Trump news - live: DoJ prepared for more charges as insider trading scheme uncovered at Trump Media SPAC

Oliver O'Connell
·30 min read
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The Department of Justice is prepared to seek indictments against multiple figures in former president Donald Trump’s orbit and may yet bring additional charges against the ex-president in the coming weeks, The Independent has learned.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the department has made preparations to bring what is known as a “superseding indictment” — a second set of charges against an already-indicted defendant that could include more serious crimes — against the ex-president, and could do so in a number of different venues, depending on how prosecutors feel the case they have brought against him in a Florida federal court is proceeding.

Meanwhile, Three investors in the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) that took the Trump Media & Technology Group public have been indicted for insider trading concerning the deal, making $22m in alleged illegal trades.

All three were arrested in Florida on Thursday morning, charged with trading in securities of Digital World Acquisition Corporation (DWAC) based on non-public information about the company’s planned combination with Trump Media, which was founded by the former president and is the parent company of social media platform Truth Social.

Key Points

DeSantis mocked for apparently photoshopped campaign photo

19:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis has been ridiculed for a seemingly photoshopped campaign photograph that has resurfaced as the Republican presidential primary begins to take shape.

The image was taken for Mr DeSantis’s brief campaign for Senate in 2015 ahead of the 2016 election when incumbent Florida Senator Marco Rubio was running for president before campaigning for re-election to the upper chamber.

Read on...

DeSantis mocked for apparently photoshopped resurfaced campaign photo

EXCLUSIVE: Prosecutors are prepared to hit Trump and his allies with new charges, sources say

19:18 , Oliver O'Connell

The Department of Justice is prepared to seek indictments against multiple figures in former president Donald Trump’s orbit and may yet bring additional charges against the ex-president in the coming weeks, The Independent has learned.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the department has made preparations to bring what is known as a “superseding indictment” — a second set of charges against an already-indicted defendant that could include more serious crimes — against the ex-president, and could do so in a number of different venues, depending on how prosecutors feel the case they have brought against him in a Florida federal court is proceeding.

Read the full story by The Independent’s Andrew Feinberg in Washington, DC.

Prosecutors are prepared to hit Trump and his allies with new charges, sources say

Federal grand jury still investigating aspects of classified documents case, report says

19:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Three weeks after Donald Trump was indicted on charges of illegally retaining classified national security documents and obstructing the government’s efforts to reclaim them, a federal grand jury in Miami is still investigating aspects of the case, The New York Times reports, citing people familiar with the matter.

Per the Times:

In recent days, the grand jury has issued subpoenas to a handful of people who are connected to the inquiry, those familiar with it said. While it remains unclear who received the subpoenas and the kind of information prosecutors were seeking to obtain, it is clear that the grand jury has stayed active and that investigators are digging even after a 38-count indictment was issued this month against Mr. Trump and a co-defendant, Walt Nauta, one of his personal aides.

Prosecutors often continue investigating strands of a criminal case after charges have been brought, and sometimes their efforts go nowhere. But at other times post-indictment investigations result in additional charges against people who have already been accused of crimes in the case. The investigations can also be used to bring new charges against new defendants.

Watch: Would Chris Christie pardon Donald Trump?

18:40 , Oliver O'Connell

The former New Jersey governor weighs in on the power of the president to pardon people and whether it would apply to Donald Trump were he convicted of the various crimes of which he is accused.

Joe Biden gives emphatic response to question about troubling Hunter text

18:20 , Oliver O'Connell

President Joe Biden is facing increasing pressure to answer questions — in detail — about his son Hunter Biden and a concerning text message that has been unearthed as the questions surrounding the latter’s business activities are growing more serious.

And on Wednesday, the president bristled at a reporter who asked him about it, just days after Karine Jean-Pierre, his press secretary, was inundated with questions on the topic at her daily news briefing.

John Bowden in Washington, DC, reports on what the president has said so far.

Insider trading: Trump Media investors charged in $22m case

18:05 , Oliver O'Connell

Three investors in the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) that took Trump Media public have been indicted for insider trading concerning the deal, making $22m in alleged lillegal trades.

Michael Shvartsman, Gerald Shvartsman and Bruce Garelick were named in a federal indictment unsealed on Thursday (29 June) in Manhattan federal court.

