “visibly frustrated” judge made Mr Woodward explain his delay to the open court, rejecting a request to huddle in private about the reason citing grand jury secrecy.

According to several reports from earlier today, Trump aide William Russell was expected to testify for the grand jury on Thursday and is likely represented by Mr Woodward.

Cheney reports that the defence attorney said prosecutors began grilling his client on matters that “potentially involve executive privilege”, and so he felt obligated to remain just outside the grand jury room until the questioning had ended.

Judge McFadden said he absolved the attorney of anything improper but was upset with prosecutors who had assured him they would not let the grand jury matter interfere with the other court business set for 2pm.

“Talking about obstructions of official proceedings,” Judge McFadden said sharply, playing on the charge against many January 6th defendants. “The government has not acted as I required.”

He then sent ent a court officer to summon special counsel prosecutors from the grand jury room to his court.

Cheney reports that Thomas Windom, a prosecutor on Jack Smith’s team, and three others duly showed up and were made to wait in the front row of the court while Judge McFadden read the lengthy verdict.

He then called up Mr Windom for a sealed bench conference in which they both talked a lot, before the prosecutor and another grand jury official left the court.

Cheney notes that the fact questioning was in the realm of executive privilege likely means that prosecutors were pressing the witness for information directly relating to Mr Trump’s conduct following the 2020 election and ahead of the Capitol riot.

Judge with Trump’s fate in her hands was appointed by him

Friday 21 July 2023 22:30 , Oliver O'Connell

A Florida district judge assigned to oversee Donald Trump’s classified documents case is attracting criticism given that it was Mr Trump himself who elevated her to the bench three years ago.

Aileen Cannon, a federal judge with the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida overseeing the Espionage Act and obstruction of justice case against Mr Trump, has rejected the disgraced ex-president’s bid to delay his trial until after the 2024 election.

Joe Sommerlad profiles Judge Cannon and explains her role in the classified documents case to date.

Aileen Cannon: The judge with Trump’s fate in her hands was appointed by him

What charges does Trump face in the classified documents case?

Friday 21 July 2023 22:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Joe Sommerlad writes:

The most serious charges he now faces over his failure to cooperate are 31 counts brought under the Espionage Act, which criminalises the unauthorised possession of national defence information and is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

The First World War-era law predates the classification of government documents but makes it a crime to willfully retain sensitive information that could be of use to foreign adversaries.

Read more...

What charges does Donald Trump face in the classified documents case?

ICYMI: Grassley releases full FBI memo with unverified claims about Hunter Biden

Friday 21 July 2023 21:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley released an unclassified document Thursday that Republicans claim is significant in their investigation of Hunter Biden as they probe the financial affairs of the president’s son and revive previously debunked claims of wrongdoing.

Grassley of Iowa has been working alongside House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., as Republicans deepen their probe of the President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, ahead of the 2024 election. Comer had issued a subpoena for the document from the FBI.

While lawmakers on the Oversight Committee have already been able to partly review the information, this is the first time the full form -- which contains raw, unverified information -- is being made public. Called an FD-1023 form, it involves claims a confidential informant made in 2020 about Hunter Biden’s alleged business dealings when he served on the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma. Top Republicans have acknowledged they cannot confirm whether the information is true.

Read on...

Grassley releases full FBI memo with unverified claims about Hunter Biden's work in Ukraine

Trump claims George Bush Sr stashed documents in a bowling alley... is it true?

Friday 21 July 2023 21:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump accused former president George HW Bush of hiding classified documents in a “bowling alley” during a rally in Arizona on Sunday 9 October 2022.

Mr Trump also claimed that many former presidents had likewise stored millions of pages of documents in warehouses “with damaged main doors”.

The blustering Republican said that Bush Sr “took millions and millions of documents to a former bowling alley pieced together with what was then an old and broken Chinese restaurant”.

He continued: “They put them together. And it had a broken front door and broken windows. Other than that it was quite secure.”

Maroosha Muzaffar takes a look at his claims.

The story behind Trump’s claim that Bush Sr stashed documents in a bowling alley

Biden 2024 campaign plans to not engage in talk of Trump legal woes

Friday 21 July 2023 21:15 , Oliver O'Connell

The White House has for many months not commented on the myriad of legal woes swirling around former President Donald Trump in order to maintain its policy of non-interference with the work of the Justice Department.

Writing in Politico, Jonathan Lemire reports that this policy will most likely continue throughout the 2024 campaign.

It’s easy to imagine — as Biden aides have been privately discussing — that Trump spends part of his 2024 campaign having to shuttle from one court date to the next, standing trial in multiple cases, spawning negative headline after negative headline. And while Trump will surely play the victim to fire up his base, Biden’s aides believe his time as a repeated criminal defendant will almost certainly turn off the independent and swing voters who often decide elections.

If Trump’s campaign shows signs of collapsing under the weight of the myriad criminal proceedings, the Biden team feels its best approach may just be to stand back and not engage.

What do a trans whistleblower, a Soviet spy, and Donald Trump all have in common?

Friday 21 July 2023 21:00 , Oliver O'Connell

No, this isn’t a joke.

Io Dodds explains what ties the three of them together:

A trans whistleblower, a Soviet spy and Donald Trump all have one thing in common

After watching QAnon-linked movie, Trump calls for ‘immediate’ death penalty for child traffickers

Friday 21 July 2023 20:45 , Oliver O'Connell

After watching “Sound of Freedom,” the movie associated with QAnon, former president Donald Trump said that he would require the death penalty for “anyone caught trafficking children across our border.”

Kelly Rissman has the story.

Trump calls for death penalty for child traffickers after watching QAnon-linked movie

Biden draws laughs after touting Marjorie Taylor Greene ‘endorsement’

Friday 21 July 2023 20:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Days after President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign turned a rant about him by Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene into a massively viral online advertisement, Mr Biden is leaning into the GOP congresswoman’s description of him as continuing the work of Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal and Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society programmes.

Andrew Feinberg reports on the amusing moment in Philadelphia on Thursday.

Biden draws laughs after touting Marjorie Taylor Greene ‘endorsement’

Watch: DeSantis makes bizarre argument Jan 6 was “not an insurrection"

Friday 21 July 2023 20:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Trump demands cameras in courtroom for expected federal case

Friday 21 July 2023 20:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s new lawyer will ask a judge to allow cameras in a federal courtroom if the one-term president is indicted with January 6 election fraud charges by the Department of Justice.

Graeme Massie has the latest:

Trump demands cameras in courtroom for potential election fraud case

Voices: What Donald Trump’s trial date means for the 2024 election

Friday 21 July 2023 19:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Eric Garcia writes:

Another day, another wrench thrown into the Republican presidential primary. On Friday, US District Judge Aileen Cannon issued an order announcing Donald Trump’s court date for his trial for charges related to the Espionage Act and obstruction of justice will take place on 20 May 2024.

On the surface, that might make Mr Trump wince because of the fact that it denies his request to delay the trial until after the 2024 presidential election. Still, it means that Mr Trump’s legal troubles will make him the centre of attention within the GOP primary and his court case will entirely define that contest as well as the general election.

Read on...

What Donald Trump’s trial date means for the 2024 election

Watch: New Trump lawyer says ex-president didn’t appear before grand jury because he ‘did nothing wrong’

Friday 21 July 2023 19:34 , Oliver O'Connell

New Trump attorney John Lauro also says he will ask for cameras in the courtroom of the former president’s federal trial.

ICYMI: Trump ignores announcement of trial date, instead lambasting Fox News and ‘DeSanctus’

Friday 21 July 2023 19:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Seeming to ignore that a federal trial date has been set for the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case brought against him by Special Counsel Jack Smith — dismissing his request to postpone it until after the 2024 election — Donald Trump instead took to Truth Social to attack two of his favourite foes: Fox News and Ron DeSantis.

He posted:

Fox is down 58%, at least, all because they don’t treat “TRUMP” and “MAGA” well. They are focused on someone who can’t win, Ron DeSanctimonious, who will never be able to bring it home. The only reason DeSanctus won in Florida is because I Endorsed him, and Campaigned for him—He would have lost by 40 points. The sadder part is, he TOTALLY forgot! He also forgot he wanted to close down Social Security, Ethanol, and obliterate Medicare…

He continued:

…Fox is gone, just like in 2016, and the only way they come back is if they go “ALL TRUMP ALL THE TIME.” Our people have had it! MAGA and America First are stronger than ever before, but we want and deserve support like the Radical Left Democrat Fascists get from so many sources, including the Fake News Media and Law Enforcement. Bring back Fox, before it’s too late!

The former president linked to a Breitbart article attacking both CNN and Fox News for suffering a “brutal ratings collapse”.

Journalist Aaron Rupar notes: “Fox’s coverage of Trump these days is overwhelmingly positive, and the entire primetime lineup of hosts are Trump supporters. Still not enough for him though.”

Jan 6 grand jury heard testimony on Trump’s state of mind, NBC News reports

Friday 21 July 2023 19:13 , Oliver O'Connell

Per NBC News:

Prosecutors from special counsel Jack Smith’s office questioned former White House aide William Russell about then-President Donald Trump’s state of mind during and after the 2020 election period, a source familiar with the matter told NBC News.

Russell — who was with Trump for some of the day on Jan 6, 2021 — testified for hours Thursday before the federal grand jury deciding whether to indict the former president over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

The source said the questions to Russell were focused on Trump's state of mind around the 2020 election and Jan 6. Prosecutors did not focus on the planning of the Ellipse event on Jan. 6 or Russell’s own actions at the White House, the source said.

Russell served as a personal aide and trip director for Trump beginning in early 2020.

Full story: Trump and Michael Cohen reach settlement over $1.3m in unpaid legal bills

Friday 21 July 2023 19:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has reached a settlement with his former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen over claims the former president’s company failed to pay the attorney’s estimated $1.3m in legal bills.

Josh Marcus has the details.

