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The House select committee investigating the 6 January Capitol riot could meet again for a hearing as soon as 28 September, Punchbowl News reported Friday morning as Donald Trump took to Truth Social to rant at the Department of Justice.
For the former president was enraged by the federal agency's move to appeal Judge Aileen Cannon's ruling regarding appointing a special master to review the classified documents seized during the search of his Palm Beach residence in August.
Trump's legal troubles continue to mount as a Washington DC grand jury empanelled to investigate the January 6 attack on the US Capitol and attempts to overturn the 2020 election has broadened its efforts by asking for information about his political action committee, Save America.
Meanwhile, key Trump ally and far-right agitator Steve Bannon has surrendered himself to New York state prosecutors as he faces a new criminal indictment. The case is believed to relate to fraud charges stemming from a fundraising entity, We Build The Wall. The former president pardoned him when he faced federal charges on the matter, but had no power over state-level prosecutions.
John Kelly, who served in the Trump administration as chief of staff from July 2017 to January 2019, told The Hill's contributing columnist Myra Adams that he believes that his successor to the role, Mark Meadows, did an insufficient job of reining in the ex-president.
What could Mr Meadows have done to stop the former president from engaging in allegedly illegal activities, Ms Adams asked Mr Kelly in a phone call this week.
"A chief of staff must be willing to go to the mat. To say to the president, 'If you insist on doing this, I will resign, and that alone will cause an explosion in this city. And, I will tell people why I am resigning.' Meadows could and should have done that but elected not to do the right thing," Mr Kelly replied.
https://t.co/rgV9VhuugA
"Kelly was incredulous, saying, 'It is just about impossible for a chief of staff not to know that the president was stuffing boxes with highly classified material.' " @LeaderMcConnell @GovRonDeSantis @JoeNBC @TuckerCarlson @Mike_Pence @mikeallen
Mr Meadows, who held the position of chief of staff in Trump's White House from March 2020 to January 2021, would also have been aware of the classified documents that Mr Trump was allegedly hoarding at Mar-a-Lago, Mr Kelly contended in the interview.
"It is just about impossible for a chief of staff not to know that the president was stuffing boxes with highly classified material," an incredulous Mr Kelly told his interviewer.
He went on to explain how there was a secure, numbered system with federal security employees overseeing the protocol. "You have to account for everything in the vault," he said, noting that those exact federal employees "would have gone to Meadows; he had to have known that classified docs were missing."
This final act, Mr Kelly noted, was a prime example of what he saw as Mr Meadows' conduct as chief of staff, which was a submissive "let Trump be Trump" attitude.
"Meadows is thinking, 'If Trump wants to keep this stuff in a box, I don't care, he is the president,'" Mr Kelly speculated.
The House select committee investigating the 6 January Capitol riot could meet again for a hearing as soon as 28 September, Punchbowl News reported Friday morning.
The panel members are reportedly joining up next week at a retreat to discuss their next steps forward in the probe into the events leading up to and during the violent insurrection.
NEWS in ?@PunchbowlNews? AM - JAN 6 committee eying September hearing - 9/28 is being discussed.
There's a committee retreat next Tuesday to discuss path forward. https://t.co/BCUdPX8qbO pic.twitter.com/CoVEhfMK2d
While appearing on Andy Cohen's Watch What Happens Live on Thursday night, the former secretary of state was asked by the host to name, "what US senator is or was the biggest blow hard?"
"Too many to count," began Ms Clinton as she mulled over what her response would be. "I would have to say Ted Cruz is the eternal blow hard," the former Democratic presidential candidate finally landed on.
Ms Clinton and her daughter, Chelsea, were appearing on the Bravo show to promote their own Apple+ series, premiering on 9 September, Gutsy.
"Ted Cruz is the eternal blowhard." ?? @HillaryClinton plays "Plead the Fifth" on #WWHL ?? #Gutsy pic.twitter.com/6JpA0xURx9
Donald Trump's team might be still holding back some of the classified records removed from the White House during the former president's last days in office, US prosecutors have warned.
The prosecutors demanded an investigation into what they called a potential national security risk with the former president allegedly not returning all the papers even after searches at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
The revelation was made in a Justice Department court filing asking US district judge Aileen Cannon to let it continue reviewing about 100 classified records seized by the Federal Bureau of Information (FBI) at Mr Trump's estate last month.
"This motion is limited to... the seized classified records because those aspects of the order will cause the most immediate and serious harms to the government and the public," the department said in its court filing.
Keep reading the full briefing from my colleague Alisha Rahaman Sarkar:
More classified documents may be missing in Trump probe, US prosecutors say
Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene claimed that the treatment that far-right agitator Steve Bannon has received in New York after he handed himself in as being comparable to that received by people in countries ruled by "tyrants"
On Thursday, Donald Trump's one-time White House adviser pleaded not guilty in a Manhattan district attorney's office to state charges of money laundering, conspiracy, and fraud related to a border wall fundraising scheme.
Ms Greene, an avowed Trump supporter and far-right agitator herself, viewed Mr Bannon's treatment as something akin to how whistle blowers in authoritarian countries are treated by first tweeting a quote of Mr Bannon's from Thursday: "They will never shut me up, they'll have to kill me first."
"They will never shut me up, they'll have to kill me first."
~Steve Bannon
In every country where freedom was ripped away from the people by tyrants, that's exactly the order it happened.
First they tried to silence them, then they killed them.
pic.twitter.com/aTV6yQ5yKL
"In every country where freedom was ripped away from the people by tyrants, that's exactly the order it happened," she tweeted. "First they tried to silence them, then they killed them."
A student and a professor from the University of South Florida are suing the Florida Department of Education, alleging that enforcement of the state's Stop WOKE Act violates their First and Fourth Amendment rights.
Adriana Novoa, a professor of history, and Samuel Rechek, a student and activist with the school's First Amendment Forum, filed their 93-page lawsuit in US District Court this week, arguing that the law signed by Gov Ron DeSantis targeting free speech in Florida classrooms in April is unconstitutional.
Mr DeSantis, who is running for re-election this fall and is a potential presidential contender in 2024, praised the Stop Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees Act as a means by which his state could "stand up against discrimination and woke indoctrination".
The law - which, like many laws banning so-called Critical Race Theory, is relatively vague - bars Florida schools and companies from teaching that people are privileged or oppressed on the basis of their race or gender.
Read the full report from my colleague Abe Asher below:
Professor and student team up in suit to block DeSantis' 'chilling' anti-'woke' act
Former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and her daughter, Chelsea, sat down for a wide ranging interview with Bravo's Andy Cohen on Thursday night, where they discussed everything from Trumpian politics to the summertime reversal of Roe v Wade.
