Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

As it happenedended

Trump news - LIVE: White House refuses to rule out Manafort pardon as Pelosi suggests impeachment 'too divisive'

Follow the latest from Washington

Joe Sommerlad,Sarah Harvard
Tuesday 12 March 2019 07:14 EDT
Comments
White House refuses to rule out Manafort pardon

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The White House has refused to rule out Donald Trump issuing a presidential pardon to his ex-campaign manager Paul Manafort after the latter was sentenced last week to 47 months in prison for bank and tax fraud, crimes uncovered by FBI special counsel Robert Mueller during his Russia investigation.

With Manafort facing a further to 10 years behind bars when he is sentenced by a second court in Washington on Wednesday, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders used her first briefing in six weeks to tell reporters: “The president has made his position on that clear – he’ll make a decision when he’s ready”.

Democratic House speaker Nancy Pelosi has meanwhile said she believes the impeachment process is too “divisive” and Mr Trump “just not worth it”, while veteran Vermont senator Bernie Sanders attacked the president’s new budget plan as “dead on arrival” and intended “for the military industrial complex, for corporate CEOs, for Wall Street and for the billionaire class”.

Please allow a moment for our liveblog to load

President Trump reportedly told RNC donors at a conference that if he ran in the Israeli election, he would've won 98% of the vote.

Sarah Harvard12 March 2019 15:00

By the People, a grassroots movement dedicated to impeaching President Trump, released a statement on Tuesday in response to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stating the president is “not worth” impeachment because it is so “divisive.

Sarah Harvard12 March 2019 15:15

President Trump lost over $125 million in his attempt to launch a "Trump Shuttle."

Sarah Harvard12 March 2019 15:30

President Trump was named a co-champion of a golf tournament he didn't play in, Golf.com reported.

Sarah Harvard12 March 2019 15:45

Rep. Ilhan Omar criticized President Trump for the Pentagon's nearly $1bn deal with the Lockheed Martin and Saudi Arabia.

Sarah Harvard12 March 2019 17:35

California Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman said he supports impeaching President Trump.

Sarah Harvard12 March 2019 17:50

From BuzzFeed's Dominic Holden: "Transgender military plaintiffs hit back at Trump, saying he can’t start implementing the ban — as he said he would Friday — because a court injunction still blocks it."

Sarah Harvard12 March 2019 18:15

A bible that Trump signed in 2016 is selling for $325 on Ebay.

Sarah Harvard12 March 2019 18:30

Per NPR: "House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff says there's enough evidence already available to indict President Trump after he leaves office — but said he supports Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi's position on not impeaching Trump."

Sarah Harvard12 March 2019 18:45

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in