Evangelical lawyer Jay Sekulow, who defended Donald Trump in his first impeachment trial, is still cashing in on the former president’s misdeeds. As states consider whether to disqualify Trump from their ballots for engaging in insurrection, Sekulow and his family have been working furiously to raise money for their campaign to keep the Republican primary frontrunner on state ballots — a fight he’s now brought before the Supreme Court.
“This is a judicial emergency — we need you to stand with us,” Sekulow said last week on a radio show he hosts with his son,...
“This is a judicial emergency — we need you to stand with us,” Sekulow said last week on a radio show he hosts with his son,...
- 1/3/2024
- by Andrew Perez
- Rollingstone.com
Close allies of Donald Trump have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the Colorado Supreme Court decision blocking the former president and 2024 GOP frontrunner from the state’s Republican primary ballot.
The petition was filed by the American Center for Law and Justice, a conservative nonprofit, on behalf of the Colorado Republican Party. Jay Sekulow, a former longtime lawyer for Trump who defended him in his Senate impeachment trial, is chief counsel at the Aclj.
Last week, the Colorado Supreme Court issued a 4-3 decision finding that Trump...
The petition was filed by the American Center for Law and Justice, a conservative nonprofit, on behalf of the Colorado Republican Party. Jay Sekulow, a former longtime lawyer for Trump who defended him in his Senate impeachment trial, is chief counsel at the Aclj.
Last week, the Colorado Supreme Court issued a 4-3 decision finding that Trump...
- 12/27/2023
- by Andrew Perez
- Rollingstone.com
The Jan. 6 committee is requesting voluntary cooperation from Sean Hannity, Chair Bennie Thompson and Vice Chair Liz Cheney wrote in a letter released Tuesday. The letter cites previously unreleased text messages obtained by the committee, including one sent on Jan. 10 in which the Fox News host appears to express concern over what Trump might do ahead of Biden’s inauguration.
“Guys, we have a clear path to land the plane in 9 days,” Hannity wrote to then-Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). “He can’t mention the election again.
“Guys, we have a clear path to land the plane in 9 days,” Hannity wrote to then-Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). “He can’t mention the election again.
- 1/4/2022
- by Peter Wade
- Rollingstone.com
Trump campaign lawyer Jenna Ellis wrote a memo dated the day before the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol arguing that then-Vice President Mike Pence should refuse to count presidential electors from states won by Joe Biden.
In the Jan. 5 memo, obtained by Politico, Ellis went so far as to claim Pence had the authority to prevent a Biden presidency because certain parts of the Electoral Count Act were likely unconstitutional. Accordingly, Ellis wrote that the vice president “should … simply stop the count” when the time came for Arizona’s electors to be accepted.
In the Jan. 5 memo, obtained by Politico, Ellis went so far as to claim Pence had the authority to prevent a Biden presidency because certain parts of the Electoral Count Act were likely unconstitutional. Accordingly, Ellis wrote that the vice president “should … simply stop the count” when the time came for Arizona’s electors to be accepted.
- 12/10/2021
- by William Vaillancourt
- Rollingstone.com
The death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will set off a massive political battle over her replacement, and just a few hours later on Friday night, the cable networks were already getting in place to cover it.
On MSNBC’s “Rachel Maddow Show,” the tone was somber, as the show broadcast live images of a vigil outside the Supreme Court building. Maddow interviewed NPR’s Nina Totenberg, who related that Ginsburg’s dying wish was that the next president would pick her replacement.
“There’s going to be a monumental fight over this,” Totenberg said. “I’m not optimistic that what she wanted, her fervent wish, will in fact take place, but you never know. You really never know.”
Shortly after Ginsburg’s death was announced, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell issued a statement saying that President Trump’s nominee would get a vote on the floor. Democrats, meanwhile, are...
On MSNBC’s “Rachel Maddow Show,” the tone was somber, as the show broadcast live images of a vigil outside the Supreme Court building. Maddow interviewed NPR’s Nina Totenberg, who related that Ginsburg’s dying wish was that the next president would pick her replacement.
“There’s going to be a monumental fight over this,” Totenberg said. “I’m not optimistic that what she wanted, her fervent wish, will in fact take place, but you never know. You really never know.”
Shortly after Ginsburg’s death was announced, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell issued a statement saying that President Trump’s nominee would get a vote on the floor. Democrats, meanwhile, are...
- 9/19/2020
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
The Supreme Court ruled that Manhattan prosecutors can pursue a subpoena to obtain Donald Trump’s financial records and tax returns, rejecting claims of presidential immunity. But the justices also decided that Congress is not privy to the information, at least for now.
The 7-2 rulings, issued on the final decision day of the court’s session, left it unlikely that the public will be able to see the records before the election.
In the New York case, Trump’s records were subpoenaed by a grand jury, which, if it ultimately obtains the documents, would have to keep the information secret. The justices also sent the case back to lower courts, where Trump’s legal team indicated that they would challenge the subpoena on other grounds.
Still, the ruling was a significant victory for New York’s district attorney, Cyrus Vance, who had sought the records as part of an...
The 7-2 rulings, issued on the final decision day of the court’s session, left it unlikely that the public will be able to see the records before the election.
In the New York case, Trump’s records were subpoenaed by a grand jury, which, if it ultimately obtains the documents, would have to keep the information secret. The justices also sent the case back to lower courts, where Trump’s legal team indicated that they would challenge the subpoena on other grounds.
Still, the ruling was a significant victory for New York’s district attorney, Cyrus Vance, who had sought the records as part of an...
- 7/9/2020
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
Update, 12:06 Pm Pt: Donald Trump’s legal team wrapped up their opening argument in the Senate impeachment trial, and the proceedings will move on to its next phase: A Q&a session that will start on Wednesday and run through Thursday.
When the Senate reconvenes at 1 p.m. Et on Wednesday, members will be allowed to pose questions to the House impeachment managers and Trump’s legal team, but they also will come in the form of written queries. Chief Justice John Roberts, who is presiding over the trial, also said that the questions should be phrased so that they yield answers no longer than five minutes. The questions will alternate between the Republican and Democratic sides.
After the Q&a sessions on Wednesday and Thursday, the future of the trial is uncertain. It looks more likely that Friday could see a vote on whether to call witnesses – a...
When the Senate reconvenes at 1 p.m. Et on Wednesday, members will be allowed to pose questions to the House impeachment managers and Trump’s legal team, but they also will come in the form of written queries. Chief Justice John Roberts, who is presiding over the trial, also said that the questions should be phrased so that they yield answers no longer than five minutes. The questions will alternate between the Republican and Democratic sides.
After the Q&a sessions on Wednesday and Thursday, the future of the trial is uncertain. It looks more likely that Friday could see a vote on whether to call witnesses – a...
- 1/28/2020
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
The Senate impeachment schedule will see President Donald Trump’s White House and personal lawyers begin their allotted 24 hours of oral arguments defending Trump on Saturday. As any former reality TV host-turned U.S. President knows, that’s no good for ratings.
“After having been treated unbelievably unfairly in the House, and then having to endure hour after hour of lies, fraud & deception by Shifty Schiff, Cryin’ Chuck Schumer & their crew, looks like my lawyers will be forced to start on Saturday, which is called Death Valley in T.V.,” Trump tweeted Friday morning, ahead of the start of Day 4 of the Senate trial.
According to the impeachment rules which were hammered out in a marathon session Monday, each side gets 24 hours over three days to try their cases. The House impeachment managers wrap up their portion today.
Some reports suggest Trump’s legal team — White House counsel Pat A.
“After having been treated unbelievably unfairly in the House, and then having to endure hour after hour of lies, fraud & deception by Shifty Schiff, Cryin’ Chuck Schumer & their crew, looks like my lawyers will be forced to start on Saturday, which is called Death Valley in T.V.,” Trump tweeted Friday morning, ahead of the start of Day 4 of the Senate trial.
According to the impeachment rules which were hammered out in a marathon session Monday, each side gets 24 hours over three days to try their cases. The House impeachment managers wrap up their portion today.
Some reports suggest Trump’s legal team — White House counsel Pat A.
- 1/24/2020
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
President Donald Trump’s legal team officially responded to last week’s Senate summons that notified the president that if he is convicted during the impeachment trial, he will be removed from office.
Trump’s response came in a six-page letter on Saturday, according to the New York Times, where his lawyers blasted the impeachment charges, calling into question their legality and claiming the Democrats were attempting to not only “interfere” with the coming election, but to undo the 2016 results.
“The articles of impeachment submitted by House Democrats are a...
Trump’s response came in a six-page letter on Saturday, according to the New York Times, where his lawyers blasted the impeachment charges, calling into question their legality and claiming the Democrats were attempting to not only “interfere” with the coming election, but to undo the 2016 results.
“The articles of impeachment submitted by House Democrats are a...
- 1/19/2020
- by Peter Wade
- Rollingstone.com
The Nielsen ratings for the second night of Rachel Maddow’s interview with Lev Parnas Thursday on MSNBC fell short of Wednesday’s record-breaking viewership (4.5 million viewers), notching down slightly at 4.3 million.
But it was the third most-watched program in the history of “The Rachel Maddow Show.”
In the key adult 25 to 54 demographic, Thursday’s continuation of the Parnas interview on “Maddow” drew 745,000, beating Fox News and CNN. In total viewers in the 9 p.m. hour, “Maddow’s” 4.3 million meant the program beat “Hannity” (3.9 million) by that measurement as well. “Maddow” was the sixth most-watched show on television Thursday night.
The interviews on “Maddow” aired the week the impeachment of Donald Trump has moved to the Senate, when the arguments over whether there will be new evidence presented there have reached a fever pitch. Parnas is a former associate of Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani. He and Igor Fruman...
But it was the third most-watched program in the history of “The Rachel Maddow Show.”
In the key adult 25 to 54 demographic, Thursday’s continuation of the Parnas interview on “Maddow” drew 745,000, beating Fox News and CNN. In total viewers in the 9 p.m. hour, “Maddow’s” 4.3 million meant the program beat “Hannity” (3.9 million) by that measurement as well. “Maddow” was the sixth most-watched show on television Thursday night.
The interviews on “Maddow” aired the week the impeachment of Donald Trump has moved to the Senate, when the arguments over whether there will be new evidence presented there have reached a fever pitch. Parnas is a former associate of Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani. He and Igor Fruman...
- 1/17/2020
- by Kate Aurthur
- Variety Film + TV
President Trump has named Kenneth Starr and Alan Dershowitz to the legal team that will defend him during the Senate impeachment trial. Both lawyers previously represented billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, and Dershowitz served on O.J. Simpson’s defense team during the former football player’s 1995 murder trial. They’ll now defend the president against accusations of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress in the long-awaited Senate trial, slated to begin next Tuesday.
Starr, best known for leading the investigation that led to Bill Clinton’s impeachment, and Dershowitz, a...
Starr, best known for leading the investigation that led to Bill Clinton’s impeachment, and Dershowitz, a...
- 1/17/2020
- by Ryan Bort
- Rollingstone.com
President Donald Trump’s legal team for the upcoming impeachment trial will include two faces familiar for their TV legal commentary: Ken Starr and Alan Dershowitz.
Starr, the independent counsel whose investigation of President Bill Clinton led to his impeachment, was scheduled to provide analysis for Fox News Channel’s coverage, but a network spokesperson said that he is no longer a contributor in light of his new role.
Dershowitz posted on Twitter that he “will present oral arguments at the Senate trial to address the constitutional arguments against impeachment and removal.”
His statement noted that he opposed the impeachment of Bill Clinton, whose trial was 21 years ago, and voted for Hillary Clinton, but “he believes the issues at stake go to the heart of our enduring Constitution.”
“He is participating in this impeachment trial to defend the integrity of the Constitution and to prevent the creation of a dangerous constitutional precedent.
Starr, the independent counsel whose investigation of President Bill Clinton led to his impeachment, was scheduled to provide analysis for Fox News Channel’s coverage, but a network spokesperson said that he is no longer a contributor in light of his new role.
Dershowitz posted on Twitter that he “will present oral arguments at the Senate trial to address the constitutional arguments against impeachment and removal.”
His statement noted that he opposed the impeachment of Bill Clinton, whose trial was 21 years ago, and voted for Hillary Clinton, but “he believes the issues at stake go to the heart of our enduring Constitution.”
“He is participating in this impeachment trial to defend the integrity of the Constitution and to prevent the creation of a dangerous constitutional precedent.
- 1/17/2020
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
2Nd Update, 5:49 Pm: President Donald Trump won’t have to disclose his tax returns in order to be listed on the ballot for the California primary after all. The Golden State’s Supreme Court ruled unanimously today to strike down the law enacted in July, saying it violates the California Constitution that guarantees “an inclusive open presidential primary ballot.” Read details of the case and its journey through the courts below.
Updated, Sept. 20: A federal judge blocked the state of California law that would leave President Donald Trump off the primary ballot if he did not release the past five years of his tax returns.
The law would have applied to all presidential and gubernatorial candidates, but the judge said in a hearing that the “elephant in the room” was Trump’s tax returns, which he has refused to release. The judge will issue a final decision later.
Updated, Sept. 20: A federal judge blocked the state of California law that would leave President Donald Trump off the primary ballot if he did not release the past five years of his tax returns.
The law would have applied to all presidential and gubernatorial candidates, but the judge said in a hearing that the “elephant in the room” was Trump’s tax returns, which he has refused to release. The judge will issue a final decision later.
- 11/22/2019
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
President Donald Trump lost his latest attempt to prevent the release of his tax returns to a New York grand jury.
A federal appeals court ruled that Trump’s accounting firm must comply with a subpoena, which was issued as part of a grand jury investigation spearheaded by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.
The decision was the latest in a whirlwind of media coverage of Trump’s legal battles. Also on Monday, John Eisenberg, a White House national security lawyer, declined to appear for a deposition on Capitol Hill as part of the impeachment inquiry.
In the case involving Trump’s taxes, the appeals court judges concluded that presidential immunity did not shield his accounting firm from a subpoena.
“The only question before us is whether a state may lawfully demand production by a third party of the president’s personal financial records for use in a grand jury...
A federal appeals court ruled that Trump’s accounting firm must comply with a subpoena, which was issued as part of a grand jury investigation spearheaded by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.
The decision was the latest in a whirlwind of media coverage of Trump’s legal battles. Also on Monday, John Eisenberg, a White House national security lawyer, declined to appear for a deposition on Capitol Hill as part of the impeachment inquiry.
In the case involving Trump’s taxes, the appeals court judges concluded that presidential immunity did not shield his accounting firm from a subpoena.
“The only question before us is whether a state may lawfully demand production by a third party of the president’s personal financial records for use in a grand jury...
- 11/4/2019
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
President Donald Trump is facing an escalating impeachment inquiry and a furor over his latest decision in Syria, but news networks zeroed in on a surprise twist in another story: His taxes.
A federal judge on Monday ruled against Trump’s effort to prevent eight years of his tax returns from being turned over to a New York grand jury. But Trump’s attorneys quickly secured a temporary stay of the ruling from the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, something that his legal team treated as a victory.
The federal court decision does increase the chance that Trump’s accounting firm will have to turn over his tax returns as part of an investigation into whether the Trump organization violated state laws. New York District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. sent Trump’s accounting firm a grand jury subpoena seeking Trump’s returns as far back as 2011.
Jay Sekulow, one of Trump’s attorneys,...
A federal judge on Monday ruled against Trump’s effort to prevent eight years of his tax returns from being turned over to a New York grand jury. But Trump’s attorneys quickly secured a temporary stay of the ruling from the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, something that his legal team treated as a victory.
The federal court decision does increase the chance that Trump’s accounting firm will have to turn over his tax returns as part of an investigation into whether the Trump organization violated state laws. New York District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. sent Trump’s accounting firm a grand jury subpoena seeking Trump’s returns as far back as 2011.
Jay Sekulow, one of Trump’s attorneys,...
- 10/7/2019
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
Robert Mueller doesn’t want to testify. The public statement he delivered late last month made that clear. “The report is my testimony,” he said. “I would not provide information beyond that which is already public in any appearance before Congress.”
But the now-former special counsel’s report and statement weren’t enough for congressional Democrats, who are determined to turn over every rock they can as they continue to investigate the president. On Tuesday, House Judiciary Committee Jerry Nadler (D-ny) and House Permanent Select Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-ca...
But the now-former special counsel’s report and statement weren’t enough for congressional Democrats, who are determined to turn over every rock they can as they continue to investigate the president. On Tuesday, House Judiciary Committee Jerry Nadler (D-ny) and House Permanent Select Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-ca...
- 6/26/2019
- by Ryan Bort
- Rollingstone.com
After a day of speculation and writer’s block jokes by journalists, resistance-grifters and news junkies, the world learned about 5 p.m. Et Friday that Special Counsel Robert Mueller had indeed delivered his final report to Deputy Attorney Rod Rosenstein and Attorney General William Barr.
Barr, in turn, sent a letter to the House Judiciary Committee confirming receipt of the report and pledging that he remains “committed to as much transparency as possible.”
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-ca) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-ny) released a joint statement saying,...
Barr, in turn, sent a letter to the House Judiciary Committee confirming receipt of the report and pledging that he remains “committed to as much transparency as possible.”
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-ca) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-ny) released a joint statement saying,...
- 3/22/2019
- by Tessa Stuart
- Rollingstone.com
On May 17th, 2017, former FBI Director Robert Mueller was named to lead a special Justice Department investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and any ties between the Russian government and Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. After nearly two years and hundreds of protestations from the president, that investigation is now officially over.
On Friday, Mueller’s office submitted its final report to the Justice Department. According to the Wall Street Journal, the report was first delivered to the office of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who turned it over to Attorney General William Barr.
On Friday, Mueller’s office submitted its final report to the Justice Department. According to the Wall Street Journal, the report was first delivered to the office of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who turned it over to Attorney General William Barr.
- 3/22/2019
- by Ryan Bort
- Rollingstone.com
Michael Cohen sat before the House Oversight Committee for seven hours on Wednesday, fielding questions about President Trump while deflecting attacks on his own character. Trump’s former attorney and fixer offered a host of bombshell revelations, implicating his former boss in a host of federal crimes ranging from insurance fraud to engaging in a conspiracy against the United States. All told, it could wind up being one of the most consequential congressional hearings in American history. Not surprisingly, reactions were mixed.
President Trump made his feelings known before the hearing began.
President Trump made his feelings known before the hearing began.
- 2/28/2019
- by Ryan Bort
- Rollingstone.com
Despite strongly worded tweets from President Trump calling for its termination, Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation soldiers on. The president has no one to blame but himself and his lawyers, who are doing all they can to prevent their client from speaking with investigators under oath. On Wednesday afternoon, the New York Times reported that Trump’s lawyers rejected a proposal made by Mueller last week, sending the special counsel a counter offer with a narrower focus for questioning. The Trump camp’s main qualm is Mueller’s...
- 8/9/2018
- by Ryan Bort
- Rollingstone.com
President Trump’s manic Twitter dysentery over the weekend contained more than a few nuggets that would have shamed, embarrassed or mortified normal presidents in a normal era.
Two big, dumb ideas emerged from Trumpworld in the last few days — one of which placed the president’s own son (and the president himself) in deep legal jeopardy and decisively blew up his “no collusion” talking point. When Trump tweeted “Fake News reporting, a complete fabrication, that I am concerned about the meeting my wonderful son, Donald, had in Trump Tower.
Two big, dumb ideas emerged from Trumpworld in the last few days — one of which placed the president’s own son (and the president himself) in deep legal jeopardy and decisively blew up his “no collusion” talking point. When Trump tweeted “Fake News reporting, a complete fabrication, that I am concerned about the meeting my wonderful son, Donald, had in Trump Tower.
- 8/6/2018
- by Rick Wilson
- Rollingstone.com
Update, with Brian Stelter video President Donald Trump began his Sunday morning with media-bashing tweets so virulent – the “enemy of the people” are “very dangerous & sick!” and “can also cause War!” – that journalists and the Sunday morning Beltway programs immediately struck back.
CNN’s Jake Tapper called them “hate tweets,” the same network’s Brian Stelter described them as part of a “hate movement” and conservative columnist Bill Kristol tweeted that Trump is “closer in spirit to Putin than to America.”
Stelter, on today’s Reliable Sources, noted that a caller to C-Span on Friday threatened to shoot both Stelter and CNN’s Don Lemon, a call that aired live and that Stelter re-played today to demonstrate the increasing threats against journalists..
The chilling phone call, in which the caller erroneously accused Stelter and Lemon of calling all Trump supporters racist,...
CNN’s Jake Tapper called them “hate tweets,” the same network’s Brian Stelter described them as part of a “hate movement” and conservative columnist Bill Kristol tweeted that Trump is “closer in spirit to Putin than to America.”
Stelter, on today’s Reliable Sources, noted that a caller to C-Span on Friday threatened to shoot both Stelter and CNN’s Don Lemon, a call that aired live and that Stelter re-played today to demonstrate the increasing threats against journalists..
The chilling phone call, in which the caller erroneously accused Stelter and Lemon of calling all Trump supporters racist,...
