The Justice Department has returned former President Donald Trump’s passports that agents seized during last week’s search of his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. According to an email from the department shared by a Trump spokesman, the office’s “filter agents” seized three passports in Mr. Trump’s name, two of them expired and one of them his active diplomatic passport. Meanwhile, a date has been set for a federal court in Florida to hear arguments on whether or not to unseal the affidavit that justified the search. The hearing will take place this Thursday at 13.00. The Justice Department declined efforts to produce the affidavit supporting the search warrant. investigations. Trump gave his first post-raid interview yesterday, a discussion with Fox News Digital, in which he acknowledged the temperature of public discourse “has to come down” as angry supporters fume over the FBI raid. However, he continued to frame the investigation as part of a political witch hunt.
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Trump-Endorsed Candidate Confused About ‘Banana Republic’ Concept
A North Carolina US House candidate who won Donald Trump’s endorsement was embarrassed by revealing he doesn’t know the meaning of the phrase “banana republic” in an interview. Bo Hines was trying to use the phrase to describe the FBI’s behavior as a result of the agency’s investigation into Mar-a-Lago, and he appeared to not understand that the phrase did not refer to the popular clothing chain of the same name. Read more from Gustaf Kilander of the Independent:
Calling the US a banana republic is disrespectful to the clothing chain, the politician says
“It’s clear now that the American people can add ‘getting a joke’ to the ever-growing list of things Democrats just can’t get,” says the campaign consultant. John Bowden 17 August 2022 08:00 1660716012
Top Trump aide tried to avoid subpoena, DoJ says
Peter Navarro, a top trade adviser to Donald Trump’s administration, told Justice Department agents to “get the hell out of here” when he was served with a subpoena in connection with his contempt of Congress charges. He also refused to open the door for them at first, but was eventually served regardless. Telling court representatives to leave is generally not an effective way to avoid being served with court-ordered official documents. Read more from The Independent’s Andrew Naughtie:
Trump aide Peter Navarro told subpoenaed agents to ‘get the hell out of here’
The former trade adviser was a key player in the plan to overturn the January 6, 2021 congressional elections John Bowden August 17, 2022 07:00 1660712412
FBI condemns ‘reprehensible’ threats after Mar-a-Lago raid
The FBI on Monday condemned the “reprehensible” threats made on social media and other platforms in response to the agency’s execution of a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago. In a brief statement shared with The Independent, the office also called for the public’s help to stop incidents of domestic extremism before they happen. Read more from John Bowden:
FBI calls threats to law enforcement ‘reprehensible’ and urges public to be vigilant
Agency makes public statement after issuing joint memo with DHS warning of threats John Bowden August 17, 2022 06:00 1660708812
Trump’s spokesman, Cheney’s GOP leadership replacement join the mockery
Donald Trump wasn’t the only one rejoicing Tuesday as Liz Cheney was soundly defeated in the Wyoming congressional primary. His top spokesman, Taylor Budowitz, responded with a video showing Trump doing the clown dance at several campaign rallies. And Representative Elise Stefanik, who ousted Mrs. Cheney to become the GOP House conference chairman, released her own statement denouncing “Nancy Pelosi’s puppet.” John Bowden August 17, 2022 05:00 1660705081
Trump blasts Cheney as ‘mean and optimistic’ as he gloats over her primary loss
Donald Trump ripped into Liz Cheney and wished her “happiness” in the “depths of political oblivion” on Tuesday after she lost the Wyoming US primary. The former president has long called for her impeachment from Congress over her work on the January 6th select committee. “Congratulations to Harriet Hagman on her big and very decisive WIN in Wyoming. This is a wonderful result for America and a complete rebuke to the Unselect Committee of Policy Hacks and Thugs. Liz Cheney should be ashamed of herself, the way she acted and her mean, mean-spirited words and actions to others. Now she can finally disappear into the depths of political oblivion where I am sure she will be much happier than she is now. Thanks WYOMING!” he said. Read more from The Independent’s John Bowden:
Trump slams Cheney as ‘mean and optimistic’ as he gloats over her defeat
Trump Lays on Cheney Minutes After Race Announced, Retaliates for Her Jan. 6 Committee Performance John Bowden 17 August 2022 03:58 1660699846
Cheney says she has ‘no regrets’ as she faces looming Wyoming primary loss
Former President Donald Trump’s most vocal critic says she has no regrets as polls close in the Republican primary for Wyoming’s at-large congressional seat. Liz Cheney made the comments Tuesday as voters across the state decided her fate. “I have no regrets,” he said, according to CBS News. “I feel very proud of all the work I’ve done with the people of Wyoming over the past six years, and I truly understand and recognize that there is nothing more important than defending our Constitution. And so I will continue to work and make sure that we do this in a non-partisan way.” Read more from the Independent’s Eric Garcia:
Cheney says she has “no regrets” as she faces her impending primary loss
Cheney is set to lose to a primary challenger backed by Trump in the Republican primary for Wyoming’s largest congressional district. John Bowden August 17, 2022 02:30 1660698046
The polls have closed in Wyoming where Liz Cheney awaits her fate
The polls are now closed in Wyoming. Republican voters in the state are set to determine the fate of Rep. Liz Cheney, vice chairwoman of the House select committee investigating, on Jan. 6. A former member of the House GOP leadership, she is Donald Trump’s top target this election cycle thanks to her very public role and her adamant view that she should have no role in the GOP going forward. Watch live state results from The Associated Press here at The New York Times: John Bowden August 17, 2022 02:00 1660695565
Trump Organization chief Allen Weiselberg ‘close to plea deal’ in tax evasion scheme
The Trump Organization’s chief financial officer is set to plead guilty in court Thursday to accepting more than $1.7 million in undeclared compensation and take a deal that will allow him to avoid much of a potential prison sentence. The Trump Organization is not expected to plead guilty in the case, and Allen Weiselberg is reportedly not cooperating with investigators to implicate others at the company. Read more about this ongoing legal drama from Bevan Hurley in The Independent:
Trump Organization executive Allen Weiselberg ‘close to plea deal’ on tax system
While Allen Weisselberg is expected to plead guilty, it is not believed to implicate anyone else in the Trump Organization John Bowden 17 August 2022 01:19 1660692379
Five times Liz Cheney was the biggest thorn in Donald Trump’s side
Rep. Liz Cheney faces a Trump-backed primary tonight in Wyoming. poll shows her trailing her opponent, Harriet Hageman, by a significant margin. That’s because of her status as the de facto leader of the anti-Trump GOP in Washington thanks to her role as vice chair of the Jan. 6 committee. Take a look at some of her sharpest criticisms of Donald Trump as voters decide her fate:
Five times Liz Cheney was Donald Trump’s biggest thorn in the Capitol
As the Jan. 6 panel showed, an anti-Trump voice in the GOP can be damaging John Bowden 17 August 2022 00:26 1660690244
‘You are not patriots’: Judge throws book at Jan. 6 rioter as he rounds for Reagan in court
A federal judge spoke strongly Monday of a convicted participant in the Capitol riot and warned he could have earned much more prison time. John Cameron was sentenced on Monday to a three-year suspended sentence and 30 days of temporary confinement. He was also fined $1,000 and ordered to pay an additional $500 in restitution. “I keep hearing from the defendants of January 6, ‘We’re being persecuted,’ as if it’s a surprise, or ‘They’re persecuting us,’ as if it’s unfair. I don’t understand that psychology,” Judge Thomas Hogan told him during sentencing. “What irritates me the most is that you all claim to be patriots. you are not patriotic when you attack the United States Capitol.” Read more from The Independent’s Graig Graziosi:
Judge reprimands Jan. 6 rioter as he rambles about Reagan in court
The judge was unimpressed by the defendant’s appeals to patriotism John Bowden August 16, 2022 11:50 pm
