Donald Trump demo: Who Jack Smith has questioned in Jan. 6 inquiry

Ashley Oliver

July 28, 07:00 AM July 28, 07:01 AM

Special counsel Jack Smith has sought testimony from dozens of men and women as aspect of an investigation into the certification of the 2020 election, and his grand jury carries on to fulfill with witnesses as the prospect of a 3rd presidential indictment looms.

Smith, appointed distinctive counsel in November, has proven fascination in individuals closest to former President Donald Trump, including family members users, prime aides, and attorneys, and these Trump might have blamed or pressured in the aftermath of the election.

TRUMP Guide In excess of Key OPPONENTS Holds Constant, BIDEN GAINS Aid: POLL

While some others could see indictments from the investigation, details that has surfaced about the key grand jury's subpoenas and meetings with prosecutors alerts the previous president is Smith's key suspect. A target letter Trump introduced he received final week strengthened that notion.

The letter, which prosecutors usually send forward of a nearing indictment, extended a courtesy to Trump to meet with the grand jury inside four days, Trump said in a lengthy statement.

The Office of Justice “effectively issued a third indictment and Arrest of Joe Biden’s Range 1 POLITICAL OPPONENT,” Trump, the 2024 GOP presidential front-runner, wrote.

Hinting at charges laid out in the letter, Trump included, “I have the proper to protest an Election that I am totally convinced was Rigged and Stolen, just as the Democrats have accomplished in opposition to me in 2016.”

Smith was tasked specifically by Legal professional Normal Merrick Garland with continuing the DOJ's ongoing investigation into "whether or not any human being or entity violated the legislation in connection with attempts to interfere with the lawful transfer of power next the 2020 presidential election or the certification of the Electoral Faculty vote."

Speculation swirled that Smith's Washington, D.C.-based mostly grand jury could supply an indictment Thursday, but it never arrived. That similar day, Trump wrote on Truth Social his attorneys had a "effective conference" with DOJ and that "no indication of recognize was given through the conference."

Below are some of those people Smith has discovered as suitable in the circumstance.

Spouse and children users

Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, testified to the grand jury in reaction to a subpoena in June that he believed Trump really imagined the election was “stolen,” in accordance to the New York Instances. The grand jury was seeking for data about whether Trump privately believed he dropped the election while publicly maintaining he received it, the outlet documented.

Ivanka Trump, Kushner’s wife and the former president’s eldest daughter who frequently worked in an advisory purpose in the White Home, was also subpoenaed but has not testified, in accordance to the outlet.

White Dwelling and marketing campaign aides

Previous Vice President Mike Pence testified in advance of the grand jury in April, a resource familiar verified. Pence, who turned a prime focus on for Trump in his allies in the aftermath of the election, presided about the Senate as members voted to certify the final results of the Electoral College or university on Jan. 6, 2021. Pence, who is now working against Trump for president, at very first remained reasonably peaceful about his decision to allow the Senate method to enjoy out in the experience of vocal objections from Trump. The former vice president has due to the fact embraced the selection, denouncing Trump for refusing to accept the election effects publicly.

Previous New York Town Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a Trump lawyer who himself is caught up in an election-connected defamation lawsuit in Ga, reported this thirty day period he voluntarily complied with Smith's ask for for an interview and that he compliantly gave answers other than the place he deemed them privileged. He mentioned Wednesday, "Of program I'm not cooperating against Donald Trump," including Trump is "harmless" and "they are framing him."

Stephen Miller, a senior adviser and speechwriter in the Trump White Home, testified just before the grand jury in April, the 2nd time for him to do so, according to many studies.

Mark Meadows, Trump's former main of employees, and Dan Scavino, his previous deputy chief of personnel, have the two testified to the grand jury, in accordance to various experiences.

Former New York Police Section Commissioner Bernie Kerik, who labored for the Trump campaign to collect proof of alleged voter fraud, explained this thirty day period that Smith subpoenaed him for paperwork “several months ago” and that he complied once he obtained waivers from Trump’s lawful team to release the documents.

“No just one is providing out Trump or Giuliani. This is about giving the Specific Counsel the proof that the lawful crew collected underneath the supervision of [Giuliani], and was reviewing in the aftermath of the 2020 election relating to voter/election fraud, and improprieties in that election,” Kerik explained.

Steve Bannon, a essential strategist for Trump through his time in office environment, was convicted of contempt for not complying with the Democratic-led Jan. 6 committee’s subpoena past 12 months. Smith recently subpoenaed Bannon for paperwork and testimony, NBC News claimed.

Prime Office of Homeland Protection officers who served whilst Trump was in business office, including Ken Cuccinelli and Chad Wolf, testified to prosecutors or the grand jury about White Household officials inquiring them if DHS could seize voting devices. They testified that they adamantly mentioned the section could not, in accordance to CNN.

Previous Trump nationwide safety adviser Robert O’Brien also spoke about the matter with prosecutors this yr, the outlet documented.

William Russell, a shut aide to Trump, appeared in advance of the grand jury last 7 days, the most new of several appearances, in accordance to the Washington Put up.

Point out officers

Ga Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who Trump told in a now-famous leaked mobile phone connect with to "discover" nearly 12,000 votes, verified to a community Atlanta affiliate he fulfilled with federal prosecutors for hours and that he furnished them with Condition Farm Arena election night time surveillance footage. Trump and his lawyers claimed the footage confirmed officers pulling faulty ballots out of suitcases. The suitcase claim was debunked by way of numerous investigations.

Arizona GOP Property Speaker Rusty Bowers, who was censured by his state celebration last calendar year for his testimony to the Jan. 6 committee, verified to CNN host Kaitlan Collins this month that he met with federal investigators in the situation.

"I am hesitant to communicate about any subpoenas, and so forth., but I have been interviewed by the FBI," Bowers claimed.

Arizona Democratic Secretary of Point out Adrian Fontes gained two subpoenas for files, which includes one as lately as Could, in accordance to the Arizona Republic. Smith served as Maricopa County recorder, overseeing a part of the 2020 election procedure in one of the most closely viewed and afterwards most greatly scrutinized jurisdictions in the region. The subpoenas, the Arizona Republic mentioned, sought details about lawsuits filed by Trump's marketing campaign and previous Arizona GOP Chairwoman Kelli Ward.

Smith subpoenaed county clerks in November in selected battleground states, like Arizona and Wisconsin, for any communication “to, from, or involving” Trump or his marketing campaign. The subpoena, released by NBC News, also sought communication involving any of 19 figures who are or utilized to be in Trump’s orbit, together with John Eastman, who crafted a memo bullet-pointing causes he believed Pence could reject the Electoral Faculty success in January 2021.

The subpoena also named amid the 19 Kerik and Giuliani, as well as Sidney Powell and Lin Wood, the duo who notoriously inspired Ga voters to stay residence in the 2021 runoffs because, they claimed, the state’s election process was faulty.

