Trump White House adviser acted 'above the law' in defying Jan. 6 Committee, prosecutors say
Prosecutors say a White House adviser to President Donald Trump acted as if he were "above the lawโ when he refused to cooperate with a congressional investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Ex-Trump White House official Peter Navarro to go on trial in September in Jan. 6 contempt case
Former Trump White House official Peter Navarro is scheduled to stand trial in September on contempt of Congress charges filed after he refused to cooperate with a congressional investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Jan. 6 panel's 1,000 witnesses: From Trump aides to rioters
The House Jan. 6 panel has interviewed more than 1,000 people who were directly or indirectly involved in the U.S. Capitol insurrection as it's probed the violent attack and former President Donald Trumpโs unprecedented efforts to overturn his election defeat.
Jan. 6 panel missing roughly 8 hours of Trumpโs phone calls
The House panel investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol has identified a roughly 8-hour gap in official White House records of then-President Donald Trumpโs phone calls as the violence unfolded and his supporters stormed the building.
Biden denies Navarro, Flynn privilege claims in 1/6 probe
President Joe Biden has denied executive privilege claims made by former Trump administration officials Peter Navarro and Michael Flynn in response to congressional subpoenas from the House committee investigating the attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Jan. 6 committee subpoenas ex-Trump adviser Peter Navarro
The House committee investigating the U.S. Capitol insurrection has subpoenaed former White House trade adviser Peter Navarro, seeking to question an ally of former President Donald Trump who promoted false claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election.
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Trump returns to spotlight in trial โ but not on his terms
More than three weeks removed from the White House, Donald Trump's voice is again permeating the nation's capital โ but not on his terms. AdStill, he argued that if Trump had access to Twitter, he would likely dig himself deeper into trouble. But Trump was quickly snapped out of that disengagement Tuesday as he watched the trial's opening arguments unfold. Trump's team and allies have assured him that he has more than enough Republican votes to acquit him of the Democratsโ charge that he incited the insurrection on Jan. 6. Trump is not expected to make any changes to his team, though David Schoen is expected to take the central role.
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Trump can't hang on to lawyers after false election claims
Since losing the November election to President Joe Biden, Trump has been hemorrhaging attorneys. Trump's impeachment lawyers started off their defense by misspelling the words โUnited Statesโ in their brief. Navarro told The Associated Press that he โwarned the president that his legal team was going to fail him." Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana said Trumpโs team did a โterrible job." AdBut after impeachment, Trump's legal needs will likely accelerate, with the investigations in New York, Georgia and possibly Washington, D.C., where prosecutors will have the power of subpoena.
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Trump fumes, GOP senators baffled by legal team's debut
In this image from video, Bruce Castor, an attorney for former President Donald Trump, speaks during the second impeachment trial of Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021. Senators, too, criticized what they described as an unfocused and rambling performance as Trump's team and Democratic House managers began to lay out their cases in front of the Senate jury. The anger was echoed by Trump allies, who blasted the lawyers both publicly and privately and with repeated profanities. GOP Sen. John Cornyn of Texas said Castor โjust rambled on and on and on and didnโt really address the constitutional argument. Trump's team did not respond to requests for comment on the day's events or questions about whether they are planning any shakeups to the legal team.
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China hits Trump officials with sanctions on their way out
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying speaks during the daily press briefing at the Foreign Ministry in Beijing on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Liu Zheng)WASHINGTON โ China imposed sanctions on nearly 30 former Trump administration officials moments after they left office on Wednesday. On Tuesday, Pompeo announced that he had declared China's repression of Muslim ethnic minorities a โgenocide," possibly opening the door to new U.S. sanctions against Chinese officials. The Trump administration had steadily ramped up pressure on China since last year but had increasingly so over the past several months. During its last weeks in office, the administration had hit numerous officials with sanctions for their actions on Tibet, Taiwan, Hong Kong and the South China Sea.
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Trump adviser broke law with Biden criticism, watchdog says
WASHINGTON โ A federal watchdog agency on Monday reported that one of President Donald Trumpโs economic advisers repeatedly violated the law during the campaign season with his criticisms of Joe Biden, now the president-elect. The Hatch Act prevents federal employees from engaging in political work while performing their official duties. They argued, for example, that Navarroโs statement about Biden โkowtowing to the Chineseโ was acceptable for him to make in his official capacity. Navarro violated the Hatch Act because he engaged in that very activity,โ the report said. The report said itโs up to the president to determine the โappropriate disciplinary action,โ showing the limits of the law.
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Trump-friendly Newsmax seeks to cut into Foxโs viewership
(Newsmax via AP)NEW YORK โ Now that his largely invisible network has suddenly been flooded by fans of President Donald Trump, Newsmax television personality Grant Stinchfield is puffing out his chest. โWeโve really cornered Fox from the right,โ said Chris Ruddy, Newsmax founder and friend of Trump. Foxโs prime-time viewership during the two weeks after the election was up 50 percent over last year. For Newsmax, a big question is whether its programming is compelling enough to hold viewers who are clearly sampling. Besides Kelly, former Trump press secretary Sean Spicer is Newsmaxโs best-known personality.
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Most Canadians hope for Trump defeat after insults, attacks
TORONTO, ONT โ Donald Trump called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau โweakโ and โdishonestโ and attacked Canada's vital trade. The unprecedented tone of attacks on Americaโs closest ally the last four years left a bitter taste, and most Canadians will be relieved if Trump is defeated in the election. But just six weeks after it was implemented, Trump announced new tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum. The U.S. has more confirmed cases and deaths from COVID-19 than any other country, but there is a hope in Canada that Biden administration might better contain the virus. The fact that itโs been accepted almost without a peep so far is in part a measure of just how loathed the Trump administration is,โ Bothwell said.
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Trump pushes mining with order, but effects are uncertain
Itโs the latest in a string of actions by the administration meant to boost the mining industry by hastening environmental reviews and shielding companies from international market pressures. Under the 1872 mining law that governs the industry, companies are not required to pay royalties on minerals extracted from public lands. โFor too long in the West, the mining industry has enjoyed a sweetheart deal,โ Udall said. It directs agencies led by the Interior Department to report back within 30 days on measures they can take to hasten mining projects, and within 60 days with recommendations for imposing tariffs or quotas on China and other U.S. mining sector competitors. Earthworks' Aaron Mintzes said the proposal advances โa mad rushโ to advance mining projects before Trumpโs term expires at the end of the year.
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Fires raise fight over climate change before Trump's visit
Jay Inslee on Sunday called climate change โa blowtorch over our states in the West." โThe debate is over around climate change. โThis is truly the bellwether for climate change on the West Coast," she said Sunday on CBSโ โFace the Nation." โAnd this is a wake-up call for all of us that we have got to do everything in our power to tackle climate change." โTalk to a firefighter, if you think that climate change isnโt real," the Democratic mayor said on CNN's โState of the Union."
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Q&A: TikTok saga continues with Microsoft talks. Now what?
NEW YORK The latest twist in the TikTok saga is an especially strange turn in a tale filled with strange turns. There are also concerns about TikTok censoring videos critical of China, which TikTok denies, or pushing propaganda. Chinas economic espionage is a well-known threat, and similar user data concerns were raised about Huawei, the telecom equipment maker. If thats the issue, a Microsoft deal would solve the problem. Other potential Big Tech buyers, especially Facebook and Google, would likely face antitrust concerns if they tried to buy TikTok.
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Trump again pushes unproven drug as COVID-19 treatment
Numerous studies, meanwhile, have shown that the drug, hydroxychloroquine, is not an effective treatment for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. And the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently withdrew an order that allowed the drug's use as a emergency treatment for COVID-19. Yet overnight, after returning from a trip to North Carolina where he promoted efforts to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, Trump retweeted a series of tweets advocating for hydroxychloroquine. The president also shared a post from the Twitter account for a podcast hosted by Steve Bannon, a former top White House adviser to Trump, accusing Fauci of misleading the public over hydroxychloroquine. This is what Ive been trained for my entire professional life and Ill continue to do it.Asked about claims he's been misleading the public, Fauci said: I have not been misleading the American public under any circumstances.
