Category: fox-news/person/donald-trump

Pelosi refuses to weigh in on possible Trump indictment or even say his name

Posted on by Latest Political News on Fox News

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., on Monday night refused to engage in a discussion about the potential looming indictment against former President Donald Trump in New York City.

The Democrat, who stepped down from House leadership this year, was asked during a Wall Street Journal speaking event about whether Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s case against Trump, involving alleged hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels, was the "right vehicle for challenging" him – or whether it will boost his chances of winning the 2024 Republican nomination.

"I think that’s a matter for the courts," Pelosi answered. "The grand jury will vote and decide on the basis of evidence they have, as to whether there should be any follow-up to that information."

SOME DEMOCRATS FEAR ARRESTING TRUMP COULD BACKFIRE, QUESTION STRENGTH OF CHARGES

"It’s not for any of us to say whether he should be indicted or not, it’s the basis of the law, and the facts, and that’s up to the court. So that’s all I’ll say about him," she said.

Pelosi ended the answer with a jab at Trump, her former political nemesis that she refused to name: "I don’t like talking about him."

That response was relatively reserved for the lawmaker who spearheaded two different impeachment inquiries into the former GOP commander in chief when she was House speaker.

HOUSE DEMOCRATS EXPLODE AT GOP ATTEMPT TO ‘INTERFERE’ WITH MANHATTAN DA'S TRUMP INDICTMENT: ‘ABUSE OF POWER’

Trump had said on his Truth Social app last week that he expected to be indicted in Bragg’s probe on Tuesday. No indictment was announced, but reports suggest a decision on possible charges could come as early as Wednesday afternoon. Fox News Digital reported on Monday that he had not yet been informed of a coming indictment at the time.

Pelosi is not the only Trump critic who’s been reserved in their responses to the explosive rumors.

TRUMP ADDRESSES POTENTIAL STORMY DANIELS INDICTMENT IN LATE-NIGHT VIDEO ADDRESS ON TRUTH SOCIAL

Two GOP senators who have been known to break from Trump on multiple occasions hesitated to weigh in on the matter when asked by Fox News Digital on Monday evening.

"I’m really not going to comment on this until we know what happens," said Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah.

Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., told Fox News Digital when asked if an indictment should disqualify Trump from seeking the nomination, "That’ll be up to the people that vote in each state because that’s where it’ll be determined, but for right now, there has been no indictment at this stage of the game."

Twitter’s Elon Musk predicts Trump will win re-election in ‘landslide victory’ if arrested

Posted on by Latest Political News on Fox News

Twitter CEO Elon Musk on Saturday predicted that former President Donald Trump will be re-elected in a "landslide" if he is indicted — or possibly arrested and potentially "handcuffed" — next week.

"If this happens, Trump will be re-elected in a landslide victory," Musk tweeted.

Musk was reacting to a Fox News segment which detailed how the Manhattan District Attorney's office has asked for a meeting with law enforcement ahead of a possible Trump indictment of next week.

According to a court source, the meeting was requested Thursday and hasn't been set. The meeting is to "discuss logistics for some time next week, which would mean that they are anticipating an indictment next week," the source familiar with the planning said. Secret Service is expected to take the lead on what they will allow and won’t allow — for instance, the decision of whether to handcuff Trump.

TRUMP SAYS ‘ILLEGAL LEAKS’ INDICATE HE'LL BE ARRESTED TUESDAY 

The potential indictment stems from the lengthy investigation surrounding Trump's alleged payment of "hush money" to actress Stormy Daniels. Toward the end of the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump's then-lawyer Michael Cohen sent $130,000 to Daniels to prevent her from disclosing a 2006 affair with Trump. Trump reimbursed Cohen through installments. The office, led by DA Alvin Bragg, has been investigating the hush money scandal — which took place in 2016 — for the past five years.

On Saturday morning, Trump posted about the possible indictment on Truth Social, indicating that he will be "ARRESTED ON TUESDAY." 

"NOW ILLEGAL LEAKS FROM A CORRUPT & HIGHLY POLITICAL MANHATTAN DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE, WHICH HAS ALLOWED NEW RECORDS TO BE SET IN VIOLENT CRIME & WHOSE LEADER IS FUNDED BY GEORGE SOROS, INDICATE THAT, WITH NO CRIME BEING ABLE TO BE PROVEN, & BASED ON AN OLD & FULLY DEBUNKED (BY NUMEROUS OTHER PROSECUTORS!) FAIRYTALE, THE FAR & AWAY LEADING REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE & FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WILL BE ARRESTED ON TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK. PROTEST, TAKE OUR NATION BACK!," Trump wrote.

