Related Video: Trump calls for ‘biggest protest ever’ if prosecutors investigating him do ‘anything illegal’
Donald Trump is reportedly ready to “burn it all down” as several investigations into his and his family’s conduct begin to close in on him.
The former president’s role in sowing distrust over the outcome of the 2020 election result is being looked at by the 6 January House Select Committee, while his company’s financial affairs are also being forensically examined by investigators in New York.
In a statement posted by spokesperson Liz Harrington on Tuesday, Mr Trump once against attacked the House committee investigating the Capitol riot, and said the panel should be focusing on Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, rather than himself.
He wrote: “The Unselect Committee should be investigating why Nancy Pelosi did such a poor job of overseeing security and why Mike Pence did not send back the votes for recertification or approval, in that it has now been shown that he clearly had the right to do so!”
There are reports that some Trump administration documents handed over to the committee by the National Archive were ripped and had to be pieced back together. They are believed to have been ripped up by the former president.
Mr Trump has also raised a record war chest through his Save America PAC and griped about the lack of media coverage following the announcement.
Follow the latest developments.
Key points
Show latest update
1643752566
Chuck Schumer looks forward to Senator Luján’s return to Senate
Senator Chuck Schumer tweets: “My thoughts are with Senator Ben Ray Luján and his family. I’m so glad to hear that he will make a full recovery. We look forward to his quick return to the Senate.”
Oliver O’Connell1 February 2022 21:56
1643751629
Psaki laughs at Boris Johnson being ‘ambushed by a cake’
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said she hasn’t discussed UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s “partygate” scandal with President Joe Biden, but stressed Mr Biden’s continued confidence in the UK as a partner in opposing Russia’s continued build-up of troops along its border with Ukraine.
Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.
Oliver O’Connell1 February 2022 21:40
1643750711
Democrat New Mexico Senator Luján suffers stroke
Senator Ben Ray Luján has suffered a stroke and has been hospitalised but is expected to make a full recovery.
The New Mexico Democrat’s chief of staff released a statement on Tuesday afternoon saying that the Senator began to feel dizziness and fatigue early on Thursday morning and checked himself into a hospital in Santa Fe before being transferred to University of New Mexico Hospital at Alberquerque.
He was found to have suffered a stroke in his cerebellum, affecting his balance. He underwent decompressive surgery to ease swelling.
The senator is resting comfortably and expected to make a full recovery.
Oliver O’Connell1 February 2022 21:25
1643749692
Biden and McConnell speak about SCOTUS vacancy
President Joe Biden spoke with Mitch McConnell today to discuss the Supreme Court vacancy.
“The leader believes the cornerstone of a nominee’s judicial philosophy should be a commitment to originalism and textualism,” a McConnell spokesman says.
Mr McConnell “emphasised the importance of a nominee who believes in judicial independence and will resist all efforts by politicians to bully the Court or to change the structure of the judicial system.”
Oliver O’Connell1 February 2022 21:08
1643748929
White House says ‘more can be done’ by Spotify on Joe Rogan and misinformation
White House press secretary Jen Psaki called on music and podcast streaming giant Spotify to do “more” in the fight against Covid-19 misinformation on Tuesday.
At her daily press briefing, President Joe Biden’s top spokeswoman was asked about a decision by the company to add disclaimers linking to Covid-19 information hubs to any piece of content that includes discussion of the pandemic, vaccines, or Covid-19 itself. She responded that the change was a good step, but that the company could take steps (if it wanted) to actively prohibit content that contained misinformation that experts have warned is prolonging the pandemic and leading to more deaths.
Oliver O’Connell1 February 2022 20:55
1643748509
Manchin praises all give Biden nominees for Federal Reserve
Democratic Senator Joe Manchin praised all five of President Joe Biden’s nominees for the Federal Reserve, an important signal for their confirmations in the 50-50 Senate.
“They all look extremely qualified,” the West Virginia senator, who is a pivotal vote, said Tuesday of the nominees.
Banking chair Sherrod Brown of Ohio says he plans to vote in committee on the president’s Fed picks on 15 February.
Confirmation hearings are scheduled for this Thursday.
Oliver O’Connell1 February 2022 20:48
1643748149
Biden grins at question on Supreme Court and ‘affirmative action’
President Joe Biden appeared to grin when reporters asked what he thought of the Republican talking point that his plan to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court amounted to affirmative action.
Oliver O’Connell1 February 2022 20:42
1643747729
Venezuelans deported to Colombia without chance to seek asylum
The news was confirmed by both US and Colombian officials earlier this week, with the US Department of Homeland Security claiming that Venezuelans will be expelled “on a regular basis”. While the Biden administration didn’t expand on how frequent such deportations will be, they will be limited to only those who have previously resided in Colombia.
Oliver O’Connell1 February 2022 20:35
1643747429
Trump to be interviewed on Newsmax
The former president will be interviewed tonight on Newsmax.
Oliver O’Connell1 February 2022 20:30
1643746899
Both senators left the White House with official gift bags, and I for one would like to know what’s inside.
Oliver O’Connell1 February 2022 20:21