Trump news – live: Ex-president finally settles inauguration hotel lawsuit and complains about Roe v Wade leak

Donald Trump has settled a long-running lawsuit brought by the DC attorney general over the financing of his 2017 inauguration, specifically focused on the Trump International Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue.

In a statement, Mr Trump claimed to be settling the case “with absolutely no admission of liability or guilt” and couched the news in the context of violent crime, essentially saying he was giving the capital’s law enforcement agencies a break. The settlement reportedly totals some $750,000.

Meanwhile, the sometime president has also joined other Republicans in decrying the leak of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s draft opinion overturning Roe v Wade in a case that has yet to be formally decided.

Mr Trump today told a right-wing radio show that the leak was “a terrible thing”, calling it “demeaning and not good”. With the prospect of an end to legal abortion highly unpopular across the country, many Republicans and right-wing commentators are already training their focus hard on the release of the draft.

Key points

• Trump forgets JD Vance’s name at Ohio rally

• Trump defends Nebraska gubernatorial candidate who has been accused of sexual misconduct

• Elon Musk 'dismayed' Trump still barred from Twitter, report says

• US Capitol riots panel to hold public hearings in June, says chairman

What you’ll find on Truth Social, Trump’s social media platform for ‘free expression’

00:15 , Graeme Massie

ICYMI: After world’s richest person Elon Musk announced a deal to buy Twitter for $44bn, another social media platform climbed up the charts of Apple’s App Store.

Truth Social, former President Donald Trump’s platform to “stand up to the tyranny of Big Tech,” as he described it, is the most high profile among several newer platforms to launch as a direct challenge to mainstream platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, viewed among right-wing figures and users as too constrictive or conspiring to remove their views after they were kicked off for flouting rules about Covid-19 misinformation, violence and harassment.

Alex Woodward has the details.

What you’ll find on Truth Social, Trump’s social media platform for ‘free expression’

GOP Senate candidate shrugs off Trump messing up his name

23:04 , Graeme Massie

JD Vance isn’t taking it personally after Donald Trump flubbed his name in front of thousands of his fans.

The Ohio Senate candidate was questioned by Robert Costa for CBS News on Monday after the former president, at a rally in Nebraska, quipped that he had endorsed a candidate named “JD Mandel” in the race.

The flub was a reference to Mr Trump’s announcement of support for JD Vance, the race’s new frontrunner (according to recent polling) but combined Mr Vance’s name with that of his closest opponent, Josh Mandel. More embarassingly, Mr Mandel was known to have sought Mr Trump’s endorsement with the same fervor that Hillbilly Ellegy author JD Vance did as the two launched their bids last year.

John Bowden has the story.

GOP Senate candidate shrugs off Trump messing up his name

Trump settles inauguration hotel lawsuit

21:30 , Andrew Naughtie

The Trump International Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue has been a hub of controversy ever since Donald Trump won the presidency, with major questions over whether hosting foreign and business delegations there could violate laws meant to prevent the president from profiting from his office.

There have also long been claims that the Trump Organization overcharged the committee in charge of the inauguration for the use of the hotel’s facilities – but now, a long-running lawsuit brought by the DC attorney general has been settled for $750,000, with Mr Trump insisting the payment comes “with absolutely no admission of liability or guilt”.

Gino Spocchia has more.

Trump agrees to pay $750k to settle DC hotel lawsuit

Trump enraged at advent of Georgia grand jury

20:30 , Andrew Naughtie

The Fulton County, Georgia District Attorney has convened a grand jury to hear evidence that Donald Trump illegally interfered with the outcome of the 2020 election by pressuring Georgia officials to “find” enough votes to flip the state his way. He was heard doing that on a call with Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger that was recorded and leaked.

The ex-president’s mood about the case today is not good.

“A ‘Special’ get Trump Grand Jury has been convened to discuss a ‘PERFECT’ phone call that was made by me, as president, directly from the White House and with many lawyers and other people knowingly on the call, and with my assumption that the call was being recorded,” he wrote.

“As President I am the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of the U.S. The Election was rigged and stolen!”

Bevan Hurley reports:

Trump insists his call under Georgia grand jury investigation was ‘PERFECT’

Report: Trump sits down with McCarthy

19:30 , Andrew Naughtie

The New York Times’s Maggie Haberman reports that Donald Trump yesterday had a sit-down meeting with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who recently denied having said in January 2021 that the then-president should resign over the 6 January riot. Audio of him saying precisely that was released just hours after his denial.

However, it quickly became clear that despite another damaging recording emerging afterwards, the bulk of the House Republican caucus is in no mood to take Mr McCarthy down. There are also reports that Mr Trump responded well to the tapes, deciding that they proved Mr McCarthy had come to heel.

Trump on Roe v Wade leak: “demeaning and not good"

18:30 , Andrew Naughtie

Donald Trump has joined the chorus of Republicans voicing anger at the leak of a draft Supreme Court opinion overturning Roe v Wade:

The prospect of an end to legal abortion access is highly unpopular across the country to the point that a decision overturning Roe and the subsequent Casey opinion could provoke severe backlash against conservatives.

Ohio primary: JD Vance “not worried” about Trump forgetting his name

14:35 , Andrew Naughtie

JD Vance, the Hillbilly Elegy author whose sudden conversion to hardcore Trumpism won him the former president’s endorsement in today’s Ohio Senate primary, has shrugged off the embarrassing incident this weekend where the president appeared to forget his name at a rally.

“He gives, what, thousands of words of speeches every single week,” Vance told CBS News. “Sometimes he’s going to misspeak. Everybody’s going to do that...I’m not worried about it at all.”

Mr Vance is loathed by many in the Republican ranks for his longtime opposition to Mr Trump, whom he once said could turn into “America’s Hitler” after being elected on an openly racist platform.

Trump rails at Georgia grand jury on Truth Social

14:00 , Andrew Naughtie

As he finally embraces his formerly moribund platform Truth Social, Donald Trump has fired off a statement ranting about the grand jury being convened in Fulton County, Georgia to hear evidence that could result in him being prosecuted for pressuring state officials to illegally overturn the 2020 election in his favour.

Poll shows Americans think Trump should face Jan 6 charges

13:23 , Andrew Naughtie

A new poll commissioned by the Washington Post and ABC News has found that more than half of Americans think Donald Trump should be charged with a crime for his role in the events of 6 January 2021.

The survey did not ask what specific crime respondents thought the president had committed – but it is notable that fully 56 per cent of independents think he is culpable in some way, perhaps signalling that Republicans’ efforts to delegitimise the investigation into the riot as a “witch hunt” may yet prove counter-productive.

Trump endorsee vanishes from university website

11:16 , Andrew Naughtie

Dr Mehmet Oz, the TV medic and Pennsylvania candidate who has won Donald Trump’s endorsement over the objections of many conservatives, has apparently been all but completely removed from the Columbia University medical school’s website.

The move comes after an erroneous report in January that claimed the school had changed his title to “professor emeritus”. Since then, the school has removed his biography from the site and modified pages that mention him so they do not link to the defunct page.

