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Supreme Court to Hear Arguments on Capitol Riot Cases with Potential Impact on Trump

Published: 16 April 2024 at 08:35

Politics

The Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case involving a former Pennsylvania police officer who stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, which could influence federal charges against over 350 rioters, including former President Donald Trump. Special counsel Jack Smith charged Trump and hundreds of rioters with violating a federal law prohibiting obstruction of an official proceeding, carrying up to 20 years in prison. The court will assess the prosecutors' interpretation of the law's applicability to the rioters and its implications on existing convictions, potentially affecting Trump's trial in New York on separate state charges.

DEEP DIVE


Former Police Officer Involved in Capitol Riot Faces Multiple Charges


Joseph Fischer, a former police officer, faces seven criminal charges including obstruction of an official proceeding for his involvement in the Jan 6 Capitol riot. Fischer was seen in videos pushing forward toward police lines, yelling obscenities, and trying to rally officers to join the mob. His Supreme Court case regarding the obstruction charge may also impact former President Donald Trump's prosecution under the same law. Fischer also faces charges for assaulting a police officer and entering a restricted building.

Special counsel Jack Smith pushes for Supreme Court to put Jan 6 trial back on track by rejecting Trump's immunity claim


Special counsel Jack Smith's recent brief to the Supreme Court challenges Donald Trump's immunity claim, arguing for the prosecution to proceed in the January 6 trial. Smith refutes Trump's immunity arguments with a bipartisan rejection similar to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals' perspective. He emphasizes the urgency of this case, stating that a former president's immunity does not extend to actions aimed at obstructing a peaceful transition of power. Smith advocates for the case to be remanded for trial, a departure from the typical conclusion in Supreme Court opinions.

Former President Trump argues for immunity from prosecution for election subversion charges


Former President Trump filed a brief with the Supreme Court arguing that future presidents could be vulnerable to blackmail and extortion if the justices did not agree to his view of immunity against special counsel Jack Smith's election subversion charges. The brief highlights the potential consequences for all future presidents facing criminal prosecution for politically controversial decisions. Trump's arguments for immunity come ahead of the Supreme Court's scheduled arguments on April 25 to decide on his immunity from prosecution for overturning the 2020 election results.

Special counsel urges Supreme Court to let trial proceed in Trump's election-subversion case


Special counsel Jack Smith has urged the Supreme Court to reject Donald Trump's claim of immunity and allow the federal election-subversion trial to reach a jury this year. The case has been on hold since December, as Trump has pressed his claim of immunity from criminal charges for his attempt to remain in power despite losing the 2020 election. Smith argues that the public has a compelling interest in seeing the charges brought to trial promptly. The Supreme Court's handling of Trump's request may determine whether he can face trial on the federal election charges in 2024.

Special counsel urges Supreme Court to reject Trump's claims of immunity


Special counsel Jack Smith urged the Supreme Court to deny Donald Trump sweeping immunity and the ability to delay a trial on charges of attempting to subvert the 2020 election. Smith argued that Trump's claims have no basis in the Constitution or American history, emphasizing that presidents are not above the law. The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on April 25, with a decision expected by July. Trump and Smith have presented contrasting views on presidential immunity, with Smith asserting that accountability for alleged violations of federal law is a fundamental principle of the constitutional order.

Judge to Hear Trump's Motions in Classified Documents Case


U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon will hear arguments on two of Donald Trump's motions to dismiss the case involving mishandling classified documents, with prosecutors opposing Trump's claims of immunity and selective prosecution. Special counsel Jack Smith urges to reject Trump's arguments on transforming presidential records to personal records and asserts that the charges against Trump are valid under the Presidential Records Act. The hearing is set for March 14 in Florida, where Trump faces criminal charges including retaining national defense information and obstructing justice.

US Prosecutors Question Judge's Order in Trump Indictment Case


Special Counsel Jack Smith and prosecutors involved in the criminal indictment of Donald Trump in Florida have expressed concerns over a judge's order that could potentially bias the trial in Trump's favor. The prosecutors disputed the order suggesting Trump had the right to keep classified documents as personal records, stating it would distort the trial. This public discord between prosecutors and Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump nominee, stems from disagreements over legal interpretations in the ongoing case investigating Trump's handling of classified documents after leaving office.

Federal Judge Orders Special Counsel to Seek Permission Before Submitting Filings in 2020 Election Subversion Case Against Trump


Federal Judge Tanya Chutkan has instructed special counsel Jack Smith to obtain permission before submitting court filings in the 2020 election subversion case against former President Donald Trump. The judge did not hold Smith's team in contempt but indicated that pre-trial deadlines could be extended. The trial, currently scheduled for March, may be delayed as a result. The case is on hold until the federal appeals court in Washington, DC, determines key questions about presidential immunity. Judge Chutkan's decision aligns with recent requests from Trump's legal team.