- 8/5/2018
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Fresh off Tuesday night’s conspiracy-charged rally in Tampa, President Trump logged onto Twitter Wednesday morning with a vengeance. Over the course of three hours of Executive Time, the president fired off seven liberally capitalized tweets admonishing Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation. He delivered a bizarre defense of his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, whose trial for a host of financial crimes began Tuesday, likening him to notorious gangster “Alfonse Capone.” He wondered why Hillary Clinton’s team hiring a third party to research her opponent was different...
- 8/1/2018
- by Ryan Bort
- Rollingstone.com
We’re at the point in the Trump presidency where it feels like nobody knows which direction is up anymore, and this was reflected Wednesday night by late-night hosts slinging jokes that felt a little bit more on edge than usual. Over on ABC we had Jimmy Kimmel quipping about how “democracy had a good run,” and on “The Late Show,” Stephen Colbert was almost manic in how he delivered his monologue.
“Things are getting testy between the special counsel and the president. Yesterday, 49 questions — you hear about this? — 49 questions that Mueller supposedly wants to ask Trump were leaked. and today we learned that when Trump refused to voluntarily answer Mueller’s questions, Mueller said he could issue a subpoena for the president to appear before a grand jury,” Colbert said to cheers from the audience. “Yeah, I don’t know. I don’t know about that. I understand what you’re saying, but if you want Trump to show up, you can’t threaten to slap him with a subpoena. You have to offer to spank him with it.”
Colbert then circled back to the topic of those 49 questions, reading from a Washington Post story about where that list of questions actually came from.
Also Read: Seth Meyers Wants to Remind You That Mike Pence Sucks Just as Much as Trump Does (Video)
“And who knows what he’ll actually ask Trump, because those 49 questions that were leaked? Mueller didn’t even write those. In actuality, Mueller’s team agreed to provide the president’s lawyers with more specific information about the subjects that prosecutors wished to discuss with the president. With those details in hand, Trump’s lawyer Jay Sekulow compiled a list of 49 questions that Trump’s team believed the president would be asked.’ Those questions are made up. They’re just Mueller fan-fiction. It explains why in question 35 is James Comey finally hooking up with Rod Rosenstein,” Colbert joked.
“But why would the Trump team purposely leak their own questions, you question? Well, apparently, Trump now plans to point to the list as evidence that Mueller has strayed beyond his mandate and is over-reaching. ‘Look, this Mueller guy, if he’s going to ask me even half of the things my lawyers totally made up, he’s gotta go.’ “
This is where Colbert started to lose it a little bit, getting very theatrical from this point on.
Also Read: Jimmy Kimmel: 'Democracy Had a Good Run and Maybe It's Time for Us to Try Something Else' (Video)
“And Trump is attacking Mueller’s right even to question him, tweeting this quote: ‘The questions are an intrusion into the President’s Article 2 powers under the Constitution to fire any Executive Branch Employee…what the President was thinking is an outrageous…as to the President’s unfettered power to fire anyone… ‘ Joe Digenova, former U.S. Attorney,’ ” Colbert read.
“Okay, I think — if I can decode that, I think what ‘Uncle Off-His-Meds’ is saying here is that we’ll have a constitutional crisis if he can’t fire the people investigating him for firing people who were investigating him. Right now, Nixon is rolling over in his grave saying, ‘I told you I wasn’t a crook.’ “
Colbert then spent a solid 20 seconds doing Nixon’s V sign with his fingers while imitating his weird laugh — getting really close to the camera at one point.
Also Read: Jimmy Kimmel Would 'Pay Almost Any Amount of Money to See Trump Answer Robert Mueller's Questions Live on Television'
Eventually, Colbert gathered himself and continued through another Trump tweet.
“Then Trump tweeted, ‘A Rigged System – They don’t want to turn over Documents to Congress. What are they afraid of? Why so much redacting? Why such unequal ‘justice?’ At some point I will have no choice but to use the powers granted to the Presidency and get involved!’ ” Colbert read.
“Sir, you’re already involved. technically, the defendant is the star. And today, you’re a star! A big, bright, beautiful star!”
You can watch this portion of Colbert’s monologue from Wednesday’s episode of “The Late Show” in the video embedded at the top of this post.
Read original story Colbert Clowns ‘Uncle Off-His-Meds’ Donald Trump for Nonsensical Tweet Threatening Mueller (Video) At TheWrap...
