Mitch McConnell explains why he will still support Donald Trump
The latest Capitol riot defendant to go on trial is blaming his actions on Donald Trump and his false claims about a stolen election, in a rare mention of the former president’s role during the ongoing hearings.
Dustin Byron Thompson, an Ohio man charged with stealing a coat rack from the Capitol, did not deny that he joined the mob on 6 January 2021. But his lawyer vowed on Tuesday to show that Mr Trump abused his power to “authorise” the attack.
Describing Mr Trump as a man without scruples or integrity, defence attorney Samuel Shamansky said the former president engaged in a “sinister” plot to encourage Mr Thompson and other supporters to “do his dirty work.”
Meanwhile, Mr Trump has launched a personal attack against former National Security Council director Fiona Hill after the publication of a New York Times interview in which the Russia expert accused him of “pulling a Putin” after the 2020 election.
In a rageful statement, Mr Trump ranted that if Ms Hill didn’t have her British accent “she would be nothing”.
DOJ denies panel details in Trump records probe
The Justice Department declined a request this week from the House oversight committee to disclose the contents of records that former president Donald Trump took to his Florida residence after leaving the White House, the Associated Press has reported quoting a person familiar with the matter.
The move could serve as a setback for Democrats on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform as it was ramping up its investigation into Mr Trump’s handling of sensitive and even classified information during his time as president and after he left the White House. It remains unclear what implications the decision could have for the panel’s probe, which was announced in March.
The Justice Department’s decision is part of an effort to protect confidential information that may compromise an ongoing investigation, according to the person, who was not authorised to discuss the matter by name and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.
Stuti Mishra13 April 2022 07:00
Ohio man blames Trump for storming the Capitol
Mentions of Donald Trump have been rare at the first few trials for people charged with storming the US Capitol, but that has changed: The latest Capitol riot defendant to go on trial is blaming his actions on the former president and his false claims about a stolen election.
Dustin Byron Thompson, an Ohio man charged with stealing a coat rack from the Capitol, doesn’t deny that he joined the mob on 6 January 2021. But his lawyer vowed on Tuesday to show that Mr Trump abused his power to “authorise” the attack.
Describing Mr Trump as a man without scruples or integrity, defence attorney Samuel Shamansky said the former president engaged in a “sinister” plot to encourage Mr Thompson and other supporters to “do his dirty work.”
Stuti Mishra13 April 2022 06:30
Trial date set in defamation suit against Fox News over US election claims
A trial date has been scheduled in Dominion Voting Systems Inc’s $1.6bn defamation lawsuit accusing Fox News of trying to boost its ratings by falsely claiming the voting machine company rigged the 2020 US presidential election against former president Donald Trump.
The trial will begin on 17 April 2023 and could go on for five weeks, which could be the first of several involving what Dominion describes as baseless claims made by a variety of news outlets and individuals about the company’s technology.
Dominion filed its lawsuit against Fox News in March 2021.
People associated with Mr Trump’s campaign, including lawyers Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell, floated conspiracy theories that Dominion rigged vote totals in the weeks after the 3 November 2020 election in which Democrat Joe Biden defeated the incumbent president Mr Trump.
Stuti Mishra13 April 2022 06:00
Mike Pence should be no-platformed ahead of university event, says student paper
Stuti Mishra13 April 2022 05:30
Vindman: Jan 6 was signal to Putin to attack Ukraine
“Starting just months after January 6, Putin began building up forces on the border. He saw the discord here,” Lt Col Vindman told The New York Times Magazine. “He saw the huge opportunity presented by Donald Trump and his Republican lackeys.”
Gustaf Kilander reports from Washington, DC.
Stuti Mishra13 April 2022 04:45
ICYMI: The moment Washington gave up on the pandemic
Eric Garcia writes: As politicians across the spectrum test positive for Covid-19, neither party can agree to pass a bill to fund tests and vaccines that until recently was straightforward.
Oliver O’Connell13 April 2022 04:00
How white nationalists are using gaming to recruit for terror
Experts are warning that far-right agitators are using online gaming platforms to spread hate and recruit a new generation of converts. Supercharged by the rise of gaming and social isolation during the pandemic, extremism academics say more needs to be done to police these platforms for grooming hate. Io Dodds reports.
How ‘supercharged’ white nationalists are using gaming to recruit for terror
Experts are warning that far-right agitators are using online gaming platforms to spread hate and recruit a new generation of converts. Supercharged by the rise of gaming and social isolation during the pandemic, extremism academics say more needs to be done to police these platforms for grooming hate. Io Dodds reports
Oliver O’Connell13 April 2022 03:15
Voices: What a Trump-district Democrat can teach her colleagues about how to win
Cindy Axne represents one of only 16 rare ‘crossover districts’: a district that voted for a member of Congress opposite of how it voted for president. Eric Garcia looks at what other Democrats could learn from her.
Oliver O’Connell13 April 2022 02:30
‘Hence, our Country is going to hell’: Trump refuses to endorse ‘coward’ for governor
Donald Trump has made much of his disdain for Republican officials who refused to support him in his effort to overturn the 2020 election, and he has now lashed out at yet another: Pennsyvania gubernatorial candidate Bill McSwain, whom the former president blames for not aggressively pushing false claims of massive electoral fraud while serving as a US attorney.
Here’s Mr Trump’s statement:
One person in Pennsylvania who I will not be endorsing is Bill McSwain for Governor. He was the U.S. Attorney who did absolutely nothing on the massive Election Fraud that took place in Philadelphia and throughout the commonwealth. He said Barr told him not to do anything (because Barr was afraid of being impeached by the Democrats), but he should have done his job anyway. Without free and fair Elections, we don’t have a Country. Do not vote for Bill McSwain, a coward, who let our Country down. He knew what was happening and let it go. It was there for the taking and he failed so badly. Many of the U.S. Attorneys were probably told not to do anything by Barr. Hence, our Country is going to hell.
True the Vote’s findings are determinative and Bill McSwain should be ashamed of himself, as should many Republican leaders who didn’t act. They said Philadelphia and Detroit were two of the most corrupt places in the Country, with Georgia being one of the most corrupt states!
Donald J Trump
Oliver O’Connell13 April 2022 01:45
Trump endorsee formally files to take on Murkowski
As candidates line up for the 2022 midterm elections, Donald Trump’s coveted endorsement has gone to various Republicans trying to unseat members of their own party that the former considers insufficiently loyal.
Among his most hated GOP figures is Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, one of the handful of senators who voted to convict the ex-president after the 6 January insurrection – and now, his chosen challenger to Ms Murkowski, Kelly Tshibaka, has formally filed to begin her campaign.
Also on the Alaska ballot will be Sarah Palin, who recently secured Mr Trump’s endorsement for her campaign to take the state’s open House seat.
Oliver O’Connell13 April 2022 00:15
