Trump news – as it happened: Order to seize voting machines revealed as Ivanka ‘isolated’ from Mar-a-Lago
Follow the latest updates
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox
Get our free Inside Washington email
Donald Trump’s order - in which he instructed the defence secretary to seize voting machines - was based on an unfounded conspiracy theory, a new report claims.
A draft of a presidential order to seize voting machines appears to be largely based on blatantly false theories espoused by one of Mr Trump’s attorneys.
The three-page document, dated 16 December 2020, would have ordered the Secretary of Defence to “seize, collect, retain and analyze” voting equipment and electronic records.
The draft “presidential finding,” the contents of which were first reported by Politico, is one of the more than 750 documents that the National Archives and Records Administration turned over to the House select committee investigating the 6 January insurrection on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Mr Trump’s daughter Ivanka is reportedly frustrated at being dragged into the Jan 6 investigation on account of her time working in the White House.
According to a new report in The Daily Beast, Ms Trump’s displeasure stems from the fact that the New York Attorney General, Letitia James, is seeking testimony from her, while the Select Committee Investigating the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol is also asking for cooperation.
“Investigators working very different probes are increasingly looking to pressure the same person: Ivanka Trump,” The Beast noted.
Trump defends ‘perfect’ Georgia phone call as prosecutor calls for grand jury
Donald Trump insists he “didn’t say anything wrong” on a phone call with Georgia’s top elections official in which the former president appeared to pressure him to “find” votes that would overturn Joe Biden’s definitive victory in the state.
Trump defends ‘perfect’ Georgia phone call as prosecutor requests special grand jury
Donald Trump insists he “didn’t say anything wrong” on a phone call with Georgia’s top elections official in which the former president appeared to pressure him to “find” votes that would overturn Joe Biden’s definitive victory in the state.
Is Pence fighting back against the MAGA mob?
Supporters of Donald Trump erected a gallows for Mike Pence during the attack on the Capitol, but now he may be cooperating with the committee investigating the attack, writes Andrew Feinberg
The MAGA mob came for Mike Pence on January 6. Is he finally fighting back?
Supporters of Donald Trump erected a gallows for Mike Pence during the attack on the Capitol, but now he may be cooperating with the committee investigating the attack, writes Andrew Feinberg
Ivanka Trump is first family member to be invited by Jan 6 committee
Ivanka Trump, who served as an adviser in her father’s White House, will be among the next targets of the January 6 committee.
John Bowden reports.
Ivanka Trump hits back at Jan 6 committee request
Daughter of former president is first Trump family member to be targeted
Raskin says he looks forward to Ivanka Trump’s testimony
Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland, who acted as lead impeachment manager for the second impeachment of Donald Trump, says he looks forward to Ivanka Trump’s testimony.
He tweets: “If the former president has no executive privilege to hide evidence of an attempted coup or insurrection, neither do his family or friends. If Ivanka Trump was with Donald Trump as the attack unfolded, she is a material fact witness. I look forward to her testimony.”
Trump, Sanders, and America’s most progressive generation
Two rival septuagenarians - Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders - unknowingly combined to help create the most progressive generation in modern American history, according to a new accoun, writes Andrew Buncombe.
How Trump and Sanders curiously combined to create the most progressive generation
Occupy Wall St, Greta Thunberg, Parkland shooting and George Floyd murder also shaped Generation Z, author tells Andrew Buncombe
Anger as McConnell refers to ‘African-Americans’ and ‘Americans’ separately
Mitch McConnell caused many jaws to drop on Twitter when he responded to a question from a journalist about concerns of voters of colour.
The Senate minority leader was speaking alongside members of Republican leadership at a press conference on Wednesday evening when he was asked by Latino Rebels correspondent Pablo Manriquez about his message to voters afraid that without voting access protections that would be in place if the Democrats’ voting rights legislation were to pass, they will be unable to vote.
His response elicited a wave of criticism on Twitter for a choice of words that appeared to establish a difference between “African-Americans” and “Americans”, referring to white people.
John Bowden reports from Washington, DC.
McConnell sparks anger by saying Black Americans voting at same rate ‘as Americans’
‘He said it out loud,’ commenters pounce on Twitter
Why is the SCOTUS decision on Trump documents so significant?
California Democrat representative and January 6 committee member Peter Aguilar sums it up:
“The former president did not want these records out there, and we’re gonna find out exactly why.”
Damage control: Biden says Russia will pay ‘heavy price’ for Ukraine invasion
President Joe Biden walked back his remarks about Russia and Ukraine at Wednesday’s press conference, warning that Russian president Vladimir Putin would face consequences if the nation invaded Ukraine under any circumstances.
Mr Biden made the remarks during a meeting with his infrastructure implementation team.
“I’ve absolutely clear with President Putin, he has no misunderstanding, if any, any assembled Russian units move across the Ukrainian border, that is an invasion,” he said.
Mr Biden said an invasion would be met with a “severe economic response” coordinated with allies.
“But there is no doubt – let there be no doubt at all, that if Putin makes this choice, Russia will pay a heavy price,” he said.
Eric Garcia reports from Washington, DC.
Biden does damage control on Ukraine saying Putin will pay ‘heavy price’
Comments come a day after criticism following his news conference
‘Driving a stake through the heart of the federal republic'
Another text message in the possession of the January 6 committee as revealed in the letter to Ivanka Trump is from a member of the House Freedom Caucus to then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, warning that if President Trump’s plans for Mike Pence to not certify the results of the election go ahead, it would be “driving a stake through the heart of the federal republic”.
The committee would like to know if Ms Trump discussed that or similar concerns with the White House Chief of Staff? Or with the Vice President or his staff?
Conservative group launches billboard campaign against McCarthy
A political ad campaign from a group of Republicans and conservatives is singling out GOP House Minority leader Kevin McCarthy over his refusal to cooperate with an investigation into the events leading up to and surrounding the attack on the US Capitol on 6 January, 2021.
The Republican Accountability Project – formerly Republican Voters Against Trump, a project of conservative anti-Donald Trump organisation Defending Democracy Together – is paying for 50 billboards in Washington DC and in Mr McCarthy’s California district, asking, “What are you hiding, Kevin McCarthy? Testify about January 6th.”
Alex Woodward has the story.
Republican group’s billboard campaign targets McCarthy’s rejection of Jan 6 committee
Conservative group calls on House GOP leader to testify
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies