Trump hush money sentencing delayed after Supreme Court gives ex-president substantial immunity: Live

Twice-impeached convicted felon and Republican presidential candidate handed huge win by conservative-majority bench

President Joe Biden addresses the nation after the Supreme Court’s ruling

Donald Trump’s request to delay sentencing in his hush money trial has been granted after the Supreme Court ruled that the former president has “absolute” immunity from criminal prosecution for “official” acts as president.

Sentencing is now set for September 18.

Joe Biden slammed the Supreme Court ruling during an address to the nation from the White House on Monday evening, saying it set a “dangerous precedent”.

The 6-3 majority decision was opposed by all three liberal justices on the bench, with Sonia Sotomayor warning in her dissent: “The president is now a king above the law.”

Biden is still struggling to calm Democrats following his disastrous debate performance last week amid concerns within the party about his electability and impact on down-ballot candidates.

New polling paints a dire picture, showing Biden down as much as 10 per cent in key swing states that he won in 2020 with 75 per cent of registered voters saying the party would do better without him on the ticket.

Potential replacements for the president — Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, Gretchen Whitmer, and Gavin Newsom — poll markedly better. There is no indication Biden will withdraw.

Key Points

• Trump’s hush money sentencing delayed to September
• New poll: Most voters think Democratic Party has better 2024 chance without Biden
• Supreme Court awards Donald Trump some immunity from prosecution
• Dissenting liberal justice: ‘The president is now a king above the law’
• Congressman promises constitutional amendment to ‘reverse’ immunity ruling
• Joe Biden had a rigor mortis-like freeze a year ago, Watergate's Carl Bernstein says

[2 July 2024 20:20 · Oliver O'Connell]

Trump sneaker line sues over knockoffs

The company behind Donald Trump’s line of gold high-top sneakers has filed a lawsuit alleging trademark and copyright infringement against a number of retailers it accuses of marketing and selling knockoff versions of the shoes online.

Attorneys for 45Footwear LLC filed the suit in Arizona on Monday but declined to name the defendants, saying they would do so in a forthcoming filing, according to NBC News.

Joe Sommerlad has the story.

[2 July 2024 20:15 · Oliver O'Connell]

Watch: White House says Biden knows how to come back after calls to step-aside

[2 July 2024 20:10 · Oliver O'Connell]

Hunter Biden joined White House meetings on return from Camp David

Joe Biden and Hunter Biden (AFP via Getty Images)

NBC News reports that Hunter Biden has joined meetings with President Joe Biden and his top aides since his father returned to the White House from Camp David on Monday evening and has also been talking to senior staff.

The network cites four people familiar with the matter.

It is unusual for Hunter to be in and around meetings and some aides say they were struck by his presence.

Per NBC News:

One of the people familiar with the matter said Hunter Biden has been closely advising his father since the family gathered this past weekend at Camp David after Thursday’s debate. This person said Hunter Biden has "popped into" a couple of meetings and phone calls the president has had with some of his advisers.

Another person familiar with the matter said the reaction from some senior White House staff has been, “What the hell is happening?”

White House spokesperson Andrew Bates told NBC: “Hunter came back with the President from their family weekend at Camp David and went with the President straight into speech prep.”

Hunter will remain at the White House for the July 4 holiday.

Last month he was found guilty of gun-related charges and has pleased not guilty to tax-related felonies.

[2 July 2024 20:04 · Oliver O'Connell]

Trump’s hush money sentencing delayed to September

The judge presiding over Donald Trump’s hush money trial is postponing the former president’s sentencing to September after Manhattan prosecutors said they would not oppose Trump’s request to delay in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision granting him “absolute” immunity from criminal prosecution for “official” acts.

In a letter to Justice Juan Merchan on Tuesday, prosecutors with the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said Trump’s arguments are “without merit” but they do not oppose his request to push back the sentencing date as he files his legal arguments.

Trump was initially scheduled to be sentenced on July 11.

Alex Woodward reports.

[2 July 2024 20:00 · Oliver O'Connell]

Steven King cites RBG as example of when to resign

[2 July 2024 19:50 · Oliver O'Connell]

Watch: Julian Castro says Biden should withdraw from 2024 race

[2 July 2024 19:45 · Oliver O'Connell]

Whitmer ‘fired up and ready to fight like hell to elect Joe Biden'

Despite being named as a viable potential replacement for Joe Biden should he step aside as the Democratic Party candidate for November’s presidential election, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is standing by the president.

She tweeted today: “I'm fired up and ready to fight like hell to elect Joe Biden and Democrats up and down the ticket this November. Are you with me?”

[2 July 2024 19:40 · Oliver O'Connell]

Bernstein: Biden staffers have witnessed at least 15 incidents like ‘horror show’ debate in last two years

Staffers for Joe Biden have witnessed at least 15 incidents in the last year and a half “where the president has appeared like he did at that horror show” of a debate, Watergate reporter Carl Bernstein said this week.

Biden’s performance at the June 27 debate has been widely viewed as dismal, with his voice appearing frail and raspy as he lost his train of thought and made several gaffes.

Bernstein appeared on CNN on Monday, saying that people close to Biden have told him in the last six months that he’s shown signs of cognitive decline, adding that his sources have gone to former White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain with their concerns during the last year regarding Biden losing his train of thought.

Gustaf Kilander reports.

[2 July 2024 19:30 · Oliver O'Connell]

Biden to sit for interview with George Stephanopoulos at ABC News this week

ABC News has announced that it has secured the exclusive, first television interview with President Joe Biden following last week’s calamitous presidential debate.

The president will sit down on the campaign trail on Friday with Good Morning America co-anchor and This Week anchor George Stephanopoulos.

A first look at the interview will air Friday, July 5, on World News Tonight with David Muir, with portions airing on Good Morning America on Saturday and Sunday as well.

The extended interview will air Sunday, July 7, on This Week with George Stephanopoulos and Good Morning America on Monday, July 8.

[2 July 2024 19:20 · Oliver O'Connell]

Can Trump’s hush money conviction be overturned after Supreme Court immunity ruling?

Just hours after the Supreme Court granted Donald Trump absolute immunity for “official acts” while in office, the former president’s lawyers made moves to try to get his conviction in his hush money criminal trial overturned.

On Monday, Trump’s legal team scurried to send a letter to Justice Juan Merchan, the judge presiding over the case, asking him to throw out the guilty verdict.

James Liddell and Alex Woodward have the story.