Dr Oz is controversial on the right because of his long-held support for abortion and gun control, core issues on which he has now reversed his positions as he seeks the GOP nomination. Before he entered the political fray, he was already a contentious figure because of his long history of promoting cures and therapies that he himself admitted often “don't have the scientific muster to present as fact”.

Andrew Feinberg has more.

Columbia University removes mentions of Mehmet Oz from website

The truth about Truth Social

10:30 , Andrew Naughtie

Truth Social, Donald Trump’s bespoke “free speech” alternative to Twitter, fell disastrously flat when it went live earlier this year. Would-be users were stranded on a growing waiting list after the confused quasi-launch, and executives soon departed as its various technical and branding troubles became clear. Downloads and user engagement soon reached dire lows.

More to the point, Mr Trump himself declined to post on the app, despite the fact that his presence was supposed to be one of its main selling points. However, after the news broke that Elon Musk was buying Twitter, Mr Trump returned with an exuberant message: “I’M BACK! #COVFEFE”

Does this mean that despite all predictions, Truth Social is going to survive and thrive? The Independent’s Alex Woodward has signed up to find out.

What you’ll find on Truth Social, Trump’s social media platform for ‘free expression’

ICYMI: Jan 6 committee asks three congressmen for information

09:55 , Andrew Naughtie

The select committee investigating the 6 January attack on the US Capitol yesterday wrote to three Republican House members requesting that they explain what they knew about the riot and those participated in it, both before and after the fact.

Among them are Andy Biggs, Mo Brooks – who recently lost Donald Trump’s endorsement in the Alabama Senate race – and Ronny Jackson.

Dr Jackson’s letter in particular is of interest as it cites messages mentioining him that were sent during the riot by members of the Oath Keepers, an extremist militia whose leaders are now facing charges of seditious conspiracy over their role in the insurrection.

Andrew Feinberg has more.

Jan 6 committee asks Reps Andy Biggs, Mo Brooks and Ronny Jackson for information

What’s at stake for Trump in tonight’s Ohio primary?

09:20 , Andrew Naughtie

Tonight marks the end of the bitterly fought Republican Senate primary in Ohio, where multiple candidates have been duking it out for the chance to fight for an open seat – one that their party will almost certainly need to hold if it wants to be assured of a majority after the November midterms.

The last major turn in the race was Donald Trump’s decision to endorse JD Vance, the Hillbilly Elegy author and bitter Trump critic who reinvented himself as a right-wing culture warrior for the purposes of the election. His most conspicuous rival, the equally hardline Josh Mandel, has become a target of scorn from many in Mr Trump’s orbit since the president’s endorsement came down, but as evidenced by Mr Trump mangling the two men’s names together at his rally this weekend, it is unclear what weight the endorsement will actually carry at the ballot box.

John Bowden has this report from the ground.

Josh Mandel seeks a victory over Trump-endorsed JD Vance through Ohio’s churches

Trump rails against establishment Republicans in Nebraska, backs candidate facing sexual assault allegations

08:00 , Graig Graziosi

Former president Donald Trump railed against establishment Republicans during a rally in Nebraska and backed a gubernatorial candidate facing several sexual assault allegations.

Mr Trump boosted for Nebraska Republican Charles Herbster, who has been accused by eight women of groping them or focrcing himself on them. He has denied the allegations, and Mr Trump – who also was the subject of sexual assault allegations – advocated for his character. The sexual assault allegations were first published by the Nebraska Examiner.

“It’s a shame,” Mr Trump said. “That’s why I came out here. I defend people when I know they’re good. He’s a good man. He was with us from the beginning ... he’s an innocent human being.”

He also took shots at Senator Ben Sasse, who he called an “embarassment.”

Twenty three Republican Secretary of State candidates in 19 states believe that Trump won the 2020 election

07:00 , Graig Graziosi

There are 23 Republican candidates for Secretary of State postings in 19 states who believe that Donald Trump actually won the 2020 election, and that massive voter fraud occurred.

Many of the candidates echoing Mr Trump’s lies have been endorsed by the former president in their races.

Those candidates, if they win, could reshape the way elections occur, which some experts fear they could abuse to help Mr Trump win if he were to run again in 2024.

Jared Kushner to write White House memoir

06:00 , Graig Graziosi

Former president Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kusher is releasing a memoir of his time in the White House this summer.

He will be the first member of the Trump family to release a memoir about his time working alongside Mr Trump in the White House.

The book is titles Breaking History: A White House Memoir, and will be released on 9 August.

MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell rejoins Twitter only to be banned again in four hours

05:00 , Graig Graziosi

MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, who was banned from Twitter last year for spreading US election-related misinformation, rejoined the platform after Elon Musk’s takeover, only to be suspended again four hours later.

Mr Lindell, a staunch supporter of former president Donald Trump, announced his comeback on Twitter with a new account on Sunday afternoon.

“Hello everybody, I’m back on Twitter. My only account is @MikeJLindell! Please RT and follow to spread the word,” the MyPillow CEO wrote in his first Twitter post from his new account.

He was banned again shortly after.

Stuti Mishra has more in the report below.

MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell rejoins Twitter only to be banned again in four hours

Georgia forming special grand jury to investigate Trump’s bullying of official after election loss

04:00 , Graig Graziosi

Grand jurors are due to start being impanelled in Georgia on Monday to examine whether former President Donald Trump and his allies tried to illegally influence the 2020 election.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who has been investigating election interference in the state since early last year, requested the grand jury in January to allow her to issue subpoenas to those who have refused to cooperate otherwise.

The District Attorney’s office is looking into a January 2021 phone call in which Trump pushed Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to “find” the votes needed for him to win the state.

“I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have,” Mr Trump said during the conversation.

The Independent’s Bevan Hurley has more in the story below.

Georgia grand jury to investigate Trump’s bullying of official after election loss

House January 6 committee asks Reps Andy Biggs, Mo Brooks and Ronny Jackson for information

03:00 , Graig Graziosi

The House select committee investigating the 6 January insurrection has requested interviews with Republican Representatives Andy Biggs of Arizona, Mo Brooks of Alabama, and Ronny Jackson of Texas as part of its probe into the worst attack on the Capitol since 1814.

In a statement, Select Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson and Vice-Chair Liz Cheney said the panel has found “several of our colleagues” are in possession of “information relevant to our investigation into the facts, circumstances, and causes of January 6th”.

Read more from Andrew Feinberg on the requests in the story below.

Jan 6 committee asks Reps Andy Biggs, Mo Brooks and Ronny Jackson for information

New book says Trump wanted troops to open fire on BLM protesters: ‘Can’t you just shoot them?’

02:00 , Graig Graziosi

Former president Donald Trump reportedly asked if law enforcement could “just shoot” George Floyd protesters who took to the streets in 2020 to demonstrate against police violence.

Mr Trump’s secretary of defense at the time, Mark Esper, makes the claim in his upcoming memoir, A Sacred Oath: Memoirs of a Secretary of Defense During Extraordinary Times, which comes out on 10 May.

Read more in Nathan Place’s story below.

