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☆ Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to testify on Trump shooting
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-21 | by ( Whitney Wild | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

In the days following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, Cheatle has done no press conferences and very few interviews. “We would have never let him go out there if we thought there was a threat to him,” one source present with Trump told CNN. Cheatle is a nearly three-decade veteran of the Secret Service, serving in various field offices and vice presidential details including then-Vice President Joe Biden’s detail. Cheatle left the Secret Service in 2021 as the Assistant Director of the Office of Protective Operations - a role she held when the Secret Service scrambled to protect then-Vice President Mike Pence from rioters on January 6, 2021. “I’m very sorry to reach this conclusion: I have no confidence in the leadership of the United States Secret Service.

Persons: Kimberly Cheatle, –, Donald Trump, Cheatle, James Comer, ” Comer, ”, wasn’t, Thomas Matthew Crooks, Crooks, Tom Knights, Trump, weren’t, ” Cheatle, “, who’ve, Joe Biden’s, Mike Pence, Mike Johnson, Brendan Boyle, ” Boyle, CNN’s Kristen Holmes, Holmes Lybrand, Aileen Graef Organizations: CNN, United, Secret, Sunday, “ Fox, Republican, Secret Service, Trump, ABC, ABC News, Service, Protective, ”, Fox News, Pennsylvania Democrat, United States Secret Service Locations: Butler , Pennsylvania, Butler, Trump, Iran, Pennsylvania

☆ Secret Service says it denied Trump additional resources even as his team complained
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-21 | by ( Kristen Holmes | Holmes Lybrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Former President Donald Trump’s security detail had complained they were not being given enough resources and personnel by the Secret Service over the past two years, and the agency acknowledged Saturday it denied some requests. A spokesperson for the Secret Service said in a statement Saturday that the agency has not provided certain resources in the past but has instead provided other security measures including from local partners. The Washington Post and The New York Times reported earlier Saturday that the Secret Service denied previous request from Trump’s security team over the past two years. In response to questions from CNN over whether the Secret Service had denied additional security requests, a spokesperson told CNN the agency makes “modifications” when certain resources are not provided to protectees. “In some instances where specific Secret Service specialized units or resources were not provided, the agency made modifications to ensure the security of the protectee,” Anthony Guglielmi, chief of communications for the Secret Service, wrote in a statement.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Trump, ” Anthony Guglielmi, ” Guglielmi, Kimberly Cheatle, Mike Johnson, Cheatle Organizations: CNN, Secret Service, Washington Post, The New York Times, Service, Secret, Trump Locations: Butler , Pennsylvania, Trump, “, Pennsylvania

Trump and former first lady Melania Trump were joined on stage by vice presidential nominee JD Vance and his wife, Usha. Here are five takeaways:Trump details shooting: Trump appeared solemn are he narrated the “painful” events of his Saturday rally in minute detail. Little mention of Biden (by name): Trump said he would use President Joe Biden’s name only once. But it’s also because Trump might not face Biden again, after all. A rare Melania sighting: Melania Trump has kept a low profile since the Trump administration ended, choosing not to attend Trump’s hush money trial or the CNN debate.

Persons: Trump, Melania Trump, JD Vance, Usha, Will Lanzoni, Tucker Carlson, Donald Trump, ”, Biden, Joe Biden’s, it’s, “, Hogan, Read Organizations: CNN, Republican National Convention, Trump, Republican, RNC Locations: American

That suggests Crooks may have been looking to carry out a high-profile shooting, and the Trump event’s proximity and timing offered the most accessible opportunity, federal officials have speculated. Crooks had also searched for information on another recent mass shooter who shot and killed four classmates at a Michigan high school in 2021. Obtained by CNNBut there are also significant differences between Crooks’ behavior and that of a typical mass shooter. Nearly seven years after America’s deadliest mass shooting, investigators still do not know why Paddock pulled the trigger. You want every detail you can find.”CNN’s Scott Glover, Allison Gordon and Holmes Lybrand contributed to this report.

Persons: Donald Trump, Thomas Matthew Crooks, Crooks, who’ve, Joe Biden, Trump, didn’t, Ethan Crumbley, Kathleen Puckett, ” Ted Kaczynski, ” Puckett, Stephen Paddock, Paddock, ”, Juliette Kayyem, Crooks ’, Mary Ellen O’Toole, “, Puckett, –, it’s, ” CNN’s Scott Glover, Allison Gordon, Holmes Lybrand Organizations: CNN, Democratic National Convention, Trump, Department of Homeland Security, US Secret Service, FBI Locations: Pittsburgh, Michigan, Las Vegas, Vegas

CNN —The US Secret Service is scrambling to increase security ahead of former President Donald Trump’s first campaign rally since the failed assassination attempt on his life last week, sources familiar with the planning told CNN. “We assist the Secret Service,” a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office told CNN, adding that the Secret Service was leading all security planning for the rally. The source said the lack of these exercises have resulted in security gaps, including communication breakdowns between law enforcement partners. “The Secret Service is responsible for the security planning for presidential visits, but we stand ready to assist them with whatever they need,” Banner wrote in an email. The Secret Service would not comment on security planning for the rally or Trump.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Undersheriff Bryan Muir, ”, “, Sen, JD Vance, Banner Organizations: CNN, Trump, Service, Republican National Convention, Security, Trump’s Mar, Palm Beach Police Department, Secret, Republican, Michigan State Police Locations: Butler , Pennsylvania, Grand Rapids , Michigan, Kent County , Michigan, New Jersey, Newark, Trump’s, Lago, U.S, Mar, Grand Rapids

CNN —The Trump rally shooter searched online for information on the arrest of a Michigan mass shooter and his parents, who were prosecuted in a 2021 high school shooting. A week before the shooting, Thomas Matthew Crooks searched online for the date of the Democratic National Convention and where Trump planned to speak, as well as other searches for Trump and President Joe Biden. Unlike other mass shooters who often leave behind manifestos or writings to explain their attack, Crooks left behind few clues, in his bedroom or online. Investigators have focused on Crooks’ online activity in the months and days before the attack. He searched for the date and location of the Democratic National Convention, which takes place in August in Chicago, and for the location of the Trump rally.

Persons: Donald Trump, Butler, Thomas Matthew Crooks, Trump, Joe Biden, Saturday’s, Crooks, Ethan Crumbley –, Biden, Crooks ’ Organizations: CNN, Trump, Democratic National Convention, FBI, US Secret Service Locations: Michigan, Butler , Pennsylvania, Butler, Pennsylvania, Chicago

☆ Secret Service director says ‘the buck stops with me’
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-15 | by ( Holmes Lybrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —US Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle said Monday “the buck stops with me” as questions have swirled about the agency’s security preparations following the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump Saturday. Cheatle told ABC News on Monday that “the Secret Service is responsible for the protection of the former president” and “the buck stops with me, I am the director of the Secret Service.” She says she plans to stay on as director. “The Secret Service is tasked with the tremendous responsibility of protecting the current and former leaders of our democracy,” Cheatle said. “It is a responsibility that I take incredibly seriously, and I am committed to fulfilling that mission.”House Oversight Committee Republicans sent a letter to Cheatle with a new series of document requests and a notice to preserve all documents and communications regarding Trump’s Butler, Pennsylvania, rally, as the committee separately investigates the assassination attempt. CNN’s Annie Grayer and Whitney Wild contributed to this report.

Persons: Kimberly Cheatle, Donald Trump, Cheatle, ”, Trump, Joe Biden, ” Cheatle, Biden, Trump’s Butler, Annie Grayer, Whitney Wild Organizations: CNN, Secret, ABC News, Service, “, Republican National Convention Locations: Milwaukee, Trump’s Butler , Pennsylvania

The FBI said Sunday that the shooter at Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania acted alone and that it is still actively investigating the shooter’s background – including working to gain access to his phone. “We are working to get access to the phone,” Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh field office, said Sunday. Rojek confirmed the gun used in the shooting was an AR-style rifle that was purchased legally. FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate also said the FBI is “seeing that tick up in the aftermath of this event. “The violence we saw yesterday is an attack on democracy itself,” Garland said.

Persons: Kevin Rojek, “, ” Rojek, ”, Rojek, Bobby Wells, Paul Abbate, We’ve, General Merrick Garland, Biden, ” Garland Organizations: FBI, Counterterrorism Division Locations: Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Quantico, Washington ,

Crooks lived in the Pittsburgh suburb of Bethel Park, about an hour’s drive south of the Trump rally where law enforcement officials say he fired at the former president. Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022, according to a local media report and a video of the school’s graduation ceremony. Law enforcement descended on Crooks’ family home on a quiet street in Bethel Park on Saturday night. Explosive material was found in his residence, as well as in his car, law enforcement officials familiar with the investigation told CNN. Bethel Park is a predominantly white suburb that is wealthier than the surrounding Pittsburgh metro area.

Persons: Thomas Matthew Crooks, Crooks, Donald Trump, —, haven’t, Jason Kohler, Kohler, Sarah D’Angelo, ”, Trump, ” Crooks, –, “, Anna Moneymaker, Crooks ’, Matthew Crooks, Thomas Crooks, CNN Crooks, Marcie Grimm, ” Grimm, Dan Grzybek, Joe Biden, Grzybek, ” Grzybek, Andrew Bianco, you’d, ” Bianco, CNN’s Yahya Abou, Ghazala, Audrey Ash, Scott Glover, Allison Gordon, Holmes Lybrand, Sean Lyngaas Organizations: Bethel Park , Pennsylvania CNN, CNN, Republican, Democratic, Trump, Bethel Park High School, Secret, Commission, Progressive, Democrat, Secret Service, Bethel Park Skilled Nursing, Rehabilitation Center Locations: Bethel Park , Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Bethel Park, ”, Butler , Pennsylvania, Democratic, Allegheny County, Crooks ’, BlackRock, Bethel

☆ Jack Smith says Clarence Thomas’ attack on his appointment should not factor into classified documents case
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-12 | by ( Tierney Sneed | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Special counsel Jack Smith told the judge in the classified documents case in Florida that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ criticism of his appointment should have no bearing on the criminal case against former President Donald Trump. In a brief filing Friday, Smith said that Thomas’ writing in the presidential immunity case – in a concurrence that no other justice joined – isn’t binding on US District Judge Aileen Cannon. In a filing last week, Trump’s lawyers brought to Cannon’s attention both the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling and the concurrence that Thomas wrote in that dispute. In response on Friday, Smith said that he agreed with Trump that both sides should file more briefing on how the high court’s immunity ruling affects the documents case. Cannon has not signaled yet how she’ll weigh the Supreme Court’s new ruling in the case before her.

Persons: Jack Smith, Clarence Thomas ’, Donald Trump, Smith, Thomas ’, –, Aileen Cannon, ” Smith, Thomas, Cannon, Trump, CNN’s Holmes Lybrand Organizations: CNN, Trump Locations: Florida, Washington ,

☆ Judge allows indicted Arizona fake electors to travel to Republican National Convention
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-12 | by ( Zachary Cohen | Holmes Lybrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —An Arizona judge is allowing several people facing criminal charges for allegedly conspiring to overturn the 2020 election results to travel to Milwaukee next week for the Republican National Convention. The Arizona delegation to the convention includes three fake electors who have been charged in that state for their alleged roles in the 2020 plot. Earlier this month, the judge overseeing Arizona’s election subversion case approved a request from defendant Nancy Cottle to travel to the RNC. Arizona state Sen. Jake Hoffman, who was recently elected to serve as the Arizona GOP’s national committeeman, and state Sen. Anthony Kern also will be allowed to travel to Wisconsin for the convention. It is unclear if those charged with election-related crimes in other states have received – or need – permission to travel to the convention.

Persons: Donald Trump, Nancy Cottle, Cottle, Bruce Cohen, Sen, Jake Hoffman, Anthony Kern, Hoffman, Kern Organizations: CNN, Republican National Convention, The, RNC, Trump, Superior, Arizona GOP’s Locations: An Arizona, Milwaukee, The Arizona, Arizona, Wisconsin

☆ Trump presses Judge Cannon to take up immunity question in classified documents case in Florida
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-05 | by ( Paula Reid | Katelyn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Attorneys for former President Donald Trump are now seeking to use the Supreme Court’s presidential immunity decision to help him in his criminal case in Florida over the mishandling of classified documents. In a new court filing Friday, Trump’s team said they want an updated schedule in the federal classified documents case so they can argue points related to the Supreme Court decision. The decision “guts the Office’s position that President Trump has ‘no immunity’ and further demonstrates the politically-motivated nature of their contention that the motion is ‘frivolous,’” Trump’s attorneys wrote. The Supreme Court’s decision directly applies to the federal case over 2020 election subversion efforts in Washington, DC, but it could impact all four of the criminal cases against the former president. Trump’s attorneys argue the concurrence “adds force” to motions Trump has filed against how Smith was appointed and funded.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump’s, Trump, ”, Clarence Thomas, Jack Smith’s, Smith, Aileen Cannon’s, Cannon, Thomas, Thomas ’, CNN’s Holmes Lybrand Organizations: CNN, White, Trump Locations: Florida, Washington ,, Fort Pierce , Florida

☆ Fact checking the CNN presidential debate
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-27 | by ( Cnn Staff | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +69 min

CNN —President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump faced off during CNN’s presidential debate in Atlanta Thursday night. From CNN’s Daniel DaleFormer President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden debate at CNN's Atlanta studios on June 27, 2024. From CNN’s Daniel Dale and Ella NilsenFormer President Donald Trump, left, and President Joe Biden take part in the CNN presidential debate on Thursday, June 27. From CNN’s Alicia WallaceFormer President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden debate at CNN's Atlanta studios on June 27, 2024. Kpler found that China imported about 511,000 barrels per day of Iranian crude in December 2020, Trump’s last full month in office.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Biden, Trump “, “, ” Trump, ”, Trump, ” John Kelly, servicemembers, Kelly, Jim Sciutto, Daniel Dale, Kaanita Iyer, Roe, Wade, That’s, Wade ”, Kimberly Mutcherson, “ Donald Trump’s, Maya Manian, Trump’s, Mary Ziegler, Davis, Ziegler, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Roe should’ve, ’, Will Lanzoni, ” Biden, corpsman —, Hamid Karzai, CNN’s Haley Britzky, didn’t, Priscilla Alvarez, George Floyd, Tim Walz, Walz, Paul –, CNN’s Holmes Lybrand, Daniel Dale FACT, European Union won’t, Ella Nilsen, Jill Biden, Jake Tapper, Dana Bash, Adam Rose, CNN US Sen, Marco Rubio, CNN Trump, Austin Steele, CNN Biden, Tristen Rouse, CNN Tapper, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Kennedy, CNN MJ Lee, Mandel Ngan, Megan Varner, Reuters Kennedy, Burk Stringfellow, Iran “, Mike Pompeo, ” Pompeo, Tami Luhby Trump, CNN’s KFILE, weren’t, Hillary Clinton, affirmatively, it’s, what’s, –, Alicia Wallace, Obama, CNN’s Ella Nilsen, you’re, Biden’s, Hunter Biden, Joe Biden’s, Viktor Shokin, Shokin, CNN’s Marshall Cohen, “ It’s, Rick Muskat, CNN.So, Morgan, Katie Lobosco, Alvin Bragg’s, Bragg, Jack Smith, Smith, General Merrick Garland, Garland, Matthew Colangelo, Colangelo, I’ve, there’s, Iran haven’t, ” Matt Smith, Ali Vaez, Kpler, Gary Engelhardt, Jason Richwine, ” Richwine, Tami Luhby, Confederate, Robert E, Lee, marchthat, “ I’m, Elle Reeve, Ralph Northam, Jen Christensen, ” Trump’s, Ronald Reagan’s, Barack Obama, George W, ‘, ’ ” Trump, CNN’s Jen Christensen, Pelosi, Nancy Pelosi, “ Nancy Pelosi, …, Alexandra Pelosi, Aaron Bennett, Cherry, Christopher Miller, Miller, Charis Kubrin, CNN’s Catherine Shoichet, ” Kubrin’s, Graham Ousey, College of William & Mary, Erwan, George Washington, Marshall Cohen, ” Howard Gleckman, Gleckman, Emmanuel Saez, Gabriel Zucman “, Howard Gleckman, ” Gleckman Organizations: CNN, Trump, Homeland Security, SSRS, Marquette Law School, NBC, Gallup, ” Rutgers Law, American University, university’s Health, University of California, Atlanta, US Navy, Border Patrol, Border Patrol Council, National Guard, Minneapolis Former, Minnesota Democratic Gov, Minnesota National Guard, Guard, EU, European Union, US, European Automobile Manufacturers ’ Association, CNN US, Biden, House, CNN Biden's, CNN Biden, White House, Getty, Reuters, State, Medicare, Black, of Labor Statistics, Republican, Burisma Holdings, International Monetary Fund, Republicans, House Republicans, US International Trade Commission, US Customs, Deer Stags, Peterson Institute for International Economics, Justice Department, DOJ, DC, federal, Department, Democrat, Americas, Crisis, Social Security, Social, General Internal Medicine, “, Syracuse University, Center for Immigration Studies, Electoral, White, Nazi, US Centers for Disease Control, Former Virginia Gov, United, China Former, China, Hamas, ISIS, Trump’s, Democratic, Congressional, Capitol, Colorado Supreme Court, US Food, Guttmacher Institute, California Democrat, Capitol Police Board, Senate, District of Columbia National Guard, College of William &, NATO, Atlantic Treaty Organization, George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, Transatlantic, Urban, Brookings Tax, Urban Institute, ”, Tax, Center Locations: Atlanta, France, Afghanistan, Kabul, Jordan, Iran, Somalia, Yemen, Yakushima Island, Japan, Minneapolis, Portland, Minnesota , Minneapolis, St, EU, Georgia, CNN's, Washington ,, AFP, Lebanon, Israel, what’s, Paris, China, India, Russia, United States, Ukrainian, Ukraine, lockstep, American, Manhattan, New York , Georgia, Florida, Washington, New York, York’s, Mexico, Kpler, Malaysia, Charlottesville, Charlottesville , Virginia, White, Virginia, Northam, East, “, New York City, Saudi, al Qaeda, Texas, Colorado, California, Trump, Irvine, Germany, Berkeley

☆ US Air Force veteran charged with disclosing classified information on US military aircraft and weapons
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-27 | by ( Zachary Cohen | Holmes Lybrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —A US Air Force veteran has been arrested and charged for allegedly disclosing classified information related to American military aircraft and weapons to unauthorized individuals, the Justice Department announced Thursday. Paul J. Freeman was charged with unauthorized possession and transmission of classified national defense information by a grand jury in Florida on Tuesday, according to court records. Freeman transmitted information related to “vulnerabilities” of Air Force aircraft and related to weapon systems on multiple occasions between November 2020 and March 2021, prosecutors allege. The Air Force Office of Special Investigations and FBI are investigating the case. CNN previously reported that the Pentagon increased its security screenings following a massive leak of classified documents by a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard last year that exposed sensitive information online.

