The former Democratic Illinois governor called himself a ‘Trumpocrat’ as he thanked Donald Trump for commuting his prison sentence, praising Trump’s ‘kind heart’. Blagojevich had been recorded trying to sell the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama when he became president, but Trump has claimed it did not happen
Continue reading...Category Archives: Donald Trump
Barr reportedly considers quitting as attorney general over Trump tweets
Revelation comes days after Barr took swipe at president over apparent intervention in Roger Stone case
The attorney general, William Barr, has told people close to him he is considering quitting his post, after Donald Trump failed to heed his warning to stop tweeting about justice department cases, administration officials told the Washington Post and Associated Press.
The revelation came days after Barr took a public swipe at the president, saying in a television interview that Trump’s tweets about justice department cases and staffers made it “impossible” for him to do his job. The next day, Trump ignored Barr’s request and insisted that he had the “legal right” to intervene in criminal cases and sidestep the department’s historical independence.
Continue reading...Trump calls for Roger Stone’s conviction to be thrown out
President condemns ‘fraudulent investigation’ and falsely claims that he is the country’s chief law enforcement officer
Donald Trump has called for his longtime ally Roger Stone’s recent conviction for witness tampering and lying to Congress to be thrown out.
Trump’s barrage of Tuesday morning tweets comes days after his own attorney general, William Barr, sparked a furore over his apparent intervention in the case.
Continue reading...Trump seems to call for new Roger Stone trial – live updates
- Billionaire Bloomberg will face opponents on debate stage in Las Vegas
- Democratic rules were changed, opening door to former NY mayor’s participation
- Bloomberg facing criticism over past policies and alleged comments
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The good polling news for Michael Bloomberg just keeps on coming this morning.
A new poll from Oklahoma, which will also hold its primary on Super Tuesday, shows Bloomberg leading the field with 20%.
In addition to qualifying for the next Democratic debate, Michael Bloomberg also got some good news from a Virginia poll out this morning.
According to the Monmouth University survey, Bloomberg and Bernie Sanders are tied among likely voters in Virginia, which will hold its primary on Super Tuesday.
Continue reading...Trump claims he has ‘legal right’ to intervene in criminal cases
President reasserts his right to tweet on judicial issues following William Barr’s warning the posts ‘make it impossible for me to do my job’
Donald Trump has ignored a plea from his attorney general, William Barr, to not tweet about ongoing legal cases, by using his Twitter account to say he has a “legal right” to do so.
Barr delivered a remarkable public rebuke of the president just hours earlier, saying that Trump’s tweets “make it impossible for me to do my job” and that he would not be “bullied or influenced” over justice department decisions.
Continue reading...Attorney general William Barr tells Trump to stop tweeting about cases – live updates
- Attorney general makes unexpected intervention into controversy over Stone case
- Trump criticised for interfering in friend’s sentencing
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Two leading Republican voices came out in favour of Barr in the dispute yesterday, with Senator Mitch McConnell, the party’s leader in the Senate, saying: “If the attorney general says it’s getting in the way of doing his job, maybe the president should listen.”
Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally who was scathing about the impeachment trial against the president, said Barr was “the right man at the right time to reform the department and stand up for the rule of law”.
To hear this attorney general complain about this president, who is fighting every one of those damn people to do the right thing and get this country straightened out and it’s mission to do so and not to carp about his boss.
And, by the way, I don’t want to hear any crap about an independent Justice Department. This Justice Department, as does everyone, works for the president. It’s part of the executive branch.
Good morning.
US attorney general William Barr made an unexpected intervention into the ballooning controversy over Donald Trump’s interference in the trial of his friend Roger Stone.
When I terminated John Kelly, which I couldn’t do fast enough, he knew full well that he was way over his head. Being Chief of Staff just wasn’t for him. He came in with a bang, went out with a whimper, but like so many X’s, he misses the action & just can’t keep his mouth shut,.
The attorney general had been contemplating how to respond since he became aware of Mr. Trump’s attacks on the department, according to a person familiar with his thinking. Speaking up could have put Mr. Barr at risk of losing the backing of the president, but remaining silent would have permitted Mr. Trump to continue attacking law enforcement and all but invited open revolt among the some 115,000 employees of the Justice Department.
Ultimately, Mr. Barr concluded that he had to speak out to preserve his ability to do his job effectively, the person said … The attorney general had let the president know some of what he planned to say and is remaining in his job, a person familiar with the events said.
Related: 'Are they mean?' Donald Trump obsessed with badgers, new book claims
Continue reading...‘Are they mean?’ Donald Trump obsessed with badgers, new book claims
Daily Beast reporters say Reince Priebus was repeatedly asked about the rotund, hairy omnivores during briefings on healthcare and foreign policy
Of all the topics to occupy the mind of the most powerful person in the United States, one would not expect badgers to make a frequent appearance.
But the rotund, hairy omnivores were apparently an alarmingly regular topic of conversation in the White House during the early months of Donald Trump’s presidency, according to Daily Beast reporters Lachlan Markay and Asawin Suebsaeng.