Trump wanted troops to ‘just shoot’ BLM protesters, new book says

NYPD veteran found guilty of assaulting officer at Capitol riot

01:00 , Graig Graziosi

A former New York City Police Department officer and a US Marine Corps veteran has been convicted of assaulting a police officer during the Capitol riot. Jurors rejected his argument that he acted in self defence when he tackled an officer to the ground.

Thomas Webster is the direct 6 January defendant to be tried for assault and to attempt to make a self defece claim to justify his actions.

Alex Woodward has more in the story below.

NYPD veteran found guilty of assaulting officer at Capitol riot

Republican Governor of Arkansas mulling presidential run in 2024

Tuesday 3 May 2022 00:00 , Graig Graziosi

Republican Governor of Arkansas Asa Hutchinson said he was considering a 2024 presidential run, and said former president Donald Trump’s involvement in that race would not impact his decision.

Mr Hutchinson, a two-term governor, cannot run for a third term due to Arkansas state law.

He told CNN that he was not aligned with Mr Trump’s ideas and wanted to take the country in a different direction.

“I think he did a lot of good things for our country, but we need to go a different direction. And so that’s not a factor in my decision-making process,” he said.

Monday 2 May 2022 23:00 , Graig Graziosi

A Republican Federal Communications Commission member backed Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter, arguing that his “state intention to ease Twitter’s restrictions on speech ... would almost certainly enhance competition and better serve those Americans, the majority, who value free speech.”

Nathan Simington, the official, said Monday the FCC “cannot, and should not, block this sale.”

“We should instead applaud Mr. Musk for doing something about a serious problem that government has so far failed to address,” he said.

Ars Technica reports that Mr Simington was nominated to the FCC by then-president Donald Trumo in 2020. He replaced another Republican commissioner who disagreed with Mr Trump that the FCC needed to crack down on social media “censorship.”

Fox News correspondent says Trump will run again and lose

Monday 2 May 2022 22:00 , Graig Graziosi

Fox News commentator Geraldo Rivera appeared on Piers Morgan Uncensored and said he believed former president Donald Trump will run again, but that he will lose.

“His ego has been rattled and it’s a grudge now,” Mr Rivera said.

Watch the clip below.

What you’ll find on Truth Social, Trump’s social media platform for ‘free expression’

Monday 2 May 2022 21:45 , Graig Graziosi

The Independent’s Alex Woodward writes,

“Truth Social, former President Donald Trump’s platform to ‘stand up to the tyranny of Big Tech,’ as he described it, is the most high profile among several newer platforms to launch as a direct challenge to mainstream platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, viewed among right-wing figures and users as too constrictive or conspiring to remove their views after they were kicked off for flouting rules about Covid-19 misinformation, violence and harassment.”

Take a deep dive into the former president’s social media venture in the story below.

What you’ll find on Truth Social, Trump’s social media platform for ‘free expression’

Trucker convoy members suing Washington DC over barricades, citing First Amendment rights

Monday 2 May 2022 21:10 , Graig Graziosi

Sixteen truckers who participated in the Washington DC trucker protest earlier this year are suing the district for erecting barricades that prevented them from exercising their “constitutionally protected right to free speech” within the city.

The case alleges the truckers’ First Amendment rights were violated, according to DCist. It claims that the truckers were not able to excercise their First Amendment rights to protest a “continued state of emergency declaration and Covid-19 related policies” due to the obstacles.

DC Metropolitian Police and the city’s Department of Public Work blocked exits on I-395 and I-695 on days during the protest. Police said they closed the exits to allow traffic to continue moving safely.

The blockades did not prevent total access to the city, and affected all drivers, not just the truckers.

Trump to support Liz Cheney’s opponent in Wyoming

Monday 2 May 2022 20:45 , Graig Graziosi

Former president Donald Trump will reportedly campaign against Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney in Wyoming later this month.

Mr Trump will reportedly back Harriet Hageman, an attorney who is set to take on Ms Cheney in the state’s Republican primary.

“It will be a tremendous honor and incredibly exciting to have President Trump visit with us and it will no doubt be the largest political event in Wyoming history. His policies were the best that we have ever seen, from building the greatest economy in the world, to driving America to energy independence, to enforcing our immigration laws, and I expect thousands of Wyomingites to come out to thank him enthusiastically,” Ms Hageman said in a statement.

Read more in Eric Garcia’s story below.

Trump to hold rally in Wyoming to support Cheney challenger

Trump calls into Arizona senate candidate’s campaign to complain about 2020 election audit

Monday 2 May 2022 20:30 , Graig Graziosi

Former president Donald Trump called into Republican Senate candidate Blake Masters’ campaign event on Saturday night, where he said the country was “going to hell” due to the Ukraine war and high inflation. He also praised Mr Masters for championing his false claims that the 2020 election was stolen.

According to the Arizona Republic, Mr Masters challenged Arizona state Attorney General Mark Brnovich to a debate regarding election-integrity issues. Mr Brnovich has become a target for Mr Trump after a conservative-led audit of the Maricopa County’s 2020 election results found again that Mr Trump lost the election.

“[Mr Brnovich] found all sorts of things, but he didn’t want to do anything about it,” Mr Trump claimed.

Monday 2 May 2022 20:10 , Graig Graziosi

The House committee investigating the Capitol riot is requesting interviews with three Republican lawmakers, claiming they have information regarding the planning of events on 6 January, 2021.

The committee seeks to speak with Representatives Andy Biggs, Mo Brooks and Ronny Jackson. The request is voluntary, and the three lawmakers have not received subpoenas.

“The Select Committee has learned that several of our colleagues have information relevant to our investigation into the facts, circumstances, and causes of January 6th,” the committee said.

Trump plans to rally against Liz Cheney in Wyoming

Monday 2 May 2022 19:45 , Graig Graziosi

Former president Donald Trump will reportedly campaign against Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney in Wyoming later this month.

Mr Trump will reportedly back Harriet Hageman, an attorney who is set to take on Ms Cheney in the state’s Republican primary.

“It will be a tremendous honor and incredibly exciting to have President Trump visit with us and it will no doubt be the largest political event in Wyoming history. His policies were the best that we have ever seen, from building the greatest economy in the world, to driving America to energy independence, to enforcing our immigration laws, and I expect thousands of Wyomingites to come out to thank him enthusiastically,” Ms Hageman said in a statement.

Special grand jury convenes to decide if Trump will face charges for allegedly interfering in Georgia election

Monday 2 May 2022 19:30 , Graig Graziosi

A special grand jury has convened in Georgia to determine if former president Donald Trump will face charges for allegedly interfering in the 2020 election in Georgia.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis asked a judicial panel in January for the grand jury because there was “information indicating a reasonable probability” that the state’s 2020 election “was subject to possible criminal disruptions.”

The special grand jury was narrowed from a group of 200 Fulton County residents to just 23.

Read the Jan 6 committee’s requests to three GOP congressmen

Monday 2 May 2022 19:15 , Andrew Naughtie

The 6 January committee has written to three Republican congressmen, Andy Biggs, Mo Brooks and Ronny Jackson, requesting that they answer questions about what they knew in advance of the Capitol riot and who they communicated with about it.