Former President Trump Attacks Judge and District Attorney Ahead of Hush Money Trial


Former President Donald Trump criticized the Manhattan district attorney and judge overseeing his hush money trial, claiming a corrupt legal system and election interference. He faces 34 felony counts related to a payment to Stormy Daniels, maintains innocence, and plans to testify in the case, which marks the first criminal trial for a former American president. Despite a limited gag order, Trump is permitted to target the judge and prosecutor. Jury selection commences soon despite attempts by his lawyers to delay the trial.

Former President Trump urged to attend son's graduation amid hush money trial threat


Fox Nation host Piers Morgan advised Donald Trump to prioritize attending his son Barron's graduation over facing daily court sessions in his hush money trial, criticizing the case as a petty act of political suicide. New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan warned Trump of arrest for non-attendance, prompting discussions on the legality and politics of the situation. The trial, brought by New York County District Attorney Alvin Bragg, involves potential felony charges relating to hush money payments. The situation has sparked debate over the significance of a former president's court appearance for such allegations.

Former US President's Criminal Trial Over Hush Money Case Involving Stormy Daniels


The upcoming criminal trial of a former US president, related to hush money payments to an adult film actress before the 2016 election, could impact the political landscape profoundly. Donald Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee for 2024, faces charges of falsifying business records and potential election interference. This trial marks a significant moment as legal and political realms intertwine, raising questions about Trump's character and potential return to the Oval Office. The outcome could influence the 2024 presidential election, possibly with a convicted felon running as a candidate.

Donald Trump's First Criminal Trial Involving Hush Money Payment to Adult Film Star Stormy Daniels


Donald Trump's first criminal trial, set to begin in New York, involves charges of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 hush money payment to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels in 2016 before the election. Legal experts are divided on the strength of the case, with some questioning the political motives behind the charges. The trial is seen as a significant moment in the ongoing legal battles faced by the former US president.

Federal prosecutors criticize judge over Trump's classified documents case in Florida


Federal prosecutors are expressing concerns about the judge presiding over former President Donald Trump's classified documents case in Florida, warning against potential jury instructions based on a flawed legal premise involving the Presidential Records Act. The judge's consideration of Trump's argument that he was entitled to retain sensitive documents under this act has raised alarms, with prosecutors emphasizing that the law does not apply to highly classified materials like those allegedly stored at Mar-a-Lago. Special counsel Jack Smith's team has indicated readiness to appeal if the judge allows Trump to invoke the PRA in his defense.

Trump to Campaign at New York Hush Money Trial as Defendant and 2024 Presidential Candidate


The first of Donald Trump's four criminal trials, the hush money trial, will begin in New York on April 15, making it a historic moment as the first criminal trial of a former U.S. commander-in-chief. Trump, the defendant in the trial, is also the presumptive Republican presidential nominee for the upcoming election. Jury selection for the trial is expected to start soon with a dozen Manhattan residents set to become the first Americans to sit in judgment of a former president charged with a crime.

Upcoming Criminal Trial of Donald Trump in New York and the Jury Selection Process


The first of Donald Trump's four criminal trials is scheduled to begin in New York on April 15, with 12 jurors and six alternates selected to determine his guilt. Legal experts aim to ensure impartiality in the jury selection process, seeking individuals who can set aside personal opinions and decide based on evidence. Trump, a former president and 2024 presidential candidate, is facing a history-making criminal trial related to hush money investigations. Key figures in the case include attorneys, a judge, and a New York criminal justice professor providing insights on the trial process.

Donald Trump criticizes judge overseeing his first criminal trial during Pennsylvania rally


Donald Trump criticized Justice Juan Merchan and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg during a rally in Pennsylvania ahead of his first criminal trial involving hush money payments to Stormy Daniels. The former president has been issued a gag order preventing him from making public statements about witnesses. Trump also briefly mentioned Iran's recent drone and missile attack on Israel, attributing it to weakness in current leadership compared to when he was in office.

Special Counsel and Trump Attorneys Propose New Trial Dates for Criminal Case


Attorneys for special counsel Jack Smith and former President Donald Trump proposed new trial dates for Trump's criminal trial on charges related to mishandling classified documents. Federal prosecutors suggested a July 8 start date, while Trump's attorneys proposed an Aug. 12 trial date, citing his status as a leading candidate in the 2024 election and the need for a fair trial. The case has faced delays due to legal issues, with conflicts over trial dates in Georgia. Trump has pleaded not guilty to charges of misleading federal investigators and obstructing the investigation.

January 6 United States Capitol attack (Wikipedia)


On January 6, 2021, the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., was attacked by a mob of supporters of then-U.S. president Donald Trump, two months after his defeat in the 2020 presidential election. They sought to keep Trump in power by occupying the Capitol and preventing a joint session of Congress counting the Electoral College votes to formalize the victory of President-elect Joe Biden. The attack was ultimately unsuccessful in preventing the certification of the election results. According to the House select committee investigating the incident, the attack was the culmination of a seven-part plan by Trump to overturn the election.Within 36 hours, five people died: one was shot by Capitol Police, another died of a drug overdose, and three died of natural causes, including a police officer. Many people were injured, including 174 police officers. Four officers who responded to the attack died by suicide within seven months. As of July 7, 2022, damages caused by attackers exceed $2.7 million.Encouraged by Trump, on January 5 and 6 thousands of his supporters gathered in Washington, D.C., to support his false claims that the 2020 election had been "stolen by emboldened radical-left Democrats" and to demand that then-Vice President Mike Pence and Congress reject Biden's victory. Starting at noon on January 6, at a "Save America" rally on the Ellipse, Trump gave a speech in which he repeated false claims of election irregularities and said, "If you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country anymore." As Congress began the electoral vote count, thousands of attendees, some armed, walked to the Capitol, with hundreds breaching police perimeters. Among the rioters were leaders of the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers militia groups, who conspired to use violence and interfere with the peaceful transfer of power.More than 2,000 rioters entered the building, with many vandalizing and looting, including the offices of then-House speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Congress members. Rioters also assaulted Capitol Police officers and reporters, and attempted to capture and harm lawmakers. A gallows was erected west of the Capitol, with rioters chanting to "Hang Mike Pence" after he rejected requests, from Trump and others, to use his authority to overturn the election results.With building security breached, Capitol Police evacuated and locked down both chambers of Congress and several buildings in the Complex. Rioters occupied the empty Senate chamber while federal law enforcement officers defended the evacuated House floor. Pipe bombs were found at both the Democratic National Committee and Republican National Committee headquarters, and Molotov cocktails were discovered in a vehicle near the Capitol.Trump resisted sending the National Guard to quell the mob. Later that afternoon, in a Twitter video, he reasserted the inaccurate claim that the election was "fraudulent", and told his supporters to "go home in peace". The Capitol was cleared of rioters by mid-evening, and the electoral vote count was resumed and completed by the early morning of January 7. Pence declared President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris victorious. Pressured by his cabinet, the threat of removal, and many resignations, Trump later conceded to an orderly transition of power in a televised statement.A week after the attack, the House of Representatives impeached Trump for incitement of insurrection, making him the only U.S. president to be impeached twice. In February, after Trump had left office, the Senate voted 57–43 in favor of conviction, but fell short of the required two-thirds, resulting in his acquittal. Senate Republicans blocked a bill to create a bipartisan independent commission to investigate the attack, so the House instead approved a select investigation committee consisting of seven Democrats and two Republicans. They held nine televised public hearings on the attack in 2022, voted to subpoena Trump, and recommended that the Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecute Trump. On August 1, 2023, following a special counsel investigation, Trump was indicted on four charges.More than 1,200 people have been charged with federal crimes relating to the attack. As of December 2023, 728 defendants had pleaded guilty, while another 166 defendants were convicted at trial; a total of 745 defendants have been sentenced. Many participants in the attack were linked to far-right extremist groups or conspiratorial movements, including the Oath Keepers, Proud Boys, and Three Percenters. Numerous plotters were convicted of seditious conspiracy, including Oath Keepers and Proud Boys members; the longest sentence to date was given to then-Proud Boy chairman Enrique Tarrio, who was sentenced to 22 years in prison.

Federal Appeals Court Denies Rehearing in Case of Jack Smiths Access to Donald Trumps Twitter Account


A federal appeals court has rejected a request to rehear a ruling that allowed special counsel Jack Smith to access private communications from Donald Trump’s Twitter account. The court’s conservative judges criticized the previous rulings, claiming they eroded executive privilege. The judges expressed concern that the precedent could lead prosecutors to access privileged materials of sitting presidents without notification through third-party platforms. Despite their criticism, the judges agreed with their Democratic-appointed colleagues that the case did not need to be reheard. The ruling can now be appealed to the Supreme Court.

Supreme Court Allows Lawsuit Against Black Lives Matter Activist DeRay Mckesson to Proceed


The Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal by activist DeRay Mckesson, allowing a lawsuit against him for a 2016 protest in Baton Rouge where a police officer was injured to continue. The officer claims Mckesson was negligent in leading the protest, but Mckesson argues his actions are protected under the First Amendment. The case raises concerns about the right to protest and free speech. Lower courts have ruled in favor of the officer's lawsuit, stating Mckesson failed to prevent violence during the protest.

Attorney General Merrick Garland calls for speedy trial in election subversion case against Donald Trump


Attorney General Merrick Garland stated in an interview with CNN that he supports a speedy trial in the election subversion case against Donald Trump. He agrees with special counsel Jack Smith's assertion that the public interest requires a speedy trial in the 2020 election case. Garland defended the Department of Justice against allegations of election interference, stating that the cases were brought when the prosecutor believed they were ready. He also addressed concerns about the department targeting Trump for political reasons and mentioned that the trial dates will be determined by the courts.