Woman whose son was fatally stabbed will testify at GOP’s New York crime hearing

Cami Mondeaux

April 12, 09:59 AM April 12, 09:59 AM

The House Judiciary Committee announced the witness list for its GOP-led field hearing that will focus on violent crime in New York City, with the line-up including a woman whose son was fatally stabbed roughly five years ago.

Republicans announced the hearing last week as a way to undercut the work of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, hoping to erode his credibility as he prosecutes former President Donald Trump on a number of criminal charges. The hearing will feature at least three witnesses, including the mother of a homicide victim, a bodega clerk who was wrongfully charged with murder, and an anti-crime activist, according to the Daily Mail.

DEMOCRATS PLAN TO JOIN GOP HEARING ON CRIME AND VIOLENCE IN NEW YORK

Madeline Brame, chairwoman of the Victim Rights Council, will testify before the committee, sharing a story of her son, Army veteran Hason Correa, who was reportedly stabbed to death by a group of attackers outside a Harlem apartment building in 2018. Two of the attackers secured a plea deal with Manhattan prosecutors, including Bragg, and another was released on time served.

Brame has previously spoken out against Bragg’s conduct in that case, accusing him of violating her “rights as a crime victim to be fully informed and to be heard,” according to a letter she sent the district attorney last summer. Brame said she was not informed of the plea deals until after they were accepted.

The committee will also hear from Jose Alba, a bodega clerk who was wrongfully charged with murder after stabbing a man who attacked him inside his store. Alba was arrested on a second-degree murder charge and sent to Rikers Island.

However, video showed Alba stabbed the attacker in what appeared to be self-defense, prompting calls to release the bodega clerk. Alba was later cleared after Bragg’s office asked a judge to drop the charges due to intense backlash from the public, including New York Mayor Eric Adams.

The panel will hear from a third witness, who is the leader of Victim Rights New York and has been an anti-crime activist in the city for several years. Jennifer Harrison has been vocal about the city’s criminal justice system for years, particularly after she said her boyfriend and best friend were killed in a double homicide.

Two of the attackers “went free” and the third was released after “just a few years,” she told the Daily Mail.

The hearing will be held on April 17 in the district represented by Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY), who is the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee. Democrats on the panel say they plan to attend in an effort to diminish the event as a political stunt.

The field hearing is the latest retaliation from House Republicans against Bragg’s indictment of Trump after the latter was charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records earlier this month. Republicans have decried the charges as being politically motivated, vowing to investigate Bragg and his office.

Republicans on the Judiciary Committee subpoenaed former New York County Special Assistant District Attorney Mark Pomerantz to appear before the panel and testify about his previous involvement in the Trump investigation. Pomerantz initially led the inquiry before resigning last year over Bragg’s initial reluctance to move forward with the case.

Bragg later filed a lawsuit against Jordan on Tuesday, accusing the committee chairman of interfering with a local investigation. The district attorney claimed he has received several death threats because of Republicans’ attacks, accusing Jordan of orchestrating a “transparent campaign to intimidate and attack" him.

Trump's biggest loss this week was in Wisconsin, not New York

Christian Datoc

April 06, 05:15 AM April 06, 05:15 AM

Former President Donald Trump was arraigned in New York on Tuesday on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, but the largest blow to his hopes of reclaiming the White House might have occurred nearly 1,000 miles away in Wisconsin, where liberals secured a majority on the state's Supreme Court for the first time in 15 years.

Hours after Trump became the first American president to face felony charges, Judge Janet Protasiewicz claimed victory over former Justice Dan Kelly, a major Trump supporter and one of the Wisconsin Republicans central to the former president's attempts to throw out the results of the 2020 general election.

TRUMP ASSOCIATES CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC INDICTMENT BUMP WILL LAST

Kelly, who was appointed to the Supreme Court by former Wisconsin GOP Gov. Scott Walker in 2016 to replace retiring Justice David Prosser, announced in 2019 his intent to run for a full 10-year term but eventually lost in the April 2020 Supreme Court general election. Following that defeat, Kelly joined the Institute for Reforming Government, a conservative nonprofit group, and served as legal counsel to Wisconsin Republicans' efforts to aid Trump in decertifying President Joe Biden's general election victory.

Wisconsin represented one of the seven states where the Trump legal team and allies launched legal efforts to block the certification of Biden's win, and the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which at the time was controlled by conservatives, eventually voted 4-3 in December of 2020 to deny Trump's challenge. Conservative Justice Brian Hagedorn sided with the liberals on the court to cast the deciding vote.

This election, Protasiewicz and Democratic allies spent more than $23 million tying Kelly to Trump's failed attempts to overturn the 2020 results. Democratic officials told the Washington Examiner that it's "critical" for the party to win down-ballot elections "so that ultra-MAGA local politicians can't move to pull a 2020 in 2024."

As of Wednesday morning, Kelly trailed Protasiewicz by 10 points with 95% of all votes counted, and he lashed out at his opponent in a Trumpian concession speech Tuesday night.

"I wish that in a circumstance like this, I would be able to concede to a worthy opponent, but I do not have a worthy opponent to which I can concede," he said. "This was the most deeply deceitful, dishonorable, despicable campaign that I have ever seen run for the courts."

Still, there is a chance that Protasiewicz could be impeached and removed from the court by the Republican supermajority in the state senate, which was also solidified Tuesday night after former state GOP Rep. Dan Knodl defeated attorney Jodi Habush Sinykin in the special election to fill the 8th District seat.

Knodl previously hinted at plans to bring an impeachment vote to the floor should Protasiewicz best Kelly, but If Protasiewicz is removed from the bench, Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, would then appoint someone to fill the hole.

Though Trumpworld officials have argued that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's "witch hunt" case would help secure him the 2024 Republican nomination, Wisconsin politicos doubted the impact the indictment would have on the Supreme Court election.

"While this [indictment] may get the juice flowing with some of his supporters, some may have a head shake and shoulder shrug," former state GOP leader Brandon Scholz suggested before Tuesday's race was called. "This indictment thing isn’t really tied into this race. It is a Trump issue."

"We’re focused on winning a critical election in four days that will have long-term consequences for millions of Wisconsinites when it comes to issues like reproductive rights and the strength of our democracy," he said in a statement. "We know voters are focused on this race because it’s an opportunity to return fairness and impartiality to the Wisconsin Supreme Court."

Protasiewicz campaign spokesman Sam Roecker also predicted that voters wouldn't "be distracted by what’s happening in New York."

Trump himself criticized Kelly on Wednesday, claiming on his social media site, Truth Social, that the former justice would have won had he sought an endorsement from the former president.

"Daniel Kelly of Wisconsin just lost his Supreme Court Election. He bragged that he won’t seek Trump’s Endorsement, so I didn’t give it—which guaranteed his loss," he wrote. "How foolish is a man that doesn’t seek an Endorsement that would have won him the Election?"

Trump did endorse Kelly during the 2020 Supreme Court election, which saw him falling to Justice Jill Karofsky by more than 10 points.

The turnout from Tuesday's contest also portends a poor showing for Trump in the state should he be the GOP nominee in 2024.

On Tuesday, 1.84 million Wisconsin voters took part in the Supreme Court election, roughly 800,000 fewer participants than the 2022 midterm election but still the highest mark for a Supreme Court election in a nonpresidential election year since 2008. The liberal-leaning Milwaukee and Madison metropolitan areas accounted for 26% of all votes cast Tuesday, up 4 points from the November 2022 midterm elections, which saw Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) hold off progressive challenger Mandela Barnes.

Three Trump associates admitted to the Washington Examiner that Tuesday's results make Trump's path back to the White House more difficult.

"Wisconsin is a critical swing state," one person said. "If the turnout is similar in November 2024, I don't think any Republican could win there."

Trump won Wisconsin in 2016 by roughly 20,000 votes after former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton failed to hold a single campaign event in the state, but he lost the state in 2020 by a similar margin.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre chalked up Tuesday's results to Wisconsin voters prioritizing reproductive rights, with the court expected to hear an abortion case this spring. The new liberal majority all but guarantees the court will overturn a 19th-century abortion ban that was reinstated following 2022's Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling.

"Time and time again, the American people have shown their resolute support for reproductive freedom in our democracy, and last night was no different," Jean-Pierre told reporters at Wednesday's White House briefing. "The message from voters has been clear. Americans want the freedom to make reproductive healthcare decisions without government interference. They have been very clear about that."

"We believe that it is important for Americans to have their freedom, including their right to make a decision, and women to have the right to make a decision on their own on their own healthcare, and so the this is the this is an administration that's going to continue to fight for a fight for those freedoms," she concluded.

Donald Trump arrest: Seven takeaways from the Bragg indictment

Sarah Westwood

April 05, 05:30 AM April 05, 05:31 AM

Donald Trump and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg squared off for the first time Tuesday as details about the unprecedented criminal indictment of a former president finally came to light.

The politically seismic event unfolded in front of crowds and hordes of media, commencing what is likely to become one of the most closely watched criminal proceedings in a generation.

FACT CHECK: DEMOCRATS DISTORT THE RECORD ON GUNS AFTER THE NASHVILLE SHOOTING

Trump and his legal team traveled to New York City for his arraignment on 34 felony charges of falsifying business records, before which he was processed into the system.

Here are seven takeaways from the day.

ALLEGED NEW EVIDENCE

Bragg told reporters after the arraignment that his office obtained new evidence to justify bringing the years-old case against Trump.

Bragg’s predecessor, Cyrus Vance, had worked on the investigation without ever bringing charges. Federal investigators too had examined the circumstances around Trump’s 2016 payments to a woman, Stormy Daniels, who claimed to have had an affair with him, and decided against pursuing an indictment.

Bragg said he had discovered “additional evidence that was not in the office’s possession prior to my time here,” which began last year.

That included, Bragg said, more witnesses. His allusion to new witnesses seemed to address a top critique of his case: that he has relied heavily on Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, as a star witness.

Cohen has previously lied to investigators and has spoken openly about his vendetta against Trump since the two parted ways bitterly during Trump’s presidency. Cohen is considered an unreliable witness.

In a statement of facts document, Bragg also mentioned the existence of audio recordings of conversations between Trump and Cohen that, the DA claimed, bolstered Cohen’s testimony.

However, those tapes have been public knowledge since 2018, when Cohen released at least some of the tapes through his lawyer to media outlets.

It is unclear why, nearly five years later, those tapes could provide support for a case no other law enforcement agency considered worthy of advancing.

“I’m sure that District Attorney Bragg has new facts,” Cyrus Vance Jr., Bragg’s predecessor, said on CNN when pressed on why Bragg may have decided to bring a case that he personally did not.

EXPERTS AREN’T IMPRESSED

Several legal experts panned the structure of Bragg’s argument as a stretch at best.

Containing few surprises, the text of the indictment released Tuesday reflected what public reports had signaled it might: Bragg used a novel hybrid of state and federal laws to bump up a misdemeanor charge, for which the statute of limitations had expired, to a felony.

The lawyers and former prosecutors who populated cable news panels Tuesday generally questioned the strength of Bragg’s claim that Trump violated federal election law.

In a press conference after the arraignment, Bragg said Trump had exceeded federal limits on campaign contributions. Federal investigators have already looked at that possibility, and they decided years ago not to prosecute Trump over it.

Bragg also claimed Trump had violated New York election law, but precisely how was less clear.

Elevating the misdemeanor charges of falsifying business records to the felonies Trump now faces would require Trump to have falsified the records in furtherance of a second crime, and few legal commentators seemed confident that Trump had actually committed any second crime.

In fact, Bragg did not charge him with one; he only referenced the additional alleged illegal activity.

UNANSWERED QUESTIONS REMAIN

How exactly Bragg plans to prove that Trump broke election law remains unclear.

Trump has not been charged with any actual violation of election law. But for Bragg’s indictment to work, prosecutors need to prove that he did commit a campaign violation.

Bragg’s office appears to have amassed substantial evidence regarding the paper trail of payments Trump made to Cohen to reimburse him for the money he’d sent to Daniels and to a tabloid that sat on the story of another woman.

The statute of limitations on improperly recording those payments as legal expenses has long passed.

And the evidence that Trump made those payments specifically to affect the 2016 race is thin, at least as represented in the documents made public Tuesday.

The statement of facts document does contain a line that alleges a political motive from Trump rather than a personal one.

“[Trump] instructed Lawyer A,” Bragg’s team wrote, referring to Cohen, “that if they could delay the payment until after the election, they could avoid paying altogether, because at that point it would not matter if the story became public.”

But the “emails and text messages” Bragg’s team goes on to cite as evidence for that claim do not include Trump; instead, those conversations were between Cohen, the tabloid’s editor, and another lawyer. And according to the court document, those conversations refer only to an effort to delay making the payments in question — not to the election.

TRUMP’S BIG DILEMMA

Trump’s legal team has already laid the groundwork to argue that Trump paid off women claiming to have had affairs with him because he wanted to shield his family from embarrassment, not because he wanted to advance his presidential bid.

That defense would conceivably be stronger if he acknowledged that the affairs did occur and that the disclosure of the affairs would have hurt his wife and young son.

But Trump has never publicly admitted to having sexual relationships with Daniels or the other women who came forward during the 2016 race. In fact, he has consistently denied the Daniels affair.

Hush money payments are not illegal. The only reason Bragg found cause to allege the payments were illegal was to connect them to Trump’s presidential ambitions at the time.

Trump is, in some ways, caught between an incentive to own up to the Daniels affair in order to strengthen his defense against the crux of Bragg’s case and to continue denying the affair to protect his family.