One particularly eye-opening passage comes from the letter to Mr Jackson, in which the panel point to texts between members of the Oath Keepers who are now facing charges of seditious conspiracy. In the messages, which were sent during the riot, they refer to Mr Jackson “needing protection” and say he is carrying “critical data”.

McCarthy tapes: authors explain what Republicans think of Trump

Monday 2 May 2022 18:45 , Andrew Naughtie

Alex Burns and Jonathan Martin, whose book This Will Not Pass has generated story after story in the weeks leading up to its launch, have appeared on The View to explain why the tapes of Kevin McCarthy discussing Donald Trump after the 6 January insurrection are so important.

Take a look at Mr Burns’s remarks below...

Piers Morgan hits back at Trump over Nebraska rant

Monday 2 May 2022 18:15 , Andrew Naughtie

Donald Trump went on an extended ramble about Fox Nation host Piers Morgan at his Nebraska rally this weekend, musing that the host had supposedly revealed himself to be a ratings disaster once his encounter with the former president had been broadcast.

Mr Morgan, ever the pugilist, had this reply:

ICYMI: New book confirms Trump wanted BLM protesters shot in legs

Monday 2 May 2022 17:45 , Andrew Naughtie

A new book from Mark Esper, who served as secretary of defense under Donald Trump until just after the 2020 election, confirms one of the more chilling stories that emerged from the summer of 2020: a report that Mr Trump was so disturbed and enraged by the sight of anti-racist protesters outside the White House that he asked his staff why the military couldn’t just go in and “crack skulls”.

Nathan Place has more.

Trump wanted troops to ‘just shoot’ BLM protesters, new book says

Jan 6 rioter found guilty

Monday 2 May 2022 17:16 , Andrew Naughtie

The latest 6 January verdict has been handed down in a Washington, DC court – and just like all those who have faced trial in the district in connection with the riot, Thomas Webster, a former NYPD officer, has been found guilty on multiple charges.

The jury in the case was shown body camera footage showing him violently assaulting police officers with a flag pole and tackling them to the ground.

Report from Ohio: A battle for Christian votes

Monday 2 May 2022 17:09 , Andrew Naughtie

John Bowden is in Columbus ahead of tomorrow’s crucial primary in the Ohio Senate race, where Trump endorsee JD Vance is mounting a late surge against Josh Mandel, a young gun who has embraced a particularly theocratic brand of Trumpism in an attempt to appeal to the right-wing grassroots.

Mr Mandel, who is Jewish, has been making a major effort to round up votes among conservative churchgoers in the name of defending “Judeo-Christian values”. He and Mr Vance now have just over 24 hours until the polls close.

Read his full report below.

Josh Mandel seeks a victory over Trump-endorsed JD Vance through Ohio’s churches

Jan 6 committee requests testimony from more House Republicans

Monday 2 May 2022 16:37 , Andrew Naughtie

The 6 January select committee has just announced it is requesting testimony from three more Republican members of the House of Representatives: Andy Biggs, Ronny Jackson and Mo Brooks.

Among the three, Mr Brooks is particularly notorious both for speaking at the 6 January rally outside the White House and for losing Donald Trump’s endorsement in this year’s Alabama Senate primary, where he faded in the polls after suggesting Republicans should move on from insisting the 2020 election was stolen.

Andrew Feinberg has more:

Jan 6 committee asks Reps Andy Biggs, Mo Brooks and Ronny Jackson for information

GOP loses key legal argument against Jan 6 committee

Monday 2 May 2022 16:15 , Andrew Naughtie

The Republican National Committee earlier this year brought a lawsuit to stop the 6 January select committee accessing records related to its fundraising efforts before the attack on the US Capitol. Specifically, it wanted to block a subpoena the committee had sent to Salesforce, the owner of a digital tool the GOP uses to create and distribute fundraising emails, requesting documents and testimony “regarding whether and how the Trump campaign used Salesforce’s platform to disseminate false statements about the 2020 election” prior to the attack on the Capitol.

But after putting up a fight, the GOP has failed. And interestingly enough, the District of Columbia judge who threw out its case is a Trump appointee.

Timothy Kelly ruled against the party on various of its claims – and in one particularly important point, he wrote that contra the party’s argument, the 6 January committee is in fact “properly constituted”, rejecting a claim that sits at the centre of many subpoenaed witnesses’ legal efforts to resist the panel’s demands.

Andrew Feinberg has more.

Judge rejects RNC lawsuit against January 6 committee

What is the Georgia case against Trump?

Monday 2 May 2022 15:55 , Andrew Naughtie

The grand jury being selected in Fulton County, Georgia will be hearing evidence in what could prove one of the most serious legal threats to Donald Trump’s political future.

After the 2020 election, Georgia was one of the handful of states that Joe Biden won by a margin narrow enough that the Trump team to straight-facedly claim he had triumphed only via fraud. They presented no evidence to back up this claim, but pressured state officials heavily both in public and in private.

The most infamous part of that effort was a phone call Mr Trump personally made to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in which he said “I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have.” A recording of that call, which Mr Trump has since defended as “perfect”, sparked the investigation that is now approaching the next stage.

Bevan Hurley has the story:

Georgia grand jury to investigate Trump’s bullying of official after election loss

Ohio Democrat hijacks Trump’s blunder

Monday 2 May 2022 15:15 , Andrew Naughtie

Tim Ryan, a Democratic Congressman running for the open Ohio Senate seat whose primary is tomorrow, has seized on Donald Trump’s mangling of two GOP rivals’ names yesterday – and picked up the domain name for the nonexistent chimera candidate to direct people to his fundraising page.

Watch: Trump on NE governor accused of groping women

Monday 2 May 2022 14:45 , Andrew Naughtie

At his Nebraska rally this weekend, Donald Trump stood up for “maligned” gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster, who has been accused by eight women of groping. “I defend people when I know they’re good,” said Mr Trump – who also supported the deeply controversial Roy Moore in the 2017 Alabama senate race after the then-candidate had been accused of sexually assaulting teenage girls.

Greene and Gaetz stump for Vance despite his Never Trump history

Monday 2 May 2022 14:15 , Andrew Naughtie

Trump endorsee JD Vance, whose name the former president forgot at an Ohio rally yesterday, also enjoys the backing of two of the best-known far-right Republicans in the House of Representatives: Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene, both of whom appeared alongside him this weekend to rail against former primary frontrunner Josh Mandel, whom they accused of “learning to speak MAGA”.

Mr Vance, of course, is hated on much of the right for his long history of calling Mr Trump and many of his followers racist (even warning the ex-president could become “America’s Hitler”).

Another Trump official confirms ex-president wanted BLM protesters shot in legs

Monday 2 May 2022 13:45 , Andrew Naughtie

Axios reports that in his upcoming memoir, former secretary of defence Mark Esper recounts grisly details of a discussion he had with Mr Trump in the Oval Office during the anti-racism protests of summer 2020 – confirming a previously reported demandfrom the then-president: “Can’t you just shoot them? Just shoot them in the legs or something?”

According to the site, Mr Esper describes the moment as "surreal, sitting in front of the Resolute desk, inside the Oval Office, with this idea weighing heavily in the air, and the president red faced and complaining loudly about the protests under way in Washington, D.C.."

Senior GOP congresswoman rails against “censorship"

Monday 2 May 2022 13:15 , Andrew Naughtie

Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, a moderate-turned-Trumpist who supplanted Liz Cheney in the House GOP leadership, yesterday fired off a tweet doubling down on one of her party’s current ideological talking points:

Ms Stefanik’s tweet overlooks the fact that her party’s leaders in various states are taking aggressive steps to censor books and other materials, banning them from schools and public libraries, while sanctioning private companies who object to the crackdown.

Republican governors differ on culture war boundaries

Monday 2 May 2022 12:46 , Andrew Naughtie

As the controversy over his state’s notorious “Don’t Say Gay” law intensified, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis took an extremely intransigent approach to the row – to the point where he has endorsed full-on legislative action against Disney, the state’s largest employer, because of its expressed opposition to the legislation.

Mr DeSantis is, after Donald Trump, Republican voters’ top choice for president in 2024 – but another potential contender, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, has pointed out that his party comrade is in fact tearing up some of the conservative movement’s most closely held rules.

“To me, that’s the old Republican principle of having a restrained government,” he said. “It’s a fair debate about these special tax privileges. I understand that debate. But let’s not go after businesses and punish them because we disagree with what they said”.

Andrew Feinberg has the story.

GOP governor Asa Hutchinson criticises DeSantis for ‘punitive approach’ to Disney

Mike Lindell’s return to Twitter crashes and burns

Monday 2 May 2022 12:10 , Andrew Naughtie

MyPillow CEO and devoted Trump defender Mike Lindell, whose conspiracy theory-mongering around the 2020 election has put him at the more unhinged end of the scale, spoke to an interviewer at the ex-president’s Nebraska rally and celebrated starting a new Twitter account, saying he hoped it wouldn’t be taken down now that Elon Musk’s purchase of the platform has been arranged.

Sadly for the sometime entrepreneur, things have not worked out.

JD Vance’s rivals pounce on Trump forgetting his name

Monday 2 May 2022 11:37 , Andrew Naughtie

Donald Trump’s endorsement of Hillbilly Elegy author JD Vance riled many conservatives, and the other Ohio Senate candidates into the bargain – and his failure to remember his endorsee’s name at his rally yesterday has sent the other condenders rushing to mock their late-surging rival.

The former frontrunner, Josh Mandel, has meanwhile continued to pillory Mr Vance on what many see as his unpardonable sin: the years he spent decrying Donald Trump and many of his supporters as racists.

Adam Kinzinger condemns Marjorie Taylor Greene’s “victimhood"

Monday 2 May 2022 11:11 , Andrew Naughtie

GOP Congressman Adam Kinzinger, who sits on the 6 January select committee, yesterday remarked on his colleague Marjorie Taylor Greene’s complaints that she is a “victim” of unfair scrutiny over texts she sent in the aftermath of the 2020 election and the Capitol riot.

“For Marjorie Taylor Greene to say she’s a victim,” he said, “it’s amazing how, you know, folks like her attack everybody for being a victim... and then when Marjorie Taylor Greene is confronted, she’s all of a sudden a victim and a poor helpless congresswoman just trying to do her job.”

Watch his remarks below:

Ms Greene is awaiting a verdict in a case brought by a campaign group seeking to have her removed from office under the 14th amendment because of her alleged support for overthrowing the last election, even by force. She claimed in court not to remember any text exchanges she had or social media posts she posted during those months, but has since been confronted with various leaked records that have led some to question the credibility of her repeated claims of forgetfulness.

Devin Nunes calls Biden's new disinformation board 'dystopian'

Monday 2 May 2022 10:30 , Andrew Naughtie

Devin Nunes, the former Republican representative now working as chief executive of the Trump Media and Technology Group, has described the setting up of the Department of Homeland Security’s new Disinformation Governance Board to combat online misinformation as “dystopian”.

Mr Nunes joined a slew of other conservatives who have been voicing criticism of the disinformation board since the Biden administration announced its creation last week.

In an interview with Fox News, the Trump Media and Technology Group CEO said that Mr Trump’s aim was to “give American people their voice back”. He also added that “no big tech tyrant can take us down”.

Donald Trump lashes out at Joe Biden at Nebraska rally and calls him 'an unmitigated failure'

Monday 2 May 2022 10:00 , Andrew Naughtie

Donald Trump on Sunday called US president Joe Biden an “unmatched and unmitigated failure” and said that he has caused “more damage in 16 months [of his tenure] than the five worst presidents in US history combined.”

Speaking at a rally in Greenwood, Nebraska, Mr Trump said: “We have incompetent people running things.” He spoke about the situation in Ukraine and said that it is “a very dangerous thing” and that “this could be a world war.”

The former president also said that Mr Biden was “embarrassing” the country and world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin “no longer respect the United States.”

Mr Trump claimed that the Russian president “is throwing the word [‘nuclear’] around all the time, because he doesn’t respect our leadership.”

Trevor Noah mocks Washington for hosting ‘superspreader’ event

Monday 2 May 2022 09:30 , Andrew Naughtie

Trevor Noah mocked the White House for hosting Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday evening which the comedian dubbed a “superspreader event”.

“It is my great honour to be speaking tonight at the nation’s most distinguished superspreader event,” he said to audience’s laughs.

The host of The Daily Show mocked Washington for hosting a mass indoor gathering after multiple members of Congress tested positive for Covid-19 following another formal event, the Gridiron Dinner.

Watch the video here:

Trevor Noah mocks Washington for hosting ‘superspreader’ event

Ohio Senate candidate sees surge in donations after Trump endorsement

Monday 2 May 2022 09:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar

After former president Donald Trump’s endorsement, the Ohio Senate candidate JD Vance — who had been trailing in the polls and was short of campaign money — has seen a huge surge in donations and support.

“I see the desperation there these last few months,” Matt Cox, a former Republican operative who was an early adviser to Mr Mandel before a falling-out, was quoted as saying by the New York Times. “I think his strategy was: All right, Trump won Ohio by eight points twice. All I have to do to become the nominee is to become the most like Trump.”

Trump's bid to shape GOP faces test with voters in May races

Monday 2 May 2022 08:15 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Donald Trump has, so far, only endorsed those who corroborate his false claims of election fraud.

Now voters across a dozen states are set to decide primary elections this month that will determine the people and priorities leading the GOP into the fall midterms and beyond.

Read the full story:

Trump's bid to shape GOP faces test with voters in May races

ICYMI: Georgia grand jury convenes soon to investigate Trump’s push to overturn election

Monday 2 May 2022 07:45 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Prosecutors in Fulton County, Georgia will on Monday begin the process of choosing a special grand jury to investigate whether former president Donald Trump or any of his allies broke state election laws while trying to pressure officials to throw out President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory.

Read the full story here:

Georgia grand jury convenes Monday to investigate Trump’s push to overturn election

Trump mocked after accidentally switching his endorsement for Ohio candidate during rally speech

Monday 2 May 2022 07:15 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Former president Donald Trump appeared to have confused the names of Republican candidates that he has endorsed for the upcoming primaries that are scheduled to be held for several states this month.

At a “Save America” rally in Ohio on Sunday, Mr Trump said: “You know, we’ve endorsed Dr Oz. We’ve endorsed—J.P., right? JD Mandel, and he’s doing great. They’re all doing good.”

Read the full story by Sravasti Dasgupta here:

Trump mocked after accidentally switching his endorsement for Ohio candidate

Fox News host accuses Democrats of waging 'war against Donald Trump'

Monday 2 May 2022 06:45 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Fox News host Mark Levin attacked the Democratic party on Sunday and said that they have waged a “war against Donald Trump.”

Mr Levin said that the Democrats in Congress had abused their powers and collaborated with media to take down Mr Trump as they viewed him as a threat for 2024 elections.

He attacked the prosecutors who had targeted the Trump Organization for alleged fraud and said that it is “nothing more than a front politburo-type committee set up by Nancy Pelosi loaded with the most radical leftist Democrats you can imagine and two of the worst never-Trumper reprobates that you can imagine. There’s not a single lawyer on that committee’s staff, not a single representative on the committee’s staff to raise any objections to what that committee is doing. It is very Stalinist in its makeup.”

The host also accused the “so-called January 6 committee” of violating the Constitution and said that the committee was a “farce.”“Congress has two responsibilities — one, to legislate, two, to appropriate. They have no authority whatsoever to conduct ‘criminal investigations’. That’s a separation of powers issue. That’s what the executive branch does,” he said. “The whole thing is a horrific set-up. It’s absolutely un-American.”

Elon Musk 'dismayed' Trump still barred from Twitter, report says

Monday 2 May 2022 06:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Elon Musk is said to be “dismayed” that former president Donald Trump is still barred from Twitter.

According to sources quoted in a Wall Street Journal report, the Tesla owner — who recently had an offer to buy Twitter for $44bn accepted by the company’s board — the tech mogul is not happy that the former president remains banned from the social media platform.

Since Twitter announced the buyout had been agreed, a string of banned far-right influencers have tried to rejoin the platform — but their accounts were quickly taken down again.

Donald Trump has, meanwhile, said that he won’t be returning to Twitter.

He said in an interview with Fox News that “I hope Elon buys Twitter because he’ll make improvements to it and he is a good man, but I am going to be staying on TRUTH,” — referring to Trump’s own social media platform Truth Social, the launch of which has been beset with technical problems.“The bottom line is, no, I am not going back to Twitter,” Mr Trump added.

Trump defends Nebraska gubernatorial candidate who has been accused of sexual misconduct

Monday 2 May 2022 05:15 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Dismissing recent sexual misconduct allegations against Charles Herbster, former president Donald Trump defended the Nebraska gubernatorial candidate and said that the allegations against him were “malicious”.

Mr Trump said on Sunday: “He’s been badly maligned and it’s a shame. That’s why I came out here.” He added: “It would have been easy for me to say: ‘I am not gonna come.’

“I defend my people when I know they are good.”

The former president’s defence of Mr Herbster came just days after it was reported that seven women — including Republican state senator Julie Slama — had accused him of groping them at political events or beauty pageants. One woman has also accused Mr Herbster of forcibly kissing her.

Mr Herbster has denied these allegations.

President Biden mocks Donald Trump at White House Correspondent’s dinner

Monday 2 May 2022 04:45 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Joe Biden mocked the former president Donald Trump during the White House Correspondent’s dinner over the weekend and said “just imagine if my predecessor came to this dinner this year. Now that would really have been a real coup.”

Mr Trump shunned the event during his years at the White House and the annual dinner was cancelled during the pandemic.

On Saturday, Mr Biden joked: “I am really excited to be here tonight with the only group of Americans with a lower approval rating than I have.”

The president also joked about the anti-Biden “Let’s Go Brandon” slogan and said: “Republicans seem to support one fella, some guy named Brandon. He’s having a really good year. I am happy for him.”

Bob Woodward claims generals, Pentagon officials ‘apoplectic’ about Trump’s mental state

Saturday 30 April 2022 04:59 , Graig Graziosi

During a live recording of the Skullduggery podcast, famed journalist Bob Woodward said General Mark Milley and other Pentagon officials were ‘apoplectic’ about former President Donald Trump and his mental state.

“General Milley and people in the Pentagon were not just disturbed, [they] were apoplectic about it, and apoplectic about Trump and his mental state,” he said.

Watch the clip below.

ICYMI: Republican Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert had to be separated during argument, report says

Saturday 30 April 2022 04:00 , Graig Graziosi

Representatives Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene may seem like an ideal extreme-right tag team, but reports from sources close to the lawmakers claim there may be bad blood between the two.

Despite their similarly MAGA-focused rhetoric, Ms Boebert reportedly can’t stand being lumped in with Ms Greene and the two allegedly had to be seperated during an argument earlier this year.

Gustaf Kilander has more in the report below.

Marjorie Greene and Lauren Boebert had to be separated during argument, report says

Trump puts out rambling statement about Obama team

Saturday 30 April 2022 03:00 , Graig Graziosi

Former president Donald Trump revived his bizarre theory that the Obama administration spied on his presidential campaign in 2016. Using the name “Obamagate,” Mr Trump baselessly claims that there was an organised effort by the former president to “overturn the 2016 Presidential Election” by spying on him.

Read the statement below:

Analysis: Why Republicans want Madison Cawthorn gone for good

Saturday 30 April 2022 02:00 , Graig Graziosi

In his dispatch for today’s edition of The Independent’s Inside Washington newsletter, Eric Garcia takes a look at the deepening troubles of Madison Cawthorn – the extreme North Carolina Republican whose party colleagues in the House of Representatives seem keener than ever to get rid of.

Mr Cawthorn has claimed that “RINOs” – Republicans in name only – are conducting a smear campaign against him.

Read more in the analysis below.

Republicans are hellbent on kicking Madison Cawthorn out for good

Bill Barr tells Newsmax Trump shouldn’t be 2024 nominee

Saturday 30 April 2022 01:00 , Graig Graziosi

Former president Donald Trump’s one-time attorney general Bill Barr told far-right broadcaster Newsmax that he does not think his former boss should be the Republicans’ 2024 presidential nominee.

Mr Barr made the comments while speaking with another former Trump official, Sean Spicer.

Watch the clip below:

ICYMI: Jan 6 committee member on McCarthy’s communications with Trump

Saturday 30 April 2022 00:00 , Graig Graziosi

Speaking on MSNBC last night, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren of the 6 January committee discussed the implications of the recently released audio recordings of Kevin McCarthy discussing Donald Trump’s role in the Capitol riot.

Ms Lofgren confirmed that the committee will be sending another letter asking Mr McCarthy for his testimony, which he has so far refused to give – and noted that the private conversations released are “not that different” from what the GOP leader said in public immediately after the insurrection.

Watch the clip below.

Nebraska Trump rally canceled due to weather

Friday 29 April 2022 23:00 , Graig Graziosi

A rally for former president Donald Trump was cancelled due to weather, according to a local broadcaster.

KETV reports that the rally, scheduled for Friday night, has been rescheduled for Sunday.

