Trump indictment - live: Trump blames the left as he’s indicted on ‘30+ charges’ in Stormy hush money case

Donald Trump is the first former president in US history to face criminal charges after the Manhattan grand jury investigating his role in a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels voted to indict him.

Multiple reports suggest that Mr Trump is facing more than 30 charges, though no specific charges are yet known.

News of the indictment came after reports that security measures were being put back in place around the courthouse in Lower Manhattan and that the grand jury had been looking into a payment to another woman.

It was thought that any indictment would be delayed for weeks due to a planned hiatus, with the timing of the indictment reportedly catching the former president off guard.

The indictment comes as the former president continues to campaign for the presidency, striking out at his rival Ron DeSantis, accusing the Florida governor of inexperience in foreign policy and bailing out insurers to the detriment of hurricane-hit Floridians. Mr DeSantis said Thursday night that he would not “extradite” Mr Trump, though he has no legal basis to do so.

Key Points

• Trump indicted over hush money payments in Stormy Daniels probe

• Trump issues furious statement after indictment, calls it ‘witch hunt'

• Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels react to indictment

• Outrage from Trump loyalists on Capitol Hill

BREAKING: Trump indicted over hush money payments in Stormy Daniels probe

Thursday 30 March 2023 22:36 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has been indicted by a New York City grand jury on charges of falsifying business records stemming from payments he made to adult film star Stormy Daniels to prevent her from revealing an affair he had with her before the 2016 election.

A source told The Independent that grand jurors voted to indict the ex-president on Thursday, and that indictment is currently under seal. It will be unveiled at some point in the near future by District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

Andrew Feinberg has the latest.

Donald Trump indicted over hush money payments in Stormy Daniels probe

Trump appeals Jan 6 probe order for Mark Meadows to give evidence

04:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Attorneys for former president Donald Trump have asked a federal appeals court to toss a District of Columbia judge’s order forcing his last White House chief of staff and other former White House aides to give evidence before a grand jury investigating his attempt to overturn his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden.

Mr Trump’s legal team on Wednesday asked the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to overturn District Judge Beryl Howell’s rejection of the ex-president’s claim of executive privilege over testimony from ex-top aide Mark Meadows and other former senior White House officials, including his former deputy chief of staff Daniel Scavino, ex-senior policy adviser Stephen Miller, and other former national security officials.

Andrew Feinberg has the details.

Trump appeals order for Mark Meadows to give evidence in January 6 probe

Kari Lake defends Trump: ‘There is no crime here’

04:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Kari Lake, the Republican gubernatorial candidate for Arizona in the 2022 midterms, rallied behind Donald Trump and the indictment “a dark moment in the history of our nation”.

“Jailing your political opponents based on frivolous politically-motivated accusations is something that you’d expect to see out of third-world dictatorships or banana republicans,” Ms Lake said in a statement.

“... There is no crime here. Donald J Trump denies any wrongdoing.

“He has produced numerous pieces of evidence from the Grand Jury’s star witnesses (Stormy Daniels and Michael Cohen) refuting these accusations. It is also quite clear that the only potential wrongdoing here would be an FEC crime punishable by a fine not potential imprisonment.”

She added: “This political prosecution should receive bipartisan condemnation. The precedent this sets threatens to further divide a country that already seems to be on the verge of tearing itself apart.”

Ex-Boston officer charged with assault on officer in Jan 6 riot

04:15 , Oliver O'Connell

A former Boston police officer was arrested Thursday on charges that he assaulted a police officer after storming the US Capitol with the mob of President Donald Trump supporters on 6 January 2021.

Joseph Robert Fisher is accused of pushing a chair into a Capitol police officer inside the building as the officer was running after another rioter who deployed pepper spray, according to court documents. Moments later, Fisher also “engaged in a physical assault” against the officer, which ended with Fisher on the ground, an FBI agent wrote in the court papers.

A current Boston police officer helped investigators identify Fisher in photographs, the agent wrote.

The 52-year-old was arrested at his home in Plymouth, Massachusetts and released on conditions after an initial court appearance Thursday. Fisher retired in 2016 after serving more than 20 years in the police force, including as part of the K-9 unit, a department spokesperson said.

He’s charged with assaulting an officer, obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder and other crimes. The Associated Press sent an email to an attorney who represented Fisher for his initial appearance in Boston.

Fisher is among several people charged in the riot who were working or previously worked in law enforcement on Jan. 6. The rioter who received the longest sentence so far — 10 years in prison — was a retired New York City police officer who used a metal flagpole to assault an officer.

AP

What is the process for indicting Donald Trump on criminal charges?

04:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Now that former president Donald Trump has been criminally indicted, attention now turns to the process of Mr Trump surrendering himself for arrest.

John Bowden reports on what happens next.

Mugshot, fingerprints, handcuffs? The process for indicting Donald Trump

Trump calls indictment a 'witch hunt'

03:58 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Donald Trump released a lengthy statement, calling the indictment the next step in a campaign from the left “to destroy the Make America Great Again movement.”

“The Democrats have lied, cheated and stolen in their obsession with trying to ‘Get Trump’, but now they’ve done the unthinkable — indicting a completely innocent person in an act of blatant Election Interference,” Mr Trump’s statement said.

The 45th president accused Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg of “doing Joe Biden’s dirty work, ignoring the murders and burglaries and assaults he should be focused on”.

Alina Habba, an attorney for Mr Trump, said the former president is a victim “of a corrupt and distorted version of the American justice system and history. He will be vindicated.”

Stormy Daniels mocks MAGA critics and says she won’t back down

03:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Porn star Stormy Daniels has given a combative live-stream to her subscribers on OnlyFans, vowing to testify against Donald Trump if called upon to do so.

In a broadcast on Wednesday night via the popular subscription app, Ms Daniels said she has extensive records to back up her claims that she was paid “hush money” in 2016 to keep quiet about Mr Trump’s affair with her years earlier.

Io Dodds reports.

Stormy Daniels vows to testify against Trump post indictment: ‘I will not back down’

Gasps at Fox News as Donald Trump indicted

03:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump was indicted by a New York grand jury on Thursday for charges relating to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels on the eve of the 2016 election, a source told The Independent.

The indictment, which has not been revealed publicly, marks the first time a current or former US president has been hit with criminal charges.

The news was met with apparent shock at Fox News, where a crew member appeared to be caught on a hot microphone gasping and saying, “What?” as the indictment was announced on air.

Josh Marcus reports.

Gasps at Fox News as Donald Trump indicted for Stormy Daniels hush money payment

Outrage from Trump loyalists on Capitol Hill pours in after indictment drops

03:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s Republican allies in Congress seethed with rage over the news that a grand jury had voted on Thursday to indict the former president on one or more charges related to his hush payments to women in 2016.

As the news broke late Thursday afternoon, lawmakers who had left Washington just earlier in the day reacted with fury and bought fully into Mr Trump’s explanation for the yet-to-be-announced indictment: A supposed political hit job by Democrats.

John Bowden reports.

