Trump allies Lindsey Graham and Michael Flynn named in Georgia grand jury report but escaped charges - live

The Fulton County special grand jury report into election interference has been released including a list of Donald Trump allies recommended for indictment but who escaped being charged by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.

The list includes Senator Lindsey Graham, General Michael Flynn, former Senator Kelly Loeffler, former Senator David Perdue, and Boris Epshteyn, among others.

It may also give some more indication of the likely identities of the 30 so-called “unindicted co-conspirators” who were not named in the indictment.

Meanwhile, Mr Trump has filed a motion in his Georgia criminal case letting a judge know that he “may” request for his trial to be remanded to federal court — the first step in the long process of seeking a dismissal on the grounds of protected executive activity.

Mr Trump and others involved with the case are seeking to argue that their participation in the efforts to alter the election result in the swing state came as part of their official duties.

The former president will head to South Dakota on Friday for a party fundraiser that will double as an opportunity for the state’s governor, Kristi Noem, to showcase herself as a potential vice presidential pick.

Key Points

• Georgia grand jury recommended charges against Lindsey Graham in Trump probe but none were brought

• Trump to visit South Dakota for rally with prospective running mate Kristi Noem

• Ex-president hints he will seek remanding of Georgia case to federal court

• Huge ‘Trump or Death’ flag unfurled at Yankee Stadium

• Ex-Trump aide Peter Navarro found guilty of contempt of Congress

• CNN poll shows Trump inching ahead of Biden and Haley

Peter Navarro is mercilessly heckled at press conference after contempt conviction

21:30 , Ariana Baio

An ex-advisor to Donald Trump who was found guilty of contempt of Congress was constantly interrupted at a press conference after his trial.

Peter Navarro was charged with two counts of criminal contempt of Congress on the grounds of his refusal to cooperate with an inquiry into the alleged attempt to overturn the 2020 election results.

After he emerged from court, a group of protestors stood behind Mr Navarro as he was addressing various news outlets and started to argue behind him, quickly derailing his focus.

In a video clip from CNN, a female protestor can be seen trying to make her way to the front of the crowd behind Mr Navarro while he is speaking, seemingly annoying a man the crowd.

“This is my First Amendment right,” she can be heard to say after she steps to the front. The male protestor then appears uses the pole from his sign to stick it between the woman’s legs.

“The marshall just saw you, you are in trouble,” she then says. “That man just assaulted me, he stuck a flag pole in between my legs.”

Mr Navarro turned to see what was going on behind him and responded “yeah, yeah” to what the woman was saying, but his concentration was lost.

Lindsey Graham reacts as court report reveals grand jury voted to charge him in Trump probe

21:00 , Ariana Baio

After the Fulton County, Georgia grand jury recommended that Sen Lindsey Graham and two former senators be charged alongside former president Donald Trump, the South Carolina Republican defended himself.

“At the end of the day, nothing happened,” Mr Graham said in the wake of the recommendations. “What I did was consistent with my job as being a United States senator, chairman of the judiciary committee. But it was just not me. Three US senators.”

Kelly Rissman reports:

Lindsey Graham reacts as report reveals grand jury voted to charge him in Trump probe

Chris Christie points to Trump’s hypocrisy

20:30 , Ariana Baio

On X, formerly known as Twitter, Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie called out Donald Trump’s hypocrisy for insulting him after offering the former New Jersey governor “five different jobs.”

“This week Trump called me dumb & deranged—claiming he never trusted me. Then why did he offer me five different jobs?” Mr Christie wrote.

Why 21 Trump allies named in special grand jury report weren’t indicted

20:00 , Ariana Baio

The special grand jury that investigated Donald Trump and allies’ alleged election interference in Georgia initially recommended charges against 39 people – though only 19 were charged by the Fulton County district attorney.

In the final report, which was unsealed on Friday, a list of Trump allies, some former government officials, were listed by the special grand jury for their alleged involvement in helping Mr Trump try to overturn election 2020 results in Georgia.

Among the list is South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, ex-National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and ex-Georgia Senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue.

Though the special grand jury recommended a series of charges against them and others, Fulton County DA Fani Willis chose not to include them in her arguments to a regular grand jury.

More than likely, the people chosen by Willis were the ones with the most compelling reasoning for bringing forth an indictment.

In Georgia, a special grand jury does not have the authority to bring an indictment forward, only produce a report of recommended charges. Ms Willis asked the special grand jury to convene because they have subpoena powers.

Trump hosts $100,000-per-person fundraiser to help Giuliani pay legal bills

19:15 , Ariana Baio

Ex-president Donald Trump hosted a $100,000-a-plate fundraiser for his longtime ally and former mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani at his Bedminster golf club on Thursday.

As Mr Giuliani struggles to pay his mounting legal bills, in part thanks to Mr Trump, the ex-president has stepped in to help raise money.

Mr Giuliani’s son, Andrew Giuliani, said in a radio interview Thursday morning that the event was expected to raise more than $1m for his father and that Trump had committed to hosting a second event at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida later in the fall or early winter.

Mr Giuliani is facing a barrage of legal fees, fines, sanctions and damages related to his work helping Mr Trump try to overturn the 2020 election and other cases.

He was indicted last month along with Mr Trump and 17 others in Georgia for what Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has described as a wide-ranging conspiracy to subvert the will of the voters.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

Lindsey Graham responds to special grand jury report: ‘nothing happened'

18:50 , Ariana Baio

Trump criticises Biden administration ending oil and gas drilling

18:40 , Ariana Baio

Donald Trump called President Joe Biden the “worst” and “most corrupt” president in US history after the administration chose to end a Trump-era oil and gas policy.

Mr Biden announced earlier this week they would cease oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.

The leases caused controversy when they were initiated as protestors expressed concern for native wildlife’s habitat.

“Crooked Joe Biden just stopped Oil & Gas drilling in large parts of Alaska just as prices surge. WORST (AND MOST CORRUPT!) PRESIDENT IN USA HISTORY!!!” Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump defends Lindsey Graham and other allies as Georgia jury report reveals they narrowly avoided charges

18:00 , Ariana Baio

Donald Trump defended Senator Lindsey Graham after learning the Fulton County, Georgia grand jury wanted to charge the senator in its election interference case alongside the former president.

“The Georgia Grand Jury report has just been released. It has ZERO credibility and badly taints Fani Willis and this whole political Witch Hunt,” Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Graig Graziosi reports:

Trump defends Graham and allies as Georgia jury report reveals they avoided charges

‘You lack a basic understanding of the law’: Fani Willis accuses Jim Jordan of trying to obstruct Trump case

17:45 , Ariana Baio

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis replied to Ohio Republican Rep Jim Jordan’s letter regarding her probe into former president Donald Trump and 18 others, accusing him of attempting to “interfere” with her office’s prosecution.

The congressman wrote a letter to Ms Willis on 24 August, telling her that her 14 August indictment of 19 defendants, a group that includes Mr Trump, implicates “substantial federal interests, and the circumstances surrounding your actions raise serious concerns about whether they are politically motivated.”

Read more...

Fani Willis accuses Jim Jordan of trying to obstruct case against Trump in Georgia

Resurfaced video shows Kelly Loeffler supporting Jan 6 efforts

17:30 , Ariana Baio

Nancy Pelosi announces she will seek re-election

17:15 , Ariana Baio

Ex-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced she will be running for another term to serve as a representative in California.

On X, formerly known as Twitter, Ms Pelosi said: “Now more than ever our City needs us to advance San Francisco values and further our recovery. Our country needs America to show the world that our flag is still there, with liberty and justice for ALL. That is why I am running for reelection — and respectfully ask for your vote.”

Ms Pelosi, 83, is one of the oldest members of the House of Representatives

Is Trump’s South Dakota visit a vice presidential tryout for Kristi Noem

16:45 , AP

As his rivals hold town halls and meet-and-greets in early voting states, Donald Trump will head to South Dakota Friday for a party fundraiser that will double as an opportunity for the state’s governor, Kristi Noem, to showcase herself as a potential vice presidential pick.

Trump will join the South Dakota Republican Party for a “Monumental Leaders Rally” in Rapid City. Noem will appear alongside the former president and is expected to endorse him, creating an image of the pair that Noem’s allies hope looks like a presidential ticket, according to two senior Republicans familiar with her thinking who spoke on condition of anonymity because she had not yet made her endorsement public.

Read more...

Trump visits South Dakota for rally that Gov. Kristi Noem's allies hope is vice presidential tryout

Trump reacts to release of grand jury report

16:43 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has slammed the grand jury report, claiming it “badly taints” District Attorney Fani Willis and shows an intention to “indict anybody who happened to be breathing at the time”.

Here’s what the former president wrote on Truth Social:

The Georgia Grand Jury report has just been released. It has ZERO credibility and badly taints Fani Willis and this whole political Witch Hunt. Essentially, they wanted to indict anybody who happened to be breathing at the time. It totally undermines the credibility of the findings, and badly hurts the Great State of Georgia, whose wonderful and patriotic people are not happy with this charade of an out of control “prosecutor” doing the work of, and for, the DOJ. ELECTION INTERFERENCE!

There was also an addendum to the earlier Peter Navarro posts:

God Bless Great American Trade Negotiator & Patriot, Peter Navarro. He brought billions of dollars into our Country, and now the lunatic Marxists & Fascists want him in jail because of the Unselect Committee of political Hacks and Thugs. In the end, it will all work out, and we will MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

16:33 , Oliver O'Connell

A footnote to the report said that one of the dissenting jurors who voted against indicting Mr Perdue and Ms Loeffler on a RICO charge said that their statements after the 2020 presidential election were meant to pander to their political base as they campaigned in the runoff election.

At the time, Mr Perdue and Ms Loeffler were seeking to win in a runoff election after the 2020 election but lost their races to Sens Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Raphael Warnock (D-GA) respectively.

After the January 6 riot, Ms Loeffler dropped her the objection to the 2020 presidential election results. Conversely, Mr Trump endorsed Mr Perdue as he staged an unsuccessful primary challenge last year to Republican Gov Brian Kemp, who opposed Mr Trump’s overtures to change the 2020 presidential election results.

16:13 , Oliver O'Connell

The grand jury handed down its indictment of Mr Trump and 18 accomplices--including former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, attorney Jenna Ellis, former White House chief of Staff Mark Meadows and attorney John Eastman--last month.

Specifically, the grand jury charged all 19 defendants with violating the state’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.

The report showed that 13 of the 21 grand jurors voted that Mr Graham should be indicted alongside other alleged conspirators for their efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan and Washington, DC. But seven grand jurors voted not to charge Mr Graham, a steadfast ally of Mr Trump’s who has already endorsed his 2024 bid for president, and one abstained.

In addition, seventeen grand jurors voted to charge former Republican senator David Perdue of Georgia and fourteen grand jurors voted to charge former Republican senator Kelly Loeffler for the same crime.

But ultimately, the grand jury did not charge Mr Graham, Ms Loeffler or Mr Perdue.

