Biden news - Trump blames Cuomo for ‘witch hunt’ after Scotus tax ruling as US hits 500,000 Covid deaths

After the Supreme Court ruled against Donald Trump multiple times on Monday. the ex-president finally got a decision in the win column.

Scotus rejected an appeal from Stephanie “Stormy Daniels” Clifford to revive a defamation lawsuit against Trump, according to the Associated Press. A lower court had dismissed the case, which sued Trump for defamation after he said her claims of a 2006 affair were a “total con job”.

Earlier on Monday the Supreme Court ruled that Trump must hand over his tax records, while separately dismissing Trump’s election challenges.

Asked about Iran’s threats to increase uranium enrichment to 60 per cent purity, the Biden administration says it remains open to diplomacy if the country complies with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action “nuclear deal”, which requires snap inspections of nuclear sites.

“What we are open to is a diplomatic conversation, and our view is that diplomacy is the best path forward to preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon,” press secretary Jen Psaki said.

She added: “They have clearly not taken the steps needed to comply, and we have not taken any steps or made an indication that we are going to meet the demands that they are putting forward either.”

Uranium enriched to 60 per cent purity is almost enough to produce a dirty bomb. The Independent’s International Correspondent, Borzou Daragahi, has more on the warnings from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

The former president said the Supreme Court’s denial of his request to withhold tax records was a continuation of his “political persecution” and that politically-appointed prosecutors taking down their opponents is “fascism, not justice”.

The Supreme Court earlier ruled that Trump must hand over his tax records to the Manhattan district attorney, paving the way for a New York grand jury to review his financial records.

Trump said that the New York investigation is a continuation of “the greatest political witch hunt”.

“The new phenomenon of “headhunting” prosecutors and AGs (attorneys general)—who try to take down their political opponents using the law as a weapon—is a threat to the very foundation of our liberty,” Trump said.

“That’s what is done in third world countries. Even worse are those who run for prosecutorial or attorney general offices in far-left states and jurisdictions pledging to take out a political opponent. That’s fascism, not justice—and that is exactly what they are trying to do with respect to me, except that the people of our country won’t stand for it.”

Read the full response below, which was posted to Gab, which is quickly becoming Trump’s preferred megaphone following his Twitter ban.

‘Statement on the Continuing Political Persecution of President Donald J. Trump’

This investigation is a continuation of the greatest political Witch Hunt in the history of our Country, whether it was the never ending $32 million Mueller hoax, which already investigated everything that could possibly be investigated, “Russia Russia Russia,” where there was a finding of “No Collusion,” or two ridiculous “Crazy Nancy” inspired impeachment attempts where I was found NOT GUILTY. It just never ends!

So now, for more than two years, New York City has been looking at almost every transaction I’ve ever done, including seeking tax returns which were done by among the biggest and most prestigious law and accounting firms in the U.S. The Tea Party was treated far better by the IRS than Donald Trump. The Supreme Court never should have let this “fishing expedition” happen, but they did. This is something which has never happened to a President before, it is all Democrat-inspired in a totally Democrat location, New York City and State, completely controlled and dominated by a heavily reported enemy of mine, Governor Andrew Cuomo. These are attacks by Democrats willing to do anything to stop the almost 75 million people (the most votes, by far, ever gotten by a sitting president) who voted for me in the election—an election which many people, and experts, feel that I won. I agree!

The new phenomenon of “headhunting” prosecutors and AGs—who try to take down their political opponents using the law as a weapon—is a threat to the very foundation of our liberty. That’s what is done in third world countries. Even worse are those who run for prosecutorial or attorney general offices in far-left states and jurisdictions pledging to take out a political opponent. That’s fascism, not justice—and that is exactly what they are trying to do with respect to me, except that the people of our Country won’t stand for it.

In the meantime, murders and violent crime are up in New York City by record numbers, and nothing is done about it. Our elected officials don’t care. All they focus on is the persecution of President Donald J. Trump.

I will fight on, just as I have, for the last five years (even before I was successfully elected), despite all of the election crimes that were committed against me. We will win!

In the trailer for his new podcast, Barack Obama opens up to Bruce Springsteen about the difficulties of his early relationship with his father.

The former president tells the rock legend that his father left when he was two and he didn’t meet him until he was ten years old and came to visit for a month.

“I had no way to connect to guy ... he’s a stranger who’s suddenly in our house,” Mr Obama says.

Oliver O’Connell reports.

A mariachi band was seen playing outside the home of Texas senator Ted Cruz on Sunday, as outrage continued over a short-lived holiday to Cancun, Mexico during a devastating storm.

According to witnesses, some of Mr Cruz’s neighbours went out on to the street to watch the impromptu mariachi performance Sunday, which was organised by a Houston-based Twitter user, Bryan Hlavinka.

“Just a typical Sunday. Mariachi band in town,” said the Texan in a video shared to Twitter, which showed the mariachi band walking behind him. “Where on our way to Ted Cruz’s house because he feels so bad about missing his vacation.”

Gino Spocchia reports.

The family of a Texas boy who died during the deep freeze which gripped the state last week has filed a $100m (£71m) lawsuit against the organisation which operates the energy grid and a power company.

The mother of 11-year-old Cristian Pineda lodged the wrongful death lawsuit in Jefferson County District Court, accusing Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and Entergy Corporation of gross negligence, ABC News reported.

The suit alleges the organisations "put profits over the welfare of people" by ignoring previous recommendations to adapt their power grid to endure lower temperatures over winter.

Louise Hall reports.

“I think every single day, Biden makes people miss Donald Trump more... When you see some of these policies that are literally destroying jobs, that are destroying industries, that are causing Texas to freeze, that are cutting off our power to our energy grids and all these other nonsensical policies,” said Eric Trump.

In an interview with Fox News on Monday morning, the middle son of former president Donald Trump claimed that President Joe Biden’s actions since taking office on 20 January are making people miss his father.

Oliver O'Connell reports.

United Airlines confirmed it was investigating how Ted Cruz’s flight itinerary had been leaked to the press, which showed the Republican senator’s original plan to travel home and subsequent flight change after intense public scrutiny of the Cancun jaunt.

“It’s against United’s policies to share personal information about our customers and we are investigating this incident,” an airline spokesperson said.

The Independent’s Chris Riotta has more on how Cruz’s series of excuses as to why he fled his home state in the midst of a winter storm crisis for a vacation in Cancun continued to fall apart.

New York City movie theatres will be allowed to reopen at 25 per cent capacity on 5 March, Governor Andrew Cuomo said Monday.

No more than 50 people will be allowed to be in the same theatre and masks, social distancing and other public health protocols like air filtration and assigned seating will be required.

Purification standards previously defined by the Department of Justice will also have to be followed.

Gustaf Kilander reports.

The Trump Organisation will have $7m less flowing into its coffers this year now that an iconic retailer has stopped renting space at a Trump-owned building.

Tiffany's announced it would not be renewing its lease with the Trump Organisation, and will be moving its store back to its historical location on Fifth Avenue.

In 2018, the iconic jewelry store agreed to sublease the 74,000-square-foot space on 6 E 57th St. while renovations were done at its Fifth Avenue headquarters. The store will move back to its original headquarters in mid-2022, leaving the Trump Organisation left with a five-story retail space to fill.

Graig Graziosi reports.