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In the open: White House advisers tussle over virus response
He shouldnt be doing that, Trump told reporters as he departed the White House for Atlanta. The back-and-forth is the latest episode of infighting in a White House that has been riven by rivalries since its earliest days. White House chief of staff Mark Meadows did not approve the article and is fully engaged, according to the official. The episode was frustrating for some in the White House because it diverted attention from positive developments, like progress on a vaccine, another official said. While he used to speak one-on-one with Trump, Fauci said, I havent done that in a while."
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USA Today: Navarro's anti-Fauci column didn't meet standards
NEW YORK USA Today says that a column that the newspaper solicited and published from presidential trade adviser Peter Navarro criticizing Dr. Anthony Fauci was misleading and did not meet fact-checking standards. The newspaper explained the decision in a note by Bill Sternberg, editorial page editor, attached to the column online. Navarro's column originally moved online late Tuesday and was published in Wednesday's newspaper. USA Today did not immediately return messages seeking comment on how Navarro's column escaped such scrutiny before being published. The incident is reminiscent of The New York Times saying last month that an opinion column by U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton hadn't been properly vetted, which led to the resignation of the paper's opinion editor.
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In the open: White House advisers tussle over virus response
FILE - In this April 22, 2020 file photo, President Donald Trump watches as Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, speaks about the coronavirus in the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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In the open: White House advisers tussle over virus response
He shouldnt be doing that, Trump told reporters as he departed the White House for Atlanta. The back-and-forth is the latest episode of infighting in a White House that has been riven by rivalries since its earliest days. White House chief of staff Mark Meadows did not approve the article and is fully engaged, according to the official. The Peter Navarro op-ed didnt go through normal White House clearance processes and is the opinion of Peter alone, White House communications director Alyssa Farah tweeted. The episode was frustrating for some in the White House because it diverted attention from positive developments, like progress on a vaccine, another official said.
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White House turns on Fauci as Trump minimizes virus spike
At the same time, the president and top White House aides are ramping up attacks against Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious diseases expert. Fauci has been increasingly sidelined by the White House as he sounds alarms about the virus, a most unwelcome message at a time when Trump is focused on pushing an economic rebound. Last week, Fauci contradicted Trump about the severity of the virus during a FiveThirtyEight podcast. Asked whether the president still had confidence in Fauci, a White House official on Monday insisted Trump did. The effort is part of a White House effort to counterpunch on behalf of Trump, who believes all slights must have a forceful response, said one official, who, like others, spoke on condition of anonymity to describe internal White House thinking.
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White House turns on Fauci as Trump minimizes virus spike
Asked whether the president still had confidence in Fauci, a White House official on Monday insisted Trump did. But that supportive message was not echoed by Peter Navarro, a top White House trade adviser who has been working on the coronavirus effort. However, one senior White House aide insisted frustration with him was directed more at outsiders, including some in the media who elevate Fauci" and fault the White House for not showing more deference. The effort is part of a White House effort to counterpunch on behalf of Trump, who believes all slights must have a forceful response, said one official, who, like others, spoke on condition of anonymity to describe internal White House thinking. America should be applauding Dr. Fauci for his service and following his advice, not undermining his credibility at this critical time," they wrote.
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US bets on small, untested company to deliver COVID vaccine
So far, the leading candidates are using traditional vials to hold the vaccine, and needles and syringes in their clinical trials. Suddenly ApiJects 5-year plan to mass produce its devices became a sprint measured in months with a new $138 million contract, announced in May, to produce 100 million devices by years end. On Wednesday, the largest domestic manufacturer of needles and syringes, Becton Dickinson, announced the first U.S. order of $11.7 million for 50 million needles and syringes by the end of this year. Testing different vaccine candidates in the ApiJect devices will be critical before injecting the public. But he said the government was buying a range of devices to deliver the vaccine because they don't know what they need.
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Trump says China trade deal still on after adviser's remarks
Trump tweeted: The China Trade Deal is fully intact. The Trump administration has been extremely critical of China's efforts to contain the novel coronavirus early on and the president repeatedly blames China for the pandemic in his remarks, leading to questions about future cooperation in areas such as trade. Peter Navarro, director of trade and manufacturing policy at the White House, told Fox News its over," when asked a question that was focused on the China trade deal. When contacted by The Associated Press, Navarro said his comments had been taken out of context and had nothing to do with the deal. In January, the U.S. and China reached an interim trade deal to reduce tariff tensions.
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Asian shares advance, tracking Wall Street tech rally
Asian shares were mostly higher on Tuesday, tracking a late rally on Wall Street led by technology shares. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)TOKYO Asian shares were higher on Tuesday, recovering from some early losses as regional markets tracked a late rally on Wall Street led by technology shares. Shares rose in Singapore and Taiwan but fell in Jakarta. That's led traders to bid up stocks in technology companies that offer services online, a thriving conduit of commerce through the outbreak. The Nasdaq composite, which is heavily weighted with technology stocks, climbed 1.1%, to 10,056.47, extending its winning streak to a seventh day.
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The Latest: India's infections soaring in rural areas
(AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)NEW DELHI Indias coronavirus caseload has risen to 425,282 as infections soar in rural areas to which migrant workers fleeing major cities have returned in recent weeks. Indias government planning body Niti Aayog says infections have now emerged in 98 out of 112 of the countrys poorest districts. The figures released by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday brought the national caseload to 12,438 cases, including 280 deaths. ___SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- An inmate from Avenal State Prison in California has died from what appear to be complications from the coronavirus. Its the first death at Avenal State Prison in Kings County, where 131 inmates have tested positive for the virus.
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Trump's intended show of political force falls short of mark
When you do testing to that extent, youre going to find more cases, Trump said. Before the rally, Trump's campaign disclosed that that six staff members who were helping set up for the event had tested positive for the coronavirus. The Tulsa event was scheduled over the protests of local health officials as COVID-19 cases spiked in many states. Trump's campaign declared that it had received over 1 million ticket requests. Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh, dismissing the potential impact, said "leftists always fool themselves into thinking theyre being clever'' and he noted that rallies are general admission, with first-come-first served.
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Pence to kick off 'American Comeback' tour in Pennsylvania
WASHINGTON Vice President Mike Pence will make an appearance at a manufacturing plant near Pittsburgh on Friday as part of a new campaign effort showcasing the nation's economy making a comeback. But he seized on a better-than-expected jobs report released last week, and his campaign quickly made an ad proclaiming the great American comeback has begun.That theme will continue Friday on the Great American Comeback Tour," which is being organized by America First Policies, a nonprofit associated with the America First Action super PAC supporting Trumps reelection. Other administration officials, including Ivanka Trump and trade adviser Peter Navarro, may appear at the tour's later dates. Pence has ramped up his travel in recent weeks as the White House projects a return to normalcy even amid rising coronavirus cases in more than a dozen states. Beginning July 4th weekend, America First Policies plans a multimillion-dollar television and digital ad campaign around the comeback theme.
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Automakers help restart US industry as globe reopens further
Stocks rallied on the vaccine news and signs that the worst of the crisis has passed in many countries. Some Detroit automakers started cranking out vehicles Monday, but it will take longer to fully restart other plants. At a Fiat Chrysler pickup truck assembly plant in Warren, outside Detroit, workers entered a giant white tent with a sign reading, Let's restart and keep each other safe." The country has opted to impose short weekend and holiday curfews, instead of full lockdowns, fearing damage to the already troubled economy. ___This story has been corrected to show that some Detroit automakers began producing vehicles Monday.
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Virus tests Lesley Stahl and CBS' '60 Minutes' on, off air
This image released by CBS News shows "60 Minutes" correspondent Lesley Stahl. At the same time, โ60 Minutesโ has dove into a breaking news story in ways that it seldom has before. She wasn't alone with coronavirus at โ60 Minutes.โ Owens declined to say how many others had it, but said everyone was well now. โ60 Minutesโ is no stranger to news, and became more topical when Jeff Fager replaced original producer Don Hewitt. Traditionally, โ60 Minutesโ essentially shuts down at the end of May for vacations and to prepare for next season's stories.