Trump news today: Trump rages at DoJ’s appeal as Giuliani’s take on Islam described as ‘unhinged’

Donald Trump took to his preferred platform of rage late Thursday night to air his displeasure at the Department of Justice for appealing Judge Aileen Cannon’s ruling regarding appointing a special master to review the classified documents seized during the search of his Palm Beach residence.

The former president’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.

Mr Trump paused from ranting on Truth Social about the “leakers” at the DoJ to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II who passed away on Thursday afternoon.

Key points

• Trump rages at DoJ for appealing special master ruling

• Giuliani was ‘unhinged’ and belligerent in rants about Islam, new book claims

• Grand jury investigating Jan 6 now also looking at Trump PAC

• Bannon surrenders to NY authorities under new indictment

• Trump had top secret papers about foreign nation’s nuclear defences at Mar-a-Lago, report says

Giuliani was ‘unhinged’ and belligerent in rants about Islam, new book claims

11:16 , Johanna Chisholm

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”.

Trump rages at DoJ for appealing special master ruling

11:05 , Johanna Chisholm

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!”

DOJ appeals special master order in Trump Mar-a-Lago search case

10:15 , Oliver O'Connell

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

Biden embraces tough tone on ‘MAGA Republicans’

09:45 , Oliver O'Connell

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'

Poll: Americans agree with Biden, Trump is a threat to democracy

09:15 , Oliver O'Connell

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

‘I don’t understand how’ Trump was allowed to take documents says Hillary Clinton

08:45 , Oliver O'Connell

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

Trump says ‘everyone wants him’ to run for president in 2024

08:15 , Oliver O'Connell

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

‘There was nobody like her!’ says Trump in reaction to Queen’s death

07:45 , Oliver O'Connell

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!’

McConnell asked to comment on Trump’s attacks on his wife

07:15 , Oliver O'Connell

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 charged with money laundering and conspiracy in New York State court

06:45 , Oliver O'Connell

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

The Lincoln Project’s Rick Wilson launches fiery video at Trump after legal threat

06:15 , Oliver O'Connell

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

‘See you all in Court!’: Trump threatens lawsuit against Fox News over Lincoln Project ad

05:45 , Oliver O'Connell

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

What are the new fraud charges against Steve Bannon?

05:15 , Oliver O'Connell

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?

DC Grand jury investigating Jan 6 now looking at Trump’s PAC

04:45 , Oliver O'Connell

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

Support of false election claims runs deep in 2022 GOP field

04:15 , Oliver O'Connell

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

Geraldo Rivera says he ‘could never support’ Trump again

03:45 , Oliver O'Connell

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

‘Bewildering’ attempt to delay trial on Jan 6 charges sees judge lay into Oath Keepers founder

03:15 , Oliver O'Connell

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

Laura Ingraham says Obama ‘blew it’ because Trump was elected after him

02:45 , Oliver O'Connell

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

Mike Flynn furiously storms out of interview over Jan 6 question

02:15 , Oliver O'Connell

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

DeWine wins Trump support for second term as Ohio governor

01:45 , Oliver O'Connell

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

Trump kept secret documents on Russia over fear Biden would ‘shred’ them, report says

01:15 , Oliver O'Connell

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

In TV interview Trump repeats unproven claim that FBI ‘planted’ files in Mar-a-Lago search

Friday 9 September 2022 00:45 , Oliver O'Connell

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

Palin says ‘entire country’ should be ‘outraged’ at her failure to get elected

Friday 9 September 2022 00:15 , Oliver O'Connell

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

Biden embraces tough tone on 'MAGA Republicans'

Thursday 8 September 2022 23:45 , Oliver O'Connell

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'

Trump: ‘Everyone wants me to run again’... but rules out Ivanka on any 2024 ticket

Thursday 8 September 2022 23:15 , Oliver O'Connell

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

Man charged with sending ‘Zodiac Killer’ meme death threats to Ted Cruz

Thursday 8 September 2022 22:45 , Oliver O'Connell

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 doesn’t ‘understand how’ Trump able to take classified files

