Trump’s hush money trial sentencing postponed indefinitely after election victory: Live updates
President-elect secures latest legal victory after nominating Pam Bondi to be next attorney general in place of scandal-plagued Matt Gaetz
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’s sentencing in his New York hush money trial has been indefinitely postponed by Judge Juan Merchan in the wake of his election win over Democrat Kamala Harris earlier this month.
The president-elect was found guilty on all 34 counts on May 30 after a seven-week trial in Manhattan over his efforts to conceal a $130,000 payoff to the adult film star Stormy Daniels in October 2016.
Judge Merchan agreed to adjourn sentencing on Friday while also setting new deadlines on Trump’s motion to dismiss the verdict.
On Thursday, the Republican announced that former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi – who represented him at his first impeachment trial in the Senate in 2019 – is his new pick to lead the Department of Justice following the withdrawal of ex-congressman Matt Gaetz.
Gaetz dropped out of the confirmation process yesterday saying his candidacy was “becoming a distraction” after the House Ethics Committee came under pressure to release the findings of its investigation into allegations he had sex with a minor, which the politician has consistently denied.
The scandal had reportedly led Trump’s team to consider Gaetz “blackmail-able”, marking the end of his run for the top job.
Bill O’Reilly claims Trump’s cabinet will have zero policy input: ‘Say ‘yes, sir’ or they’re not going to be OK’
Which Trump Cabinet picks will actually get confirmed — and who will work across the aisle?
Trump’s new AG pick didn’t pursue lawsuit against Trump University – after he donated $25k to her campaign
Trump team believed Gaetz was too ‘blackmail-able’ to be attorney general, says report
Pam Bondi once called for Hillary Clinton to be locked up: ‘I love that'
During the 2016 Republican National Convention, Pam Bondi responded to the crowd’s calls to “lock her up” in reference to former secretary of state and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton by saying “I love that.”
Bondi said during her speech at the convention eight years ago that Clinton “deserves no security clearance.”
“How do you become president of the United States when you have no security clearance?” she asked at the time. “This lawlessness must stop right here, right now. Donald Trump will stop it.”
“Lock her up, I love that,” she said in response to a sign in the audience, prompting chants of the phrase.
Profile: Pete Hegseth — Fox News anchor turned nominee for defense secretary
Pete Hegseth has been nominated for secretary of defense under President-elect Donald Trump – but who is the relative unknown to the DC sphere?
Hegseth’s most recent role was as a host on the Fox & Friends morning show. That is where most of America knows him from, but he is also an author, husband and dad and even found viral fame – though it landed him in legal hot water.
Amber Raiken reports.
Who is Pete Hegseth? The Fox News anchor turned nominee for Defense secretary
The ‘Fox and Friends’ co-host married television producer Jennifer Rauchet in 2019
White House: Trump still hasn’t signed papers to officially start transition
More than two weeks after the 2024 election, the White House says President-elect Donald Trump and his team still haven’t executed the legal documents required to officially start the transition process that will end with him taking the presidential oath of office on the Capitol steps in just under 60 days.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday that the Trump-Vance team “not yet entered into the agreements with the White House and the General Service Administration” despite ongoing efforts to negotiate involving White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients and his incoming Trump administration counterpart, Susie Wiles.
Andrew Feinberg filed this report from Washington, D.C.
Trump still hasn’t signed papers to officially start transition, White House says
Without a signed Memorandum of Understanding, Trump’s team can’t get access to any official government resources
Morning Joe hosts agreed to Trump meeting over fears of Joe Scarborough intern death probe, report claims
The hosts of MSNBC’s Morning Joe, Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, allegedly met with President-elect Donald Trump over fears that then-attorney general nominee Matt Gaetz would investigate the death of an intern in Scarborough’s office during his time as a Florida Republican congressman, according to a Puck News report.
On Monday, Brzezinski said: “For those asking why we would go speak to the president-elect during such fraught times, especially between us, I guess I would ask back, ‘Why wouldn’t we?’”
“Joe and I realized it’s time to do something different, and that starts with not only talking about Donald Trump, but also talking with him,” she added.
Read more:
Morning Joe hosts agreed to Trump meeting over fears of intern death probe: report
Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough suffered a ratings nosedive after going on Mar-a-Lago pilgrimage
ICYMI: Trump unveils latest merchandise grift
Donald Trump has unveiled his latest merchandising venture, a range of “limited edition” American Eagle-branded electric and acoustic guitars retailing from $1,500 to as much as $10,500 for a signed model.
“Coming Soon! The Limited Edition ’45’ Guitar. Only 1,300 of each Acoustic and Electric Guitars MADE – Some personally signed!” the president-elect announced on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday evening, accompanied by a photograph of himself brandishing one of the instruments, which he is not known to be able to play.
Joe Sommerlad has the story.
Trump unveils latest merchandise grift: $10,500 signed American Eagle guitars
President-elect takes break from choosing cabinet members and planning next administration to promote his latest merchandise
From 2019: Trump’s ‘impeachment adviser’ Pam Bondi says looming charges are weighing on him: ‘Is this difficult? Of course it is’
Background on Pam Bondi from 2019:
A White House adviser tasked with defending Donald Trump during the impeachment proceedings against him suggested the pressure of the looming charges was beginning to weigh down on the president just before an official vote.
Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general who the president hired last month to serve as a voice for the administration while it battles back against the public impeachment hearings, slammed the House-led inquiry in an interview with Fox News Sunday.
“Is this difficult? Of course it is”, Ms Bondi said. “And that’s why the lawyers, we are all handling this impeachment sham and charade with the weakest of weak evidence … now going to the US Senate.”
Chris Riotta reported at the time:
Trump's 'impeachment adviser' says looming charges are weighing on the president
White House adviser defends administration working ‘hand in hand’ with Senate Republicans during impeachment trial
From 2020: Pam Bondi hits Biden over nepotism minutes before two of Trump's children speak at RNC
Some background on Pam Bondi from 2020:
Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi lashed out at Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden in her Republican National Committee address, criticising them for nepotism moments before two of Donald Trump‘s children spoke at his re-election convention.
Ms Bondi was first linked to the president in 2016, when, as the Sunshine State’s top lawyer, she dropped Florida’s probe into Trump University. Weeks prior to ending that investigation, Mr Trump donated $25,000 to her re-election campaign. All sides denied a quid pro quo.
The attack on the Bidens was the first of the RNC, months after Mr Trump responded to House Democrats’ impeachment trial of his interactions with Ukraine’s president by attacking Hunter Biden. He and his surrogates and legal team argued the younger Biden profited from his father’s work against Ukraine corruption as vice president.
John T. Bennett reported at the time:
Bondi's Biden nepotism attack followed by Trump children at RNC
Ms Bondi, as Florida attorney general, dropped probe into Trump University following $25,000 donation from the future president
Despite him saying he has ‘no idea’ what it is, Trump’s cabinet is filling up with Project 2025 authors
I’m sure it’s just a coincidence... 😒
Alex Woodward has the details.
Trump’s cabinet is filling up with Project 2025 authors
Trump said he didn’t know who’s behind the blueprint for his return. He just hired the authors for key roles
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments