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Trump is scheduled to be in a Miami federal courthouse on Tuesday at 3 p.m. EDT (1900 GMT) for an initial appearance in the case. The poll also found Trump continues to lead his rivals for the party's presidential nomination by a wide margin. Some 43% of self-identified Republicans said Trump was their preferred candidate, compared to 22% who picked Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump looks on as he attends the North Carolina Republican Party convention in Greensboro, North Carolina, June 10, 2023. Trump accuses Democratic President Joe Biden of orchestrating the federal case to undermine his campaign.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Jonathan Drake, Manny Morales, Jack Smith, William Barr, Joe Biden, Biden, Smith, Susan Heavey, Nathan Layne, Julia Harte, Doina Chiacu, Jacqueline Thomsen, Andy Sullivan, Noeleen Walder, Howard Goller Organizations: MIAMI, Reuters, Social, Republican, Florida, DeSantis, Former U.S, North Carolina Republican Party, REUTERS, U.S . Capitol, Miami, White, Democratic, Department, Thomson Locations: Miami, New Jersey, Georgia, Former, Greensboro , North Carolina, Lago Florida, Florida, New York

[1/2] Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at the Georgia Republican Party convention in Columbus, Georgia, U.S. June 10, 2023. Trump is scheduled to be in a Miami federal courthouse on Tuesday at 3 p.m. EDT (1900 GMT) for an initial appearance in the case. With memories fresh of the Jan. 6, 2021, assault by Trump supporters on the U.S. Capitol, officials have raised security concerns. The indictment alleges Trump lied to officials who tried to get them back. Trump accuses Democratic President Joe Biden of orchestrating the federal case to undermine his campaign.

Persons: Donald Trump, Megan Varner, Trump, TRUMP, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, Jack Smith, William Barr, Joe Biden, Biden, Smith, Doina Chiacu, Jacqueline Thomsen, Andy Sullivan, Noeleen Walder, Howard Goller Organizations: U.S, Republican, Georgia Republican Party, REUTERS, Bedminster, Social, U.S . Capitol, Miami Mayor, White, Democratic, Department, Thomson Locations: Columbus , Georgia, U.S, Miami, New Jersey, Newark, Georgia, Lago Florida, Florida, New York

Trump had sought to prevent top aides, including his then-Vice President Mike Pence, from testifying in that probe being weighed by a separate D.C. grand jury. Pence appeared before the grand jury in April after Trump lost his legal challenge. Trump repeatedly lambasted Pence before the attack for refusing to try to prevent Congress from certifying Democrat Joe Biden’s win in the 2020 presidential election. Legal experts said Trump may have violated at least three Georgia criminal election laws: conspiracy to commit election fraud, criminal solicitation to commit election fraud and intentional interference with performance of election duties. NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL CIVIL LAWSUITNew York Attorney General Letitia James sued Trump and his family business, the Trump Organization, last September for fraud.

Persons: Donald Trump, General Merrick Garland, Jack Smith, Trump, Trump's, Mike Pence, Pence, Joe Biden’s, Fani Willis, Brad Raffensperger, Michael Cohen, Daniels, Cohen, reimbursing Cohen, Jean Carroll, Carroll, Letitia James, James, Joseph Ax, Luc Cohen, Karen Freifeld, Sarah N, Lynch, Jonathan Stempel, Jacqueline Thomsen, Susan Heavey, Noeleen Walder, Howard Goller Organizations: U.S . Department of Justice, CAPITOL, U.S, Capitol, Justice Department, Trump, Democrat, Republican Georgia, U.S . Constitution, Trump's, Prosecutors, CNN, GENERAL, New York, Trump Organization, The Securities, Exchange Commission, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Thomson Locations: United States, GEORGIA, Fulton County, Georgia, U.S ., New York, Manhattan

☆ Biden to hold first 2024 campaign event in Pennsylvania
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON, June 9 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden will hold his first campaign event next week in the swing state of Pennsylvania, according to a statement released by the White House. Biden, 80, will attend a rally with union members in Philadelphia on June 17, the statement said. Biden said in April he would run again for president, citing his administration's investment in infrastructure and job creation, and a need to push back against extremism popularized by his predecessor Donald Trump. With fewer than 13 million people, a median household income below the national average, and a voting pool that is more than 80% white versus 69% nationwide, Pennsylvania has been a fiercely contested state in recent elections. Reporting by Susan Heavey; editing by Rami Ayyub and Heather Timmons.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Donald Trump, Susan Heavey, Rami Ayyub, Heather Timmons Organizations: White, Thomson Locations: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