‘These people will pay’: Outrage from Trump loyalists pours in after indictment drops

Trump stands alone among presidents

03:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Though far from the only U.S. president dogged by legal and ethical scandals, Donald Trump now occupies a unique place in history as the first indicted on criminal charges.

Among 160 years of presidential scandals, Trump stands alone

Obama ‘best of all time’, says... Joe Rogan?

02:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Critics of podcaster Joe Rogan were surprised to see the former comedian and combat sport aficionado praise Barack Obama, calling him “the best of all time.”

During a recent episode of his show, Rogan offered high praise of Mr Obama as a statesman and the public face of the United States.

Graig Graziosi reports on the surprising statement from the podcaster.

Joe Rogan surprises audience saying Obama was best ever

Can Donald Trump still be elected president?

02:33 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump has been indicted in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s grand jury investigation into a hush payment made to a porn star by Mr Trump’s attorney Michael Cohen in 2016.

The investigation has been ramping up in recent weeks and on Thursday 30 March, the Manhattan grand jury voted to indict Mr Trump on criminal charges.

Sources confirmed the unprecedented development to The Independent on Thursday afternoon – making Mr Trump the first current or former president to ever face criminal charges in the history of the US.

John Bowden answers the key question on everyone’s mind.

Could Trump still be elected president if he’s charged?

Trump’s sons Eric and Don Jr rage against ‘third world prosecutorial misconduct’

02:22 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump’s sons Eric and Donald Trump Jr raged against the news that a grand jury in Manhattan indicted their father, calling it “third world prosecutorial misconduct.”

Their words come after the New York City grand jury voted to indict the former president on charges of falsifying business records related to payments he made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to keep a sexual relationship secret.

Eric Garcia reports on the reaction.

Trump’s sons Eric and Don Jr rage against “third world prosecutorial misconduct”

Trump misspells ‘indicted’ in Truth Social post

02:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump launched into a furious rant on Truth Social after he became the first current or former president to ever be criminally indicted in the history of the US.

But his outrage over the matter seemed to prompt him to misspell the very word he wanted to emphasise – as he fumed that “Thugs and Radical Left Monsters” had “INDICATED” him on criminal charges.

Rachel Sharp reports on the angry typing from Mar-a-Lago.

Trump misspells ‘indicted’ in Truth Social post blasting ‘radical left monsters’

Trump rival DeSantis says Florida will not ‘extradite’ former president

01:55 , Oliver O'Connell

Florida governor Ron DeSantis says that the state will not cooperate with any request to extradite Donald Trump following the former president’s indictment on hush money payment charges.

Mr DeSantis, a predicted rival of Mr Trump’s for the 2024 Republican nomination for president, attacked the indictment handed down by a New York grand jury on Thursday.

Graeme Massie has the story.

DeSantis says Florida will not ‘extradite’ Trump over hush money indictment

Trump and Pence both expected to speak at NRA event

01:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump and Mike Pence are scheduled to speak at the National Rifle Association (NRA) convention in Indianapolis in April, putting the former president and his vice president into the same room likely for the first time in two years.

Shweta Sharma reports.

Trump and Pence expected to speak at NRA event, likely their first meet in two years

Kathy Griffin leads celebrity reactions to Trump’s indictment

01:38 , Oliver O'Connell

US comedian Kathy Griffin – who was fired from CNN in 2017 after sharing a photo of herself holding an effigy of Trump’s decapitated head – tweeted (via The Hill): “It’s finally happening.”

Tom Murray reports on other notable reactions from Trump’s celebrity foes.

Kathy Griffin leads celebrity reactions to Donald Trump’s indictment

Trump to surrender within days after being indicted

01:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has been indicted by a New York City grand jury on charges of falsifying business records stemming from payments he made to adult film star Stormy Daniels to prevent her from revealing an affair he had with her before the 2016 election.

A source told The Independent that grand jurors voted to indict the ex-president at some point this week, and that indictment is currently under seal.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Donald Trump indicted over hush money payments in Stormy Daniels probe

More thanks from Stormy Daniels

01:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Stormy Daniels has again posted a thank you message to those who sent messages of support and says she can’t respond as she doesn’t want to spill her champagne.

Trump’s foes are delighted: ‘In America, NO ONE is above the law’

01:16 , Oliver O'Connell

Some of former president Donald Trump’s sharpest critics hailed the news that a grand jury in Manhattan had indicted the former president for allegedly paying adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential election.

Eric Garcia reports on what they had to say:

Trump’s foes delight in ex-president’s indictment

01:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Youngkin: ‘Beyond belief’ former president indicted

01:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Republican Governor of Virginia Glenn Youngkin, who has been speculated to be a potential 2024 contender, posted: “It is beyond belief that District Attorney Alvin Bragg has indicted a former President and current presidential candidate for pure political gain. Arresting a presidential candidate on a manufactured basis should not happen in America.”

He adds: “The left’s continued attempts to weaponize our judicial system erode people’s faith in the American justice system and it needs to stop.”

Memes explode across social media as news of Trump indictment spreads

Friday 31 March 2023 00:56 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has been indicted for hush money payments relating to the 2016 election, an unprecedented development making him the first US president to face criminal charges.

Something with a bit of precedent is the wave of memes that followed. As legal scholars and observers debate what will happen next to the former president, social media users quickly got to work making memes.

Josh Marcus reports on a selection of the wave of content.

Social media explodes with memes on news of Trump indictment

Trump’s tough guy posture ahead of looming indictment isn’t fooling these insiders

Friday 31 March 2023 00:47 , Oliver O'Connell

The Independent’s White House correspondent Andrew Feinberg writes:

[M]ultiple people who have been close to Mr Trump in the past and understand his way of thinking say the confidence he projects in interviews and in public appearances belies a complete inability to grasp what it will mean for him to become a defendant in a criminal case.

These former Trumpworld insiders told The Independent the ex-president’s decades of evading responsibility for his actions and his past ability to neutralise legal jeopardy with a combination of bluster and litigation tactics has left him incredibly ill-equipped for what could lie ahead of him if any of the grand juries hearing evidence against him votes out an indictment.

Read the full article:

Trump’s posture ahead of looming indictment isn’t fooling these insiders

Josh Hawley: ‘This is burning down the rule of law'

Friday 31 March 2023 00:36 , Oliver O'Connell

Reacting to the indictment of former president Donald Trump, Republican Senator for Missouri Josh Hawley — a firm Trump ally — tells Fox News: “This is burning down the rule of law ... They will regret doing this because I think the American people won’t stand for it.”

He continues: “The Democrats have crossed the rubicon here and they’ve burned the bridge behind them. And now we’ve got to defend democracy.”

Former Rep Cawthorn claims Roman Republic brought down in same way 🤔

Friday 31 March 2023 00:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Former Republican Rep Madison Cawthorn provided one of the most bizarre reactions to news of the indictment — a shirtless video posted from what appears to be a boat.

It got weirder when he claimed: “This is exactly what happened during the fall of the Roman Republic ... this will lead us down the exact same path that Rome followed — this will lead us to a dictatorship.”