Persons: Paul J, Freeman, Freeman’s, Lloyd Austin, Jack Teixeira, Teixeira Organizations: CNN, US Air Force, Justice Department, Air Force, Pentagon, The Air Force Office, Special Investigations, FBI, Massachusetts Air National Guard, Pentagon Force Protection Agency, Defense Locations: Florida

CNN —Federal Judge Aileen Cannon said Tuesday she had “a hard time seeing” any problems with the warrant the FBI obtained to search former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in the summer of 2022. Trump’s attorney Emil Bove had argued that the warrant was overly broad and unjustly allowed agents to search the entire Mar-a-Lago premises. Bove, like in other recent hearings in the classified documents case, wants the judge to hold even more hearings that could probe into the investigators’ work. “They purported to look for classified documents in a gym and a kitchen,” he added. Investigators say they found classified documents in various places at the resort, including a public ballroom, a bathroom and a bedroom.

Persons: Aileen Cannon, Donald Trump’s Mar, Cannon, Emil Bove, Trump, Walt Nauta, Carlos De Oliveira, Jack Smith, “ We’re, ” Bove, wasn’t, “, David Harbach sparred, Harbach, Bove, hadn’t, ” Organizations: CNN, FBI Locations: Lago, Fort Pierce , Florida, Cannon, Mar

☆ Special counsel defends investigators’ handling of Mar-a-Lago documents kept in ‘haphazard manner’ by Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Tierney Sneed | Holmes Lybrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Prosecutors, with several never-before-seen images and a 30-page filing, detailed the search process and ridiculed Trump’s legal arguments. A photo of a box taken by a filter agent during the August 2022 search of Mar-a-Lago. The prosecutors highlighted how investigators found boxes with their contents spilled on the floor, which they also illustrated with photos taken by investigators and by one of Trump’s co-defendants. “Against this backdrop of the haphazard manner in which Trump chose to maintain his boxes” Trump argues that the precise order of the contents “was critical to his defense,” prosecutors said, ridiculing the argument. To bolster their arguments, the prosecutors attached several new photos of the boxes, some of which were taken during the search.

Persons: Jack Smith, Donald Trump’s, “ Trump, Trump’s, Trump, Walt Nauta, ” Organizations: CNN, Prosecutors, Trump, Lago . Department of Justice, “ Locations: Mar

Special Counsel Jack Smith delivers remarks on a recently unsealed indictment including four felony counts against former President Donald Trump on August 1, 2023 in Washington, DC. Drew Angerer/Getty ImagesAttorneys for Donald Trump will continue their legal efforts to throw off special counsel Jack Smith and the classified documents case against the former president in Florida on Monday. Trump’s attorneys will battle prosecutors in court on the second part of Trump’s argument that Smith’s appointment was illegitimate, focusing on how he’s being funded. On Friday, prosecutors, defense attorneys and third parties fought over whether Smith was legitimately appointed as special counsel, an argument district Judge Aileen Cannon seemed skeptical of during the hearing. “President Biden’s DOJ is paying for this politically motivated prosecution of Biden’s chief political rival ‘off the books,’ without accountability or authorization,” Trump’s attorneys argued in their filing earlier this year.

Persons: Jack Smith, Donald Trump, Drew Angerer, Trump’s, Smith, Aileen Cannon, ‘, ”, “, it’s, ’ Organizations: Getty, Prosecutors Locations: Washington ,, Florida, United States

☆ Julian Assange agrees to plea deal with Biden administration that will allow him to avoid imprisonment in US
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-24 | by ( Evan Perez | Devan Cole | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The plea deal would credit that time served, allowing Assange to immediately return to Australia, his native country. The plea deal must still be approved by a federal judge, but as of Monday morning, Assange had been released from a UK prison, according to WikiLeaks. A federal judge in the Northern Mariana Islands set a plea hearing and sentencing for Wednesday morning, according to the US District Court there. President Joe Biden in recent months has alluded to a possible deal pushed by Australian government officials to return Assange to Australia. FBI and Justice Department officials have opposed any deal that didn’t include a felony guilty plea by Assange, people briefed on the matter told CNN.

Persons: Julian Assange, Assange, “ Julian Assange, ” Assange, Chelsea Manning, Manning, Joe Biden, Katelyn Polantz, Holmes Lybrand, Lauren Said, Moorhouse, Claudia Rebaza, Christian Edwards Organizations: CNN, Justice Department, WikiLeaks, High Court, Stansted, Department, Prosecutors, Court, Army, FBI Locations: United States, London, Australia, Northern Mariana Islands, Iraq, Guantanamo

Cannon did not seem inclined to approve the limitations on Trump’s speech but did not immediately issue a ruling. The judge also heard arguments on Trump’s long-shot motion alleging that the special counsel’s office is being improperly funded. He said that while Trump is welcome to campaign, there should be certain limits when it comes to the safety of FBI agents on the case. “Steve Bannon making a comment is potentially the kind of thing that could send President Trump to jail,” Blanche said. Republicans on Capitol Hill have also tried to buckle down on the DOJ’s use of the special counsel’s office and its funding.

Persons: Aileen Cannon, Jack Smith’s, Donald Trump’s, Trump, Cannon, ” Cannon, David Harbach, Trump “, Harbach, “, ” Harbach, ” Trump, Smith, Todd Blanche, Biden, ” Blanche, Blanche, “ Steve Bannon, James Pearce, Janet Reno, Pearce, Emil Bove, hadn’t, Bove Organizations: CNN, FBI, Department, Mar, Trump, Justice Department, , DOJ, Republicans, Capitol Locations: Fort Pierce , Florida, Lago

☆ Special counsel adds to Trump gag order request, citing threats against FBI agent associated with Hunter Biden case
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-22 | by ( Holmes Lybrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

On Monday, the federal judge overseeing the case will hold a hearing for both parties to present their arguments over the proposed gag order, and tensions between the two sides could quickly rise. Citing Trump’s continued mischaracterization of the FBI’s policy in place around the use of deadly force during the search, prosecutors say Trump’s false claims that he nearly escaped death from federal agents could lead to threats and harassment against them. Trump was in New York when agents searched the Florida estate. “Shortly after the execution of the search warrant at Mar-a-Lago, one of Trump’s supporters carried out an armed attack on an FBI office in the wake of Trump’s Truth Social statements regarding the search,” prosecutors wrote. Trump is welcome to make such comments to his heart’s content — they are simply not the Government’s concern.”

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump’s, Trump, “, Hunter Biden, ”, Trump boastfully, Prosecutors, Jack Smith Organizations: CNN, Prosecutors, Trump, FBI, Government, Biden Administration, Department of Justice Locations: Lago, New York, Florida, Mar

☆ Judge Aileen Cannon to entertain Trump’s claim the special counsel is unlawful in Friday hearing
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Holmes Lybrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Trump is arguing that Jack Smith – who has brought charges against Trump in Florida and Washington, DC – was unlawfully appointed as special counsel. At the center of Trump’s argument is the claim that the Attorney General Merrick Garland does not have legal authority to appoint someone as special counsel who hasn’t confirmed by the Senate. The Justice Department says the attorney general has ample authority to appoint “inferior officers,” which would include special counsels. “This Court should hold as a matter of law that the Attorney General lawfully appointed the Special Counsel,” the attorneys wrote. Almost inverse from Trump, Biden argued that special counsel David Weiss was unlawfully appointed because he was already in the federal government and therefore not fully independent.

Persons: Donald Trump, Aileen Cannon, Trump, Jack Smith –, –, Merrick Garland, hasn’t, “, Trump’s, Cannon, Smith “, ”, Smith, Josh Blackman, Gene Schaerr, Matthew Seligman, I’ve, ” Blackman, Hunter Biden, Biden, David Weiss Organizations: Pierce , Florida CNN, Trump, Senate, The, Department, Republican, Fort Pierce, The New York Times, Citizens United, United, United States Government, Justice Department, State Democracy Defenders, CNN Locations: Pierce , Florida, Florida, Washington, Fort, United States

☆ Trump ridicules special counsel’s gag order request in new filing in classified documents case
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( Holmes Lybrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Donald Trump’s attorneys on Friday ridiculed special counsel Jack Smith’s gag order request in the former president’s classified documents case in Florida, calling it an unconstitutional attack on the 2024 Republican candidate and a ploy to help Joe Biden keep the presidency. “In Jack Smith’s most recent shocking display of overreach and disregard for the Constitution, the Special Counsel’s Office asks the Court to enter an unconstitutional gag order as one of the release conditions on the leading candidate in the 2024 presidential election,” Trump’s attorneys wrote in a new filing, repeating their previous arguments against gag orders. The former president was in New York at the time. Prosecutors’ original ask for a gag order was thrown out by Federal Judge Aileen Cannon, who determined that they had not fully conferred with Trump’s attorneys before filing the request. Trump’s false claims “invite” threats and harassment against law enforcement agents involved in the case, prosecutors wrote, similar to those “that have occurred when other participants in legal proceedings against Trump have been targeted by his invective.”

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Jack Smith’s, Joe Biden, “, ”, Trump, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Smith, Trump’s, General Merrick Garland, Joe Biden’s, Aileen Cannon Organizations: CNN, Republican, Attorney, FBI, Prosecutors, Trump Locations: Florida, New York, Manhattan, Joe Biden’s Delaware

One juror who found Hunter Biden guilty of three federal gun charges on Tuesday told CNN that he does not believe the president’s son should serve jail time. “I really don’t think that Hunter belongs in jail,” Juror 10 said. The juror pointed to the fact that Hunter Biden did not want the gun back after Hallie Biden took it out of his truck and threw it in the garbage near a grocery store. The juror said it didn’t make a difference for him that Hunter Biden did not take the stand in his own defense. “No politics came into play and politics was not even spoken about,” the juror said, reiterating it was all about Hunter Biden.

Persons: Hunter Biden, “, Hunter, Hallie Biden, ”, Naomi Biden, Hunter’s Organizations: Tuesday, CNN

☆ Hunter Biden convicted on all 3 charges at federal gun trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Marshall Cohen | Holmes Lybrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —A federal jury has convicted Hunter Biden on all three federal felony gun charges he faced, concluding that he violated laws meant to prevent drug addicts from owning firearms. Leaving the courthouse after the verdict, Hunter Biden shuffled his family members into an elevator as he held hands with his wife. The weeklong gun trial featured intensely personal and gut-wrenching testimony about Hunter Biden’s well-known struggles with alcoholism and crack cocaine addiction. Hunter Biden’s defense team argued, unsuccessfully, that he didn’t view himself as a user or addict when he bought and possessed the gun. Defense attorney Abbe Lowell had implored the jury to acquit Hunter Biden on those grounds.

Persons: Hunter Biden, Joe Biden’s, David Weiss, Melissa, ” Hunter Biden, God, Biden, “, ”, “ Jill, Hunter, Jill, Jill Biden, Kevin Morris, Valerie Biden, Biden’s, Donald Trump, Hunter Biden’s, Trump, Joe Biden, Weiss, Weiss ’, Maryellen Noreika, ” Prosecutors, Hallie Biden, Beau Biden –, Abbe Lowell, acquit Hunter Biden, CNN’s Hannah Rabinowitz, Paula Reid, Kit Maher Organizations: CNN, Department, Trump, ” Locations: Delaware, “, New York, China

CNN —Former President Donald Trump has once again asked a judge to throw out the classified documents case, arguing this time that investigators destroyed exculpatory evidence by rifling through boxes for classified documents gathered in the FBI’s 2022 search of Mar-a-Lago. Special counsel Jack Smith’s team has already acknowledged in court that some of the documents may be out of order. But, according to Trump, those boxes have been tampered with because investigators failed to maintain the order of their contents. The judge has yet to decide several additional motions to dismiss the case from Trump and his two co-defendants. However, the judge gave them a small victory by removing from an indictment prosecutors’ account of Trump allegedly showing a classified map to a political adviser, as the map was not one of the documents Trump is charged with mishandling.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump’s codefendants, Aileen Cannon, Jack Smith’s, ”, Trump’s, “, Cannon, Trump, — Organizations: CNN, Justice Department, FBI, Government, Trump, Congress

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