☆ Senators ask U.S. Justice Dept to probe Binance statements to Congress
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) attend a Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., April 18, 2023. REUTERS/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/File PhotoWASHINGTON, June 8 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Justice should investigate whether cryptocurrency exchange Binance made false statements to Congress in a written response to lawmakers this year, two Democratic U.S. senators said in a letter released on Thursday. U.S. financial regulators this week cracked down on the crypto industry with legal action against Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, and cryptocurrency platform Coinbase (COIN.O). Representatives for the Justice Department could not be immediately reached. Reporting by Susan Heavey and Manya Saini; editing by David Goodman and Jason NeelyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Chris Van Hollen, Elizabeth Warren, Amanda Andrade, Rhoades, Binance, Susan Heavey, Manya Saini, David Goodman, Jason Neely Organizations: U.S, Banking, Housing, Urban Affairs, Capitol, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, U.S . Department of Justice, Democratic U.S, Justice Department, SEC, Binance, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S

☆ Pat Robertson, televangelist who mobilized Christian voters, dead at 93
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Joseph Ax | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

June 8 (Reuters) - Pat Robertson, the televangelist who helped turn Christian conservatives into a potent force in U.S. politics, died at age 93 at his Virginia home, the Christian Broadcasting Network said in a statement on Thursday. Robertson founded the network in 1960 and hosted the flagship program "The 700 Club" for decades, offering prayers and political commentary. In 1980, the show helped galvanize support among Christian conservatives for Republican Ronald Reagan's successful campaign for president. His "The 700 Club" show - stemming from a fundraising telethon in which he asked 700 viewers to send monthly contributions - drew a committed audience. Nicknamed "Pat" by his older brother, he was born Marion Gordon Robertson in Lexington, Virginia, on March 22, 1930.

Persons: Pat Robertson, Robertson, Republican Ronald Reagan's, God, Hugo Chavez, Satan, Pat, Marion Gordon Robertson, Absalom Robertson, Dede, Gordon, Doina Chiacu, Joseph Ax, Susan Heavey, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Christian Broadcasting Network, Republican, Christian Coalition, Republican Party, U.S, Virginia Democrat, U.S . House, U.S . Senate, Yale Law School, New York Theological Seminary, Regent University, American Center for Law, Justice, Thomson Locations: U.S, Virginia, Iowa, Midwestern, France, Lexington , Virginia, New

June 8 (Reuters) - The chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Thursday strongly rebutted criticism that the agency is trying to crush the crypto industry, and said many companies in the space had made a "calculated economic decision" to flout its rules. That means most crypto exchanges have to comply with the securities laws too, he added. "They may have made a calculated economic decision to take the risk of enforcement as the cost of doing business." The crypto industry has attacked Gensler in recent days after the SEC sued two of the world's largest crypto exchanges, Coinbase (COIN.O) and Binance, for allegedly breaking securities laws by failing to register their operations with the agency. The SEC alleged Coinbase traded at least 13 crypto assets that are securities, while it accused Binance of offering 12 cryptocurrency coins without registering them.

Persons: Piper Sandler, Gary Gensler, Gensler, Brian Armstrong, Binance, Changpeng Zhao, Binance.US, Coinbase, Heath Tarbert, John McCrank, Hannah Lang, Susan Heavey, Manya, Michelle Price, Chizu Nomiyama, Matthew Lewis Organizations: U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Twitter, Coinbase, Department of Justice, U.S, Reuters, Futures Trading Commission, Manya Saini, Thomson Locations: New York, Washington, Gensler, Bengaluru

WASHINGTON, June 8 (Reuters) - Other U.S. crypto exchanges are likely to be in the firing line after the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) this week sued Coinbase and Binance, two of the world's largest crypto exchanges, for allegedly breaching its rules. Both Coinbase and Binance deny the SEC's allegations and have pledged to vigorously defend themselves in court. The Coinbase and Binance suits this week expand that list to include some commonly traded tokens, such as Solana, Cardano and Polygon. While big crypto companies can afford to fight the SEC, smaller companies have filed for bankruptcy following SEC enforcement actions, including crypto exchange Beaxy. "I think if there's a real value in these crypto tokens, then compliance will build trust and the business model might change," he said.