When Hillary Clinton was asked by a viewer how many times a day she thinks to herself, "I told you so," with respect to the rise of the MAGA wing of the Republican party and her former Republican challenger, Donald Trump, she said: "It does cross my mind honestly. but it doesn't provide any kind of solace to me. I am so sad, I am so distressed that everything that happened during the time that he was there, and then his refusal to accept the election, and inciting violence, is heart breaking. I hope people (of whatever party) will just say, 'No, enough! We are not going to let that kind of divisiveness and disruption exist in our country any longer.' It's so important to stop it."
When asked about the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe and see to the end of federally protected abortion procedures, a right that had been enshrined to Americans for nearly half a century, Ms Clinton had this to say.
"You have to defeat them," said the former secretary of state about those on the Supreme Court and in Republican-led state legislatures who she said are attacking civil rights and freedoms. "[They] are being motivated by cultural religious, ideological, partisan and financial interests-and so they're trying to impose their views on everybody else even though most of us don't agree with them."
After defeating them, she noted, "then maybe we get a Republican Party back again that is not a captive cult of Donald Trump and people like him."
It's #WWHL with @HillaryClinton & @ChelseaClinton now! pic.twitter.com/JQVKoWc2mr
Her daughter, Chelsea, condemned Mr Trump for "the mainlining of hate in our country".
"To be a woman in America is to be political because politicians are trying to make decisions for us that we should make for ourselves," said Chelsea Clinton.
The mother and daughter duo were on Watch What Happens Live to promote their own television programme Gutsy, which Hillary is executive producing alongside her daughter and is scheduled to debut on Apple TV+ on September 9.
Donald Trump had an awkward answer this week to an interviewer who asked whether he would consider his own daughter as a potential running mate in 2024.
The former president continues to contest his 2020 defeat to Joe Biden even as he teases a rematch against the president in the next election cycle. But he's made clear that he won't run alongside his former vice president, Mike Pence, should he make another bid for the White House.
In an interview with New Delhi Television (NDTV), the former president was asked if he would consider his eldest daughter Ivanka Trump as a potential running mate. But Mr Trump shut that suggestion down quickly.
"Ivanka? My daughter? Never thought of that one. I've never even heard but that's an interesting idea," he responded.
Mr Trump then added: "No, I wouldn't. Not my daughter."
Read the full file from my colleague John Bowden below:
Trump awkwardly says he wouldn't run with Ivanka: 'Not my daughter'
Rudy Giuliani, the former personal attorney to Donald Trump and a frequent peddler of the ex-president's big election lie, has had more skeletons dug up about a time when he was being considered by his former boss to head a commission on "radical Islamic terrorism".
In 2016, the former mayor of New York was attending a law firm dinner where Geoffrey Berman, a former US attorney for the southern district of New York (SDNY) and the author of a new book about his legal battles with the Trump administration, described Mr Giuliani as behaving erratically towards people he perceived were Muslim and drinking heavily.
The Guardian, who obtained a copy of the memoir set to be published next week, described an excerpt where Mr Giuliani turned to a Jewish man at the dinner "wearing a yarmulke [who] had ordered a kosher meal" and, under the impression the man was a Muslim, said: "I'm sorry to have tell you this, but the founder of your religion is a murderer."
"It was unbelievable," Mr Berman writes. "Rudy was unhinged. A pall fell over the room."
Mr Berman had just recruited Mr Giuliani to join his law firm, he writes, and the dinner was headlined to be a "cross-selling dinner", functioning to both introduce the former mayor and other new lawyers to clients "at a large financial institution".
Mr Berman concedes in the excerpt that his new attorney "behaved well to start with", but he "continued to drink" and "shifted the conversation to his work for Trump on immigration".
The dinner became "an utter and complete train wreck", he writes.
Mr Giuliani went on to share a "wholly inaccurate, alt-right history of the creation and development of Islam, stating that it was an inherently violent religion from its origins to today".
He then, according to Mr Berman, went on to use his phone and "showed the group drawings of violent acts purportedly committed by Muslims".
Donald Trump took to his preferred platform of rage late Thursday night to air his displeasure at the Department of Justice, this time for the federal agency's decision that day to appeal a court-ordered special master review of the materials seized by FBI agents at Mar-a-Lago in an 8 August raid of his home.
"So now the FBI & Biden Department of "Justice" leakers are going to spend Millions of Dollars, & vast amounts of Time & Energy, to appeal the Order on the "Raid of Mar-a-Lago Document Hoax," by a brilliant and courageous Judge whose words of wisdom rang true throughout our Nation," posted the former president of the United States on Thursday night, proclaiming that the DoJ too had allegedly "SPIED on my Campaign" and, in his assessment, presided over "worst CRIME WAVE ever!!"
"They leak, lie, plant fake evidence," he said before quipping that, "Things are safer in the middle of Central Park!"
The Department of Justice has asked the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse a Trump-appointed district judge's order requiring a halt to use of materials seized during the 8 August search of former president Donald Trump's home in any criminal investigation.
Andrew Feinberg has the latest.
Justice Department appeals special master order in Trump Mar-a-Lago search case
In recent days, President Joe Biden has sharpened his attacks against Donald Trump and the so-called MAGA Republicans for posing a threat to democracy. He's likened the philosophy undergirding the dominant strain of the modern-day GOP to "semi-fascism."
And Democrats are taking notice.
The gloves-off, no-holds-barred approach from Biden as of late has emboldened Democrats across the country, rallying the party faithful ahead of the November elections even as his harshest rhetoric makes some vulnerable incumbents visibly uncomfortable.
Gloves off, Biden embraces tough tone on 'MAGA Republicans'
President Joe Biden believes that Donald Trump and his allies in the GOP are a threat to the country, and democracy. According to a new poll, a majority of Americans agree.
The findings came in a Reuters/Ipsos poll, published on Thursday.
John Bowden takes a look at the survey results.
Poll shows Americans agree with Biden, view Trump as threat to democracy
Hillary Clinton has said that she doesn't understand how former President Donald Trump could have taken secret documents to Mar-a-Lago.
Outlining the process for viewing sensitive information while she served as secretary of state, Ms Clinton said on ABC's The View that "there were times when I was secretary of state that literally a military courier would come into my office".
Gustaf Kilander and John Bowden report on the former secretary of state's comments.
Clinton reveals classified papers came to her in handcuffed briefcase
Donald Trump says that "everyone wants me to run again" but has ruled out having daughter Ivanka on any 2024 ticket.
The one-term president told India's NDTV in an interview that he would not consider his daughter as his vice-president candidate, if, as expected, he runs again for the White House.
Mr Trump has been publicly flirting with taking on Joe Biden again but has yet to formally announce his candidacy.
Trump says 'everyone wants him' to run in 2024 but rules out putting Ivanka on ticket
Donald Trump "truthed" his reaction to Queen Elizabeth II's passing on Thursday, minutes after the news was announced by Buckingham Palace.