Jack Smith accuses Trump of seeking a televised trial to create a distraction and wage a PR campaign, Trump warns Smith will end up in a mental institution if re-elected as president, trial unlikely to be televised


US Special Counsel Jack Smith accuses Donald Trump of wanting a televised trial to divert attention from the charges and launch a PR campaign, while Trump warns Smith and other Justice Department officials will end up in a mental institution if he is re-elected; however, Trumps trial is unlikely to be televised as it violates federal rules on criminal procedure, and there is no reason to make an exception for his case, according to Smiths team.

AP-NORC Poll: Americans Divided on Trump's Guilt in Criminal Cases


A new AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll shows that while about one-third of U.S. adults believe former President Donald Trump did something illegal in the hush money case, close to half think he committed a crime in the other pending criminal cases against him. Half of Americans would view him as unfit for the presidency if convicted. Public opinion suggests a conviction may harm Trump politically as he faces a verdict in approximately six weeks. Trump, a candidate for the GOP nomination, has disputed the cases' fairness without evidence.

Federal Judge Agrees to Keep Names of Potential Witnesses in Trump Case Secret


A federal judge has ruled to keep potential witnesses' names secret in the classified documents case against Donald Trump to protect them from potential risks. Special counsel Jack Smith's office argued successfully for redactions, ensuring witness details remain confidential at this juncture. The judge's decision allows more case records to be made public, with witnesses referred to by pseudonyms. While witness statements may be included in public filings, revealing names is prohibited to prevent harassment. The potential witnesses include low-level workers from Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

Jack Smith (lawyer) (Wikipedia)


John Luman Smith (born June 5, 1969) is an American attorney who has served in the United States Department of Justice as an assistant U.S. attorney, acting U.S. attorney, and head of the department's Public Integrity Section. He was also the chief prosecutor at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, an international tribunal at The Hague tasked with investigating and prosecuting war crimes in the Kosovo War.In November 2022, attorney general Merrick Garland appointed Smith an independent special counsel, responsible for overseeing two preexisting Justice Department criminal investigations into former president Donald Trump, three days after Trump announced his 2024 presidential campaign: one regarding Trump's role in the January 6 U.S. Capitol attack, and the other into alleged mishandling of government records, including classified documents. The documents case resulted in a 37-count indictment of Trump in June 2023 to which three counts were later added in July. In August, the January 6 case resulted in an indictment on four charges.

Supreme Court of the United States (Wikipedia)


The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all U.S. federal court cases, and over state court cases that turn on questions of U.S. constitutional or federal law. It also has original jurisdiction over a narrow range of cases, specifically "all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party." The court holds the power of judicial review, the ability to invalidate a statute for violating a provision of the Constitution. It is also able to strike down presidential directives for violating either the Constitution or statutory law.Established by Article Three of the United States Constitution, the composition and procedures of the Supreme Court were initially established by the 1st Congress through the Judiciary Act of 1789. The court consists of nine justices: the chief justice of the United States and eight associate justices, and the justices meet at the Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C. Justices have lifetime tenure, meaning they remain on the court until they die, retire, resign, or are impeached and removed from office. When a vacancy occurs, the president, with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoints a new justice. Each justice has a single vote in deciding the cases argued before the court. When in the majority, the chief justice decides who writes the opinion of the court; otherwise, the most senior justice in the majority assigns the task of writing the opinion.The Supreme Court receives on average about 7,000 petitions for writs of certiorari each year, but grants only 75–85.

Donald Trump Jr. (Wikipedia)


Donald John Trump Jr. (born December 31, 1977) is an American businessman, former television presenter, political activist, and author. He is the eldest child of former U.S. President Donald Trump and his first wife Ivana Trump.Trump serves as a trustee and executive vice president of The Trump Organization, running the company alongside his younger brother Eric. During their father's presidency, the brothers continued to do deals and investments in foreign countries, as well as collect payments in their U.S. properties from foreign governments, despite a pledge that they would not do so. He served as a boardroom judge on the reality TV show featuring his father, The Apprentice. He authored Triggered in 2019 and Liberal Privilege in 2020.Trump was active in his father's 2016 presidential campaign. He cooperated with Russia in their interference in the 2016 United States elections and had a meeting with a Russian lawyer who promised damaging information about the campaign of Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. Trump campaigned for several Republicans during the 2018 midterm elections. He has promoted several conspiracy theories.Trump was also active in his father's 2020 presidential campaign, often being on the campaign trail and being featured in the news for making unfounded claims. During the election he called for "total war" as the results were counted and promoted the stolen election conspiracy theory. Following his father's defeat, he engaged in attempts to overturn the results. He spoke at the rally that led to the storming of the Capitol, where he threatened Trump's opponents that "we're coming for you." In January 2021, Attorney General for the District of Columbia Karl Racine said that he is looking at whether to charge Donald Trump Jr. with inciting the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol in the criminal investigation into the attack. CNN reported in April 2022 that two days after the election, Trump Jr. sent a text message to White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows outlining paths to subvert the Electoral College process and ensure his father a second term.

