Amidst the Russia-Ukraine war, former US president Donald Trump has claimed that Taiwan might be the next potential target, suggesting that the present conflict in Europe might give enough fodder for China to launch an attack.

In an interview with Fox News on Wednesday, Trump was quoted as saying, “Taiwan is going to be next. Just watch Taiwan;&nbsp;President Xi is watching with glee.”

He based his assumption on the Biden administration’s response to the Ukraine invasion.

"I do because they're seeing how stupid the United States is run. They're seeing that our leaders are incompetent. And of course, they're (China) going to do it. This is their time," he said, adding, “They (US) did nothing on Ukraine. They do nothing."

"President Xi happens to be a man with a high intelligence level, and he looks at what happened in Afghanistan … He saw the way that we left Afghanistan … left American citizens there – is still trying to get out – he sees that, and this is his opportunity to do what he wants to do," he said.

Trump also took a dig at President Joe Biden's handling of the Ukraine crisis.

“Biden said such weak statements at the beginning that Putin said ‘Oh wow, this is my time to go,’” he said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-told-russia-to-delay-ukraine-invasion-until-end-of-winter-olympics-report-458556" hreflang="en">China told Russia to delay Ukraine invasion until end of Winter Olympics: Report</a>

Earlier, Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen expressed concerns over the ongoing conflict saying that her island faces threats similar to those confronted by Ukraine during a meeting with a delegation of former US security officials.

"History teaches us that if we turn a blind eye to military aggression, we only worsen the threat to ourselves," Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen told the delegation.

"The Ukrainian people's commitment to protect their freedom and democracy, and their fearless dedication to defending their country have been met with deep empathy from the people of Taiwan, as we too stand on the frontlines of the battle for democracy."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/florida-man-caught-speeding-blames-putin-and-threat-of-nuclear-war-458512" hreflang="en">Florida man caught speeding, blames Putin and threat of nuclear war</a>

She warned of Beijing's rising military threat to Taiwan and the region, including "using cognitive warfare tactics and disinformation to divide Taiwanese society".

The delegation, led by ex-chairman of the joint chiefs of staff and retired admiral Michael Mullen, arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday at a time of rising tensions between Washington and Beijing over the self-ruled island as well as the crisis sparked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

(With inputs from agencies)

Amidst the Russia-Ukraine war, former US president Donald Trump has claimed that Taiwan might be the next potential target, suggesting that the present conflict in Europe might give enough fodder for China to launch an attack.

Amidst the Russia-Ukraine war, former US president Donald Trump has claimed that Taiwan might be the next potential target, suggesting that the present conflict in Europe might give enough fodder for China to launch an attack. In an interview with Fox News on Wednesday, Trump was quoted as saying, “Taiwan is going to be next. Just watch Taiwan; President Xi is watching with glee.” He based his assumption on the Biden administration’s response to the Ukraine invasion. "I do because they're seeing how stupid the United States is run. They're seeing that our leaders are incompetent. And of course, they're (China) going to do it. This is their time," he said, adding, “They (US) did nothing on Ukraine. They do nothing." "President Xi happens to be a man with a high intelligence level, and he looks at what happened in Afghanistan … He saw the way that we left Afghanistan … left American citizens there – is still trying to get out – he sees that, and this is his opportunity to do what he wants to do," he said. Trump also took a dig at President Joe Biden's handling of the Ukraine crisis. “Biden said such weak statements at the beginning that Putin said ‘Oh wow, this is my time to go,’” he said. Also read | China told Russia to delay Ukraine invasion until end of Winter Olympics: Report Earlier, Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen expressed concerns over the ongoing conflict saying that her island faces threats similar to those confronted by Ukraine during a meeting with a delegation of former US security officials. "History teaches us that if we turn a blind eye to military aggression, we only worsen the threat to ourselves," Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen told the delegation. "The Ukrainian people's commitment to protect their freedom and democracy, and their fearless dedication to defending their country have been met with deep empathy from the people of Taiwan, as we too stand on the frontlines of the battle for democracy." Also read | Florida man caught speeding, blames Putin and threat of nuclear war She warned of Beijing's rising military threat to Taiwan and the region, including "using cognitive warfare tactics and disinformation to divide Taiwanese society". The delegation, led by ex-chairman of the joint chiefs of staff and retired admiral Michael Mullen, arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday at a time of rising tensions between Washington and Beijing over the self-ruled island as well as the crisis sparked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Just watch, Taiwan is going to be next’: Trump warns as Russia-Ukraine war rages on

The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol said Wednesday that there was enough evidence to conclude that former President Donald Trump and some of his allies might have conspired to commit fraud and obstruction by misleading Americans about the outcome of the 2020 election and attempting to overturn the result.

In a court filing in a civil case in California, the committee’s lawyers for the first time laid out their theory of a potential criminal case against the former president. They said they had accumulated evidence demonstrating that Trump, conservative lawyer John Eastman and other allies could potentially be charged with criminal violations including obstructing an official proceeding of Congress and conspiracy to defraud the American people.

The filing also said the men might have broken a common law statute against fraud through Trump’s repeated lies that the election had been stolen.

The filing disclosed only limited new evidence, and the committee asked the judge in the civil case to review the relevant material behind closed doors. In asserting the potential for criminality, the committee largely relied on the extensive and detailed accounts already made public of the actions Trump and his allies took to keep him in office after his defeat.

The committee added information from its more than 550 interviews with state officials, Justice Department officials and top aides to Trump, among others. It said, for example, that Jason Miller, Trump’s senior campaign adviser, had said in a deposition to the committee that Trump had been told soon after Election Day by a campaign data expert “in pretty blunt terms” that he was going to lose, suggesting that Trump was well aware that his months of assertions about a stolen election were false.

The evidence gathered by the committee “provides, at minimum, a good-faith basis for concluding that President Trump has violated” the obstruction count, the filing, written by Douglas N. Letter, general counsel of the House, states, adding: “The select committee also has a good-faith basis for concluding that the president and members of his campaign engaged in a criminal conspiracy to defraud the United States.”

The filing said that a “review of the materials may reveal that the president and members of his campaign engaged in common law fraud in connection with their efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.”

Representatives of Trump and Eastman did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The panel, which is controlled by Democrats, is a legislative committee and has no authority to charge the former president — or anyone else — with a crime.

But the filing contains the clearest indication yet about the committee’s direction as it weighs making a criminal referral to the Justice Department against Trump and his allies, a step that could put pressure on Attorney General Merrick Garland to take up the case. The Justice Department has so far said little of substance about whether it might ultimately pursue a case.

The filing laid out a sweeping if by now well-established account of the plot to overturn the election, which included false claims of election fraud, plans to put forward pro-Trump “alternate” electors, pressure various federal agencies to find irregularities and ultimately push Vice President Mike Pence and Congress to exploit the Electoral Count Act to keep a losing president in power.

“As the president and his associates propagated dangerous misinformation to the public,” the filing said, Eastman “was a leader in a related effort to persuade state officials to alter their election results based on these same fraudulent claims.”

The court filing stemmed from a lawsuit filed by Eastman, who is trying to persuade a judge to block the committee’s subpoena for documents in his possession, claiming “a highly partisan” invasion of his privacy. The committee issued a subpoena to Eastman in January, citing a memo he wrote laying out how Trump could use the vice president and Congress to try to invalidate the 2020 election results.

As part of the suit, Eastman sought to shield from release documents he said were covered by attorney-client privilege. In response, the committee argued — under the legal theory known as the crime-fraud exception — that the privilege does not cover information conveyed from a client to a lawyer if it was part of furthering or concealing a crime.

Eastman then argued the committee had offered “no evidence” of the existence of a crime-fraud exception, prompting the committee’s latest filing.

“The evidence supports an inference that President Trump, plaintiff and several others entered into an agreement to defraud the United States by interfering with the election certification process, disseminating false information about election fraud, and pressuring state officials to alter state election results and federal officials to assist in that effort,” the filing states.

It also made reference to a recent ruling in a lawsuit in Washington, D.C., in which U.S District Judge Amit Mehta found that it was “plausible to believe that the president entered into a conspiracy with the rioters on Jan. 6, 2021.”

“In addition to the legal effort to delay the certification, there is also evidence that the conspiracy extended to the rioters engaged in acts of violence at the Capitol,” the filing said.

On Tuesday, the State Bar of California announced an investigation into Eastman over whether he engaged in conduct that violated California law and ethics rules.

Eastman’s memo to Trump suggested that Pence could reject electors from certain states. Eastman also participated in a briefing for nearly 300 state legislators, during which he told the group that it was their duty to “fix this, this egregious conduct, and make sure that we’re not putting in the White House some guy that didn’t get elected,” according to the committee.

He met with Trump and Pence to push his arguments, participated in a meeting of Trump advisers at the Willard Hotel and spoke at the “Stop the Steal” rally on the Ellipse on Jan. 6, before the Capitol assault. As violence broke out, he sent a message blaming Pence for not going along with his plan.

As a mob was attacking the Capitol chanting “Hang Mike Pence,” Eastman sent a hostile message to the vice president’s top lawyer, blaming Pence for the violence.

“The ‘siege’ is because YOU and your boss did not do what was necessary to allow this to be aired in a public way so that the American people can see for themselves what happened,” he wrote to Greg Jacob, Pence’s chief counsel.

In a recent filing in his suit, Eastman said Trump had retained him “because of his election law and constitutional expertise” in the fall of 2020 for “federal litigation matters in relation to the 2020 presidential general election, including election matters related to the Electoral College.”

On Sept. 3, 2020 — two months before Trump lost the election — Eastman was invited by pro-Trump lawyer Cleta Mitchell to join an Election Integrity Working Group to begin preparing for anticipated postelection litigation. Eastman said Trump had asked Mitchell to undertake the effort in August.

The judge in the case has already denied a request from Eastman to shield nearly 19,000 emails from the committee, saying congressional investigators have the authority to see the messages and that the First Amendment does not protect his communications. Eastman has so far turned over about 8,000 of the emails.

The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol said Wednesday that there was enough evidence to conclude that former President Donald Trump and some of his allies might have conspired to commit fraud and obstruction by misleading Americans about the outcome of the 2020 election and attempting to overturn the result.

The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol said Wednesday that there was enough evidence to conclude that former President Donald Trump and some of his allies might have conspired to commit fraud and obstruction by misleading Americans about the outcome of the 2020 election and attempting to overturn the result. In a court filing in a civil case in California, the committee’s lawyers for the first time laid out their theory of a potential criminal case against the former president. They said they had accumulated evidence demonstrating that Trump, conservative lawyer John Eastman and other allies could potentially be charged with criminal violations including obstructing an official proceeding of Congress and conspiracy to defraud the American people. The filing also said the men might have broken a common law statute against fraud through Trump’s repeated lies that the election had been stolen. The filing disclosed only limited new evidence, and the committee asked the judge in the civil case to review the relevant material behind closed doors. In asserting the potential for criminality, the committee largely relied on the extensive and detailed accounts already made public of the actions Trump and his allies took to keep him in office after his defeat. The committee added information from its more than 550 interviews with state officials, Justice Department officials and top aides to Trump, among others. It said, for example, that Jason Miller, Trump’s senior campaign adviser, had said in a deposition to the committee that Trump had been told soon after Election Day by a campaign data expert “in pretty blunt terms” that he was going to lose, suggesting that Trump was well aware that his months of assertions about a stolen election were false. The evidence gathered by the committee “provides, at minimum, a good-faith basis for concluding that President Trump has violated” the obstruction count, the filing, written by Douglas N. Letter, general counsel of the House, states, adding: “The select committee also has a good-faith basis for concluding that the president and members of his campaign engaged in a criminal conspiracy to defraud the United States.” The filing said that a “review of the materials may reveal that the president and members of his campaign engaged in common law fraud in connection with their efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.” Representatives of Trump and Eastman did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The panel, which is controlled by Democrats, is a legislative committee and has no authority to charge the former president — or anyone else — with a crime. But the filing contains the clearest indication yet about the committee’s direction as it weighs making a criminal referral to the Justice Department against Trump and his allies, a step that could put pressure on Attorney General Merrick Garland to take up the case. The Justice Department has so far said little of substance about whether it might ultimately pursue a case. The filing laid out a sweeping if by now well-established account of the plot to overturn the election, which included false claims of election fraud, plans to put forward pro-Trump “alternate” electors, pressure various federal agencies to find irregularities and ultimately push Vice President Mike Pence and Congress to exploit the Electoral Count Act to keep a losing president in power. “As the president and his associates propagated dangerous misinformation to the public,” the filing said, Eastman “was a leader in a related effort to persuade state officials to alter their election results based on these same fraudulent claims.” The court filing stemmed from a lawsuit filed by Eastman, who is trying to persuade a judge to block the committee’s subpoena for documents in his possession, claiming “a highly partisan” invasion of his privacy. The committee issued a subpoena to Eastman in January, citing a memo he wrote laying out how Trump could use the vice president and Congress to try to invalidate the 2020 election results. As part of the suit, Eastman sought to shield from release documents he said were covered by attorney-client privilege. In response, the committee argued — under the legal theory known as the crime-fraud exception — that the privilege does not cover information conveyed from a client to a lawyer if it was part of furthering or concealing a crime. Eastman then argued the committee had offered “no evidence” of the existence of a crime-fraud exception, prompting the committee’s latest filing. “The evidence supports an inference that President Trump, plaintiff and several others entered into an agreement to defraud the United States by interfering with the election certification process, disseminating false information about election fraud, and pressuring state officials to alter state election results and federal officials to assist in that effort,” the filing states. It also made reference to a recent ruling in a lawsuit in Washington, D.C., in which U.S District Judge Amit Mehta found that it was “plausible to believe that the president entered into a conspiracy with the rioters on Jan. 6, 2021.” “In addition to the legal effort to delay the certification, there is also evidence that the conspiracy extended to the rioters engaged in acts of violence at the Capitol,” the filing said. On Tuesday, the State Bar of California announced an investigation into Eastman over whether he engaged in conduct that violated California law and ethics rules. Eastman’s memo to Trump suggested that Pence could reject electors from certain states. Eastman also participated in a briefing for nearly 300 state legislators, during which he told the group that it was their duty to “fix this, this egregious conduct, and make sure that we’re not putting in the White House some guy that didn’t get elected,” according to the committee. He met with Trump and Pence to push his arguments, participated in a meeting of Trump advisers at the Willard Hotel and spoke at the “Stop the Steal” rally on the Ellipse on Jan. 6, before the Capitol assault. As violence broke out, he sent a message blaming Pence for not going along with his plan. As a mob was attacking the Capitol chanting “Hang Mike Pence,” Eastman sent a hostile message to the vice president’s top lawyer, blaming Pence for the violence. “The ‘siege’ is because YOU and your boss did not do what was necessary to allow this to be aired in a public way so that the American people can see for themselves what happened,” he wrote to Greg Jacob, Pence’s chief counsel. In a recent filing in his suit, Eastman said Trump had retained him “because of his election law and constitutional expertise” in the fall of 2020 for “federal litigation matters in relation to the 2020 presidential general election, including election matters related to the Electoral College.” On Sept. 3, 2020 — two months before Trump lost the election — Eastman was invited by pro-Trump lawyer Cleta Mitchell to join an Election Integrity Working Group to begin preparing for anticipated postelection litigation. Eastman said Trump had asked Mitchell to undertake the effort in August. The judge in the case has already denied a request from Eastman to shield nearly 19,000 emails from the committee, saying congressional investigators have the authority to see the messages and that the First Amendment does not protect his communications. Eastman has so far turned over about 8,000 of the emails.

Jan 6 committee lays out potential criminal charges against Trump

To get your day started, here are some stories.

US President Joe Biden denounced Russia's invasion of Ukraine as "premeditated and unprovoked" in his State of the Union address. As Russia's attack on Ukraine continues for the sixth day, Biden emphasised the United States' solidarity with NATO allies, adding that Putin miscalculated the alliance's power.&nbsp;

In other news, the World Bank has announced a&nbsp;plan to use more than $1 billion from a frozen Afghanistan trust fund to finance education, agriculture, health, and family programmes in the country.&nbsp;

Click on the headline to read more:

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-goes-after-russia-says-putins-war-was-premeditated-and-unprovoked-457981">Biden goes after Russia, says Putin’s war was 'premeditated and unprovoked'</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/03/02/244466-untitled-design-5.jpg" />

In his State of the Union address, US President Joe Biden slammed Russian President Vladimir Putin for the "premeditated and unprovoked" invasion of Ukraine, as the US prepares to block its airspace to Russian planes.

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-closes-its-airspace-to-russian-aircrafts-457961">United States closes its airspace to Russian aircrafts</a>

&nbsp;

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/03/02/244453-stories.jpg" />

&nbsp;

The United States government has closed its airspace to Russian flights. This adds the US is to the host of nations, including Canada and Europe, that have shut down their airspace to Russian aircraft and other aircraft following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-to-receive-more-than-1-billion-in-aid-from-the-world-bank-funds-to-bypass-taliban-457982">Afghanistan to receive more than $1 billion in aid from the World Bank; funds to bypass Taliban</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/03/02/244462-stories-1.jpg" />

A plan to use more than $1 billion from a frozen Afghanistan trust fund to finance education, agriculture, health, and family programs has been approved by the World Bank's executive board.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/intelligence-operative-us-expels-russian-spy-working-for-united-nations-457984">'Intelligence operative': US expels Russian spy working for United Nations</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/03/02/244463-kharkiv-ukraine.jpg" />

Amid the Ukraine-Russia chaos, a&nbsp;spokesperson for the US Mission to United Nations&nbsp;said that the United States is expelling a Russian "intelligence operative" who works at the United Nations. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;EU members to discuss Kyiv's application for immediate membership amid Russia-Ukraine Conflict

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/eu-members-to-discuss-kyivs-application-for-immediate-membership-amid-russia-ukraine-conflict-457983/embed"></iframe>

To get your day started, here are some stories. US President Joe Biden denounced Russia's invasion of Ukraine as "premeditated and unprovoked" in his State of the Union address.

To get your day started, here are some stories. US President Joe Biden denounced Russia's invasion of Ukraine as "premeditated and unprovoked" in his State of the Union address. As Russia's attack on Ukraine continues for the sixth day, Biden emphasised the United States' solidarity with NATO allies, adding that Putin miscalculated the alliance's power. In other news, the World Bank has announced a plan to use more than $1 billion from a frozen Afghanistan trust fund to finance education, agriculture, health, and family programmes in the country. Click on the headline to read more: Biden goes after Russia, says Putin’s war was 'premeditated and unprovoked' In his State of the Union address, US President Joe Biden slammed Russian President Vladimir Putin for the "premeditated and unprovoked" invasion of Ukraine, as the US prepares to block its airspace to Russian planes. United States closes its airspace to Russian aircrafts The United States government has closed its airspace to Russian flights. This adds the US is to the host of nations, including Canada and Europe, that have shut down their airspace to Russian aircraft and other aircraft following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Afghanistan to receive more than $1 billion in aid from the World Bank; funds to bypass Taliban A plan to use more than $1 billion from a frozen Afghanistan trust fund to finance education, agriculture, health, and family programs has been approved by the World Bank's executive board. 'Intelligence operative': US expels Russian spy working for United Nations Amid the Ukraine-Russia chaos, a spokesperson for the US Mission to United Nations said that the United States is expelling a Russian "intelligence operative" who works at the United Nations. Watch | EU members to discuss Kyiv's application for immediate membership amid Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Morning brief: Biden's State of the Union address, World Bank announces $1bn aid for Afghanistan and more

Former Attorney General William Barr writes in a new memoir that former President Donald Trump’s “self-indulgence and lack of self control” cost him the 2020 election and says “the absurd lengths to which he took his ‘stolen election’ claim led to the rioting on Capitol Hill.”

In the book, “One Damn Thing After Another: Memoirs of an Attorney General,”&nbsp;Barr also calls on his fellow Republicans to pick someone else as the party’s nominee for the 2024 election, calling the prospect of another presidential run by Trump “dismaying.”

“Donald Trump has shown he has neither the temperament nor persuasive powers to provide the kind of positive leadership that is needed,” Barr writes.

The memoir — an account of Barr’s time as attorney general under President George H.W. Bush and under Trump — defends his own actions in the Trump administration that led to sharp criticism of a Justice Department setting aside its independence to bend to White House pressure.

Barr was long considered a close ally of Trump's. But the two fell out toward the end of the Trump administration, when Barr refused to go along with Trump’s baseless claims that the 2020 election had been stolen.

In a statement in June, Trump denounced his former attorney general, calling him a “swamp creature” and a “RINO” — meaning Republican in Name Only — who “was afraid, weak and frankly, now that I see what he is saying, pathetic.”

For his part, Barr portrays Trump as a president who — despite sometimes displaying “the menacing mannerisms” of a strongman ruler as a “schtick” to project an image of strength — had operated within guardrails set up by his advisers and achieved many conservative policy goals. But Trump “lost his grip” after the election, he writes.

“He stopped listening to his advisers, became manic and unreasonable, and was off the rails,” Barr writes. “He surrounded himself with sycophants, including many whack jobs from outside the government, who fed him a steady diet of comforting but unsupported conspiracy theories.”

Throughout the book, Barr scorns the news media, accusing them of “corruption” and “active support for progressive ideology.” The political left, he writes, became radicalized during President Barack Obama’s second term. He compares its support for social justice issues to “the same kind of revolutionary and totalitarian ideas that propelled the French Revolution, the Communists of the Russian Revolution and the fascists of 20th-century Europe.” 
&nbsp;

Former Attorney General William Barr writes in a new memoir that former President Donald Trump’s “self-indulgence and lack of self control” cost him the 2020 election and says “the absurd lengths to which he took his ‘stolen election’ claim led to the rioting on Capitol Hill.

Former Attorney General William Barr writes in a new memoir that former President Donald Trump’s “self-indulgence and lack of self control” cost him the 2020 election and says “the absurd lengths to which he took his ‘stolen election’ claim led to the rioting on Capitol Hill.” In the book, “One Damn Thing After Another: Memoirs of an Attorney General,” Barr also calls on his fellow Republicans to pick someone else as the party’s nominee for the 2024 election, calling the prospect of another presidential run by Trump “dismaying.” “Donald Trump has shown he has neither the temperament nor persuasive powers to provide the kind of positive leadership that is needed,” Barr writes. The memoir — an account of Barr’s time as attorney general under President George H.W. Bush and under Trump — defends his own actions in the Trump administration that led to sharp criticism of a Justice Department setting aside its independence to bend to White House pressure. Barr was long considered a close ally of Trump's. But the two fell out toward the end of the Trump administration, when Barr refused to go along with Trump’s baseless claims that the 2020 election had been stolen. In a statement in June, Trump denounced his former attorney general, calling him a “swamp creature” and a “RINO” — meaning Republican in Name Only — who “was afraid, weak and frankly, now that I see what he is saying, pathetic.” For his part, Barr portrays Trump as a president who — despite sometimes displaying “the menacing mannerisms” of a strongman ruler as a “schtick” to project an image of strength — had operated within guardrails set up by his advisers and achieved many conservative policy goals. But Trump “lost his grip” after the election, he writes. “He stopped listening to his advisers, became manic and unreasonable, and was off the rails,” Barr writes. “He surrounded himself with sycophants, including many whack jobs from outside the government, who fed him a steady diet of comforting but unsupported conspiracy theories.” Throughout the book, Barr scorns the news media, accusing them of “corruption” and “active support for progressive ideology.” The political left, he writes, became radicalized during President Barack Obama’s second term. He compares its support for social justice issues to “the same kind of revolutionary and totalitarian ideas that propelled the French Revolution, the Communists of the Russian Revolution and the fascists of 20th-century Europe.”

Barr rebukes Trump as ‘off the rails’ in new memoir

Former US President Donald Trump has strongly criticised NATO leaders for their handling of the Ukraine crisis while speaking at a conference. He further said that sanctioning someone was not enough and that the west should focus not only on economic sanctions but also on psychological attack.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Trump slams NATO leaders for handling Ukraine crisis

Donald&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;emerged from political exile Saturday to blast President Joe Biden and NATO over the Ukraine crisis and reprise his false claims of a stolen 2020&nbsp;election&nbsp;in a speech to grassroots Republicans.

Speaking at the annual&nbsp;Conservative&nbsp;Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida, the former president spent 86 minutes reprising&nbsp;many of his favorite applause lines, assailing the "radical left" and its "witch hunt" against him.

As massive explosions lit up the sky over Ukraine's capital Kyiv,&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;blamed Russia's invasion of its neighbor on Biden's "weakness" and lavished praise on President Vladimir&nbsp;Putin's intellect.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/did-nostradamus-foresee-the-russia-ukraine-war-reaching-france-456969">Did Nostradamus foresee the Russia-Ukraine war reaching France?&nbsp;</a>

"As everyone understands, this horrific disaster would never have happened if our&nbsp;election&nbsp;was not rigged," he said, to rapt applause.

NATO, he said, was "looking the opposite of smart" for hitting Russia with sanctions rather than resolving to "blow (Russia) to pieces -- at least psychologically."

"The problem is not that&nbsp;Putin&nbsp;is smart, which of course he's smart," he went on. "But the real problem is that our leaders are so dumb."

After a year largely out of the public eye,&nbsp;Trump's ecstatic reception left little doubt that the Republican Party remains in thrall to the twice-impeached, single-term president. &nbsp;

There were chants of "four more years" from the sea of supporters in red "Make America Great Again" hats, who clapped on cue as&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;railed against "woke tyranny" and "cancel culture."

The crowd reserved their largest cheers for the 75-year-old headliner's dismissal of Democrats' claims to be the party of democracy as "bullshit" -- and for his claim that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg "used to come to the White House and kiss my ass."

There were nods to a possible 2024 run -- "we did it twice and we'll do it again," he claimed, falsely recasting his 2020 defeat to Biden as a victory -- although he left the crowd guessing about whether he will personally challenge Biden to a rematch.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-tells-how-russia-ukraine-crisis-could-have-been-handled-differently-if-he-was-in-power-455657">Donald Trump tells how Russia-Ukraine crisis could have been handled differently if he was in power</a>

Fight like hell

CPAC, the country's largest&nbsp;conservative&nbsp;gathering, usually offers a valuable insight into the direction the Republicans plan to take over the coming months.

Trump&nbsp;had been expected to lay out a forward-looking "vision for America," according to organizers,&nbsp;as the Republicans look to take back control of Congress in November's midterm&nbsp;elections.

Instead he dwelt at length on his 2020&nbsp;election&nbsp;loss and his false claims that he was robbed by widespread voter fraud, urging the crowd to "fight like hell" or face their country being destroyed.

It was similar to the rhetoric that inspired a mob of his supporters to storm the US Capitol on January 6 2021, for which he was punished with his second impeachment.

His remarks came as Russian rockets began pounding the outskirts of Kyiv in an escalating crisis that ended up emerging as a major topic of discussion at CPAC.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Have Western Leaders failed Ukraine?

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-have-western-leaders-failed-ukraine-456596/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Trump&nbsp;called besieged President Volodymyr Zelensky "a brave man," falsely claiming that the Ukrainian leader had exonerated him over the scandal that led to his first impeachment.

While he was president,&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;withheld vital military aid from the US ally as he tried unsuccessfully to pressure Zelensky into digging up political dirt on the Biden family ahead of the 2020&nbsp;election.

"After spending four years selling out Ukraine, the defeated former president took the stage at CPAC to double down on his shameless praise for&nbsp;Putin&nbsp;as innocent Ukrainians shelter from bombs and missiles at the hands of Russia," Democratic National Committee spokeswoman Adonna Biel said after the speech.

Donald Trump emerged from political exile Saturday to blast President Joe Biden and NATO over the Ukraine crisis and reprise his false claims of a stolen 2020 election in a speech to grassroots Republicans.

Donald Trump emerged from political exile Saturday to blast President Joe Biden and NATO over the Ukraine crisis and reprise his false claims of a stolen 2020 election in a speech to grassroots Republicans. Speaking at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida, the former president spent 86 minutes reprising many of his favorite applause lines, assailing the "radical left" and its "witch hunt" against him. As massive explosions lit up the sky over Ukraine's capital Kyiv, Trump blamed Russia's invasion of its neighbor on Biden's "weakness" and lavished praise on President Vladimir Putin's intellect. Also read | Did Nostradamus foresee the Russia-Ukraine war reaching France? "As everyone understands, this horrific disaster would never have happened if our election was not rigged," he said, to rapt applause. NATO, he said, was "looking the opposite of smart" for hitting Russia with sanctions rather than resolving to "blow (Russia) to pieces -- at least psychologically." "The problem is not that Putin is smart, which of course he's smart," he went on. "But the real problem is that our leaders are so dumb." After a year largely out of the public eye, Trump's ecstatic reception left little doubt that the Republican Party remains in thrall to the twice-impeached, single-term president. There were chants of "four more years" from the sea of supporters in red "Make America Great Again" hats, who clapped on cue as Trump railed against "woke tyranny" and "cancel culture." The crowd reserved their largest cheers for the 75-year-old headliner's dismissal of Democrats' claims to be the party of democracy as "bullshit" -- and for his claim that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg "used to come to the White House and kiss my ass." There were nods to a possible 2024 run -- "we did it twice and we'll do it again," he claimed, falsely recasting his 2020 defeat to Biden as a victory -- although he left the crowd guessing about whether he will personally challenge Biden to a rematch. Also read | Donald Trump tells how Russia-Ukraine crisis could have been handled differently if he was in power Fight like hell CPAC, the country's largest conservative gathering, usually offers a valuable insight into the direction the Republicans plan to take over the coming months. Trump had been expected to lay out a forward-looking "vision for America," according to organizers, as the Republicans look to take back control of Congress in November's midterm elections. Instead he dwelt at length on his 2020 election loss and his false claims that he was robbed by widespread voter fraud, urging the crowd to "fight like hell" or face their country being destroyed. It was similar to the rhetoric that inspired a mob of his supporters to storm the US Capitol on January 6 2021, for which he was punished with his second impeachment. His remarks came as Russian rockets began pounding the outskirts of Kyiv in an escalating crisis that ended up emerging as a major topic of discussion at CPAC. Watch | Gravitas: Have Western Leaders failed Ukraine? Trump called besieged President Volodymyr Zelensky "a brave man," falsely claiming that the Ukrainian leader had exonerated him over the scandal that led to his first impeachment. While he was president, Trump withheld vital military aid from the US ally as he tried unsuccessfully to pressure Zelensky into digging up political dirt on the Biden family ahead of the 2020 election. "After spending four years selling out Ukraine, the defeated former president took the stage at CPAC to double down on his shameless praise for Putin as innocent Ukrainians shelter from bombs and missiles at the hands of Russia," Democratic National Committee spokeswoman Adonna Biel said after the speech.

Trump praises Putin, revives election lies at conservative forum

To get your day started, here are some stories.

US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson have hit Russia with a series of sanctions in response to&nbsp;Moscow's&nbsp;attack on Ukraine. The measures, sanctions against banks and state-owned companies, aim to impede Russia's ability to do business in major currencies.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Click on the headline to read more:

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/for-premeditated-ukraine-conflict-us-uk-hit-russia-with-new-sanctions-456254">For 'premeditated' Ukraine conflict, US, UK hit Russia with new sanctions</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/02/25/243224-us-uk.jpg" />

US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson have hit Russia with new sanctions. Both the leaders have unveiled a wave of sanctions on Thursday to reprimand Moscow for attacking Ukraine in a 'premeditated' conflict. &nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-conflict-makes-markets-fall-oil-prices-soar-456267">Russia-Ukraine conflict makes markets fall, oil prices soar</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/02/25/243239-mark-oil.jpg" />

As a result of Russia's conflict with Ukraine, markets are shaken. The current situation threatens to push inflation higher, squeezing the global economy even further. The stock market fell initially on Thursday, prices for wheat, oil, and other commodities have also spiked.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/muddywater-irans-ministry-of-intelligence-and-security-running-malicious-cyber-campaigns-warns-us-456283">'MuddyWater': Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security running malicious cyber campaigns, warns US</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/02/25/243254-stories-2.jpg" />

US&nbsp;security and law enforcement agencies have warned in a joint Cybersecurity Advisory&nbsp;that Iran-linked cyber operations are targeting a variety of government and private-sector organisations in Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/russia-ukraine-conflict-day-2-of-the-russian-attack-456268">In Pics:&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine conflict: Day 2 of the Russian attack</a>

<img alt="Day 2 Ukraine attack" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c8e0b6b7-3514-44f5-b76f-c577998d19e3" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/stories%20%283%29.jpg" />

WION brings you images from the scene of conflict a day after Russian troops launched an invasion of its Western-backed neighbour.

Watch:&nbsp;Chernobyl nuclear site turns into a war zone

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-conflict-chernobyl-nuclear-site-turns-into-a-warzone-456240/embed" width="560"></iframe>

&nbsp;

To get your day started, here are some stories. US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson have hit Russia with a series of sanctions in response to Moscow's attack on Ukraine.

To get your day started, here are some stories. US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson have hit Russia with a series of sanctions in response to Moscow's attack on Ukraine. The measures, sanctions against banks and state-owned companies, aim to impede Russia's ability to do business in major currencies. Click on the headline to read more: For 'premeditated' Ukraine conflict, US, UK hit Russia with new sanctions US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson have hit Russia with new sanctions. Both the leaders have unveiled a wave of sanctions on Thursday to reprimand Moscow for attacking Ukraine in a 'premeditated' conflict. Russia-Ukraine conflict makes markets fall, oil prices soar As a result of Russia's conflict with Ukraine, markets are shaken. The current situation threatens to push inflation higher, squeezing the global economy even further. The stock market fell initially on Thursday, prices for wheat, oil, and other commodities have also spiked. 'MuddyWater': Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security running malicious cyber campaigns, warns US US security and law enforcement agencies have warned in a joint Cybersecurity Advisory that Iran-linked cyber operations are targeting a variety of government and private-sector organisations in Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America. In Pics: Russia-Ukraine conflict: Day 2 of the Russian attack WION brings you images from the scene of conflict a day after Russian troops launched an invasion of its Western-backed neighbour. Watch: Chernobyl nuclear site turns into a war zone

Morning brief: Russia hit with more sanctions, US accuses Iran of orchestrating cyberattacks and more

The United States Supreme Court on Tuesday (February 22) formally rejected former President Donald Trump's request to block the release of White House records asked by the panel probing last year's deadly attack on the Capitol. The top US court had previously rejected Trump's emergency request to block the National Archives from turning over the documents.&nbsp;

The former President has been accused of involvement in the Capitol riot and he is also facing lawsuits. His role on that day is also being examined by a House of Representatives select committee.&nbsp;

The committee has hundreds of pages of documents, text messages and testimonies in its possession. The head of the panel said that Trump had sought to keep some of the documents hidden.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/beginning-an-invasion-us-imposes-fresh-sanctions-against-russia-455521">'Beginning an invasion': US imposes fresh sanctions against Russia</a>

The House Select Committee was created last year to investigate the January 6 violence, when thousands of Trump supporters descended on the US Capitol in Washington DC to stop the process of confirmation of President Joe Biden's victory.&nbsp;

At the same time, Trump took to Twitter to criticize his vice president Mike Pence for not blocking certification of Joe Biden's election victory, an act the judge said constituted "tacit agreement" with those who stormed the Capitol.&nbsp;

During the investigation, it has been understood that the panel has interviewed hundreds of witnesses and has received over 50,000 documents.&nbsp;

During the deadly attack on US Capitol, seven people were killed and dozens were injured. An investigation is underway and more than 700 people have been charged so far.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Capitol Riots: Biden rejects Trump's attempt to shield White House visitor logs

&nbsp;

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(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The United States Supreme Court on Tuesday (February 22) formally rejected former President Donald Trump's request to block the release of White House records asked by the panel probing last year's deadly attack on the Capitol.

The United States Supreme Court on Tuesday (February 22) formally rejected former President Donald Trump's request to block the release of White House records asked by the panel probing last year's deadly attack on the Capitol. The top US court had previously rejected Trump's emergency request to block the National Archives from turning over the documents. The former President has been accused of involvement in the Capitol riot and he is also facing lawsuits. His role on that day is also being examined by a House of Representatives select committee. The committee has hundreds of pages of documents, text messages and testimonies in its possession. The head of the panel said that Trump had sought to keep some of the documents hidden. ALSO READ | 'Beginning an invasion': US imposes fresh sanctions against Russia The House Select Committee was created last year to investigate the January 6 violence, when thousands of Trump supporters descended on the US Capitol in Washington DC to stop the process of confirmation of President Joe Biden's victory. At the same time, Trump took to Twitter to criticize his vice president Mike Pence for not blocking certification of Joe Biden's election victory, an act the judge said constituted "tacit agreement" with those who stormed the Capitol. During the investigation, it has been understood that the panel has interviewed hundreds of witnesses and has received over 50,000 documents. During the deadly attack on US Capitol, seven people were killed and dozens were injured. An investigation is underway and more than 700 people have been charged so far. WATCH | Capitol Riots: Biden rejects Trump's attempt to shield White House visitor logs × (With inputs from agencies)

US Capitol attack probe: Top US court formally rejects Donald Trump's fight over January 6 attack records

Former US president Donald Trump hailed "genius" Russian leader Vladimir Putin for recognising two breakaway regions of Ukraine and sending in troops as "peacekeepers" to the areas.

While Putin was scorned by US President Joe Biden and other western leaders, Trump was full of praise for his "best friend."

