Key occasions
Trump quietly provides new lawyer as deadline looms for him to testify to grand jury in January 6 case
Good morning, US politics weblog readers. The former president, Donald Trump, has quietly added a felony protection legal professional to his authorized group as he faces a possible indictment within the justice division’s investigation into the January 6 riot.
Legal professional John Lauro, who has additionally represented Trump attorneys Christina Bobb and Alina Habba, is becoming a member of Trump’s authorized group alongside Todd Blanche, in keeping with sources, CNN reported late on Wednesday.
Lauro can be solely targeted on particular counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into Trump’s efforts to stay in workplace following his 2020 election defeat to Joe Biden, together with the lethal 6 January 2021 riot through which his supporters overran the Capitol constructing in Washington DC.
Federal prosecutors have proof to cost the previous president with three crimes, together with part 241 of the US authorized code that makes it illegal to conspire to violate civil rights, the Guardian reported final evening, citing two individuals accustomed to the matter.
Trump faces being charged with obstruction of an official continuing and conspiracy to defraud the USA, two statutes that the Home choose committee analyzing the January 6 Capitol assault issued felony referrals for final 12 months.
The goal letter additionally recognized a beforehand unconsidered third cost, the sources stated. That’s part 241 of title 18 of the US code, which makes it illegal to conspire to threaten or intimidate an individual within the “free train” of any proper or privilege below the “Structure or legal guidelines of the USA”.
The potential costs detailed in a goal letter despatched to Trump by prosecutors from Smith’s workplace, who additionally charged Trump with retaining categorized paperwork final month, was the clearest sign of an imminent indictment.
Right here’s what else we’re watching at present:
9am ET: Joe Biden will get his day by day intelligence briefing.
9am ET: The Home will maintain a listening to on on-line censorship. Democratic presidential hopeful, Robert F Kennedy, is predicted to testify.
10am ET: The Senate will meet to renew consideration of an EPA nomination and the NDAA.
10.20am ET: Biden will depart for Joint Base Andrews, the place he’ll fly to Philadelphia.
10.45am ET: Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries will maintain his weekly information convention.
1pm ET: Biden will talk about “Bidenomics”. He’ll depart Philadelphia to return to the White Home within the afternoon.
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