Inauguration of Donald Trump (Wikipedia)


The inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States marked the commencement of Donald Trump's term as president and Mike Pence's term as vice president. An estimated 300,000 to 600,000 people attended the public ceremony held on Friday, January 20, 2017, at the West Front of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. The event was the 58th presidential inauguration. Held in Washington, D.C., from January 17 to 21, 2017, inaugural events included concerts, the swearing-in ceremony, a congressional luncheon, parade, inaugural balls, and the interfaith inaugural prayer service. The inauguration was protested worldwide.Administered by Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts, the presidential oath was taken by Trump as his first task after becoming president at noon, in keeping with Article Two, Section 1, Clause 8 and the 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, with the vice presidential oath taken by Pence and administered by Associate Justice Clarence Thomas immediately preceding it. Trump was sworn in with his left hand on a pair of Bibles: his personal copy and the Lincoln Bible. At 70 years, 220 days of age on Inauguration Day, Trump was the oldest person to assume the presidency until he was surpassed by Joe Biden four years later, in 2021.

Donald Trump Plans Rally in Northeast Pennsylvania Before Hush Money Trial


Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to hold a rally in northeast Pennsylvania before his criminal hush money trial begins. Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee, will speak in Lehigh County, a vital swing state that could impact the outcome of the presidential race. Pennsylvania is a critical battleground between Trump and President Joe Biden, who plans to deliver a major address in Scranton on tax fairness. Trump, facing multiple criminal prosecutions, including one in New York related to hush money payments, is striving to avenge his loss to Biden in the last election.

Spain's Supreme Court Calls on Carles Puigdemont to Testify in Terrorism Investigation


The Supreme Court of Spain has summoned former Catalonia President Carles Puigdemont and another lawmaker to testify in a terrorism investigation related to protests after the failed 2017 independence referendum. Puigdemont, a wanted man in Spain, fled to Belgium after the breakaway bid. He may return if a proposed amnesty bill is passed. Puigdemont, a European Parliament lawmaker, plans to run for Catalan regional elections. The court hearing is set between June 17-21. Puigdemont's political career continues from exile, maintaining leadership of his Junts Together party.

Presidency of Donald Trump (Wikipedia)


Donald Trump's tenure as the 45th president of the United States began with his inauguration on January 20, 2017, and ended on January 20, 2021. Trump, a Republican from New York City, took office following his Electoral College victory over Democrat nominee Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election, in which he lost the popular vote to Clinton by nearly three million votes. Upon his inauguration, he became the first president in American history without prior public office or military background. Trump made an unprecedented number of false or misleading statements during his campaign and presidency. His presidency ended following his defeat in the 2020 presidential election to former Democratic vice president Joe Biden, after one term in office.Trump was unsuccessful in his efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act but rescinded the individual mandate. Trump sought substantial spending cuts to major welfare programs, including Medicare and Medicaid. He signed the Great American Outdoors Act, reversed numerous environmental regulations, and withdrew from the Paris Agreement on climate change. He signed the First Step Act on job training and early release of some federal prisoners and appointed Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. In economic policy, he partially repealed the Dodd–Frank Act and signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. He enacted tariffs, triggering retaliatory tariffs from China, Canada, Mexico, and the European Union. He withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations and signed the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement, a successor agreement to NAFTA. The federal deficit increased under Trump due to spending increases and tax cuts.He implemented a controversial family separation policy for migrants apprehended at the United States–Mexico border, starting in 2018. Trump's demand for the federal funding of a border wall resulted in the longest US government shutdown in history. He deployed federal law enforcement forces in response to the racial unrest in 2020. Trump's "America First" foreign policy was characterized by unilateral actions, disregarding traditional allies. The administration implemented a major arms sale to Saudi Arabia; denied citizens from several Muslim-majority countries entry into the United States; recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel; and brokered the Abraham Accords, a series of normalization agreements between Israel and various Arab states. His administration withdrew United States troops from northern Syria, allowing Turkey to occupy the area. His administration also made a conditional deal with the Taliban to withdraw United States troops from Afghanistan in 2021. Trump met North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un three times. Trump withdrew the United States from the Iran nuclear agreement and later escalated tensions in the Persian Gulf by ordering the assassination of General Qasem Soleimani.Robert Mueller's Special Counsel investigation (2017–2019) concluded that Russia interfered to favor Trump's candidacy and that while the prevailing evidence "did not establish that members of the Trump campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government", possible obstructions of justice occurred during the course of that investigation.Trump attempted to pressure Ukraine to announce investigations into his political rival Joe Biden, triggering his first impeachment by the House of Representatives on December 18, 2019, but he was acquitted by the Senate on February 5, 2020.Trump reacted slowly to the COVID-19 pandemic, ignored or contradicted many recommendations from health officials in his messaging, and promoted misinformation about unproven treatments and the availability of testing.Following his loss in the 2020 presidential election to Biden, Trump refused to concede and initiated an extensive campaign to overturn the results, making false claims of widespread electoral fraud. On January 6, 2021, during a rally at the Ellipse, Trump urged his supporters to "fight like hell" and march to the Capitol, where the electoral votes were being counted by Congress in order to formalize Biden's victory. A mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, suspending the count and causing Vice President Mike Pence and other members of Congress to be evacuated. On January 13, the House voted to impeach Trump an unprecedented second time for "incitement of insurrection", but he was later acquitted by the Senate again on February 13, after he had already left office. Trump had historically low approval ratings, and scholars and historians rank his presidency as one of the worst in American history.

Jon Stewart mocks Trump for appearing to doze off during his trial on falsifying business records


Host Jon Stewart pokes fun at former President Donald Trump for allegedly falling asleep during the opening day of his trial for falsifying business records to cover up a sex scandal with Stormy Daniels. Reports by The New York Times's Maggie Haberman, CNN, and The Washington Post observed Trump nodding off and snoring in court. This isn't the first time Trump has been seen seemingly dozing off in court, as Haberman referenced a previous trial where he appeared still and possibly asleep. Trump lost another trial earlier this year and owes $83.3 million in damages to writer E Jean Carroll for defamation.

List of justices of the Supreme Court of the United States (Wikipedia)


The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest-ranking judicial body in the United States. Its membership, as set by the Judiciary Act of 1869, consists of the chief justice of the United States and eight associate justices, any six of whom constitute a quorum. Article II, Section 2, Clause 2 of the Constitution grants plenary power to the president of the United States to nominate, and with the advice and consent of the United States Senate, appoint justices to the Supreme Court; justices have life tenure.

Supreme Court Delays South Carolina Redistricting Case, Allowing Racially Gerrymandered District to Be Used in Upcoming Election


The Supreme Court has yet to rule on a South Carolina redistricting case, leading a lower court to permit the use of a congressional district that was previously deemed racially gerrymandered for the upcoming election. This decision, allowing Rep. Nancy Mace's district to be used, is seen as a setback for Democrats who were hoping for a more favorable map. Despite ongoing legal battles and emergency appeals, the Supreme Court's delay in issuing a ruling has contributed to uncertainty surrounding the electoral process in South Carolina.

Law Expert Warns Trump Hush Money Trial Hinges On 1 Jury Selection Detail


Reporter, HuffPost Legal expert Elie Mystal warned Sunday that former President Donald Trump needs just one cultist, one dyed-in-the-wool Trump supporter to sneak into that jury on his hush money trial and he or she can hang the whole thing. Jury selection is kind of going to be the whole ball game and crucial to the outcome of the criminal proceedings against the presumptive GOP nominee, the attorney and legal reporter for The Nation told MSNBC s Ayman Mohyeldin. Mystal explained that at a higher level the goal of jury selection, which begins Monday, will not be to find someone who doesnt have an opinion on Trump because that is impossible. Instead, it will be to find people who, in good faith, are willing to put aside what they already know and believe about Trump and instead only take in the evidence presented to them at trial, he noted. Mystal admitted it would be difficult and that he himself could not do it.

Conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, 75, Absent from Court Without Explanation


Justice Clarence Thomas, a conservative member of the U.S. Supreme Court since 1991, was not present in court for oral arguments and did not participate remotely on Monday. The court did not provide a reason for his absence but confirmed he would fully participate in two cases being argued based on briefs and transcripts. Thomas was hospitalized two years ago for an infection that also caused him to miss court sessions then. The Supreme Court holds a conservative 6-3 majority.

In Setback For Arvind Kejriwal, Supreme Court Won't Hear His Appeal Today


Arvind Kejriwal's challenge against the high court order is now expected to come up on Monday Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will be spending this weekend in Tihar Jail as the Supreme Court is not hearing today his challenge to yesterday's Delhi High Court ruling. The top court opens next on Monday, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader's petition is expected to come up then. The Supreme Court, it is learnt, will not constitute a special bench for an urgent hearing on Mr Kejriwal's appeal. According to Supreme Court's calendar, the court is closed for Eid-Ul-Fitr on Thursday, a local holiday on Friday, then comes the weekend. The court will reopen on Monday.