Trump and Michael Cohen reach settlement over $1.3m in unpaid legal bills

Even Ted Cruz questions claim Biden has been ‘selling access to our enemies for decades’

Friday 21 July 2023 18:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Senator Ted Cruz pushed back slightly when the House Oversight Committee Chair, his fellow Republican James Comer, baselessly asserted that President Biden has been “selling access to our enemies for decades.”

On his podcast, “Verdict with Ted Cruz,” the Texas senator told Mr Comer to pause, “You say that he has been selling access to our enemies for decades. That on the face of it is an extraordinary statement.” He then asked, “What’s your basis for that?”

Kelly Rissman reports on their conversation.

Even Cruz questions claim that Biden was ‘selling access to our enemies’

Some critics see Trump's behavior as un-Christian. His conservative Christian backers see a hero

Friday 21 July 2023 18:30 , Oliver O'Connell

For eight years, Donald Trump has managed to secure the support of many evangelical and conservative Christians despite behavior that often seemed at odds with teachings espoused by Christ in the Gospels.

If some observers initially viewed this as an unsustainable alliance, it’s different now.

Certain achievements during Trump’s presidency – notably appointments that shifted the Supreme Court to the right – have solidified that support. He’s now the clear front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, even after he recently was found liable for sexually abusing a New York woman in 1996 and was indicted in a criminal case related to hush money payments to a porn actress.

Read on...

Some critics see Trump's behavior as un-Christian. His conservative Christian backers see a hero

Trump documents trial could wrap a week or two before Republican convention

Friday 21 July 2023 18:05 , Oliver O'Connell

As potential third indictment looms, special counsel still scheduling witnesses

Friday 21 July 2023 17:45 , Oliver O'Connell

As a potential third indictment of Donald Trump looms, the special counsel investigating his role in attempts to overturn the 2020 election and the build-up to January 6 is still scheduling witnesses.

CNN reports that additional witnesses are expected to appear before the grand jury over the next several weeks, including at least one former Trump attorney.

The former president was informed on Sunday that he is a target of the investigation giving Mr Trump the chance to testify or present evidence before a possible indictment is brought, which typically follows shortly after such letters are sent.

However, prosecutors are talking to at least two more witnesses about setting up interviews and those won’t be completed for at least another month.

Sources tell CNN this includes former New York City police commissioner Bernie Kerik, a Trump ally, and a former Trump lawyer.

It is not clear if prosecutors would wait until after these interviews before filing an indictment.

The structure of the case is also unknown and there are different options — a more discrete first case could be filed and then superseding indictments could be added later, or multiple defendants could face separate cases.

To date, the former president is the only person known to have received a target letter.

Cohen to settle with Trump Organization for $1.3m

Friday 21 July 2023 17:17 , Oliver O'Connell

Could Trump be charged with racketeering in Georgia?

Friday 21 July 2023 17:15 , Oliver O'Connell

The Georgia prosecutor investigating Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in that state is reportedly weighing a racketeering indictment against the former president and others.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis could rely on evidence tied to Mr Trump’s infamous call to the state’s top elections official to “find” votes for him, as well as the breach of voting machines by a group of Trump-connected operatives, according to The Guardian, citing two people briefed on the matter.

Prosecutors are reportedly reviewing a racketeering indictment including statutes related to influencing witnesses and computer trespass.

An indictment is expected within the first two weeks of August.

Alex Woodward explains how a racketeering charge could come about.

How prosecutors could charge Trump with racketeering in Georgia case

Trump legal team tries again to block Georgia 2020 grand jury probe

Friday 21 July 2023 17:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s legal team has again made a last-minute effort to block the Fulton County, Georgia, investigation into whether the former president and his allies broke the law when they sought to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state. A new motion will now be decided by a judge based outside Fulton County, The Washington Post reports.

In an order issued on Thursday but made public on Friday, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville recused the entire judicial bench in Fulton County from hearing Mr Trump’s motion to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and her office from further investigating the former president.

The motion also calls for throwing out evidence and a final report gathered by a special grand jury that investigated the case.

Mr Glanville, the chief judge in Fulton County Superior Court, reassigned the case to Georgia’s Seventh Judicial Administrative District “for the appointment of a judge who is not a member of the district to preside over the case.”

That court, based in Cartersville, Georgia, oversees 14 counties in the northwest of the state. Future hearings may still occur in Atlanta, the order suggests.

Mr Trump’s attorneys have also filed an amended motion to disqualify Ms Willis and quash the special grand jury filings.

The 650-page filing accused the DA, in part, of “fundraising for her reelection campaign on the back of this case.”

Trump trashes 2024 rivals and goes after Chris Christie’s weight

Friday 21 July 2023 16:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump bashed his main rivals for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination late Thursday evening.

The former president posted on his Truth Social platform that businessman Vivek Ramaswamy is now beating Florida Gov Ron DeSantis in some polling. He also poked fun at former Arkansas Gov Asa Hutchinson and attacked former New Jersey Gov Chris Christie over his weight.

Eric Garcia reports on the latest round of childish insults.

Trump trashes 2024 rivals and goes after Chris Christie’s weight