Full story: Georgia grand jury recommended charges against Lindsey Graham in Trump probe but none were brought

15:50 , Oliver O'Connell

The grand jury in Fulton County Georgia recommended that Sen Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and two former senators be charged alongside former president Donald Trump.

The grand jury released its report on Friday about the evidence it heard in the case District Attorney Fani Willis brought against Mr Trump and his allies for their attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia.

The report detailed whether the grand jury’s members voted on whether to charge someone or if they voted to abstain.

Eric Garcia reports from Washington, DC.

Georgia grand jury recommended Lindsey Graham be charged in Trump case

Vivek Ramaswamy struggles to explain his comments about Trump

15:45 , Joe Sommerlad

The Republican presidential candidate has tied himself in knots lately trying to rationalise his past criticism of Mr Trump with his more recent claims that he admires the man and his record.

John Bowden has the latest example.

Vivek Ramaswamy struggles to explain his comments on ‘abhorrent’ Trump behaviour

Special grand jury report recommends indictments of people who were not charged

15:35 , Oliver O'Connell

The Fulton County special grand jury report recommends indictments for lists of people who were not charged by District Attorney Fani Willis.

They include Donald Trump allies Senator Lindsay Graham, General Michael Flynn, former Senator Kelly Loeffler, and Boris Ephsteyn, Cleta Mitchell among others.

There were 30 people not named in the Fulton County indictment of the former president and his 18 co-defendants — the so-called “unindicted co-conspirators” and some of those named today are believed to be on that list.

Mr Flynn was highly speculated to be one of unindicted co-conspirators. Other names that have come up include Burt Jones, Boris Ephsteyn, Joseph Brannan, Carolyn Fisher, Vikki Consiglio, the members of the fake electors scheme, and some of those involved in the events in Coffee County.

Alex Woodward has been compiling evidence to identify them since the indictment dropped.

Who are the 30 ‘unindicted co-conspirators’ in Georgia’s criminal case against Trump?

Trump rails against ‘Fascists Monsters’ going after Peter Navarro

15:30 , Oliver O'Connell

After a night of disturbed sleep and highly stable ranting about electric tanks, Donald Trump is back on Truth Social to complain about “Fascists Monsters” who have “so viciously gone after the great Peter Navarro”.

Mr Navarro was yesterday found guilty of contempt of Congress.

Here’s what the former president had to say about it this morning:

I can’t believe that these Fascist Monsters have so viciously gone after the great Peter Navarro for defying the totally partisan January 6th Unselect Committee of political Hacks and Thugs, who refused to go after Crazy Nancy Pelosi, and the reasons she and the Mayor of D.C. REJECTED 10,000 soldiers, which would have easily stopped any future security problem. His testimony wouldn’t have mattered, anyway, because the “Committee” QUICKLY and ILLEGALLY DELETED & DESTROYED ALL EVIDENCE & FINDINGS!

But wait, there’s more about why he is so incensed by the conviction of the “single greatest trade negotiator against China”...

Page 2: There was MUCH, MUCH, MUCH, evidence and findings that the Unselect Committee DID NOT WANT SEEN. This deleted and destroyed evidence is a big part of my defense, and the defense of many others. They should be the ones who are prosecuted, not Peter Navarro who, by the way, was single greatest trade negotiator against China, who paid the U.S. hundreds of billions of dollars during the Trump Administration (never paid ten cents before us!). Only China is celebrating the Navarro conviction!

Fulton County grand jury report released

15:22 , Oliver O'Connell

The Fulton County special grand jury report has been released.

The special grand jury spent seven months hearing from some 75 witnesses before completing a report in December with recommendations for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis on charges related to attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

Ms Willis had said she needed the panel’s subpoena power to compel the testimony of witnesses who might otherwise not have been willing to appear.

Ann Coulter claims Trump tried to win her over after he turns attacks against her again

15:15 , Joe Sommerlad

Right-wing pundit Ann Coulter said yesterday that Donald Trump invited her to his Bedminster resort and golf club this week in an effort to win her back to his side before he opened up a wave of attacks against her on his Truth Social platform.

“Trump begged me to come to Bedminster this week, I said only if I could record a Substack with him, but the GIGANTIC PUSSY is too afraid of me, so instead he did this,” she declared, while responding to his social media tirade, in which he called “unbearably crazy”, “angry and hostile” and “washed up”, which the post below actually does nothing to disprove.

Ex-Trump aide Peter Navarro found guilty of contempt of Congress for defying January 6 committee

14:45 , Joe Sommerlad

A former trade adviser to Mr Trump who refused to testify to House lawmakers investigating the events surrounding January 6 has been found guilty of contempt of Congress.

Peter Navarro was charged with two counts of criminal contempt of Congress for what federal prosecutors argued was his abject defiance of the House select committee’s attempts to obtain evidence as part of its investigation into the 45th president’s attempts to subvert the 2020 presidential election.

Alex Woodward has the story.

Peter Navarro found guilty of contempt of Congress for defying Jan 6 committee

Trump notifies judge he make seek to have Georgia cased moved to federal court

14:15 , Joe Sommerlad

Mr Trump has filed a motion notifying the judge in his Georgia RICO case that he may seek to have his trial remanded to federal court, part of his effort to argue that his deeds were done in the guise of his formal duties as president.

It’s an expected move for the former president — and the success of that eventual bid may signal whether the case against him will go forward.

John Bowden has more.

Trump notifies judge he make seek to have Georgia cased moved to federal court

Voices: The Proud Boys sentencing is remarkable. Donald Trump should be paying attention

13:45 , Joe Sommerlad

As the Trump accountability era continues, Ahmed Baba asks what the lengthy jail sentences handed out to members of the far-right group over their part in the Capitol riot could mean for the former president whose bogus election fraud claim inspired them to act.

