Trump lashes out at ‘rigged election’ moments after sharing Christmas video with Melania
The president golfed despite White House claims he was working ‘tirelessly’
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.Donald Trump spent Christmas Eve on the golf course after congressional Republicans struck down a Democrat-backed attempt to increase the amount of aid handed to Americans as part of the latest Covid-19 relief package, which the president said on Tuesday did not go far enough.
It comes as Mr Trump was accused of leaving Americans “adrift” after he arrived in Florida for Christmas on Wednesday, leaving the coronavirus relief package unsigned and a military spending bill threatened by a veto in his wake.
The president and First Lady Melania Trump released a message to Americans on Christmas Eve, highlighting the work of first responders, teachers and scientists working on the coronavirus vaccine to end the “terrible pandemic.” Moments after sharing the video on Twitter, the president lashed out at Republicans for their inadequate response “over the fact that the Democrats stole the rigged presidential election.”
The president pardoned more disgraced personal aides on Wednesday, including his one-time campaign chairman Paul Manafort and adviser Roger Stone, who were both sentenced for lying or not cooperating with the Robert Mueller investigation. Two others, former national security adviser Michael Flynn and former adviser George Papadopoulos, have also been pardoned.
The president pardoned more disgraced personal aides on Wednesday, include Mr Trump’s one-time campaign chairman Paul Manafort and adviser Roger Stone, who were both sentenced for lying or not cooperating with the investigation. Two others, former national security adviser Michael Flynn and former adviser George Papadopoulos, have also been pardoned.
Former acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe called the pardons “remarkably disgusting," and claimed they were “undermining the system of justice that he is supposed to protect and defend.”
The New York Times spoke with Iraqi citizens about Mr Trump pardoning the Blackwater mercenaries. One man, who was shot in the leg during the massacre in Nisour Square, said the American justice system was “just theatre.”
The president’s fury at the election results continued, with Mr Trump vowing on Twitter to “NEVER FORGET” the Republicans who he claims “sit back and watch me fight against a viscous and crooked foe.” He personally named Sen. Mitch McConnell in the tweet.
He also lamented Twitter’s continued use of tags claiming his posts contain false or misleading information regarding the 2020 election. The president said that the company was “dangerous” and that fact checking was the way “communism starts.” He attributed the company’s policy to “cancel culture.”
- US sees record breaking Covid hospitalisations on Christmas Eve
- House Republicans turn down Trump-Democrat bid to increase Covid checks
- Trump trolls White House press corps with 7:30 am start on a day he has no public duties
- New round of Trump clemency benefits Manafort, other allies
- Trump ‘rotten to the core’ - angry reactions to latest presidential pardons, now at 26
- Congress expected to override Trump veto on military policy and spending bill
Dominion warns ‘imminent’ legal action against Fox News hosts after airing baseless election conspracies
After sending several rounds of legal notices to right-wing media and Trump’s attorneys, including Rudy Giuliani, defamation lawyers for Dominion Voting Systems have also sent letters to individuals at Fox News – including Sean Hannity, Lou Dobbs, and Maria Bartiromo, as well as radio host Rush Limbaugh, Business Insider has reported.
Read more on Dominion’s mounting legal battle at The Independent:
Dominion lawyers warn ‘imminent’ legal action against Rudy Giuliani
Attorneys instruct Trump’s attorney and White House counsel Pat Cipollone to retract ‘defamatory claims’ and preserve documents
Voting rights groups and USPS reach settlement over Georgia mail-in ballots
The US Postal Service has agreed to treat ballots in Georgia’s critical US Senate runoff as express mail and expedite delivery ahead of election day on 5 January.
The settlement with the NAACP and Vote Forward with the USPS avoids a court battle as election day nears.
The outcome of that election – with Republican incumbents Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue facing Democratic challengers Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, respectively – will determine where Republicans maintain a majority in the Senate, shifting the the balance of power in Congress under Joe Biden’s administration.
“Every ballot must be counted, and this agreement with the USPS is a significant step in ensuring that the mail-in voting process for the Georgia runoff election will ensure the timely delivery of ballots,” said Sam Spital, Director of Litigation for the NAACP’s Legal Defense Fund.