Former Republican Rep Adam Kinzinger responded: “I had no clue Rome fell because a DA indicted a former president for hush money to an adult film actress.”

He added: “You learn something every day.”

Statement from Manhattan DA’s office

Friday 31 March 2023 00:26 , Oliver O'Connell

A spokesperson for the Manhattan District Attorney’s office says: “This evening we contacted Mr Trump’s attorney to coordinate his surrender to the Manhattan DA’s Office for arraignment on a Supreme Court indictment, which remains under seal. Guidance will be provided when the arraignment date is selected.”

Former governor: ‘We need to wait on facts'

Friday 31 March 2023 00:24 , Oliver O'Connell

Former Republican Governor of Arkansas Asa Hutchinson released a measured statement stressing the need to wait for the facts behind the indictment and the importance of the presumption of innocence.

He concludes: “Finally, it is essential that the decision on America’s next President be made at the ballot box and not in the court system. Donald Trump should not be the next president, but that should be decided by the voters.”

Trump lawyer says he will surrender early next week

Friday 31 March 2023 00:20 , Oliver O'Connell

‘We have prevailed’: Mary Trump celebrates all of Trump’s firsts

Friday 31 March 2023 00:19 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s niece Mary Trump, a vocal adversary of her uncle, celebrates his achievements in reaction to the news of the indictment.

It's official: Donald Trump is the:

1st man in the Oval Office to be impeached twice

1st man in the Oval Office to incite an insurrection

1st to lose the popular vote TWICE

and now . . . the first to be INDICTED.

But the media is missing the biggest reason this is so important: For the victims of Donald, this is finally some measure of justice.

It's been a long time coming, but after everything Donald has put this country through, WE HAVE PREVAILED.

I'll see you on my substack later (see below👇) with my take on how this impacts our country and me personally, but for now, let's take a minute to celebrate--we've all earned it.

Drink Responsibly 😎

Trump fundraising off indictment

Friday 31 March 2023 00:11 , Oliver O'Connell

Yes, the Trump 2024 campaign was quick off the mark with a fundraising email railing against the “disgusting witch hunt” and the “Soros-funded District Attorney” who relied on the testimony of a “convicted felon and a disbarred lawyer”.

DeSantis calls indictment ‘un-American’, will not assist in extradition

Friday 31 March 2023 00:05 , Oliver O'Connell

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump’s current chief foe in the running to be the Republican candidate in 2024, called the indictment “un-American” and railed against Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, twice calling him “Soros-backed”.

He wrote:

The weaponization of the legal system to advance a political agenda turns the rule of law on its head.

It is un-American.

The Soros-backed Manhattan District Attorney has consistently bent the law to downgrade felonies and to excuse criminal misconduct. Yet, now he is stretching the law to target a political opponent.

Florida will not assist in an extradition request given the questionable circumstances at issue with this Soros-backed Manhattan prosecutor and his political agenda.

Mr Trump is expected to cooperate and self-surrender early next week and extradition is not thought likely or necessary.

Full story: Outrage from Trump loyalists on Capitol Hill

Friday 31 March 2023 00:02 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s Republican allies in Congress seethed with rage over the news that a grand jury had voted on Thursday to indict the former president on one or more charges related to his hush payments to women in 2016.

As the news broke late Thursday afternoon, lawmakers who had left Washington just earlier in the day reacted with fury and bought fully into Mr Trump’s explanation for the yet-to-be-announced indictment: A supposed political hit job by Democrats.

John Bowden has the latest from Washington, DC.

‘These people will pay’: Outrage from Trump loyalists pours in after indictment drops

Speaker McCarthy reacts to Trump indictment

Thursday 30 March 2023 23:59 , Oliver O'Connell

Republican Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy gave the following statement via Twitter:

Alvin Bragg has irreparably damaged our country in an attempt to interfere in our Presidential election.

As he routinely frees violent criminals to terrorize the public, he weaponized our sacred system of justice against President Donald Trump.

The American people will not tolerate this injustice, and the House of Representatives will hold Alvin Bragg and his unprecedented abuse of power to account.

Trump lawyer says he was indicted for being successful

Thursday 30 March 2023 23:56 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s attorney Alina Habba tells Fox News: “When people are afraid of someone being successful and fixing the mess that our country is, they come after you.”

Watch:

Trump responds further in angry all caps post misspelling ‘indicted’

Thursday 30 March 2023 23:47 , Oliver O'Connell

The former president couldn’t resist an angry Truth Social post following news of his indictment. Half in all-caps. One major typo. Here’s what he said:

These Thugs and Radical Left Monsters have just INDICATED the 45th President of the United States of America, and the leading Republican Candidate, by far, for the 2024 Nomination for President. THIS IS AN ATTACK ON OUR COUNTRY THE LIKES OF WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE. IT IS LIKEWISE A CONTINUING ATTACK ON OUR ONCE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS. THE USA IS NOW A THIRD WORLD NATION, A NATION IN SERIOUS DECLINE. SO SAD!

Full story: Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels react to indictment

Thursday 30 March 2023 23:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Stormy Daniels and Michael Cohen called for justice and accountability Thursday in the wake of news that former President Donald Trump has been indicted for his alleged role in a hush-money payment preventing Ms Daniels from revealing her affair with Mr Trump in the buildup to the 2016 presidential election.

Read the full report:

Stormy Daniels’ attorney and Michael Cohen say Trump indictment no cause for joy

Stormy Daniels tweets a simple ‘thank you'

Thursday 30 March 2023 23:41 , Oliver O'Connell

Marjorie Taylor Greene says ‘gloves are off'

Thursday 30 March 2023 23:39 , Oliver O'Connell

Georgia Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene tweets: “Our side chants ‘lock her up’ and their side is going to get a mug shot based on a witch hunt.”

She adds: “It’s time to change that. Gloves are off.”

From her official congressional account, she also posted: “Impeach Biden. He’s given us every reason and the family banking records and more are giving us receipts.”

She adds: “But now that the gloves are off. Prosecute any and all crimes. Enough of this witch hunt bullshit.”

Full story: Trump releases furious statement after he becomes first ex-president to be indicted

Thursday 30 March 2023 23:35 , Oliver O'Connell

Former presidentDonald Trump claimed to be the victim of a politically-motivated prosecution after he became the first-ever former US president to face a criminal indictment.

A New York City grand jury indicted the twice-impeached ex-president on charges of falsifying business records stemming from payments he made to adult film star Stormy Daniels to prevent her from revealing an affair he had with her before the 2016 election.

A source told The Independent that grand jurors voted to indict the ex-president on Thursday, and that indictment is currently under seal. It will be unveiled at some point in the near future by District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Trump releases furious statement after he becomes first ex-president to be indicted

Earlier Trump fundraised online with bizarre Joe DiMaggio reference as he claims US foes divide up world

Thursday 30 March 2023 23:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Ahead of the indictment, Donald Trump claimed China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea are dividing up the world while the US stands by in a fundraising video posted to Truth Social.

