Trump’s election win certified by Congress as he fights on to stop hush-money sentencing before inauguration
President-elect tries to stall wheels of justice as joint-session meets to formally recognize his November victory over Kamala Harris, four years on from attempted insurrection by his supporters
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Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump‘s 2024 election win over Kamala Harris was certified in a joint session of Congress Monday in just 28 minutes with Vice President Kamala Harris presiding over the process and formalizing her own defeat as the roll-call of Electoral College votes by states was read out.
A senior adviser told CNN that the president-elect would watch the certification with a mindset of “pure vindication.”
Monday marked the fourth anniversary of the Capitol riot of January 6, 2021, in which supporters of Trump stormed Congress before then-vice president Mike Pence presided over the same, though delayed, session.
Meanwhile, Trump fought on to stave off the sentencing for his criminal hush-money case conviction, currently scheduled for January 10, just ten days before his inauguration and the start of this second term in the White House.
Manhattan Judge Juan Merchan on Monday rejected a motion by Trump’s legal team to stay the scheduled sentencing date, demanding “this meritless hoax be immediately dismissed.” Merchan noted there was nothing new in the argument that he hadn’t already previously dismissed.
The former president has separately sued the judge in a state appeals court, claiming that the judge overstepped his jurisdiction when he denied Trump’s presidential “immunity” defense by allowing the sentencing date to move forward without a decision from appellate judges.
Finally, President Joe Biden has moved to ban new offshore oil and gas development along most US coastlines, a decision that Trump, who vowed to boost domestic energy production, may find difficult to reverse. The president-elect has accused Biden of complicating the transition process.
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Biden set to give two final speeches as he looks to secure legacy before Trump’s return
BREAKING: Giuliani found in contempt of court for failing to hand over assets to election workers he defamed
Rudy Giuliani has been found in contempt of court after repeatedly defying court orders to hand over his property to satisfy tens of millions of dollars he owes a pair of election workers he defamed in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election.
A two-day contempt hearing in federal court in Manhattan sought to determine whether the former New York City mayor had willfully evaded court orders and discovery requests in the lengthy legal battle for control of his assets.
Alex Woodward reports from the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse in Lower Manhattan.
Watch: Trump appears to not want to move on from Jan 6, says former Capitol Police officer
Former Capitol police officer Harry Dunn tells CNN: “Mike Lawler who just said he wants to move on from January 6...We would love nothing more than to move on. Donald Trump, however, appears not to want to move on. He brings it up every single time he gets the opportunity.”
Press secretary will not be in usual office in Trump’s White House, report says
CBS News reports that the press secretary in Donald Trump’s second administration will not be in the office usually occupied by the person who holds that position.
The media operation will be revamped, and a deputy chief of staff will be moving into the spacious office with a wood-burning fireplace, multiple sources told CBS News.
...
Taylor Budowich, the incoming deputy chief of staff for communications and cabinet affairs, will likely occupy the office typically used by the press secretary, which sits down the hall from the Oval Office and has a view of the North Lawn.
...
Incoming press secretary Karoline Leavitt will report to communications director, Steven Cheung. She'll retain direct access to the president — so-called Oval Office walk-in privileges.
Communications and press operations, typically separate but parallel White House functions, will be merged.
While plans have not yet been finalized, such a new arrangement raises questions as to how this might impact press access.
Trump hosts documentary screening for lawyer who tried to overturn 2020 election result
Donald Trump is facing criticism for premiering a documentary over the weekend at Mar-a-Lago about an allied lawyer who helped him strategize about how to overturn the 2020 election results.
The film, The Eastman Dilemma: Lawfare of Justice, profiles lawyer John Eastman, who helped Donald Trump formulate an unprecedented, illegal plan to use Congress and the vice-president to overturn the certification of the 2020 election results.
The documentary examines “growing evidence that a two-tiered justice system has emerged, where conservative figures face severe penalties,” according to its creators.
Josh Marcus has the story.
Anger as Trump hosts premier of documentary about lawyer who subverted 2020 election
Screening came just before anniversary of January 6 insurrection at U.S. Capitol
Colorado rep recalls experience in House gallery on Jan 6
Rep Jason Crow of Colorado remembers the “horror” of January 6, 2021, when he and other lawmakers were in the House gallery as the angry mob of Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol.
He wrote on X alongside a photo of those members present that day:
Four years ago today, we were *right here* in the House gallery when an angry mob stormed the Capitol. That day is etched on my memory.
I remember telling my fellow members to take off their pins so we couldn’t be identified. I remember taking out a pen to use as a weapon if necessary. I remember being the last in the gallery as we fled to safety.
We can never forget the horror of that day. January 6th must always be a reminder of the importance of standing up for democracy and the peaceful transfer of power.
Watch: ‘We are going to destroy everything the Democrats have done for the past 4 years’
Marjorie Taylor Greene delivers a MAGA message from outside the Capitol.
Pete Hegseth may have enough Senate votes to become Secretary of Defense
President-elect Donald Trump has reportedly been reassured by a top Republican that his controversial pick for Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, has enough backing from the GOP to be confirmed by the Senate.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune told Trump that the former Fox News host has the required number of votes to survive the confirmation process, CBS News reported, citing three sources.
However, speaking to CBS’s “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” Thune, said that the process would be fair but reiterated that the nominees would all have to “make their case in front of the committee.”
Mike Bedigan reports.
Pete Hegseth has enough votes to become Defense Secretary, top Republican tells Trump
The former Fox News host is due to attend a confirmation hearing for the top Pentagon job on January 15
Vice President Harris tells reporters today was about ‘performing my constitutional duty'
Vice President Kamala Harris just addressed reporters at the Capitol after presiding over the certification of the results of the 2024 election:
“Today was obviously a very important day, and it was about what should be the norm and what the American people should be able to take for granted, which is that one of the most important pillars of our democracy is that there will be a peaceful transfer of power. And today, I did what I have done my entire career, which is take seriously the oath that I have taken many times to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, which included today, performing my constitutional duty to ensure that the people of America, the voters of America, will have their votes counted, that those votes matter, and that they will determine then with the outcome of an election.”
Watch: ‘I am guilty of nothing except bringing the truth'
Former Republican Rep Adam Kinzinger says he does not want a pre-emptive pardon from President Joe Biden for his work on the House January 6 committee in case Donald Trump decides to try and take revenge on members of the panel when he takes office.
Kinzinger told CNN’s Anderson Cooper: “No. I don't want it.. the second you take a pardon it looks like you are guilty of something and I am guilty of nothing except bringing the truth.”
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