Reached for comment Friday, the Manhattan District Attorney's office would neither "confirm or comment" on the impending indictment. 

The potential for an indictment re-sparked conversation online about how it could affect Trump’s 2024 White House bid, and renewed claims from Trump allies that the probe was politically motivated.

"It’s ALL FOR POLITICS! This is what they do in communists countries to destroy their political opponents! Republicans in Congress MUST subpoena these communists and END this!" Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., tweeted.

MANHATTAN DA'S OFFICE ‘ASKED FOR A MEETING’ WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AHEAD OF POSSIBLE TRUMP INDICTMENT

Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a vocal Trump opponent, fired back: "You break the law, you go to jail. Whomp whomp marj."

Author Scott Adams shared Musk’s sentiment that the indictment could boost Trump’s election chances.

NEW YORK PROSECUTORS SIGNAL TRUMP MAY FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES FROM STORMY DANIELS SCANDAL

"If they handcuff Trump, he is your next president," he said.

Others weren’t so sure. Washington Post columnist Greg Sargent noted that there had been similar predictions of scandals boosting Trump that had failed to pan out.

"Yet again we're told holding Trump accountable for corruption/crimes will lead to GOP victories. But this hasn't happened. People said impeachment would cause backlash, but he lost reelex," he said. "People said 1/6 committee would cause backlash, but Rs dramatically underperformed in 2022."

Fox News' Chris Pandolo, Marta Dhanis, Adam Sabes, and Brandon Gillespie contributed to this report.

Manhattan DA’s office ‘asked for a meeting’ with law enforcement ahead of possible Trump indictment

Posted on by Latest Political News on Fox News

The Manhattan District Attorney's office has asked for a meeting with law enforcement ahead of a possible indictment of former President Donald Trump next week, according to a court source.

According to the source, the meeting was requested Thursday and hasn't been set. The meeting is to "discuss logistics for some time next week, which would mean that they are anticipating an indictment next week," the source familiar with the planning said.

Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung reacted to the news by ripping district attorney Alvin Bragg in a statement to Fox News Digital, calling his investigation a "witch hunt" and accusing him of being in the pocket of President Biden and "radical Democrats."

NEW YORK PROSECUTORS SIGNAL TRUMP MAY FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES FROM STORMY DANIELS SCANDAL

"President Donald J. Trump is completely innocent, he did nothing wrong, and even the biggest, most Radical Left Democrats are making that clear," Cheung said. "From Russia, Russia, Russia, to the Mueller Hoax, to Impeachment Hoaxes 1 and 2, and even the Unlawful Mar-a-Lago Raid, Democrats have investigated and attacked President Trump since before he was elected – and they’ve failed every time." 

"Now Democrats are at it again, pushing the 'Nuclear Button' and attacking a President because of a disgraced extortionist," he said. "This is happening because President Trump is leading in the polls by a large margin against both Democrats and Republicans, and there’s never been anything so blatant in American political history." 

TRUMP ATTORNEY CALLS OUT ‘COMPLETELY WEAPONIZED’ LEGAL SYSTEM AS MANHATTAN DA WEIGHS INDICTMENT

"Everyone knows it’s a sham. In fact, the Department of Justice stocked the DA’s office with top people from DC to help ‘Get Trump’ at a local level. Americans will not tolerate Radical Left Democrats turning our justice system into an injustice system to influence a presidential election, which is all they want to do. Our Country is not going to let this happen. This will backfire massively for the Democrat Party, and end in disgrace for our Nation," he added.

The potential indictment stems from the yearslong investigation surrounding Trump's alleged hush money scandal involving porn star Stormy Daniels. Towards the end of the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump's then-lawyer Michael Cohen sent $130,000 to Daniels to prevent her from disclosing her 2006 affair with Trump. Trump reimbursed Cohen through installments.

The Manhattan District Attorney's office declined to "confirm or comment," when contacted by Fox News.