TRUMP DITCHED THE PRESHOW

While news reports had suggested Trump was eager to address the public both before and after his court appearance, Trump instead walked solemnly past reporters and said nothing.

Despite the presiding judge declining to impose a gag order, Trump stayed silent leaving the hearing as well.

Trump’s public demeanor — his stone-faced look and slow gait — seemingly contradicted claims from his aides and allies that he was unfazed by the indictment and even excited by the political opportunity it presents.

Trump returned immediately to Palm Beach, Florida, where he was slated to address supporters Tuesday evening.

BIGGEST MOMENT OF 2024 CAMPAIGN

Trump technically launched his 2024 presidential bid six months ago, but Tuesday was far and away the most attention his campaign has received to date.

Cameras captured his every move for the 24 hours leading up to his court appearance, from aerial footage of his plane preparing to leave Palm Beach on Monday to a live broadcast of the entire 4-mile drive from Trump Tower to the courthouse.

Political commentators dissected everything from his facial expression as he walked into the arraignment to the volume of his voice in the courtroom.

And the state of his primary campaign came under a blinding spotlight during round-the-clock coverage of the event, with few signs of that slowing down after Tuesday.

Whether all this is good for Trump’s chances of securing the GOP nomination remains unclear.

His indictment has so far united the Republican Party around him, at least for the moment; even his top potential rival, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), decried the criminal charges as unfair.

But as details of the case emerge and public opinion about the indictment solidifies, voters could begin to see the situation as more evidence that Trump comes with too much baggage to succeed as a Republican standard-bearer.

PEOPLE SEE THIS AS POLITICAL

Most people believe the criminal case against Trump is politically motivated — and most people also don’t care.

CNN polling data from this week showed that 76% of people believe politics played at least some role in the decision by Bragg to bring criminal charges against Trump.

The same poll also suggested that a majority of people — 60% of the country and an overwhelming share of Democrats — approve of the indictment.

That lines up neatly with Trump’s overall approval numbers; a poll published shortly after he launched his 2024 presidential campaign found that 59% of people disapproved of him.

All this means most of the people who don’t like Trump welcome the fact that he’s facing criminal charges, even as they recognize the fact that the charges are motivated by partisanship.

Donald Trump arrest: Former president rips 'fake case' and maintains his innocence

Naomi Lim

April 04, 09:32 PM April 04, 09:36 PM

Former President Donald Trump, the 2024 Republican nominee front-runner, was defiant in his first public on-camera remarks since he became the first holder of the office to be charged with a crime.

"I never thought anything like this could happen in America," Trump told supporters Tuesday at Mar-a-Lago, his private resort and club in Palm Beach, Florida. "The only crime I have committed is to fiercely defend our nation from those who seek to destroy it."

HOW BIDEN COULD BENEFIT FROM TRUMP INDICTMENT

Without third wife Melania, daughter Ivanka, and son-in-law Jared Kushner by his side, the former president relitigated the federal Russia investigation, his first impeachment over Ukraine, and the 2020 election.

"This fake case was brought only to interfere with the upcoming 2024 election, and it should be dropped immediately," he said after being introduced as the "next president of the United States."

Observers who wondered whether he would criticize Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and New York state Judge Juan Merchan were not required to wait long during his 25-minute speech, with Trump also scrutinizing special counsel Jack Smith, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis in Georgia. The former president additionally had words to say about President Joe Biden, comparing his record with that of his predecessor.

"We are a failing nation. We are a nation in decline," he said. "With all being said, and with a very dark cloud over our beloved country, I have no doubt, nevertheless, that we will make America great again."

Donald Trump, Jr., Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), 2022 Arizona Republican gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake, My Pillow CEO Michael Lindell, and Richard Nixon ally Roger Stone were among the guests gathered in the former president's gilded ballroom. The former president earlier spoke to supporters who were not invited or could not attend on the phone.

Trump's indignant demeanor was different from the stone-faced appearance captured by the select photographers permitted in the Manhattan courtroom on Tuesday afternoon. There, he pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up hush-money payments he made before the 2016 election.

As Trump was being booked and fingerprinted, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Trump being arraigned is not "a focus" for President Joe Biden.

"Of course, this is playing out on many of the networks here on a daily basis for hours and hours, so he will catch parts of the news when he has a moment to catch up on the news of the day," she said.

Biden ignored journalists who shouted questions about whether Trump being indicted was "politically motivated" before a meeting with his science and technology advisers at the White House

.

Bragg has been scrutinized for his scant charging document, unsealed during Trump's hearing, even by "Never Trumper" Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT). In a press conference afterward, Bragg defended his case, drawing parallels between it and the federal investigations into Trump's role in Jan. 6, Georgia's inquiry into whether the former president interfered in the 2020 election, and, to a lesser extent, the federal investigation into his handling of classified information. Bragg, too, stood by the delayed action, citing new evidence.

"We cannot and will not normalize serious criminal conduct," he said. "The participants' scheme was illegal. The scheme violated New York election law, which makes it a crime to conspire to promote a candidacy by unlawful means."

Trump's attorneys held their own media opportunity, defending the former president's rhetoric regarding Bragg and Merchan. Trump had earlier shared a doctored image on social media of him swinging a baseball bat at Bragg and told supporters Merchan “hated” him.

“He’s not going after the judge. He noted there were some issues that might cause a conflict,” Trump lawyer Susan Necheles said.

During their return to Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday afternoon, after flying to New York on Monday, Trump's team disseminated a fundraising email with a manufactured mugshot. Trump aides claim they have raised millions since alluding to Tuesday's events two weeks ago while a grand jury was still impaneled.

Trump allegedly had an affair with porn star Stormy Daniels in 2006, shortly after the birth of his son Barron with Melania. Former Trump fixer Michael Cohen, who pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges related to organizing the $130,000 payment to Daniels before the 2016 election, was reimbursed by the Trump Organization for "legal expenses" while the former president was in the White House. Cohen was also involved in "catch-and-kill" deals with the National Enquirer, which paid former Playboy model Karen McDougal $150,000 for her story about an alleged affair with Trump and a Trump Tower doorman $30,000 for his claims the former president had a child out of wedlock. The tabloid never published the articles.

Trump's next court date is in December, when Merchan will rule on any motions filed by the former president's legal representatives. The trial is expected to start in January, the same month as Iowa's Republican primary caucuses.

Donald Trump arrest: Former president arrives at Manhattan courthouse for arraignment in hush money case

Cami Mondeaux

April 04, 01:24 PM April 04, 01:36 PM

Former President Donald Trump arrived at the courthouse in downtown Manhattan on Tuesday to surrender himself to District Attorney Alvin Bragg before his arraignment is scheduled to take place later in the afternoon.

Trump emerged from Trump Tower just after 1 p.m. wearing a suit and red tie while pumping his fist to the crowd gathered outside the building. He then got into his motorcade along with his security detail to make the drive to lower Manhattan.