All three were charged with trading in securities of Digital World Acquisition Corporation (DWAC) based on non-public information about the company’s planned business combination with Trump Media & Technology Group — founded by former President Donald Trump — the parent company of social media platform Truth Social.

They were arrested on Thursday morning in Florida.

Full story here:

Trump Media investors charged in $22m insider trading case

Trump hails Supreme Court decision on affirmative action

17:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump hails Supreme Court decision on affirmative action as “a great day for America”.

The former president posted on Truth Social:

This is a great day for America. People with extraordinary ability and everything else necessary for success, including future greatness for our Country, are finally being rewarded. This is the ruling everyone was waiting and hoping for and the result was amazing. It will also keep us competitive with the rest of the world. Our greatest minds must be cherished and that’s what this wonderful day has brought. We’re going back to all merit-based—and that’s the way it should be!

Here’s our coverage of the ruling:

Supreme Court bans colleges from considering race in admissions

Did DeSantis break the law with Texas border trip?

17:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The presidential campaign of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been accused of breaking the law after the team shared an image on Twitter of the candidate exiting a helicopter that records show is owned by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Mr DeSantis was in Eagle Pass, Texas on Monday to visit the US-Mexico border when the campaign shared the photo with the caption “MISSION: Stop the invasion STATUS: Critical LEAD: @RonDeSantis”.

Legal experts now say that the use of Texas government resources in a political ad is a campaign finance violation.

Gustaf Kilander reports.

DeSantis accused of breaking the law with Texas border trip

Pence meets with Zelensky in Ukraine

17:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Former vice president Mike Pence visited with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a sign of solidarity with Ukraine even as many Republicans sour on support for Ukraine, CNN reported.

Eric Garcia has the latest:

Mike Pence meets with Zelensky in Ukraine

Is Rudy Giuliani negotiating a plea deal over efforts to overturn 2020 election?

16:55 , Oliver O'Connell

Slate has followed up on reporting by CNN and The New York Times this week that Rudy Giuliani, former Mayor of New York and Donald Trump’s personal attorney during his administration, has voluntarily met with investigators from Special Counsel Jack Smith’s office as part of a “proffer agreement”.

This raises the possibility that he might flip against his former boss ex-president Trump.

Per Robert Katzberg, former federal prosecutor who has defended high-profile white-collar criminal cases for more than four decades, writing in Slate:

While the Times was not specific about what Giuliani’s voluntary interview means, such proffer sessions are almost always the final step towards a plea deal. If one is consummated in Smith’s investigation of Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election—which were spearheaded by Giuliani—it would both be a deeply ironic end for one of the country’s most bulldog former prosecutors and also a devastating blow to the former president.

As someone deeply enmeshed in the New York City white collar criminal defense world during Giuliani’s tenure as US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, reports that he sat for an extensive proffer session with prosecutors investigating the events surrounding the Jan 6 riot boggles the mind.

He further explains the process:

Once counsel concludes the client has something valuable to offer prosecutors and that the client can be an effective witness, the next step can be taken. Counsel contacts the prosecutors and arranges an “attorney’s proffer,” in which the lawyer, without the client, meets prosecutors to outline the general contours of what the client can provide. If the contours are unacceptable, say the client wants an agreement he will not be prosecuted for providing evidence against a lesser target, the session ends quickly. If, however, both sides see the prospect for getting something they want without giving up too much, the session gets more and more specific. It is only if the attorney’s factual representations offer enough for prosecutors to offer sufficiently reduced criminal exposure, and thus, a realistic deal may be available, that the next to last step, the client proffer, is taken. Giuliani has reportedly now taken that step.

You can read the full piece here.

Christie says McCarthy spoke correctly about Trump the first time

16:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Former New Jersey governor and presidential Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie told CNN that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was right in his initial assessment about whether former president Donald Trump was the strongest candidate to beat Joe Biden in a general election contest.

Earlier this week, Mr McCarthy said he was not sure that Mr Trump was the strongest candidate to beat Mr Biden.

Eric Garcia reports from Washington, DC.

Chris Christie says McCarthy spoke correctly about Trump the first time

Voices: Kevin McCarthy knows he crossed the line with Donald Trump

16:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Few people embody Republicans’ relationship and acquiescence to Donald Trump more than House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Eric Garcia explains what is currently happening between the two.