Persons: Coinbase, Binance, Jason Allegrante, Gary Gensler, “, Scott Freeman, Crypto, Kraken, OKCoin, Ripple's, Stuart Alderoty, Piper Sandler, Gensler, Bernstein, Katharine Wooller, Hannah Lang, John McCrank, Susan Heavey, Michelle Price, Stephen Coates Organizations: Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Cornerstone Research, Department of Justice, JST, Justice Department, Piper Sandler Global, Fintech Conference, CNBC, U.S, Executives, Thomson Locations: Solana, Cardano, U.S, United States, New York, Washington

☆ Pence attacks Trump as he challenges his ex-boss in 2024 White House race
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Tim Reid | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

During Trump's tumultuous four years in the White House, Pence repeatedly defended him through multiple scandals. Pence, who turned 64 on Wednesday, joins a crowded nominating contest that is currently a two-man race between front-runner Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Trump supporters stormed the Capitol during the certification process, forcing Pence, family members, lawmakers and staff to flee to safety. "The American people deserve to know that on that day, President Trump also demanded that I choose between him and the Constitution. As president, Trump appointed conservative U.S. Supreme Court justices who helped end the national right to abortion last year.

Persons: Mike Pence, Donald Trump, Trump, Pence, Joe Biden's, Ron DeSantis, Chris Christie, Doug Burgum, Karen, Read, DeSantis, Todd Starnes, Trump's, Tim Reid, Susan Heavey, Colleen Jenkins, Alistair Bell Organizations: Wednesday, U.S . Capitol, U.S, Congress, Republican, Senate, Trump, Florida, Former New Jersey, North Dakota, Republican White House, Reuters, Capitol, CNN, Farmers of, Supreme, Pence, Thomson Locations: United States, Iowa, Former, North, Farmers of America, Ankeny , Iowa, U.S, UKRAINE, Ukraine, Indiana

WASHINGTON, June 7 (Reuters) - The U.S. economy is strong amid robust consumer spending but some areas are slowing down, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Wednesday, adding that she expects continued progress in bringing inflation down over the next two years with a strong labor market. Yellen said that inflation can subside while maintaining a strong labor market, with unemployment in the 4% range, up slightly from the 3.7% reading in May. "We've always thought an unemployment rate with four as the first digit is a very strong labor market," Yellen said. She said the economy has slowed somewhat, easing pressures in the labor market, but "we still have a very healthy labor market, wage gains are significant." Asked about former Richmond Federal Reserve President Jeffrey Lacker's view that the federal funds rate, at 5.0-5.25% now, will have to rise to 6% to tame inflation, Yellen said that was a decision for the Fed.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Yellen, We've, Jeffrey Lacker's, David Lawder, Susan Heavey, Doina Chiacu, Chizu Nomiyama, Andrea Ricci Organizations: Treasury, CNBC, Federal, Richmond Federal, Securities and Exchange Commission, European Union, Thomson Locations: U.S

☆ Ex-US Vice President Mike Pence launches 2024 election bid, challenging Trump
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Tim Reid | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

It is extremely rare for a vice president to run against a president he served under, and it has happened just a handful of times in U.S. history. But Pence incurred the wrath of Trump and his supporters when, as ceremonial president of the Senate, he refused to stop the certification of Biden's victory over Trump in the 2020 election. Trump supporters stormed the Capitol during the certification process on Jan. 6, 2021, forcing Pence, lawmakers and staff to flee to safety. Representatives for Trump's campaign could not be immediately reached for comment on Wednesday. Many of Trump's diehard supporters view Pence's refusal to overturn the election result as treachery, potentially complicating his path to the nomination.

Persons: Mike Pence, Donald Trump, Pence, Joe Biden, Trump, Ron DeSantis, Pence's, Trump's, Tim Reid, Susan Heavey, Ross Colvin, Grant McCool, Angus MacSwan Organizations: U.S . Capitol, Republican, Democratic, Trump, Reuters, Florida, CNN, Federal, Senate, Capitol, Thomson Locations: America, Des Moines, Iowa, Indiana, Russia, China

The Democratic-led Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the subject in May. Crow, a major Republican donor, last month, rejected the panel's request for a meeting. Separately, Bopp declined to provide another Democratic-led Senate panel, the Finance Committee, any personal financial information about Crow, it said. In a statement, the panel accused Crow of "stonewalling" and "doubling down on bogus legal theories." The news outlet ProPublica has detailed the ties between Thomas and Crow.

Persons: Harlan Crow's, Clarence Thomas, Thomas, Crow, Crow's, Michael Bopp, Dick Durbin, Sheldon Whitehouse, Bopp, Ron Wyden, Neil Gorsuch, Susan Heavey, Kanishka Singh, Will Dunham Organizations: U.S, Supreme, Republican, Democratic, Finance Committee, Finance, Politico, Thomson Locations: Texas, Colorado

☆ US slaps sanctions on Iranian, Chinese targets over Tehran's missile, military programs
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Daphne Psaledakis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Iran's mission to the United Nations in New York and China's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment. China has been a major buyer of Iranian oil despite U.S. sanctions designed to choke off these exports. Washington targeted centrifuge sales to Parchin Chemical Industries (PCI), dual-use metals sales to its intermediary, P.B. Co., Ltd, which the Treasury accused of selling centrifuges and other equipment and services worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to PCI with P.B. Sadr and PCI, as well as the other companies, could not immediately be reached for comment.

Persons: Davoud Damghani, Brian Nelson, Sadr, Zhejiang Qingji, Daphne Psaledakis, Doina Chiacu, Susan Heavey, Arshad Mohammed, David Brunnstrom, Chizu Nomiyama, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: . Treasury, Armed Forces Logistics, Terrorism, Financial Intelligence, United Nations, Parchin Chemical Industries, PCI, Zhejiang Qingji, P.B, Treasury, Hong, Hong Kong Ke.Do International Trade Co, Qingdao Zhongrongtong Trade, Co, Thomson Locations: United States, Iran, China, Hong Kong, Beijing, U.S, Washington, Tehran, New York, . Sadr, Zhejiang, Zhejiang Qingji Ind, Sadr, Qingdao

☆ Trump lawyers visit U.S. Justice Department amid documents probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Sarah N. Lynch | Thomson Reuters | Sarah N. Lynch Is The Lead Reporter For Reuters Covering The U.S. Justice Department Out Of Washington | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, June 5 (Reuters) - Three lawyers for former President Donald Trump left the U.S. Department of Justice Monday amid reports that federal prosecutors are wrapping up an investigation into whether he mishandled classified documents. The three lawyers - Lindsey Halligan, John Rowley and James Trusty - declined to answer questions as they left the building in Washington. It was not immediately clear what any potential meeting between the lawyers and the department may mean for Trump. Lawyers typically meet with Justice Department representatives before an indictment is handed down. Trump's lawyers last month sent the department a letter asking for a meeting with U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Persons: Donald Trump, Lindsey Halligan, John Rowley, James, Trump, General Merrick Garland ., Garland, Jack Smith, Mike Pence, Department's, Sarah N, Lynch, Susan Heavey, Jacqueline Thomsen, Nathan Layne, Andy Sullivan, Howard Goller Organizations: U.S . Department of, Justice Department, White House, Trump, Lawyers, U.S, Department of Justice, Media, Capitol, White, Thomson Locations: Washington, Manhattan, Indiana, Georgia

☆ US ends probe of Pence documents with no charges
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, June 2 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Justice has closed its investigation into former Vice President Mike Pence without filing any charges related to classified documents found in his Indiana home, a department official said on Friday. The department notified Pence through a letter, the official added. Representatives for Pence, who served under former Republican President Donald Trump, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Pence's spokesman has said the former vice president has "fully cooperated" with the probe and Pence himself has publicly acknowledged what he called a mistake. A Justice Department special counsel, Jack Smith, is investigating Trump's handling of classified materials since leaving office in January 2021.

Persons: Mike Pence, Pence, Donald Trump, Pence's, Jack Smith, Joe Biden, Trump, Timothy Reid, Susan Heavey, Bill Berkrot Organizations: U.S . Department of Justice, National, NBC, CNN, Biden, Thomson Locations: Indiana, Trump's Florida

☆ Biden lauds U.S. job growth, says debt ceiling bill to also boost economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON, June 2 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden said the bipartisan debt ceiling bill is expected to further boost the nation's economic outlook after data released earlier on Friday showed higher U.S. employment for May. "I look forward to signing the bipartisan budget agreement into law," Biden said in a statement released by the White House. Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Chizu NomiyamaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Susan Heavey, Chizu Organizations: White House, Thomson

WASHINGTON, June 2 (Reuters) - A Georgia-based probe into whether former Republican President Donald Trump and others illegally sought to overturn his loss in the state's 2020 presidential election has expanded into activities outside of Georgia, the Washington Post reported on Friday. As part of the probe into Trump and his allies efforts, Willis's office has sought information from Simpatico Software Systems and Berkeley Research Group about their actions in Georgia and other U.S. states, the Post said. The companies declined to comment to the Post as did Willis' office and representatives for Trump. The Department of Justice is also investigating Trump's role in efforts to overturn his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden. A number of individuals under investigation in the Fulton County probe have accepted immunity deals, court records showed last month.