After accusing President Joe Biden of being “asleep at the wheel”, the former president ponders: “Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio? Where have you gone?”

Watch the video here:

And here’s the briefer, peppier version he posted at the same time, which is less rambling and sadly doesn’t include a reference to a Simon & Garfunkel lyric from 1968.

Both videos include the same posted message: “If you are doing poorly, as so many of you are, do not send anything. If you are doing well, which was made possible through the great policies of the Trump Administration, send your contribution...”

This ‘really lights a fire under this country’, warns Watters

Thursday 30 March 2023 23:29 , Oliver O'Connell

Fox News’ Jesse Watters warns: “I don’t really think the left understands what they’re getting themselves into ... [This] really lights a fire under this country...”

He further says: “The country’s not going to stand for it. And people better be careful, and that’s all I’ll say about that.”

BREAKING: Trump issues statement

Thursday 30 March 2023 23:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald J Trump

Watch: Michael Cohen calls into MSNBC

Thursday 30 March 2023 23:17 , Oliver O'Connell

After issuing his statement, Michael Cohen called into Deadline: White House on MSNBC and told Nicole Wallace: “So, how about all of these genius pundits going on there talking about my credibility … Everybody wants to attack Michael Cohen’s credibility … What I had provided was relevant to this investigation.”

The scene at Trump Tower

Thursday 30 March 2023 23:15 , Oliver O'Connell

The Independent’s Alex Woodward reports from outside Trump Tower in Midtown Manhattan:

“Two news camera crews are set up across the street from Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue, headquarters of the former president’s Trump Organization and the launchpad for his 2016 campaign. Barricades have been at the ready and NYPD officers have been stationed outside the building since his announcement of an imminent arrest.”

Watch: Donald Trump Jr gives live reaction to indictment

Thursday 30 March 2023 23:13 , Oliver O'Connell

“Let’s be clear folks, this is communist-level shit. This is stuff that would make Mao, Stalin, Pol Pot – it would make them blush. It’s so flagrant, it’s so crazed.”

Eric Trump claims ‘third world prosecutorial misconduct'

Thursday 30 March 2023 23:11 , Oliver O'Connell

What does indicted mean and what charges could Trump face?

Thursday 30 March 2023 23:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Earlier this month, Donald Trump took to his Truth Social platform to predict that he would soon be arrested over hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels in the run-up to the 2016 election. On Thursday 30 March, a Manhattan grand jury voted to indict the former president.

Graeme Massie explains what that means.

What does indicted mean and what charges could Trump face?

Statement by Michael Cohen

Thursday 30 March 2023 23:09 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s former fixer Michael Cohen, a key witness in the case, released a statement:

New York Rep Bowman: ‘Only beginning of being held accountable'

Thursday 30 March 2023 23:06 , Oliver O'Connell

Democratic Rep Jamaal Bowman, who represents a New York City district, comments: “No one in this country is above the law – including former President Trump. Being indicted for falsifying business records with hush money is only the beginning of being held accountable for his crimes.”

Trump ally Ronny Jackson says ‘THESE PEOPLE WILL PAY'

Thursday 30 March 2023 23:04 , Oliver O'Connell

Would an indictment really boost Trump’s political fortunes?

Thursday 30 March 2023 23:00 , Oliver O'Connell

The Independent’s Eric Garcia speaks to analysts, campaigners and Republicans themselves about whether that’s really true that Trump whipping up anger round an arrest could help carry him to re-election.

Conservatives are confident an indictment would boost Trump. Is that really true?

Gaetz calls probe ‘politically motivated’ will stand with Trump

Thursday 30 March 2023 22:58 , Oliver O'Connell

Florida Rep Matt Gaetz says he will continue to stand with former president Donald Trump after the indictment. The charges are still not known.

Watch: Audible gasp in Fox News studio as indictment is announced

Thursday 30 March 2023 22:44 , Oliver O'Connell

Haley: ‘You’re either with Putin and Xi, or you’re with freedom loving countries’

Thursday 30 March 2023 22:25 , Oliver O'Connell

Former Trump administration UN Ambassador Nikki Haley has again made it clear she vehemently opposes her former boss’s stance on Vladimir Putin and the war on Ukraine.

In an appearance on Fox News, she was asked by Martha MacCallum: “The former president said it was a savvy move, a genius move, to move into Ukraine on Putin’s part ... What do you say to the former president about that statement?”

Ambassador Haley replied: “This is a dictator and a thug. There wasn’t anything savvy about it.”

Watch her full comments below:

Report: NYPD again stepping up security around Trump grand jury courthouse

Thursday 30 March 2023 22:11 , Oliver O'Connell

MSNBC is reporting — citing three law enforcement sources — that additional security measures are once again in place around the New York City courthouse in which the grand jury investigating Donald Trump’s alleged hush money payments to Stormy Daniels meets.

Watch:

Fired Fox News producer speaks out on ‘coerced’ Dominion testimony

Thursday 30 March 2023 21:50 , Oliver O'Connell

A former producer at Fox News is becoming the network’s newest headache as the conservative media organisation reels from embarassing revelations about the network’s embrace of Donald Trump’s nonsense election fraud conspiracies in the wake of the 2020 election.

Abby Grossberg is now on somewhat of a media tour after being fired from the network; the former producer for Tucker Carlson and Maria Bartiromo lost her job after filing a lawsuit against her bosses, alleging that the company coerced her into watering down her testimony given as part of Dominion Voting Systems’s $1.6bn lawsuit against the channel.

John Bowden has the story for The Independent.

‘It felt awful’: Fired Fox producer speaks out on ‘coerced’ Dominion testimony

Full story: Manhattan grand jury looking into second Trump hush money payment, report says

Thursday 30 March 2023 21:35 , Oliver O'Connell

The Manhattan grand jury empaneled as part of District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s investigation into a hush payment made on Donald Trump’s behalf in 2016 is now reportedly looking at a second payment made to another woman — this time, a former Playboy model.

John Bowden has the full details.

NY grand jury reportedly looking into second Trump payment to former Playboy model

DeSantis ‘ignorant and foolish’ for Putin comments says Trump in nuclear war fear-mongering video

Thursday 30 March 2023 21:20 , Oliver O'Connell

In his latest campaign video posted to Truth Social, Donald Trump again took aim at Ron DeSantis, this time slamming him for his recent remarks on Russia which took a tougher stance regarding Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine.

The former president sought to tie the Florida governor to remarks made in the past by Senator Mitt Romney and even the late Senator John McCain.

Read on:

Trump claims ‘ignorant’ DeSantis remarks about Putin could lead to nuclear war

‘Biggest insurance company bailout in globalist history’: Trump slams ‘Rino Ron’ over Florida hurricane response

Thursday 30 March 2023 21:07 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump hits out at “Rino Ron DeSanctimonious” over delivering the “biggest insurance company bailout in globalist history”.

The former president describes it as a gift to the insurance companies and a disaster for the people of Florida, especially those whose homes were destroyed in Hurricane Ian who he says are getting “pennies on the dollar”.