Trump impeachment witness Alexander Vindman accused of trying to profit off Ukraine war with defense contracts

Posted on by Latest Political News on Fox News

Retired Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who made waves as a witness during the first impeachment proceedings of former President Donald Trump, is now being accused of trying to profit off the war in Ukraine by pitching lucrative defense contracts through his private company.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., who was one of the sharpest critics of Vindman throughout the impeachment investigation, blasted him as an "opportunist," and accused him of undertaking continuous efforts to try and personally profit from his attacks against the Trump administration to his reported dealings in Ukraine.

The first impeachment of Trump centered around a July 2019 call in which Trump pressed Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to launch investigations into the Biden family’s actions and business dealings in Ukraine—specifically Hunter Biden’s ventures with Ukrainian natural gas firm Burisma Holdings. The president’s request came after millions in U.S. military aid to Ukraine had been frozen, which Democrats and some witnesses, including Vindman, cited as a quid pro quo arrangement.

"When conservatives speak the truth, the mainstream media panics and desperately attempts to provide cover for the left. They did this for Alexander Vindman, just like they did for Hunter Biden, Dr. Fauci and teachers unions," Blackburn said, referencing liberal media outlets' staunch defense of Vindman throughout his time as a witness during the impeachment investigation.

US INTELLIGENCE SAYS PRO-UKRAINE GROUP BEHIND NORD STREAM PIPELINE ATTACKS: REPORT

"Alexander Vindman has always been a political activist and opportunist masquerading behind his career. He saw an opening for personal fame and profited by exploiting the media’s outrage against President Trump," she accused.

"Vindman has spent the last three years on MSNBC and CNN attacking Republicans. Now, new revelations suggest Vindman could be profiting off the war in Ukraine, just as he did by speaking out against the Trump administration," Blackburn added.

According to a report by Human Events, a conservative digital newspaper, Vindman has been pitching the government of Ukraine to obtain defense contracts through Trident International LLC, of which he is the CEO.

FALL OF UKRAINIAN CITY OF BAKHMUT WOULD NOT MEAN A STRATEGIC WIN FOR RUSSIA: PENTAGON

The report stated that last year, Vindman, who was born in Ukraine, pitched a project worth $12 million that his company said would address the country's problems with managing the readiness, repair and maintenance of its weapons systems by developing a center within the country to essentially operate as a middle-man between NATO and the Ukrainian military.

The center would reportedly operate in such a way that equipment and weapons could be repaired in closer proximity to the front line and cut down on the time it takes for transpiration and maintenance. 

It's unclear, however, if the project has been approved as the report stated court documents showed there was an ongoing dispute over payments related to the project.

FIRST LADY PRAISES BIDEN'S ‘ENERGY LEVEL’: HOW MANY 30-YEAR-OLDS CAN FLY TO POLAND, HOP ON TRAIN TO UKRAINE?

According to Breitbart News, Vindman appeared to confirm Human Events' report in a now deleted tweet.

"Thanks for the advert. I’m trying to get logistics in place to help Ukraine win the war and secure America. Looking for philanthropic contributions to get it going. Reach out if you support the cause of democracy and US National Security," Vindman allegedly tweeted.

Speaking with Fox News Digital, Vindman responded to the accusations by blasting Blackburn, accusing her of lying and contributing to him ultimately leaving the military.

"Ooh, Blackburn. She’s an idiot, an agent of chaos promoting disinformation. She has never said one true thing about me. Her attacks in 2019/20 contributed to an environment that made it impossible for me to continue my nonpartisan military service," Vindman said.

"More importantly, it’s the politicization of Ukraine, by the fringe right, that brought about this war, imperiling Ukraine, Europe, and most importantly the U.S.," he added.

Fox News' Brian Flood contributed to this report.

Trump calls Pence a ‘very honorable man’ after Special Counsel Jack Smith subpoena

Posted on by Latest Political News on Fox News

EXCLUSIVE: Former President Trump called former Vice President Pence a "very honorable man" after Special Counsel Jack Smith subpoenaed Pence as part of his investigation into the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and into Trump’s handling of classified documents after leaving office.

Pence was subpoenaed by Smith after months of negotiations between Pence’s legal team and federal prosecutors.

"Mike Pence is an honorable man," Trump told Fox News Digital on Friday in an exclusive interview, but he laid out a number of areas he hopes Smith will consider and look into as part of his investigation.

FORMER VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE SUBPOENAED BY SPECIAL COUNSEL OVERSEEING TRUMP INVESTIGATIONS

"Are they going to look for the people that spied on my campaign?" Trump asked, referring to the FBI’s original investigation into whether Trump and his campaign colluded with Russia to influence the 2016 election.