TRUMP’S GAME PLAN TO SLOW DOWN CRIMINAL CASE

Trump arrived at Bragg’s office at 1:25 p.m. to be escorted to Judge Juan Merchan, who will hand down the former president’s criminal charges. The streets were lined with dozens of journalists and Trump supporters in the hours before his arrival, with some camping out in front of the courthouse overnight.

Trump posted on his Truth Social account just minutes before he surrendered to New York authorities, calling the moment "surreal."

"Heading to Lower Manhattan, the Courthouse," he wrote. "Seems so SURREAL — WOW, they are going to ARREST ME. Can't believe this is happening in America. MAGA!"

Trump is scheduled to appear before Merchan around 2:15 p.m. in a proceeding that is expected to be quick and understated, as he is not expected to be placed in handcuffs or have a mugshot taken. However, the arraignment marks a historic moment as Trump is the first former president to face criminal charges — a precedent that has riled up much of his base, who decry the charges as being politically motivated.

The former president is expected to address reporters before he enters the courtroom, where he'll make his first public statements since arriving in New York for his arraignment.

The scene outside the courthouse got particularly heated in the hours ahead of Trump's arrival, as a group of Trump supporters clashed with some counterprotesters prompting a response from law enforcement. The group of counterprotesters held a large banner reading, "Trump lies all the time," which caused a supporter of the former president to charge the group and begin ripping the sign.

Police were able to disperse the altercation and began conducting additional security sweeps outside the courthouse.

It’s not yet clear whether Trump will need to post bail on Tuesday afternoon. Merchan will make that decision after announcing the charges.

Trump’s indictment has remained sealed since being announced on Thursday, but it’s been reported that he faces at least 34 criminal counts including falsifying business records. Trump has denied all wrongdoing and has said he will plead not guilty.

Trump arrived in New York just before 4 p.m. on Monday afternoon before he headed to Trump Tower for the night ahead of his Tuesday arraignment. The former president released a statement on his Truth Social account just hours after his arrival, accusing Bragg of leaking the details of his indictment to the press.

"Wow! District Attorney Bragg just illegally LEAKED the various points, and complete information, on the pathetic Indictment against me," Trump wrote. "This means that he MUST BE IMMEDIATELY INDICTED. Now, if he wants to really clean up his reputation, he will do the honorable thing and, as District Attorney, INDICT HIMSELF."

Law enforcement in New York have increased security detail around the courthouse ahead of Trump's appearance, with Mayor Eric Adams warning protesters not to get too rowdy — specifically calling out Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), who will lead a protest outside the courthouse on Tuesday.

“While there may be some rabble rousers thinking about coming to our city tomorrow, our message is clear and simple: Control yourselves,” Adams said.

Greene shot back at Adams, accusing the New York mayor of using intimidation tactics to silence opposition.

“Delusional [Eric Adams] is trying to intimidate, threaten, and stop me from using my 1st amendment rights to peacefully protest the Democrat’s unconstitutional weaponization of our justice system against our top Republican Presidential candidate, President Trump,” she said in a tweet. “Should I be the one concerned that the mayor of NYC will weaponize his government or maybe his thugs like DA Alvin Bragg against me?”

Rep. George Santos (R-NY) was also seen outside the courthouse hours before Trump's arraignment began as he denounced the charges, noting it sets a dangerous precedent.

"What stops the next prosecutor in two years?” he told reporters.

Trump’s surrender comes after a grand jury in Manhattan voted on Thursday to indict the former president on charges related to a hush money case that emerged during his first White House bid in 2016.

Reports of a looming indictment emerged after former Trump attorney Michael Cohen testified before the Manhattan grand jury multiple times earlier this month. Cohen was convicted in 2018 after pleading guilty to paying two women who accused Trump of sexual affairs to be silent, including adult film star Stormy Daniels.

As part of the scheme, Cohen paid Daniels $130,000 and was later reimbursed by the Trump Organization.

Manhattan prosecutors later opened an investigation into whether Trump falsified business records to list the reimbursement as a legal expense. Such a crime is a misdemeanor in New York but could be increased to a felony if Bragg's office argues the fraud was intended to conceal a second crime.

At the time of Cohen’s trial, federal prosecutors did not press charges against Trump due to guidance from the Justice Department that a sitting president cannot be charged with a crime. However, prosecutors revived discussions about possible charges shortly before Trump left office in 2021. They ultimately declined to charge him.

Donald Trump indicted: Trump campaign raised 'record' $7 million in three days since indictment, senior adviser says

Brady Knox

April 03, 04:55 PM April 03, 04:55 PM

Former President Donald Trump's presidential campaign raised a "record" $7 million in the three days following his indictment, according to a campaign adviser.

Jason Miller, who serves as a senior adviser to Trump's campaign, announced the apparent record shortly after Trump left for New York City. He will be arraigned in the city on Tuesday.

DONALD TRUMP INDICTED: FORMER PRESIDENT RAISES $4M WITHIN 24 HOURS OF INDICTMENT

"In only three days since news of the indictment, President @realDonaldTrump’s campaign has raised a record $7M," Miller tweeted.

The majority of the money was raised within the first 24 hours. Trump's campaign reported that $4 million was raised that day. About a quarter of the money came from first-time donors, and the average donation was $34.

Trump sent out emails to supporters asking for donations following his indictment. He had previously used speculation over his indictment to raise funds.

WATCH: Crenshaw calls Manhattan DA's case against Trump 'as weak as it can get'

Heather Hunter

April 02, 10:10 PM April 02, 10:10 PM

Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) slammed Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs’s case against former President Donald Trump on Sunday as “weak” and politically motivated.

“You don’t have to be a lawyer to look at this case and think it’s on pretty weak grounds," Crenshaw said on CNN’s State of the Union. "This is just very clearly a very weak case."

WATCH: BILL BARR CALLS TRUMP INDICTMENT AN 'ABUSE OF THE PROSECUTIVE FUNCTION'

The Texas congressman added, "Whatever evidence they might have, you’re still talking about the very low level business fraud charges. So I think people need to ask themselves a fundamental question: If this were anyone but Trump, would this DA even take up this case?”

Crenshaw ripped Bragg's record of ignoring other criminal cases and allowing rising crime in Manhattan.

“I mean, this DA has a habit of not taking up cases that are pretty serious, like violent crime and prostitution rings, things like that. But he chooses to take up this one. It feels obvious to a lot of us that it’s politically motivated. It’s personally motivated,” Crenshaw said.

Bash responded to Crenshaw's claims, saying that she was “not sure that’s accurate” to say Manhattan district attorney isn’t bringing up violent crime charges.

