News

Home News Page 28

Report: Trump Opts Not To Testify In Hush Money Trial

1
Gavel via Wikimedia Commons Image

Former President Donald Trump will not take the stand after all in the weekslong criminal hush money trial.

“We’ll be resting pretty quickly — resting meaning resting the case. I won’t be resting,” Trump said outside the courtroom Tuesday morning. “I don’t rest. I’d like to rest sometimes, but I don’t get to rest.”

The decision to keep Trump off the stand comes after weeks of uncertainty. The former president hinted to reporters he could testify, a risky move legal experts warmed Trump against. However, Trump would often flip-flop on the matter and at other times ignoring persistent questions on the issue. 

Last week, Trump’s own attorneys signaled they were unsure whether their client would take the stand, just days before the Manhattan district attorney’s office was expected to rest its case-in-chief.  

“That’s another decision that we need to think through,” Trump attorney Todd Blanche told the judge on Thursday.  

The former president faces 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment Cohen made to porn actress Stormy Daniels in the lead-up to the 2016 election to stay quiet about her alleged affair with Trump, which he denies.  

This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

Trump Campaign Loses It Over ‘The Apprentice’ Film – Vows Lawsuit

0
Image via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Donald Trump is not pleased with his portrayal in a film that just premiered at the illustrious Cannes Film Festival and is vowing to take legal action.

The Trump campaign reportedly plans to sue the filmmakers behind the new biopic film, “The Apprentice,” which follows the former president’s early years in the real estate business, for including what it calls “blatantly false assertions.” 

“We will be filing a lawsuit to address the blatantly false assertions from these pretend filmmakers,” Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement to The Hill. “This garbage is pure fiction which sensationalizes lies that have been long debunked. As with the illegal Biden Trials, this is election interference by Hollywood elites, who know that President Trump will retake the White House and beat their candidate of choice because nothing they have done has worked.”

“This ‘film’ is pure malicious defamation, should not see the light of day, and doesn’t even deserve a place in the straight-to-DVD section of a bargain bin at a soon-to-be-closed discount movie store, it belongs in a dumpster fire,” Cheung continued.

“The Apprentice,” directed by Ali Abbassi premiered Monday at the Cannes Film Festival, where it reportedly received an eight-minute standing ovation. The film stars Sebastian Stan as a then-New York real estate developer Trump and Jeremy Strong of “Succession” as the future president’s real-life former attorney and mentor Roy Cohn.

At Monday’s premiere, Abassi recalled, “When we did this movie, everyone said, ‘Why do you want to make a movie with Trump? You know, if you want to tell something about the world, do it in a nice way, in a metaphorical way.”

But, he said to applause, “There is no nice, metaphorical way to deal with the rising wave of fascism. The messy way, the banal way, is only the way of dealing with this wave on its own terms, at its own level.”

“It’s not going to be pretty,” he added, “but I think the problem with the world is that the good people have been quiet for too long.”

Hours before its Monday premiere, Variety reported that Dan Snyder, the billionaire investor in the film, was not happy with its final creative direction. Sources told the outlet that Snyder, the former owner of the Washington Commanders and friend of Trump, invested in the biopic through film company Kinematics because he thought it would be a flattering depiction of the former president. 

When he saw a cut of the film in February, he was reportedly furious and Kinematics’ lawyers were brought in in an attempt to stop the film’s release, Variety reported.

Michael Cohen Admits To Crime Against Trump Organization

3
IowaPolitics.com, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

A surprising development…

On Monday, former President Donald Trump’s “fixer” Michael Cohen admitted to Trump’s attorney Todd Blanche that he lied and previously stole money from the Trump Organization. The surprising admission comes as Trump’s team continues to cast the prosecution’s star witness as unreliable and untrustworthy.

Trump’s 34 charges correspond to documents generated in repaying Cohen a total of $420,000 in 2017.

Prosecutors say the amount included $130,000 to reimburse Cohen for the hush money payment at the center of the case, $50,000 for the tech firm bill and additional funds to “gross up” the amount for tax purposes and pay Cohen’s bonus.

But Cohen admitted on the stand that he didn’t actually pay the tech firm, RedFinch Solutions, $50,000, despite telling the Trump Organization’s then-CFO he needed to be reimbursed for that amount.

“You did steal from the Trump Organization based on expected reimbursement from RedFinch?” asked Todd Blanche, Trump’s attorney.

“Yes, sir,” Cohen replied.

Cohen’s testimony is expected to last through midday. It is unclear if the defense plans to put up a case or whether Trump himself will testify.

The judge indicated that closing arguments in the case would be next Tuesday, delaying what was previously expected to be a near close of the trial before Memorial Day weekend, according to The Hill.