Thursday 8 September 2022 22:15 , Oliver O'Connell

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

Poll: Americans agree with Biden view — Trump is a threat to democracy

Thursday 8 September 2022 21:58 , Oliver O'Connell

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

DOJ appeals special master order in Trump Mar-a-Lago search case

Thursday 8 September 2022 21:45 , Oliver O'Connell

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

Watch: Trump pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

Thursday 8 September 2022 21:23 , Oliver O'Connell

The Lincoln Project’s Rick Wilson launches fiery video at Trump after legal threat

Thursday 8 September 2022 21:15 , Oliver O'Connell

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

Justice Department appealing special master ruling

Thursday 8 September 2022 20:50 , Oliver O'Connell

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.

ICYMI: Trump told aides he kept Russia probe documents to save them from destruction

Thursday 8 September 2022 20:30 , Andrew Naughtie

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

Trump hails King Charles III

Thursday 8 September 2022 20:18 , Oliver O'Connell

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.

Geraldo Rivera finally shuns Trump

Thursday 8 September 2022 19:50 , Oliver O'Connell

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

Trump offers condolences on death of Queen Elizabeth II

Thursday 8 September 2022 19:26 , Oliver O'Connell

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.

Judge slates Oath Keepers founder for attempt to delay trial

Thursday 8 September 2022 18:50 , Oliver O'Connell

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

Grand jury investigating Jan 6 now also looking at Trump PAC

Thursday 8 September 2022 18:18 , Oliver O'Connell

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

Mike Flynn loses rag over Jan 6 question

Thursday 8 September 2022 17:30 , Andrew Naughtie

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

Herschel Walker in bizarre farming monologue

Thursday 8 September 2022 16:30 , Andrew Naughtie

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

Ingraham: Obama blew it

Thursday 8 September 2022 15:50 , Andrew Naughtie

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.

“Perverts and liars”: Trump rages against Lincoln Project

Thursday 8 September 2022 15:05 , Andrew Naughtie

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:

Bannon surrenders to NY authorities

Thursday 8 September 2022 14:43 , Andrew Naughtie

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

Trump offers goodwill to “Tropical Trump” Bolsonaro

Thursday 8 September 2022 14:15 , Andrew Naughtie

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:

Watch: Michelle Obama on the central tenet of democracy

Thursday 8 September 2022 13:45 , Andrew Naughtie

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.

Trump dismisses idea of running with Ivanka

Thursday 8 September 2022 13:15 , Andrew Naughtie

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:

Trump repeats false “planted documents” claim

Thursday 8 September 2022 12:45 , Andrew Naughtie

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

FBI issues more callouts for 6 January suspects

Thursday 8 September 2022 12:15 , Andrew Naughtie

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.

Former CIA director on “shocking” Mar-a-Lago documents details

Thursday 8 September 2022 11:51 , Andrew Naughtie

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.

Hillary Clinton: Mar-a-Lago documents “should concern every American"

Thursday 8 September 2022 11:14 , Andrew Naughtie

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.

Trump claims FBI stole documents revealing “absolutely perfect” health

Thursday 8 September 2022 10:45 , Andrew Naughtie

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

Trump repeats unproven claim that FBI ‘planted’ files in Mar-a-Lago raid on Indian TV

Thursday 8 September 2022 10:15 , Shweta Sharma

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

‘Once our time is up, we move on’: Michelle Obama has a dig at Donald Trump in White House portrait remarks

Thursday 8 September 2022 09:15 , Oliver O'Connell

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

Judge denies Oath Keepers leader’s trial delay bid

Thursday 8 September 2022 08:30 , Oliver O'Connell

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

Trump told aides he kept secret documents on Russia as Biden would ‘shred’ them

Thursday 8 September 2022 08:17 , Shweta Sharma

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

Profile: Michael Flynn — From government insider to holy warrior

Thursday 8 September 2022 07:30 , Oliver O'Connell

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

What are the new charges against Steve Bannon?

Thursday 8 September 2022 06:30 , Oliver O'Connell

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?