During the first days of Bragg's time in office as district attorney, he pushed for finding “alternatives to incarceration,” shorter sentences, avoiding pretrial detention and reducing the number of minors tried as adults in court. Bragg refused to prosecute 35% of major felony cases, including those for murder, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, grand larceny, and grand larceny auto. The city saw a significant increase in crime, with major felonies skyrocketing by 26% between 2021 and 2022, according to the Crime Prevention Research Center.

"To be clear, we don't know what the charges are," the CNN host responded to the Texas Republican about Trump's indictment.

Bash followed up with two questions on whether there are any circumstances in which it would be appropriate to prosecute a former president and whether former presidents should be immune from criminal charges.

Crenshaw said that former presidents should “definitely not be immune from criminal charges,” but reiterated to the CNN host that Bragg's case was "very clearly personally motivated."

Donald Trump indicted: Eric Trump denounces Manhattan DA case as 'mockery' of justice system

Brady Knox

April 02, 10:23 AM April 02, 10:23 AM

Eric Trump denounced the Manhattan DA grand jury's recent indictment against his father, decrying it as a "mockery" of the justice system.

Eric Trump appeared on WHD News to discuss the indictment against Donald Trump, which has caused most Republicans to close ranks in defense of the former president. He condemned the legal case against his father while denouncing Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and the United States's "two-tier system of justice." He specifically took aim at the state of New York City, saying that Bragg was focusing on Trump while crime was rampant.

DONALD TRUMP INDICTED: PROMINENT REPUBLICANS STAY SILENT ON BRAGG CHARGES

"You guys live in New York. I used to live in New York. I know that city very, very well. I go back to New York, and I said this the other night, you literally can't walk into a Duane Reade and buy Advil because everything's locked up behind plastic because there's so much looting. There's so much crime," he said.

He went on to criticize the difference in treatment between him and First Son Hunter Biden, before thanking Trump's supporters for their actions over the past several days.

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"People are sick and tired of this two-tier system of justice and, and, guys, I have to tell you, people in this country understand it," he said. "The support is unbelievable out there because people understand that we've literally become a banana republic that they've, they've made a mockery out of our legal system in this country."

Trump is expected to turn himself in to New York authorities on Tuesday.

Trump legal team considering request to move Manhattan trial to Staten Island: Report

Cami Mondeaux

April 01, 02:00 PM April 01, 02:00 PM

The legal team for Donald Trump is reportedly considering a request to move his criminal trial case from Manhattan to a courthouse in Staten Island due to concerns the former president won’t get a fair trial.

Trump’s lawyers have not decided whether to submit a request to move the trial as the legal team is waiting to see what the specific charges in the case are, a source familiar with the situation told Bloomberg News. Trump is expected to appear at a Manhattan courthouse on Tuesday for his arraignment, during which his charges will be unsealed for the first time.

DONALD TRUMP INDICTED: FORMER PRESIDENT’S GAME PLAN TO SLOW DOWN CRIMINAL CASE

It’s unlikely that prosecutors will agree to move the trial as defendants are not entitled to pick juries that may lean more favorably toward them, according to legal experts.

“The only reason he would try to move venues to Staten Island is that he thinks — based on voter registration — that that’s a friendlier potential jury pool for him,” Jennifer Rodgers, a former federal prosecutor, told the outlet. “That’s not going to fly.”

The expected surrender comes after a grand jury in Manhattan voted on Thursday to indict the former president on charges related to a hush-money case that emerged during Trump’s first White House bid in 2016. The indictment marks the first time a former president has been criminally charged.

Trump was initially asked to surrender on Friday, but his lawyers told New York officials that the former president's security detail would need more time to prepare, according to the .

Trump has consistently denied wrongdoing and has accused Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg of leading a politically motivated prosecution against him. He has also denied any affair with porn star Stormy Daniels, who had been looking to make her story known during Trump's 2016 campaign.

The hush money case centers on testimony from Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen, who pleaded guilty in 2018 to paying two women who accused Trump of sexual affairs to be silent, including Daniels. As part of the scheme, Cohen paid Daniels $130,000 and was later reimbursed by the Trump Organization.

Manhattan prosecutors later opened an investigation into whether Trump falsified business records to list the reimbursement as a legal expense. Such a crime is a misdemeanor in New York but could be increased to a felony if Bragg's office argues the fraud was intended to conceal a second crime.

At the time of Cohen’s trial, federal prosecutors did not press charges against Trump due to guidance from the Justice Department that a sitting president cannot be charged with a crime. However, prosecutors revived discussions about possible charges shortly before Trump left office in 2021.

Indictment offers temporary 'unifier' between Trump and DeSantis as 2024 looms

Katherine Doyle

April 01, 07:00 AM April 01, 07:00 AM

Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R-FL) defense of former President Donald Trump after news broke that a Manhattan grand jury had indicted the former president is expected to ease tensions between the Republican rivals.

“It’s almost a little bit of a unifier right now,” said one Florida GOP operative as the two Republican leaders orient their fire at the elected Democrats prosecuting Trump. “There’s a pause on the beating up of each other. How long does that pause last? I don’t know.”

TRUMP INDICTED: BRAGG TELLS HOUSE GOP TO CEASE 'UNLAWFUL POLITICAL INTERFERENCE' IN CASE

Republicans have largely rallied behind Trump after his indictment by a grand jury in Manhattan in a hush money case. The news marked the first time a former president has been hit with criminal charges.

For months, DeSantis has mostly refrained from firing back at Trump, whose attacks on the governor have sought to paint him as an establishment favorite who can’t be trusted.

Trump’s allies have chastised DeSantis for coming to the former president’s defense ahead of the indictment with a reference to “porn star hush money.” And when DeSantis accused the “Soros-backed” Manhattan district attorney of waging a political vendetta against Trump, the governor took heat for failing to use the former president’s name.

That pushback from Trump’s closest followers is to be expected, but DeSantis is targeting a broader audience, the operative said.

“I thought it was a very strong response, to be honest,” this person said, noting it was “playing well” with Republicans in Trump’s home state.

DeSantis’s pledge that his state “will not assist in an extradition request” did not go unnoticed, striking some as opportunistic since Trump has given no indication that he intends to fight extradition.

However, one operative said it would likely prove effective by inoculating the governor against criticism that he had not sufficiently defended the former president. Trump is set to be arraigned on Tuesday.

“If you take yourself out of Florida and you’re a Republican in Iowa or New Hampshire or Nevada or California, what the governor of the state of Florida said is perfectly on point,” this person said.

Still, when the indictment came, this person added that Trump’s team was caught off guard, some raising speculation that the former president’s warnings had accelerated the time frame.

The brief detente between Trump and DeSantis may not last long.

When FBI agents descended on Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in search of classified documents last year, DeSantis slammed what he called “the weaponization of federal agencies against the Regime’s political opponents,” arriving at the former president’s defense.

“The Mar-a-Lago raid put a pause on it. And now the indictment has put a pause on it,” the GOP operative said. “But it was only maybe a month after the Mar-a-Lago raid that things resumed.”

Trump faces other legal peril that could complicate the dynamic.