Kevin McCarthy knows he crossed the line with Donald Trump

DeSantis wants to abolish IRS to fight ‘woke ideology'

15:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Mr DeSantis said that if Congress doesn’t allow him to cut agencies like the IRS — a move that could plunge the country’s tax collection system into chaos and hamper federal oversight — he is prepared to use those agencies to advance his political aims.

Abe Asher reports.

DeSantis says he would abolish education and energy departments and IRS

Watch: Christie slams DeSantis’s response on January 6

15:25 , Oliver O'Connell

Chris Christie slammed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s answer to a question about January 6 from a student in New Hampshire.

Mr DeSantis was asked whether he thought then-President Donald Trump has violated the peaceful transfer of power on January 6.

The Florida governor responded that he wasn’t anywhere near Washington that day and had nothing to do with the events of the day but did not like what he saw. He then added that the country should move forward and not be mired in the past.

Former New Jersey Governor Christie was not impressed with the answer from a candidate for president and told Kaitlan Collins on CNN: “’He wasn’t anywhere near Washington’? Did he have a TV? Was he alive that day? Did he see what was going on? I mean, that’s one of the most ridiculous answers I’ve heard in this race so far.”

Watch:

Trump’s GOP support dips slightly after his indictment, poll finds

14:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump‘s criminal indictment on charges of mishandling government secrets appears to have dented his popularity among Republicans — but only slightly —- according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Read more...

Trump's GOP support dips slightly after his indictment over classified documents, AP-NORC poll finds

‘We’re going to get into that...'

14:41 , Oliver O'Connell

Fox News’ Steve Doocy asks House Oversight Chair James Comer about the GOP Biden investigation: “Make it easy for us. What was the crime?”

“Well the crime is that — trading policy for money,” answers Mr Comer.

Doocy pushes: “Which policy?”

Mr Comer: “We’re gonna get into that.”

‘We’re electing idiots’

14:05 , Oliver O'Connell

Former Rep Liz Cheney of Wyoming took aim at the state of American politics, telling a crowd at the 92nd Street Y in New York that the country is “electing idiots.”

“Look, I think that the country right now faces hugely challenging and fundamentally important issues,” Ms Cheney said during an appearance at the community centre, in quotes reported by The Hill. “What we’ve done in our politics is create a situation where we’re electing idiots.”

Abe Asher has the story.

Liz Cheney lays out damning problem with US politics: ‘We’re electing idiots’

Newsmax host offers bizarre classified documents defence for Trump

13:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Newsmax host Lidia Curanaj argued on Tuesday that Mr Trump could have been lying at the time.

Which is a pretty novel defence as they run for office.

Newsmax host offers bizarre defence of Trump over leaked audio

Paul Ryan says Trump is only candidate who would lose to Biden

13:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Former House Speaker Paul Ryan says he believes any 2024 Republican presidential candidate could beat incumbent president Joe Biden provided they are not named Donald Trump, but that it will be “a disaster if we nominate Trump”.

Read more...

Paul Ryan says Trump is only Republican candidate who would lose to Biden in 2024

‘Bravado’

12:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump has said that he did not show off classified documents in the leaked audio clip in which he referred to “highly confidential” material, claiming he was merely speaking with “bravado.”

Eric Garcia reports.

Trump’s latest defence in the classified documents case: ‘Bravado’

Christie attacks Trump for diverting campaign funds to legal battles

11:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Chris Christie is not resisting any chance to point out his criticisms of former President Donald Trump, and did so again on Tuesday over reports detailing the ex-president’s choice to divert a larger share of his campaign donations toward his legal defence efforts.

The change was first reported by The New York Times on Sunday, and came in the form of an edit to the fine print on Mr Trump’s donation page hosted by the WinRed platform.

John Bowden has the details.

Chris Christie attacks Trump for diverting campaign funds to legal battles

Christie says McCarthy spoke right the first time about Trump

11:15 , Rachel Sharp

Rival GOP 2024 candidate Chris Christie has now weighed in on the saga surrounding Kevin McCarthy’s comments about the former president.

On Tuesday, the House speaker angered Trumpworld when he said “I don’t know” if Mr Trump is the strongest 2024 Republican candidate.

“Can he win that election? Yeah, he can,” Mr McCarthy said. “The question is, is he the strongest to win the election? I don’t know that answer. But can somebody, can anybody beat Biden? Yeah, anybody can beat Biden,” he told CNBC.

He quickly walked back the comments nd accused the media of “driving a wedge” between them.

Mr Christie told CNN on Wednesday that he believes Mr McCarthy said what he truly meant the first time.

“I think his first statement is what he really believes – which is that he doesn’t think Donald Trump is the strongest candidate to be president,” he said.

Trump request to move New York criminal trial expected to be slapped down

10:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump’s legal team suffered a setback on Tuesday as a federal judge commented that his argument for moving a trial on 34 counts of falsifying business records out of state court was “far-fetched”.

John Bowden has the latest.

Judge poised to slap down Trump request to move New York criminal case

Trump complains about Fox News using ‘horrible’ photos of him

10:15 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump has complained that Fox News is deliberately using “horrible” photos of him in its coverage.

In an error-laden Truth Social post on Wednesday, the former president said that he has been asked on the campaign trail about the right-wing network’s use of unflattering images and claimed that this is why its ratings have fallen.

“Three people in New Hampshire asked me why Fox News uses such ‘horrible’ pictures of me when doing or promoting a story,” Trump wrote.

“The coloring, distortions, everything are just so bad. They must sit and look at 100 different shots, and then take the 10 absolute worst. My staff has even complained about it for months, but to no avail. Fox is just bad news, but I’m leading in the Polls by record numbers, so perhaps their bull.... is just not working. They are down 37% for a reason!”

‘Guess what – Bidenomics is working’

09:45 , Oliver O'Connell

President Joe Biden touted his economic record amid continuing dissatisfaction among Americans with the state of the US economy by saying his policies have proven effective.

Mr Biden delivered a fiery speech on Wednesday in Chicago where he sought to flip a term that the Wall Street Journal outlets have used against him--Bidenomics--into a plus.

“I didn’t come up with the name,” he said. “I think it’s a plan I’m happy to call Bidenomics.”

Eric Garcia reports for The Independent.

Biden touts his economic record in fiery speech: ‘Guess what – Bidenomics is working’

ICYMI: Trump fumes about ‘illegally leaked’ CNN tape of him

08:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has taken to Truth Social to fume about a bombshell leaked audio tape where he is heard discussing holding onto “secret” classified documents after leaving office – and admitting that he knows he cannot declassify them.

In the recording, captured during a July 2021 meeting at Mr Trump’s Bedminster golf club and released by CNN on Monday, the former president is heard boasting and laughing with associates about possessing “highly confidential” military documents about Iran.

Rachel Sharp reports.

Trump fumes about ‘illegally leaked’ CNN tape of him boasting about classified papers

McCarthy walks back Trump criticism following backlash from Magaworld

06:45 , Oliver O'Connell

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy demurred on the question of whether Donald Trump is best candidate Republicans can put forward to face Joe Biden in 2024 — before backlash from Magaworld forced him to walk back his criticism and call the former president to apologise.

Abe Asher reports.

Kevin McCarthy walks back Trump criticism following backlash from Magaworld

Trump countersues E Jean Carroll for defamation over rape claims

04:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump sued E Jean Carroll for defamation on Tuesday after a jury held him liable for sexually abusing her.

The former president filed a counterclaim in Manhattan federal court, accusing the author of tarnishing his reputation publicly. He has sought retraction as well as unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

Maroosha Muzzafar reports.

Trump countersues E Jean Carroll for defamation after losing sexual abuse case

Ivanka Trump dismissed from fraud NY AG lawsuit filed against her father

02:45 , Oliver O'Connell

A New York appeals court dismissed Ivanka Trump on Tuesday from a wide-ranging fraud lawsuit brought against her father and his company last year by the state’s attorney general.

The civil lawsuit, brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James, accused former President Donald Trump of padding his net worth by billions of dollars and misleading banks, insurance companies and others about the value of his assets, including golf courses and the Mar-a-Lago estate. It named his three eldest children — Ivanka, Donald Jr and Eric Trump — as defendants, along with multiple Trump Organization executives.

Read more...