During an interview on a right-wing radio programme, The Clay Travis &amp; Buck Sexton Show, Trump said it was "wonderful," "so smart," and even "genius" for Putin to "declare a large portion of Ukraine as independent."

"I went in yesterday and there was a television screen, and I said: ‘This is genius’," Trump said.

"Putin declares independence for a large portion of Ukraine. Oh, that’s wonderful. "

Also see |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-russian-president-vladimir-putins-tense-exchange-with-his-spy-chief-over-eastern-ukraine-455611">&nbsp;Vladimir Putin's tense exchange with his spy chief over eastern Ukraine</a>

The ex-president was quick to add that the crisis wouldn’t have escalated under his administration as it is happening now.

So, Putin is now saying, 'It's independent,' to a large section of Ukraine. I said, 'How smart is that?' And he's going to go in and be a peacekeeper. That's the strongest peace force, "Trump said.

"We could use that on our southern border. That's the strongest peace force I've ever seen... Here's a guy who's very savvy... I know him very well. very, very well. "

Also read&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/beginning-an-invasion-us-imposes-fresh-sanctions-against-russia-455521">'Beginning an invasion': US imposes fresh sanctions against Russia</a>

Meanwhile, Biden announced a new set of sanctions on Russia for "beginning" an invasion of Ukraine but said there was still time to avoid war.

Biden on Monday signed an Executive Order that will prohibit all new investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons to, from, or in the "so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics".

(With contributions from agencies)

Former US president Donald Trump hailed "genius" Russian leader Vladimir Putin for recognising two breakaway regions of Ukraine and sending in troops as "peacekeepers" to the areas.

Former US president Donald Trump hailed "genius" Russian leader Vladimir Putin for recognising two breakaway regions of Ukraine and sending in troops as "peacekeepers" to the areas. While Putin was scorned by US President Joe Biden and other western leaders, Trump was full of praise for his "best friend." During an interview on a right-wing radio programme, The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show, Trump said it was "wonderful," "so smart," and even "genius" for Putin to "declare a large portion of Ukraine as independent." "I went in yesterday and there was a television screen, and I said: ‘This is genius’," Trump said. "Putin declares independence for a large portion of Ukraine. Oh, that’s wonderful. " Also see | Vladimir Putin's tense exchange with his spy chief over eastern Ukraine The ex-president was quick to add that the crisis wouldn’t have escalated under his administration as it is happening now. So, Putin is now saying, 'It's independent,' to a large section of Ukraine. I said, 'How smart is that?' And he's going to go in and be a peacekeeper. That's the strongest peace force, "Trump said. "We could use that on our southern border. That's the strongest peace force I've ever seen... Here's a guy who's very savvy... I know him very well. very, very well. " Also read | 'Beginning an invasion': US imposes fresh sanctions against Russia Meanwhile, Biden announced a new set of sanctions on Russia for "beginning" an invasion of Ukraine but said there was still time to avoid war. Biden on Monday signed an Executive Order that will prohibit all new investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons to, from, or in the "so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics". (With contributions from agencies)

Donald Trump praises Putin’s strategy in Ukraine, calls him a ‘genius’   

Former United States President Donald Trump weighed in on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis and noted how it could have been handled if he was in power.&nbsp;

Talking about his close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump on Tuesday (February 22) argued that the Ukraine crisis would not have happened under his administration.&nbsp;

In a statement, Trump said, "If properly handled, there was absolutely no reason that the situation currently happening in Ukraine should have happened at all."&nbsp;

He added, "I know Vladimir Putin very well, and he would have never done during the Trump administration what he is doing now, no way!"&nbsp;

"Now it has begun, oil prices are going higher and higher, and Putin is not only getting what he always wanted, but getting, because of the oil and gas surge, richer and richer," Trump added.&nbsp;

Russia has been slapped with multiple sanctions and facing massive backlash after Putin recognised two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent and ordered the deployment there.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-calls-up-military-reservists-urges-citizens-to-leave-russia-immediately-455628">Ukraine calls up military reservists, urges citizens to leave Russia 'immediately'</a>

The US imposed sanctions on Russia, and Biden stressed that the penalties were only a "first tranche" and more sanctions would come if Putin extended his country's military grip beyond the two territories in the eastern Donbas region.&nbsp;

On Tuesday, Biden said Washington would continue to supply "defensive" weapons to Ukraine against a Russian "invasion", and deploy US troops to reinforce NATO allies in Eastern Europe.&nbsp;

In a televised speech at the White House, Biden said: "Let me be clear, these are totally defensive moves on our part." &nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-russian-president-vladimir-putins-tense-exchange-with-his-spy-chief-over-eastern-ukraine-455611">Russian President Vladimir Putin's tense exchange with his spy chief over eastern Ukraine</a>

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(With inputs from agencies)

Former United States President Donald Trump weighed in on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis and noted how it could have been handled if he was in power. Talking about his close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump on Tuesday (February 22) argued that the Ukraine crisis would not have happened under his administration.

Former United States President Donald Trump weighed in on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis and noted how it could have been handled if he was in power. Talking about his close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump on Tuesday (February 22) argued that the Ukraine crisis would not have happened under his administration. In a statement, Trump said, "If properly handled, there was absolutely no reason that the situation currently happening in Ukraine should have happened at all." He added, "I know Vladimir Putin very well, and he would have never done during the Trump administration what he is doing now, no way!" "Now it has begun, oil prices are going higher and higher, and Putin is not only getting what he always wanted, but getting, because of the oil and gas surge, richer and richer," Trump added. Russia has been slapped with multiple sanctions and facing massive backlash after Putin recognised two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent and ordered the deployment there. ALSO READ | Ukraine calls up military reservists, urges citizens to leave Russia 'immediately' The US imposed sanctions on Russia, and Biden stressed that the penalties were only a "first tranche" and more sanctions would come if Putin extended his country's military grip beyond the two territories in the eastern Donbas region. On Tuesday, Biden said Washington would continue to supply "defensive" weapons to Ukraine against a Russian "invasion", and deploy US troops to reinforce NATO allies in Eastern Europe. In a televised speech at the White House, Biden said: "Let me be clear, these are totally defensive moves on our part." WATCH | Russian President Vladimir Putin's tense exchange with his spy chief over eastern Ukraine × (With inputs from agencies)

Donald Trump tells how Russia-Ukraine crisis could have been handled differently if he was in power

US top court has rejected former US President Donald Trump's legal bid. Access to Jan 6 records granted has been granted for the Capitol hill riots probe.

US top court rejects former US President Donald Trump's legal bid, access to Jan 6 records granted

Former US president Donald Trump's now social media app, Truth Social was launched on Apple store late on Sunday (ET). The app may mark Trump's return to social media after he was banned from popular platforms like Facebook, Twitter etc last year. The platforms had taken action against Trump over January 6, 2021 attack on US Capitol.

The app was available shortly before midnight ET and was the top free app available on the App Store early Monday. Truth Social was automatically downloaded to Apple Inc devices belonging to users who had pre-ordered the app.

Many users reported either having trouble registering for an account or were added to a waitlist with a message: "Due to massive demand, we have placed you on our waitlist."

The app has been available for people invited to use it during its test phase, Reuters previously reported.

Trump was banned from Twitter Inc, Facebook and Alphabet Inc's YouTube following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters, after he was accused of posting messages inciting violence.

Led by former Republican U.S. Representative Devin Nunes, Trump Media &amp; Technology Group (TMTG), the venture behind Truth Social, joins a growing portfolio of technology companies that are positioning themselves as champions of free speech and hope to draw users who feel their views are suppressed on more established platforms.

So far none of the newer companies, which include Twitter competitors Gettr and Parler and video site Rumble, have come close to matching the popularity of their mainstream counterparts.

"This week we will begin to roll out on the Apple App Store. That's going to be awesome, because we're going to get so many more people that are going to be on the platform," Nunes said in a Sunday appearance on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo".

"Our goal is, I think we're going to hit it, I think by the by the end of March we're going to be fully operational at least within the United States," he added.

Truth Social's app store page detailing its version history showed the first public version of the app, or version 1.0 was available a day ago, confirming a Reuters report. The current version 1.0.1 includes "bug fixes," according to the page.

(With inputs from agencies)

Former US president Donald Trump's now social media app, Truth Social was launched on Apple store late on Sunday (ET). The app may mark Trump's return to social media after he was banned from popular platforms like Facebook, Twitter etc last year.

Former US president Donald Trump's now social media app, Truth Social was launched on Apple store late on Sunday (ET). The app may mark Trump's return to social media after he was banned from popular platforms like Facebook, Twitter etc last year. The platforms had taken action against Trump over January 6, 2021 attack on US Capitol. The app was available shortly before midnight ET and was the top free app available on the App Store early Monday. Truth Social was automatically downloaded to Apple Inc devices belonging to users who had pre-ordered the app. Many users reported either having trouble registering for an account or were added to a waitlist with a message: "Due to massive demand, we have placed you on our waitlist." The app has been available for people invited to use it during its test phase, Reuters previously reported. Trump was banned from Twitter Inc, Facebook and Alphabet Inc's YouTube following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters, after he was accused of posting messages inciting violence. Led by former Republican U.S. Representative Devin Nunes, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), the venture behind Truth Social, joins a growing portfolio of technology companies that are positioning themselves as champions of free speech and hope to draw users who feel their views are suppressed on more established platforms. So far none of the newer companies, which include Twitter competitors Gettr and Parler and video site Rumble, have come close to matching the popularity of their mainstream counterparts. "This week we will begin to roll out on the Apple App Store. That's going to be awesome, because we're going to get so many more people that are going to be on the platform," Nunes said in a Sunday appearance on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo". "Our goal is, I think we're going to hit it, I think by the by the end of March we're going to be fully operational at least within the United States," he added. Truth Social's app store page detailing its version history showed the first public version of the app, or version 1.0 was available a day ago, confirming a Reuters report. The current version 1.0.1 includes "bug fixes," according to the page. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump's Truth Social app tops download chart on Apple's App Store

Donald Trump's new social media venture, Truth Social, appears set to launch in Apple's App Store on Monday, according to posts from an executive on a test version viewed by Reuters, potentially marking the return of the former president to social media on the U.S. Presidents Day holiday.

In a series of posts late on Friday, a verified account for the network's chief product officer, listed as Billy B., answered questions on the app from people invited to use it during its test phase. One user asked him when the app, which has been available this week for beta testers, would be released to the public, according to screenshots viewed by Reuters.

"We're currently set for release in the Apple App store for Monday Feb. 21," the executive responded.

The launch would restore Trump's presence on social media more than a year after he was banned from Twitter Inc, Facebook and Alphabet Inc's YouTube following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters, after he was accused of posting messages inciting violence.

On Feb. 15 Trump's eldest son Donald Jr. posted on Twitter a screenshot of his father's verified @realDonaldTrump Truth Social account with one post, or "truth," that he uploaded on Feb. 14: "Get Ready! Your favorite President will see you soon!"

Led by former Republican U.S. Representative Devin Nunes, Trump Media &amp; Technology Group (TMTG), the venture behind Truth Social, will join a growing portfolio of technology companies that are positioning themselves as champions of free speech and hope to draw users who feel their views are suppressed on platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. So far none of the companies, which include Twitter competitors Gettr and Parler and video site Rumble, have come close to matching the popularity of their mainstream counterparts.

In addition to the post disclosing Monday's launch date, the screenshots seen by Reuters show the app is now at version 1.0, suggesting it has reached a level ready for public release. As late as Wednesday, it was at version 0.9, according to two people with access to that version.

A representative for TMTG did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Apple's App Store listing indicates that Truth Social is expected to be released on Feb. 21, a date that a source familiar with the venture confirmed in January. But in recent weeks Nunes had said publicly that the app would launch by the end of March.

On Friday, Nunes was on the app urging users to follow more accounts, share photos and videos and participate in conversations, in an apparent attempt to drum up activity, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.

Among Nunes' posts, he welcomed a new user who appeared to be a Catholic priest and encouraged him to invite more priests to join, according to the person with knowledge of the matter.

NO WAY TO EDIT 'TRUTHS'

The chief product officer's other responses during Friday's question-and-answer session suggested the startup's features would resemble those of Twitter.

Asked whether users would be able to edit their "truths," the executive replied "not yet." The ability to edit posts after publication is something Twitter users have long sought.

The next significant feature released on the platform will be direct messages, or DMs, between users, the executive wrote.

The company is also considering allowing users to sign up to receive notifications when others post content, the executive said. He signaled that the ability to block other users would be an important component.

"There will always be block functionality in the app," he wrote.

Truth Social will issue a policy on verified accounts "in the coming weeks," the executive added.

Even as details of the app begin trickling out, TMTG remains mostly shrouded in secrecy and is regarded with skepticism by some in tech and media circles. It is unclear, for example, how the company is funding its current growth.

TMTG is planning to list in New York through a merger with blank-check firm Digital World Acquisition Corp (DWAC), and stands to receive $293 million in cash that DWAC holds in a trust, assuming no DWAC shareholder redeems their shares, TMTG said in an Oct. 21 press release.

Additionally, in December TMTG raised $1 billion committed financing from private investors; that money also will not be available until the DWAC deal closes.

Digital World's activities have come under scrutiny from the Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, according to a regulatory filing, and the deal is likely months away from closing.

Donald Trump's new social media venture, Truth Social, appears set to launch in Apple's App Store on Monday, according to posts from an executive on a test version viewed by Reuters, potentially marking the return of the former president to social media on the U.

Donald Trump's new social media venture, Truth Social, appears set to launch in Apple's App Store on Monday, according to posts from an executive on a test version viewed by Reuters, potentially marking the return of the former president to social media on the U.S. Presidents Day holiday. In a series of posts late on Friday, a verified account for the network's chief product officer, listed as Billy B., answered questions on the app from people invited to use it during its test phase. One user asked him when the app, which has been available this week for beta testers, would be released to the public, according to screenshots viewed by Reuters. "We're currently set for release in the Apple App store for Monday Feb. 21," the executive responded. The launch would restore Trump's presence on social media more than a year after he was banned from Twitter Inc, Facebook and Alphabet Inc's YouTube following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters, after he was accused of posting messages inciting violence. On Feb. 15 Trump's eldest son Donald Jr. posted on Twitter a screenshot of his father's verified @realDonaldTrump Truth Social account with one post, or "truth," that he uploaded on Feb. 14: "Get Ready! Your favorite President will see you soon!" Led by former Republican U.S. Representative Devin Nunes, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), the venture behind Truth Social, will join a growing portfolio of technology companies that are positioning themselves as champions of free speech and hope to draw users who feel their views are suppressed on platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. So far none of the companies, which include Twitter competitors Gettr and Parler and video site Rumble, have come close to matching the popularity of their mainstream counterparts. In addition to the post disclosing Monday's launch date, the screenshots seen by Reuters show the app is now at version 1.0, suggesting it has reached a level ready for public release. As late as Wednesday, it was at version 0.9, according to two people with access to that version. A representative for TMTG did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Apple's App Store listing indicates that Truth Social is expected to be released on Feb. 21, a date that a source familiar with the venture confirmed in January. But in recent weeks Nunes had said publicly that the app would launch by the end of March. On Friday, Nunes was on the app urging users to follow more accounts, share photos and videos and participate in conversations, in an apparent attempt to drum up activity, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. Among Nunes' posts, he welcomed a new user who appeared to be a Catholic priest and encouraged him to invite more priests to join, according to the person with knowledge of the matter. NO WAY TO EDIT 'TRUTHS' The chief product officer's other responses during Friday's question-and-answer session suggested the startup's features would resemble those of Twitter. Asked whether users would be able to edit their "truths," the executive replied "not yet." The ability to edit posts after publication is something Twitter users have long sought. The next significant feature released on the platform will be direct messages, or DMs, between users, the executive wrote. The company is also considering allowing users to sign up to receive notifications when others post content, the executive said. He signaled that the ability to block other users would be an important component. "There will always be block functionality in the app," he wrote. Truth Social will issue a policy on verified accounts "in the coming weeks," the executive added. Even as details of the app begin trickling out, TMTG remains mostly shrouded in secrecy and is regarded with skepticism by some in tech and media circles. It is unclear, for example, how the company is funding its current growth. TMTG is planning to list in New York through a merger with blank-check firm Digital World Acquisition Corp (DWAC), and stands to receive $293 million in cash that DWAC holds in a trust, assuming no DWAC shareholder redeems their shares, TMTG said in an Oct. 21 press release. Additionally, in December TMTG raised $1 billion committed financing from private investors; that money also will not be available until the DWAC deal closes. Digital World's activities have come under scrutiny from the Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, according to a regulatory filing, and the deal is likely months away from closing.

Trump's Truth Social app set for release Monday in Apple App Store, per executive

US National Archives and Records Administration told US Congress in a letter that former US president Donald Trump took classified material to his Florida home from the White House.&nbsp;

The Archives said it had informed the Department of Justice, which would handle any investigation.

"NARA has identified items marked as classified national security information within the boxes," David Ferriero, the archivist of the United States, said in a letter to Democratic U.S. Representative Carolyn Maloney, chair of the House of Representatives oversight committee.

Maloney's committee has been looking into Trump's handling of records by the Republican president, who left office in January 2021.

"These new revelations deepen my concern about former President Trump’s flagrant disregard for federal records laws and the potential impact on our historical record," Maloney said in a statement.

"The National Archives did not 'find' anything, they were given, upon request, presidential records in an ordinary and routine process to ensure the preservation of my legacy and in accordance with the Presidential Records Act," Trump said in a written statement.

"If this was anyone but “Trump,” there would be no story here."

The letter from Ferriero also said that some White House staff conducted official business using nonofficial electronic messaging accounts that were not copied or forwarded into official electronic messaging accounts and that it was in the process of obtaining some of those missing records.

The Washington Post reported last week that some of the documents taken to Trump's home were marked as classified, which could intensify the legal pressure Trump or his aides could face.

The Presidential Records Act requires the preservation of memos, letters, notes, emails, faxes and other written communications related to a president's official duties.

Claiming executive privilege, Trump sued unsuccessfully to stop the release of records from his White House, including to the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters.

(With inputs from agencies)

US National Archives and Records Administration told US Congress in a letter that former US president Donald Trump took classified material to his Florida home from the White House.

US National Archives and Records Administration told US Congress in a letter that former US president Donald Trump took classified material to his Florida home from the White House. The Archives said it had informed the Department of Justice, which would handle any investigation. "NARA has identified items marked as classified national security information within the boxes," David Ferriero, the archivist of the United States, said in a letter to Democratic U.S. Representative Carolyn Maloney, chair of the House of Representatives oversight committee. Maloney's committee has been looking into Trump's handling of records by the Republican president, who left office in January 2021. "These new revelations deepen my concern about former President Trump’s flagrant disregard for federal records laws and the potential impact on our historical record," Maloney said in a statement. "The National Archives did not 'find' anything, they were given, upon request, presidential records in an ordinary and routine process to ensure the preservation of my legacy and in accordance with the Presidential Records Act," Trump said in a written statement. "If this was anyone but “Trump,” there would be no story here." The letter from Ferriero also said that some White House staff conducted official business using nonofficial electronic messaging accounts that were not copied or forwarded into official electronic messaging accounts and that it was in the process of obtaining some of those missing records. The Washington Post reported last week that some of the documents taken to Trump's home were marked as classified, which could intensify the legal pressure Trump or his aides could face. The Presidential Records Act requires the preservation of memos, letters, notes, emails, faxes and other written communications related to a president's official duties. Claiming executive privilege, Trump sued unsuccessfully to stop the release of records from his White House, including to the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters. (With inputs from agencies)

Donald Trump took classified material from White House, says US National Archives

Donald&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;can be&nbsp;prosecuted&nbsp;for his&nbsp;role&nbsp;in the attack on the US&nbsp;Capitol&nbsp;by his supporters, a&nbsp;judge&nbsp;decided Friday, ruling that the Republican does not enjoy presidential immunity in this case.

The former president is the target of several lawsuits by elected officials and police who accuse him of being directly responsible for the violence perpetrated by his supports when they stormed the&nbsp;Capitol&nbsp;on January 6, 2021.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/latest-legal-blow-to-donald-trump-us-judge-orders-him-to-testify-in-fraud-probe-454168">&nbsp;Latest legal blow to Donald Trump: US judge orders him to testify in fraud probe</a>

A&nbsp;judge&nbsp;in Washington, DC, ruled that these complaints were admissible on the grounds that&nbsp;Trump's actions that day were "unofficial acts" that "entirely concern his efforts to remain in office for a second term," which the&nbsp;judge&nbsp;said does not fall within the scope of presidential immunity.

"To deny a President immunity from civil damages is no small step,"&nbsp;judge&nbsp;Amit Mehta wrote in findings that ran to 112 pages. "The court well understands the gravity of its decision."

The&nbsp;judge&nbsp;also said&nbsp;Trump's speech to thousands of supporters gathered in Washington before the assault could "reasonably" be perceived as a "call for collective action."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-rejects-trumps-claim-of-privilege-for-white-house-visitor-logs-454297">Biden rejects Trump’s claim of privilege for White House visitor logs</a>&nbsp;

Shortly after&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;addressed his supporters, a crowd waving "TRUMP&nbsp;2020" flags marched down the Mall to the seat of the US Congress, with hundreds forcing their way into the&nbsp;Capitol&nbsp;building.&nbsp;

At the same time,&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;took to Twitter to criticize his vice president Mike Pence for not blocking certification of Joe Biden's election victory, an act the&nbsp;judge&nbsp;said constituted "tacit agreement" with those who stormed the&nbsp;Capitol.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Former US President Donald Trump, his children ordered to testify in NY fraud probe

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/former-us-president-donald-trump-his-children-ordered-to-testify-in-ny-fraud-probe-454176/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The former president is the subject of three lawsuits accusing him of responsibility in the&nbsp;Capitol&nbsp;riot.&nbsp;

His&nbsp;role&nbsp;on that day is also being examined by a House of Representatives select committee, which has in its possession hundreds of pages of documents, text messages and testimonies, some of which the head of the probe said&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;had sought to keep hidden.

The billionaire former president has slammed the investigation as a "witch hunt."

Donald Trump can be prosecuted for his role in the attack on the US Capitol by his supporters, a judge decided Friday, ruling that the Republican does not enjoy presidential immunity in this case.

Donald Trump can be prosecuted for his role in the attack on the US Capitol by his supporters, a judge decided Friday, ruling that the Republican does not enjoy presidential immunity in this case. The former president is the target of several lawsuits by elected officials and police who accuse him of being directly responsible for the violence perpetrated by his supports when they stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Also read | Latest legal blow to Donald Trump: US judge orders him to testify in fraud probe A judge in Washington, DC, ruled that these complaints were admissible on the grounds that Trump's actions that day were "unofficial acts" that "entirely concern his efforts to remain in office for a second term," which the judge said does not fall within the scope of presidential immunity. "To deny a President immunity from civil damages is no small step," judge Amit Mehta wrote in findings that ran to 112 pages. "The court well understands the gravity of its decision." The judge also said Trump's speech to thousands of supporters gathered in Washington before the assault could "reasonably" be perceived as a "call for collective action." Also read | Biden rejects Trump’s claim of privilege for White House visitor logs Shortly after Trump addressed his supporters, a crowd waving "TRUMP 2020" flags marched down the Mall to the seat of the US Congress, with hundreds forcing their way into the Capitol building. At the same time, Trump took to Twitter to criticize his vice president Mike Pence for not blocking certification of Joe Biden's election victory, an act the judge said constituted "tacit agreement" with those who stormed the Capitol. Watch | Former US President Donald Trump, his children ordered to testify in NY fraud probe The former president is the subject of three lawsuits accusing him of responsibility in the Capitol riot. His role on that day is also being examined by a House of Representatives select committee, which has in its possession hundreds of pages of documents, text messages and testimonies, some of which the head of the probe said Trump had sought to keep hidden. The billionaire former president has slammed the investigation as a "witch hunt."

Trump can be prosecuted for role in US Capitol riot, judge rules

Former US President Donald Trump now must answer questions under oath in New York's civil investigation into his business practices.

Former US President Donald Trump, his children ordered to testify in NY fraud probe

To get your day started, here are some stories.

As tensions between Russia and Ukraine grow, Russian separatists, shelled the village of Stanytsia-Luganska in east Ukraine. The shell struck the wall of a kindergarten that was occupied by 20 children and 18 staff members. No casualties have been reported.&nbsp;Judge orders former President Donald Trump and his eldest children to testify under oath in a civil probe into alleged fraud at Trump's family business, the latest legal setback for 75-year-old Trump who faces multiple cases that could complicate his bid for another term in office in 2024.

Click on the headline to read more:

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pro-russian-rebels-shell-ukraine-kindergarten-amid-tensions-454171">'Big provocation': Pro-Russian rebels shell Ukraine Kindergarten amid tensions</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/02/18/241583-markets1.JPG" />

There were reports of shelling by Russian separatists in the eastern Ukrainian village of Stanytsia-Luganska amid soaring tensions between Russia and Ukraine.&nbsp;The shell blast hit the wall of a Kindergarten used by 20 children and 18 staff.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/you-just-look-dumb-elon-musk-compares-trudeau-to-hitler-later-deletes-the-tweet-heres-what-he-said-454172">'You just look dumb': Elon Musk compares Trudeau to Hitler, later deletes the tweet. Here's what he said</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2018/09/12/48999-Capture_10.PNG" />Triggering a storm on Twitter, Tesla CEO Elon Musk compared Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with Adolf Hitler in a tweet that apparently expressed support for truckers protesting vaccine mandates.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/latest-legal-blow-to-donald-trump-us-judge-orders-him-to-testify-in-fraud-probe-454168">Latest legal blow to Donald Trump:&nbsp;US judge orders him to testify in fraud probe</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/02/18/241584-stories-10.jpg" />

In a civil probe into alleged fraud at Donald Trump's family business, a US judge ruled that the former president and his eldest children Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump Jr must give testimony under oath.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/state-plainly-russia-will-not-invade-ukraine-us-challenges-putin-454166">State plainly Russia will not invade Ukraine, US challenges Putin</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/02/17/241462-russian-bmp-3-infantry-fighting-vehicles.jpg" />

US secretary of state Anthony Blinken told the United Nations&nbsp;that Russia is seeking to unleash a major invasion in the "coming days".&nbsp;The US diplomat citing intelligence inputs asked Russia to "announce today with no qualification, equivocation or deflection that Russia will not invade Ukraine. State it clearly. State it plainly to the world."

Beijing Winter Olympics: 15-year-old Russian skater Kamila Valieva misses out on podium

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/beijing-winter-olympics-15-year-old-russian-skater-kamila-valieva-misses-out-on-podium-454173/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe>

To get your day started, here are some stories. As tensions between Russia and Ukraine grow, Russian separatists, shelled the village of Stanytsia-Luganska in east Ukraine.

To get your day started, here are some stories. As tensions between Russia and Ukraine grow, Russian separatists, shelled the village of Stanytsia-Luganska in east Ukraine. The shell struck the wall of a kindergarten that was occupied by 20 children and 18 staff members. No casualties have been reported. Judge orders former President Donald Trump and his eldest children to testify under oath in a civil probe into alleged fraud at Trump's family business, the latest legal setback for 75-year-old Trump who faces multiple cases that could complicate his bid for another term in office in 2024. Click on the headline to read more: 'Big provocation': Pro-Russian rebels shell Ukraine Kindergarten amid tensions There were reports of shelling by Russian separatists in the eastern Ukrainian village of Stanytsia-Luganska amid soaring tensions between Russia and Ukraine. The shell blast hit the wall of a Kindergarten used by 20 children and 18 staff. 'You just look dumb': Elon Musk compares Trudeau to Hitler, later deletes the tweet. Here's what he said Triggering a storm on Twitter, Tesla CEO Elon Musk compared Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with Adolf Hitler in a tweet that apparently expressed support for truckers protesting vaccine mandates. Latest legal blow to Donald Trump: US judge orders him to testify in fraud probe In a civil probe into alleged fraud at Donald Trump's family business, a US judge ruled that the former president and his eldest children Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump Jr must give testimony under oath. State plainly Russia will not invade Ukraine, US challenges Putin US secretary of state Anthony Blinken told the United Nations that Russia is seeking to unleash a major invasion in the "coming days". The US diplomat citing intelligence inputs asked Russia to "announce today with no qualification, equivocation or deflection that Russia will not invade Ukraine. State it clearly. State it plainly to the world." Beijing Winter Olympics: 15-year-old Russian skater Kamila Valieva misses out on podium

Morning brief: Latest legal blow to Trump, Blinken asks Russia to state plainly won't attack Ukraine & more

In a civil probe into alleged fraud at Donald Trump's family business, a US judge ruled Thursday that the former president and his eldest children must give testimony under oath.

The ruling is only the latest in a string of legal setbacks for the 75-year-old who is battling multiple cases that are likely to complicate his bid for another term in office in 2024.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hungarian-far-right-pm-invites-donald-trump-hoping-for-a-positive-boost-in-upcoming-elections-452462">Hungarian far-right PM invites Donald Trump hoping for a positive boost in upcoming elections</a>

Letitia James, the New York Attorney General, recently said that she found "significant evidence" of fraudulent or misleading practices at the Trump Organization.&nbsp;

In January, she announced that her civil investigation had revealed that the Trump Organization fraudulently overvalued multiple assets to secure loans and then undervalued them to minimize taxes.

The Trumps have repeatedly tried to shut down the investigation.

Following more than two hours of oral arguments, state judge Arthur Engoron rejected a plea by Trump, Donald Jr and Ivanka to quash subpoenas issued by James in December.

The trio was ordered to sit for depositions with James' office within 21 days. It is likely that the Trumps will appeal this order.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/accounting-firm-cuts-ties-with-trump-and-retracts-financial-statements-453453" hreflang="en">Accounting firm cuts ties with Trump and retracts financial statements</a>

Lawyers for the Trumps argued that the subpoenas in the civil case were an attempt by James to obtain evidence in connection with her involvement in a parallel criminal investigation into the Trump Organization.

James, they said, was circumventing a New York law that grants immunity to witnesses who appear before grand juries in criminal cases.

Engoron said their argument misses the mark, noting that neither the Manhattan district attorney, which is running the criminal investigation, nor James's office have ordered the Trump family to appear before a grand jury.

As part of his ruling, Engoron added that the Trumps may invoke their Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate themselves when questioned during the civil case.

Watch |&nbsp;Capitol Riots: Biden rejects Trump's attempt to shield White House visitor logs

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/capitol-riots-biden-rejects-trumps-attempt-to-shield-white-house-visitor-logs-453923/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

He noted, that during a deposition for James's investigation in October 2020, Trump's son Eric "more than 500 times" pleaded the fifth.

Engoron also rejected Trump's claim that James' inquiry is political in nature.

Following the ruling, Trump's lawyer blasted the investigation as "yet another politically motivated witch hunt," echoing one of the ex-president's favourite refrains.

"The court clearly had its mind made up and had no interest in engaging in impartial discourse on this critically important issue," attorney Alina Habba said in a statement.

In a civil probe into alleged fraud at Donald Trump's family business, a US judge ruled Thursday that the former president and his eldest children must give testimony under oath.

In a civil probe into alleged fraud at Donald Trump's family business, a US judge ruled Thursday that the former president and his eldest children must give testimony under oath. The ruling is only the latest in a string of legal setbacks for the 75-year-old who is battling multiple cases that are likely to complicate his bid for another term in office in 2024. Also read | Hungarian far-right PM invites Donald Trump hoping for a positive boost in upcoming elections Letitia James, the New York Attorney General, recently said that she found "significant evidence" of fraudulent or misleading practices at the Trump Organization. In January, she announced that her civil investigation had revealed that the Trump Organization fraudulently overvalued multiple assets to secure loans and then undervalued them to minimize taxes. The Trumps have repeatedly tried to shut down the investigation. Following more than two hours of oral arguments, state judge Arthur Engoron rejected a plea by Trump, Donald Jr and Ivanka to quash subpoenas issued by James in December. The trio was ordered to sit for depositions with James' office within 21 days. It is likely that the Trumps will appeal this order. Also read | Accounting firm cuts ties with Trump and retracts financial statements Lawyers for the Trumps argued that the subpoenas in the civil case were an attempt by James to obtain evidence in connection with her involvement in a parallel criminal investigation into the Trump Organization. James, they said, was circumventing a New York law that grants immunity to witnesses who appear before grand juries in criminal cases. Engoron said their argument misses the mark, noting that neither the Manhattan district attorney, which is running the criminal investigation, nor James's office have ordered the Trump family to appear before a grand jury. As part of his ruling, Engoron added that the Trumps may invoke their Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate themselves when questioned during the civil case. Watch | Capitol Riots: Biden rejects Trump's attempt to shield White House visitor logs He noted, that during a deposition for James's investigation in October 2020, Trump's son Eric "more than 500 times" pleaded the fifth. Engoron also rejected Trump's claim that James' inquiry is political in nature. Following the ruling, Trump's lawyer blasted the investigation as "yet another politically motivated witch hunt," echoing one of the ex-president's favourite refrains. "The court clearly had its mind made up and had no interest in engaging in impartial discourse on this critically important issue," attorney Alina Habba said in a statement.

Latest legal blow to Donald Trump: US judge orders him to testify in fraud probe

Donald Trump’s longtime accounting firm cut ties with him and his family business last week, saying it could no longer stand behind a decade of annual financial statements it prepared for the Trump Organization, court documents show.

The decision, which was disclosed to the company in a Feb. 9 letter from the accounting firm, comes amid criminal and civil investigations into whether Trump illegally inflated the value of his assets. The firm, Mazars USA, compiled the financial statements based on information the former president and his company provided.

The letter instructed the Trump Organization to essentially retract the documents, known as statements of financial condition, from 2011-20. In the letter, Mazars noted that the firm had not “as a whole” found material discrepancies between the information the Trump Organization provided and the actual value of Trump’s assets. But given what it called “the totality of circumstances” — including Mazars’ own investigation — the letter directed the Trump Organization to notify anyone who received the statements that they should no longer rely on them.

The statements, which Trump used to secure loans, are at the center of the two law enforcement investigations into whether Trump exaggerated the value of his properties to defraud his lenders into providing him the best possible loan terms.

Mazars’ acknowledgment that the statements were fundamentally flawed was a potential blow to the Trump Organization as it attempts to fend off the long-running scrutiny of its finances. And for Trump, whose personal finances are intertwined with those of his family business and who has long faced questions about his taxes, Mazars is the latest in a long line of companies to break with him over the past year, following in the path of several banks, insurers and lawyers.

The disclosures about Mazars’ work for Trump appeared in new court documents filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is seeking to question Trump and two of his adult children under oath as part of her civil investigation.

Trump’s lawyers had asked a judge to prohibit the questioning, and in response, James’ office argued in court papers last month that the company had engaged in “fraudulent or misleading” practices.

Her Monday filing — which marked her latest attempt to press ahead with questioning Trump as well as Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump — included a copy of the Mazars letter, signed by the accounting firm’s general counsel.

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has been conducting a separate criminal investigation, with the assistance of lawyers from James’ office.

In a statement, the Trump Organization said that although it was disappointed with Mazars’ decision, it viewed the letter as confirmation that the firm’s “work was performed in accordance with all applicable accounting standards and principles and that such statements of financial condition do not contain any material discrepancies.”

The company argued that Mazars’ characterization of its work “effectively renders the investigations by the DA and AG moot.”

Mazars first moved to split with the Trump Organization last spring, and wound down its work during a transition to a new accounting firm, according to people with knowledge of the relationship. But the letter withdrawing the statements represented a sharper break, and its disclosure in the court filing was the first time the end of the business relationship has been made public.

In a statement, the accounting firm said that “under our standards of professional ethics, we cannot comment on any client services or relationships.”

The firm’s brief letter could bolster James’ investigation, which has focused partly on the statements and whether they overvalued Trump’s various hotels, golf clubs and other properties.

Mazars said it concluded that the statements were no longer reliable based in part on the attorney general’s earlier filings, its own investigations and information the accountants received from “internal and external sources.” The letter added that Mazars “performed its work in accordance with professional standards.”

Because James’ investigation is civil, she cannot file criminal charges. But she could sue Trump and his company to seek financial penalties and could try to shut down certain aspects of Trump’s business in New York.

“As the most recent filings demonstrate, the evidence continues to mount showing that Donald J. Trump and the Trump Organization used fraudulent and misleading financial statements to obtain economic benefit,” James said in a statement. “There should be no doubt that this is a lawful investigation and that we have legitimate reason to seek testimony from Donald J. Trump, Donald J. Trump Jr., and Ivanka Trump.”

It is unclear whether Mazars’ break with the Trumps will have any bearing on the DA’s criminal investigation into Trump. The firm has been cooperating with that investigation, and Trump’s main accountant at Mazars has already testified before a grand jury hearing evidence about Trump.

The office of the DA, Alvin Bragg, declined to comment.

Both investigations still face obstacles. Although the statements may contain exaggerated estimates of Trump’s property values, those same documents also include a number of disclaimers, including acknowledgments that Trump’s accountants had neither audited nor authenticated his claims.

Another disclaimer notes that Mazars did “not express an opinion or provide any assurance about” the statements, a common caveat in statements of financial condition. The firm also disclosed that, while compiling the information for Trump, it had “become aware of departures from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.”

Trump’s lawyers would probably argue that his lenders, sophisticated financial institutions such as Deutsche Bank, would not have relied on the statements when providing him loans.