A grand jury in Georgia is investigating the former president for his alleged interference in the 2020 election. A Justice Department special counsel is investigating his alleged mishandling of classified documents and role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, among other inquiries.

“It’s the one-two-three punch,” said the GOP campaign strategist. “This is the first.”

Trump ally Bryan Lanza said the indictment, which has come under criticism from former New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, would prove “a disaster” for Democrats. Lanza pointed to Cuomo, who said in a recent radio interview that prosecutors bringing “partisan” cases confirm people’s “cynicism.”

In a sign that DeSantis may be moving closer to an announcement, Florida lawmakers on Thursday introduced draft legislation needed to change the state’s resign-to-run law, a requirement if the governor intends to make a presidential bid before his term expires.

Donald Trump indicted: Can he turn Manhattan grand jury vote into 2024 gold?

W. James Antle III

March 30, 07:22 PM March 30, 07:22 PM

Former President Donald Trump’s long anticipated New York indictment, handed down on Thursday, will test whether he can continue to defy the laws of political gravity.

The rumors of the Manhattan grand jury indictment, stoked by Trump himself, rallied the Republican base behind the former president, who has already announced for 2024.

DESANTIS VS. TRUMP AS THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE

Rank-and-file Republican voters are animated by the belief that the criminal justice system has been weaponized against conservatives. Trump’s argument is that this can be done to him, it could happen to any of his supporters.

“A former president, a current candidate and my friend President Donald J. Trump is a victim of a corrupt and distorted version of the American justice system and history,” Trump attorney Alina Habba said in a statement afterward. “He will be vindicated.”

Trump himself described the indictment as “Political Persecution and Election Interference at the highest level in history.”

“The Democrats have cheated countless times over the decades, including spying on my campaign, but weaponizing our justice system to punish a political opponent, who just so happens to be a President of the United States and by far the leading Republican candidate for President, has never happened before,” he continued. “Ever.”

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is viewed as a partisan figure. The legal case is believed by some experts to not be very strong. The issues at hand — the charges are believed to be related to the payment of hush money to a porn star — are less consequential than those involving Jan. 6, the 2020 election, or Trump’s handling of classified documents.

But there is no guarantee that this will continue to redound to Trump’s benefit. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) is not a declared candidate for the Republican presidential nomination. But the expected contender has already displayed a willingness to relitigate Trump’s alleged affair with Stormy Daniels, a story that might not age well with social conservatives. And central to the Florida governor’s appeal is that he is a no-drama alternative to Trump.

Trump, by contrast, is leaning into the drama. He has denounced Bragg as the latest of his Democratic tormentors. He held his first rally since the indictment reports began circulating in Waco, Texas, the site of the deadly federal raid on the Branch Davidians’ compound in 1993.

Nearly any other candidate would have to suspend their campaign in response to a development of this nature. Trump could easily use his mugshot or images of his perp walk to galvanize the Republican base. He has denied reports that he would welcome being shot during an arrest, but many in his orbit are seeking to turn his legal woes into a political windfall.

"The unprecedented election interference from corrupt Socialist District Attorney Alvin Bragg is a political witch-hunt and a dark day for America,” House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) said in a statement.

President Joe Biden and the White House have remained quiet about Trump’s latest legal issues. Many Republicans allege the indictment is designed to aid Biden politically, pointing to the origins of the Trump-Russia investigation during the 2016 campaign.

Trump has survived two impeachments, the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, his 2020 reelection defeat, and his role in a disappointing midterm election result for Republicans with his hold on the base intact.

It is possible that even if an indictment helps Trump in the Republican primaries, it won’t have the same effect in a general election. Trump will carry the distinction of being the first president ever to be indicted, a marker that does not seem likely to enable him to win back suburban voters who swung against him four years ago.

Both Biden and DeSantis are likely to play up the chaotic nature of Trump’s presidency. The headlines surrounding a criminal trial will help feed that narrative.

There is also the possibility that the Manhattan grand jury will only be the beginning of the legal troubles Trump will face, with other investigations brewing elsewhere on multiple fronts.

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But for now, Trump is betting he can benefit politically from a legal development that would doom any more conventional campaign. To him, the grand jury vote is the ultimate proof of his argument that he is the victim of a sustained witch hunt.

The question is how long Republican primary voters will agree.

Kellyanne Conway says delay in Trump indictment decision shows charges are 'weak'

Jack Birle

March 26, 05:36 PM March 26, 05:36 PM

Kellyanne Conway says the reason former President Donald Trump has yet to be indicted by a Manhattan grand jury is because prosecutors know the case is "weak."

Conway, who served as an advisor to Trump during his presidency, says the charges being considered by Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg are only in consideration so he can say he was "first" to indict Trump.

FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY SAYS TRUMP PROBE NOT UNPRECEDENTED

“I think it’s enough for them to wave the flag and say, ‘we were the first,’ because the left cares about optics and being the first, ‘we’re the first to preside over the indictment of a sitting former president,'” Conway said while speaking on Fox Business Network's WSJ at Large.

“But I think the brush back and the delay here is because they know it’s weak and they tried to build a case based on the testimony of Michael Cohen and to a lesser extent Stormy Daniels," Conway added.

Conway, who said she has discussed the potential indictment with Trump and testified before the Manhattan grand jury, also said that she sees the case only helping Trump's electoral chances.

“If you take the long view, it’d be hard to see how this doesn’t benefit President Trump because it plays right into what he has always said, which is ‘they’re out to get me,’ which means they’re out to get you: the voter,” Conway said.

Prosecutors in Manhattan have been investigating to see if Trump had falsified business records by listing a $130,000 reimbursement of his then-lawyer Cohen for paying off Daniels to stay silent as a legal expense in 2016 when he was running for president.

An indictment of Trump by the New York City grand jury could come as soon as this week after it was widely speculated that he would be charged last week.

Top takeaways from Trump's first rally since news of looming indictment threat

Cami Mondeaux

March 25, 10:07 PM March 25, 10:07 PM

A familiar version of Donald Trump was on full display Saturday evening as the former president addressed an energized crowd of hundreds of supporters in his first official campaign rally in Waco, Texas.

The event marked Trump’s first public appearance since reports emerged about looming indictment charges related to a hush money case that began during his first presidential run in 2016. Trump capitalized on those threats as he spoke to attendees, seeking to use the possible charges as a way to paint himself as a victim of political attacks while he seeks a return to the Oval Office.

WATCH LIVE: TRUMP HOLDS FIRST 2024 CAMPAIGN RALLY IN TEXAS AS INDICTMENT FEARS LOOM

“As far as the eye can see, the abuses of power that we’re currently witnessing at all levels of government will go down as among the most shameful, corrupt, and depraved chapters in all of American history,” Trump told the crowd. “The thugs and criminals who are corrupting our justice system will be defeated, discredited, and totally disgraced. That’s what’s been happening from the beginning, it’s been one witch hunt and phony investigation after another.”