He then characterised the response to the hurricane as being handled very poorly.

Watch:

Watch: Bizarre static electric shock Trump 2024 campaign video

Thursday 30 March 2023 20:55 , Oliver O'Connell

Why is everyone being electrocuted? Why choose the aesthetic of a turn-of-the-century disaster movie probably found deep in Netflix?

We may never know.

Watch here:

Trump tells people to ‘drop-down and pray’ claiming ‘incompetent’ US leaders provoking nuclear conflict

Thursday 30 March 2023 20:42 , Oliver O'Connell

Another drop of campaign videos sees former president Donald Trump fixated on the “big stuff”, the n-word... nuclear.

After blaming “incompetent” US leaders he tells his followers to “drop-down and pray”.

Watch:

Pence reminds voters he was once more than Trump’s VP

Thursday 30 March 2023 20:35 , Oliver O'Connell

Mike Pence is best known as Donald Trump’s vice president, someone who, apart from one dramatic rejection of his boss ’s effort to overturn their 2020 election defeat, served as a steadfastly loyal, mostly uncontroversial No. 2 during his eight years in the White House.

But as Pence approaches a likely 2024 run for president, he’s hoping to project the record of a conservative fighter, opening up to audiences about the parts of his career before he served as Trump’s vice president -- his 12 years as a congressman and four years as Indiana governor.

Not just Trump's VP: Pence touts time as governor, US Rep

Trump hush money prosecutors probing payments to second woman, report says

Thursday 30 March 2023 20:21 , Oliver O'Connell

Citing people familiar with the matter, The Wall Street Journal reports that prosecutors investigating Donald Trump’s role in paying hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels are also looking into a payment to former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who alleged that she had an affair with the former president.

This raises the prospect that Mr Trump could face charges connected to the silencing of both women.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office has been presenting a grand jury with evidence of Mr Trump’s involvement in a $130,000 payment to Ms Daniels since January. During this investigation, prosecutors have also asked witnesses extensively about the earlier payment of $150,000 to Ms McDougal who says she had a 10-month relationship with Mr Trump in 2006.

While former Trump fixer Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to charges in connection with payments to both women, the extent of prosecutors’ interest in Ms McDougal relating to Mr Trump has not been previously reported, the Journal says.

It is not known whether evidence relating to Ms McDougla could possibly lead to more charges, or whether it could be used to establish a pattern of conduct.

Mr Trump has denied his involvement with either woman and with the payments.

Matt Gaetz aide was convicted of war crimes

Thursday 30 March 2023 20:15 , Oliver O'Connell

A Florida congressman is standing by his top adviser on military issues after The Intercept reported Wednesday evening that he is a convicted war criminal who was found guilty of murdering an unarmed civilian.

Matt Gaetz’s office issued a statement defending the aide, former US National Guard member Derrick Miller, who was convicted in 2011 for an act that occurred during a combat mission that Miller’s unit conducted in Afghanistan’s Laghman province in the fall of 2010.

John Bowden has the details.

Matt Gaetz aide was convicted of war crimes for shooting Afghan civilian in head

Christie says ‘no, thank you’ to Trump’s talk of ‘retribution'

Thursday 30 March 2023 20:05 , Oliver O'Connell

In an appearance on the Hugh Hewitt show, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was asked by the host what his opinion of Donald Trump’s speech in Waco, Texas, at the weekend.

Mr Christie, who later clarified that he and the former president are no longer friends and have not spoken since December 2020, was not impressed:

I thought it was a snoozer. I think the act is getting very old. And I think that no leader who is backward looking is a leader who can be victorious. And I’m tired of hearing about his grievances. And I said this in New Hampshire on Monday. You know, when he says I am your retribution, no thank you. No, thank you. You know, the only retribution he will be is his own retribution. He cares about himself first and foremost, and exclusively. And that speech in Waco proves exactly that.

‘QAnon Shaman’ released from prison 14 months early

Thursday 30 March 2023 19:55 , Oliver O'Connell

Jacob Chansley, the January 6 rioter who became known as the “QAnon Shaman,” was reportedly transferred from a federal prison to a halfway house in Arizona months before he was planned to be released, CBS News reports.

Here’s the latest:

‘QAnon Shaman’ Jacob Chansley released from prison 14 months early

Full story: Trump’s lead over 2024 GOP field grows, poll finds

Thursday 30 March 2023 19:35 , Oliver O'Connell

A majority of Republican primary voters support former president Donald Trump, according to a new poll from Fox News published Wednesday evening.

Support for Mr Trump jumped from 43 per cent among Republican primary voters in February to 54 per cent of Republican primary voters in March. The polling boost comes after Mr Trump has kicked off his presidential campaign in earnest, campaigning in Iowa and holding a rally in Waco, Texas.

Eric Garcia takes a look at the latest numbers.

Trump’s lead over 2024 GOP field grows, poll finds

Trump’s tough guy posture ahead of looming indictment isn’t fooling these insiders

Thursday 30 March 2023 19:10 , Oliver O'Connell

The Independent’s White House correspondent Andrew Feinberg writes:

[M]ultiple people who have been close to Mr Trump in the past and understand his way of thinking say the confidence he projects in interviews and in public appearances belies a complete inability to grasp what it will mean for him to become a defendant in a criminal case.

These former Trumpworld insiders told The Independent the ex-president’s decades of evading responsibility for his actions and his past ability to neutralise legal jeopardy with a combination of bluster and litigation tactics has left him incredibly ill-equipped for what could lie ahead of him if any of the grand juries hearing evidence against him votes out an indictment.

Read the full article:

Trump’s posture ahead of looming indictment isn’t fooling these insiders

What a difference a few hours makes...

Thursday 30 March 2023 18:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump on Wednesday afternoon:

Polls can be worse than the written word. The new Quinnipiac Poll that has me 2 points behind Biden is FAKE, because they didn’t sample nearly enough Republicans. These Polls are FAKE, just like most of the Media is FAKE. They all work together. We’re not going to let it be taken away again!

Donald Trump on Wednesday night:

I would be willing to bet that the FoxNews Viewers are VERY Happy about the just released FoxNews Polling that shows Ron DeSanctimonious being absolutely CRUSHED and, more importantly, dropping like a ROCK!

Watch: Trump defends Russia while attacking DeSantis over foreign policy

Thursday 30 March 2023 18:20 , Oliver O'Connell

In another campaign video posted to Truth Social, Donald Trump took aim again at Ron DeSantis, this time slamming him for his recent remarks on Russia which took a tougher stance regarding Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine.

The former president sought to tie him to remarks made in the past by Mitt Romney and John McCain.

“Calling Russia a gas station with a bunch of nuclear weapons, or calling Putin, quote, ‘an authoritarian gas station attendant with some legacy of nuclear weapons from the old Soviet Union’ is exactly the kind of simple-minded thinking that has produced decades of failed diplomacy and ultimately war,” said the former president.