The Proud Boys sentencing is remarkable. Donald Trump should be paying attention

A timeline of all of Donald Trump’s upcoming court dates

13:15 , Joe Sommerlad

Donald Trump’s 2024 calendar is quickly filling up with court dates corresponding to his plentiful criminal indictments and civil lawsuits.

The ex-president and his legal team are preparing for a busy year ahead as they attempt to juggle the many trial dates while Mr Trump continues his campaign for president.

So far, Mr Trump has been criminally indicted four times – two of which are on the federal level and two are on the state level. This is on top of two civil lawsuits the ex-president is involved in New York City.

Though Mr Trump’s legal team has continuously pushed judges to delay trial dates until after the 2024 election, nearly all of the dates for his criminal indictments have been set for next spring.

Here are the trial dates he is facing thus far.

When is Donald Trump going on trial?

Trump shares article calling him ‘un-Christian’ over sexual assault

12:45 , Joe Sommerlad

The man was recently found liable for a second time of defaming E Jean Carroll after she accused him of sexual assault has shared an article that called him “un-Christian” for his attack on her and his alleged affair with porn star Stormy Daniels.

On Truth Social, Mr Trump shared a Milwaukee Independent article headlined “A MAGA Idol: Why Trump’s Un-Christian Behaviour Makes Him A Hero To Conservative Christians.”

The article features an image of the former president holding a Bible in front of St John’s Parish House with his eyes closed.

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

The piece then noted that he is the 2024 GOP frontrunner “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”.

Kelly Rissman has more.

Trump shares article calling him ‘un-Christian’ over sexual assault and affairs

Trump hosts lavish Bedminster fundraiser to help Rudy Giuliani pay legal bills

12:15 , Joe Sommerlad

The Republican hosted a $100,000-a-plate fundraiser for disgraced former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani at his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club last night as his old ally struggles to pay his mounting legal bills.

Mr Giuliani, a longtime Trump ally who also served as his lawyer, is facing a barrage of legal fees, fines, sanctions and damages related to his work helping the former president try to overturn the 2020 election and other cases.

He was indicted last month along with Mr Trump and 17 others in Georgia for what Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis has described as a wide-ranging conspiracy to subvert the will of the voters after Mr Trump lost to Joe Biden in 2020.

Mr Giuliani’s son, Andrew, said in a radio interview on Thursday morning that the event was expected to raise more than $1 million for his father and that Mr Trump had committed to hosting a second event at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida later in the fall or early winter.

Andrew Giuliani added the sum would be “very helpful” but it still “won’t be enough to get through this."

Trump hosts $100,000-per-person Bedminster fundraiser to help Giuliani pay legal bills

Special grand jury report that aided Georgia probe set for release

11:45 , Joe Sommerlad

A judge is today expected to release the full report compiled by a special grand jury that helped an investigation by the Georgia prosecutor who ultimately indicted former President Donald Trump and 18 others.

The special grand jury spent seven months hearing from some 75 witnesses before completing a report in December with recommendations for Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis on charges related to attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Ms Willis had said she needed the panel's subpoena power to compel the testimony of witnesses who might otherwise not have been willing to appear.

While most of the intrigue in the inner workings of the case has diminished with the filing of charges, the special grand jury report will still provide the public with insight into how closely the indictment tracks with the panel's recommendations on who should be indicted. It should reveal whether the panel envisioned the wide-ranging conspiracy that prosecutors ultimately alleged.

Special grand jury report that aided Georgia probe leading to Trump's indictment is set for release

Trump to visit South Dakota for rally that Kristi Noem’s allies hope is a vice presidential tryout

11:15 , Joe Sommerlad

As his rivals hold town halls and meet-and-greets in early voting states, Donald Trump will head to South Dakota on Friday for a party fundraiser that will double as an opportunity for the state’s governor, Kristi Noem, to showcase herself as a potential vice presidential pick.

Mr Trump will join the South Dakota Republican Party for a “Monumental Leaders Rally” in Rapid City.

Ms Noem will appear alongside the former president and is expected to endorse him, creating an image of the pair that her allies hope looks like a presidential ticket, according to Republican insiders.

Trump visits South Dakota for rally that Gov. Kristi Noem's allies hope is vice presidential tryout

Huge ‘Trump or Death’ flag unfurled at Yankee Stadium

10:45 , Joe Sommerlad

Is “liberty” no longer an option?

Trump raves about Biden, US aid to Ukraine and electric tanks in late night Truth Social fever dream

10:15 , Joe Sommerlad

Over on Truth Social, Donald Trump was seemingly up in the small hours of the morning raving about Joe Biden like a crazy person.

“Our Southern Border is being invaded, and Crooked Joe doesn’t have a clue!” he posted, before randomly pivoting to a nonsense claim that the US has given Ukraine $520m for clean energy (not to fight off Russian invaders?) and then on to a rant about the US military being forced to convert its tanks into all-electric models “so that, despite the fact that they will not be able to go very far, fewer pollutants will be released into the air”.

Folks, make sure you get plenty of sleep every night. It’s so important for good mental health and your general wellbeing.

Michael Cohen urges Trump’s Georgia co-defendants to ‘speak now’

09:44 , John Bowden

Mr Trump’s estranged former attorney, Michael Cohen, offered some advice to the 2024 presidential hopeful’s co-defendants in Georgia’s election interference case: “Speak now.”

Mr Cohen appeared on CNN, where he was asked whether he believed that the alleged co-conspirators would eventually break and cooperate with the Fulton County district attorney’s case.