Still, in her court filing last month, James highlighted potential misleading statements about the value of at least six Trump properties, including golf clubs in Westchester County, New York, and Scotland, as well as Trump’s own penthouse home in Trump Tower.

According to that filing, Trump claimed that the triplex apartment spanned 30,000 square feet, giving it an eye-popping value of $327 million. In truth, the apartment was 10,996 square feet.

Trump’s long-serving chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, later acknowledged to investigators that the company had overvalued the apartment by “give or take” $200 million.

(Separately, Weisselberg and the Trump Organization were indicted last summer and accused of orchestrating a 15-year scheme to provide certain executives with off-the-books luxury perks such as free cars and apartments. Weisselberg and the company have pleaded not guilty, and the case is tentatively scheduled to go to trial late this summer.)

Both the civil and criminal investigations have examined the underlying information that the Trump Organization provided Mazars as the accountants compiled the annual financial statements.

Often, Trump’s company would estimate the value of its properties based on recent selling prices of comparable buildings, a common real estate valuation method. Authorities have zeroed in on whether the company cherry-picked favorable information to essentially mislead Mazars into presenting an overly rosy picture of Trump’s finances.

James has argued that the Trump Organization misstated the value of the properties to lenders, insurers and the IRS. Many of the statements, she argued in the filing last month, were “generally inflated as part of a pattern to suggest that Trump’s net worth was higher than it otherwise would have appeared.”

Donald Trump’s longtime accounting firm cut ties with him and his family business last week, saying it could no longer stand behind a decade of annual financial statements it prepared for the Trump Organization, court documents show.

Donald Trump’s longtime accounting firm cut ties with him and his family business last week, saying it could no longer stand behind a decade of annual financial statements it prepared for the Trump Organization, court documents show. The decision, which was disclosed to the company in a Feb. 9 letter from the accounting firm, comes amid criminal and civil investigations into whether Trump illegally inflated the value of his assets. The firm, Mazars USA, compiled the financial statements based on information the former president and his company provided. The letter instructed the Trump Organization to essentially retract the documents, known as statements of financial condition, from 2011-20. In the letter, Mazars noted that the firm had not “as a whole” found material discrepancies between the information the Trump Organization provided and the actual value of Trump’s assets. But given what it called “the totality of circumstances” — including Mazars’ own investigation — the letter directed the Trump Organization to notify anyone who received the statements that they should no longer rely on them. The statements, which Trump used to secure loans, are at the center of the two law enforcement investigations into whether Trump exaggerated the value of his properties to defraud his lenders into providing him the best possible loan terms. Mazars’ acknowledgment that the statements were fundamentally flawed was a potential blow to the Trump Organization as it attempts to fend off the long-running scrutiny of its finances. And for Trump, whose personal finances are intertwined with those of his family business and who has long faced questions about his taxes, Mazars is the latest in a long line of companies to break with him over the past year, following in the path of several banks, insurers and lawyers. The disclosures about Mazars’ work for Trump appeared in new court documents filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is seeking to question Trump and two of his adult children under oath as part of her civil investigation. Trump’s lawyers had asked a judge to prohibit the questioning, and in response, James’ office argued in court papers last month that the company had engaged in “fraudulent or misleading” practices. Her Monday filing — which marked her latest attempt to press ahead with questioning Trump as well as Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump — included a copy of the Mazars letter, signed by the accounting firm’s general counsel. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has been conducting a separate criminal investigation, with the assistance of lawyers from James’ office. In a statement, the Trump Organization said that although it was disappointed with Mazars’ decision, it viewed the letter as confirmation that the firm’s “work was performed in accordance with all applicable accounting standards and principles and that such statements of financial condition do not contain any material discrepancies.” The company argued that Mazars’ characterization of its work “effectively renders the investigations by the DA and AG moot.” Mazars first moved to split with the Trump Organization last spring, and wound down its work during a transition to a new accounting firm, according to people with knowledge of the relationship. But the letter withdrawing the statements represented a sharper break, and its disclosure in the court filing was the first time the end of the business relationship has been made public. In a statement, the accounting firm said that “under our standards of professional ethics, we cannot comment on any client services or relationships.” The firm’s brief letter could bolster James’ investigation, which has focused partly on the statements and whether they overvalued Trump’s various hotels, golf clubs and other properties. Mazars said it concluded that the statements were no longer reliable based in part on the attorney general’s earlier filings, its own investigations and information the accountants received from “internal and external sources.” The letter added that Mazars “performed its work in accordance with professional standards.” Because James’ investigation is civil, she cannot file criminal charges. But she could sue Trump and his company to seek financial penalties and could try to shut down certain aspects of Trump’s business in New York. “As the most recent filings demonstrate, the evidence continues to mount showing that Donald J. Trump and the Trump Organization used fraudulent and misleading financial statements to obtain economic benefit,” James said in a statement. “There should be no doubt that this is a lawful investigation and that we have legitimate reason to seek testimony from Donald J. Trump, Donald J. Trump Jr., and Ivanka Trump.” It is unclear whether Mazars’ break with the Trumps will have any bearing on the DA’s criminal investigation into Trump. The firm has been cooperating with that investigation, and Trump’s main accountant at Mazars has already testified before a grand jury hearing evidence about Trump. The office of the DA, Alvin Bragg, declined to comment. Both investigations still face obstacles. Although the statements may contain exaggerated estimates of Trump’s property values, those same documents also include a number of disclaimers, including acknowledgments that Trump’s accountants had neither audited nor authenticated his claims. Another disclaimer notes that Mazars did “not express an opinion or provide any assurance about” the statements, a common caveat in statements of financial condition. The firm also disclosed that, while compiling the information for Trump, it had “become aware of departures from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.” Trump’s lawyers would probably argue that his lenders, sophisticated financial institutions such as Deutsche Bank, would not have relied on the statements when providing him loans. Still, in her court filing last month, James highlighted potential misleading statements about the value of at least six Trump properties, including golf clubs in Westchester County, New York, and Scotland, as well as Trump’s own penthouse home in Trump Tower. According to that filing, Trump claimed that the triplex apartment spanned 30,000 square feet, giving it an eye-popping value of $327 million. In truth, the apartment was 10,996 square feet. Trump’s long-serving chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, later acknowledged to investigators that the company had overvalued the apartment by “give or take” $200 million. (Separately, Weisselberg and the Trump Organization were indicted last summer and accused of orchestrating a 15-year scheme to provide certain executives with off-the-books luxury perks such as free cars and apartments. Weisselberg and the company have pleaded not guilty, and the case is tentatively scheduled to go to trial late this summer.) Both the civil and criminal investigations have examined the underlying information that the Trump Organization provided Mazars as the accountants compiled the annual financial statements. Often, Trump’s company would estimate the value of its properties based on recent selling prices of comparable buildings, a common real estate valuation method. Authorities have zeroed in on whether the company cherry-picked favorable information to essentially mislead Mazars into presenting an overly rosy picture of Trump’s finances. James has argued that the Trump Organization misstated the value of the properties to lenders, insurers and the IRS. Many of the statements, she argued in the filing last month, were “generally inflated as part of a pattern to suggest that Trump’s net worth was higher than it otherwise would have appeared.”

Accounting firm cuts ties with Trump and retracts financial statements

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan on Saturday said that Mumbai Indians are looking at Ishan Kishan as a long-term prospect and this is the reason why they spent so much on the left-handed batter in the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction.

Mumbai Indians spent Rs 15.25 crore to get Ishan Kishan back in the squad.

"He has the potential to be the future captain as well, not right now. They still have Keiron Pollard who can lead, Bumrah who is a leader himself, they have Suryakumar Yadav who could be the prospect for leadership as well. So, they want to invest for the next 5-7 years, that's why they went after Ishan Kishan so clearly and they knew that no matter what we needed to go back to Ishan Kishan," Pathan said on Star Sports'&nbsp;show 'Cricket Live -- IPL Auction Special'.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/live-ipl-2022-mega-auction-check-all-the-latest-updates-here-CSK-KKR-DC-RR-MI-RCB-SRH-LSG-GT-PBKS-452608">As it happened IPL 2022 Auction Day 1: Avesh Khan's historic bid, Ishan Kishan bags Rs 15.25 crore</a>

"I haven't seen in the Auction table, Mumbai Indian talking so much and taking a longer break than this in my history of this Auction list," he added.

Earlier, Sri Lanka spinner Wanindu Hasaranga was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for Rs 10.75 crore while India all-rounder Washington Sundar was picked up by SunRisers Hyderabad for Rs 8.75 crore.

Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh garnered interest from quite a few franchises and in the end, he was picked by Delhi Capitals for Rs 6.5 crore.

Earlier in the auction, India opening batter Shikhar Dhawan was acquired by Punjab Kings for Rs 8.25 crore. Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was bought by Rajasthan Royals for Rs 5 crore.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/auctioneer-hugh-edmeades-collapses-on-stage-as-ipl-2022-mega-auction-comes-to-sudden-halt-452616">Auctioneer Hugh Edmeades collapses on stage as IPL 2022 mega auction comes to sudden halt</a>

Australia Test captain Pat Cummins was taken by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for Rs 7.25 crore.Proteas pacer Kagiso Rabada was acquired by Punjab Kings for Rs 9.25 crore.

Kiwi pacer Trent Boult was sold to Rajasthan Royals for Rs 8 crore. Shreyas Iyer was picked up by KKR for Rs 12.25 crore. India pacer Mohammed Shami was picked up by Gujarat Titans for Rs 6.25 crore.

South Africa batter Faf du Plessis was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for Rs 7 crore. Lucknow Super Giants picked up Quinton de Kock for Rs 6.75 crore. Australia opening batter David Warner was picked up by Delhi Capitals for Rs 6.25 crore.

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan on Saturday said that Mumbai Indians are looking at Ishan Kishan as a long-term prospect and this is the reason why they spent so much on the left-handed batter in the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction.

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan on Saturday said that Mumbai Indians are looking at Ishan Kishan as a long-term prospect and this is the reason why they spent so much on the left-handed batter in the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction. Mumbai Indians spent Rs 15.25 crore to get Ishan Kishan back in the squad. "He has the potential to be the future captain as well, not right now. They still have Keiron Pollard who can lead, Bumrah who is a leader himself, they have Suryakumar Yadav who could be the prospect for leadership as well. So, they want to invest for the next 5-7 years, that's why they went after Ishan Kishan so clearly and they knew that no matter what we needed to go back to Ishan Kishan," Pathan said on Star Sports' show 'Cricket Live -- IPL Auction Special'. ALSO READ: As it happened IPL 2022 Auction Day 1: Avesh Khan's historic bid, Ishan Kishan bags Rs 15.25 crore "I haven't seen in the Auction table, Mumbai Indian talking so much and taking a longer break than this in my history of this Auction list," he added. Earlier, Sri Lanka spinner Wanindu Hasaranga was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for Rs 10.75 crore while India all-rounder Washington Sundar was picked up by SunRisers Hyderabad for Rs 8.75 crore. Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh garnered interest from quite a few franchises and in the end, he was picked by Delhi Capitals for Rs 6.5 crore. Earlier in the auction, India opening batter Shikhar Dhawan was acquired by Punjab Kings for Rs 8.25 crore. Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was bought by Rajasthan Royals for Rs 5 crore. ALSO READ: Auctioneer Hugh Edmeades collapses on stage as IPL 2022 mega auction comes to sudden halt Australia Test captain Pat Cummins was taken by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for Rs 7.25 crore.Proteas pacer Kagiso Rabada was acquired by Punjab Kings for Rs 9.25 crore. Kiwi pacer Trent Boult was sold to Rajasthan Royals for Rs 8 crore. Shreyas Iyer was picked up by KKR for Rs 12.25 crore. India pacer Mohammed Shami was picked up by Gujarat Titans for Rs 6.25 crore. South Africa batter Faf du Plessis was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for Rs 7 crore. Lucknow Super Giants picked up Quinton de Kock for Rs 6.75 crore. Australia opening batter David Warner was picked up by Delhi Capitals for Rs 6.25 crore.

Selling Trump: A profitable post-presidency like no other

While he was president, Donald Trump was known to destroy, tear up, remove and even flush White House documents down the toilet. He often eschewed the White House switchboard, using his own cellphone or those of his aides to communicate.

The practices, which have drawn fresh attention as a result of the House investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, have raised the question of whether Trump’s norm-breaking behavior was also a crime.

The House Oversight Committee said this week that Trump’s handling of documents appeared to constitute “serious violations” of the Presidential Records Act and announced an investigation of it.

The National Archives consulted the Justice Department about Trump’s record preservation practices after it discovered he had taken more than a dozen boxes of presidential files, including what it believes are classified documents, with him when he left office. The Washington Post reported that some of them were clearly marked “top secret.”

And his use of cellphones to conduct official business has led to large gaps in the official White House logs of his calls on Jan. 6, 2021, hampering investigators’ efforts to construct an accurate record of what he was doing during the riot. If he failed to preserve cellphone records and turn them over to the National Archives, that, too, could run afoul of the law.

Here’s what the Presidential Records Act is and why Trump’s behavior may have violated it.

Presidents don’t own their documents.

In 1978, after Watergate, Congress enacted the Presidential Records Act, which made a president’s documents the property of the United States, not his personal property, and laid out a process for ensuring that Congress and the public could eventually gain access to them.

It was aimed at preventing future presidents from doing what Richard M. Nixon wanted to after he resigned in disgrace, when he planned to destroy recordings that documented steps he and others took in response to the Watergate investigation.

The law requires that a president’s records be turned over to the National Archives once he leaves office and that they be made available to the public 12 years later — although certain entities, such as congressional investigators, can obtain them sooner.

The act excludes a president’s personal records — identified as those “of a purely private or nonpublic character” — from preservation requirements and grants a president a “high degree of discretion over what materials are to be preserved,” according to the Congressional Research Service.

It also provides a process for destroying records that typically includes seeking permission from the archivist of the United States, who may consult with Congress. There is no indication that Trump did so in the cases in question.

Trump openly flouted the requirements.

The House Oversight Committee has asked the National Archives to provide information regarding its communications with Trump’s team about 15 boxes of White House records discovered at Mar-a-Lago, his residence in Palm Beach, Florida, after he left office.

Trump had been loath to return the materials despite repeated efforts by the National Archives to obtain them, and at one point, the agency threatened to send a letter to Congress or the Justice Department if he continued to withhold the boxes, according to a person familiar with private discussions.

“If former President Trump was intentionally destroying records or hiding records from the National Archives — where they are legally required to be kept — he must be held accountable,” said Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., chair of the oversight panel.

Steven Aftergood, director of the Federation of American Scientists Project on Government Secrecy, said it appeared that Trump had violated the Presidential Records Act, given his penchant for ripping up documents.

“Any act of unauthorized destruction or unauthorized removal of records is contrary to law,” Aftergood said.

The question of Trump’s cellphone use is murkier. The act was written before the invention of email or cellphones, so it does not mention either. But given the purpose of the law — ensuring a complete record of presidential business — some experts believe Trump’s practices violated its spirit, if not its letter.

There are few consequences for Trump’s actions under the Presidential Records Act.

A flaw some experts see in the Presidential Records Act is its lack of a strong enforcement mechanism.

Under the law, the archivist has the “ultimate responsibility” for assuring the preservation and integrity of presidential records, Aftergood said.

“But the archives does not have its own police force and doesn’t have much investigative capability to speak of,” he said. “They can ask questions and they can write sternly worded letters. But the response depends on the White House or the president or the agency involved.”

Destroying documents could violate other laws.

Trump’s practice of ripping up documents could open him to additional criminal exposure, if the destruction of documents were part of an effort to impede an investigation.

“There could be liability under an obstruction statute, but the context and the facts would be critical there,” said David H. Laufman, a former Justice Department lawyer who oversaw the investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server.

“If there’s some intent to destroy documents to preclude a government agency from carrying out its lawful function, there could be a conspiracy to defraud the United States,” Laufman said.

But he cautioned that the Justice Department is often reluctant to pursue prosecutions that have no historical precedent, and the agency has never charged a former president with the destruction or removal of records.

“In a case involving a former president, the burden should be particularly high for particular conduct that has not been the basis of prior enforcement action,” Laufman said.

Trump could face consequences for his handling of classified information.

Criminal codes, which carry jail time, prohibit conduct that “willfully injures or commits any depredation against any property of the United States” or “willfully and unlawfully conceals, removes, mutilates, obliterates or destroys” government documents.

Samuel Berger, a national security adviser to President Bill Clinton, pleaded guilty in 2015 to a misdemeanor charge for removing classified material from a government archive.

Presidents have the power to decide what is classified and what is not — but only while they are in office.

“That could present a complicating factor for prosecutors in evaluating their likely success if they were to charge him or others with a crime,” Laufman said.

While he was president, Donald Trump was known to destroy, tear up, remove and even flush White House documents down the toilet. He often eschewed the White House switchboard, using his own cellphone or those of his aides to communicate.

While he was president, Donald Trump was known to destroy, tear up, remove and even flush White House documents down the toilet. He often eschewed the White House switchboard, using his own cellphone or those of his aides to communicate. The practices, which have drawn fresh attention as a result of the House investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, have raised the question of whether Trump’s norm-breaking behavior was also a crime. The House Oversight Committee said this week that Trump’s handling of documents appeared to constitute “serious violations” of the Presidential Records Act and announced an investigation of it. The National Archives consulted the Justice Department about Trump’s record preservation practices after it discovered he had taken more than a dozen boxes of presidential files, including what it believes are classified documents, with him when he left office. The Washington Post reported that some of them were clearly marked “top secret.” And his use of cellphones to conduct official business has led to large gaps in the official White House logs of his calls on Jan. 6, 2021, hampering investigators’ efforts to construct an accurate record of what he was doing during the riot. If he failed to preserve cellphone records and turn them over to the National Archives, that, too, could run afoul of the law. Here’s what the Presidential Records Act is and why Trump’s behavior may have violated it. Presidents don’t own their documents. In 1978, after Watergate, Congress enacted the Presidential Records Act, which made a president’s documents the property of the United States, not his personal property, and laid out a process for ensuring that Congress and the public could eventually gain access to them. It was aimed at preventing future presidents from doing what Richard M. Nixon wanted to after he resigned in disgrace, when he planned to destroy recordings that documented steps he and others took in response to the Watergate investigation. The law requires that a president’s records be turned over to the National Archives once he leaves office and that they be made available to the public 12 years later — although certain entities, such as congressional investigators, can obtain them sooner. The act excludes a president’s personal records — identified as those “of a purely private or nonpublic character” — from preservation requirements and grants a president a “high degree of discretion over what materials are to be preserved,” according to the Congressional Research Service. It also provides a process for destroying records that typically includes seeking permission from the archivist of the United States, who may consult with Congress. There is no indication that Trump did so in the cases in question. Trump openly flouted the requirements. The House Oversight Committee has asked the National Archives to provide information regarding its communications with Trump’s team about 15 boxes of White House records discovered at Mar-a-Lago, his residence in Palm Beach, Florida, after he left office. Trump had been loath to return the materials despite repeated efforts by the National Archives to obtain them, and at one point, the agency threatened to send a letter to Congress or the Justice Department if he continued to withhold the boxes, according to a person familiar with private discussions. “If former President Trump was intentionally destroying records or hiding records from the National Archives — where they are legally required to be kept — he must be held accountable,” said Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., chair of the oversight panel. Steven Aftergood, director of the Federation of American Scientists Project on Government Secrecy, said it appeared that Trump had violated the Presidential Records Act, given his penchant for ripping up documents. “Any act of unauthorized destruction or unauthorized removal of records is contrary to law,” Aftergood said. The question of Trump’s cellphone use is murkier. The act was written before the invention of email or cellphones, so it does not mention either. But given the purpose of the law — ensuring a complete record of presidential business — some experts believe Trump’s practices violated its spirit, if not its letter. There are few consequences for Trump’s actions under the Presidential Records Act. A flaw some experts see in the Presidential Records Act is its lack of a strong enforcement mechanism. Under the law, the archivist has the “ultimate responsibility” for assuring the preservation and integrity of presidential records, Aftergood said. “But the archives does not have its own police force and doesn’t have much investigative capability to speak of,” he said. “They can ask questions and they can write sternly worded letters. But the response depends on the White House or the president or the agency involved.” Destroying documents could violate other laws. Trump’s practice of ripping up documents could open him to additional criminal exposure, if the destruction of documents were part of an effort to impede an investigation. “There could be liability under an obstruction statute, but the context and the facts would be critical there,” said David H. Laufman, a former Justice Department lawyer who oversaw the investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server. “If there’s some intent to destroy documents to preclude a government agency from carrying out its lawful function, there could be a conspiracy to defraud the United States,” Laufman said. But he cautioned that the Justice Department is often reluctant to pursue prosecutions that have no historical precedent, and the agency has never charged a former president with the destruction or removal of records. “In a case involving a former president, the burden should be particularly high for particular conduct that has not been the basis of prior enforcement action,” Laufman said. Trump could face consequences for his handling of classified information. Criminal codes, which carry jail time, prohibit conduct that “willfully injures or commits any depredation against any property of the United States” or “willfully and unlawfully conceals, removes, mutilates, obliterates or destroys” government documents. Samuel Berger, a national security adviser to President Bill Clinton, pleaded guilty in 2015 to a misdemeanor charge for removing classified material from a government archive. Presidents have the power to decide what is classified and what is not — but only while they are in office. “That could present a complicating factor for prosecutors in evaluating their likely success if they were to charge him or others with a crime,” Laufman said.

Trump flouted Presidential Records Law. Will he face consequences?

Republican leader Mitch McConnell has rebuked Republican Party officials for censuring two Republican legislators who have criticised former president Donald Trump and pursued an investigation of the January 6, 2021 US Capitol riot.

Republican leader Mitch McConnell criticises RNC censure of Jan 6 probe panel

In a request to the Justice Department, the US National Archives, which manages the preservation of presidential documents, reportedly called for an investigation into President Donald Trump's handling of official documents, reported The Washington Post on Wednesday.

Trump has been in the news in the past few weeks for improperly handling official documents, and on Monday, the National Archives confirmed it had recovered 15 boxes of documents from Trump's Florida estate that he had taken with him when he left Washington.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ex-trump-adviser-speaks-to-wion-on-reports-that-some-white-house-records-were-torn-up-and-taped-back-450062">Ex-Trump adviser speaks to WION on reports that some White House records were torn up and taped back</a>

The documents include official correspondence with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, as well as a letter Trump's predecessor, former President Barack Obama left for him in the Oval Office.

The Justice Department had only held preliminary talks about the matter, the Post reported, citing two anonymous sources familiar with the issue. It is yet unclear whether or not the department would respond and act on the request.

US presidents are required to turn over all their emails, letters, and other work documents to the National Archives under the 1978 Presidential Records Act (PRA), which was passed in the wake of the Watergate scandal.

Watch |&nbsp;Republican leader Mitch McConnell criticises RNC censure of Jan 6 probe panel

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/republican-leader-mitch-mcconnell-criticises-rnc-censure-of-jan-6-probe-panel-451811/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The government agency confirmed last week that Trump had a habit of ripping up documents, which is prohibited by the PRA, and that a number of documents had needed to be taped together again.

There has been a feud between Trump and the National Archives, which he unsuccessfully sued in an attempt to block the transfer of White House documents to a congressional committee researching the January 6, 2021 riot on the US Capitol.

(With inputs from agencies)

In a request to the Justice Department, the US National Archives, which manages the preservation of presidential documents, reportedly called for an investigation into President Donald Trump's handling of official documents, reported The Washington Post on Wednesday.

In a request to the Justice Department, the US National Archives, which manages the preservation of presidential documents, reportedly called for an investigation into President Donald Trump's handling of official documents, reported The Washington Post on Wednesday. Trump has been in the news in the past few weeks for improperly handling official documents, and on Monday, the National Archives confirmed it had recovered 15 boxes of documents from Trump's Florida estate that he had taken with him when he left Washington. Also read | Ex-Trump adviser speaks to WION on reports that some White House records were torn up and taped back The documents include official correspondence with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, as well as a letter Trump's predecessor, former President Barack Obama left for him in the Oval Office. The Justice Department had only held preliminary talks about the matter, the Post reported, citing two anonymous sources familiar with the issue. It is yet unclear whether or not the department would respond and act on the request. US presidents are required to turn over all their emails, letters, and other work documents to the National Archives under the 1978 Presidential Records Act (PRA), which was passed in the wake of the Watergate scandal. Watch | Republican leader Mitch McConnell criticises RNC censure of Jan 6 probe panel The government agency confirmed last week that Trump had a habit of ripping up documents, which is prohibited by the PRA, and that a number of documents had needed to be taped together again. There has been a feud between Trump and the National Archives, which he unsuccessfully sued in an attempt to block the transfer of White House documents to a congressional committee researching the January 6, 2021 riot on the US Capitol. (With inputs from agencies)

US National Archives requests a legal investigation into Donald Trump: Report

When Jane Timken kicked off an eight-week advertising campaign on the Fox News Channel in her bid for the Republican nomination for Senate, she did not focus on immigration, health care or the economy. Her first ad was titled “Fire Fauci.”

Its subject — Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Joe Biden’s top medical adviser for the coronavirus — is also under attack in Pennsylvania, where Mehmet Oz, a television doctor who has entered the Republican Senate primary there, calls him a “petty tyrant.” In Nebraska, an ad shows Jim Pillen, a Republican running for governor, dressed in hunting gear and cocking his gun after saying, “And Fauci? Don’t get me started.”

Republican attacks on Fauci are not new; former President Donald Trump, irked that the doctor publicly corrected his falsehoods about the virus, called him “a disaster” and repeatedly threatened to fire him. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., has grilled Fauci in nationally televised hearings, and Fauci — true to his fighter-from-Brooklyn roots — has punched back.

But as the 2022 midterm elections approach, the attacks have spread across the nation, intensifying as Fauci draws outsize attention in some of the most important state and local races on the ballot in November.

The Republican war on Fauci is partly a sign of Trump’s strong grip on the party. But Fauci, both his friends and detractors agree, has also become a symbol of something deeper — the deep schism in the country, mistrust in government and a brewing populist resentment of the elites, all made worse by the pandemic.

And Fauci, whose perpetual television appearances have made him the face of the COVID-19 response — and who is viewed by his critics as a high-and-mighty know-it-all who enjoys his celebrity — seems an obvious person to blame.

“Populism is essentially anti: anti-establishment, anti-expertise, anti-intellectual and anti-media,” said Whit Ayres, a Republican strategist, adding that Fauci “is an establishment expert intellectual who is in the media.”

For the 81-year-old immunologist, a venerated figure in the world of science, it is a jarring last chapter of a government career that has spanned half a century. As director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a post he has held since 1984, he has helped lead the response to various public health crises, including AIDS and Ebola, and advised eight presidents. He has never revealed a party affiliation. President George H.W. Bush once cited him as a hero.

Now, though, some voters are parroting right-wing commentators who compare Fauci to the brutal Nazi doctor Josef Mengele. Candidates in hotly contested Republican primaries like Ohio’s are trying to out-Trump one another by supplanting Speaker Nancy Pelosi with Fauci as a political boogeyman.

In Pennsylvania, Oz recently ran a Twitter ad calling for a debate — not between candidates, but between him and Fauci. In Wisconsin, Kevin Nicholson, a onetime Democrat running for governor as a conservative outsider, said Fauci “should be fired and referred to prosecutors.”

In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis has released an advertisement last month telling Fauci to “pound sand” via the beach sandals the governor’s reelection campaign is now selling: “Freedom Over Fauci Flip-Flops.” DeSantis has coined a new term: “Faucism.” In Washington, lawmakers are taking aim at Fauci’s salary, finances and influence.

“I didn’t make myself a polarizing figure,” Fauci declared in an interview. “I’ve been demonized by people who are running away from the truth.”

The anti-Fauci fervor has taken its toll on his personal life; he has received death threats, his family has been harassed and his home in Washington is guarded by a security detail. His standing with the public has also suffered. In a recent NBC News Poll, just 40% of respondents said they trusted Fauci, down from 60% in April 2020.

Still, Ayres said, Fauci remains for many Americans “one of the most trusted voices regarding the pandemic.” In a Gallup poll at the end of 2021, his job approval rating was 52%. On a list of 10 officials, including Biden and congressional leaders, only two scored higher: Chief Justice John Roberts and Jerome Powell, the chairman of the Federal Reserve.

Republican strategists are split on whether attacking Fauci is a smart strategy. Ayres said it could help rev up the base in a primary but backfire in a general election, especially in a swing state like Ohio. But John Feehery, another strategist, said many pandemic-weary Americans viewed Fauci as “Mr. Lockdown,” and it made sense for Republicans “to run against both Fauci and lockdowns.”

Here in Ohio, Timken, a Harvard graduate and former chairwoman of the Ohio Republican Party who promises to “advance the Trump agenda without fear or hesitation,” is doing just that. Her ad shows a parent struggling to put a mask on a screaming toddler, which she brands “child abuse.”

The spot, she said in an interview, was prompted by what she hears from voters who are resentful of vaccine mandates, confused by shifting public health advice and tired of being told what to do.

“It taps into the real frustration they feel,” Timken said, “that Fauci claims to be the bastion of science, but I think he’s playing God.”

She is one of three candidates with elite academic credentials who are going after Fauci in a crowded primary for the seat that Sen. Rob Portman, a Republican, is giving up. The others are J.D. Vance, a lawyer with a Yale degree and the author of the best-selling memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” and Josh Mandel, the former Ohio state treasurer, whose law degree is from Case Western Reserve University.

Vance called Fauci “a ridiculous tyrant” during a rally with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, the far-right Republican banned from Twitter for spreading COVID misinformation. Mandel has railed against Fauci for months on Facebook and Twitter, calling him a liar and “one of the biggest frauds in American history.”

Ohio Republicans are split between the Trump wing and centrists in the mold of John Kasich, the former governor. Those tensions were on display last week at Tommy’s Diner, a Columbus institution, and at a meeting of the Franklin County Republican Committee, which convened to vote on endorsements. Sentiments seemed to track with vaccination status.

At the diner, Republicans like Mike Matthews, a retired state worker, and George Wolf, a retired firefighter, both of whom voted for Trump, found no fault with Fauci. Both are vaccinated. “I’ve never heard of anyone that I would trust more,” Wolf said.

But at the next table, Andy Watkinson, a remodeling contractor who is unvaccinated, said he was a fan of Joe Rogan, the podcaster, provocateur and Fauci critic. “I think he’s done the same thing for 50 years and he’s in bed with all the pharma companies,” Watkinson said of Fauci, though there is no evidence of that. “He needs to retire.”

At the committee meeting, views about Fauci were more strident.

“He needs to be brought up on charges,” declared Lisadiana Bates, a former business owner who is home-schooling her children. Echoing Dr. Robert Malone, who has become a conservative celebrity by arguing that COVID vaccine mandates are unethical experiments, she asserted that Fauci had “violated the Nuremberg Code,” the set of research ethics developed after the Holocaust.

“This whole thing is nothing but an experiment!” Bates exclaimed.

The roots of anti-Fauci campaign rhetoric can be traced to Washington, where Fauci has clashed repeatedly with two Republican senators who are also doctors: Paul, an ophthalmologist, and Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas, an obstetrician.

Paul has fueled speculation that COVID-19 was the result of a lab leak produced by federally funded “gain-of-function” research — high-risk studies aimed at making viruses more infectious — in Wuhan, China. Fauci and other National Institutes of Health officials have said that the Wuhan research did not meet the criteria for gain-of-function studies, and that it is genetically impossible for viruses studied there to have produced the pandemic.

The nuances of that dispute, however, have gotten lost in the increasingly hostile exchanges between the two men. In July, after Paul accused him of lying to Congress, Fauci shot back, “If anybody is lying here, senator, it is you.” Last month, Fauci arrived at a Senate hearing brandishing a fundraising webpage for Paul that included a “Fire Dr. Fauci” graphic, and accused Paul of exploiting the pandemic for political gain.

Later in that same hearing, Fauci muttered under his breath that Marshall was “a moron” — a comment caught on an open microphone — after the senator posted Fauci’s salary on a placard and demanded his financial disclosure forms, suggesting he might be engaged in financial “shenanigans” with the pharmaceutical industry.

(Fauci’s financial disclosure forms, which Marshall has since posted on the internet, show investments in bonds and mutual funds, not drug companies. He is paid an annual salary of $434,312 under a provision that allows government doctors and scientists to be highly compensated, akin to what they could earn in the private sector.)

Fauci said he did not regret the “moron” remark, or the pushback against Paul. But Timken said calling Marshall a moron was “beyond the pale.”

Even some Fauci fans in academia and government say he might have been better off keeping his cool to avoid amplifying his Republican critics and alienating voters who need to hear his public health message. Some suggest he lower his profile; he says the White House asks him to go on TV.

“He’s been pushing back in a way that is not common for us to see for American scientists, and I don’t know if it’s a good idea,” said Dr. Ashish K. Jha, the dean of the Brown University School of Public Health.

If Democrats lose seats in the midterm elections, as many expect, Fauci may have a Republican-controlled Congress to contend with. Another Republican from Ohio, Rep. Jim Jordan, who claims that Fauci knew the coronavirus “came from a lab,” has vowed that Republicans will investigate him if they win control of the House.

Some of Fauci’s friends are urging him to avoid that possibility by retiring. He has been working on a memoir, but cannot look for a publisher while he is still a federal employee. Fauci says Republicans will not dictate the terms of his retirement, and he has no plans at the moment to step down. And, he said, he is not worried about any investigation.

“I can’t think of what they would want to investigate except this whole pile of lies that they’re throwing around,” he said. 
&nbsp;

When Jane Timken kicked off an eight-week advertising campaign on the Fox News Channel in her bid for the Republican nomination for Senate, she did not focus on immigration, health care or the economy.

