Justice Department prosecutors are preparing a legal battle to compel White House aides and officials from the Donald Trump administration to testify in the ongoing investigation, people familiar with the matter said. The former president’s aides could be called to testify about his conversations and actions surrounding the January 6 uprising. Attorney General Merrick Garland confirmed that the department has no qualms about any political backlash as a result of its prosecution. This comes as Mr Trump is already in hot water for hosting the controversial LIV Golf Series at his resort in Bedminster, New Jersey. Both he and his son Eric participated in a pro-am round on Thursday. The fact that the league is supported by Saudi money has disgusted the families of 9/11 victims, who have long called on the US government to come clean about what it knows about Saudi Arabia’s alleged role in the attacks. In comments to ESPN, the former president called the attack “horrific” and said “no one has gotten to the bottom of 9/11, unfortunately.” Meanwhile, Mr Trump threatened to sue CNN for calling him a liar and called its baseless claims about the 2020 election a “Big Lie”.
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Donald Trump, 9/11 True
Donald Trump argued that “no one has gotten to the bottom of 9/11” as he hosted the Saudi-backed LIV Golf event at his country’s New Jersey club. The former president was asked about the families of the victims of the terror attack who planned to protest the event in Bedminster because of the connection to the Middle Eastern country and replied: “Unfortunately nobody has got to the bottom of 9/11.” He went on to describe the terrorists behind 9/11 as “maniacs” and called the 2001 attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people, “a horrible thing for our city, for our country, for the world.” “But I can tell you there’s a lot of really great people out here today, and we’re going to have a lot of fun and celebrate. The money goes to charity – a lot of money goes to charity,” he added. Here’s our report on the former president’s remarks at the tournament.
Trump Claims ‘Nobody Has Got to the Bottom of 9/11’ as He Hosts Saudi Arabia’s LIV Golf Event
The Saudi government has strongly denied any involvement in the 2001 attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people Josh Marcus July 30, 2022 7:30 am 1659159002
Trump is not the only leader to come under fire for relations with Saudi Arabia
The French presidency on Friday focused on global warming, the war in Ukraine and the Iran nuclear deal by airing details of the controversial dinner in Paris between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and French President Emmanuel Macron. In a generally celebratory statement, the Elysee presidential palace sidestepped the issue of the gruesome Saudi killing of US-based journalist and Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. Western intelligence agencies found that Prince Mohammed was complicit in the killing. The French statement said the president and the prince in their meeting on Thursday “welcomed the strengthening of exchanges between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and France (and) expressed the desire to deepen relations between the two countries and continue their consultations for meetings on regional and global challenges, in particular the fight against global warming”.
France mulls Khashoggi assassination amid Saudi prince visit
The French presidency has focused on global warming, the war in Ukraine and the Iran nuclear deal by releasing details of the controversial dinner in Paris between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and French President Emmanuel Macron. Josh Marcus July 30, 2022 6:30 am 1659155402
Trump’s border wall is (sort of) back
Despite his promise that “not another foot” of border wall would be built under his administration, Joe Biden approved a plan to close a gap in the barrier just south of Yuma, Arizona. According to data from the Department of Homeland Security, four large gaps in this section of the wall have made it one of the most used corridors for illegal crossings into the US by immigrants. DHS under Biden issued a statement saying that completing the wall would actually protect immigrants who could be injured trying to climb the slopes near the wall or drown crossing the Colorado River. Graig Graziosi with more details.
The Biden administration will close the gaps in the US-Mexico border wall
Border wall gaps near Yuma are one of the busiest crossings for migrants Josh Marcus July 30, 2022 5:30 am 1659151802
Will Republicans finally get behind the burn bill?
Jon Stewart criticized Republican senators who voted against the burn legislation and joked on Fox News that the bill had not been amended by Hunter Biden. Mr. Stewart has been a leading proponent of legislation to help veterans suffering from illnesses related to toxic burn pits, an earlier version of which passed 84-14 in June. But GOP senators unanimously voted down a procedural motion Wednesday night that would have ended debate on the bill, allowing it to move toward a final vote. For more on the law, read Graeme Massie’s story for the Independent. Josh Marcus July 30, 2022 4:30 am 1659148202
More like Make Donald Trump Rich Again: How the MAGA hat made $80,000 a day
Donald Trump’s red MAGA hats earned him $80,000 a day for his 2016 presidential campaign, Jared Kushner writes in his upcoming memoir. The former president’s son-in-law writes that Mr. Trump’s aides ordered only 100 of the hats to begin with before they became a hit with his campaign supporters.