Potential VP Flips On Trump Deportation Stance

1
(Miami - Flórida, 09/03/2020) Presidente da República Jair Bolsonaro durante encontro com o Senador Marco Rubio..Foto: Alan Santos/PR

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (R) is changing his tune on Trump’s deportation plan.

“Yes,” Rubio said during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday, where he was asked whether he supports Trump’s plan to use the military to deport illegal immigrants from the country. “We cannot absorb 25, 30 million people who entered this country illegally. They’re here illegally, what country on earth could tolerate that?” 

The comments were in stark contrast to Rubio’s previous stance on the issue, most notably as a primary rival of Trump’s in 2015. Rubio was critical of the Trump plan to round up and deport the millions of illegal immigrants living in the United States, panning the idea as “not a workable plan.”

Pushed on why his stance has changed since campaigning against Trump nearly a decade ago, the Florida Senator argued that the situation itself has changed since then.

“When I said that back in 2013 when I was involved in immigration reform, we had 11, 12 million people that had been here for longer than a decade, now we’ve had almost that number in the last three years alone,” Rubio said, noting that he believes some of those who have entered the country more recently could include “terrorists.”

Trump has vowed to implement a plan of mass deportation if he wins November’s election, promising last month to use the National Guard if needed to deport illegal immigrants from the country.

Rubio has been floated as a potential contender for vice president among other popular Florida Republicans such as Rep. Byron Donalds and former primary rival Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Sen. Vance Says He Was ‘Wrong’ About Trump

1

Senator J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) knows when to admit he was wrong.

CNN’s Dana Bash pressed Vance on a tweet that he posted in 2016 when the “Access Hollywood” tape of Trump surfaced that stated, “Fellow Christians, everyone is watching us. When we apologize for this man, lord help us.”

She asked him whether he still feels that way about Trump’s “sexual indiscretions” amid the ongoing hush money trial, noting he has since deleted the tweet.

“But, look, my view on Donald Trump — I have been very clear on this — is, look, I was wrong about him. I didn’t think he was going to be a good president, Dana, and I was very, very proud to be proven wrong. It’s one of the reasons why I’m working so hard to get him elected,” he replied on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

Vance had made comments against Trump’s bid in 2016, prompting Ohio Republicans in 2022 to urge Trump not to endorse him. Vance ended up clinching Trump’s support and winning his election.

Vance is now among the rumored contenders to be the former president’s running mate in the 2024 election. 

CNN To Host First Trump, Biden 2024 Debate

3
CNN Headquarters via Wikimedia Commons

Big things are coming…

On Wednesday, CNN announced it will host the first 2024 debate between President Joe Biden and presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump in late June.

“I’ve received and accepted an invitation from @CNN for a debate on June 27th. Over to you, Donald. As you said: anywhere, any time, any place,” Biden posted on X.

Trump told Fox News Digital in a subsequent statement he had also accepted the invitation for the June 27 debate, telling the outlet he is “looking forward to being in beautiful Atlanta.”

The Biden campaign earlier Wednesday called for the first debate to take place in late June, after Biden returns from the Group of Seven summit in Europe and after Trump’s hush money trial in New York will likely have concluded.

Trump, in a post on Truth Social, derided Biden as “the WORST debater I have ever faced” and said the two should discuss border policy, electric vehicles and inflation, among other topics.

“I am Ready and Willing to Debate Crooked Joe at the two proposed times in June and September,” Trump posted. “I would strongly recommend more than two debates and, for excitement purposes, a very large venue, although Biden is supposedly afraid of crowds – That’s only because he doesn’t get them. Just tell me when, I’ll be there. ‘Let’s get ready to Rumble!!!’”

In a separate statement to Fox News Digital, Trump said the proposed dates were “fully acceptable.”

“I will provide my own transportation,” he said.

The Biden campaign suggested a second debate in September ahead of the start of early voting in many states, as well as a vice presidential debate in late July, after the Republican National Convention.

Appeals Court Upholds Limited Gag Order

2
Gavel via Wikimedia Commons Image

On Tuesday, a New York Appeals court upheld Judge Juan Merchan’s limited gag order in the ongoing hush money trial against former President Donald Trump.

The gag order which was imposed in March prohibits Trump from from attacking witnesses, prosecutors, court staff, and the judge’s family. The gag order does not prevent Trump from attacking the judge or Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D). 

 The judge in the case has ruled Trump has violated the order 10 times, resulting in a total of $10,000 in fines, and threatened jail time if Trump continues to violate the order. 

“Justice Merchan properly determined that petitioner’s public statements posed a significant threat to the integrity of the testimony of witnesses and potential witnesses in this case as well,” the decision from the five-judge panel reads. 

