Donald Trump promises to stay in the race in 2024 if criminal charges are brought against him
Porn actress Stormy Daniels met with prosecutors at the request of the Manhattan district attorney’s office on Monday, her attorney confirmed Wednesday afternoon. She answered questions about Donald Trump’s role in silent cash payments given to her during the 2016 election campaign. Mrs. Daniels agreed to appear as a witness.
Mr Trump’s former agent Michael Cohen is expected to conclude his testimony today as investigators continue to accelerate their investigation.
The former president’s attorney, Joseph Tacopina, accessed documents from MSNBC host Ari Melber that aired live as they argued over the case against the former president on Tuesday night. Mr Melber read a transcript from Mr Trump saying he was unaware of the payment to Ms Daniels to prevent her from making her claim about their 2006 affair public.
Meanwhile, exiled Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui, an ally of far-right activist and former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, has been arrested and charged by federal prosecutors in connection with a wide-ranging fraud case.
He owned the 152-foot yacht on which Bannon was arrested in August 2020, and helped set up a media group that is also under separate federal investigation.
Federal prosecutors are investigating Trump Media for $8 million in money laundering, the report says
In late 2021 and early 2022, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), which owns Truth Social, received a total of $8 million in loans of potentially dubious origins, Guardian reports, citing multiple unnamed sources with knowledge of the investigation and a bank receipt showing the transfer.
The funds came from a trust and passed through Paxum Bank, registered on the Caribbean island of Dominica, which is partly owned by Anton Postolnikov, who appears to be related to Vladimir Putin’s ally Alexander Smirnov, a Russian liaison who has attracted the interest of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, according to the report.
Josh Marcus has details.
Oliver O’ConnellMarch 15, 2023 19:45
Ukraine’s support begins to divide the GOP 2024 field
Former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis are emerging as main contenders for the Republican presidential nomination. But when it comes to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, they are unanimous in arguing that stopping aggression is not a vital U.S. strategic interest.
This puts them at odds with many members of their party.
Breakdown of support for Ukraine appears in early 2024. GOP field
Former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis are emerging as major contenders for the Republican presidential nomination, but when it comes to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, they are united in arguing that stopping aggression is not a vital U.S. strategic interest
Oliver O’ConnellMarch 15, 2023 19:35
Stormy Daniels’ lawyer, Clark Brewster, tweeted:
“At the request of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, Stormy Daniels and I met with prosecutors today. Stormy responded to questions and agreed to be available as a witness or for further investigation if needed.”
Oliver O’ConnellMarch 15, 2023 19:17
Stormy Daniels confirms she met with Manhattan prosecutors
Oliver O’ConnellMarch 15, 2023 19:15
Could Stormy Daniels cash payment lead to Trump’s first charges?
John Bowden explains how the five-year saga is finally coming to some conclusion.
Oliver O’ConnellMarch 15, 2023 19:10
GOP Quietly Drops House Inquiry into Trump Finances
The new Republican majority in the House of Representatives has quietly dropped an investigation into whether former President Donald Trump made improper profits during his presidency.
The House Oversight & Accountability has refused to enforce a court-supervised settlement that required Mazars USA, the former president’s accounting firm, to submit his financial records to Congress, The New York Times reported.
“Honestly, I didn’t even know who or what Mazars was,” said Representative James Comer of Kentucky, who is chairman of the committee Times. Rather, Comer said he would focus more on investigating President Joe Biden’s family.
Eric Garcia reports from the Capitol.
Oliver O’ConnellMarch 15, 2023 18:45
Chinese billionaire Steve Bannon ally Guo Wengui has been arrested by the FBI
Exiled Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui, an ally of far-right activist and former Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon, has been arrested and charged by federal prosecutors in connection with a wide-ranging fraud case.
He owned the 152-foot yacht on which Bannon was arrested in August 2020, and helped set up a media group that is also under separate federal investigation.
Alex Woodward has the latest from New York.
Oliver O’ConnellMarch 15, 2023 18:20
In the latest poll, Biden beat both Trump and DeSantis
The latest poll from Quinnipiac University shows that former President Donald Trump is ahead of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in a potential Republican primary, but when either is compared to President Joe Biden, the incumbent has the best of them all
Biden has a 49-45 lead over Trump and a narrow lead bordering on a dead run against DeSantis 47-46.
Oliver O’ConnellMarch 15, 2023 18:08
Camp DeSantis Says “It’s Wrong To Use State Ethics For Partisan Purposes”
Oliver O’ConnellMarch 15, 2023 18:02
Ethical allegations against DeSantis show Trumpworld is ‘nervous’
Former Trump official Ken Cuccinelli, who now heads the PAC for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, says the ethics charges filed against the governor are a sign that Trumpworld is “upset” about his run against the former president.
“The President Trump I knew would never play these kinds of establishment games. I’m shocked but not surprised,” says Cuccinelli.
“DeSantis is leading the fight against the Woke Left, but Trump wants him removed from office because DeSantis’s book outpaced Trump’s. In the words of President Trump: SAD!”
John Bowden here’s the whole story:
Oliver O’ConnellMarch 15, 2023 18:00
