No Trump indictment expected today
Donald Trump’s indictment may appear imminent, but the Guardian’s Hugo Lowell reported yesterday that the grand jury handling the charges isn’t meeting today:
New: Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen not expected to be called back before the grand jury for any more testimony after Trump witness Bob Costello testified, sources tell me tonight. Grand jury next meets on Wednesday.
— Hugo Lowell (@hugolowell) March 20, 2023
That seems to undercut Trump’s claim, made over the weekend, that he’d be arrested today. He had called for protests against the indictment – a worrying prospect, considering he made a similar call that led to the January 6 insurrection.
According to CBS News, law enforcement is picking up more threats from violent extremists who see the case against the former president as a political persecution. A number of police agencies have stepped up their security arrangements ahead of the potential charges, including the New York police department and the US Capitol police in Washington DC, where protesters could also convene.
Key events
Sam Levine
The Guardian’s Sam Levine writes in with this dispatch from Delaware, where a major hearing in Dominion Voting Systems’s lawsuit against Fox News is happening today:
I’m here in Wilmington, Delaware where a hearing in the closely-watched defamation lawsuit between Dominion and Fox quickly fell into a dispute over redacted information.
Both sides are appearing before Delaware judge Eric Davis to try and convince him to rule in their favor on a number of claims ahead of trial. Davis’ ruling will likely set out the scope of the trial in the $1.6bn defamation lawsuit.
Lawyers for both sides were set to begin their opening arguments when Erin Murphy, a lawyer representing Fox, objected to information that Dominion had included in some of its slides. Some of that information, she said, contained sensitive information. Lawyers for Dominion said they should be allowed to include the information.
Davis seemed skeptical of at least one of the redactions and ordered a 15 minute recess to allow the parties to try and work it out.
The opening dispute illustrates how sensitive internal messages have played a major role in the lawsuit thus far. Over the last few months, several of Dominion’s filings have exposed stunning internal messages from top Fox News hosts showing they knew voter fraud claims about Dominion were outlandish.
A bomb threat delayed the hearing this morning of New York attorney general Letitia James’s fraud lawsuit against Donald Trump and his family members, Law 360 reports:
NEW: Bomb threat at NYC civil courthouse 60 Centre Street. Court officers closed doors for some time but have now been cleared, according to court official and union official. @Law360 https://t.co/KKzLHwEgya
— Frank G. Runyeon (@frankrunyeon) March 21, 2023
911 caller made the threat, according to those sources. “Trump” was not mentioned, per court official.
— Frank G. Runyeon (@frankrunyeon) March 21, 2023
Court officers made a sweep of the downtown courthouses in response to the caller’s bomb threat. All clear now, I’m told.
— Frank G. Runyeon (@frankrunyeon) March 21, 2023
Dominion Voting Systems’ lawsuit against Fox News has already resulted in unflattering behind-the-scenes revelations about the network and many of its most popular personalities. Today, the trial begins in a Delaware courtroom. The Guardian’s Sam Levine reports on what to expect:
Lawyers for Fox News and voting equipment company Dominion will face off in a Delaware courtroom on Tuesday in the latest phase of Dominion’s closely watched $1.6bn defamation suit against the media company for spreading election lies.
The case has attracted much attention because it represents one of the most aggressive efforts to hold any party accountable for spreading election misinformation in the United States.
Court filings leading up to the hearing have produced stunning internal messages showing that prominent Fox hosts, including Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham, privately doubted the far-fetched allegations about Dominion even as the network continued to air them.
McCarthy signals support for repeal of Iraq war authorizations
Punchbowl News reports that Republican speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy seems open to considering a measure to repeal the legal authorizations for America’s involvement in the 1991 Gulf war, and the 2003 invasion of Iraq:
NEW: @SpeakerMcCarthy says he thinks there’s a good chance the Senate-passed AUMF will get through committee and through the House.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) March 21, 2023
The Democratic-controlled Senate is currently considering legislation to repeal the authorizations for use of military force that sanctioned America’s hostilities with Iraq and its leader, Saddam Hussein. The measure appeared to have enough GOP support to overcome a filibuster in the Senate, but it had been unclear whether it had the backing of McCarthy and the House Republicans.
The January 6 insurrection looms over Donald Trump’s calls to protest his pending indictment. Yesterday, a jury handed down guilty verdicts in the cases of four militia members involved in the attack, the Associated Press reports:
Four people associated with the far-right Oath Keepers militia were convicted on Monday of conspiracy and obstruction charges stemming from the insurrection at the US Capitol in 2021 by extremist supporters of Donald Trump in a failed attempt to keep him in office, in the latest trial involving members of the anti-government group.
A Washington DC jury found Sandra Parker, of Morrow, Ohio, Laura Steele, of Thomasville, North Carolina, William Isaacs, of Kissimmee, Florida, and Connie Meggs, of Dunnellon, Florida, guilty of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and other felony charges.
In a rare loss for prosecutors, Sandra Parker’s husband, Bennie Parker, was acquitted of obstruction as well as one conspiracy charge, and a sixth defendant – Michael Greene, of Indianapolis – was acquitted of two conspiracy charges.
Here’s more from the Associated Press on the jitters surrounding Donald Trump’s possible indictment:
A New York grand jury investigating Donald Trump over a hush money payment to an adult film star appears poised to complete its work soon, as law enforcement officials make preparations for possible unrest in the event of an indictment.
Over the weekend, Trump claimed without any evidence that he would be arrested on Tuesday, with his representatives later saying he was citing media reports and leaks. There was no indication that prediction would come true, though the grand jury appeared to take an important step forward by hearing on Monday from a witness favourable to Trump, presumably so prosecutors could ensure the panel had a chance to consider any testimony that could be remotely seen as exculpatory.
No Trump indictment expected today
Donald Trump’s indictment may appear imminent, but the Guardian’s Hugo Lowell reported yesterday that the grand jury handling the charges isn’t meeting today:
New: Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen not expected to be called back before the grand jury for any more testimony after Trump witness Bob Costello testified, sources tell me tonight. Grand jury next meets on Wednesday.
— Hugo Lowell (@hugolowell) March 20, 2023
That seems to undercut Trump’s claim, made over the weekend, that he’d be arrested today. He had called for protests against the indictment – a worrying prospect, considering he made a similar call that led to the January 6 insurrection.
According to CBS News, law enforcement is picking up more threats from violent extremists who see the case against the former president as a political persecution. A number of police agencies have stepped up their security arrangements ahead of the potential charges, including the New York police department and the US Capitol police in Washington DC, where protesters could also convene.
Law enforcement see rising threats ahead of possible Trump indictment
Good morning, US politics blog readers. We’re still waiting for the potential indictment of Donald Trump by Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg, allegedly for facilitating a hush money payment to adult film actor Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 election. The grand jury Bragg has convened is said to be wrapping up its work, and there’s no saying when an indictment could be made public, but CBS News reports on one consequence of the looming charges: a “significant increase” in threats towards law enforcement officials by violent extremists. The report notes that none are yet viewed as credible, but they underscore the tense atmosphere surrounding the indictment, which would be a first in American history.
Here’s what else is going on today:
-
House Republicans are holding a retreat in Orlando, Florida, where they’re plotting strategy for the months ahead – including their response to Trump’s potential arrest.
-
Joe Biden is hosting the White House Conservation in Action Summit, where he’ll announce the designation of two new national monuments in Texas and Nevada at 1.45pm.
-
The Senate will continue working on legislation to repeal the legal authorizations behind America’s involvement in the Gulf war, and invasion of Iraq.