“My hope is that they take a look to see what just happened with Enrique Tarrio, where he got 22 years while the other insurrectionists got 17 years. These are real sentences,” he said, alluding to the former Proud Boys leader who has been jailed for his part in the failed insurrection of 6 January 2021.

Graig Graziosi has more.

Michael Cohen urges Trump’s Georgia co-defendants to ‘speak now’ against ex-president

Ron DeSantis staff remove Black veteran who told governor he has allowed people to ‘hunt’ minorities

08:45 , John Bowden

When a Black veteran began peppering Ron DeSantis with questions about recent gun policies in connection with the Jacksonville shooting, the Florida governor defended himself and talked over him before the veteran was eventually removed from the news conference altogether.

The confrontation comes after Mr DeSantis was booed at a memorial for victims of the racist attack.

Read more:

DeSantis staff remove veteran who said he has allowed people to ‘hunt’ minorities

Fani Willis accuses Jim Jordan of trying to obstruct her case against Trump in Georgia

07:45 , John Bowden

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has replied to Ohio Republican Rep Jim Jordan’s letter regarding her probe into former president Donald Trump and 18 others, accusing him of attempting to “interfere” with her office’s prosecution.

The congressman wrote a letter to Ms Willis on 24 August, telling her that her 14 August indictment of 19 defendants, a group that includes Mr Trump, implicates “substantial federal interests, and the circumstances surrounding your actions raise serious concerns about whether they are politically motivated.”

Read her response here:

Fani Willis accuses Jim Jordan of trying to obstruct case against Trump in Georgia

Pence ‘making up stories about me’ moans Trump

05:45 , Joe Sommerlad

Mr Trump took to Truth Social on Wednesday evening to grumble about Mike Pence, claiming his former vice president has gone to the “Dark Side” and is “making up stories” about him.

“For 7 years Mike Pence only spoke well of me. Now he’s decided to go to the ‘Dark Side.’ Why didn’t he do this years before,” Mr Trump wrote.

“Was just watching Mike Pence make up stories about me, which are absolutely false.”

Kelly Rissman has the story.

Trump moans about Pence ‘making up stories about me’

Trump hits back after Jack Smith accuses him of tainting jury pool

04:45 , John Bowden

Donald Trump is showing no signs of holding back his continued allegations of bias and unfairness against the judge overseeing his January 6 case in Washington, DC, even after being accused of trying to taint the jury pool by prosecutors.

On Truth Social, the ex-president continued to release statements throughout Tuesday and into Wednesday attacking Department of Justice special counsel Jack Smith and Judge Tanya Chutkan, the jurist who has now become a target of baseless criticism from conservatives on Capitol Hill — some of whom voted to confirm her to the bench.

Read more:

Trump attacks judge after being accused of trying to taint jury pool

OAN reaches settlement with Dominion Voting Systems executive

03:45 , John Bowden

Right-wing cable network One America News (OAN) has settled a defamation lawsuit brought by a former Dominion Voting Machines executive over false claims the company had rigged the 2020 presidential election, according to court filings.

Eric Coomer, Dominion’s former top security official, sued OAN and star correspondent Chanel Rion for spreading lies that he and the company had engaged in a massive voter fraud effort to flip votes from Mr Trump to Joe Biden.

Bevan Hurley reports on the latest in the case.

Right-wing network OAN reaches settlement with Dominion Voting Systems executive

Fulton County prosecutors predict four-month trial and 150 witnesses

02:45 , John Bowden

Georgia prosecutors are estimating a four-month trial involving more than 150 witnesses will be required in the case of Mr Trump and his 18 co-defendants following the handing down of a racketeering indictment accusing them of engaging in a criminal enterprise to overturn the results of the 2020 election in the swing state.

Prosecutors offered an early glimpse of the courtroom arguments against the former president and is allies during the first-ever televised hearing connected to the case on 6 September.

Judge Scott McAfee also shot down efforts by former lawyers to Mr Trump to have their cases severed from each other.

Alex Woodward reports on yesterday’s action in court in Fulton County.

Trump v Meghan would be bizarre, stupid... and the best show on Earth | Sean O’Grady

Trump was warned FBI might search Mar-a-Lago

01:45 , John Bowden

Donald Trump’s own lawyer warned him against fighting the National Archives and Department of Justice over documents he had retained from the White House, but the ex-president chose instead to resist all attempts by authorities for him to turn them over.

That revelation was made by none other than Mr Trump’s former attorney, Evan Corcoran, in voice memos describing his conversations with his client that have since become evidence in the former president’s upcoming trial over allegedly mishandling classified information. Mr Trump has pleaded not guilty.

John Bowden reports.

Trump’s attorney warned FBI might search Mar-a-Lago for missing secret papers

Ron DeSantis staff remove Black veteran who told governor he has allowed people to ‘hunt’ minorities

Friday 8 September 2023 00:45 , John Bowden

When a Black veteran began peppering Ron DeSantis with questions about recent gun policies in connection with the Jacksonville shooting, the Florida governor defended himself and talked over him before the veteran was eventually removed from the news conference altogether.

The confrontation comes after Mr DeSantis was booed at a memorial for victims of the racist attack.

Read more:

DeSantis staff remove veteran who said he has allowed people to ‘hunt’ minorities

Voices: The Proud Boys sentencing is remarkable. Donald Trump should be paying attention

Thursday 7 September 2023 23:45 , John Bowden

As the Trump accountability era continues, Ahmed Baba asks what the lengthy jail sentences handed out to members of the far-right group over their part in the Capitol riot could mean for the former president whose bogus election fraud claim inspired them to act.