Continue reading...William Barr says Trump’s tweets ‘make it impossible to do my job’
Attorney general says he will not be ‘bullied’ over decisions but some observers question his motives
The US attorney general, William Barr, publicly rebuked Donald Trump on Thursday, saying that the president’s tweets about the case of Roger Stone “make it impossible for me to do my job” and that he would not be “bullied or influenced” over justice department decisions.
In an interview with ABC News, the attorney general acknowledged his comments could leave him open to backlash from the president, who is notoriously intolerant of criticism from his aides. But Barr said he was determined to lead the justice department without being influence by outside forces, including the president.
Continue reading...Senate votes to restrict Trump’s authority to launch military action in Iran – live updates
- Democratic resolution to limit Trump’s power will likely not become law
- Pelosi says Trump comments on Stone case are ‘abuse of power’
- Hope Hicks reportedly returning to the White House
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A judge has temporarily blocked Microsoft’s cloud-computing work with the Pentagon after Amazon complained that it lost the contract partly because of Trump’s bias against the company.
Trump has repeatedly lashed out against Jeff Bezos, the Amazon founder and owner of the Washington Post.
A judge ordered Thursday a temporary block on the JEDI cloud contract, which was awarded to Microsoft, in response to a suit filed by Amazon. Shares of Microsoft fell on the news, while Amazon’s stock rose slightly.
A court notice announcing the injunction was filed on Thursday, but wasn’t public. It’s unclear why the documents were sealed.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is instructed to earmark $42 million for any ‘costs and damages’ that could be incurred in the event that the ‘injunction was issued wrongfully,’ the filing states. Amazon must file a notice with the courts indicating it has obtained the $42 million by Feb. 20. Microsoft and Amazon must respond to the filing by Feb. 27.
The eight Republicans who supported the Iran War Powers resolution in the Senate were: Todd Young, Mike Lee, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, Rand Paul, Bill Cassidy, Jerry Moran and Lamar Alexander.
The resolution, aimed at limiting Trump’s authority to launch military operations in Iran, was expected to attract some Republican support, but the number of defections was surprising.
Continue reading...Extreme alarm as prosecutors resign after Trump intervention in Stone case – live
- Ex-DoJ officials and watchdogs warn of ‘five-alarm fire in our democracy’
- Trump congratulates Barr for ‘taking charge’ in case
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Trump: congratulations William Barr on following the order I tweeted to 72m people.
Congratulations to Attorney General Bill Barr for taking charge of a case that was totally out of control and perhaps should not have even been brought. Evidence now clearly shows that the Mueller Scam was improperly brought & tainted. Even Bob Mueller lied to Congress!
GOP Sen. John Kennedy said Trump’s tweets about Stone were “problematic” but he also told us he’s seen “no evidence” that Trump improperly interfered and thought it was simply lack of coordination on sentencing. He wouldn’t comment directly when I asked if Barr should testify
Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer on Tuesday asked the inspector general of the justice department to investigate the Stone sentencing recommendation reversal.
This morning on the Senate floor, Schumer called on the chair of the judiciary committee, Republican Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, to convene hearings on the matter. Graham, a staunch ally of the president who has lately been focused on the need to investigate Hunter Biden’s conduct in Ukraine, is not likely to do that.
The president ran against the swamp in Washington, a place that is rigged by the powerful to benefit them personally. I ask my fellow Americans, what is more swampy, what is more fetid, what is more stinking than the most powerful person in the country literally changing the rules to benefit a crony guilty of breaking the law?”
NEW: Chuck Schumer calls on Lindsey Graham "to convene an emergency hearing...to conduct oversight and hold hearings" following DOJ reversal on Stone sentencing recommendation.
"That's the the job of the Judiciary Committee, no matter who's president." https://t.co/xDonmgJTd0 pic.twitter.com/Bwx57FoFez
‘It’s a disgrace’: Trump unhappy with Roger Stone prosecution – video
Donald Trump has expressed disapproval at the sentencing recommendation for his longtime associate Roger Stone. Four lawyers who prosecuted the political operative quit in protest after their recommendation was overruled by the justice department. The president denied speaking to the justice department about the case but said he would have 'the absolute right' to have done so. Stone, 67, was found guilty last November of seven crimes including obstruction of justice, lying to Congress and witness tampering
Continue reading...Roger Stone: prosecutors quit after DoJ signals plan to reduce sentence
- Department appears to lean on prosecutors for shorter term
- Trump tweeted: ‘Cannot allow this miscarriage of justice!’
Four lawyers who prosecuted political operative Roger Stone have resigned in protest after their sentencing recommendation was overruled and slashed by Donald Trump’s justice department.
Aaron Zelinsky, Jonathan Kravis, Adam Jed and Michael Marando quit the case while Democrats demanded an independent investigation into what they described as a dangerously politicised and corrupt justice department.
Continue reading...Trump puts Cuban doctors in firing line as heat turned up on island economy
After US allies expel foreign health missions, Havana warns that patients will pay the highest price for campaign against its scheme
A Cuban medical programme that has helped some of the world’s poorest communities has become the latest target of the Trump administration’s escalating attempts to pressure Havana’s faltering economy.
Dubbed “Cuban doctors”, the celebrated – if controversial – humanitarian medical mission was founded more than half a century ago in the aftermath of Fidel Castro’s revolution, in part to enhance the country’s international influence.
Continue reading...Sanders and Buttigieg campaigns request partial recanvass of Iowa caucuses – as it happened
- New Hampshire poll shows Sanders leading
- Buttigieg v Sanders: Democrats gaining frontrunner status as ‘polar opposites’
- Sanders campaign to ask for ‘partial recanvass’ of Iowa results
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The rallies still rage in New Hampshire tonight, but that’s it from us. Stay tuned for more news from our stellar politics team, who will have updates.
At the Trump rally in Manchester, a familiar chant has appeared to have turned on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
New Hampshire crowd chants "Lock her up!" after President Trump alluded to Nancy Pelosi "mumbling terribly behind me" during the State of the Union.
"There was a little anger back there," he said. "We're the ones who should be angry, not them." https://t.co/2OrQPtHreq pic.twitter.com/TkKtm2MxgM
Facebook and Twitter reject Pelosi’s request to remove edited Trump video
President posted video of House speaker tearing State of the Union address interspersed with clips of Trump lauding honorees
Facebook and Twitter have refused House speaker Nancy Pelosi’s request to remove a video posted by Donald Trump that was misleadingly edited to show her repeatedly tearing a paper copy of his State of the Union address while he was honoring a Tuskegee Airman and other attendees.
“The American people know that the President has no qualms about lying to them – but it is a shame to see Twitter and Facebook, sources of news for millions, do the same,” Drew Hammill, Pelosi’s chief of staff, said on Twitter. “The latest fake video of Speaker Pelosi is deliberately designed to mislead and lie to the American people, and every day that these platforms refuse to take it down is another reminder that they care more about their shareholders’ interests than the public’s interests.”
Continue reading...Donald Trump cries fake news as image of dramatic orange tan line goes viral
- Photo from White House south lawn draws amusement
- Indignant Trump says image ‘photoshopped, obviously’
An image of a windswept Donald Trump, which appears to show a dramatic forehead tan line through his blown-back blond hair, has gone viral – prompting the hashtag #orangeface to trend on Twitter.
Related: Klobuchar campaign says it has raised $2m in less than 24 hours since debate
Continue reading...Alexander Vindman lawyer attacks Trump over ‘obviously false statements’
- Impeachment witness Vindman fired from White House job
- David Pressman backs client and decries Trump ‘intimidation’
The lawyer for Lt Col Alexander Vindman condemned Donald Trump on Saturday for making “obviously false statements” about the decorated military veteran, after the president defended sacking him through several critical tweets.
Related: 'Real power is fear': what Machiavelli tells us about Trump in 2020
Continue reading...His master’s voice? Jair Bolsonaro posts video of himself watching Trump rant
Brazil’s president was accused of kowtowing with his 73-minute Facebook live stream but some see method in his obsequiousness
He has long styled himself as a tropical Trump – a socialist-skewering hard man fighting Brazilian carnage.
But in recent weeks Brazil’s far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, has taken his fixation with the US leader to new heights, livestreaming himself on Facebook as he watched his political idol in action.
Continue reading...Donald Trump’s ‘incredible’ week in three minutes – video report
The president of the United States was greeted by applause for his State of the Union address where he painted a picture of his vision of the future of the US on Tuesday. The following day, Trump was acquitted of impeachment in the Senate with all but one Republican voting in his favour.
On Thursday, Trump held a speech he called a 'celebration'. A Gallup poll has put Trump’s approval rating at 49%, the highest level for that survey since 2017. And on top of that, the Democratic primary race got off to a slow and embarrassing start in Iowa after technical difficulties delayed results by almost 24 hours
- Good week/bad week: the winners and losers in US politics
- ‘It was all bullshit’: Donald Trump delivers mocking, vitriolic speech after acquittal
- Trump revels in 'incredible' week – and more good news might be ahead
Power is everything – and progressives forget that at their peril | Jonathan Freedland
As Boris Johnson and Donald Trump know, being in office means setting your own agenda
You take comfort where you can. Especially at a time like this, when the side of progress is beleaguered, when left or liberal values are taking a hammering on every front, apparently losing every battle, it’s natural to cling to whatever blanket of consolation we can find. When a single week can see Britain leave the European Union and Donald Trump bragging and swaggering in vengeful celebration as he escapes punishment for a high crime he clearly committed, the need for soothing can become intense. One such solace is that, despite the concrete defeats visible all around us, the left is somehow “winning the argument”.
Related: Without the BBC we could be facing a post-truth dystopia | Jonathan Freedland
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