“Thank you to all who waited in line for our Save America Rally tonight in Greenwood, Nebraska. Because of severe weather, including the possibility of 60 mph+ wind, hailstorms, and maybe even tornadoes, I will not be coming to Nebraska tonight, but rather, weather permitting, will be there this Sunday night, May 1st,” Mr Trump said in an email on Friday. “The most important thing is to keep you safe, and that cannot be done with such a terrible forecast. Thank you to Charles W. Herbster and his wonderful staff for working so professionally with us. See you on Sunday!”

Newly released texts show Sean Hannity complaining about ‘lunatics’ hurting Trump’s cause

Friday 29 April 2022 22:40 , Graig Graziosi

Text exchanges between Sean Hannity and former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows between election day and Joe Biden’s inauguration show the Fox News host growing exasperated that MAGA “lunatics” were pushing for former president Donald Trump to overturn the 2020 election.

“You fighting is fine. The fing (sic) lunatics is NOT fine. They are NOT helping him. I’m fed up with those people,” Mr Hannity wrote in one text to Mr Meadows, who said he was “fighting like crazy.”

Read more in Bevan Hurley’s report below.

Newly released texts show Sean Hannity complaining about ‘lunatics’ hurting Trump

Madison Cawthorn accuses ‘establishment’ of targeting him as video with staffer becomes latest embarrassment

Friday 29 April 2022 22:15 , Graig Graziosi

Republican Congressman Madison Cawthorn has accused establishment Republicans of targeting him with a “drip campaign” to erode his re-election chances.

A video that emerged in which a male colleague places his hand on Mr Cawthorn’s crotch made waves on social media this week, and a Politico story focused on images of Mr Cawthorn wearing women’s lingerie at a party.

He claims “RINOs” – Republicans in name only – are trying to smear him.

Graig Graziosi has more in the report below.

Madison Cawthorn accuses ‘establishment’ of targeting him with scandal stories

Former Republican Idaho state lawmaker found guilty of raping intern

Friday 29 April 2022 22:00 , Graig Graziosi

A former Republican lawmaker from Idaho has been found guilty of raping an intern.

Aaron von Ehlinger, 39, a former Idaho state representative, was convicted on Friday of raping a 19-year-old legislative intern. During the trial, the intern left the witness stand as she was testifying, saying she “can’t do this.”

He is expected to be sentenced on 28 July.

Gustaf Kilander has more in his report below.

Former Republican Idaho state lawmaker found guilty of raping intern

Trump set up MAGA gift stall in White House, new book claims

Friday 29 April 2022 21:30 , Graig Graziosi

Former president Donald Trump reportedly set up a MAGA gift shop inside the White House, according to a new book.

This Will Not Pass: Trump, Biden, and the Battle for America’s Future, a new book by New York Times authors Jonathan Martin and Alex Burns, claims the former president set up a place for his faithful to purchase MAGA-themed gifts during their visits.

“They literally hand you a shopping bag, and you took anything you’d like, Democratic Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey recalled in the book.

Read Andrew Feinberg’s full report below.

Trump set up MAGA gift stall in White House, new book claims

Ex-Giuliani associate linked to Trump’s Ukraine scandal taunts Don Jr: ‘You were not allowed in the White House’

Friday 29 April 2022 21:10 , Graig Graziosi

A one-time associate of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani taunted Donald Trump Jr, saying he was “not allowed in the White House.”

Lev Parnas, a Soviet-born Florida businessman who was involved in former President Donald Trump’s scheme to pressure Ukraine for dirt on Joe Biden and his family, taunted Donald Trump Jr on Twitter.

“You were not allowed in the White House, but I would be willing to bet that Ivanka and Jared were there a lot more than 27 times. #LevRemembers,” he wrote.

Johanna Chisholm has more on the squabble below.

Ex-Giuliani associate taunts Don Jr, says ‘not allowed in White House’

Governor thought Trump was having a nervous breakdown during phone rant about George Floyd protests, book claims

Friday 29 April 2022 20:50 , Graig Graziosi

Former president Donald Trump allegedly became so obsessed with his demands that governors stomp out civil rights protests in the summer and fall of 2020 that Governor Janet Mills of Maine thought he was “having a nervous breakdown,” according to a new book by two New York Times reporters.

The excerpt comes from the book This Will Not Pass: Trump, Biden, and the Battle for America’s Future by New York Times reporters Jonathan Martin and Alex Burns.

Andrew Feinberg has more in his report below.

Governor thought Trump was having a nervous breakdown during George Floyd protests

Second Oath Keeper pleads guilty to seditious conspiracy

Friday 29 April 2022 20:28 , Graig Graziosi

A second member of the Oath Keepers, a far-right gang that participated in the Capitol riot, pleaded guilty to seditious conspiracy and obstruction.

The Justice Department said Oath Keeper Brian Ulrich will cooperate with federal investigators in their continuing probe into the Capitol riot.

He faces up to 20 years in prison for seditious conspiracy and another 20 years for obstruction.

Trump Jr calls Ukraine ‘one of the most corrupt countries on Earth’ and says US shouldn’t give it money

Friday 29 April 2022 20:11 , Graig Graziosi

Donald Trump Jr, former President Donald Trump’s son, called Ukraine one of the “most corrupt countries in the world” after Joe Biden requested that Congress approve a $33bn aid package for the war-beseiged country.

“Hard pass. How about we use it to help Americans in need? Or to perhaps secure our border? Maybe get our energy sector going again? Education? No, instead we’ll give it to one of the most corrupt countries in the world, where I’m sure most will be looted by corrupt politicians,” he wrote on Twitter.

Read more in Alisha Rahaman Sarkar’s report below.

Trump Jr calls Ukraine ‘one of the most corrupt countries on Earth’

Bob Woodward claims generals, Pentagon officials ‘apoplectic’ about Trump’s mental state

Friday 29 April 2022 19:44 , Graig Graziosi

During a live recording of the Skullduggery podcast, famed journalist Bob Woodward said General Mark Milley and other Pentagon officials were ‘apoplectic’ about former President Donald Trump and his mental state.

“General Milley and people in the Pentagon were not just disturbed, [they] were apoplectic about it, and apoplectic about Trump and his mental state,” he said.

Trump reportedly told lawyers he would not resign following impeachment, citing Nixon

Friday 29 April 2022 19:13 , Graig Graziosi

A new book claims that former President Donald Trump reportedly told his impeachment lawyers he would not resign, citing former President Richard Nixon’s infamous resignation following the Watergate scandal.

“What f****** good did that do Nixon?” Mr Trump reportedly asked.

The exchange was documented in the book “This Will Not Pass: Trump, Biden, and the Battle for America’s Future“ written by New York Times reporters Jonathan Martin and Alex Burns.

Texts show constant communication between Fox News’ Sean Hannity and former White House Chief of Staff

Friday 29 April 2022 18:52 , Graig Graziosi

CNN obtained a trove of former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows text messages from 2020 and 2021, showing he texted Fox News’ Sean Hannity more than 80 times between the 2020 election and the inaguration of Joe Biden.

In the texts, Mr Hannity offers Mr Meadows advice and asks for guidance, blending his ostensible role as a journalist and as an unofficial advisor for Mr Trump’s administration.