The Proud Boys sentencing is remarkable. Donald Trump should be paying attention

Michael Cohen urges Trump’s Georgia co-defendants to ‘speak now’

Thursday 7 September 2023 22:45 , John Bowden

Mr Trump’s estranged former attorney, Michael Cohen, offered some advice to the 2024 presidential hopeful’s co-defendants in Georgia’s election interference case: “Speak now.”

Mr Cohen appeared on CNN, where he was asked whether he believed that the alleged co-conspirators would eventually break and cooperate with the Fulton County district attorney’s case.

“My hope is that they take a look to see what just happened with Enrique Tarrio, where he got 22 years while the other insurrectionists got 17 years. These are real sentences,” he said, alluding to the former Proud Boys leader who has been jailed for his part in the failed insurrection of 6 January 2021.

Graig Graziosi has more.

Michael Cohen urges Trump’s Georgia co-defendants to ‘speak now’ against ex-president

Timeline: All of Trump’s upcoming court dates

Thursday 7 September 2023 21:45 , John Bowden

Donald Trump’s 2024 calendar is quickly booking up with court dates corresponding to his plentiful criminal indictments and civil lawsuits.

The ex-president and his legal team are preparing for a busy year ahead as they attempt to juggle the many trial dates while Mr Trump continues his campaign for 2024 president.

So far, Mr Trump has been criminally indicted four times – two of which are on the federal level and two are on the state level. This is on top of two civil lawsuits the ex-president is involved in New York City.

Though Mr Trump’s legal team has continuously pushed judges to delay trial dates until after the 2024 election, nearly all of the dates for his criminal indictments have been set for next spring.

Here are the trial dates for Mr Trump thus far:

When is Donald Trump going on trial?

Ex Trump aide Peter Navarro found guilty of contempt of Congress for defying January 6 committee

Thursday 7 September 2023 21:20 , John Bowden

A former Donald Trump adviser who refused to testify to House lawmakers investigating the events surrounding January 6 has been found guilty of contempt of Congress.

Peter Navarro was charged with two counts of criminal contempt of Congress for what federal prosecutors argued was his abject defiance of the House select committee’s attempts to obtain evidence as part of its investigation into Mr Trump’s attempts to subvert the 2020 presidential election.

Alex Woodward has the story:

Peter Navarro found guilty of contempt of Congress for defying Jan 6 committee

Trump files motion hinting he will seek remanding of his Georgia case to federal court

Thursday 7 September 2023 21:00 , John Bowden

Donald Trump has filed a motion notifying the judge in his Georgia RICO case that he may seek to have his trial remanded to federal court, part of his effort to argue that his deeds were done in the guise of his formal duties as president.

It’s an expected move for the former president — and the success of that eventual bid may signal whether the case against him will go forward.

Fani Willis accuses Jim Jordan of trying to obstruct her case against Trump in Georgia

Thursday 7 September 2023 20:30 , John Bowden

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has replied to Ohio Republican Rep Jim Jordan’s letter regarding her probe into former president Donald Trump and 18 others, accusing him of attempting to “interfere” with her office’s prosecution.

The congressman wrote a letter to Ms Willis on 24 August, telling her that her 14 August indictment of 19 defendants, a group that includes Mr Trump, implicates “substantial federal interests, and the circumstances surrounding your actions raise serious concerns about whether they are politically motivated.”

Read her response here:

Fani Willis accuses Jim Jordan of trying to obstruct case against Trump in Georgia

Ann Coulter claims Trump tried to win her over after he turns attacks against her again

Thursday 7 September 2023 19:45 , John Bowden

Right-wing pundit Ann Coulter said today that Donald Trump invited her to his Bedminster resort and golf club this week in an effort to win her back to his side before he opened up a wave of attacks against her on his Truth Social platform.

“Trump begged me to come to Bedminster this week, I said only if I could record a substack with him, but the GIGANTIC PUSSY is too afraid of me, so instead he did this,” she declared, while responding to his Truth Social tirade.

CNN poll shows Biden tied with Trump and DeSantis – and losing to Nikki Haley

Thursday 7 September 2023 19:15 , John Bowden

A new poll from CNN shows President Joe Biden neck and neck with former president Donald Trump and tied with Florida governor Ron DeSantis.

The poll showed that 39 per cent of respondents approve of Mr Biden while 61 per cent disapprove of the incumbent president’s job performance. Only 26 per cent of respondents said that Mr Biden has the stamina and sharpness to be president effectively.

More results from this poll can be found in The Independent:

CNN poll shows Biden tied with Trump and DeSantis – and losing to Nikki Haley

Mitch McConnell vows to finish Senate term despite mounting scrutiny of ‘freezing’ spells

Thursday 7 September 2023 18:45 , John Bowden

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has announced that he would finish his Senate term, which ends in 2026, despite calls for him to step down over his recent bout of “freezing” spells.

“I’m going to finish my term as leader, and I’m going to finish my Senate term,” Sen McConnell said on Wednesday.

His leadership post ends at the end of 2024. He is the longest serving party leader in US history. Mr McConnell, 81, recently suffered two episodes in which he appeared to freeze up at public speaking events.

Dive further into this evolving story in The Independent:

McConnell vows to finish Senate term despite mounting scrutiny of ‘freezing’ spells

John Fetterman dares Republicans to follow through with Biden impeachment threats: ‘Trump has a mugshot’

Thursday 7 September 2023 18:14 , John Bowden

Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman has a challenge for Republicans: impeach Joe Biden, and see what happens.