Trump also leaned into old campaign habits throughout the rally, firing off against his critics and political challengers while seeking to position himself as the best option for the GOP nomination in 2024.

Here are five key moments from Trump’s rally:

‘It’s bulls***’: Trump addresses indictment charges for first time

Trump denounced efforts by the Manhattan district attorney’s office to indict him, decrying possible criminal charges as being politically motivated to tarnish his reputation ahead of a crucial election cycle.

Trump lamented the ongoing investigation by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg as being “rigged” by Democrats, arguing the inquiry was being improperly used to make him ineligible for the 2024 presidential election.

“Can you imagine that in order to prosecute and do everything he could to get rid of Trump because you know our poll numbers are through the roof,” Trump told a crowd of supporters on Saturday. “They don’t like it.”

Trump denied any wrongdoing in the Manhattan investigation, which centers on allegations that Trump paid adult film actress Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about a sexual affair while he was running for office. Trump denied both the affair and the payments during the rally, arguing prosecutors “have nothing.”

“The Department of Injustice in Washington, D.C., was investigating me for something that is not a crime, not a misdemeanor, not an affair. I never liked Horseface,” Trump said, referring to a nickname he has previously used for Daniels.

Trump hammers dangers of ‘Deep State’ on backdrop of Waco massacre

Trump extended his criticisms to the federal government at large, framing the 2024 election as crucial to stopping Democrats’ “demonic forces” that he said are destroying the country.

“Either the Deep State destroys America or we destroy the Deep State. That's the way it's got to be,” Trump said.

His comments were delivered on the backdrop of the Waco massacre that occurred 30 years ago that white supremacists and militia activists still view as "proof that the government—now usually called the Deep State—is out to get them," Dr. Heidi Beirich, co-founder of the Alabama-based Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, told the Washington Examiner.

The Waco siege was a 51-day stand-off in the spring of 1993 that occurred when FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives agents battled residents inside the Branch Davidian complex for control of the property from its leader, David Koresh. Since then, the event has become one of the nation's most infamous citizen showdowns against the government.

In total, four federal agents and 82 Branch Davidians, including 28 children, died in the incident.

Trump's campaign spokesman didn't mention whether the symbolism of the anti-government landmark was intentional, but he noted Waco was the "ideal location" because of its proximity to Texas's major metropolitan areas and its infrastructure to host "a rally of this magnitude."

Trump ramps up attacks against DeSantis, taking credit for Florida governor’s successes

Trump ramped up attacks against Gov. Ron DeSantis, ripping into the Florida Republican for his dwindling poll numbers and recent criticism leveled against the former president.

Trump reiterated previous comments taking credit for DeSantis’s successes in the Sunshine state, telling supporters that the Florida governor’s political career would be “dead” without Trump’s popularity. Trump recalled stories of DeSantis asking the former president for his endorsement in 2018, which he claimed allowed the Florida governor to become “like a rocketship.”

“We laugh at him now, but he was one of the hottest people in politics,” Trump said. “But I think we’re doing well, I mean we’re up … in the polls in the last four or five in the last month.”

Trump also attacked DeSantis on some key policy issues, accusing the Florida Republican of wanting to cut Social Security and Medicare benefits — something that has become a flashpoint issue ahead of the 2024 election cycle. DeSantis has previously responded to similar attacks, noting he and other Republicans will not “mess with” the welfare programs.

Trump takes hard stance on war in Ukraine, warns of impending World War III

Going further, Trump went to great lengths to separate himself from DeSantis regarding the war in Ukraine, pledging to end the conflict should he be elected to a second term. He pointed to the working relationship he had with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his White House term, arguing an invasion was never something that was discussed.

"I'm going to get a settlement very quickly," Trump told supporters. "As president, I will end the inflation nightmare and rebuild the greatest economy in the history of the world just like we had it before.”

He also offered warnings to attendees that the U.S. is “heading into World War III,” positioning himself as the “only candidate” to prevent such a global conflict from happening.

“This will be a war like no other,” Trump said. "Not only is Biden courting nuclear holocaust, he's blowing up the U.S. economy with the Biden banking crisis."

Trump announces Texas campaign team stacked with high-profile Republicans

Trump used the night to tout his campaign’s strength despite pending legal battles, unveiling his initial leadership team that includes a slate of several high-profile Republican lawmakers on both the state and federal level.

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Attorney General Ken Paxton will both play key roles in Trump’s campaign, as well as 10 GOP members of Texas’s congressional delegation including Reps Ronny Jackson, Troy Nehls, Wesley Hunt, Michael Burgess, Pete Sessions, John Carter, Randy Weber, Roger Williams, Brian Babin, Beth Van Duyne, and Pat Fallon.

The key team appointments come as Trump seeks to establish Texas as “Trump country” early on in the primary season before the GOP field gets too crowded. His campaign has spent weeks touting polling numbers coming out of the Lone Star state over the last few months that show Trump overcoming an early lead by DeSantis in January to lead the field by 16 points in March.

“In conclusion, our MAGA movement is the greatest political movement in the history of our country,” Trump said. “No matter how hateful and corrupt the communist criminals we’re fighting against, you must never forget this nation does not belong to them. This nation belongs to you.”

Anna Giaritelli contributed to this report.

Journalist banned by AI art bot for viral images of Trump in prison

Christopher Hutton

March 22, 03:39 PM March 22, 03:39 PM

An artificial intelligence-powered art bot app banned a journalist after he created images of former President Donald Trump being placed under arrest that were widely distributed on social media.

The AI-generative bot Midjourney banned Eliot Higgins, the founder of the open-source journalist collective Bellingcat, on Wednesday, Higgins said. Higgins had produced 50 images of Trump being accosted by police and in prison in response to his expected indictment. The app responded within 24 hours by banning him.

AWARD-WINNING AI ARTIST VOWS APPEALING COPYRIGHT REJECTION UP TO SUPREME COURT

Higgins initially started by creating pictures of Trump being arrested by police in New York, as well as his family's reaction and his life in prison. The pictures eventually turned into a Shawshank Redemption narrative, according to Higgins. And soon, they went viral.

“I put it out there. I didn't intend to do any clever criticism or anything like that. But then it kind of took on a life of its own,” Higgins told Buzzfeed News.

Midjourney also banned the word "arrest" from being used in prompts.

Higgins isn't angry with the app for banning him.

"I suspect it was pushing my luck when I did the thread, let alone when it went viral," the reporter noted.

A Manhattan grand jury was scheduled to meet on Wednesday to vote on whether to indict Trump over allegations that he paid hush money to Stormy Daniels. However, that meeting was postponed.

Bellingcat is an international open-source journalism group best known for its reporting on Russia and Ukraine.

Midjourney, which is an independent research lab for artificial intelligence, did not respond to requests for comment from the Washington Examiner.