Trump news: Impeachment defence lawyer says ‘idiotic’ to mention election as Gaetz offers to join case
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Your support makes all the difference.House Democrats have laid out their impeachment case against Donald Trump in a comprehensive memorandum accusing him of inciting the failed insurrection at the US Capitol on 6 January that left five people dead.
The 80-page document provides a roadmap for their prosecution of the former president when his Senate impeachment trial kicks off on 9 February. “If provoking an insurrectionary riot against a Joint Session of Congress after losing an election is not an impeachable offence, it is hard to imagine what would be,” they argue.
As Mr Trump’s lawyers issued their own 14-page, typo-riddled response objecting to the trial as “unconstitutional”, more than 370 congressional aides signed a letter calling on senators to convict the ex-president for placing them in harm’s way.
Mr Trump’s lead impeachment attorney meanwhile says that it would be “idiotic” and “insane” to dispute the result of the 2020 election as part of their defence strategy.
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Big fines for lawmakers who dodge Capitol metal detectors
The US House has voted to penalise lawmakers who seek to bypass the security screening measures that have been enacted following the Capitol riot with large cash fines.
A bill passed on Tuesday has approved a $5,000 fine for the first offence and $10,000 for each offence thereafter.
The move comes after several Republican members were seen complaining about or bypassing the new security measures at the entrance to the house floor in the wake of the Capitol riot.
Louise Hall reports for The Independent.
Lawmakers who dodge metal scanners will be fined up to $10k
Several Republican members were seen complaining about or bypassing the new security measures
Voices: What about the other lawsuits against Trump?
Trump won’t be convicted in the Senate impeachment trial, write Carli Pierson, but what about the other lawsuits against him?
Most of the other legal troubles Trump faces as a private citizen are in New York. Unfortunately, it’s hard to see how those charges will stick either.
Trump won’t be convicted in the Senate impeachment trial — but what about the other lawsuits against him?
Most of the other legal troubles Trump faces as a private citizen are in New York. Unfortunately, it’s hard to see how those charges will stick either
Trump lawyer says it would be ‘idiotic’ and ‘insane’ to dispute 2020 election result
More from Trump impeachment lawyer Bruce Castor.
From Reuters:
A lawyer for Donald Trump on Wednesday said it would be “idiotic” and “insane” to dispute the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election during his Senate impeachment trial, adding that the former US president has not pressured him to make those arguments.
“Injecting that into a case that is already a winner would be idiotic,” said Bruce L. Castor Jr, a recent addition to Trump’s legal team, in an interview with Reuters.
“It would be insane to do that,” Castor said.
“Nobody has pressured me to make that defense,” Castor added, saying Trump was happy with a brief filed by Castor and his co-counsel David Schoen on Tuesday.
FBI launches new website to track down Capitol rioters
The FBI has created a new website featuring high quality photos of the suspects still wanted in connection with the riots at the US Capitol on 6 January.
James Crump reports.
FBI launches new photo-packed website for those wanted in Capitol riots
Bureau is ‘seeking the public’s assistance in identifying individuals who made unlawful entry into the US Capitol building’
Pelosi: McCarthy has made GOP the QAnon party
House speaker Nancy Pelosi blasted her Republican counterpart Kevin McCarthy on Wednesday over his “cowardly refusal" to unseat representative Marjorie Taylor Greene from committees over her past comments on social media endorsing violence against Democrats and backing conspiracy theories, mocking him as “(Q-CA),” a QAnon supporter.
Josh Marcus has the story.
Pelosi says ‘cowardly’ McCarthy has made GOP the QAnon party over Marjorie Taylor Greene scandal
It’s the latest fallout from the widening scandal around congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene’s controversial comments
House Democrat delighted as Matt Gaetz offers to resign seat to defend Trump
House Democrat Brendan Boyle was elated after Florida Republican Representative Matt Gaetz said he would be willing to step down from his seat to defend former President Donald Trump in his upcoming impeachment trial.
Mr Boyle, a Congressman from Philadelphia, seemed to mock Mr Gaetz' resignation offer, tweeting: "I strongly support my colleague Matt Gaetz doing this."
House Democrat delighted as Matt Gaetz offers to resign seat to defend Trump
Mr Boyle, Congressman from Philadelphia, seemed to mock Mr Gaetz' resignation offer, tweeting: ‘I strongly support my colleague Matt Gaetz doing this’
MJT to face no consequences from GOP
Georgia Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene will not face consequences from within her own party for her history of bigoted, conspiracy-mongering behaviour, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy announced on Wednesday.
Griffin Connolly reports from Washington, DC.
Marjorie Taylor Greene to face no consequences from House GOP
Georgia Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene will not face consequences from within her own party for her history of bigoted, conspiracy-mongering behaviour, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy announced on Wednesday.
Lincoln Project denies link to Liz Cheney
A statement from the Lincoln Project denies that it is coordinating with representative Liz Cheney, chair of the House Republican Party, who voted in favour of impeaching Donald Trump.
The statement reads:
“It has come to our attention that there is a rumor circulating that The Lincoln Project is in coordination with GOP Conference Chair Liz Cheney. This is yet another baseless lie being spread by the Jim Crow Caucus and its leader Kevin McCarthy, a man who lives in a rancid bubble of conspiracy, fantasy, and desperation.
"It's telling that Republican leadership spends more time focusing on an imaginary alliance than it does exposing and condemning the QAnon conspiracies being spread by members of their own caucus."
“The Lincoln Project has had no interaction with Congresswoman Cheney. That said, we think she'd take Matt Gaetz in a fight with one hand tied behind her back."
Even a pardon might not save Steve Bannon
Steve Bannon was pardoned by Donald Trump before the former president left office, but the former Trump strategist may still face state charges. Mr Bannon is now under investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney's office for his role in a fund-raising scheme for Mr Trump's border wall that allegedly defrauded donors.
Graig Graziosi’s got the details.
Steve Bannon under investigation by New York District Attorney for border wall fraud scheme
The former Trump strategist dodged federal charges thanks to a presidential pardon
Voices: Fox News pundits are coming to an uncomfortable realization
The commentators of the Trump era are scraping by with the likes of Josh Hawley right now, but it’s becoming obvious that without power, all they have left are vague emotions, writes Andrew Naughtie.
Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity are coming to an uncomfortable realization
The commentators of the Trump era are scraping by with the likes of Josh Hawley right now, but it’s becoming obvious that without power, all they have left are vague emotions
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