Ivanka Trump dismissed from fraud lawsuit filed against her father by New York AG

SCOTUS rejects fringe theory that could give GOP state lawmakers unchecked election authority

01:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The US Supreme Court has shot down a fringe legal theory supported by Republican officials and Donald Trump’s allies that was invoked to try to toss out election results and radically reshape the nation’s elections.

A 6-3 decision in Moore v Harper on 27 June determined that Republican-drawn congressional districts in North Carolina amounted to a partisan gerrymander that violated the state’s constitution, but the majority dismissed the so-called “independent state legislature” theory that fuelled the state’s arguments.

Alex Woodward reports.

Supreme Court rejects GOP theory that opponents warned could sow election chaos

‘Planned in plain sight’: Senate’s Jan 6 report blasts missed warning signs

Thursday 29 June 2023 00:45 , Oliver O'Connell

A new report from the Senate Homeland Security Committee offers a withering look at the inability of America’s intelligence agencies to guard against insurrection following the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.

The report was finally released this week, more than two years after hundreds of Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the US Capitol and prevented, for several hours, the certification of the 2020 election while lawmakers hid in fear for their lives. Helmed by Democratic Senator Gary Peters of Michigan, the committee spent months investigating a fundamental question that has remained despite months of hearings in the House last year by the select committee to investigate the attack on the Capitol: Why DC-area law enforcement, including US Capitol Police, were caught so off-guard by the violence.

John Bowden has the details.

Senate’s Jan 6 report blasts missed warning signs: ‘Planned in plain sight’

Voices: The Trump audio reveals key details we didn’t know before. He should be worried

Wednesday 28 June 2023 23:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Ahmed Baba writes:

Classified documents could be heard loudly rustling with laughter filling the room as the former President appeared to casually commit multiple federal crimes. This newly released audio of Donald Trump not only showcases the strength of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s case, it also undercuts Trump’s shifting defenses. This tape has some key new details that weren’t previously reported or included in Trump’s federal indictment.

Reading the previous reporting on the tape’s transcript is one thing, but hearing the brazen hubris as Donald Trump exposed America’s secrets to people without a security clearance is another thing entirely.

Read more...

The Trump audio reveals key details we didn’t know before. He should be worried

Watch: DeSantis mirrors Trump in threat of death to drug dealers at border

Wednesday 28 June 2023 23:15 , Oliver O'Connell

ICYMI: Judge denies special counsel’s request to seal witness list in classified documents case

Wednesday 28 June 2023 22:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The judge overseeing the federal case against Donald Trump has denied special counsel Jack Smith’s motion to seal the list of witnesses that the former president is barred from contacting.

In a ruling on Monday, US District Judge Aileen Cannon – who was appointed by Mr Trump and is now overseeing the criminal case over his handling of classified documents on leaving the White House – said that the government had not provided a reason as to why the list needed to be kept from public view.

Ariana Baio reports.

Trump judge denies request to seal witness list in classified documents case

Voices: Kevin McCarthy knows he crossed the line with Donald Trump

Wednesday 28 June 2023 22:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Few people embody Republicans’ relationship and acquiescence to Donald Trump more than House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Eric Garcia explains why.

Kevin McCarthy knows he crossed the line with Donald Trump

Report: Federal investigators planned classified document search of Trump’s Bedminster club

Wednesday 28 June 2023 22:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Investigators for the Justice Department wanted to search Donald Trump’s New Jersey golf club for top secret documents but lacked probable cause to secure a warrant, says a report.

The team working for special counsel Jack Smith were concerned that the former president was hiding more documents at the 520-acre Bedminster club, sources told The New York Times.

Graeme Massie has the story.

Federal investigators planned search of Trump’s Bedminster club in documents search

Walt Nauta arraignment date and time set

Wednesday 28 June 2023 22:02 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s co-defendant and aide, Walt Nauta, has had a new arraignment date and time confirmed, Scott MacFarlane of CBS News reports.

It is now set for 6 July at 11am in the same Miami courthouse and with the same judge — Chief Magistrate Edwin Torres — as yesterday’s cancelled hearing.

Mr Nauta was still looking for local Florida attorney and was prevented from getting to Miami by travel disruption at Newark Airport in New Jersey.

Watch: Former NSA and CIA director condemns Trump mishandling classified docuemnts

Wednesday 28 June 2023 21:55 , Oliver O'Connell

Liz Cheney lays out damning problem with US politics

Wednesday 28 June 2023 21:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Former Rep Liz Cheney of Wyoming took aim at the state of American politics, telling a crowd at the 92nd Street Y in New York that the country is “electing idiots.”