When Jane Timken kicked off an eight-week advertising campaign on the Fox News Channel in her bid for the Republican nomination for Senate, she did not focus on immigration, health care or the economy. Her first ad was titled “Fire Fauci.” Its subject — Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Joe Biden’s top medical adviser for the coronavirus — is also under attack in Pennsylvania, where Mehmet Oz, a television doctor who has entered the Republican Senate primary there, calls him a “petty tyrant.” In Nebraska, an ad shows Jim Pillen, a Republican running for governor, dressed in hunting gear and cocking his gun after saying, “And Fauci? Don’t get me started.” Republican attacks on Fauci are not new; former President Donald Trump, irked that the doctor publicly corrected his falsehoods about the virus, called him “a disaster” and repeatedly threatened to fire him. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., has grilled Fauci in nationally televised hearings, and Fauci — true to his fighter-from-Brooklyn roots — has punched back. But as the 2022 midterm elections approach, the attacks have spread across the nation, intensifying as Fauci draws outsize attention in some of the most important state and local races on the ballot in November. The Republican war on Fauci is partly a sign of Trump’s strong grip on the party. But Fauci, both his friends and detractors agree, has also become a symbol of something deeper — the deep schism in the country, mistrust in government and a brewing populist resentment of the elites, all made worse by the pandemic. And Fauci, whose perpetual television appearances have made him the face of the COVID-19 response — and who is viewed by his critics as a high-and-mighty know-it-all who enjoys his celebrity — seems an obvious person to blame. “Populism is essentially anti: anti-establishment, anti-expertise, anti-intellectual and anti-media,” said Whit Ayres, a Republican strategist, adding that Fauci “is an establishment expert intellectual who is in the media.” For the 81-year-old immunologist, a venerated figure in the world of science, it is a jarring last chapter of a government career that has spanned half a century. As director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a post he has held since 1984, he has helped lead the response to various public health crises, including AIDS and Ebola, and advised eight presidents. He has never revealed a party affiliation. President George H.W. Bush once cited him as a hero. Now, though, some voters are parroting right-wing commentators who compare Fauci to the brutal Nazi doctor Josef Mengele. Candidates in hotly contested Republican primaries like Ohio’s are trying to out-Trump one another by supplanting Speaker Nancy Pelosi with Fauci as a political boogeyman. In Pennsylvania, Oz recently ran a Twitter ad calling for a debate — not between candidates, but between him and Fauci. In Wisconsin, Kevin Nicholson, a onetime Democrat running for governor as a conservative outsider, said Fauci “should be fired and referred to prosecutors.” In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis has released an advertisement last month telling Fauci to “pound sand” via the beach sandals the governor’s reelection campaign is now selling: “Freedom Over Fauci Flip-Flops.” DeSantis has coined a new term: “Faucism.” In Washington, lawmakers are taking aim at Fauci’s salary, finances and influence. “I didn’t make myself a polarizing figure,” Fauci declared in an interview. “I’ve been demonized by people who are running away from the truth.” The anti-Fauci fervor has taken its toll on his personal life; he has received death threats, his family has been harassed and his home in Washington is guarded by a security detail. His standing with the public has also suffered. In a recent NBC News Poll, just 40% of respondents said they trusted Fauci, down from 60% in April 2020. Still, Ayres said, Fauci remains for many Americans “one of the most trusted voices regarding the pandemic.” In a Gallup poll at the end of 2021, his job approval rating was 52%. On a list of 10 officials, including Biden and congressional leaders, only two scored higher: Chief Justice John Roberts and Jerome Powell, the chairman of the Federal Reserve. Republican strategists are split on whether attacking Fauci is a smart strategy. Ayres said it could help rev up the base in a primary but backfire in a general election, especially in a swing state like Ohio. But John Feehery, another strategist, said many pandemic-weary Americans viewed Fauci as “Mr. Lockdown,” and it made sense for Republicans “to run against both Fauci and lockdowns.” Here in Ohio, Timken, a Harvard graduate and former chairwoman of the Ohio Republican Party who promises to “advance the Trump agenda without fear or hesitation,” is doing just that. Her ad shows a parent struggling to put a mask on a screaming toddler, which she brands “child abuse.” The spot, she said in an interview, was prompted by what she hears from voters who are resentful of vaccine mandates, confused by shifting public health advice and tired of being told what to do. “It taps into the real frustration they feel,” Timken said, “that Fauci claims to be the bastion of science, but I think he’s playing God.” She is one of three candidates with elite academic credentials who are going after Fauci in a crowded primary for the seat that Sen. Rob Portman, a Republican, is giving up. The others are J.D. Vance, a lawyer with a Yale degree and the author of the best-selling memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” and Josh Mandel, the former Ohio state treasurer, whose law degree is from Case Western Reserve University. Vance called Fauci “a ridiculous tyrant” during a rally with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, the far-right Republican banned from Twitter for spreading COVID misinformation. Mandel has railed against Fauci for months on Facebook and Twitter, calling him a liar and “one of the biggest frauds in American history.” Ohio Republicans are split between the Trump wing and centrists in the mold of John Kasich, the former governor. Those tensions were on display last week at Tommy’s Diner, a Columbus institution, and at a meeting of the Franklin County Republican Committee, which convened to vote on endorsements. Sentiments seemed to track with vaccination status. At the diner, Republicans like Mike Matthews, a retired state worker, and George Wolf, a retired firefighter, both of whom voted for Trump, found no fault with Fauci. Both are vaccinated. “I’ve never heard of anyone that I would trust more,” Wolf said. But at the next table, Andy Watkinson, a remodeling contractor who is unvaccinated, said he was a fan of Joe Rogan, the podcaster, provocateur and Fauci critic. “I think he’s done the same thing for 50 years and he’s in bed with all the pharma companies,” Watkinson said of Fauci, though there is no evidence of that. “He needs to retire.” At the committee meeting, views about Fauci were more strident. “He needs to be brought up on charges,” declared Lisadiana Bates, a former business owner who is home-schooling her children. Echoing Dr. Robert Malone, who has become a conservative celebrity by arguing that COVID vaccine mandates are unethical experiments, she asserted that Fauci had “violated the Nuremberg Code,” the set of research ethics developed after the Holocaust. “This whole thing is nothing but an experiment!” Bates exclaimed. The roots of anti-Fauci campaign rhetoric can be traced to Washington, where Fauci has clashed repeatedly with two Republican senators who are also doctors: Paul, an ophthalmologist, and Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas, an obstetrician. Paul has fueled speculation that COVID-19 was the result of a lab leak produced by federally funded “gain-of-function” research — high-risk studies aimed at making viruses more infectious — in Wuhan, China. Fauci and other National Institutes of Health officials have said that the Wuhan research did not meet the criteria for gain-of-function studies, and that it is genetically impossible for viruses studied there to have produced the pandemic. The nuances of that dispute, however, have gotten lost in the increasingly hostile exchanges between the two men. In July, after Paul accused him of lying to Congress, Fauci shot back, “If anybody is lying here, senator, it is you.” Last month, Fauci arrived at a Senate hearing brandishing a fundraising webpage for Paul that included a “Fire Dr. Fauci” graphic, and accused Paul of exploiting the pandemic for political gain. Later in that same hearing, Fauci muttered under his breath that Marshall was “a moron” — a comment caught on an open microphone — after the senator posted Fauci’s salary on a placard and demanded his financial disclosure forms, suggesting he might be engaged in financial “shenanigans” with the pharmaceutical industry. (Fauci’s financial disclosure forms, which Marshall has since posted on the internet, show investments in bonds and mutual funds, not drug companies. He is paid an annual salary of $434,312 under a provision that allows government doctors and scientists to be highly compensated, akin to what they could earn in the private sector.) Fauci said he did not regret the “moron” remark, or the pushback against Paul. But Timken said calling Marshall a moron was “beyond the pale.” Even some Fauci fans in academia and government say he might have been better off keeping his cool to avoid amplifying his Republican critics and alienating voters who need to hear his public health message. Some suggest he lower his profile; he says the White House asks him to go on TV. “He’s been pushing back in a way that is not common for us to see for American scientists, and I don’t know if it’s a good idea,” said Dr. Ashish K. Jha, the dean of the Brown University School of Public Health. If Democrats lose seats in the midterm elections, as many expect, Fauci may have a Republican-controlled Congress to contend with. Another Republican from Ohio, Rep. Jim Jordan, who claims that Fauci knew the coronavirus “came from a lab,” has vowed that Republicans will investigate him if they win control of the House. Some of Fauci’s friends are urging him to avoid that possibility by retiring. He has been working on a memoir, but cannot look for a publisher while he is still a federal employee. Fauci says Republicans will not dictate the terms of his retirement, and he has no plans at the moment to step down. And, he said, he is not worried about any investigation. “I can’t think of what they would want to investigate except this whole pile of lies that they’re throwing around,” he said.

Republicans wooing Trump voters, make Fauci their boogeyman

Jason Miller, the ex-senior adviser of the former US President Donald Trump spoke to WION on a range of issues, including the Biden administration, the current coronavirus (COVID-19) situation in the United States.

Jason Miller, the ex-senior adviser of the former US President Donald Trump spoke to WION on a range of issues, including the Biden administration, the current coronavirus (COVID-19) situation in the United States. Amid the escalating border situation between Russia and Ukraine, Miller also commented on Joe Biden's take on the Ukraine crisis and the stance that the US has taken on the conflict. Question) Donald Trump has said he may consider a pardon for the capitol hill rioters if he returns to office does that mean he is most definitely running in 2024 or is it still a maybe? Answer) That's with regard to people he believes were treated unfairly and did not commit any truly illegal or violent activity. Of course, if somebody assaulted law enforcement or if they created to damage or did something to assault or hurt another person. Obviously, they should be fully prosecuted. Even though there has not been a formal decision yet, I am pretty confident that Trump does run again in 2024. Many people would say they think there would be a rematch but I don't think Joe Biden runs again in 2024. My prediction is it would be Trump versus California Governor Gavin Newsom in 2024. Question) If and when Donald Trump does run for president in 2024, what would be the main focus of his campaign? Answer) First would be to try to restore some of the American greatness that he was able to lead us toward in his first term. I would say that Trump is by far the most consequential single-term president in US history. I have advised President Trump that he needs to make sure his relationship with Quad Allies in particular with India needs to be much stronger than it was in his first term. I do think they improved during his first term but they could be stronger especially when we look at this common concern with China. ALSO READ | Ex-Trump adviser speaks to WION on reports that some White House records were torn up and taped back Question) We are talking at a time when Covid-19 continues to wreak havoc across the United States. The US in fact has a far higher Covid death rate than other wealthy countries how would you grade the Biden administration's handling of the Covid-19 crisis? Answer) Joe Biden ran on a promise to effectively end Covid-19 and we have seen anything but that. We have not seen our stockpiles restored. We are just now starting to get to the point where at-home testing kits are being sent out. No efforts by the US to hold the CCP in China accountable. That's one of the things where I am most frustrated with the Biden administration for not taking stronger action in seeking some aspect of economic reparations. China and the CCP allowed this virus to spread all over the world and they lied about it and covered it up. Question) What do you make of the rhetoric we have seen coming in from Joe Biden on the Ukraine crisis and the stance that the US has taken on the conflict? Answer) We are stuck in the middle ground here. Joe Biden does not exhibit the confidence or the strength to ward off Putin's aggression. Much of Putin's strategy is to rally his domestic base. Do I think ultimately Putin will go and try to take over all of Ukraine? No. Do I think he wants to try to slow nato or even EU expansion? Absolutely. But the problem is with Joe Biden exhibiting such weakness on the global stage and having a lack of real international dialogue with Putin, it's allowed Putin to essentially be emboldened. The major threat, the real concern in the global geopolitical space is I think it's a matter of when and not if china takes over Taiwan. And I think that's something that's going to be a massive shock for the entire Indo-Pacific theatre. President xi is watching Biden's weakness in dealing with Putin and I think is probably emboldened to make that move against the island nation. China is an existential threat not just to the US but to democracies around the world. Watch the full interview here: ×

Ex-Donald Trump adviser Jason Miller weighs in on Biden administration, Covid crisis in US, and more

Jason Miller, the ex-senior adviser of the former US President Donald Trump weighed in on the reports related to a probe into Trump's alleged involvement in last year's Capitol Hill riots on January 6.&nbsp;

National Archives and Records Administration said that some of the documents handed over by Trump to the House Select Committee had been ripped, torn apart and taped back together.

Officials have said that some of the pieces were as small as confetti. However, in a conversation with WION, Miller stated that no "sensitive documents" would have been torn up.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/intense-directed-energy-by-external-device-could-have-caused-havana-syndrome-450006">Intense directed energy by external device could have caused Havana syndrome</a>

The House Select Committee was created last year to investigate the January 6 violence, when thousands of Trump supporters descended on the US Capitol in Washington DC to stop the process of confirmation of President Joe Biden's victory.&nbsp;

During the investigation, it has been understood that the panel has interviewed hundreds of witnesses and has received over 50,000 documents.&nbsp;

However, recent reports indicated that some of the documents were torn up and taped back together. While responding to this, former senior Trump adviser Jason Miller told WION about his experience when he was in the Oval office.&nbsp;

He said when Trump had been through or processed a memo or something that was put in front of him and he no longer wanted to have it around, he would "rip it in half and throw it in the trash can".&nbsp;

"It could have been as meaningless as a newspaper article," he said.&nbsp;

Miller said he finds the sight of government workers trying to tape a document back together even it is completely insignificant "humorous".&nbsp;

He added, "Obviously, that would never happen with sensitive documents. Sensitive type documents or important documents were handed to the proper people to file accordingly."&nbsp;

"Just to be very clear, nothing that would have been sensitive, or nothing that would have been of any concern that somebody had seen it, nothing of that type of nature would have been ripped in half," said Miller, adding that "those were handed back to proper government workers."&nbsp;

Watch Jason Miller's interaction with WION here:&nbsp;

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US media reports in 2018 had highlighted the point that Trump used to tear apart papers and throw them on the floor or in the trash. However, the paper used to get taped back in compliance with the Presidential Records Act.

As per the mentioned Act, memos, letters, emails and other documents are to be preserved and handed over to the Archives at the end of an administration.&nbsp;

Recently, the Archives said in a statement: "White House records management officials during the Trump Administration recovered and taped together some of the torn-up records."&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/more-than-3000-personnel-face-getting-discharged-as-us-army-tightens-vaccine-mandate-rules-449993">More than 3000 personnel face getting discharged as US Army tightens vaccine mandate rules</a>

"These were turned over to the National Archives at the end of the Trump Administration, along with a number of torn-up records that had not been reconstructed by the White House," it added.&nbsp;

The statement was issued after CNN and the Washington Post reported that some of the documents from the Trump White House that the Archives handed over to the House select committee investigating the January 6 assault had been torn up and then reassembled.&nbsp;

Watch the full interview here:

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&nbsp;

Jason Miller, the ex-senior adviser of the former US President Donald Trump weighed in on the reports related to a probe into Trump's alleged involvement in last year's Capitol Hill riots on January 6.

Jason Miller, the ex-senior adviser of the former US President Donald Trump weighed in on the reports related to a probe into Trump's alleged involvement in last year's Capitol Hill riots on January 6. National Archives and Records Administration said that some of the documents handed over by Trump to the House Select Committee had been ripped, torn apart and taped back together. Officials have said that some of the pieces were as small as confetti. However, in a conversation with WION, Miller stated that no "sensitive documents" would have been torn up. ALSO READ | Intense directed energy by external device could have caused Havana syndrome The House Select Committee was created last year to investigate the January 6 violence, when thousands of Trump supporters descended on the US Capitol in Washington DC to stop the process of confirmation of President Joe Biden's victory. During the investigation, it has been understood that the panel has interviewed hundreds of witnesses and has received over 50,000 documents. However, recent reports indicated that some of the documents were torn up and taped back together. While responding to this, former senior Trump adviser Jason Miller told WION about his experience when he was in the Oval office. He said when Trump had been through or processed a memo or something that was put in front of him and he no longer wanted to have it around, he would "rip it in half and throw it in the trash can". "It could have been as meaningless as a newspaper article," he said. Miller said he finds the sight of government workers trying to tape a document back together even it is completely insignificant "humorous". He added, "Obviously, that would never happen with sensitive documents. Sensitive type documents or important documents were handed to the proper people to file accordingly." "Just to be very clear, nothing that would have been sensitive, or nothing that would have been of any concern that somebody had seen it, nothing of that type of nature would have been ripped in half," said Miller, adding that "those were handed back to proper government workers." Watch Jason Miller's interaction with WION here: × US media reports in 2018 had highlighted the point that Trump used to tear apart papers and throw them on the floor or in the trash. However, the paper used to get taped back in compliance with the Presidential Records Act. As per the mentioned Act, memos, letters, emails and other documents are to be preserved and handed over to the Archives at the end of an administration. Recently, the Archives said in a statement: "White House records management officials during the Trump Administration recovered and taped together some of the torn-up records." ALSO READ | More than 3000 personnel face getting discharged as US Army tightens vaccine mandate rules "These were turned over to the National Archives at the end of the Trump Administration, along with a number of torn-up records that had not been reconstructed by the White House," it added. The statement was issued after CNN and the Washington Post reported that some of the documents from the Trump White House that the Archives handed over to the House select committee investigating the January 6 assault had been torn up and then reassembled. Watch the full interview here: ×

Ex-Trump adviser speaks to WION on reports that some White House records were torn up and taped back

A butterfly sanctuary in Texas was forced to shut down after threats from the supporters of former US president Donald Trump who accused the facility of helping illegal immigrants enter the US.

A conspiracy was doing the rounds that the National Butterfly Center in Texas, located on the banks of the Rio Grande that separates the United States from Mexico, has been helping immigrants enter America illegally.

Several US media reported that a far-right group, QAnon, was responsible for perpetuating the lies. It is being reported that the group was trying to target the facility after the latter filed a complaint against the construction of the border wall, citing the threat&nbsp;to the butterfly habitat.

The construction of a wall along the Mexico border was one of the poll planks of Trump.

The facility was already closed between January 28 and 30 because of “credible threats” related to an event held by supporters of the former president in nearby McAllen.

Photos purporting to be from the centre had been circulating along with messages accusing the organisation of helping smugglers bring migrants to the United States.

Several right-wing activists have posted videos on social media of themselves in front of the sanctuary.

"We don't think the threat has passed," the sanctuary's executive director Marianna Trevino Wright told AFP on Wednesday, citing repeated "provocations" from these individuals.

The private sanctuary's gardens are home to more than 200 species of butterfly as well as bobcats, coyotes, peccaries, armadillos and Texas tortoises.

The QAnon far-right conspiracy movement began in 2017 with claims that the Democrats ran a satanic child-kidnapping sex-trafficking ring, and it has been blamed for fuelling a riot at the US Capitol on January 6 last year.

(With inputs from agencies)

A butterfly sanctuary in Texas was forced to shut down after threats from the supporters of former US president Donald Trump who accused the facility of helping illegal immigrants enter the US.

A butterfly sanctuary in Texas was forced to shut down after threats from the supporters of former US president Donald Trump who accused the facility of helping illegal immigrants enter the US. A conspiracy was doing the rounds that the National Butterfly Center in Texas, located on the banks of the Rio Grande that separates the United States from Mexico, has been helping immigrants enter America illegally. Several US media reported that a far-right group, QAnon, was responsible for perpetuating the lies. It is being reported that the group was trying to target the facility after the latter filed a complaint against the construction of the border wall, citing the threat to the butterfly habitat. The construction of a wall along the Mexico border was one of the poll planks of Trump. The facility was already closed between January 28 and 30 because of “credible threats” related to an event held by supporters of the former president in nearby McAllen. Photos purporting to be from the centre had been circulating along with messages accusing the organisation of helping smugglers bring migrants to the United States. Several right-wing activists have posted videos on social media of themselves in front of the sanctuary. "We don't think the threat has passed," the sanctuary's executive director Marianna Trevino Wright told AFP on Wednesday, citing repeated "provocations" from these individuals. The private sanctuary's gardens are home to more than 200 species of butterfly as well as bobcats, coyotes, peccaries, armadillos and Texas tortoises. The QAnon far-right conspiracy movement began in 2017 with claims that the Democrats ran a satanic child-kidnapping sex-trafficking ring, and it has been blamed for fuelling a riot at the US Capitol on January 6 last year. (With inputs from agencies)

Texas butterfly sanctuary shuts down after threats from Trump supporters

Fifteen days after Election Day in 2020, James R. Troupis, a lawyer for the Trump campaign in Wisconsin, received a memo setting out what became the rationale for an audacious strategy: to put in place alternate slates of electors in states where President Donald Trump was trying to overturn his loss.

The memo, from a lawyer named Kenneth Chesebro, may not have been the first time that lawyers and allies of Trump had weighed the possibility of naming their own electors in the hopes that they might eventually succeed in flipping the outcome in battleground states through recounts and lawsuits baselessly asserting widespread fraud.

But the Nov. 18 memo and another three weeks later are among the earliest known efforts to put on paper proposals for preparing alternate electors. They helped to shape a crucial strategy that Trump would embrace with profound consequences for himself and the nation.

The memos show how just over two weeks after Election Day, Trump’s campaign was seeking to buy itself more time to undo the results. At the heart of the strategy was the idea that the real deadline was not Dec. 14, when official electors would be chosen to reflect the outcome in each state, but Jan. 6, when Congress would meet to certify the results.

And in that focus on Jan. 6 lay the seeds of what became a pressure campaign on Vice President Mike Pence to accept the validity of a challenge to the outcome and to block Congress from finalizing Joe Biden’s victory — a campaign that would also lead to a violent assault on the Capitol by Trump supporters and an extraordinary rupture in U.S. politics.

“It may seem odd that the electors pledged to Trump and Pence might meet and cast their votes on Dec. 14 even if, at that juncture, the Trump-Pence ticket is behind in the vote count, and no certificate of election has been issued in favor of Trump and Pence,” the Nov. 18 memo said. “However, a fair reading of the federal statutes suggests that this is a reasonable course of action.”

Federal prosecutors and the House committee investigating the events of Jan. 6 have recently confirmed that they are examining the effort to submit alternate slates of electors to the Electoral College. On Friday, congressional investigators issued subpoenas to 14 people who claimed to be official Trump electors in states that were actually won by Biden.

The two memos, obtained by The New York Times, were used by Trump’s top lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, and others like John Eastman as they developed a strategy intended to exploit ambiguities in the Electoral Count Act, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The memos were initially meant to address Trump’s challenge to the outcome in Wisconsin, but they ultimately became part of a broader conversation by members of Trump’s legal team as the president looked toward Jan. 6 and began to exert pressure on Pence to hold up certification of the Electoral College count.

Neither Troupis nor Chesebro responded to requests for comment about the memos. Even before the memos were written, legislative leaders in Arizona and Wisconsin sought advice from their own lawyers about whether they had the power to alter slates of electors after the election took place and were effectively told they did not, according to new documents obtained by American Oversight, a nonprofit watchdog group.

Trump has long embraced the scheme. Just this past weekend, he issued a statement reiterating that he was justified in using the process in Congress on Jan. 6 to challenge the outcome and asserting that Pence “could have overturned the election.”

The plan to employ alternate electors was one of Trump’s most expansive efforts to stave off defeat, beginning even before some states had finished counting ballots and culminating in the pressure placed on Pence when he presided over the joint congressional session Jan. 6. At various times, the scheme involved state lawmakers, White House aides and lawyers like Chesebro and Troupis.

In the weeks after the election, Troupis oversaw the Trump campaign’s recount effort in Wisconsin, which ultimately showed that Biden had won by more than 20,000 votes. In early December 2020, Troupis filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Trump campaign that sought to invalidate the use of absentee ballots in Milwaukee and Dane counties, which both have large numbers of Black voters.

At a hearing in front of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, one justice, Rebecca Dallet, noted that Troupis had not sought to invalidate votes in Wisconsin's 70 other counties but had focused only on the “most nonwhite, urban” parts of the state. Another justice, Jill Karofsky, echoed that sentiment, telling Troupis that his lawsuit “smacks of racism.”

In late December, Chesebro joined Troupis in asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review the question of whether competing slates of electors in Wisconsin and six other contested states could be considered Jan. 6. The high court denied their request.

The language and suggestions in the memos from Chesebro to Troupis closely echo tactics and talking points that were eventually adopted by Trump’s top lawyers.

The November memo, for example, called Jan. 6 the “hard deadline” for settling the results of the election and advised that the Trump campaign had nearly two months for “judicial proceedings” to challenge the outcome. It also suggested that Trump-friendly electors in Wisconsin needed to meet in Madison, the state capital, on Dec. 14, 2020, the day the Electoral College would be voting.

The second memo was dated Dec. 9, 2020, and expanded on the plan. It set forth an analysis of how to legally authorize alternate electors in six key swing states, including Wisconsin. It noted that the scheme was “unproblematic” in Arizona and Wisconsin, “slightly problematic” in Michigan, “somewhat dicey” in Georgia and Pennsylvania, and “very problematic” in Nevada.

Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., a member of the committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, said that the panel was examining the origins of the plans to put forward alternate electors. The panel already has in its possession memos that were written by Eastman and another Trump lawyer, Jenna Ellis, in late December 2020 and early January 2021; those memos laid out steps for Congress to take to cast aside Biden’s electors in key swing states.

“We know this was a coordinated effort on behalf of the former president and those around him to overturn a free and fair election,” Aguilar said. “We continue to learn new and more details. It’s incredibly troubling to know the lengths they went to support these efforts in multiple states.”

Aguilar said that he and others on the panel believed the plan to use the electors was connected to other aspects of Trump’s effort to remain in power, such as proposals to seize voting machines and to put intense pressure on Pence to throw out legitimate electoral votes.

“We need to know the depth of that plan, and we need to know the different ways in which they sought to operationalize their theory,” he said.

Fifteen days after Election Day in 2020, James R. Troupis, a lawyer for the Trump campaign in Wisconsin, received a memo setting out what became the rationale for an audacious strategy: to put in place alternate slates of electors in states where President Donald Trump was trying to overturn his loss.

Fifteen days after Election Day in 2020, James R. Troupis, a lawyer for the Trump campaign in Wisconsin, received a memo setting out what became the rationale for an audacious strategy: to put in place alternate slates of electors in states where President Donald Trump was trying to overturn his loss. The memo, from a lawyer named Kenneth Chesebro, may not have been the first time that lawyers and allies of Trump had weighed the possibility of naming their own electors in the hopes that they might eventually succeed in flipping the outcome in battleground states through recounts and lawsuits baselessly asserting widespread fraud. But the Nov. 18 memo and another three weeks later are among the earliest known efforts to put on paper proposals for preparing alternate electors. They helped to shape a crucial strategy that Trump would embrace with profound consequences for himself and the nation. The memos show how just over two weeks after Election Day, Trump’s campaign was seeking to buy itself more time to undo the results. At the heart of the strategy was the idea that the real deadline was not Dec. 14, when official electors would be chosen to reflect the outcome in each state, but Jan. 6, when Congress would meet to certify the results. And in that focus on Jan. 6 lay the seeds of what became a pressure campaign on Vice President Mike Pence to accept the validity of a challenge to the outcome and to block Congress from finalizing Joe Biden’s victory — a campaign that would also lead to a violent assault on the Capitol by Trump supporters and an extraordinary rupture in U.S. politics. “It may seem odd that the electors pledged to Trump and Pence might meet and cast their votes on Dec. 14 even if, at that juncture, the Trump-Pence ticket is behind in the vote count, and no certificate of election has been issued in favor of Trump and Pence,” the Nov. 18 memo said. “However, a fair reading of the federal statutes suggests that this is a reasonable course of action.” Federal prosecutors and the House committee investigating the events of Jan. 6 have recently confirmed that they are examining the effort to submit alternate slates of electors to the Electoral College. On Friday, congressional investigators issued subpoenas to 14 people who claimed to be official Trump electors in states that were actually won by Biden. The two memos, obtained by The New York Times, were used by Trump’s top lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, and others like John Eastman as they developed a strategy intended to exploit ambiguities in the Electoral Count Act, according to a person familiar with the matter. The memos were initially meant to address Trump’s challenge to the outcome in Wisconsin, but they ultimately became part of a broader conversation by members of Trump’s legal team as the president looked toward Jan. 6 and began to exert pressure on Pence to hold up certification of the Electoral College count. Neither Troupis nor Chesebro responded to requests for comment about the memos. Even before the memos were written, legislative leaders in Arizona and Wisconsin sought advice from their own lawyers about whether they had the power to alter slates of electors after the election took place and were effectively told they did not, according to new documents obtained by American Oversight, a nonprofit watchdog group. Trump has long embraced the scheme. Just this past weekend, he issued a statement reiterating that he was justified in using the process in Congress on Jan. 6 to challenge the outcome and asserting that Pence “could have overturned the election.” The plan to employ alternate electors was one of Trump’s most expansive efforts to stave off defeat, beginning even before some states had finished counting ballots and culminating in the pressure placed on Pence when he presided over the joint congressional session Jan. 6. At various times, the scheme involved state lawmakers, White House aides and lawyers like Chesebro and Troupis. In the weeks after the election, Troupis oversaw the Trump campaign’s recount effort in Wisconsin, which ultimately showed that Biden had won by more than 20,000 votes. In early December 2020, Troupis filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Trump campaign that sought to invalidate the use of absentee ballots in Milwaukee and Dane counties, which both have large numbers of Black voters. At a hearing in front of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, one justice, Rebecca Dallet, noted that Troupis had not sought to invalidate votes in Wisconsin's 70 other counties but had focused only on the “most nonwhite, urban” parts of the state. Another justice, Jill Karofsky, echoed that sentiment, telling Troupis that his lawsuit “smacks of racism.” In late December, Chesebro joined Troupis in asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review the question of whether competing slates of electors in Wisconsin and six other contested states could be considered Jan. 6. The high court denied their request. The language and suggestions in the memos from Chesebro to Troupis closely echo tactics and talking points that were eventually adopted by Trump’s top lawyers. The November memo, for example, called Jan. 6 the “hard deadline” for settling the results of the election and advised that the Trump campaign had nearly two months for “judicial proceedings” to challenge the outcome. It also suggested that Trump-friendly electors in Wisconsin needed to meet in Madison, the state capital, on Dec. 14, 2020, the day the Electoral College would be voting. The second memo was dated Dec. 9, 2020, and expanded on the plan. It set forth an analysis of how to legally authorize alternate electors in six key swing states, including Wisconsin. It noted that the scheme was “unproblematic” in Arizona and Wisconsin, “slightly problematic” in Michigan, “somewhat dicey” in Georgia and Pennsylvania, and “very problematic” in Nevada. Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., a member of the committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, said that the panel was examining the origins of the plans to put forward alternate electors. The panel already has in its possession memos that were written by Eastman and another Trump lawyer, Jenna Ellis, in late December 2020 and early January 2021; those memos laid out steps for Congress to take to cast aside Biden’s electors in key swing states. “We know this was a coordinated effort on behalf of the former president and those around him to overturn a free and fair election,” Aguilar said. “We continue to learn new and more details. It’s incredibly troubling to know the lengths they went to support these efforts in multiple states.” Aguilar said that he and others on the panel believed the plan to use the electors was connected to other aspects of Trump’s effort to remain in power, such as proposals to seize voting machines and to put intense pressure on Pence to throw out legitimate electoral votes. “We need to know the depth of that plan, and we need to know the different ways in which they sought to operationalize their theory,” he said.

Memos show roots of Trump’s focus on Jan. 6 and alternate electors

Jeff Zucker resigned Wednesday as president of CNN and chair of WarnerMedia’s news and sports division, writing in a memo that he had failed to disclose to the company a romantic relationship with another senior executive at CNN.

Zucker, 56, is among the most powerful leaders in the American media and television industries. The abrupt end of his nine-year tenure immediately throws into flux the direction of CNN and its parent company, WarnerMedia, which is expected to be acquired later this year by Discovery Inc. in one of the nation’s largest media mergers.

In a memo to colleagues that was obtained by The New York Times, Zucker wrote that his relationship came up during a network investigation into the conduct of Chris Cuomo, the CNN anchor who was fired in December over his involvement in the political affairs of his brother, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York.

“As part of the investigation into Chris Cuomo’s tenure at CNN, I was asked about a consensual relationship with my closest colleague, someone I have worked with for more than 20 years,” Zucker wrote. “I acknowledged the relationship evolved in recent years. I was required to disclose it when it began but I didn’t. I was wrong.

“As a result, I am resigning today,” he wrote.

Zucker was referring to Allison Gollust, CNN’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer and one of the highest-ranking leaders of the network, who is closely involved in major business and communications decisions.

Gollust said in a statement Wednesday that she was remaining in her role at CNN.

“Jeff and I have been close friends and professional partners for over 20 years,” she wrote. “Recently, our relationship changed during COVID. I regret that we didn’t disclose it at the right time. I’m incredibly proud of my time at CNN and look forward to continuing the great work we do everyday.”

Both Zucker and Gollust are divorced.

Chris Cuomo has contested the terms of his departure from CNN, which said it would not pay him severance or honor the remainder of his current contract. The anchor hired powerful Hollywood litigator Bryan Freedman to represent him in negotiations with the network.

Zucker had stood by Cuomo for months after it was revealed that the anchor had advised aides to Andrew Cuomo on how the governor could fend off the sexual harassment scandal that eventually led to his resignation. But Zucker dropped his support in December after more details emerged about Chris Cuomo’s involvement, including efforts to uncover the status of pending articles at other news outlets about his brother.

Days before Cuomo was fired, CNN was informed of an allegation of sexual misconduct against Cuomo by a former junior colleague at another network. Cuomo has denied that allegation.

In an industry known for its on-the-air talent, Zucker is perhaps the most recognizable figure among behind-the-scenes executives. He became a public face of CNN in large part because of his public jousting with former President Donald Trump, with whom he once shared a friendlier relationship; as president of NBC Entertainment, Zucker had made the decision to grant Trump reality-TV stardom with “The Apprentice.”

Zucker became CEO of NBCUniversal in 2010 before leaving the company in 2010. He started at CNN in January 2013. In recent months, Zucker was heavily involved in the shaping of CNN+, a subscription streaming service that is set to begin this spring.

“Together, we had nine great years,” Zucker wrote in his memo Wednesday. “I certainly wish my tenure here had ended differently. But it was an amazing run. And I loved every minute.”

Jeff Zucker resigned Wednesday as president of CNN and chair of WarnerMedia’s news and sports division, writing in a memo that he had failed to disclose to the company a romantic relationship with another senior executive at CNN.

Jeff Zucker resigned Wednesday as president of CNN and chair of WarnerMedia’s news and sports division, writing in a memo that he had failed to disclose to the company a romantic relationship with another senior executive at CNN. Zucker, 56, is among the most powerful leaders in the American media and television industries. The abrupt end of his nine-year tenure immediately throws into flux the direction of CNN and its parent company, WarnerMedia, which is expected to be acquired later this year by Discovery Inc. in one of the nation’s largest media mergers. In a memo to colleagues that was obtained by The New York Times, Zucker wrote that his relationship came up during a network investigation into the conduct of Chris Cuomo, the CNN anchor who was fired in December over his involvement in the political affairs of his brother, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York. “As part of the investigation into Chris Cuomo’s tenure at CNN, I was asked about a consensual relationship with my closest colleague, someone I have worked with for more than 20 years,” Zucker wrote. “I acknowledged the relationship evolved in recent years. I was required to disclose it when it began but I didn’t. I was wrong. “As a result, I am resigning today,” he wrote. Zucker was referring to Allison Gollust, CNN’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer and one of the highest-ranking leaders of the network, who is closely involved in major business and communications decisions. Gollust said in a statement Wednesday that she was remaining in her role at CNN. “Jeff and I have been close friends and professional partners for over 20 years,” she wrote. “Recently, our relationship changed during COVID. I regret that we didn’t disclose it at the right time. I’m incredibly proud of my time at CNN and look forward to continuing the great work we do everyday.” Both Zucker and Gollust are divorced. Chris Cuomo has contested the terms of his departure from CNN, which said it would not pay him severance or honor the remainder of his current contract. The anchor hired powerful Hollywood litigator Bryan Freedman to represent him in negotiations with the network. Zucker had stood by Cuomo for months after it was revealed that the anchor had advised aides to Andrew Cuomo on how the governor could fend off the sexual harassment scandal that eventually led to his resignation. But Zucker dropped his support in December after more details emerged about Chris Cuomo’s involvement, including efforts to uncover the status of pending articles at other news outlets about his brother. Days before Cuomo was fired, CNN was informed of an allegation of sexual misconduct against Cuomo by a former junior colleague at another network. Cuomo has denied that allegation. In an industry known for its on-the-air talent, Zucker is perhaps the most recognizable figure among behind-the-scenes executives. He became a public face of CNN in large part because of his public jousting with former President Donald Trump, with whom he once shared a friendlier relationship; as president of NBC Entertainment, Zucker had made the decision to grant Trump reality-TV stardom with “The Apprentice.” Zucker became CEO of NBCUniversal in 2010 before leaving the company in 2010. He started at CNN in January 2013. In recent months, Zucker was heavily involved in the shaping of CNN+, a subscription streaming service that is set to begin this spring. “Together, we had nine great years,” Zucker wrote in his memo Wednesday. “I certainly wish my tenure here had ended differently. But it was an amazing run. And I loved every minute.”

Jeff Zucker exits CNN after relationship with senior executive

The house of representative's select committee investigating the Jan 6 assault last year on Capitol Hill has received crucial documents to advance their probe.

House of representatives' select committee receives documents for probe on Jan 6 assaults last year

A new report has revealed that US Vice President Kamala Harris had driven within yards of a pipe bomb at Democratic National Committee headquarters during Capitol riot.

On January 6, 2021, she had to remain inside the headquarters due to a security lapse by law enforcement while responding to several incidents as per CNN.

"In order to maintain operational security, the Secret Service does not discuss protective means and methods," CNN quoted a Secret Service spokesman.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-a-stunning-video-from-capitol-riots-363269/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Hundreds of supporters of former US President Donald Trump stormed the US legislature in Washington on January 6 last year in an effort to block certification of President Joe Biden's November 2020 election victory.

More than 700 people have been arrested as part of the investigation into the riot that left five people dead and the country reeling. That list grows by the day as the sprawling investigation churns on.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-retaliates-against-bidens-capitol-riot-anniversary-speech-calls-it-political-theatre-442812">Also read |&nbsp;Trump retaliates against Biden's Capitol riot anniversary speech, calls it 'political theatre'</a>

Most of the accused are not charged with violence or vandalism but merely with having illegally entered the building and generally face misdemeanor charges.

However some longer sentences have been handed down and more of the approximately 225 individuals accused of acts of violence could face serious repercussions in court.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/over-1000-public-figures-participated-in-us-capitol-riot-aided-trumps-effort-to-overturn-election-442419">Also read |&nbsp;Over 1000 public figures participated in US Capitol riot, aided Trump’s effort to overturn election</a>

The US House of Representatives committee investigating the attack has issued more than 50 subpoenas and heard from more than 300 witnesses. It is expected to release an interim report in the summer and a final report in the fall.

Four people died in the hours-long chaos after Trump urged supporters to march to the Capitol and "fight like hell."&nbsp;

Social media platforms were widely blamed for amplifying calls to violence and spreading misinformation that contributed to the January 6 attempt to violently overturn the election results.

One police officer died on that day after battling rioters and four later died by suicide. Around 140 police officers were injured.&nbsp;

 
(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

A new report has revealed that US Vice President Kamala Harris had driven within yards of a pipe bomb at Democratic National Committee headquarters during Capitol riot.

A new report has revealed that US Vice President Kamala Harris had driven within yards of a pipe bomb at Democratic National Committee headquarters during Capitol riot. On January 6, 2021, she had to remain inside the headquarters due to a security lapse by law enforcement while responding to several incidents as per CNN. "In order to maintain operational security, the Secret Service does not discuss protective means and methods," CNN quoted a Secret Service spokesman. Hundreds of supporters of former US President Donald Trump stormed the US legislature in Washington on January 6 last year in an effort to block certification of President Joe Biden's November 2020 election victory. More than 700 people have been arrested as part of the investigation into the riot that left five people dead and the country reeling. That list grows by the day as the sprawling investigation churns on. Also read | Trump retaliates against Biden's Capitol riot anniversary speech, calls it 'political theatre' Most of the accused are not charged with violence or vandalism but merely with having illegally entered the building and generally face misdemeanor charges. However some longer sentences have been handed down and more of the approximately 225 individuals accused of acts of violence could face serious repercussions in court. Also read | Over 1000 public figures participated in US Capitol riot, aided Trump’s effort to overturn election The US House of Representatives committee investigating the attack has issued more than 50 subpoenas and heard from more than 300 witnesses. It is expected to release an interim report in the summer and a final report in the fall. Four people died in the hours-long chaos after Trump urged supporters to march to the Capitol and "fight like hell." Social media platforms were widely blamed for amplifying calls to violence and spreading misinformation that contributed to the January 6 attempt to violently overturn the election results. One police officer died on that day after battling rioters and four later died by suicide. Around 140 police officers were injured. (With inputs from agencies)

US Vice President Kamala Harris drove within yards of pipe bomb during Capitol riot: Report

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