Persons: Donald Trump, Fulton, Willis, Racketeer, Democrat Joe Biden, Joseph Ax, Susan Heavey, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Republican, Washington Post, Post, Democrat, Trump, Simpatico Software Systems, Berkeley Research Group, Justice, Thomson Locations: Georgia, United States, U.S, Fulton County, Fulton

WASHINGTON, June 2 (Reuters) - CIA director William Burns visited China last month for talks with Chinese counterparts, two U.S. officials said on Friday as Washington seeks to boost communications with Beijing. Burns, a veteran U.S. diplomat before leading the CIA, has made dozens of sensitive overseas trips as head of the agency, including to hold talks with Russian counterparts, as well as the Taliban in Afghanistan. The CIA, which does not regularly announce such visits, declined to comment on the China trip. Ties between the world's two largest economies are strained over issues ranging from Taiwan and China's human rights record to military activity in the South China Sea. "That's why we're also ready to engage China without preconditions, helping ensure that competition is managed, and that competition does not veer into conflict," Sullivan said.

Persons: William Burns, Burns, Joe Biden's, Antony Blinken, Janet Yellen, Gina Raimondo, Biden, Lloyd Austin, National Defense Li Shangfu, Li, Jake Sullivan, Sullivan, we're, Wang Yi, Michael Martina, Jonathan Landay, David Brunnstrom, Susan Heavey, Tim Ahmann, Alistair Bell, Matthew Lewis, Don Durfee Organizations: CIA, Washington, Reuters, Financial Times, Russian, Blinken, U.S . Defense, China's, National Defense, Pentagon, White House, People's, Arms Control, Thomson Locations: China, Beijing, Washington, Afghanistan, U.S, Taiwan, South China, . U.S, Singapore, Austin, People's Republic of China, Vienna

☆ Trump critic Chris Christie to announce White House bid next week
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Joseph Ax | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] U.S. Republican presidential candidate and New Jersey governor Chris Christie speaks during the Heritage Action for America presidential candidate forum in Greenville, South Carolina on September 18, 2015. Christie has played the role of attack dog before: in a memorable debate appearance shortly before he ended his 2016 campaign, Christie mocked U.S. Three days after Trump's surprise victory, Christie was fired as the head of Trump's White House transition team. Since the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by a mob of Trump supporters, Christie has jabbed at Trump on numerous occasions. Christie was also a candidate for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination but was beaten by eventual nominee Mitt Romney.

Persons: Chris Christie, Chris Keane PRINCETON, Donald Trump's, Christie, Axios, Trump's, Trump, Bill Palatucci, Marco Rubio, Ron DeSantis, Tim Scott, Nikki Haley, Mike Pence, Chris Sununu, Joe Biden, Washington, Charles Kushner, Jared Kushner, Jean Carroll, Mitt Romney, Susan Heavey, Joseph Ax, Nathan Layne, Katharine Jackson, Andrew Heavens, Chizu Nomiyama, Daniel Wallis Organizations: U.S, Republican, New, America, REUTERS, Former New Jersey, Trump, Reuters, Saint Anselm College, New Jersey Republican, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Democratic, Capitol, Republicans, Thomson Locations: New Jersey, Greenville , South Carolina, Chris Keane PRINCETON , New Jersey, New Hampshire, Florida, U.S, New York City

☆ Former NJ governor Chris Christie to launch bid for president -source
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Joseph Ax | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Christie, 60, enters the race as a decided underdog, six years after his 2016 presidential campaign failed to gain traction amid a crowded field that included Trump. In March, Christie told Axios he would not vote for Trump in 2024 even if the former president was the Republican nominee. He has played the role of attack dog before: in a memorable presidential debate appearance shortly before he ended his 2016 campaign, Christie mocked U.S. He and Trump exchanged plenty of barbs during the early stages of the 2016 campaign. Christie was also a candidate for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination but was beaten by eventual nominee Mitt Romney.

Persons: Chris Christie, Donald Trump's, Christie, Axios, Trump's, Trump, Mike Pence, Ron DeSantis, Marco Rubio, Washington, Charles Kushner, Jared Kushner, Jean Carroll, Mitt Romney, Susan Heavey, Joseph Ax, Nathan Layne, Katharine Jackson, Andrew Heavens Organizations: PRINCETON, Former New Jersey, Trump, Reuters, Saint Anselm College, Republican, Democratic, U.S, Capitol, Republicans, Thomson Locations: New Jersey, New Hampshire, Florida, New York City

☆ US special counsel probes Trump firing of then-top cybersecurity official, New York Times reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, May 31 (Reuters) - A U.S. special counsel investigating former President Donald Trump and efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss are examining his firing of a cybersecurity official whose office said the vote was secure, the New York Times said on Wednesday. Special Counsel Jack Smith, who is also probing Trump's handling of classified documents, has subpoenaed former Trump White House staff as well as Christopher Krebs, who oversaw the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency under Trump, the Times said, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter. Representatives for Krebs and Trump could not immediately be reached for comment. In the state of Georgia, a county prosecutor also is probing alleged interference in the state's 2020 election with charging decisions expected by Sept. 1. Trump also faces several other legal threats, including Smith's probe into classified documents found at Trump's personal residence in Florida after the former president left the White House in early 2021.

Persons: Donald Trump, Jack Smith, Christopher Krebs, Trump, Krebs, Joe Biden's, Smith, Susan Heavey, Howard Goller Organizations: U.S, New York Times, Trump White House, Infrastructure Security Agency, Trump, Times, Department of Homeland Security, Republican, Capitol, House, Department of Justice, White, Thomson Locations: Georgia, Florida, York

☆ Fresh round of debt ceiling talks kick off as US default worries grow
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

A failure to lift the debt ceiling would trigger a default that would shake financial markets and drive interest rates higher on everything from car payments to credit cards. Any deal to raise the $31.4 trillion debt limit must pass both chambers of Congress before Biden could sign it into law. A plan passed by the House last month would cut a wide swath of government spending by 8% next year. Biden has said he would consider spending cuts alongside tax adjustments but that Republicans' latest offer was "unacceptable." McCarthy told reporters debt ceiling talks have not included discussions about tax cuts passed under former President Donald Trump, a Republican.

WASHINGTON, May 21 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Sunday said June 1 remains a "hard deadline" for raising the federal debt limit, with the odds quite low that the government will collect enough revenue to bridge to June 15, when more tax receipts are due. Yellen, speaking on NBC's "Meet the Press" program, said there would be hard choices to make about payments to Americans if Congress failed to raise the $31.4 trillion debt ceiling before Treasury ran out of cash and was forced to default. So I think that that's a hard deadline," she said. U.S. President Joe Biden on Sunday called Republicans' latest offers in talks on lifting the government's debt ceiling "unacceptable," but said he would be willing to cut spending together with tax adjustments to reach a deal. Reporting by Andrea Shalal and Susan Heavey; Editing by Lisa ShumakerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

May 19 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden informed G7 leaders on Friday that Washington supports a joint effort with allies to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets, a senior administration official said, a key endorsement as Kyiv seeks to boost its air power against Russia's invading forces. Training on the U.S.-made jets will take place in Europe and will require months to complete, the official said. U.S. officials have estimated the most expeditious time needed for training and delivery of F-16s at 18 months. The U.S. hopes to begin the training, which will be conducted on fourth-generation fighters including F-16s, in the coming weeks, the official added. Ukraine, which does not possess any Western-designed jets, says the F-16s are far more effective than the Soviet-era fighters it currently has.

☆ From sunglasses to milking machines, US halts more exports to Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Karen Freifeld | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"You can't even ship contact lenses or sunglasses now," said Washington lawyer Kevin Wolf, a former Commerce official, as he reviewed the new rules. Wolf said "it would be simpler to describe the items that are not controlled for export to Russia." The targeted companies include aircraft repair and parts production plants, gunpowder, tractor and automobile factories, shipyards and engineering centers in Russia. The U.S. and a coalition of 37 other countries have imposed unprecedented export controls on Russia since its assault on Ukraine in February 2022. Last week, U.S. authorities arrested two Russian men living in Florida for allegedly sending U.S. airplane parts and components to Russian airlines in violation of export controls.

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