“Look, I think that the country right now faces hugely challenging and fundamentally important issues,” Ms Cheney said during an appearance at the community centre, in quotes reported by The Hill. “What we’ve done in our politics is create a situation where we’re electing idiots.”

Abe Asher has the story.

Liz Cheney lays out damning problem with US politics: ‘We’re electing idiots’

RNC loyalty pledge will come after candidates qualify for debate, report says

Wednesday 28 June 2023 21:38 , Oliver O'Connell

Per ABC News:

Republican presidential candidates who qualify for the first primary debate will have to satisfy one final, somewhat controversial requirement, sources say: signing a pledge to back whomever the party's eventual nominee is, including if it's Donald Trump.

Two sources familiar with the discussion told ABC News that the pledge will only be presented to candidates for their signature after they earn their spot on the debate stage, in Milwaukee in August, rather than earlier in the process.

This order would signal that they cannot lean on the pledge as a reason not to participate.

Three GOP hopefuls who are critical of Trump — former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson and former Texas Rep Will Hurd — have expressed concerns about the pledge.

Watch: DeSantis says he will abolish education, IRS, commerce and energy fed departments

Wednesday 28 June 2023 21:35 , Oliver O'Connell

Trump lawyers deposit $5.5m with court in E Jean Carroll case

Wednesday 28 June 2023 21:25 , Oliver O'Connell

As he sues her for defamation, Donald Trump’s lawyers have deposited $5.5m with the district court in conjunction with the judgment in E Jean Carroll’s case.

Under an agreed order from Judge Kaplan, Ms Carroll will be able to receive the money, with interest, after the former president’s appeals are complete, provided the

judgment stands.

‘Guess what – Bidenomics is working’

Wednesday 28 June 2023 21:15 , Oliver O'Connell

President Joe Biden touted his economic record amid continuing dissatisfaction among Americans with the state of the US economy by saying his policies have proven effective.

Mr Biden delivered a fiery speech on Wednesday in Chicago where he sought to flip a term that the Wall Street Journal outlets have used against him — Bidenomics — into a plus.

“I didn’t come up with the name,” he said. “I think it’s a plan I’m happy to call Bidenomics.”

Eric Garcia reports on the president’s remarks.

Biden touts his economic record in fiery speech: ‘Guess what – Bidenomics is working’

Watch: DeSantis dodges polling question on Fox News

Wednesday 28 June 2023 21:05 , Oliver O'Connell

Trump camp blamed for leaking racist and antisemitic messages by DeSantis supporter

Wednesday 28 June 2023 20:55 , Oliver O'Connell

A right-wing influencer who left the Trump camp to instead support Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for the GOP presidential nomination has blamed the circle around the former president for supposedly leaking racist and antisemitic messages he sent in private chats.

Far-right site Breitbart reported on Tuesday that in 2019 and 2020, while Donald Trump was president, conservative writer Pedro Gonzalez sent messages in a group chat entitled “Right-Wing Death Squad” as well as to one member of the group individually.

Gustaf Kilander reports.

DeSantis supporter blames Trump camp for leaking racist and antisemitic messages

Trump request to move New York criminal trial expected to be slapped down

Wednesday 28 June 2023 20:38 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump’s legal team suffered a setback on Tuesday as a federal judge commented that his argument for moving a trial on 34 counts of falsifying business records out of state court was “far-fetched”.

John Bowden has the latest.

Judge poised to slap down Trump request to move New York criminal case

Christie hits out at Trump over fundraising for legal fees

Wednesday 28 June 2023 20:25 , Oliver O'Connell

‘Any Republican not named Trump’

Wednesday 28 June 2023 20:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Former House Speaker Paul Ryan says he believes any 2024 Republican presidential candidate could beat incumbent president Joe Biden provided they are not named Donald Trump, but that it will be “a disaster if we nominate Trump”.

Read more...

Paul Ryan says Trump is only Republican candidate who would lose to Biden in 2024

Ivanka Trump dismissed from NY AG fraud lawsuit filed against her father

Wednesday 28 June 2023 19:45 , Oliver O'Connell

A New York appeals court dismissed Ivanka Trump on Tuesday from a wide-ranging fraud lawsuit brought against her father and his company last year by the state’s attorney general.