That investigation was taken over by then-Special Counsel Robert Mueller in 2017. After nearly two years, the investigation yielded no evidence of criminal conspiracy or coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia to influence the 2016 election.

Special Counsel John Durham has been investigating the origins of that probe since 2019. 

"Are they going to look at Special Agent Charles McGonigal who was in charge of the Russia probe and just arrested for taking large amounts of money from Russia?" Trump asked, referring to McGonigal, who was recently indicted on charges of money laundering and other counts stemming from his "collusion" with Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska.

HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION INTO EX-FBI OFFICIAL CHARGED OVER TIES TO RUSSIAN OLIGARCH

McGonigal, who was a former special agent in charge of the New York FBI Counterintelligence Division, was charged for working on behalf of and taking money from Deripaska, who has ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Deripaska was the same Russian oligarch who was working with Christopher Steele — the author of the infamous anti-Trump dossier that served as the basis for Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrants against former Trump campaign aide Carter Page.

RATCLIFFE: HUNTER BIDEN LAPTOP WAS A PARTISAN DOMESTIC 'DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN'

TRUMP TARGETED: A LOOK AT THE INVESTIGATIONS INVOLVING THE FORMER PRESIDENT; FROM RUSSIA TO MAR-A-LAGO

As for the former vice president, it is unclear what prosecutors will seek from him, or whether Pence will invoke executive privilege.

In November, after Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Smith as special counsel, Trump told Fox News Digital that he "won’t partake" in the investigation against him, calling it "the worst politicization of justice in our country."

"I have been going through this for six years — for six years I have been going through this, and I am not going to go through it anymore," Trump told Fox News Digital Friday. "And I hope the Republicans have the courage to fight this."

"I have been proven innocent for six years on everything — from fake impeachments to [former special counsel Robert] Mueller who found no collusion, and now I have to do it more?" Trump said. "It is not acceptable. It is so unfair. It is so political." 

Former Vice President Mike Pence subpoenaed by special counsel overseeing Trump investigations

Posted on by Latest Political News on Fox News

Former Vice President Mike Pence has been subpoenaed by the special counsel overseeing investigations into former President Donald Trump, sources confirmed to Fox News. 

The subpoena came after months of negotiations between Pence's legal team and federal prosecutors, though the Justice Department declined to comment on that matter. 

The probe is being led by Special Counsel Jack Smith who is looking into both documents and testimony related to the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol and into Trump's possible mishandling of classified documents after leaving office. 

TRUMP INQUIRY: COURT LIFTS JUDGE'S HOLD BLOCKING DOJ FROM USING CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS FOUND AT MAR-A-LAGO

Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Smith as special counsel in November to investigate the entirety of the criminal investigation into the retention of presidential records, including classified records, held at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida.

A spokesperson for Pence did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. 

It was not immediately clear what prosecutors will seek from Pence or whether he will invoke claims of executive privilege. 

Trump said last year that he "won’t partake" in the investigation against him, calling it "the worst politicization of justice in our country."

"I have been going through this for six years — for six years I have been going through this, and I am not going to go through it anymore," Trump told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview Friday shortly after the announcement. "And I hope the Republicans have the courage to fight this."

"I have been proven innocent for six years on everything — from fake impeachments to [former special counsel Robert] Mueller who found no collusion, and now I have to do it more?" Trump said. "It is not acceptable. It is so unfair. It is so political."

Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman says Trump, Biden classified document scandals are ‘apples and oranges’

Posted on by Chris Pandolfo
Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., who served as House impeachment counsel against former President Donald Trump, said the Trump and Biden classified documents scandals are "apples and oranges."

Lawyer in Trump impeachment praises Biden for handling of classified docs: ‘By the book’

Posted on by Ronn Blitzer
FormeHouse impeachment counsel Rep. Dan Goldman, praised the Biden administration for how it has addressed classified materials found at the president's home.

McCarthy says Republicans would ‘look at’ expunging Trump impeachments

Posted on by Kyle Morris
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., is expressing openness to “look at” the possibility of expunging impeachments against former President Donald Trump, should a resolution be brought forward.

Trump impeachment manager Cicilline rallies Democrats to ban former president from public office

Posted on by Chris Pandolfo
Rep. David Cicilline of Rhode Island has put forward legislation that would bar former President Donald Trump from holding public office.