The statement continued: “The agreement provides for the prioritization of ballot delivery, the timely resolution of any delays in the delivery system, and transparency into the USPS process for ensuring that no voters are disenfranchised. LDF will continue to monitor every aspect of the Georgia election to ensure that all voters – especially Black voters who consistently face suppression and intimidation tactics – can participate via mail, through early voting or in person on Election Day.”
Doctor dies from coronavirus after posting emotional video from hospital bed claiming racist treatment
A Black woman who complained about racist treatment from the doctor in charge of her care has died from complications caused by the coronavirus.
Susan Moore, herself a doctor, posted an emotional video earlier this month from hospital, where she was being treated for Covid-19, in which she described being denied pain medication by the doctor.
“I was in so much pain from my neck. My neck hurt so bad. I was crushed. He made me feel like I was a drug addict, and he knew I was a physician. I don’t take narcotics. I was hurting,” the 52-year-old said from her hospital bed, as she fought to hold back tears.
Doctor dies from coronavirus after posting emotional video from hospital bed claiming racist treatment
Dr Susan Moore said made to feel like a drug addict for asking for pain medication from white doctor
A Christmas message from the Trumps
Donald and Melania have shared a video message for Christmas, as the president promises the first doses of a coronavirus vaccine will end the “terrible pandemic” and the First Lady celebrates health workers, police and “the kindness and courage of citizens across this country.”
Trump still at war with GOP over election fraud claims
Well, that didn’t last long. Moments after sharing his Christmas message, Trump is back to falsely claiming Democrats “stole the rigged election."
He has renewed his battle with the GOP, asking why Republicans aren’t “up in arms & fighting” over the election results.
His latest message follows legal notices sent to his attorneys and his allies in right-wing media that have falsely connected Dominion Voting Systems to fraud, central to conspiracies amplified by his supporters.
Trump on defensive after his friends at Fox face legal consequences for promoting election fraud conspiracies
Defamation attorneys for Dominion Voting Systems have issued legal notices to Fox News hosts Sean Hannity, Lou Dobbs, and Maria Bartiromo, as well as radio host Rush Limbaugh, warning legal action is “imminent” after they’ve aired voter fraud conspiracies. The company has also sent similar letters to Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell and the White House.
Ms Bartiromo also was duped on Wednesday into interviewing an animal rights activist posing as the CEO of a major food processing company. She was actually interviewing Matt Johnson with animal rights group Direct Action Everywhere for six whole minutes.
Now Trump appears to be defending them.
Report: Trump targeting disloyal Republicans in 2022 primaries
Trump has instructed his advisers to keep tabs on potential Republicans to target in the 2022 primaries, as he grows increasingly frustrated with “disloyal” members of the GOP, according to Politico.
With a huge war chest and massive cult-like devotion among the party’s base, Team Trump is strategising how best to put them to use ahead of the 2022 elections, when a number of vulnerable congressional Republicans are up for re-election.
“President Trump has the biggest social media influence and the biggest political war chest in the country, and he’s not going to be afraid to use it in 2022 to elect pro-Trump Republicans — even if that means wading into primaries,” a senior Trump political adviser told the website.
Former acting FBI director calls Trump pardons “remarkably disgusting”
Former FBI chief Andrew McCabe criticised Donald Trump’s recent spate of pardons - which includes Iraq war criminals and GOP operatives involved in the Ukraine scandal that led to his impeachment - as “undermining the system of justice that he is supposed to protect and defend.”
The Independent’s staff delves further into Mr McCabe’s thoughts here.
Former acting FBI chief says Trump pardons are undermining justice: 'It's remarkably disgusting'
The former acting FBI chief Andrew McCabe has criticised the wave of presidential pardons issued by Donald Trump this week as "remarkably disgusting."
Trump loses another election lawsuit
The 7th Circuit Court affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit seeking to overturn the results of Wisconsin’s elections.
The lawsuit challenged the legality of Wisconsin’s selection of electors in the 2020 election.
Mr Trump has thus far lost 59 lawsuits challenging the results of the election.
Could Ghislaine Maxwell be the next person to receive a pardon from Trump?
With his options for overturning the 2020 elections nearly depleted, Donald Trump is spending his final days in power making chaotic decisions, like pardoning Iraq war criminals, derailing the coronavirus relief bill and downplaying a massive cyberattack his own staff have attributed to Russia.
The Independent’s Andrew Buncome writes that his next move may be among the most shocking; pardoning accused sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell. Read on for a detailed look at the likelihood of the pardon.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments