Trump appeals ruling rejecting immunity claim as window narrows to derail federal election case
WASHINGTON— Former President Donald Trump is appealing a ruling that found he is not immune from criminal prosecution as he runs out of opportunities to delay or even derail an upcoming trial on charges that he plotted to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
Fake Donald Trump electors settle civil lawsuit in Wisconsin, agree that President Biden won
MADISON, Wis. — Ten Republicans who posed as fake electors for former President Donald Trump in Wisconsin and filed paperwork falsely saying he had won the battleground state have settled a civil lawsuit and admitted their actions were part of an effort to overturn President Joe Biden’s victory, attorneys who filed the case announced Wednesday.
A second Trump administration will ‘come after’ people in the media in the courts, an ally says
NEW YORK — A Donald Trump ally who worked in his Justice Department said Tuesday that if the former president is elected again, his administration will retaliate against people in the media “criminally or civilly.”
Group of swing state Muslims vows to ditch Biden in 2024 over his war stance
CHICAGO — Muslim community leaders from several swing states pledged to withdraw support for U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday at a conference in suburban Detroit, citing his refusal to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Three officials have left a pro-DeSantis super PAC in the group’s latest shake-up, AP sources say
DES MOINES, Iowa — Three senior members of a super PAC backing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis left the group on Saturday, the latest sign of instability within the 2024 hopeful’s political operation just six weeks before the Iowa Republican caucuses.
Lawsuits against Trump over Jan. 6 riot can move forward, appeals court rules
WASHINGTON— Lawsuits against Donald Trump over the U.S. Capitol riot can move forward, a federal appeals court ruled on Friday, rejecting the former president’s bid to dismiss the cases accusing him of inciting the violent mob on Jan. 6, 2021.
The RNC’s rules for the 2024 convention don’t address what would happen if Donald Trump is convicted
NEW YORK — The Republican National Committee’s rules for next year’s nominating contest and convention were released this week without addressing a question the GOP could well face next summer: Can the party’s delegates vote for a different candidate if the presumptive nominee is convicted of a felony?
An appeals court reinstates gag order that barred Trump from maligning court staff in NY fraud trial
NEW YORK — A New York appeals court Thursday reinstated a gag order that barred Donald Trump from commenting about court personnel after the former president repeatedly disparaged a law clerk in his New York civil fraud trial.
Nikki Haley wins backing from powerful Koch network as she aims to take on Trump
NEW YORK — Americans for Prosperity, the political arm of the powerful Koch network, formally endorsed Nikki Haley’s presidential campaign on Tuesday, promising to commit its nationwide coalition of activists — and virtually unlimited funds — to helping Haley defeat former President Donald Trump in the GOP primary contest.
Donald Trump draws cheers in Nikki Haley’s backyard at Clemson-South Carolina football game
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Donald Trump used college football rivalry weekend to bask among his supporters in a state and region that are key to his presidential fortunes, while trying to upstage his Republican opponent Nikki Haley on her home turf at the Clemson-South Carolina football game.
Rep. Dean Phillips, running for president, won’t seek reelection to Congress
MINNEAPOLIS — Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips will not run for reelection to the U.S. House as he goes all in on his insurgent primary campaign against President Joe Biden.
Fears of political violence are growing as the 2024 campaign heats up and conspiracy theories evolve
Experts on extremism fear that the threat of politically motivated violence will intensify as the 2024 presidential campaign heats up. Conspiracy theories that demonized Donald Trump’s enemies are morphing and spreading as the front-runner for the Republican nomination aims for a return to the White House. The potential for danger was highlighted by last year’s attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband in their San Francisco home. David DePape, who was convicted this past week of bludgeoning Paul Pelosi with a hammer, had testified that he consumed a steady diet of right-wing conspiracy theories before the attack. The assault took place less than two weeks before the 2022 midterm elections.
Officials stock up on overdose antidote naloxone after fentanyl-laced letters disrupt vote counting
SEATTLE — The suspicious letters sent to vote centers and government buildings in six states this month were undeniably scary, some containing traces of fentanyl or white powder, accompanied by not-so-veiled threats and dubious political symbols.
Michigan judge says Trump can stay on primary ballot, rejecting challenge under insurrection clause
DETROIT — A Michigan judge ruled Tuesday that former President Donald Trump will remain on the state’s primary ballot, dealing a blow to the effort to stop Trump’s candidacy with a Civil War-era Constitutional clause.
Election offices are sent envelopes with fentanyl or other substances. Authorities are investigating
WASHINGTON— Authorities on Thursday were trying to determine who sent suspicious letters, including some containing fentanyl or other substances, to local election offices, attacks that appear to have targeted multiple states in the latest instance of threats faced by election workers around the country.
Pence calls Trump’s attacks on Milley ‘utterly inexcusable’ at AP-Georgetown foreign policy forum
WASHINGTON Former Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday criticized his former boss-turned-rival, Donald Trump, for calling retired Gen. Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a traitor over phone calls he made to China in the final stormy months of their administration.
Trump animates California Republicans with calls to shoot people who rob stores
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — In an occasionally dark and profane speech, Donald Trump on Friday sought to win over Republicans in California by complaining that rich people in Beverly Hills smell bad because they’re denied water, reiterating lies about widespread election fraud and calling on police to shoot people robbing stores.
A Jan. 6 rioter was convicted and sentenced in secret. No one will say why
WASHINGTON (AP) — Hundreds of rioters have been charged, convicted and sentenced for joining the mob attack on the U.S. Capitol. Unlike their cases, Samuel Lazar’s appears to have been resolved in secret — kept under seal with no explanation, even after his release from prison.
Younger voters will be critical in 2024. Biden and Trump are taking different paths to reach them
HAMPTON, Va. (AP) — Students were dancing in the aisles and their seats in the Hampton University auditorium long before Vice President Kamala Harris took the stage for the first stop of her fall college tour.
Gov. Kristi Noem endorses Trump as he visits South Dakota
WASHINGTON (AP) — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem endorsed former President Donald Trump at a party fundraiser in Rapid City Friday night that doubled as an opportunity for Noem to showcase herself as a potential vice presidential pick.