Trump Made $80K a Day Selling MAGA Hats in 2016 Campaign, Kushner Says
Campaign sold enough hats to cover most of 2016 daily operating costs, Trump son-in-law writes Josh Marcus30 July 2022 03:30 1659144602
Did Donald Trump Betray 9/11 Families By Hosting LIV Golf Tournament?
Many of them seem to think so. The families of 9/11 victims have accused Donald Trump and golfers at LIV of being “cowards” for not admitting they are only playing a Saudi-sponsored tournament for the money. Dozens of members of the 9/11 Justice team protested the start of the cash-rich LIV tournament that kicked off at Trump Bedminster National Golf Course in New Jersey on Friday, just 50 miles from Ground Zero. Bevan Hurley with the full story.
9/11 families blast Trump and LIV golfers as ‘cowards’ for taking money from Saudi Arabia
Brett Eagleson said golfers couldn’t even “look us in the eye and tell us they’re in it for the money.” Josh Marcus July 30, 2022 02:30 am 1659142809
ICYMI: A major shift as the Justice Department turns its investigation into Trump on Jan. 6
Donald Trump is being investigated by the Justice Department as part of its criminal investigation into attempts to sway the results of the 2020 presidential election, according to a report. Prosecutors have asked witnesses to testify before a grand jury in recent days about conversations with the former president, his lawyers and other close advisers about “fake voters.” Justice Department lawyers have submitted “hours of detailed questions about meetings Mr. Trump had in December 2020 and January 2021. His campaign to overturn the election; and what instructions he gave lawyers and advisers about voter fraud and sending voters back to the states,” two sources told the newspaper on Tuesday.
Donald Trump is being investigated by a Justice Department criminal probe, a report says
Questions focused on Mr Trump’s role in the “fake voter” scheme. Josh Marcus July 30, 2022 02:00 am 1659141009
Kevin McCarthy claims Trump would have stopped inflation
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California argued Friday that almost everything would be different — inflation, borders, crime rates — if Donald Trump were still in office. “He loves this country and he wants to see this country back on the right track,” the California Republican said. Josh Marcus July 30, 2022 1:30 am 1659139209
Jeff Sessions tried to derail Trump’s criminal justice bill, Kushner claims
Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions tried to block the passage of Donald Trump’s bipartisan criminal justice bill, Jared Kushner argues in his upcoming memoir, Breaking History. Mr. Kushner writes that Mr. Sessions tried to introduce changes to the bill that would be a “poison pill” that would block its passage. The book contains an account of a meeting between Mr Kushner and Mr Sessions. “Finally Sessions turned to me and in his southern drawl said, ‘Jared, it’s very simple. If the boy commits the crime, you must lock him up.’ That’s exactly where it was,” Kushner wrote in a quote obtained by CNN. “From that point on, I realized he was going to try to upend us at every turn, making a nearly impossible task even more difficult.” Trump finally passed a criminal justice package in 2018.
Because the First Step Act is just that – a first step toward criminal justice reform in America
The bill’s passage represents a rare bipartisan victory as it draws support from both sides of the aisle Josh Marcus July 30, 2022 1:00 am 1659137409
Poll Shows Ron DeSantis Has Serious Run For 2024 GOP Nomination
A new poll suggests Florida’s Ron DeSandis would have a competitive advantage in the 2024 Republican presidential nomination against Donald Trump. Most still favor Donald Trump taking the job, with the former president at about 42 percent, but Mr. DeSantis wasn’t far behind at 34 percent, according to a Suffolk University/USA Today poll. For more on the fight between the two men, here’s Eric Garcia’s breakdown.
What insiders are saying about Ron DeSantis running for president in 2024
It looks more and more like the Florida governor and Donald Trump are each other’s worst nightmares Josh Marcus July 30, 2022 12:30 am
