US attorney general vows to appeal dismissal of criminal cases against James Comey and Letitia James – US politics live | Trump administration
Attorney General vows to appeal dismissal of criminal cases against former FBI director Comey and NY attorney general James
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of US politics. A US judge dismisses charges against former FBI director James Comey and New York attorney general Letitia JamesIt was concluded that the prosecutor handling the cases was appointed unlawfully.
District judge Cameron McGowan Currie decided this Lindsey HalliganThe prosecutor appointed by Trump, who prepared the indictment against the president’s two most prominent rivals, was illegally appointed to his post as the US attorney for the eastern district of Virginia.
The decision was a big win for Comey, who was accused of lying to Congress five years ago, and James, who was accused of mortgage fraud. Both denied any wrongdoing.
The decisions are seen by some as a major failure Donald Trump‘s blatant attempts to punish his political opponents through the criminal justice system.
Chief Public Prosecutor, Pam BondiHe said he would “immediately initiate all available legal proceedings, including an appeal” after the judge dismissed the cases.
After the decision, Comey said he was pleased to see the investigation “based on bad faith and incompetence” end, but said he could “go after” Trump again.
Responding to Comey’s statement, Bondi told reporters that she was “not concerned about someone accused of a very serious crime,” adding that “his alleged actions were a betrayal of the public trust.”
important events
US army secretary Daniel Driscollis reportedly in the UAE for scheduled meetings with a Russian delegation to discuss the latest plan to end the war in Ukraine.
US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio And Steve WitkoffTrump, who is the US special envoy, is not believed to have attended the meetings in Abu Dhabi.
Driscoll was in Geneva over the weekend for urgent talks with the Ukrainian delegation after the first draft plan prepared in line with Russia’s demands was criticized by leaders in Kiev and Europe for being in favor of Moscow.
You can read all the latest developments on our Europe live blog.
Trump begins process to designate Muslim Brotherhood affiliates as terrorist groups
Donald Trump on Monday began the process of designating some branches of the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations and specially designated global terrorists; It was a move that would impose sanctions against one of the Arab world’s oldest and most influential Islamist movements.
According to a White House fact sheet, Trump signed an executive order directing Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to submit a report on whether any affiliates of the Muslim Brotherhood would be designated, such as Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan. Directs secretaries to make any appointments within 45 days of publication of the report.
The Trump administration has accused Muslim Brotherhood groups in these countries of supporting or encouraging violent attacks against Israel and its U.S. partners or providing material support to the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
“President Trump is confronting the transnational network of the Muslim Brotherhood, which has fueled terrorism and destabilization campaigns against U.S. interests and allies in the Middle East,” according to a White House fact sheet.
The Brotherhood was founded as an Islamic political movement in the 1920s to counter the spread of secular and nationalist ideas in Egypt. It quickly spread to Muslim countries, becoming a major player, but often operating in secret.
You can read the full story here:
Trump tells advisers he plans to speak directly with Maduro – report
According to a report from Axios, Donald Trump plans to speak directly Nicolas MaduroAlthough the United States on Monday designated the Venezuelan president as the head of a foreign terrorist organization.
A US official said no date had been set for the meeting and that the meeting was “in the planning stages”.
Despite widespread doubts about its real existence, the United States yesterday Cartel de los Soles (Sun Cartel in Spanish) is considered a foreign terrorist organization and claims that the organization is led by Maduro and senior figures in his government.
This appointment gives Trump the authority to impose new sanctions targeting Maduro’s assets and infrastructure.
But as my colleague Tom Phillips noted in this story, many suspect this is an excuse to oust Maduro, whom Trump tried but failed to oust in his first term.
Since August, Trump has ordered a massive naval deployment off Venezuela’s northern coast and a series of deadly airstrikes on alleged narco boats traveling in the Caribbean Sea.
Observers believe Monday’s decision could be a pretext for some kind of imminent US military intervention on Venezuelan soil. “No one is planning to go in and shoot him or kidnap him — at this point. I wouldn’t say never, but that’s not the plan right now,” an official told Axios.
Venezuela said the so-called Cartel de los Soles “does not exist” and rejected Washington’s designation. A “despicable lie” designed to legitimize “illegitimate and illegal intervention against Venezuela in the classic US regime change format.”
Prosecutors are alarmed Lindsey HalliganTrump, who has no prosecutorial experience and is the most junior attorney on Donald Trump’s personal legal team, was sworn in as interim U.S. attorney for the eastern district of Virginia in September.
He was appointed attorney general in Virginia after his predecessor resisted pressure to file criminal charges against James Comey, who had an adversarial relationship with Trump.
Comey was fired by the president in 2017, during his first term in office, after launching an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election.
Days after his appointment, Halligan personally filed an indictment against Comey. The White House has stood by its view that he was lawfully appointed and qualified for the job.
He was among the lawyers representing Trump in the civil suit after his Mar-a-Lago resort was raided searching for classified documents.
Before joining the White House, Halligan was an insurance lawyer in Florida.
Attorney General vows to appeal dismissal of criminal cases against former FBI director Comey and NY attorney general James
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of US politics. A US judge dismisses charges against former FBI director James Comey and New York attorney general Letitia JamesIt was concluded that the prosecutor handling the cases was appointed unlawfully.
District judge Cameron McGowan Currie decided this Lindsey HalliganThe prosecutor appointed by Trump, who prepared the indictment against the president’s two most prominent rivals, was illegally appointed to his post as the US attorney for the eastern district of Virginia.
The decision was a big win for Comey, who was accused of lying to Congress five years ago, and James, who was accused of mortgage fraud. Both denied any wrongdoing.
The decisions are seen by some as a major failure Donald Trump‘s blatant attempts to punish his political opponents through the criminal justice system.
Chief Public Prosecutor, Pam BondiHe said he would “immediately initiate all available legal proceedings, including an appeal” after the judge dismissed the cases.
After the decision, Comey said he was pleased to see the investigation “based on bad faith and incompetence” end, but said he could “go after” Trump again.
Responding to Comey’s statement, Bondi told reporters that she was “not concerned about someone accused of a very serious crime,” adding that “his alleged actions were a betrayal of the public trust.”
