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Asked for proof of his claim that Mr. Biden was personally directing the local cases against him, Mr. Trump pointed to purported ties between prosecutors and “Washington,” but provided no evidence that Mr. Biden had been involved in any of the hiring decisions, conversations or meetings that Mr. Trump cited. The writer E. Jean Carroll filed her first lawsuit against Mr. Trump in November 2019, accusing him of defamation. Faulty and irrelevant comparisonsWhat Mr. Trump Said“I got indicted more than Al Capone.”— in a rally in Ohio in MarchFalse. Mr. Hur described Mr. Biden as a “well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory” who had “diminished faculties and faulty memory.” He did not declare Mr. Biden mentally incompetent to stand trial. Inaccurate attacks on judgesWhat Mr. Trump Said“Judge Juan Merchan is totally compromised, and should be removed from this TRUMP Non-Case immediately.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, President Biden, Trump’s, ”, Trump Said “ Biden, General Merrick B, Garland, Trump “, Biden, Mr, Doug Mills, Trump Said, Jack Smith, Merrick Garland’s, Fani Willis, Letitia James, Alvin L, Bragg, Matthew Colangelo, Colangelo, —, James’s, Colangelo’s, Bragg ramped, Willis, Willis — Nathan J, Wade, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Kamala Harris, Harris, Crooked Joe Biden, James, Jean Carroll, Smith, Brittainy Newman, Alexei Navalny, Navalny, Letitia James ’, Hunt, PolitiFact, Trump Said “, Al Capone, Capone, Brad Schwartz, Hillary, Bill, Bush, Reagan, Hillary Clinton, Clinton, Bill Clinton’s, Taylor Branch, Branch, “, Barack Obama, George W, Bill Clinton, George H.W, Ronald Reagan, Robert K, Hur, Biden’s, Juan Merchan, Loren, Loren Merchan, Merchan, Merchan’s, Justice Merchan, Ahmed Gaber, Arthur F, Justice Engoron, Engoron Organizations: New York, Democratic Party, Trump, Justice Department, The New York Times, The, White House, Trump . Credit, New York Times, American People, Biden Administration, Prosecutors, Mr, Manhattan, Washington, Fox News, New, Times, White, Counsel’s Office, Supreme, Black, Trump Organization, Democrat, Companies, Exxon Mobil, Trump Foundation, Trump University, Associated, National Archives, Records Administration, TRUMP, Twitter, Credit Locations: Manhattan, Georgia, Trump ., Washington, New York, “ Washington, Fulton County ,, Russian, New, Ohio, Fla, South Carolina, Trump’s Florida, Beach

CNN —A New York judge has imposed a gag order on Donald Trump, limiting the former president from making statements about potential witnesses in the criminal trial relating to hush money payments scheduled to begin next month. The order does not prevent Trump from talking about New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who is a public figure, or Merchan himself. Trump criticized Merchan, his daughter and one of Bragg’s prosecutors in the hours before Merchan issued his order. The district attorney’s office had requested the gag order last month to remain in place for the duration of the trial. In the civil fraud case last fall, Trump was twice fined for violating Judge Arthur Engoron’s gag order and making comments about the judge’s staff.

Persons: Donald Trump, Juan Merchan, Trump, Merchan, Michael Cohen, Stormy Daniels, Alvin Bragg, …, ” Merchan, reimbursements, Cohen, Daniels, denigrating, Arthur Engoron’s, ’ ” Merchan, “, Matthew Colangelo, Colangelo, General Merrick Garland’s, ” Trump’s, Bragg, Biden, ’, ” Trump Organizations: CNN, Trump, New York, Republican, New, Monday’s, Justice Department, Defendant, DOJ, Office, Democratic, Truth, Attorney Locations: York, New York, Washington , DC

☆ House GOP Biden inquiry stalls as impeachment becomes less likely
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Annie Grayer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

Hunter Biden arrives at the Thomas P. O'Neil Jr. House Office Building for a closed door deposition on February 28, in Washington, DC. Abbe Lowell makes a statement to the press following a closed-door deposition before the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and House Judiciary Committee in the O'Neill House Office Building on February 28, in Washington, DC. “He was well-prepared for the kind of questions,” Issa recounted of Hunter Biden. GOP focus shifts away from impeachment probeInvestigating the Biden family and going after President Biden was a top priority for House Republicans when they reclaimed the majority and got control of committees. GOP Rep. Ryan Zinke of Montana said the three Republican chairmen leading the impeachment inquiry have the same message: “They say we’re not in a position to go forward on impeachment.”