The former president, who met the Queen in 2019, commented on the Queen's "generous friendship, great wisdom, and wonderful sense of humor", adding that she was a "beautiful lady".
John Bowden reports on his tribute.
Trump reacts to Queen Elizabeth's death: 'There was nobody like her!'
Mitch McConnell declined to share his thoughts on former President Donald Trump's attack on his wife Elaine Chao, who served as Mr Trump's secretary of transportation.
Gustaf Kilander reports.
Mitch McConnell asked to comment on Trump's attacks on his wife
Steve Bannon, the former White House chief strategist who was convicted on two counts of criminal contempt of Congress earlier this year, has been charged with money laundering, conspiracy, and scheming to defraud supporters of Donald Trump who thought they were funding a border wall along the US-Mexico border.
Bannon, who currently hosts the War Room podcast and show on the right-wing Real America's Voice network, arrived at the Manhattan district attorney's office on 8 September to surrender. As he entered the building, he shouted "they're persecuting people!" to a group of reporters who'd gathered to witness his arrival.
Andrew Feinberg and Alex Woodward report on the Trump ally's latest legal woes.
Ex-Trump aide Steve Bannon charged with money laundering and conspiracy in New York
Rick Scott of the Lincoln Project said he welcomed former president Donald Trump's threats to sue the group of former Republican strategists who have released ads that sharply criticised him.
Mr Trump threatened legal action on his social networking platform Truth Social over a new ad, which aired on a local Fox affiliate and not Fox News proper.
Eric Garcia reports.
'Go for it b****!': Lincoln Project launches fiery video at Trump after legal threat
Donald Trump threatened legal action against Fox News on Thursday in response to an ad from the conservative Lincoln Project.
The former president wrote on Truth Social, his social media platform, that he would see the network and, apparently, the Lincoln Project "in Court" and blamed them for supposed "false advertis[ing]".
John Bowden has the story.
Trump threatens lawsuit against Fox News over Lincoln Project ad
Steve Bannon, Donald Trump's former White House chief strategist and the ex-editor of Breitbart, has surrendered to New York state prosecutors to face a criminal indictment on fraud charges.
Joe Sommerlad explains the charges.
What are the new fraud charges against Steve Bannon and what do they mean?
The Washington DC grand jury empanelled to investigate the January 6 attack on the US Capitol and attempts to overturn the 2020 election by former president Donald Trump and his allies, has broadened its efforts by asking for information about Mr Trump's political action committee, Save America.
Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.
Grand jury investigating January 6 now looking at Trump's PAC
Nearly 1 in 3 Republican candidates for statewide offices that play a role in overseeing, certifying or defending elections supported overturning the results of the 2020 presidential race, according to an Associated Press review.
They include contenders from one end of the country to the other, often in pivotal swing states, for positions that are the linchpins of democracy.
Support of false election claims runs deep in 2022 GOP field
Fox News correspondent Geraldo Rivera has said in no unclear terms that he is over former President Donald Trump.
Mr Rivera made a statement on Twitter on Wednesday lamenting the state of US democracy and placing the blame solely at the former president's feet.
Graig Graziosi reports on what Mr Rivera said.
Fox News' Geraldo Rivera says he 'could never support' Trump again
The federal judge overseeing a case against the founder of the far-right anti-government group the Oath Keepers and several of its members has rejected an attempt to delay the trial, which is set to begin in Washington DC within three weeks.
Despite his effort to fire them, Stewart Rhodes will be represented by the attorneys he rebuked in a court filing this week, according to US District Court Judge Amit Mehta.
Alex Woodward explains what happened in court.
Judge lambasts Oath Keepers founder's 'bewildering' attempt to delay Jan 6 trial
Fox News host Laura Ingraham has suggested that former President Barack Obama's eight years in office were marked by failure because he was succeeded by his polar opposite: Donald Trump.
Johanna Chisholm has the story.
Fox News host Laura Ingraham says Obama 'blew it' because Trump was elected after him
A clip from a new PBS documentary has shown former national security adviser Michael Flynn losing his temper with a reporter who asked if he had contact with his brother, a general, on 6 January 2021.
Mr Flynn, who is a popular figure among QAnon followers and who suggested Mr Trump impose martial law to facilitate a do-over of the 2020 election, had the encounter on camera during the shooting of the Mike Flynn's Holy War, which takes a look at the former general's post-Trump administration activities across the country.
Andrew Naughtie reports.
Mike Flynn storms out of interview over January 6 question in new documentary
Former President Donald Trump has endorsed Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine in his reelection bid after deciding against openly backing him in the primary.
In a statement on Wednesday, Trump said DeWine "quietly, but professionally and patriotically, goes about doing his job."
Read more:
Trump backs GOP's DeWine for second term as Ohio governor
Donald Trump reportedly told his close aides that he felt the need to preserve documents related to the Russian collusion investigation over fears the Joe Biden administration would "shred" them.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar reports.
Trump told aides he kept Russia documents he feared Biden would 'shred', report says
Former US president Donald Trump has reiterated his claim that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) planted the documents that were found at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.
In an interview with Indian news television channel NDTV on Thursday, Mr Trump said: "That (the documents) they (the FBI) put there. It's a set-up. It's weaponisation. And it's inappropriate to do. It's a bad thing for our country.
"Our country is going to hell," he later said during the interview.
Sravasti Dasgupta reports.
Trump repeats unproven claim that FBI 'planted' files in Mar-a-Lago on Indian TV
Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin thinks you should be angry that she is not heading to Congress.
That's what the failed Republican House candidate told an interviewer this week on Real America's Voice, a right-wing YouTube channel. Ms Palin blamed her defeat on Alaska's new ranked-choice voting system, which allocates the votes of defeated candidates after a first round of voting to the top two remaining candidates based on the personal preferences of voters.
John Bowden has the story.
Sarah Palin says 'entire country' should be 'outraged' at her failure to get elected
In recent days, President Joe Biden has sharpened his attacks against Donald Trump and the so-called MAGA Republicans for posing a threat to democracy. He's likened the philosophy undergirding the dominant strain of the modern-day GOP to "semi-fascism."
And Democrats are taking notice.
The gloves-off, no-holds-barred approach from Biden as of late has emboldened Democrats across the country, rallying the party faithful ahead of the November elections even as his harshest rhetoric makes some vulnerable incumbents visibly uncomfortable.
Gloves off, Biden embraces tough tone on 'MAGA Republicans'
Donald Trump says that "everyone wants me to run again" but has ruled out having daughter Ivanka on any 2024 ticket.
The one-term president told India's NDTV in an interview that he would not consider his daughter as his vice-president candidate, if, as expected, he runs again for the White House.
Graeme Massie reports.
Trump says 'everyone wants him' to run in 2024 but rules out putting Ivanka on ticket
A Maryland man has been charged with sending death threats to Senator Ted Cruz, in which he used the "Zodiac Killer" Internet meme insult against the Texas politician.