“And where is that war going? Those such as Mitt Romney and Ron DeSantis, very much alike, who insist on arrogantly treating Russia as deeply inferior to the other nations of the world with no history or culture or pride, are not only ignorant and foolish, but their attitude makes it impossible to negotiate peace. Absolutely impossible,” he continued.

Mr Trump went on to claim his administration had a more nuanced understanding of Russia, its people, and history, and that such “neocon rhetoric” showed a “lack of sophistication on the subtleties and complexities of foreign policy”.

The former president said: “This is not the time for an on-the-job training as we face the possibility of nuclear war. And our leaders, if you call them, that, got us there. This is where we are. The word nuclear was never even mentioned during the Trump administration. Now it’s being mentioned every hour of every day.”

He added: “In 2024, I am the only candidate who can prevent World War III. I will prevent World War III. There’s nobody else that’s going to do that. Thank you very much.”

Mr DeSantis had previously called Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a “territorial dispute” in a written statement to Fox News’s Tucker Carlson, for which he received a great deal of condemnation from fellow Republicans.

He walked back those remarks in an interview with Piers Morgan, claiming the statement was out of context.

Trump lead over DeSantis greater with Republican women

Thursday 30 March 2023 17:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Feature: Would an indictment really boost Trump’s political fortunes?

Thursday 30 March 2023 17:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The Independent’s Eric Garcia speaks to analysts, campaigners and Republicans themselves about whether that’s really true that Trump whipping up anger round an arrest could help carry him to re-election.

Conservatives are confident an indictment would boost Trump. Is that really true?

ICYMI: Trump posts Truth Social message threatening ‘war’ over indictment

Thursday 30 March 2023 17:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump suggested that his supporters give their political opponents “a war” if the former president is indicted.

Mr Trump re-posted right-wing columnist Wayne Allyn Root on Truth Social that included a link to his column entitled “Democrats Want to Indict & Arrest President Trump. They Want a War? Let’s Give it to Them.”

Eric Garcia reports.

Trump posts Truth Social message threatening ‘war’ over indictment

Trump rages at ‘racist’ New York Times columnist over looming indictment

Thursday 30 March 2023 16:35 , Oliver O'Connell

In a Truth Social post this morning, Donald Trump raged at New York Times columnist Charles M Blow for an opinion column published two weeks ago on 15 March titled “Donald Trump Must Be Prosecuted”.

Mr Blow argues that if the former president were not rich and powerful he would have had charges filed against him long ago.

He wrote:

Trump is the impresario of incitement. He’ll use any attempt to hold him accountable to agitate and activate his loyalists.

That’s not a reason to avoid vigorously and swiftly pursuing him legally, but rather a reason to do it. If we establish a precedent that amassing a significant threat to society is a ward against enforcement of the law, it makes a mockery of the law.

It would reinforce what was already a persistent problem in the criminal justice system: unequal treatment of the rich and powerful, compared to that of the poor and powerless.

Further, Mr Blow said:

Prosecuting Trump wouldn’t break the country. On the contrary, it would be a step toward mending it, a step toward undergirding the flimsy promise of “equal justice under law.”

The column concludes:

To rehabilitate American justice, Trump must be prosecuted.

The former president is apparently not amused by the prospect of potentially being held accountable for his alleged actions.

On Truth Social, he wrote:

Racist Columnist Charles Blowhard of the Failing New York Times, a sick degenerate who doesn’t like our Country or the values that made it great, prior to its massive FAILURE over the last two years, writes that I should be prosecuted by Radical Left, Soros Backed Lunatics, even without evidence, because I’m WHITE. What has our Country come to? With Blowhard’s racist words and innuendo, dumb as he is, bad things happen, and we are now a Nation in Decline being stupidly led into World War lll.

You can read Mr Blow’s full opinion piece here.

Trump loses bid to narrow rape accuser E Jean Carroll’s defamation case

Thursday 30 March 2023 16:10 , Oliver O'Connell

A US judge on Tuesday denied Donald Trump’s bid to throw out E Jean Carroll’s defamation claim from next month’s high-profile trial over whether Trump raped the former Elle magazine columnist in the mid-1990s.

US District Judge Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan rejected Trump’s claim that “absolute litigation privilege” immunised the former president for allegedly defaming Carroll last October 12 on his Truth Social media platform by denying the rape occurred.

Lawyers for Trump did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Trump loses bid to narrow rape accuser E Jean Carroll’s defamation case

Trump appeals order for Mark Meadows to testify in Jan 6 probe

Thursday 30 March 2023 15:55 , Oliver O'Connell

Attorneys for former president Donald Trump have asked a federal appeals court to toss a District of Columbia judge’s order forcing his last White House chief of staff and other former White House aides to give evidence before a grand jury investigating his attempt to overturn his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden.

Andrew Feinberg has the latest.

Trump appeals order for Mark Meadows to give evidence in January 6 probe

Trump widens advantage over DeSantis in latest Fox News poll

Thursday 30 March 2023 15:39 , Oliver O'Connell

A Fox News poll released on Wednesday shows a widening gap between former president Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in a hypothetical Republican Party primary race.

Mr Trump was listed as first choice by 54 per cent of respondents, while Mr DeSantis — who is yet to officially declare his candidacy — came in a distant second with 24 per cent of the vote.

The latest polling was conducted from 24-27 March and had 1,007 respondents nationwide.

In the Fox News poll from late last month, Mr DeSantis did slight better with 28 per cent to Mr Trump’s 43 per cent.

Former vice president Mike Pence came in third with six per cent (down one); former Rep Liz Cheney and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley were in joint fourth place with three per cent each (up one and down four points respectively). Texas Governor Greg Abbott held steady at two per cent.

A slew of other notable Republicans, including Kristi Noem, Mike Pompeo, and Chris Christie — some once regarded as possible top contenders for the 2024 candidacy — hover around the one per cent mark.

Mr Trump is thrilled: “I would be willing to bet that the FoxNews Viewers are VERY Happy about the just released FoxNews Polling that shows Ron DeSanctimonious being absolutely CRUSHED and, more importantly, dropping like a ROCK!”

The full poll results can be viewed here.

Watch: Bizarre static electric shock Trump 2024 campaign video

Thursday 30 March 2023 15:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Why is everyone being electrocuted? Why choose the aesthetic of a turn-of-the-century disaster movie probably found deep in Netflix?

We may never know.

Watch here:

GOP strategists worry about down ballot effect of Trump indictment

Thursday 30 March 2023 15:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Republican strategists have spoken with ABC News about the challenge of former president Donald Trump’s legal woes and possible upcoming indictment(s) for down-ballot GOP candidates, who will likely be inundated with questions about it as they seek office or reelection.

The challenge of course is finding an effective message, being able to articulate it, and then sticking to it.

“Any Republican who's not prepared to answer a question about the indictment, if it should come, and not prepared to pivot away from questions about Trump and back to the economy, crime and Biden's shortcomings is going to have a really hard time,” said one GOP strategist who has worked on Senate campaigns.

Said another, currently working on down-ballot races: “You're gonna get asked about it. You need to decide what your position is on it. And you need to articulate it and stick to it.”

They added: “If you waffle on it, you're not going to pick up any votes on the other side, and you're gonna frustrate your voters.”

Read more at ABC News.

Trump claims China wouldn’t send spy balloon over US during his presidency, contradicting US intelligence

Thursday 30 March 2023 14:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has again claimed that China wouldn’t have sent a spy balloon over the United States during his presidency, despite the US air force revealing that they had.

In an interview with Sean Hannity, Mr Trump was asked how he would have handled the discovery of the Chinese spy balloon, which traversed across the country before being shot down in February over the Atlantic Ocean.

“I wouldn’t have done anything with the balloon because it wouldn’t have happened under me,” the former president claimed.

Read more:

Trump again claims China didn’t send spy balloon over US in his presidency

Mike Pompeo dismisses Trump’s claim he could solve war in Ukraine

Thursday 30 March 2023 13:30 , Rachel Sharp

Mike Pompeo has dismissed Donald Trump’s bold claim that he could solve the war in Ukraine within 24 hours if he was reelected president.

On Monday, Mr Trump told Fox News’ Sean Hannity that he would be able to orchestrate a “very easy negotiation” for peace because of his relationships with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“And there’s a very easy negotiation to take place. But I don’t want to tell you what it is because then I can’t use that negotiation. It’ll never work. But it’s a very easy negotiation to take place,” he claimed.

“I will have it solved within one day, a peace between them.”

“So you’d prefer if you were president, you think you would have a negotiated settlement?” Mr Hannity asked.

Mr Trump replied: “Within 24 hours.”

Mr Pompeo, who served as secretary of state in the Trump administration, scoffed at the idea on Tuesday.

“I don’t know what he’s talking about,” he said.

Trump goes after DeSantis on medicare and and social security

Thursday 30 March 2023 13:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Mr Trump criticised Ron DeSantis in a post on Truth Social, saying that “people are beginning to find out that Ron DeSanctimonious wanted to destroy Social Security and raise its minimum age to at least 70 — and he fought very hard to do it. He also had strong plans for cutting Medicare and still does”.

“You know, when they have policy in their head, they never change, they may say they change, but they always go back t it,” Mr Trump said in a video shared on the platform.

Trump and Pence expected to speak at NRA event, likely their first meeting after two years

Thursday 30 March 2023 12:30 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump and Mike Pence are scheduled to speak at the National Rifle Association (NRA) convention in Indianapolis in April, putting the former president and his vice president into the same room likely after two years.

Mr Pence has been vocal in recent times in his criticism about his former boss, who has lashed out as well. The ex-vice president is expected to officially challenge Mr Trump and throw his hat in the ring for the 2024 presidential elections.

One of the last reported meetings between the two Republicans had taken place in January 2021, almost a week after the Capitol riots where a pro-Trump mob had chanted “Hang Mike Pence!” That meeting had reportedly lasted for 90 minutes.

Read the full story here:

Trump and Pence expected to speak at NRA event, likely their first meet in two years

Former Republican Strategist says Christie can be ‘useful in taking down Trump'

Thursday 30 March 2023 12:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Former Republican Strategist Steve Schmidt, who woked on John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign, has said that former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie can be “useful in taking down Trump”.

“Chris Christie wants to be the leader of the Republican party for the purposes of taking out Trump. It’s not particularly noble, but it may be useful,” he said.

Trump defends Putin from DeSantis attacks, says he can end Russia-Ukraine war ‘within 24 hours’

Thursday 30 March 2023 11:30 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump again defended Vladimir Putin as he criticised fellow Republican Ron DeSantis for his comments calling the Russian president a “war criminal”.

The former president, who has launched his fervent pitch for the 2024 presidential election, posted new campaign videos, tearing into the Florida governor. Mr DeSantis has not yet declared his candidacy but remains one the top contenders for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

Mr Trump defended Mr Putin, criticising Mr DeSantis’s comments as “exactly the kind of simple-minded thinking that has produced decades of failed diplomacy and ultimately war”.

Read the full story:

Trump defends Putin from DeSantis attacks, says he can end war ‘within 24 hours’

Trump grand jury poised to take pre-planned hiatus from case

Thursday 30 March 2023 11:00 , AP

The Manhattan grand jury investigating hush money paid on Donald Trump’s behalf is scheduled to consider other matters next week before taking a previously scheduled two-week hiatus, a person familiar with the matter said Wednesday. That means a vote on whether or not to indict the former president likely wouldn’t come until late April at the earliest.

The break, which was scheduled in advance when the panel was convened in January, coincides with Passover, Easter and spring break for the New York City public school system.

The person who confirmed the grand jury’s schedule was not authorized to speak publicly about secretive grand jury proceedings and did so on condition of anonymity.

Read more:

Trump grand jury poised to take pre-planned hiatus from case

Trump fights court order requiring Mark Meadows to testify in Jan 6 probe

Thursday 30 March 2023 10:30 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump is fighting back against a court order that requires Mark Meadows and other former aides to testify before a federal grand jury investigating the January 6 Capitol riot.

Earlier this month, US Court Judge Beryl Howell ruled that former chief of staff Mr Meadows and other top aides including Dan Scavino and Stephen Miller must give testimony to the panel – rejecting Mr Trump’s claims of executive privilege.

On Wednesday, multiple outlets reported that Mr Trump’s team had filed an appeal against the decision.

Both the decision and the appeal were filed under seal, with a source telling NBC News that the appeal related to the judge’s ruling.

Trump claims China wouldn’t have sent balloon and Putin wouldn’t have invaded Ukraine if he was still president

Thursday 30 March 2023 10:00 , Ariana Baio

Mr Trump assured Sean Hannity of Fox News that “[China] wouldn’t have done it… Just like Putin would have never gone into Ukraine.”

“I don’t like people who say ‘oh they fear me’ like a schmuck. I don’t want to say it. But did they fear me? I suspect they did,” Mr Trump said.

The former president’s claim comes nearly two months after the Pentagon revealed Chinese spy balloons entered US airspace three times during his presidency.

The Defence Department said in a statement in early February that “Chinese balloons briefly transited the continental United States at least three times during the prior administration”.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the Biden administration was able to retroactively identify the presence of Chinese balloons in US airspace during Trump’s term after the US ”[enhanced] our surveillance of our territorial airspace.”

Trump reverses course and praises NYC grand jury claiming without evidence it doesn’t want to charge him

Thursday 30 March 2023 09:00 , Gustaf Kilander

In an all-caps rant on Truth Social, former President Donald Trump said he had “gained such respect” for the grand jury reviewing hush money payments allegedly made on his behalf during the 2016 campaign to women claiming they had previously had affairs with the then-candidate.

“I HAVE GAINED SUCH RESPECT FOR THIS GRAND JURY, & PERHAPS EVEN THE GRAND JURY SYSTEM AS A WHOLE,” Mr Trump wrote on Wednesday morning.

“THE EVIDENCE IS SO OVERWHELMING IN MY FAVOR, & SO RIDICULOUSLY BAD FOR THE HIGHLY PARTISAN & HATEFUL DISTRICT ATTORNEY, THAT THE GRAND JURY IS SAYING, HOLD ON, WE ARE NOT A RUBBER STAMP, WHICH MOST GRAND JURIES ARE BRANDED AS BEING, WE ARE NOT GOING TO VOTE AGAINST A PREPONDERANCE OF EVIDENCE OR AGAINST LARGE NUMBERS OF LEGAL SCHOLARS ALL SAYING THERE IS NO CASE HERE. DROP THIS SICK WITCH HUNT, NOW!” he added.

Trump shares story calling DeSantis book tour ‘amateur hour'

Thursday 30 March 2023 08:00 , Gustaf Kilander

In a Truth Social post, Mr Trump shares an article by The Daily Beast reporting that Ron DeSanstis’s book tour looked like “amateur hour,” according to a GOP strategist.

The Daily Beast quoted Republican observers saying that the pre-campaign of the Florida Governor appeared to be “out over its skis”.

“There’s a lot of cooks in the kitchen,” one source told the outlet.

“Word is they quietly rescheduled some stuff… but it definitely feels like he’s peeled some back,” a Republican consultant in Florida told The Daily Beast about the book tour. “I think the soft launch is having an effect. I think it’s gone poorly, I hear nothing but they are unhappy.”

“People need to remember, when you peak too soon, that’s a problem. And DeSantis peaked too soon,” a campaign strategist said.

VIDEO: Donald Trump slams US government for Putin's nuclear escalation

Thursday 30 March 2023 07:00 , The Independent

Fox Business shares poll showing majority of Americans think Trump shouldn’t be president again

Thursday 30 March 2023 06:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Most Americans don’t want Mr Trump to be president again and most think the investigations into him are fair.

The poll was shown on Fox Business.

The NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll includes responses from 1,300 adults and shows that 61 per cent of Americans don’t want him to be president again while 38 per cent says they do.

A majority of Americans disagree with Mr Trump as 56 per cent say that the investigations into him are fair and not a “witch hunt” – 41 per cent take the opposing view, according to NPR.

There’s a massive partisan divide – about 90 per cent of Democrats think the probs are fair, while 80 per cent of Republicans think they’re a witch hunt.

Among independents, 51 per cent think they’re fair, while 47 per cent do not.

Trump supporter pulls knife on woman with toddlers outside Manhattan court amid hush money probe

Thursday 30 March 2023 05:00 , Rachel Sharp

A Donald Trump supporter has been arrested for pulling a knife on a woman with small children outside Manhattan Criminal Court – where the former president could soon appear to face charges.

Angelica Rucker, 39, was holding a sign that read “I’m With Trump Are You?” outside the courthouse at around 3.30pm on Monday afternoon when she got into an argument with two passers-by, a spokesperson for New York Courts told The Independent.

One of the passers-by was with two small children at the time – one of them in a stroller.

As the verbal argument continued, Ms Rucker allegedly pulled a knife from her right side belt hip area and “began menacing” one of the individuals with the knife, the spokesperson said.

At that point, court officers – who had converged on the area to investigate the commotion – drew their firearms and ordered the 39-year-old to drop the knife.

Read more:

Trump supporter pulls knife on woman with toddlers outside Manhattan court

Trump posts Truth Social message threatening ‘war’ over indictment

Thursday 30 March 2023 04:15 , Eric Garcia

Former president Donald Trump suggested that his supporters their political opponents “a war” if the former president is indicted.

The former president re-posted right-wing columnist Wayne Allyn Root on Truth Social that included a link to his column entitled “Democrats Want to Indict & Arrest President Trump. They Want a War? Let’s Give it to Them.”

The article suggests that Republican district attorneys and attorneys general indict everyone from former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, former president Barack Obama, Hunter Biden, Anthony Fauci, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, former attorney general Eric Holder, Mark Zuckerberg, President Joe Bide, Vice President Kamala Harris and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

Read more:

Trump posts Truth Social message threatening ‘war’ over indictment

Manhattan grand jury will take extended break in Trump hush money probe

Thursday 30 March 2023 03:45 , Eric Garcia

The grand jury in Manhattan that is looking into former president Donald Trump’s alleged payment of hush money to adult film actress Stormy Daniels is expected to take a monthlong break, someone familiar with the proceedings told Politico.

The source familiar told Politico that the break was previously planned. The break would likely mean that any potential indictment of Mr Trump would likely be delayed.

This comes after Mr Trump posted last Saturday on Truth Social that he would be indicted as early as that Tuesday, but it ultimately did not happen. The former president has urged his supporters to protest any potential indictment and he has vehemently denied the affair with Ms Daniels, which allegedly happened months after his wife Melania gave birth to their son Barron.

Read more:

Manhattan grand jury will take extended break in Trump hush money probe

Trump campaign questions how much DeSantis pre-campaign travel will cost taxpayers

Thursday 30 March 2023 03:15 , Gustaf Kilander

'Nobody should be untouchable because they have money or power'

Thursday 30 March 2023 02:53 , Io Dodds

Do you think Trump should get indicted, asks one of Stormy Daniels' OnlyFans subscribers?

Though noting that she is "not a lawyer", she says: "I think he should be held accountable for anything he has done wrong, and I am happy to turn over any and all evidence and speak my truth.

"I have proof of everything I said. I have phone records, eyewitnesses... if what he did was illegal, he should be held accountable. I don't think that anybody should be untouchable just because they have money or because they're in power."

Asked if she would be willing to testify, she said: “Absolutely. I've made it very clear. I am not afraid and I will not back down.”

With that, the live stream is over.

‘I’m just making orange juice out of oranges’

Thursday 30 March 2023 02:49 , Io Dodds

Going public about her alleged rendezvous with Donald Trump has derailed her career rather than boosting it, Stormy Daniels says.

Speaking in a live stream on her OnlyFans page, says she was respected and successful as a porn performer and director before the news came out.

Suddenly, she says, everything was about Trump, and now she goes back and forth on a daily basis on whether she regrets making her allegations public.

She is unapologetic about having used the furore to her advantage since then, such as by embarking on a cross-country patriotic stripping tour and writing a memoir called Full Disclosure.

She describes those ventures as simply making the best of a bad situation by "making orange juice out of oranges" (a reference to Mr Trump’s tangerine tan).

"I’m getting blasted for making more money right now," she says. "I’ve always done this. Everybody that has a business, you know to take the opportunity. Isn’t that what America is about?

"I just saw that Trump’s actually doing the same thing. He has segued into, you know, all the stuff going on right now, to help further his career and capitalise on it and raise money.

"That’s actually kind of brilliant. Like, he’s doing the same thing that I am doing. Why is it okay for him and it’s not okay for me?"

VIDEO: Trump claims China wouldn't send spy balloon over US during his presidency

Thursday 30 March 2023 02:45 , The Independent

Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website