The freshman Democrat was speaking to a group of reporters in his office on Wednesday when he threw down the gauntlet for his political rivals, who still fume openly about his defeat of TV’s Dr Mehmet Oz last fall.

“Go ahead. Do it, I dare you,” the senator urged Republicans.

Read on...

John Fetterman dares Republicans to follow through with Biden impeachment threats

Trump hits back after Jack Smith accuses him of tainting jury pool

Thursday 7 September 2023 18:01 , John Bowden

Donald Trump is showing no signs of holding back his continued allegations of bias and unfairness against the judge overseeing his January 6 case in Washington, DC, even after being accused of trying to taint the jury pool by prosecutors.

On Truth Social, the ex-president continued to release statements throughout Tuesday and into Wednesday attacking Department of Justice special counsel Jack Smith and Judge Tanya Chutkan, the jurist who has now become a target of baseless criticism from conservatives on Capitol Hill — some of whom voted to confirm her to the bench.

Read more:

Trump attacks judge after being accused of trying to taint jury pool

Voices: Trump v Meghan debating the Queen? Pointless, stupid... and the greatest show on Earth

Thursday 7 September 2023 17:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Sean O’Grady writes:

It’s not, sadly, going to happen, but you have to admit it is an enticing prospect. There are no two figures on the global stage in style, substance and symbolic power than the 45th president and the former Suits star, and the clash of ideas that would erupt on the stage would be a spectacle to enthral the world.

Read on...

Trump v Meghan would be bizarre, stupid... and the best show on Earth | Sean O’Grady

Fulton County prosecutors predict four-month trial and 150 witnesses

Thursday 7 September 2023 17:15 , John Bowden

Georgia prosecutors are estimating a four-month trial involving more than 150 witnesses will be required in the case of Mr Trump and his 18 co-defendants following the handing down of a racketeering indictment accusing them of engaging in a criminal enterprise to overturn the results of the 2020 election in the swing state.

Prosecutors offered an early glimpse of the courtroom arguments against the former president and is allies during the first-ever televised hearing connected to the case on 6 September.

Judge Scott McAfee also shot down efforts by former lawyers to Mr Trump to have their cases severed from each other.

Alex Woodward reports on yesterday’s action in court in Fulton County.

Georgia prosecutors predict four-month trial and 150 witnesses for Trump’s RICO case

Fulton County DA asks judge to restrict media, Trump and others from revealing jurors’ identities

Thursday 7 September 2023 16:35 , John Bowden

Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis filed a motion in the case against former President Donald Trump in Georgia last night urging a judge to restrict Mr Trump and members of the media from making public the identities of jurors in the case.

It comes as Ms Willis says that a website hosted by a Russian company has already doxxed her — not to mention family members and people wholly unconnected to the trial.

“The personal information was intertwined with derogatory and racist remarks,” her motion noted.

There are 30 ‘unindicted co-conspirators’ in Georgia’s massive criminal case against Trump — but who are they?

Thursday 7 September 2023 16:15 , Joe Sommerlad

What do we know about the 30 individuals who were not named in the Fulton County indictment against Mr Trump but may still have had a part to play?

Alex Woodward has the answer.

Who are the 30 ‘unindicted co-conspirators’ in Georgia’s criminal case against Trump?

Trump was warned FBI might search Mar-a-Lago

Thursday 7 September 2023 16:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s own lawyer warned him against fighting the National Archives and Department of Justice over documents he had retained from the White House, but the ex-president chose instead to resist all attempts by authorities for him to turn them over.

That revelation was made by none other than Mr Trump’s former attorney, Evan Corcoran, in voice memos describing his conversations with his client that have since become evidence in the former president’s upcoming trial over allegedly mishandling classified information. Mr Trump has pleaded not guilty.

John Bowden reports.

Trump’s attorney warned FBI might search Mar-a-Lago for missing secret papers

Fani Willis in profile: The Georgia prosecutor who could take down Trump

Thursday 7 September 2023 15:45 , Joe Sommerlad

Her first day as the chief prosecutor for Fulton County came with news that then-president Donald Trump had attempted to pressure Georgia’s top election officials to reverse his loss in the state during the 2020 election.

A phone call between Mr Trump and Georgia’s secretary of state Brad Raffensperger was published by The Washington Post late at night on 3 January 2021.

Hours later, Fani Willis would walk into her first day on the job as Fulton County’s district attorney, an office that is now spearheading a criminal investigation into Mr Trump, with the phone call serving as a central damning piece of evidence against him.

Alex Woodward offers this profile of her life and career.

Who is Fani Willis, the Georgia prosecutor who could take down Trump

Michael Cohen urges Trump’s Georgia co-defendants to ‘speak now’

Thursday 7 September 2023 15:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump‘s former attorney, Michael Cohen, offered some advice to the 2024 presidential hopeful’s co-defendants in Fulton County‘s election interference case: “Speak now.”

Mr Cohen appeared on CNN, where he was asked whether he believed that Mr Trump’s co-conspirators would eventually break and cooperate with the Fulton County district attorney’s case.

Graig Graziosi has the story.

Michael Cohen urges Trump’s Georgia co-defendants to ‘speak now’ against ex-president

OAN reaches settlement with Dominion Voting Systems executive

Thursday 7 September 2023 15:15 , Joe Sommerlad

Right-wing cable network One America News (OAN) has settled a defamation lawsuit brought by a former Dominion Voting Machines executive over false claims the company had rigged the 2020 presidential election, according to court filings.

Eric Coomer, Dominion’s former top security official, sued OAN and star correspondent Chanel Rion for spreading lies that he and the company had engaged in a massive voter fraud effort to flip votes from Mr Trump to Joe Biden.

