Trump news today: Michigan official talks 2020 election probe as Christie mocks Trump’s fantasy scenario

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‘What the hell is a Blizzard?’: Trump reveals he’s never been to a Dairy Queen

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Justice Department investigators have interviewed Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson as part of their investigation into Donald Trump’s efforts to subvert the 2020 presidential election.

Ms Benson’s meeting with prosecutors working for special counsel Jack Smith took place last month and lasted several hours, a source told CNN on Wednesday.

Michigan is one of the key battleground states targeted by the former president and his allies as he tries to overturn Joe Biden’s legal victory.

It comes as Mr Trump’s legal troubles heat up with a grand jury sworn in on Tuesday in Atlanta, Georgia, as part of an investigation into his efforts to reverse his 2020 election loss in the state.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is investigating Mr Trump after he called Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in early 2021 and urged him to seek 11,780 votes.

Meanwhile, rival Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie has spoken out about a criminal charge over Mr Trump’s handling of classified documents.

Mr Christie told CNN that he thinks Mr Trump’s fantasy scenario is that the trial is delayed until after the 2024 election, he is elected president and then manages to block the investigation.

HighlightsShow latest update 1689248700January 6 trial: Former Jesus Christ Superstar actor linked to Oath Keepers acquitted

A former Jesus Christ Superstar actor was acquitted Wednesday of conspiring with members of the far-right Oath Keepers extremist group to obstruct Congress in a Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.

James Beeks, a Florida resident who was playing Judas in a traveling musical production when he was arrested was cleared of conspiracy to obstruct Congress’ certification of the 2020 election and civil disorder after a trial in federal court. US District Judge Amit Mehta found Beeks co-defendant, Ohio resident Donovan Crowl, guilty of both charges after hearing evidence without a jury.

Oliver O’Connell13 July 2023 12:45

1689246900 Bannon ordered to pay nearly $500K in unpaid legal bills

Steve Bannon must pay nearly $500,000 in outstanding legal fees to his former lawyers, a New York judge has ruled.

Bannon, a longtime ally of former President Donald Trump and far-right strategist, was sued earlier this year for allegedly stiffing the Manhattan law firm that defended him against a series of legal troubles. in recent years.

Oliver O’Connell13 July 2023 12:15

1689243300FBI director and Matt Gaetz clash over trust in bureau

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and FBI Director Christopher Wray exchanged questions about trust in the FBI on Wednesday.

Mr Wray appeared before the House Judiciary Committee as part of the committee’s oversight of the bureau. Republicans have repeatedly criticized Mr Wray, who was appointed by former president Donald Trump in 2017 after he fired former director James Comey.

Mr Gaetz criticized Mr Wray for his tenure at the helm of the FBI, a law enforcement agency once respected by members of the GOP.

Eric Garcia reported what was said.

Oliver O’Connell13 July 2023 11:15

1689239700 After losing immunity in E Jean Carroll case, Trump fires crooked DOJ

Ms Caroll sued Mr Trump for denying he sexually assaulted her in Manhattan in the 1990s. In 2019, while serving as president, Mr Trump said Ms Carroll was not my type, and that the alleged assault never happened.

If a federal employee is sued for defamation because of actions connected to their work, the DOJ can step in as the defendant and effectively prevent the lawsuit from proceeding on the grounds that the federal government cannot sue for defamation.

Mr Trump relied on the federal government’s defense in the defamation case, but today, the DOJ changed course and concluded that his comments about Ms Carroll were not sufficiently connected to the performance of his duties as president.

Abe Asher reports on the latest legal blow to the former president.

Oliver O’Connell13 July 2023 10:15

1689236100Fox News and Tucker Carlson sued by Ray Epps for defamatory attack after January 6

The man at the center of a right-wing conspiracy theory surrounding the January 6 and attack on the US Capitol has filed a defamation lawsuit against Fox News and Tucker Carlson for promoting an implausible story that claiming he was an undercover federal agent who incited the riot.

A lawsuit from Ray Epps follows a cease-and-desist letter sent to the network earlier this year, demanding that Carlson retract his false and defamatory statements about her and deliver a formal on-air apology for the lies he promoted.

Alex Woodward has the details.

Oliver O’Connell13 July 2023 09:15

1689232500After white nationalist comments, Tuberville says he can’t be racist because he’s a football coach

Mr. Tuberville served as head coach of four major Division I NCAA football teams, including the University of Mississippi, University of Cincinnati, Texas Tech University and Auburn University, based in Alabama.

A reporter for NBC News asked him about his past comments about white nationalism.

Oliver O’Connell13 July 2023 08:15

1689228900FBI director Christopher Wray shoots down ridiculous conspiracy theory January 6

FBI director Christopher Wray dismissed a widespread conspiracy theory that federal agents were hiding behind orchestrating or encouraging rioters to attack the halls of Congress on January 6.

In his sworn testimony to the House Judiciary Committee on July 12, Mr Wray shot down claims being pushed by members of a far-right gang, pundit Tucker Carlson, Republican officials and right-wing conspiracy theorists who allegedly ‘is a deadly disorder. in the US Capitol was prompted by federal informants and agents.

Oliver O’Connell13 July 2023 07:15

1689225300ICYMI: Trump suggests Hunter Biden should be sentenced to death

As a grand jury in Georgia convenes to potentially consider criminal charges against him, and as a partisan investigation into his political enemies appears to be imploding, Donald Trump slammed his Truth Social on through a series of unhinged posts suggesting that President Joe Bidens son should get the death sentence and that a crackhead is running the White House.

Oliver O’Connell13 July 2023 06:15

1689221700Georgia grand jury sworn to consider Trump 2020 election charges

A grand jury in Georgia has been sworn in to consider charges against Donald Trump and his allies in their attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in that state.

Oliver O’Connell13 July 2023 05:15

1689219729Executives who helped create Fox News say the network has become a dangerous disinformation machine

In a blog post Wednesday, Preston Padden, a former lobbyist for the company, Ken Solomon, a former distribution executive, and Bill Reyner, a former attorney for the then-nascent cable network, all offered of mea culpa

Graeme Massie13 July 2023 04:42

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