On the afternoon of election day, Mr Meadows gave Mr Hannity marching orders for pushing Republicans to get out and vote.

“Stress every vote matters. Get out and vote. On radio,” Mr Meadows reportedly wrote.

“Yes sir,” Mr Hannity replied. “On it. Any place in particular we need a push.”

“Pennsylvania. NC AZ, Nevada,” Mr Meadows replied

“Got it. Everywhere,” Mr Hannity said.

Trump swears under oath New York AG Letitia James has not subpoenaed his personal documents

Friday 29 April 2022 18:31 , Graig Graziosi

Former President Donald Trump said in sworn testimony that New York Attorney General Letitia James has not subpoenaed any of his personal documents.

On Monday, Mr Trump was held in contempt of court by a New York judge for failing to turn over documents relating to his personal finances.

Pelosi invokes Madison Cawthorn’s gun complaint as she slams GOP for being soft on security

Friday 29 April 2022 18:10 , Graig Graziosi

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi cited Republican Representative Madison Cawthorn’s recent run-in with police while trying to carry a pistol onto an airplane as an example of why metal detectors are needed for lawmakers at the Capitol. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy opposes the detectors.

Eric Garcia has more on the exchange in his report.

Pelosi says McCarthy ‘inconsistent’ about metal detectors on Capitol Hill after 6 Jan

Trump demands VA Secretary’s five-year-old texts in bizarre statement repeating false spying allegation

Friday 29 April 2022 17:46 , Graig Graziosi

Former President Donald Trump released a bizarre statement accusing VA Secretary Denis McDonough of trying to overturn the 2016 election when he served as former President Barack Obama’s chief of staff.

Mr Trump also repeated the unsubstantiated claim that Mr Obama’s staff had “spied” on his presidential campaign.

Read more in Andrew Feinberg’s report.

Trump demands VA Sec’y’s five-year-old texts in statement repeating false spy claims

Republican Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert had to be separated during argument, report says

Friday 29 April 2022 17:35 , Graig Graziosi

Representatives Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene may seem like an ideal extreme-right tag team, but reports from sources close to the lawmakers claim there may be bad blood between the two.

Despite their similarly MAGA-focused rhetoric, Ms Boebert reportedly can’t stand being lumped in with Ms Greene and the two allegedly had to be seperated during an argument earlier this year.

Gustaf Kilander has more in the report below.

Marjorie Greene and Lauren Boebert had to be separated during argument, report says

Watch: Nancy Pelosi on “dangerous” GOP members

Friday 29 April 2022 17:30 , Andrew Naughtie

At her press conference today, Nancy Pelosi was asked by Eric Garcia what she made of Kevin McCarthy’s January 2021 remarks about certain of his Republican members potentially inciting violence against their colleagues. She was not to be drawn into too much detail – but did note the two incidents in which Madison Cawthorn was recently cited for bringing guns into airports.

Trump puts out rambling statement about Obama team

Friday 29 April 2022 16:53 , Andrew Naughtie

In one of his signature messages issued via his Save America mailing list, Donald Trump has out of nowhere revived the nebulous conspiracy he for a while referred to as “Obamagate” – a baseless claim that there was an organised effort by his predecessor’s team “to overturn the 2016 Presidential Election” by spying on him, his transition team and his White House.

Read the statement below:

Analysis: Why Republicans want Madison Cawthorn gone for good

Friday 29 April 2022 16:10 , Andrew Naughtie

In his dispatch for today’s edition of The Independent’s Inside Washington newsletter, Eric Garcia takes a look at the deepening troubles of Madison Cawthorn – the extreme North Carolina Republican whose party colleagues in the House of Representatives seem keener than ever to get rid of.

Read his full dispatch below.

Republicans are hellbent on kicking Madison Cawthorn out for good

Report: Governor thought Trump was “having a nervous breakdown” over George Floyd protests

Friday 29 April 2022 15:40 , Andrew Naughtie

Next Tuesday sees the release of long-awaited book This Will Not Pass: Trump, Biden, and the Battle for America’s Future by New York Times journalists Jonathan Martin and Alex Burns. Much of the coverage of its sensational revelations has focused on the period between the 2020 election and Joe Biden’s inauguration, but there’s plenty else in there besides.

Among the stranger tales is a description of a conference call involving Donald Trump and several governors during the protests that followed the murder of George Floyd in 2020. According to the authors, Mr Trump’s behaviour on the call was so bizarre that one of the governors, Janet Mills of Maine, called in a member of her security team to listen with her.

“You gotta sit here and listen to this,” she reportedly told them, “because I think the president of the United States is having a nervous breakdown or something, and it’s scary.”

Andrew Feinberg has the story.

Governor thought Trump was having a nervous breakdown during George Floyd protests

Marjorie Taylor Greene clashes with CNN reporter over “Marshall law” message

Friday 29 April 2022 15:08 , Andrew Naughtie

CNN’s Jim Acosta yesterday accosted far-right Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene in Washington to discuss a message she sent to Mark Meadows after the 6 January attack – one in which she said “Marshall law” had been discussed by Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

Ms Greene, who herself is known for haranguing people including school shooting survivors on the streets of the capital, did not take kindly to the questioning, and shared a clip of it herself.

Read more from Johanna Chisholm below.

Greene accuses Jim Acosta of being a liar after he asks her about ‘Marshall law’ text

Jan 6: Raskin on why interviewing Trump is such a delicate matter

Friday 29 April 2022 14:30 , Andrew Naughtie

6 January committee member Jamie Raskin has talked to the Washington Post about his panel’s ongoing work, explaining that only a “fraction” of the evidence it’s gathered has so far become public, predicting an early September release date for a report, and laying out some of the committee’s thinking as it considers how to go about asking Donald Trump himself to testify.

The committee’s chair, Bennie Thompson, said yesterday that the committee will be holding at least eight public hearings starting in June, with a mixture of daytime and evening sessions meant to “tell the story” of the riot.

Read the Post’s report below.

JD Vance gets boost from Josh Hawley

Friday 29 April 2022 14:00 , Andrew Naughtie

Donald Trump’s decision to endorse JD Vance in the Ohio Senate race has sent many conservatives into a flap, and it’s put him on a different team to various Fox News pundits and even sitting senators including Ted Cruz.

But as the formerly lagging Mr Vance bounces to the top of the crowded field on the back of the endorsement, he has started to attract support from other establishment types – and the latest to enter the fray is Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, who along with Turning Point USA’s Charlie Kirk will be stumping for Mr Vance starting this weekend.

Mr Hawley, lest it be forgotten, stood alongside Mr Cruz to object to the 2020 election result even after Trump supporters had violently stormed the halls of Congress in an attempt to subvert Joe Biden’s victory.

Far-right congressman retweets “war on white people” claim

Friday 29 April 2022 13:30 , Andrew Naughtie

Arizona Congressman Paul Gosar, one of the most extreme members of the House GOP, recently drew outrage for speaking to an openly white nationalist conference – and while he claimed at the time that he had not fully aware of the event’s racist bent, he has now shared a remarkably blunt tweet from Charlie Kirk, the notoriously trollish organizer of hardcore conservative group Turning Point USA.