Barr says DoJ should appeal ‘wrong’ special master ruling

Thursday 8 September 2022 05:30 , Oliver O'Connell

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:

Hillary Clinton reiterates she won’t run for president again

Thursday 8 September 2022 04:00 , Oliver O'Connell

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’

Trump falsely claims FBI of ‘improperly’ seized medical records showing his ‘absolutely perfect’ health

Thursday 8 September 2022 03:00 , Oliver O'Connell

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

Why did Donald Trump block the Obamas portrait ceremony?

Thursday 8 September 2022 02:15 , Oliver O'Connell

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 says father is too ‘neat’ to leave top secret papers lying around

Thursday 8 September 2022 01:30 , Oliver O'Connell

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

ICYMI: Video fills in details on alleged Georgia election breach

Thursday 8 September 2022 00:45 , Oliver O'Connell

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

Trump spokesman says paper ‘colluded’ with FBI over nuclear secrets claims

Thursday 8 September 2022 00:00 , Oliver O'Connell

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

Trump and JD Vance mocked for scheduling rally during Ohio State football game

Wednesday 7 September 2022 23:15 , Oliver O'Connell

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

Takeaways from the AP/Frontline Michael Flynn investigation

Wednesday 7 September 2022 22:45 , Oliver O'Connell

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

Michelle Obama has dig at Trump over 2020 election obstinance

Wednesday 7 September 2022 22:15 , Oliver O'Connell

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

Blake Masters defended 9/11 conspiracies and called Unabomber ‘underrated’, emails show

Wednesday 7 September 2022 21:50 , Oliver O'Connell

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 says again she won’t run for president and Trump guilty of ‘seditious conspiracy’

Wednesday 7 September 2022 21:20 , Oliver O'Connell

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’

Dr Oz says uninsured ‘don’t have right to health’, suggesting 15-minute check-ups

Wednesday 7 September 2022 20:55 , Oliver O'Connell

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’

Elected officials, military and law enforcement on leaked Oath Keepers list, report finds

Wednesday 7 September 2022 20:30 , Oliver O'Connell

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

What are the new charges against Steve Bannon?

Wednesday 7 September 2022 20:05 , Oliver O'Connell

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?

Steve Bannon expected to surrender to face new indictment in New York case

Wednesday 7 September 2022 19:40 , Oliver O'Connell

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

Trump spokesperson says paper ‘colluded’ with FBI over nuclear secrets but fails to address accusation

Wednesday 7 September 2022 19:10 , Oliver O'Connell

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 says father too ‘neat’ to leave top secret papers lying around

Wednesday 7 September 2022 18:50 , Oliver O'Connell

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

Meanwhile at the White House...

Wednesday 7 September 2022 18:20 , Oliver O'Connell

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?

Trump-backed candidate floated 9/11 conspiracy theories

Wednesday 7 September 2022 17:50 , Andrew Naughtie

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.

Why the FBI did not “steal” from Trump

Wednesday 7 September 2022 17:20 , Andrew Naughtie

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

Top Oath Keeper in court seeking trial delay

Wednesday 7 September 2022 16:50 , Andrew Naughtie

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.

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

Barr: Trump indictment looking likely

Wednesday 7 September 2022 16:20 , Andrew Naughtie

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:

Bombshells in leaked Oath Keepers membership list

Wednesday 7 September 2022 15:50 , Andrew Naughtie

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

Analysis: Trump still dictating tone of GOP Senate campaign

Wednesday 7 September 2022 15:20 , Andrew Naughtie

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:

Read the full analysis here.

As GOP Senate candidates struggle, it’s cleanup on aisle Trump

Rubio pushes back on latest documents story with complaint about leaks

Wednesday 7 September 2022 14:55 , Andrew Naughtie

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:

Trump wakes up to truth

Wednesday 7 September 2022 14:30 , Andrew Naughtie

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”:

Clinton: Trump guilty of seditious conspiracy

Wednesday 7 September 2022 14:05 , Andrew Naughtie

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.

Trump lawyer declines to explain empty classified document folders at Mar-a-Lago

Wednesday 7 September 2022 13:40 , Andrew Naughtie

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: