Trump says the US is ‘pathetic’
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Donald Trump has been blamed for wrecking bipartisan legislation that would have reformed immigration and security along the southern border, while also providing crucial military aid to key US allies: Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.
Noting that Republicans had asked for the bill, before voting against it, Democratic Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii told The Independent: “I think what we’ve learned is that there’s only one high principle, which is that they do whatever Donald Trump tells them.”
Meanwhile, The former president has gleefully derided his rival for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination Nikki Haley after she suffered an embarrassing defeat in Tuesday’s Nevada primary.
Mr Trump was not laughing on Tuesday, however, when a federal appeals court ruled that he does not have “immunity” from prosecution for crimes committed while in office. A major blow to his efforts to evade criminal charges brought over his attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
Reacting angrily to the news, the former president branded the court’s decision “nation-destroying”.
Coming up on Thursday, oral arguments will be presented to the Supreme Court to determine if Mr Trump can remain on 2024 ballots, or whether he did indeed engage in an insurrection on January 6.
BREAKING: Republican senators block Ukraine-border bill after Donald Trump opposes it
The legislation—which Senators James Lankford of Oklahoma, Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Chris Murphy of Connecticut—failed 49-50 as a majority of Republican senators voted against the legislation. Speaker Mike Johnson and the rest of Republican leadership in the US House of Representatives opposed it as well.
Many Republicans came out with their opposition after former President Donald Trump condemned the legislation.
Eric Garcia and Katie Hawkinson report from Capitol Hill:
Oliver O’Connell7 February 2024 20:19
Trump legal team looks to get Mar-a-Lago classified docs charges dropped
In a new filing, lawyers for Donald Trump said that they plan to file multiple motions to get the criminal charges in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case against the former president dismissed, NBC News reports.
“Defendants currently plan to file on February 22, at minimum, a series of motions to dismiss the Superseding Indictment and certain of the charges therein,” Todd Blanche and Christopher Kise wrote in the newly filed motion, which seeks to extend certain deadlines in the case.
The superseding indictment in the case alleges Mr Trump was involved in a scheme to delete security video at his Palm Beach home and private club.
They added that they are “still evaluating potential motions” which could relate to presidential immunity, the Presidential Records Act, their client’s security clearances, and “selective and vindictive prosecution”.
Both sides — the defence and Special Counsel Jack Smith’s team have until 22 February to file pretrial motions in the case.
Oliver O’Connell7 February 2024 20:00
Chip Roy points out Trump failed to ‘close the border’ for his whole presidency
Speaking after apparent the collapse of the bipartisan border bill, negotiated in the Senate, Mr Roy, who represents the 21st District of Texas between San Antonio and Austin, called out those who claim that no legislation is needed.
Opponents of the bill claim that the president already has the power to deal with the border and even order it closed — something that they claim Joe Biden is refusing to do.
Speaking in the lower chamber of Congress on Tuesday, Rep Roy specifically called out the former president.
Oliver O’Connell7 February 2024 19:45
Watch: Mayorkas addresses failed GOP efforts to impeach him
Oliver O’Connell7 February 2024 19:40
Another Trump Georgia co-defendant joins move to disqualify Fulton County DA Fani Willis
Another of Donald Trump’s co-defendants in the Georgia election interference case brought against the former president and 14 others has joined the call to have Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis disqualified from the case.
Jeffrey Clark, who was formerly a high-ranking official in the Justice Department in the Trump administration, alleges Ms Willis has “personal and financial interest” in the prosecution.
He echoes the other parties calling for her removal in focusing on the relationship she has with lead prosecutor Nathan Wade to which she has admitted, and her extrajudicial comments in which she defended him against the allegations.
Mr Clark also claims that Ms Willis “exploited the power of her office” to “threaten” Mr Wade’s estranged wife in a divorce filing.
Oliver O’Connell7 February 2024 19:35
Watch: Arizona senator tells colleagues ‘take your political theatre to Texas’ over failed border bill
Oliver O’Connell7 February 2024 19:25
Tucker Carlson’s Putin interview will ‘blow up’ US election, according to Russian propaganda
Oliver O’Connell7 February 2024 19:15
Watch: GOP senator says he was threatened over border bill Trump railed against
Oliver O’Connell7 February 2024 19:13
Donald Trump’s legal team replies to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’s argument that her conduct does not warrant disqualification from the sprawling Georgia election interference racketeering case she brought against the former president and his 14 co-defendants.
The Trump team claims that Ms Willis’s “extrajudicial racial comments” during a speech at a historically Black church created an “appearance of impropriety”.
Here’s our coverage of the speech:
Steve Sadow, one of Mr Trump’s attorneys, writes that he “can only hope” that the district attorney will be required to explain her comments “in testimony under oath” when she, special prosecutor Nathan Wade — with whom she has admitted a relationship — and others in her office, testify in a 15 February hearing before Judge Scott McAfee.
Here’s Alex Woodward reporting on Ms Willis’s response:
Oliver O’Connell7 February 2024 19:00
After Nevada loss, Haley again lays into Trump and Biden’s ages
Oliver O’Connell7 February 2024 18:45
