13 h. ago Trump says he has commuted sentence of George Santos in federal fraud case

Former Republican US representative was sentenced in April after admitting to deceiving donors and stealing identities of 11 peopleDonald Trump announced on Friday he had commuted the sentence of George Santos, the disgraced former New York representative and serial fabulist who had been sentenced to more than seven years in prison after a short-lived political career marked by outlandish fabrications and fraudulent scheming.The New York Republican was sentenced in April after pleading guilty last year to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Continue reading...

Politics

14 h. ago Alexander Acosta said putting Epstein on trial would’ve been a gamble, transcript shows

Former prosecutor testified before House committee on hurdles that prosecution of convicted sex offender would have facedAlexander Acosta, the former US attorney for the southern district of Florida who negotiated a plea deal in 2008 with Jeffrey Epstein, testified before the House oversight committee last month that going to trial would have been a “crapshoot” due to lack of cooperation from victims.In a transcript of the six-hour interview released on Friday, the former prosecutor, who later served in the first Trump administration, described the evidentiary hurdles Epstein’s federal prosecution would have faced, and why his office turned the case over to Florida state prosecutors that resulted in the disgraced financier pleading guilty to charges of soliciting sex from a minor. Continue reading...

Politics

14 h. ago Teen referee believes disgraced David Coote may have 'tried to groom him'

It comes after Coote pleaded guilty this week of making a 'category A' indecent image of a child, for which he could face 10 years behind bars.

Politics

15 h. ago Trump administration asks supreme court to allow deployment of national guard in Chicago area – US politics live

The move would escalate President Donald Trump’s conflict with Democratic governors over using the military on US soilThe US Senate failed on Thursday to re-open the government and to vote to fund the military during the federal government shutdown, ensuring that the standoff will stretch into next week.The Senate vote on a short-term Republican funding bill failed for the 10th time with just 51 votes. A second vote on Pentagon funding in the afternoon similarly failed in a floor vote, meaning the process to begin fully funding military operations also becomes a non-starter. After the votes, senators are expected to leave Washington for the weekend, almost guaranteeing the shutdown lasts until at least Monday. Continue reading...

Politics

19 h. ago The Guardian view on Trump and the law: a restraint on the executive is morphing into its weapon | Editorial

The indictment of critics including John Bolton rings alarm bells as the US president expands his power and seeks to use the justice system to exact revenge“He who saves his country does not violate any law,” Donald Trump posted after beginning his second term – emboldened, perhaps, by the supreme court’s bombshell ruling on presidential immunity last year, which many say gave the office-holder the powers of a monarch.Millions of Americans are expected to push back against the president’s growing power at No Kings protests across the US on Saturday. The demonstrations come as former intelligence and national security officials warn that the country is sliding towards “competitive authoritarianism”, in which elections and courts survive but are systematically manipulated by the executive. Continue reading...

Politics

20 h. ago John Bolton pleads not guilty to charges of mishandling classified information – live

Former Trump adviser makes first court appearance over 18-count indictment handed down by federal grand jury in MarylandEx-Trump adviser John Bolton surrenders after indictmentThe US Senate failed on Thursday to re-open the government and to vote to fund the military during the federal government shutdown, ensuring that the standoff will stretch into next week.The Senate vote on a short-term Republican funding bill failed for the 10th time with just 51 votes. A second vote on Pentagon funding in the afternoon similarly failed in a floor vote, meaning the process to begin fully funding military operations also becomes a non-starter. After the votes, senators are expected to leave Washington for the weekend, almost guaranteeing the shutdown lasts until at least Monday. Continue reading...