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Hunter Biden, James Comer, Jim Jordan, Comer, Donald Trump, Thomas P, O'Neil Jr, Countess, Merrick, Justice won’t, ” Comer, Mike Johnson, “, Jordan, Johnson, “ I’m, ” Johnson, Ralph Norman of, Troy Nehls, impeaching Biden, We’ve, Let’s, ”, ” Nehls, Alejandro Mayorkas, I’m, Trump, weaponized, ” Jordan, Vernon, Ed Siskel, ” Siskel, Hunter, Mary, ” Hunter, Abbe Lowell, Samuel Corum, Hunter Biden’s, Darrell Issa, ” Issa, Robert Hur, Garret Graves, Chip Roy, Texas, Lisa McClain, Richard Hudson of, it’s, Nick LaLota, ” Norman, Ryan Zinke Organizations: House Republicans, Department of Justice, CNN, Fox News, Merrick Garland’s Department, Justice, Louisiana Republican, ” Staff, GOP, Caucus, Democratic, Homeland, Senate, Trump, White, Getty, Committee, Republican, of, Hunter Biden, Republicans, Internal Revenue Service, Judiciary, House, House Republican, “ Locations: Washington ,, Merrick Garland’s, Louisiana, House, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Texas, Georgia, Miami, Vernon Hill, Florida, O'Neill, Washington , DC, California, Lisa McClain of Michigan, Richard Hudson of North Carolina, New York, Montana

When David C. Weiss, the U.S. attorney in Delaware, asked for special counsel status, the Justice Department says Mr. Garland approved his request quickly. A widely respected federal judge before becoming attorney general, Mr. Garland has become a favorite target of House Republicans after the Justice Department launched investigations that resulted in felony charges against former President Donald J. Trump. At the heart of the issue are assurances Mr. Weiss and Mr. Garland have given to lawmakers that Mr. Weiss had ultimate authority over the Hunter Biden case and when and where to bring charges. But they have vouched generally for the statements about Mr. Weiss’ limited authority, describing a more nuanced scenario in which Mr. Weiss had sought to partner with prosecutors in Washington, D.C., and California, only to be rebuffed, causing him to try a different approach. When Mr. Weiss eventually asked for special counsel status, the Justice Department says Mr. Garland approved his request quickly.

Persons: David C, Weiss, Garland, General Merrick B, Donald J, Biden’s, Hunter, Justice Department hadn’t, Kevin McCarthy, David Weiss, Merrick Garland’s weaponization, Biden, Hunter Biden, Gary Shapley, “, Kenny Holston, Shapley’s, Shapley, Weiss ’ Organizations: Justice Department, Republicans, Trump, Twitter, “ U.S, Committee, DOJ, Veteran, New York Times, Washington , D.C, Departmental Locations: U.S, Delaware, Washington ,, California

☆ Sally Yates: Voters ‘have a right’ to hear evidence against Trump before election
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Jack Forrest | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Sally Yates, a former acting attorney general early in Donald Trump’s administration, said voters “have a right” to hear the special counsel’s evidence against the former president before they head to the ballot box in 2024. She was set to serve until Trump’s pick for attorney general, Jeff Sessions, could be confirmed. Yates, who served in the DOJ for nearly three decades, called Smith “a talented, no-nonsense guy” and praised the strength of his team’s cases against Trump. “I’m not convinced that the government has to prove that Donald Trump believed in his heart of hearts that he had lost the election,” she said. “I think that Attorney General Garland took the right step in leaving the Trump-appointed US attorney in place to complete that investigation,” she said.

Persons: Sally Yates, Donald Trump’s, “, ” Yates, Obama, CNN’s David Axelrod, Trump, Yates, Jeff Sessions, Jack, Smith, let’s, ”, Axelrod, “ I’m, Donald Trump, ” Trump, ‘, Hunter Biden, General Merrick Garland’s, David Weiss, General Garland Organizations: CNN, Department, longtime Justice Department, Trump, DOJ, Justice Department Locations: United States, Florida

For Biden, Trump’s third indictment is undoubtedly the most personal. The White House declined to comment on Trump’s indictment Tuesday, referring questions to the Department of Justice. The White House learned of the indictment through media reports, a White House official said, as was the case with past indictments. After Trump was indicted in June, Biden was repeatedly pressed for comment on the historic first federal indictment of a former president. Ahead of Trump’s indictment Tuesday, a Biden campaign official said the campaign once again did not intend to fundraise off a Trump indictment, determining that the risks of fundraising off the indictment – which would feed Republican attacks of a politicized prosecution – outweighed the potential benefits.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump’s, He’s, Trump, Jack Smith, –, Biden, Department’s, Trump’s, “, ”, Ian Sams, General Merrick, Garland, MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace, Jill Biden, The Biden, ” Biden, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, they’re, Trump “, headwinds Biden Organizations: CNN, Mar, Biden, Trump, Capitol, Department of Justice, Justice Department, White, White House, aren’t, The, New York Times Locations: Maine, Freeport, Delaware, Siena, American

☆ Merrick Garland’s Cheap Talk
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Kimberley A. Strassel | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Kimberley Strassel is a member of the editorial board for The Wall Street Journal. She writes editorials, as well as the weekly Potomac Watch political column, from her base in Alaska. Ms. Strassel joined Dow Jones & Co. in 1994, working in the news department of The Wall Street Journal Europe in Brussels, and then in London. She moved to New York in 1999 and soon thereafter joined the Journal's editorial page, working as a features editor, and then as an editorial writer. An Oregon native, Ms. Strassel earned a bachelor's degree in Public Policy and International Affairs from Princeton University.

Persons: Kimberley Strassel, Strassel Organizations: Wall Street, Potomac Watch, Dow Jones & Co, The, Street, Fox, Sunday, Press, Policy, International Affairs, Princeton University Locations: Kimberley, Alaska, Brussels, London, New York, An Oregon

BOSTON, March 1 (Reuters) - Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins has hired a former Justice Department inspector general to defend her in a widening ethics investigation into her appearance at a political fundraiser and her travel. The controversy has threatened to undermine Attorney General Merrick Garland’s vow to protect the Justice Department from partisan influence and efforts to extend progressive criminal justice policies championed by Rollins to the federal level. It is unclear what the inspector general's probe will find or when it will be completed. James Borghesani, a spokesman for Hayden, said they have received no inquiries from the inspector general's office. Investigators are also looking at Rollins' use of a personal cellphone, rather than her government-issued one, for Justice Department business, said two other people familiar with the matter.

☆ Sen. Joe Manchin criticizes Biden’s handling of classified documents: ‘Irresponsible’
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Summer-Concepcion-Byline-Jm.Jpg | Summer Concepcion | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., on Sunday criticized President Joe Biden for his handling of classified documents after six additional items were found at the president’s Delaware home. In an interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” Manchin called Biden having classified documents in unsecured places “irresponsible” and voiced his support for Attorney General Merrick Garland’s decision to appoint a special counsel to review the materials. Biden, Manchin continued, should own up to making mistakes after batches of classified records were found in recent weeks at his residence and a Washington office he used. Biden's personal attorney said Saturday that six additional items, including documents with classified markings, were found at the president’s home after Justice Department officials searched the residence. The DOJ has appointed special counsel Robert Hur, a former federal prosecutor who has worked with many Republicans throughout his law enforcement career, to oversee the investigation into Biden’s handling of classified documents.

☆ The Special Counsels and Merrick Garland’s Election Department
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Kimberley A. Strassel | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Smith takes over a staff that’s already nearly twice the size of Robert Mueller’s team of lawyers who worked on the Russia probe. Smith will also take on national security investigators already working the probe into the potential mishandling of federal records taken to Mar-a-Lago after Trump left the White House. Those lawyers maintain the former president is unlikely to be indicted, according to two sources familiar. Special Counsel Robert Mueller makes a statement about the Russia investigation on May 29, 2019 at the Justice Department in Washington, DC. Trump allies have consistently maintained that nothing Trump did related to the election and January 6 itself amounts to a crime.

☆ Indict Trump? It’s Still Merrick Garland’s Decision
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( Rod Rosenstein | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

When Attorney General Merrick Garland announced on Nov. 18 that Jack Smith would take charge as special counsel in two high-profile criminal investigations of Donald Trump, he omitted an important detail: As head of the Justice Department, Mr. Garland will remain accountable for deciding whether to indict the former president. As Attorney General Janet Reno emphasized when she promulgated the special counsel regulations in 1999, “ultimate responsibility” for such investigations “will continue to rest with the Attorney General.” In other words, the special counsel isn’t fully independent. Their wide-ranging and long-lasting investigations led to bipartisan criticism of the independent-counsel model as having too much autonomy. Reno’s regulations sought to correct that imbalance by making special counsels analogous to U.S. attorneys, whose discretionary decisions about matters within their jurisdiction may be overturned by the attorney general. These regulations ensure oversight in six ways.

☆ House election results put McCarthy on track for speaker, and Democrats on track for retribution
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( W. James Antle Iii | W. James Antle Iii Is The Washington Examiner'S Politics Editor | Author Of | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, likely the chamber’s next speaker, is holding firm to his pledge to strip three liberal Democrats of their committee assignments when the new Congress is seated next year. That’s not sitting well with Democrats, as they are about to enter the House minority for the first time in four years. By breaking tradition and meddling with committee assignments across the aisle, they had to know they were triggering years of partisan tit for tat. Republicans considered punishing her by taking her committee assignments, but Greene apologized for some of her worst statements, and her colleagues relented. Many lawmakers are discovering social media and cable news are a better path to influence than committee assignments.

☆ Trump's day of reckoning is overdue. Garland's special counsel move adds to the delay.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Michael Conway | Michael Conway Was Counsel For The House Judiciary Committee In The Impeachment Inquiry Of President Richard Nixon In In That Role | He Assisted In Drafting The Committee'S Final Report To The House In Support Of The Three Articles Of Impeachment Adopted The Committee. Conway Is A Graduate Of Yale Law School | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

Attorney General Merrick Garland’s decision to appoint a special counsel to investigate former President Donald Trump is a miscalculation, with the main problem being timing. Despite assurances from Garland that a special counsel will not bog down the investigation, reality suggests otherwise. Not to mention that past practice demonstrates that the Justice Department has regularly shown that anyone can be held accountable — without resorting to a special counsel. No special counsel was used. I believe Trump’s day of reckoning is long overdue, and Garland’s overly cautious decision to appoint a special counsel may continue postponing that day.

☆ CBS News Suspends Twitter Posting ‘In Light of the Uncertainty’ About Musk-Owned Social Platform
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

CBS News is halting its activity on Twitter over Elon Musk’s turbulent and potentially devastating moves following his takeover of the company. A statement with nearly identical wording was shared Friday by the Twitter account of KPIX, the CBS-owned station in San Francisco. Another looming question: whether Musk will allow Trump back on Twitter. On Friday, Musk launched a poll asking his 116 million-plus followers whether Twitter should reinstate Trump. After the mass resignations at Twitter, Musk — the richest individual in the world — called an emergency meeting of engineers Friday, requesting that “anyone who actually writes software” report to the company’s San Francisco headquarters.

☆ Trump encourages GOP to 'fight' special counsel decision as Republicans attack DOJ
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Rebecca-Shabad-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Rebecca Shabad | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

In an interview with Fox News, Trump said he has been "going through this for six years," referring to various investigations into his actions, including both impeachments and special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe. A Trump campaign spokesman added that, "This is a totally expected political stunt by a feckless, politicized, weaponized Biden Department of Justice." Trump noted that the announcement of a special counsel comes just days after he announced a 2024 White House bid, which Garland said was a factor in his decision to seek an independent prosecutor. Asa Hutchinson, who has sometimes rebuked Trump, said in a statement that Garland's decision was "not good news for our country." Garland named John L. Smith, known as Jack Smith, a prosecutor at The Hague and a former federal prosecutor, to begin serving as special counsel “immediately."

☆ Merrick Garland’s Special Counsel Mistake on Trump
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Merrick Garland ’s decision Friday to appoint a special counsel in the criminal investigations of Donald Trump is almost certainly a mistake, as such appointments usually are. This won’t offer the Attorney General the political insulation he is seeking, and it won’t change the inherently political nature of any decision to prosecute. “Based on recent developments, including the former President’s announcement that he is a candidate for President in the next election, and the sitting President’s stated intention to be a candidate as well, I have concluded that it is in the public interest to appoint a Special Counsel,” Mr. Garland said at the Justice Department. “Such an appointment underscores the Department’s commitment to both independence and accountability in particularly sensitive matters.”

☆ Fact check: Trump responds to special counsel news with debunked claim about Obama and the Bushes
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Daniel Dale | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

They took documents with them. As NARA explained in an August statement, Barack Obama did not take the presidential documents Trump claimed Obama had taken. Again, it was NARA that took the Bushes’ presidential documents to facilities that NARA managed near the future locations of their presidential libraries. Trump’s claim about a bowling alley and restaurantTrump’s suggestion that past presidents’ documents were stored in an insecure manner is also false. Bush’s presidential documents were temporarily stored, in College Station, Texas, was indeed a former bowling alley connected to a former Chinese restaurant.

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