A New York judge denied Donald Trump's request to delay his hush money trial until the U.S. Supreme Court reviews his claim to presidential immunity in a separate criminal case related to overturning the 2020 election results. The judge stated that Trump had waited too long to raise the issue. Trump faces charges of falsifying business records to cover up hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels. The trial is set for April 15, and Trump's defense also seeks a delay due to extensive news coverage affecting potential jurors' perceptions of his guilt.
Donald Trump may consider firing his legal team in a bid to delay his upcoming hush money trial, with attorney Joyce Vance suggesting that he may seek Judge Juan Merchan's recusal from the case or dismiss his lawyers. The trial will determine whether Trump falsified business records over hush money payments to Stormy Daniels, with prosecutors alleging it was part of a scheme to conceal an alleged affair before the 2016 election. Trump, who has denied any wrongdoing, is also facing other criminal indictments related to the 2020 election and alleged obstruction of justice.
Attorney and legal analyst Andrew Weissmann suggested that former President Donald Trump may have committed a new crime by sharing a video on his social media platform depicting President Biden bound and gagged, potentially constituting a threat. Trump, who is facing four criminal indictments related to the January 6 Capitol riot, has pleaded not guilty and claims the charges are politically motivated. The video received backlash, with critics calling it an incitement to violence, while a Trump spokesperson dismissed Weissmann's comments as "Trump Derangement Syndrome."
Prosecutors accuse Donald Trump of making "wild and untrue" accusations about the timing of evidence disclosure in his hush money criminal case, seeking to further delay the trial. Trump, facing 34 counts of falsifying business records, has pleaded not guilty to hiding a $130,000 hush money payment to Stormy Daniels. The trial has been delayed until mid-April, with a hearing scheduled for March 25 to address Trump's requests to dismiss the case or delay the trial. Trump's lawyers argue the payment was to spare embarrassment, not boost his campaign, while state prosecutors claim most new evidence is irrelevant or duplicates. This is one of four criminal indictments against Trump, who is seeking to regain the U.S. presidency.
Panelists on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" condemned Donald Trump's suggestion that his criminal indictments are increasing his appeal to Black people, with Rev. Al Sharpton calling it an insult and pointing out Trump's history of unfair treatment of Black individuals. Co-hosts Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough also criticized Trump's racially-charged comments, while Jonathan Lemire described another offensive assertion from the Trump camp. Trump has a history of overt and coded racism, including targeting Black prosecutors and making derogatory remarks about immigrants and congresswomen of color.
Rep. Byron Donalds defended former President Trump's remarks on Black voters, stating that Trump's criminal indictments are similar to the political persecution Black people face in the justice system. He dismissed allegations of racism and accused the Biden campaign of playing politics. Trump faces four criminal indictments and 91 charges, including mishandling classified information, attempting to cover up a hush money payment, and illegally attempting to overturn his 2020 election loss. Donalds, a major Trump surrogate, is considered a potential vice presidential candidate.
Former President Donald Trump suggested at a gathering of Black conservatives in South Carolina that his criminal indictments and mug shot appeal to Black voters, claiming that they see his legal troubles as similar to their own experiences of discrimination. He also attacked President Joe Biden, accusing him of being a "vicious racist." Trump's remarks were criticized by the campaign manager for Nikki Haley, his rival in the GOP presidential primary, who emphasized the need to avoid a Trump-Biden rematch in November.
Former President Donald Trump claims that his criminal indictments have increased his support among Black Americans, alleging that they see him as a victim of discrimination. He continues to center his campaign on grievances against President Joe Biden and the "deep state," while facing charges related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Trump's remarks at a Black conservative event in South Carolina also included jokes about race and criticisms of his predecessor, Barack Obama. However, many Black voters remain skeptical of Trump and the Republican Party, citing concerns about his character and the party's approach to racial issues.
Donald Trump compared his criminal indictments to the imprisonment and death of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny during a Fox News town hall, suggesting that the U.S. is "turning into a communist country." He also extended the comparison to his recent civil fraud trial loss and criticized the legal actions against him as politically motivated. Trump made no mention of Putin and sidestepped a question about becoming a "potential political prisoner." The town hall came ahead of the South Carolina Republican presidential primary where Trump will compete against Nikki Haley.
Former President Donald Trump lashes out at an appeals court's decision to strike down his presidential immunity defense, calling it "nation-destroying" and claiming it would lead to political interference in elections. The court ruled that Trump does not have immunity from prosecution for alleged crimes committed while in office, prompting his legal team to plan an appeal, possibly to the Supreme Court. Trump and his spokesperson argue that without immunity, future presidents leaving office could be immediately indicted by the opposing party, posing a threat to the presidency and the Constitution.
Legal analyst Harry Litman warns of potential trouble in the Fani Willis-Nathan Wade investigation despite believing there's no conflict in their relationship, as Fulton County DA Willis faces allegations of a personal relationship with Wade during the Trump investigation. Trump, facing multiple criminal indictments, including racketeering charges in Georgia, has pleaded not guilty. Willis denies any conflict of interest, but Litman suggests there's "blood in the water" in the case, with upcoming hearings and subpoenas adding to the scrutiny.
Former President Donald Trump quoted Russian President Vladimir Putin during a campaign rally, referencing Putin's earlier comments about the "rottenness" of the American political system. Trump alleged that President Joe Biden is a "threat to democracy" and claimed that Putin said Biden's politically motivated persecution of his political rival is good for Russia. Trump has long alleged without evidence that his criminal charges are campaign interference from Biden's administration. Critics, including former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, have called out Trump for citing Putin as a character witness, highlighting Putin's history of undermining democracy. Trump's rhetoric has escalated in recent weeks, with praise for authoritarian leaders and proposals to increase political control.
Former President Donald Trump quoted Russian President Vladimir Putin during a campaign speech in New Hampshire, using Putin's words to argue that the criminal charges against him are politically motivated and undermine the United States' claim to be a democratic leader. Trump criticized President Biden and his economic policies, while also attacking his primary competitors. He accused his rivals of recruiting "subversive" outsiders and criticized New Hampshire's Republican governor, Chris Sununu. Trump's advisers stated that he plans to increase his campaign pace in January, but the criminal trials he may face present scheduling challenges.
Seven Republican presidential candidates, excluding former President Donald Trump, are participating in a debate as they vie to become the main challenger to Trump for the party's 2024 presidential nomination. Trump, who holds a significant lead in the polls, is snubbing the debate and instead holding a political rally in Michigan. His opponents, including Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, and Mike Pence, are struggling to gain traction against Trump's overwhelming support among Republican voters. The debate takes place as Trump faces four criminal indictments related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election and retain classified documents.
Former President Donald Trump is attempting to redefine his portrayal of President Joe Biden, shifting from calling him "Sleepy Joe" to "Crooked Joe." Trump baselessly claims that Biden is orchestrating a conspiracy to target him using the justice system, despite no evidence supporting this. While Trump occasionally reverts to portraying Biden as mentally unfit, he now presents him as a ruthless mastermind. Republicans are divided on how to depict Biden, with some focusing on his alleged incompetence and others on his alleged corruption. Surveys show that independent voters are more concerned about Biden's age than the claims of political weaponization.