Politics

21 h. ago John Bolton appears in court as former Trump adviser surrenders on criminal charges of mishandling classified information

Bolton, who is accused of retaining and sharing national defense information, has denied wrongdoing

Events

21 h. ago Man pleads guilty to burglary of Damien Hirst studio in west London

Liam Middleton-Gomm, 36, stole paintings, electronic items, clothing and a pram at Turner Prize-winning artist’s studio

Politics

23 h. ago John Bolton at court to surrender to authorities after being indicted – US politics live

Eighteen-count indictment of former Trump adviser handed down by federal grand jury in Maryland as US president calls ex-ally a ‘bad guy’Ex-Trump adviser John Bolton expected to surrender after indictmentThe US Senate failed on Thursday to re-open the government and to vote to fund the military during the federal government shutdown, ensuring that the standoff will stretch into next week.The Senate vote on a short-term Republican funding bill failed for the 10th time with just 51 votes. A second vote on Pentagon funding in the afternoon similarly failed in a floor vote, meaning the process to begin fully funding military operations also becomes a non-starter. After the votes, senators are expected to leave Washington for the weekend, almost guaranteeing the shutdown lasts until at least Monday. Continue reading...

Politics

23 h. ago Suspected arsonists at Keir Starmer properties appear at Old Bailey to plead not guilty

Defendants are set to stand trial over the alleged arson campaign in April next year

Politics

24 h. ago John Bolton expected to surrender to authorities on Friday after being indicted – US politics live

Eighteen-count indictment of former Trump adviser handed down by federal grand jury in Maryland as US president calls ex-ally a ‘bad guy’The US Senate failed on Thursday to re-open the government and to vote to fund the military during the federal government shutdown, ensuring that the standoff will stretch into next week.The Senate vote on a short-term Republican funding bill failed for the 10th time with just 51 votes. A second vote on Pentagon funding in the afternoon similarly failed in a floor vote, meaning the process to begin fully funding military operations also becomes a non-starter. After the votes, senators are expected to leave Washington for the weekend, almost guaranteeing the shutdown lasts until at least Monday. Continue reading...

Politics

24 h. ago Bolton is expected to surrender after indictment over his handling of classified information

John Bolton is expected to surrender to authorities and make his first court appearance

Politics

24 h. ago Manchester Arena bomb plotter pleads not guilty to 'terrorist' attack on prison officers

Hashem Abedi appeared at the Old Bailey by video link

Events

25 h. ago Manchester bomber Hashem Abedi pleads not guilty to attempting to murder guards in prison

Hashem Abedi was handcuffed as he said he had been forced by prison guards to attend the Old Bailey hearing

Events

26 h. ago John Bolton says he hopes to expose Trump’s ‘abuse of power’ after being indicted – US politics live

Eighteen-count indictment of former Trump adviser handed down by federal grand jury in Maryland as US president calls ex-ally a ‘bad guy’After a federal judge tossed Donald Trump’s $15bn defamation lawsuit against the New York Times, book publisher Penguin Random House and two Times reporters last month, the US president filed a 40-page amended complaint on Thursday.US district court judge Steven Merryday in Florida gave Trump 28 days to refile and amend the action he threw out on 19 September. Continue reading...

Politics

29 h. ago Jake Haro pleads guilty to murdering 'missing' baby son after kidnap hoax

Jake Haro has admitted to killing his baby son Emmanuel Haro before his wife made a false police report claiming he was snatched outside a sporting goods store in San Bernardino, California

Events

35 h. ago Mamdani and Cuomo spar in New York mayoral debate – US politics live

Candidates debate Trump, Gaza and New York-specific issues, while John Bolton indicted by federal grand juryFormer Trump adviser John Bolton indicted on 18 countsA reminder that my colleagues are covering the latest developments out of the Middle East, as Israel and Hamas continue to carry out various aspects of the US brokered ceasefire deal.This includes the news today that Israel returned the bodies of 30 Palestinians to Gaza, bringing the total number handed over to 120, according the Gaza health ministry and Nasser hospital in Khan Younis. Continue reading...

Politics

37 h. ago John Bolton compares Trump administration to Stalin’s secret police after becoming latest political enemy to be indicted

National defense hawk vows to expose president’s ‘abuse of power’ after criminal charges over classified documents

Politics

37 h. ago Trump vs Bolton: How it all led to an indictment after FBI raid of former national security adviser’s home

Bolton held the high-profile position of national security adviser from 2018 to 2019. He later became an outspoken critic of President Trump, particularly regarding his approach on Russia

Events

38 h. ago Trump’s former national security adviser John Bolton indicted by justice department

Move is latest by the DoJ against US president’s critics

Politics