The Hill reports that in the decision, the panel compares Merchan’s gag order to a gag imposed on Trump in his federal election interference case. The New York judges aligned with the District of Columbia U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision to allow Trump’s gag there to stand. (RELATED: Trump Legal Team Moves To Appeal ‘Unconstitutional’ Gag Order)

“Weighing these concerns, the circuit court ultimately concluded that, given the record, the court had ‘a duty to act proactively to prevent the creation of an atmosphere of fear or intimidation aimed at preventing trial participants and staff from performing their functions within the trial process,’” the five-judge panel wrote. “This Court adopts the reasoning in the circuit court’s Federal Restraining Order Decision.”

Trump is being charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records to make alleged hush money payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels.

Potential VP Pick To Join Trump In NYC Court

2
Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Could this be a sign of who Trump plans to pick as his running mate?

On Tuesday, conservative tech mogul Vivek Ramaswamy will join Donald Trump at the Manhattan courthouse as part of the ongoing hush money trial.

He will spend the entire day with Trump as the former president’s criminal trial continues, a spokesperson for Ramaswamy confirmed to Fox News Digital.

“The best proof that the Trump trial is a sham: if DJT had done the exact *opposite* of the alleged crime, they’d still be prosecuting him & have an even stronger case,” Ramaswamy said in a statement. 

“Every one of these prosecutions… is backfiring,” Ramaswamy said during an April appearance on Fox News’ “Hannity.” “These people are sick and tired of being lied to. They’re sick and tired of the lawfare.”

“I’ve talked to many Democrats who disagree with Donald Trump on many policies but believe we’re not a country where you’re supposed to use prosecutorial power to eliminate your opponents,” he added.

Other allies of the former president have attended court proceedings in a show of support, including U.S. Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) and Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Al.)

Vance is widely considered to be a contender for Trump’s potential running mate. Tuesday would be the second straight day when a potential vice presidential nominee contender shows up in support of Trump.

“The thing that the president is prevented from saying, which is a disgrace, is that every single person involved in this prosecution is practically a Democratic political operative,” Vance said outside the courthouse Monday during a morning break.

Trump is being charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records to make alleged hush money payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels.

Trump Leading 5 of 6 Swing States: Report

0

The Biden campaign is scrambling to play catch up…

New surveys conducted by The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Siena College show former President Donald Trump leading President Joe Biden in five of six swing states.

The Daily Wire has more:

In a two-man race between Trump and Biden, Trump leads 51-38% among likely voters; by a whopping 13 points 51-38% in Nevada; six points 49-43% in Arizona; nine points 50-41% in Georgia; three points in Pennsylvania 48-45%; and one point in Wisconsin 47-46%; while Biden clings to a one-point margin in Michigan.

When third-party candidates such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. were included, Trump’s lead soared to nine points in Arizona, to 14 in Nevada, and stayed almost the same at eight points in Georgia.

“As three-quarters of likely voters in these six battleground states say the economy is no better than only fair or poor, large majorities in each state trust Donald Trump to do a better job on the country’s financial well-being than Joe Biden,” Siena College stated.

“The polls suggest that Mr. Trump’s strength among young and nonwhite voters has at least temporarily upended the electoral map, with Mr. Trump surging to a significant lead in Arizona, Georgia and Nevada — relatively diverse Sun Belt states where Black and Hispanic voters propelled Mr. Biden to signature victories in the 2020 election,” The New York Times stated, adding, “Seventy percent of voters believe that Mr. Trump will either bring major changes to the political or economic system or tear down the systems altogether, compared with 24 percent who expect the same from Mr. Biden. … 43 percent of voters believe that he (Trump) will bring good changes to the country, compared with 35 percent who think the changes will be bad.”

Report: Barron Trump Responds To GOP Delegate Invite

0
Image via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Former President Donald Trump’s youngest son Barron has reportedly decided not to serve as a delegate for Florida at this summer’s Republican National Convention (RNC).

“While Barron is honored to have been chosen as a delegate by the Florida Republican Party, he regretfully declines to participate due to prior commitments,” former first lady Melania Trump’s office said in a statement.

The Florida GOP earlier this week said Barron Trump, who is 18, would join three of the former president’s other children — Eric, Tiffany and Donald Trump Jr. — as delegates, with Eric Trump serving as the state’s delegation chair.

Trump said in a radio interview Friday that his youngest son has gotten into politics.

“He does like politics. It’s sort of funny. He’ll tell me sometimes, ‘Dad, this is what you have to do.’ So anyway, he’s a good guy. He’s a senior now in high school, and he’ll be going to college,” the former president said on Philadelphia’s Talk Radio 1210 WPHT.

This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.