Donald Trump (Wikipedia)


Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Trump received a Bachelor of Science in economics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1968, and his father named him president of his real estate business in 1971. Trump renamed it the Trump Organization and reoriented the company toward building and renovating skyscrapers, hotels, casinos, and golf courses. After a series of business failures in the late twentieth century, he successfully launched side ventures that required little capital, mostly by licensing the Trump name. From 2004 to 2015, he co-produced and hosted the reality television series The Apprentice. He and his businesses have been plaintiff or defendant in more than 4,000 state and federal legal actions, including six business bankruptcies.Trump won the 2016 presidential election as the Republican Party nominee against Democratic Party nominee Hillary Clinton while losing the popular vote. During the campaign, his political positions were described as populist, protectionist, isolationist, and nationalist. His election and policies sparked numerous protests. He was the first U.S. president with no prior military or government experience. A special counsel investigation established that Russia had interfered in the 2016 election to favor Trump's campaign. Trump promoted conspiracy theories and made many false and misleading statements during his campaigns and presidency, to a degree unprecedented in American politics. Many of his comments and actions have been characterized as racially charged or racist and many as misogynistic.As president, Trump ordered a travel ban on citizens from several Muslim-majority countries, diverted military funding toward building a wall on the U.S.–Mexico border, and implemented a policy of family separations for migrants detained at the U.S. border. He weakened environmental protections, rolling back more than 100 environmental policies and regulations. He signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which cut taxes for individuals and businesses and rescinded the individual health insurance mandate penalty of the Affordable Care Act. He appointed Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court. He reacted slowly to the COVID-19 pandemic, ignored or contradicted many recommendations from health officials, used political pressure to interfere with testing efforts, and spread misinformation about unproven treatments. Trump initiated a trade war with China and withdrew the U.S. from the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, the Paris Agreement on climate change, and the Iran nuclear deal. He met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un three times but made no progress on denuclearization.Trump refused to concede after losing the 2020 presidential election to Joe Biden, falsely claiming widespread electoral fraud, and attempted to overturn the results by pressuring government officials, mounting scores of unsuccessful legal challenges, and obstructing the presidential transition. On January 6, 2021, he urged his supporters to march to the U.S. Capitol, which many of them then attacked, resulting in multiple deaths and interrupting the electoral vote count.Trump is the only American president to have been impeached twice. After he tried to pressure Ukraine in 2019 to investigate Biden, he was impeached by the House of Representatives for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress; he was acquitted by the Senate in February 2020. The House impeached him again in January 2021, for incitement of insurrection, and the Senate acquitted him in February. Scholars and historians rank Trump as one of the worst presidents in American history.Since leaving office, Trump has continued to dominate the Republican Party and is a candidate in the 2024 Republican presidential primaries. In 2023, a civil trial jury found that Trump sexually abused E. Jean Carroll. In 2024, a New York state court found Trump liable for financial fraud. Trump is appealing both judgments. He was also indicted in New York on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, in Florida on 40 felony counts related to his mishandling of classified documents, in Washington, D.C., on four felony counts of conspiracy and obstruction for efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, and in Georgia on 13 charges of racketeering and other alleged felonies committed in an effort to overturn the state's 2020 election results. Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges.

United States Capitol Police (Wikipedia)


The United States Capitol Police (USCP) is a federal law enforcement agency in the United States with nationwide jurisdiction charged with protecting the United States Congress within the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its territories. It answers to the Capitol Police Board and is the only full-service federal law enforcement agency appointed by the legislative branch of the federal government of the United States.The United States Capitol Police has the primary responsibility for protecting life and property, preventing, detecting, and investigating criminal acts, and enforcing traffic regulations throughout a complex of congressional buildings, parks, and thoroughfares. The Capitol Police has primary jurisdiction within buildings and grounds of the United States Capitol Complex. It also has concurrent jurisdiction with other law enforcement agencies, including the United States Park Police and the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia, in an area of approximately 200 blocks around the complex. Officers also have jurisdiction throughout the District of Columbia to take enforcement action when they observe or are made aware of crimes of violence while on official duties. Additionally, they are charged with the protection of members of Congress, officers of Congress, and their families throughout the entire United States, its territories and possessions, and the District of Columbia. While performing protective functions, the Capitol Police have jurisdiction throughout the entire United States. It is informally considered as the sister agency of the United States Secret Service, which itself is responsible for the protection of the United States President and their Cabinet.

U.S. Works to Prevent Wider Conflict in the Middle East After Iranian Attack on Israel


Iran launched over 300 drones and missiles at Israel in retaliation for an airstrike, leading the U.S. and allies to intercept airstrikes to prevent further escalation. President Biden warned against Israeli counterattacks, while tensions remain high in the region. Meanwhile, Donald Trump's hush money trial begins, Scottie Scheffler wins the Masters, No Doubt reunites at Coachella, and the WNBA draft and Tax Day events take place.