Justin Kuchta, 39, is accused of using a government-issued computer to make the threats against Mr Cruz, whom he did not specifically name but clearly referenced.
Investigators say that the suspect replied to an online invitation from the office of a Texas member of Congress, in which he threatened to kill him at the event.
Graeme Massie reports.
Man charged with sending death threats to Ted Cruz that echoed 'Zodiac Killer' meme
Hillary Clinton has said that she doesn't understand how former President Donald Trump could have taken secret documents to Mar-a-Lago given her knowledge of how classified information is handled.
Gustaf Kilander reports.
Hillary Clinton says she doesn't 'understand how' Trump was allowed to take files
President Joe Biden believes that Donald Trump and his allies in the GOP are a threat to the country, and democracy. According to a new poll, a majority of Americans agree.
The findings came in a Reuters/Ipsos poll, published on Thursday.
John Bowden has the survey details.
Poll shows Americans agree with Biden, view Trump as threat to democracy
The Department of Justice has asked the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse a Trump-appointed district judge's order requiring a halt to use of materials seized during the 8 August search of former president Donald Trump's home in any criminal investigation.
Andrew Feinberg reports.
Justice Department appeals special master order in Trump Mar-a-Lago search case
Rick Scott of the Lincoln Project said he welcomed former president Donald Trump's threats to sue the group of former Republican strategists who have released ads that sharply criticised him.
Mr Trump threatened legal action on his social networking platform Truth Social over a new ad, which aired on a local Fox affiliate and not Fox News proper.
Eric Garcia reports.
'Go for it b****!': Lincoln Project launches fiery video at Trump after legal threat
The Department of Justice is appealing Judge Aileen Cannon's ruling regarding appointing a special master to review the classified documents seized during the search of Former President Donald Trump's Palm Beach residence.
Justice Department appeals federal judge's ruling for a special master in Trump Mar-a-Lago case pic.twitter.com/iCOVvwL2zX
Donald Trump reportedly told his close aides that he felt the need to preserve documents related to the Russian collusion investigation over fears the Joe Biden administration would "shred" them.
During his final days at the White House, Mr Trump and his team pushed to declassify the documents, dreading that the papers would expose a plot against him, Rolling Stone reported.
According to people aware of the situation, the former president was "concerned" Mr Biden's administration, which he called the "deep state" would "shred", bury, or destroy "the evidence" that could prove the Republican leader was "wronged".
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar has more.
Trump told aides he kept Russia documents he feared Biden would 'shred', report says
Former president Donald Trump says that King Charles III will be a "Great and Wonderful King" who will be "an inspiration to everyone".
Mr Trump and the King both attended the 75th-anniversary celebrations of the D-Day landings.
Fox News correspondent Geraldo Rivera has said in no unclear terms that he is over former President Donald Trump.
Mr Rivera made a statement on Twitter on Wednesday lamenting the state of US democracy and placing the blame solely at the former president's feet.
"Election Deniers depress me," he wrote. "I blame President Trump for his shameful campaign to slander and undermine American faith in our elections."
The Fox News regular is one of a few on the network to question Mr Trump's actions on moral grounds, and has been critical of the former president for several years. He said on Wednesday that he could never support Mr Trump again.
"For all his positive accomplishments, and there are many, I could never support him again," he wrote. "Without fealty to the Constitution, we're [second] rate."
Graig Graziosi reports.
Fox News' Geraldo Rivera says he 'could never support' Trump again
Former President Donald Trump has released a statement on Truth Social following the announcement of the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Melania and I are deeply saddened to learn of the loss of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Together with our family and fellow Americans, we send our sincere condolences to the Royal Family and the people of the United Kingdom during this time of great sorrow and grief. Queen Elizabeth's historic and remarkable reign left a tremendous legacy of peace and prosperity for Great Britain.
Her leadership and enduring diplomacy secured and advanced alliances with the United States and countries around the world. However, she will always be remembered for her faithfulness to her country and her unwavering devotion to her fellow countrymen and women.
Melania and I will always cherish our time together with the Queen, and never forget Her Majesty's generous friendship, great wisdom, and wonderful sense of humor. What a grand and beautiful lady she was-there was nobody like her!
Our thoughts and prayers will remain with the great people of the United Kingdom as you honor her most meaningful life and exceptional service to the people.
May God bless the Queen, may she reign forever in our hearts, and may God hold her and Prince Philip in abiding care.
The federal judge overseeing a case against the founder of the far-right anti-government group the Oath Keepers and several of its members has rejected an attempt to delay the trial, which is set to begin in Washington DC within three weeks.
A newly hired attorney for Mr Rhodes filed a motion to push back his trial on charges of seditious conspiracy for his role in the attack on the US Capitol on 6 January, 2021, citing a "near-complete breakdown of communication" with his legal team, which he said Mr Rhodes has "relieved and terminated."
He also requested three more months to prepare for his trial.
The following day, the judge lambasted Mr Rhodes' allegations and attempt to stall the case as "incorrect and frankly bewildering" during a 15-minute screed.
Alex Woodward reports.
Judge lambasts Oath Keepers founder's 'bewildering' attempt to delay Jan 6 trial
The Washington DC grand jury empanelled to investigate the January 6 attack on the US Capitol and attempts to overturn the 2020 election by former president Donald Trump and his allies, has broadened its efforts by asking for information about Mr Trump's political action committee, Save America.
According to multiple reports, the grand jury has issued subpoenas for "documents, records and testimony from potential witnesses" pertaining to Save America in an effort to understand "understand the timeline of Save America's formation, the organization's fundraising activities, and how money is both received and spent by the Trump-aligned PAC".
Andrew Feinberg has more details.
Grand jury investigating January 6 now looking at Trump's PAC
A clip from a new PBS documentary has shown former national security adviser Michael Flynn losing his temper with a reporter who asked if he had contact with his brother, a general, on 6 January 2021.
Mr Flynn, who is a popular figure among QAnon followers and who suggested Mr Trump impose martial law to facilitate a do-over of the 2020 election, had the encounter on camera during the shooting of the Mike Flynn's Holy War, which takes a look at the former general's post-Trump administration activities across the country.
The clip shows Mr Flynn in a terse exchange with the Associated Press's Michelle Smith, who asks him if he remains in touch with his brother, serving US Army General Charles Flynn - and specifically whether they communicated in advance of the 6 January Capitol attack.
"Because of this interview," he responds, "I will never talk to AP again. I am so sick of it. It's so fake, it's so targeted, it's all about 'we're gonna get this guy'."
Read more:
Mike Flynn storms out of interview over January 6 question in new documentary
Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker made a bizarre analogy about cows and bulls while giving a speech this week during his campaign against incumbent Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia.
On Wednesday, Mr Walker was giving a speech while on the campaign trail when he gave an analogy about a cow and bulls.
"It's about everybody thinking it's better somewhere else," he said. "And I remember talking about this bull that was out in the field and he said six cows with him. Three of them were expecting calves."
Mr Walker is struggling to break out of the margin of error in the polls, worrying Republicans who not long ago considered the race eminently winnable.
Eric Garcia has the story.
Herschel Walker makes bizarre analogy about cows and bulls
Barack and Michelle Obama's appearance at the White House for the unveiling of their portraits yesterday was warmly received among Democrats, but met a far more disdainful reaction on the right.
Here's a sample of the way the former president is viewed among the Fox News commentariat via Laura Ingraham, who blames Obama for "the rise of populism" - which she then implies makes him a failure.
Ingraham: Obama I would say blew it because his administration led directly to the election of Donald Trump. So how could that be a success? pic.twitter.com/hvY26hQb1m
The Lincoln Project has faded from prominence since it cropped up in advance of the 2020 election, though it still tears into Donald Trump on Twitter and still puts out the occasional caustic video. But it still periodically succeeds in its aim of getting into the former president's head by running ads on outlets he watches - and clearly it's triggered him this morning:
Steve Bannon, the former White House chief strategist who was convicted on two counts of criminal contempt of Congress earlier this year, arrived at the Manhattan district attorney's office on Thursday to surrender after he was indicted on fraud charges.
The case against Mr Bannon is related to charges he once faced in federal court for defrauding donors in a $25 million scheme to construct a privately-funded border wall along the US-Mexico border.
He escaped that legal crisis thanks to a pardon from Donald Trump, but presidential pardons cannot be applied to state-level prosecutions. According to multiple reports, the New York district attorney's case against Mr Bannon may closely track that prior case, but the indictment has not yet been unsealed.
Andrew Feinberg reports:
Former Trump aide Steve Bannon surrenders to New York authorities in fraud case
Donald Trump has a fellow traveller in Jair Bolsonaro, the stridently right-wing Brazilian president who openly harbours nostalgia for his country's military dictatorship - and who has for months been laying the groundwork to delegitimise the results of the upcoming election, which current polling suggests he will lose. Tens of thousands of his supporters rallied yesterday to demonstrate their loyalty to him and insist he is the only - this on Brazil's independence day, usually not a partisan celebration.
And true to form, Donald Trump has offered his support:
At the unveiling of her and her husband's portraits at the White House yesterday, Michelle Obama gave a brief but wide-ranging speech about the state and future of American democracy - and in a stark contrast with Donald Trump and his followers, she extolled the virtues of recognising when the time for a peaceful transfer of power has come.
Watch her remarks below.
While it's clear that Mike Pence is unlikely to be Donald Trump's running mate if the former president runs again, it is far from clear who he would choose, or on what basis - besides loyalty to him and his worldview.
However, in a new interview with India's NDTV, he has ruled out at least one person: his daughter and sometime White House adviser Ivanka.
As reported by the station, here's what he said:
Is there any substance to reports that Ivanka Trump, 40, might be his choice for running mate in 2024? Mr Trump called it an "interesting" idea.
"Ivanka? My daughter? Never thought of that one. I've never even heard but that's an interesting idea," he told NDTV.
The former President, who has five children, described Ivanka as a very capable person.
"That one I have not heard of, but she's a very capable person that I can tell you. But no, I have not heard that one," Mr Trump said on the buzz.
Would he consider it? "No, I wouldn't. Not my daughter," said the former President
In an interview to be broadcast today, Donald Trump has once again claimed to be the obvious winner-in-waiting of the 2024 presidential election.
"Everyone wants me to run. I am leading in the polls," he told Indian station NDTV, "in every poll, in Republican polls and in Democrat polls, and I will make a decision in the very near future, I suspect. And I think that a lot of people are going to be very happy."
Mr Trump's national popularity rating is in fact lower than Joe Biden's. However, since the raid on Mar-a-Lago, his numbers among likely Republican primary voters have indeed risen.
The former president also used the interview to reiterate a false claim that the Mar-a-Lago files, which he has previously confirmed were real, were in fact planted by FBI agents.
Sravasti Dasgupta has more.
Trump repeats unproven claim that FBI 'planted' files in Mar-a-Lago on Indian TV
Federal authorities have arrested hundreds of people accused of taking part in the 6 January riot at the US Capitol, but they are far from done rounding them up.
Yesterday alone, the bureau's Washington field office tweeted out appeals for any information on the identities and whereabouts of four men pictured at the riot. Among the online "sedition hunters", amateur sleuths who have helped identify rioters via social media, they are known by their nicknames: #GingerLongLashes, #SkulletSpray, #KhakiLacky and #PunchingBandit.
#FBIWFO released a new photo of this man who allegedly assaulted law enforcement personnel during riots at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. If you know who he is, call 1-800-225-5324 or visit https://t.co/t8G7LO4hxu to submit a tip. Remember to mention photo 452 in your tip. pic.twitter.com/aM2tWHcxeA
#FBIWFO released a new photo of this man who allegedly assaulted law enforcement personnel at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Do you recognize him? Call 1-800-225-5324 or visit https://t.co/t8G7LO4hxu to submit a tip. Refer to photo 439 in your tip. pic.twitter.com/nkAwiUXTuj
#FBIWFO released new photos of this man who allegedly assaulted law enforcement personnel at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. If you have a tip, call 1-800-225-5324, or visit https://t.co/t8G7LO4hxu. Remember to mention photo 434 in your tip. pic.twitter.com/b3leUeOtnR
#FBIWFO released a new photo of this man who allegedly assaulted law enforcement personnel at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. If you recognize him, call 1-800-225-5324 or visit https://t.co/t8G7LO4hxu to submit a tip. Refer to photo 432 in your tip. pic.twitter.com/838opgHwtK
John Brennan, who served as director of the CIA from 2013 to 2017, appeared on MSNBC last night to discuss the potential ramifications of the presence of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago.
"We know he was irresponsible even he was at the White House," he said of Donald Trump, "in terms of what he shared or carelessly showed to foreign visitors, or had exposed in the Oval Office. And I do think those waning days of his presidency, there was a real haphazard approach to security...
"Mar-a-Lago is a sieve. Foreign intelligence services could easily get people into Mar-a-Lago, maybe to buy a membership or to have someone in a cleaning crew or something else."
Watch his comments below.
"If those documents were left unsecured for that length of time, I am sure my national security colleagues and intelligence professionals who are trying to do this risk assessment right now are just absolutely shocked" - @JohnBrennan w/ @NicolleDWallace pic.twitter.com/xPnUxjlEbM
Appearing on The View yesterday alongside her daughter Chelsea, Hillary Clinton was asked to expound on the significance of the classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago - and she did not hold back.
