Trump news - live: White House insists Supreme Court did not rule against president in tax case as Michael Cohen is sent back to prison
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The US Supreme Court has ruled that Donald Trump must hand over his final records to a New York prosecutor investigating him, a judgement effectively establishing that a sitting president is not above the law, while also deciding that he does not have to extend the same courtesy to the House of Representatives in response to a congressional subpoena.
When responding to the ruling later on Thursday, though, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany insisted the high court did not rule against Mr Trump in the judgement because the case is being thrown back to lower courts.
This comes as Mr Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen has been ordered back to prison after he broke his house arrest by visiting a New York City restaurant this week. Mr Cohen was released to his home to serve the remainder of his sentence due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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House to interview ex-New York prosecutor Geoffrey Berman, fired while investigating Trump allies
The ousted US attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) who was leading investigations into the president’s associates is set to appear before the House Judiciary Committee for a private interview as the panel deepens its probe of politicisation at the Justice Department.
Geoffrey Berman, the former federal prosecutor for the Southern District of New York, engaged in an extraordinary standoff last month when attorney general William Barr sought to have him leave office. Berman refused to step down, relenting only after being assured his office's probes of Trump's circle would continue.
In setting Thursday's interview, Judiciary Committee chairman Jerrold Nadler called Berman's dismissal "part of a clear and dangerous pattern" of behaviour by Barr. The panel's Democratic majority is pursuing its investigation of the attorney general, who they say operates more like Trump's personal lawyer than the nation's top law enforcement official. Barr is set to testify before the committee himself later this month.
The Southern District, known for its high-profile prosecutions, is where Berman oversaw several ongoing investigations of Trump associates, including some who figured prominently in the House impeachment inquiry of the president.
Berman's office is looking into the business dealings of Rudy Giuliani, Trump's personal lawyer and a former New York mayor. It has also prosecuted Trump's previous fixer Michael Cohen, who went to prison for lying to Congress and campaign finance crimes.
The SDNY has probed Trump's inaugural fundraising and overseen the prosecution of two Florida businessmen, Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, who were associates of Giuliani and tied to the Ukraine impeachment investigation. The men were charged in October with federal campaign finance violations.
The Judiciary panel's interview will be held behind closed doors. It is likely to go on for hours. A transcript is expected to be released later.
Berman, a Republican lawyer and a donor to Trump, was tapped by the administration in 2018 as the US attorney for SDNY. He had worked from 1987 to 1990 for the independent counsel who investigated the administration of Ronald Reagan over the Iran-Contra affair.
He previously served in the SDNY office as an assistant US attorney from 1990 to 1994 before joining private practice, including time at the same firm as Giuliani. He reportedly met with Trump before being assigned as the top federal prosecutor job in Manhattan.
The effort to oust Berman sparked an unusual clash between the Justice Department and its storied prosecutors' office in New York.
Late on a Friday, Barr announced in a statement that Berman was stepping down. Shortly after 1pm Berman issued a response of his own, saying he had "no intention of resigning."
Berman showed up for work the following Saturday morning. Barr, critical of the "public spectacle," announced Berman's firing.
Trump told reporters it was "all up to the attorney general." At the time, Trump added: "I wasn't involved."
It's not the first ouster of a US attorney from the SDNY under this administration. Preet Bahara, a former federal prosecutor appointed by Barack Obama, announced that he was fired in March 2017, shortly after Trump took office.
AP
Former KKK leader endorses Trump for president again - and Tucker Carlson for VP
Andrew Naughtie has this on David Duke and an endorsement any credible leader not relying on the white supremacist vote would reject in a heartbeat.
200,000 people expected to die from coronavirus before election day
Will Trump be able to spin that one with a straight face? You know he'll try.
Here's Gino Spocchia's report.
Joe Biden defends Tammy Duckworth after ‘disgusting, sickening’ attacks from Tucker Carlson
Speaking at a virtual fundraiser, the Democratic candidate for president lashed out at the Fox News host for questioning the patriotism (absurdly) of the Illinois senator who received the Purple Heart and lost her legs serving in the US military in Iraq.
Biden said Carlson’s accusation of “cowardice” against Duckworth were a “reflection of the depravity of what’s going on in the White House right now.”
Meanwhile, since we’re talking Fox, Laura Ingraham’s latest appallingly racist assault on Muslim senator Ilhan Omar is truly a sight to behold.
Florida governor under fire over raging Covid outbreak quietly signs in new abortion law
Here's Louise Hall on a fairly shocking piece of opportunism from Republican Ron DeSantis, who you might think had other things on his mind right now.
“This law will put already at-risk young people in even greater danger at the worst possible time,” comments Stephanie Fraim of Planned Parenthood. “What’s worse, it could open the door to a reinterpretation of our constitutional right to privacy and the right to safe and legal abortion in Florida.”
Neil Young has a suggestion for Donald Trump
Angered by the president's use of his tunes without permission at his recent Mount Rushmore gathering, the legendary folk rocker has a few choice words about his prospects in November.
Here's Danielle Zoellner's report.
President screams 'PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT' on Twitter
Trump begins his day on Twitter in typically unhinged fashion, claiming for the "1/100th" (?) time that the US has tested 40m people for coronavirus and that's why it's case numbers are so high. Like a child pointing out that the can't see the monsters under the bed if you close your eyes.
He's all been watching Maria Bartiromo obliging reviving "Obamagate" for him on Fox...
...prompting this insane war whoop.
Black Lives Matter mural to be painted in front of Trump Tower today
New York's mayor Bill de Blasio is expected to join in with glee as activists get to work right on the president's old Fifth Avenue doorstep, reports Gino Spocchia.
You can just see Trump looking down from the top floor and scowling - like the Grinch shaking his fist at the Whos down in Whoville from his cave on Mount Crumpit.
Joe Biden pledges to rejoin World Health Organisation on first day in office
The Democratic candidate's announcement follows Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian moving to criticise Trump for his exit from the global body, calling his petulant search for a scapegoat for the pandemic :"Another demonstration of the US pursuing unilateralism, withdrawing from groups and breaking contracts."
Here's Andrew Naughtie on Biden.
Biden calls for $700bn 'Buy American' campaign
Here's a little more from the man who his eye on the Oval Office, as he spells out his vision for the "immediate recovery" of the US economy from recession.
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