The civil lawsuit, brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James, accused former President Donald Trump of padding his net worth by billions of dollars and misleading banks, insurance companies and others about the value of his assets, including golf courses and the Mar-a-Lago estate. It named his three eldest children — Ivanka, Donald Jr. and Eric Trump — as defendants, along with multiple Trump Organization executives.

Read more...

Ivanka Trump dismissed from fraud lawsuit filed against her father by New York AG

Report says Giuliani interviewed by special counsel over 2020 election interference attempts

Wednesday 28 June 2023 19:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump’s former attorney, was questioned by investigators with the Justice Department special counsel’s office over his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in battleground states.

A spokesperson for Mr Giuliani confirmed the meeting with the special counsel, saying it was voluntary.

Shweta Sharma has the details.

Rudy Giuliani interviewed by special counsel over 2020 election interference attempts

Newsmax host offers bizarre defence of Trump

Wednesday 28 June 2023 19:00 , Oliver O'Connell

A Newsmax host put up a bizarre defence of former President Donald Trump over the leaked audio in which he speaks about classified documents with guests at his Bedminster, New Jersey golf club two years ago.

On the tape, obtained by CNN on Monday, Mr Trump says that the document, reportedly outlining plans of attack against Iran, was “highly confidential” and “secret information”.

“See, as president I could have declassified it. Now I can’t,” Mr Trump said. The recording lines up with a previously reported transcript of the conversation with biographers working on a book about Mr Trump’s last White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.

Newsmax host Lidia Curanaj argued on Tuesday that Mr Trump could have been lying at the time.

Gustaf Kilander explains.

Newsmax host offers bizarre defence of Trump over leaked audio

Stigma falling away from Congress’ most severe punishments

Wednesday 28 June 2023 18:45 , Oliver O'Connell

House Republicans have held it over Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for months. Attorney General Merrick Garland is facing it too. And President Joe Biden seemingly isn’t far behind.

Driven by the demands of hard-right members, Republicans in the House are threatening impeachment against Biden and his top Cabinet officials, creating a backbeat of chatter about “high crimes and misdemeanors” that is driving legislative action, spurring committee investigations, raking in fundraising money and complicating the plans of Speaker Kevin McCarthy and his leadership team.

Read more...

Impeachment? Censure? Stigma is falling away from Congress' most severe punishments

Watch: Biden mentions Tuberville in economic remarks

Wednesday 28 June 2023 18:39 , Oliver O'Connell

Wednesday 28 June 2023 18:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Christie attacks Trump for diverting campaign funds to legal battles

Wednesday 28 June 2023 18:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Chris Christie is not resisting any chance to point out his criticisms of former President Donald Trump, and did so again on Tuesday over reports detailing the ex-president’s choice to divert a larger share of his campaign donations toward his legal defence efforts.

John Bowden reports.

Chris Christie attacks Trump for diverting campaign funds to legal battles

Biden mocks Tuberville for celebrating broadband funding he voted against

Wednesday 28 June 2023 18:00 , Oliver O'Connell

President Joe Biden mocked Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama this morning for celebrating new broadband infrastructure funding coming to his state — despite having specifically voted against it.

“See you at the groundbreaking,” the president tweeted.

‘Bravado’: Here’s Trump’s latest defence in the classified documents case

Wednesday 28 June 2023 17:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump has said that he did not show off classified documents in the leaked audio clip in which he referred to “highly confidential” material, claiming he was merely speaking with “bravado.”

Eric Garcia reports from Washington, DC.

Trump’s latest defence in the classified documents case: ‘Bravado’

Wednesday 28 June 2023 17:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Joe Biden says Putin is ‘clearly losing the war in Iraq’

Ivanka Trump dismissed from NY AG fraud lawsuit filed against her father

Wednesday 28 June 2023 17:15 , Oliver O'Connell

A New York appeals court dismissed Ivanka Trump on Tuesday from a wide-ranging fraud lawsuit brought against her father and his company last year by the state’s attorney general.

The civil lawsuit, brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James, accused former President Donald Trump of padding his net worth by billions of dollars and misleading banks, insurance companies and others about the value of his assets, including golf courses and the Mar-a-Lago estate. It named his three eldest children — Ivanka, Donald Jr. and Eric Trump — as defendants, along with multiple Trump Organization executives.