"It shouldn't be partisan. It should concern every American...when the report came out yesterday that the documents also included information about - we don't know which - an ally or an adversaries nuclear program, I cannot tell you how terrifying that is."
She also discussed Joe Biden's warning of rising "fascism" on the right and the ensuing backlash from many Republicans.
"Fascism is a very big word, I know that. But so is socialism, and the Republicans call every Democrat who wants people to have healthcare a socialist. So we do need to be careful with our language, but the problem is that if you go through the hallmarks of authoritarian regimes, you see too many characteristics unfortunately on our Republican side."
Watch her discuss Mr Trump's handling of the documents below, starting at 3:04.
Former president Donald Trump on Wednesday accused the FBI agents who executed a court-authorised search of his Palm Beach, Florida home and office of taking his personal medical and tax records without proper cause.
Writing on his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump said recent court filings by the government have shown agents "improperly took [his] complete and highly confidential medical file and history, with all the bells and whistles".
The ex-president, whose last physical examination established him to be clinically obese, said "at least" the aforementioned medical records would show him to be "very healthy" and "an absolutely perfect physical specimen".
Read more from Andrew Feinberg:
Trump falsely accuses FBI of 'improperly' seizing his medical and tax records
Former US president Donald Trump has reiterated his claim that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) planted the documents that were found at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.
In an interview with Indian news television channel NDTV on Thursday, Mr Trump said: "That (the documents) they (the FBI) put there. It's a set-up. It's weaponisation. And it's inappropriate to do. It's a bad thing for our country."
He also teased the idea of running in the 2024 presidential elections, saying he is leading the polls.
Sravasti Dasgupta reports.
Trump repeats unproven claim that FBI 'planted' files in Mar-a-Lago on Indian TV
Former first lady Michelle Obama had a thinly-veiled dig at Donald Trump during powerful remarks at the unveiling of her official White House portrait on Wednesday.
Speaking about the significance of the moment and the importance of "participating in and watching our democracy" she referred to the "peaceful transition of power" in a clear reference to the final months of the Trump presidency.
She further said, that those in power work and serve "for as long as we can, as long as the people choose to keep us here," adding: "once our time is up, we move on".
Michelle Obama has a dig at Donald Trump in White House portrait remarks
The high-profile seditious conspiracy trial for the leader of the far-right Oath Keepers extremist group will begin this month after a judge on Wednesday rejected a last-minute bid by Stewart Rhodes to replace his lawyers and delay his case.
Rhodes said in court papers this week there had been a "breakdown" in communication between him and his two lawyers, who he claimed weren't defending him forcefully enough in the Capitol riot case. Rhodes' new lawyer argued that the Oath Keepers founder has not been given enough time to adequately prepare for trial and urged the judge to delay his trial at least 90 days.
But the obviously irritated judge called the claim that Rhodes is being denied a fair trial "simply false."
Judge nixes Oath Keepers leader's bid to delay Jan. 6 trial
Donald Trump reportedly told his close aides that he felt the need to preserve documents related to the Russian collusion investigation over fears the Joe Biden administration would "shred" them.
During his final days at the White House, Mr Trump and his team pushed to declassify the documents, dreading that the papers would expose a plot against him, Rolling Stone reported.
The documents were related to the federal investigation into Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 elections to sow discord in the US and boost Mr Trump's chances of winning over Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton.
Alisha Rehman Sarkar has more.
Trump told aides he kept Russia documents he feared Biden would 'shred', report says
Michael Flynn, 63, has used public appearances to energise voters, along with political endorsements to build alliances and a network of nonprofit groups - one of which has projected spending $50 million - to advance the movement, an investigation by The Associated Press and the PBS series Frontline has found.
He has drawn together election deniers, mask and vaccine opponents, insurrectionists, Proud Boys, and elected officials and leaders in state and local Republican parties. Along the way, the AP and Frontline documented, Flynn and his companies have earned hundreds of thousands of dollars for his efforts.
Michael Flynn: From government insider to holy warrior
Steve Bannon, Donald Trump's former White House chief strategist and the ex-editor of Breitbart, is expected to face a new criminal indictment and to surrender to New York state prosecutors on Thursday, according to multiple reports.
Bannon and three other men were charged with fraud in August 2020 following a federal investigation into the "We Build the Wall" fundraising initiative, intended to generate the capital needed to pay for the president's signature US-Mexico border wall to block illegal immigration.
Joe Sommerlad has the details.
What are the new charges against Steve Bannon and what do they mean?
Donald Trump's former attorney general says the recent ruling to appoint an outside arbiter for the documents in the FBI's Mar-a-Lago investigation won't get the former president out of legal jeopardy.
"I don't think the appointment of the special master is going to hold up, but even if it does, I don't see it fundamentally changing the trajectory," Bill Barr told Fox News on Tuesday.
He had more to say on Wednesday morning, indicating that the likelihood of an indictment was getting close:
Bill Barr, Trump's former AG, on Trump possibly being indicted: "I think they're getting very close to that point, frankly" pic.twitter.com/dANTqoXOA3
Hillary Clinton has once again confirmed she will never run for president again, calling instead on the Republican Party to take responsibility for making sure Donald Trump does not return to the White House.
Ms Clinton, who won the 2016 popular vote by approximately 3 million but lost in the Electoral College after falling short in three key states, reiterated her position in a CBS interview - in which she also declared that Donald Trump was guilty of a major crime against the US government.
Asked at the outset whether she would run again, Ms Clinton put it bluntly: "No. No. But I'm gonna do everything I can to make sure that we have a president who respects our democracy and the rule of law and upholds our institutions."
Andrew Naughtie has the story.
Hillary Clinton says Donald Trump is guilty of 'seditious conspiracy'
Former president Donald Trump on Wednesday accused the FBI agents who executed a court-authorised search of his Palm Beach, Florida home and office of taking his personal medical and tax records without proper cause.
According to the warrant authorising the 8 August search of the twice-impeached ex-president's property, which a federal magistrate judge approved after finding probable cause to believe evidence of multiple federal crimes would be found at his property, FBI agents were ordered to search Mr Trump's office, as well as "all storage rooms, and all other rooms or areas within the premises used or available to be used by FPOTUS and his staff and in which boxes or documents could be stored" at his Mar-a-Lago club.
Andrew Feinberg reports on the former president's claims.
Trump falsely accuses FBI of 'improperly' seizing his medical and tax records
Portraits of Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States, and first lady Michelle Obama were finally unveiled at the White House today after their presentation was blocked by his successor in the Oval Office, Donald Trump.
The Obamas were in attendance for the ceremony and hosted by Joe Biden, the 46th president and Mr Obama's own former deputy.
Mr Trump, notoriously jealous of his Democratic forerunner's achievements, refused to host such an event honouring him, leaving the first Black president to go unacknowledged in the corridors of power, which are otherwise adorned with the likenesses of every commander-in-chief in American history, from George Washington in the East Room onwards.
Why did Donald Trump block the Obamas' portraits?
Eric Trump claims his father is too "neat" to keep papers lying around after it was revealed that some of the seized classified documents taken from Donald Trump's Florida had contained details of the nuclear capabilities of a foreign country.
"I think the judge is 100 per cent right," Eric Trump told Fox News on Tuesday, referring to the 45th president being granted the request of a special master to view the documents.
"You literally have the FBI spending more time leaking stuff to the press," he added.
"These pictures, do you think my father happens to just leave documents all over his office floor? I can tell you my father is a very, very neat guy. He doesn't leave documents staged all over an office floor. It is crazy."
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar has the story.
Eric Trump says father Donald too is 'neat' to leave top secret papers lying around
Two months after the 2020 presidential election, a team of computer experts traveled to south Georgia to copy software and data from voting equipment in an apparent breach of a county election system. They were greeted outside by the head of the local Republican Party, who was involved in efforts by then-President Donald Trump to overturn his election loss.
A security camera outside the elections office in rural Coffee County captured their arrival. The footage also shows that some local election officials were at the office during what the Georgia secretary of state's office has described as "alleged unauthorized access" of election equipment.
Security footage from two weeks later raises additional alarms - showing two people who were instrumental in Trump's wider efforts to undermine the election results entering the office and staying for hours.
Video fills in details on alleged Georgia election breach
Donald Trump's spokesperson has accused The Washington Post of "colluding" with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) after it reported that the former president kept details of a foreign country's nuclear capabilities at his Florida home.
Taylor Budowich, the former president's communications director, alleged the Post "continues to serve as the propaganda arm of the Biden administration" without denying the report.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar reports.
Trump spokesman reacts to nuclear secrets claims by saying paper 'colluded' with FBI
Former president Donald Trump will hold a campaign rally in Youngstown, Ohio, for Republican Senate candidate JD Vance.
There's just one problem: The rally takes place at 7:00 pm, which is the same time that the Ohio State University will play the University of Toledo.
Eric Garcia reports on the scheduling snafu.
Trump and JD Vance schedule rally at same time as Ohio State football game
Michael Flynn, a retired Army lieutenant general and onetime national security adviser to President Donald Trump, has been systematically building a political movement based on Christian nationalist ideas.
Flynn was a leader of the "Stop the Steal" effort to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election that Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden. Flynn sat in the front row at a rally near the White House on Jan. 6, 2021, when then-President Trump urged his supporters to march on the Capitol.
In the years since, Flynn has traversed the United States, trying to assemble his own political support.
An investigation by The Associated Press and the PBS series Frontline found that Flynn has used public appearances to energise voters, made political endorsements to build alliances and amassed a network of nonprofit groups to advance the movement. Along the way, Flynn and his companies have earned hundreds of thousands of dollars for his efforts.
The AP and Frontline spoke with dozens of people, reviewed campaign finance records, corporate and charity filings, social media posts and similar open-source information, and attended several public events where Flynn appeared. Reporters examined dozens of Flynn's speeches, interviews and public appearances.
Flynn himself sat down for a rare on-camera interview with what he calls the mainstream media.
Here are the key takeaways from the investigation:
Takeaways from the AP/Frontline Michael Flynn investigation
Former first lady Michelle Obama had a thinly-veiled dig at Donald Trump during powerful remarks at the unveiling of her official White House portrait on Wednesday.
Speaking about the significance of the moment and the importance of "participating in and watching our democracy" she referred to the "peaceful transition of power" in a clear reference to the final months of the Trump presidency.
She further said, that those in power work and serve "for as long as we can, as long as the people choose to keep us here," adding: "once our time is up, we move on".
Read more of the former first lady's remarks:
Michelle Obama has a dig at Donald Trump in White House portrait remarks
A trove of emails Trump-backed Arizona Senate candidate Blake Masters sent while in college have been made public, revealing he called the US "fascist" and defended conspiracy theories around the September 11 terror attacks.
HuffPost obtained the emails signed by Mr Masters, a Republican candidate funded by libertarian businessman and Donald Trump ally Peter Thiel, while he was attending Stanford University in 2006.
Graig Graziosi has the details.
Blake Masters defended 9/11 conspiracies, unearthed Stanford emails reveal
Hillary Clinton has once again confirmed she will never run for president again, calling instead on the Republican Party to take responsibility for making sure Donald Trump does not return to the White House.
Ms Clinton, who won the 2016 popular vote by approximately 3 million but lost in the Electoral College after falling short in three key states, reiterated her position in a CBS interview - in which she also declared that Donald Trump was guilty of a major crime against the US government.
Andrew Naughtie reports.
Hillary Clinton says Donald Trump is guilty of 'seditious conspiracy'
Pennsylvania Republican Senate candidate Dr Mehmet Oz has said he does not believe Americans have a right to health care, but he thinks the uninsured should have access to 15-minute checkups in a "festival-like setting".
The celebrity doctor made the eyebrow-raising comments while speaking at the National Governors Association winter meeting.
Graig Graziosi reports.
Dr Oz says uninsured Americans 'don't have the right to health'
A leaked membership list from an American far-right, anti-government militia group whose members are charged in connection with the Jan 6 attack on the US Capitol includes the names of hundreds of law enforcement officials, members of the military and elected officials.
The list, reviewed by the Anti-Defamation League Center on Extremism, includes at least 81 people who are currently holding public office or are candidates in upcoming elections, from local leadership - including mayors and school board members - to state representatives and senators.
Membership lists also include more than 370 people currently working in law enforcement agencies and more than 100 active military members, according to the report.
Alex Woodward has the details.
Elected officials, military and police on leaked Oath Keepers list, report finds
Steve Bannon, Donald Trump's former White House chief strategist and the ex-editor of Breitbart, is expected to face a new criminal indictment and to surrender to New York state prosecutors on Thursday, according to multiple reports.
Joe Sommerlad examines what the new charges mean.
What are the new charges against Steve Bannon and what do they mean?
Former Donald Trump strategist Steve Bannon is reportedly expected to surrender to New York state prosecutors on Thursday to face a new criminal indictment.
This comes just weeks after a federal jury convicted him of two counts of criminal contempt of Congress for intentionally defying a subpoena related to the assault on the US Capitol last year.
Maroosha Muzaffar reports.
Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon to face new indictment in New York case
Donald Trump's spokesperson has accused The Washington Post of "colluding" with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) after it reported that the former president kept details of a foreign country's nuclear capabilities at his Florida home.
Taylor Budowich, the former president's communications director, alleged the Post "continues to serve as the propaganda arm of the Biden administration" without denying the report.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar has the story.
