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Added on the 25/03/2019 12:38:27 - Copyright : France 24 EN
Former FBI Director James Comey gave an interview to the Guardian. In the interview he eviscerated President Donald Trump, his supporters, and the Republican Party. He described the pro-Trump riot at the Capitol as the US's "Chernobyl." Comey said the riots were the result of a breakdown in the country's checks and balances caused by Trump. Comey has been forthright about the president in recent days. According to Business Insider Comey has reservations about giving Trump post-presidential intelligence briefings.
Business Insider is reporting that President Donald Trump has pardoned his former campaign manager, Paul Manafort. Manafort was investigated by Robert Mueller during his probe into Russia's interference in the 2016 US election. Manafort was convicted of eight counts of tax and bank fraud. Manafort also later pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and another count of obstruction. A federal judge voided the plea deal after finding that he lied to prosecutors after agreeing to cooperate. Manafort was sentenced last year to 7 1/2 years in prison for his crimes. The Republican-led Senate Intelligence Committee concluded that he represents a "grave counterintelligence threat" to the US.
Politico reports that President Donald Trump is considering pardoning as many as 20 close associates before he leaves office in January. Who would he pardon? According to Business insider they include his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, as well as his three eldest children, as The New York Times previously reported. However, the president is said to be concerned about whether the preemptive pardons could look like a public admission of guilt. Trump and his allies will face a slew of civil and criminal investigations on a federal and state level once he leaves office in January. The pardon power does not apply to state offenses.
President Donald Trump is refusing to concede the 2020 election to President-elect Joe Biden. Eventually, Trump will have to accept defeat and concede the race. CNN reports that Trump could use his expansive pardon power to try to settle legal questions on his way out the door. Will Trump consider granting himself a pardon? He faces state investigations into his business and finances. There is also the prospect of federal investigators scrutinizing him after he leaves office. There is no law saying Trump cannot pardon himself. Trump's pardons would only cover federal crimes. Trump still faces ongoing investigations into his Organization by the New York attorney general and the Manhattan district attorney.
At a rally in Florida Friday night, President Donald Trump mixed up the names of a Florida representative and a former campaign aide. Specifically, Trump confused Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz with Rick Gates, who was convicted for crimes related to Russian interference in the 2016 election. According to Business Insider, Gaetz has been one of Trump's most vocal supporters. The president repeatedly pointed at Rep. Gaetz during the rally, all the while addressing him as 'Rick Gates' or 'Rick.' Rick Gates was not present at the rally.
The United States says it welcomes South Africa's promise to probe allegations of arms shipments to Russia after Washington angered Pretoria by going public with a charge of covert weapons. "It certainly would be a welcome step," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel tells reporters of the promise of a probe made by a spokesman for President Cyril Ramaphosa. SOUNDBITE
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