Supreme Court to Hear Arguments on Abortion Pill Mifepristone Market Access


The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on whether the abortion pill mifepristone should remain on the market, with the focus on the FDA's drug approval process; the Biden administration is appealing lower court rulings that restricted access to the pill. The case involves Texas-based rulings that questioned the FDA's approval of mifepristone and concerns around loosened restrictions implemented in 2016, such as remote prescribing and extended usage up to 10 weeks of pregnancy. The pharmaceutical industry supports the FDA, warning against judicial interference in the drug approval process.

Supreme Court to Hear Arguments on Capitol Riot Cases with Potential Impact on Trump Supreme Court to Hear Arguments on Capitol Riot Cases with Potential Impact on Trump

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AP News

Charges against Trump and Jan. 6 rioters at stake as Supreme Court hears debate over obstruction law

By MARK SHERMAN

Yahoo! News

Supreme Court takes its deepest plunge into Jan. 6, with possible implications for Trump

Yahoo! News

NPR

Supreme Court hears challenge to law used to prosecute hundreds of Jan. 6 defendants

NPR

CNN

January 6 rioters want the Supreme Court to let them off the hook from obstruction charge | CNN Politics

John Fritze, Hannah Rabinowitz

Yahoo! News

Supreme Court case could upend felony charges against Jan. 6 rioters, Trump

Yahoo! News

CBS News

Supreme Court considers scope of federal obstruction law used to prosecute Trump and Jan. 6 rioters

CBS News

Washington Post

Live updates: Supreme Court arguments in Jan. 6 case that may impact Trump trial, rioters

Washington Post

Yahoo! News

US Supreme Court tackles rioter's obstruction case, with Trump implications

Yahoo! News

NBC

Supreme Court weighs Jan. 6 rioter's obstruction challenge, which could affect Trump's case

NBC

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Former Police Officer Involved in Capitol Riot Faces Multiple Charges

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Special counsel Jack Smith pushes for Supreme Court to put Jan 6 trial back on track by rejecting Trump's immunity claim

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Former President Trump argues for immunity from prosecution for election subversion charges

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Special counsel urges Supreme Court to let trial proceed in Trump's election-subversion case

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Special counsel urges Supreme Court to reject Trump's claims of immunity

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Judge to Hear Trump's Motions in Classified Documents Case

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US Prosecutors Question Judge's Order in Trump Indictment Case

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Federal Judge Orders Special Counsel to Seek Permission Before Submitting Filings in 2020 Election Subversion Case Against Trump

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Former President Trump Attacks Judge and District Attorney Ahead of Hush Money Trial

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Former President Trump urged to attend son's graduation amid hush money trial threat

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Former US President's Criminal Trial Over Hush Money Case Involving Stormy Daniels

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Donald Trump's First Criminal Trial Involving Hush Money Payment to Adult Film Star Stormy Daniels

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Federal prosecutors criticize judge over Trump's classified documents case in Florida

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Trump to Campaign at New York Hush Money Trial as Defendant and 2024 Presidential Candidate

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Upcoming Criminal Trial of Donald Trump in New York and the Jury Selection Process

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Donald Trump criticizes judge overseeing his first criminal trial during Pennsylvania rally

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Special Counsel and Trump Attorneys Propose New Trial Dates for Criminal Case

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Wikipedia

January 6 United States Capitol attack

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Federal Appeals Court Denies Rehearing in Case of Jack Smiths Access to Donald Trumps Twitter Account

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Supreme Court Allows Lawsuit Against Black Lives Matter Activist DeRay Mckesson to Proceed

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Attorney General Merrick Garland calls for speedy trial in election subversion case against Donald Trump

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Jack Smith accuses Trump of seeking a televised trial to create a distraction and wage a PR campaign, Trump warns Smith will end up in a mental institution if re-elected as president, trial unlikely to be televised

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AP-NORC Poll: Americans Divided on Trump's Guilt in Criminal Cases

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Federal Judge Agrees to Keep Names of Potential Witnesses in Trump Case Secret

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Jack Smith (lawyer)

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Supreme Court of the United States

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Donald Trump Jr.

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Inauguration of Donald Trump

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Presidency of Donald Trump

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Jon Stewart mocks Trump for appearing to doze off during his trial on falsifying business records

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List of justices of the Supreme Court of the United States

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Supreme Court Delays South Carolina Redistricting Case, Allowing Racially Gerrymandered District to Be Used in Upcoming Election

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Law Expert Warns Trump Hush Money Trial Hinges On 1 Jury Selection Detail

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Conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, 75, Absent from Court Without Explanation

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Wikipedia

Donald Trump

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U.S. Works to Prevent Wider Conflict in the Middle East After Iranian Attack on Israel

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Supreme Court to Hear Arguments on Abortion Pill Mifepristone Market Access

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