Trump spokesman reacts to nuclear secrets claims by saying paper 'colluded' with FBI
Eric Trump claims his father is too "neat" to keep papers lying around after it was revealed that some of the seized classified documents taken from Donald Trump's Florida had contained details of the nuclear capabilities of a foreign country.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar reports.
Eric Trump says father Donald too is 'neat' to leave top secret papers lying around
Portraits of Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States, and first lady Michelle Obama are finally about to be unveiled at the White House, with President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden acting as hosts. Their presentation was previously blocked by Mr Obama's successor, Donald Trump.
Here's the background to the ceremony that is about to get underway:
Why did Donald Trump block the Obamas' portraits?
Arizona Senate candidate Blake Masters is one of a number of Republican nominees struggling badly in ostensibly winnable races thanks in part to his history of strange and extreme positions.
That impression will only be further cemented by the release of a batch of emails sent by Mr Masters in the mid-2000s, including these ones focusing on the question of whether the 9/11 attacks were staged by the US government.
This is quite a Blake Masters email, via @Robillard:https://t.co/1yUPpBFXES pic.twitter.com/wQAnFsSdCe
Donald Trump earlier today accused the FBI agents who executed a court-authorised search of his Palm Beach, Florida home and office of taking his personal medical and tax records without proper cause. However, the warrant for their search contradicts him.
According to the warrant, FBI agents were ordered to search Mr Trump's office, as well as "all storage rooms, and all other rooms or areas within the premises used or available to be used by FPOTUS and his staff and in which boxes or documents could be stored" at his Mar-a-Lago club.
In addition to authorising the FBI to seize all "physical documents and records constituting evidence, contraband, fruits of crime, or other items illegally possessed in violation of" parts of the US criminal code outlawing unauthorised possession of national defence information and obstruction of justice plus "any physical documents with classification markings, along with any containers/boxes (including any other contents) in which such documents are located," US Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart also ordered agents to seize "any other containers/boxes that are collectively stored or found together" with the boxes containing classified documents.
Andrew Feinberg writes:
Trump falsely accuses FBI of 'improperly' seizing his medical and tax records
This afternoon will see a key hearing in the case of Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, who faces some of the most serious charges brought against any 6 January rioter so far.
ALERT: Court has just scheduled 330pm hearing about 11th hour request by OathKeepers founder Stewart Rhodes to delay his trial in Capitol riot seditious conspiracy case.
Rhodes has just changed defense lawyers. Trial is scheduled for Sept 26
I'll be in court at 330p pic.twitter.com/wEePsa8bwZ
Mr Rhodes is seeking to delay his trial in the basis that his relationship with his legal team has fallen apart. The Oath Keepers' own counsel, Kellye SoRelle, has herself been indicted on multiple offences connected with the riot.
Read more from Alex Woodward.
Oath Keepers attorney arrested and charged in Capitol riot case
Once Donald Trump's dogged defender when serving as his attorney general, Bill Barr has not held back on explaining that his former boss may be facing extremely severe consequences for his transportation of documents at Mar-a-Lago.
Appearing on Fox News this morning, he not only explained why it is in fact appropriate for the FBI to have seized personal documents of the former president's that were intermingled with classified documents, but also said that while he doesn't want to see Mr Trump indicted as a former president, things may well be headed in that direction:
Bill Barr, Trump's former AG, on Trump possibly being indicted: "I think they're getting very close to that point, frankly" pic.twitter.com/dANTqoXOA3
A new report has recealed that according to a leaked membership list, the far-right Oath Keepers militia group counts among its followers hundreds of serving law enforcement officers, military servicemembers and elected officials.
According to the Anti-Defamation League Centre on Extremism, more than 80 people serving in office or running for it this year as of early August showed up on the database, which contains some 38,000 names.
Read more:
Elected officials, police chiefs on leaked Oath Keepers list
In today's Inside Washington dispatch, Eric Garcia looks at Donald Trump's continuing influence on the Republican Party's Senate campaign - which has seen several of his preferred candidates struggling to catch up with their opponents:
Much has been made about the feud between Mitch Mr McConnell and National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Rick Scott about whether Republicans have a strong enough slate of candidates to take the Senate back, even though they only need to net one seat to do it.
But regardless of whether they do or not, the reason they have the candidates running now is that Mr Trump endorsed them (JD Vance, Blake Masters, Dr Mehmet Oz) or suggested they should run (Herschel Walker). Similarly, Mr Scott would not have to fear his NRSC endorsing candidates if it wasn't for the easily triggered Maga base.
Read the full analysis here.
As GOP Senate candidates struggle, it's cleanup on aisle Trump
Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who serves as ranking member on the Senate Intelligence Committee, appeared on Fox News this morning to discuss the report that among the documents taken by Donald Trump to his residence was highly classified information about a foreign country's nuclear weapons capability.
Mr Rubio responded with a long exegesis on the dangers of leaking information from the investigation, which he said is being done to "politicise" the affair. This is a misleading rendering of events; most of what is known about what happened during the raid stems from the affidavit, warrant and inventory released by the DoJ, and attacks on the integrity of the institutions from the right have been so intense that agents and other officials have had to take enhanced security measures against violent threats.
Watch his remarks below:
Steve Doocy: "That doesn't seem like something you should have in your post-presidential drawer."
Marco Rubio: "All this information is coming from one side and one place... well, who are the sources with knowledge of the investigation? The FBI and Justice Department!" pic.twitter.com/k6P9cXJjLq
Posting on Truth Social this morning, Donald Trump is reiterating several falsehoods about the FBI search of his residence at Mar-a-Lago (including that the agents who carried it out "stole" his passports, which were expired and have now been returned to him), this while comparing the US to the Soviet Union and describing himself as a "perfect physical specimen":
Hillary Clinton's new CBS News interview has yielded its fair share of news, as well as the former secretary of state's latest assurance that she will never run for president again (as she has repeatedly insisted since her loss in 2016).
But among her bluntest pronouncements was that Donald Trump was the leader and fomenter of a "seditious conspiracy" against the US government, which as she noted is a specific an extremely serious crime.
"Was I happy when I beat Donald Trump by nearly 3 million votes but lost the Electoral College? No," @HillaryClinton tells @NorahODonnell. "Did I ever for a nanosecond think, 'I'm gonna claim victory and try to get the Democrats to refuse to certify the election'? No." pic.twitter.com/PtRziziTH8
Adding to a string of cackhanded media appearances by Donald Trump's current legal team, attorney Alina Habba appeared on pro-Trump outlet Newsmax yesterday to discuss some of the recent turns in the saga.
Breaking with the strategy of bombarding the public with contradictory explanations for what was found at the former president's residence, she had nothing to say on one of the most alarming recent developments:
Asked why folders seized by the FBI from Mar-a-Lago that once contained classified documents were empty, Trump lawyer Alina Habba says "I don't know," then pivots to talking about some meme she saw on Instagram pic.twitter.com/gEO73S2Uqy