Bevan Hurley reports on the latest in the case.

Right-wing network OAN reaches settlement with Dominion Voting Systems executive

Pence ‘making up stories about me’ moans Trump

Thursday 7 September 2023 15:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to grumble about Mike Pence, claiming his former vice president went to the “Dark Side” and is “making up stories” about him.

“For 7 years Mike Pence only spoke well of me. Now he’s decided to go to the ‘Dark Side.’ Why didn’t he do this years before,” Mr Trump wrote.

“Was just watching Mike Pence make up stories about me, which are absolutely false,” the former president continued.

Kelly Rissman has the story.

Trump moans about Pence ‘making up stories about me’

Trump federal election interference grand jury back at DC courthouse

Thursday 7 September 2023 14:47 , Oliver O'Connell

Whistle-blowing protester derails Peter Navarro’s attempts to ask for cash outside court

Thursday 7 September 2023 14:45 , Joe Sommerlad

Peter Navarro, director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy during the Trump administration, found himself vexed by a pair of protesters accusing him of treason on Tuesday as he spoke outside of a Washington, DC, federal courthouse — and asked for money.

John Bowden has the latest.

Whistle-blowing protester derails Peter Navarro’s attempts to ask for cash

Navarro declines to defend himself in contempt trial

Thursday 7 September 2023 14:35 , Oliver O'Connell

Former Trump adviser Peter Navarro declined to testify in his own defence on Wednesday during his contempt of Congress trial for refusing to cooperate with the January 6 House select committee.

The jury is expected to begin deliberations today.

Bevan Hurley is following the case.

Peter Navarro declines to defend himself in contempt trial

CNN poll shows Trump inching ahead of Biden and Haley beating president by six points

Thursday 7 September 2023 14:24 , Oliver O'Connell

The latest CNN/SSRS 2024 general election polling might make some sobering reading for Democrats, with presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump one point ahead of President Joe Biden and a tie predicted with runner-up Ron DeSantis.

Mr Biden is also bested by Mike Pence, Tim Scott, and Chris Christie by two percentage points, but most notably, former UN Ambassador and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley scores a six-point lead over the incumbent Democrat.

The only potential Republican nominee whom Mr Biden beats is entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

Polling was conducted from 25-31 August with a sample of 1,503 respondents including an oversample of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents (898 of the total).

Trump hits back after Jack Smith accuses him of tainting jury pool

Thursday 7 September 2023 14:15 , Joe Sommerlad

Donald Trump is showing no signs of holding back his continued allegations of bias and unfairness against the judge overseeing his January 6 case in Washington, DC, even after being accused of trying to taint the jury pool by prosecutors.

On Truth Social, the ex-president continued to release statements throughout Tuesday and into Wednesday attacking Department of Justice special counsel Jack Smith and Judge Tanya Chutkan, the jurist who has now become a target of baseless criticism from conservatives on Capitol Hill — some of whom voted to confirm her to the bench.

John Bowden reports.

Trump attacks judge after being accused of trying to taint jury pool

Michael Cohen urges Trump’s Georgia co-defendants to ‘speak now’

Thursday 7 September 2023 12:45 , Joe Sommerlad

Mr Trump’s estranged former attorney, Michael Cohen, offered some advice to the 2024 presidential hopeful’s co-defendants in Georgia’s election interference case: “Speak now.”

Mr Cohen appeared on CNN, where he was asked whether he believed that the alleged co-conspirators would eventually break and cooperate with the Fulton County district attorney’s case.

“My hope is that they take a look to see what just happened with Enrique Tarrio, where he got 22 years while the other insurrectionists got 17 years. These are real sentences,” he said, alluding to the former Proud Boys leader who has been jailed for his part in the failed insurrection of 6 January 2021.

Graig Graziosi has more.

Michael Cohen urges Trump’s Georgia co-defendants to ‘speak now’ against ex-president

Trump trashes ‘Sloppy Chris’ Christie and ‘unbearably crazy’ Ann Coulter

Thursday 7 September 2023 11:45 , Joe Sommerlad

In addition to bashing Mike Pence online, Mr Trump also told Hugh Hewitt that former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, the GOP candidate most overtly critical of him so far, is “a slob” who “couldn’t run for dog catcher”.

Back on Truth Social, he lashed out at Ann Coulter (brrr, remember her?), calling her “unbearably crazy”, “angry and hostile” and “washed up”.

Trump accuses Mike Pence of joining ‘the Dark Side’ and ‘making up stories’

Thursday 7 September 2023 10:15 , Joe Sommerlad

Donald Trump has lashed out at his former vice president and 2024 rival Mike Pence, claiming he has gone to the “Dark Side” like Darth Vader and is now “making up stories” about him.

Writing angrily on Truth Social, Mr Trump frothed: “Was just watching Mike Pence make up stories about me, which are absolutely false. I never said for him to put me before the Constitution—I don’t talk that way, and wouldn’t even think to suggest it. Mike failed badly on calling out Voter Fraud in the 2020 Presidential Election, and based on the fact that he is at approximately 2% in the Polls, with no money or support, he obviously did the wrong thing. His advisors have led him down a very bad path!”

In a follow up post, he added: “For 7 years Mike Pence only spoke well of me. Now he’s decided to go to the “Dark Side.” Why didn’t he do this years before, just like why didn’t DOJ and Deranged Jack Smith bring these Fake Indictments three years ago. Why did they wait until the middle of my Campaign where I am beating DeSanctimonious and all others badly, and beating Biden in almost every Poll?”

Kelly Rissman has the details.

Trump moans about Pence ‘making up stories about me’