Read more...

Ivanka Trump dismissed from fraud lawsuit filed against her father by New York AG

Trump countersues E Jean Carroll for defamation over rape claims

Wednesday 28 June 2023 17:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump sued E Jean Carroll for defamation on Tuesday after a jury held him liable for sexually abusing her.

The former president filed a counterclaim in Manhattan federal court, accusing the author of tarnishing his reputation publicly. He has sought retraction as well as unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

Maroosha Muzaffar has the story.

Trump countersues E Jean Carroll for defamation after losing sexual abuse case

Paul Ryan says Trump is only Republican who would lose to Biden in 2024

Wednesday 28 June 2023 16:43 , Oliver O'Connell

Former House Speaker Paul Ryan says he believes a 2024 Republican presidential candidate not named Donald Trump will beat President Joe Biden, but that it will be “a disaster if we nominate Trump”.

Mr Ryan, a Trump adversary and member of the board of Fox News’s parent company, made the remarks in an appearance on CNBC’s Squawk Box on Wednesday morning.

The former speaker was asked about comments made by former Republican representative Liz Cheney on Tuesday at a conference in which she warned Democrats that they are “playing with fire” if they assume they can beat the former president in the 2024 general election — should he win the GOP primary.

He said that Ms Cheney is right that Mr Trump “could win,” but Mr Ryan added: “I think we lose with him.”

“I think we’re much more likely to lose — we haven’t won anything with him since he first won in ’16,” Mr Ryan said of the former president. “We lost the House in ‘18, the presidency in ‘20, the Senate in ’20, and we could have won the Senate in 2022 but for him.”

“I’m for anybody not named Trump,” he added, “because I think we beat Biden for sure if we nominate a Republican not named Trump.”

On Tuesday, current House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told Squawk Box that he was not sure Mr Trump was the strongest candidate the Republican Party has in the primaries.

He later had to walk back those remarks in an interview with Breitbart, call the former president to apologise, and send out a fundraising email saying that Mr Trump was stronger than ever.

Watch Mr Ryan’s remarks below:

Trump wants to keep ‘communists’ and ‘Marxists’ out of the US. Can he?

Wednesday 28 June 2023 16:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has announced a new campaign proposal on United States immigration — barring “communists” and “Marxists” from entering the country.

The Republican former president, who is making another bid in 2024, on Saturday said he would use “Section 212 (f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act” to “order my government to deny entry to all communists and all Marxists.”

Read more...

Trump wants to keep 'communists' and ‘Marxists’ out of the US. Here’s what the law says

McCarthy walks back Trump criticism following backlash from Magaworld

Wednesday 28 June 2023 15:55 , Oliver O'Connell

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy demurred on the question of whether Donald Trump is best candidate Republicans can put forward to face Joe Biden in 2024 - before backlash from Magaworld forced him to walk back his criticism.

Abe Asher reports.

Kevin McCarthy walks back Trump criticism following backlash from Magaworld

Watch: McCarthy called Trump to apologise for comments

Wednesday 28 June 2023 15:48 , Oliver O'Connell

Will Trump mess with the first GOP debate if he doesn’t take part?

Wednesday 28 June 2023 15:35 , Oliver O'Connell

No one can force Donald Trump to join the first Republican Party primary debate, NBC News notes in reporting that says he may also host a competing event that night.

The network reports:

Most of all, none of those rivals are close enough to Trump in polling to make him feel it's necessary. Arguably, like any front-runner, he has more to lose than gain from a debate.

"He is not going to debate unless he’s forced to by changing polling," said a person who has encouraged Trump to take the stage. "I disagree with it, but it is where he is."

All of that helps explain why, in interviews with more than a half-dozen advisers, it was clear that — even in his private conversations — Trump is leaning heavily toward skipping that first debate.

Trump is also exploring options for counterprogramming during the first debate, according to people familiar with his deliberations.

Trump's absence would deprive the RNC, Fox News and GOP primary voters of the Republican Party's most compelling — and most powerful — figure. And Trump knows he can keep attention on himself by making his appearance conditional, at best.

Wednesday 28 June 2023 15:20 , Oliver O'Connell