“Things are getting testy between the special counsel and the president. Yesterday, 49 questions — you hear about this? — 49 questions that Mueller supposedly wants to ask Trump were leaked. and today we learned that when Trump refused to voluntarily answer Mueller’s questions, Mueller said he could issue a subpoena for the president to appear before a grand jury,” Colbert said to cheers from the audience. “Yeah, I don’t know. I don’t know about that. I understand what you’re saying, but if you want Trump to show up, you can’t threaten to slap him with a subpoena. You have to offer to spank him with it.”
Colbert then circled back to the topic of those 49 questions, reading from a Washington Post story about where that list of questions actually came from.
Also Read: Seth Meyers Wants to Remind You That Mike Pence Sucks Just as Much as Trump Does (Video)
“And who knows what he’ll actually ask Trump, because those 49 questions that were leaked? Mueller didn’t even write those. In actuality, Mueller’s team agreed to provide the president’s lawyers with more specific information about the subjects that prosecutors wished to discuss with the president. With those details in hand, Trump’s lawyer Jay Sekulow compiled a list of 49 questions that Trump’s team believed the president would be asked.’ Those questions are made up. They’re just Mueller fan-fiction. It explains why in question 35 is James Comey finally hooking up with Rod Rosenstein,” Colbert joked.
“But why would the Trump team purposely leak their own questions, you question? Well, apparently, Trump now plans to point to the list as evidence that Mueller has strayed beyond his mandate and is over-reaching. ‘Look, this Mueller guy, if he’s going to ask me even half of the things my lawyers totally made up, he’s gotta go.’ “
This is where Colbert started to lose it a little bit, getting very theatrical from this point on.
Also Read: Jimmy Kimmel: 'Democracy Had a Good Run and Maybe It's Time for Us to Try Something Else' (Video)
“And Trump is attacking Mueller’s right even to question him, tweeting this quote: ‘The questions are an intrusion into the President’s Article 2 powers under the Constitution to fire any Executive Branch Employee…what the President was thinking is an outrageous…as to the President’s unfettered power to fire anyone… ‘ Joe Digenova, former U.S. Attorney,’ ” Colbert read.
“Okay, I think — if I can decode that, I think what ‘Uncle Off-His-Meds’ is saying here is that we’ll have a constitutional crisis if he can’t fire the people investigating him for firing people who were investigating him. Right now, Nixon is rolling over in his grave saying, ‘I told you I wasn’t a crook.’ “
Colbert then spent a solid 20 seconds doing Nixon’s V sign with his fingers while imitating his weird laugh — getting really close to the camera at one point.
Also Read: Jimmy Kimmel Would 'Pay Almost Any Amount of Money to See Trump Answer Robert Mueller's Questions Live on Television'
Eventually, Colbert gathered himself and continued through another Trump tweet.
“Then Trump tweeted, ‘A Rigged System – They don’t want to turn over Documents to Congress. What are they afraid of? Why so much redacting? Why such unequal ‘justice?’ At some point I will have no choice but to use the powers granted to the Presidency and get involved!’ ” Colbert read.
“Sir, you’re already involved. technically, the defendant is the star. And today, you’re a star! A big, bright, beautiful star!”
You can watch this portion of Colbert’s monologue from Wednesday’s episode of “The Late Show” in the video embedded at the top of this post.
Read original story Colbert Clowns ‘Uncle Off-His-Meds’ Donald Trump for Nonsensical Tweet Threatening Mueller (Video) At TheWrap...
- 5/3/2018
- by Phil Owen
- The Wrap
Ty Cobb, President Donald Trump’s handle-bar mustachioed White House attorney, is leaving just as Trump has started really spitting Twitter fire over Robert Mueller’s hotted-up Russia probe.
Replacing Cobb, Emmet T. Flood, the D.C. lawyer who saw former President Bill Clinton through his impeachment. File that under “rich.”
Nothing to see here, folks, the White House said in its statement on Cobb’s departure: “For several weeks Ty Cobb ha been discussing his retirement and last week he let Chief of Staff Kelly know he would retire at the end of this month.”
Cobb is the second major member of Trump legal team to bow out in last several weeks, following the exit of John Dowd. Today’s news comes as Special Counsel Robert Mueller has signaled he may resort to subpoena to get Trump to answer that list of 49 questions in his Russia probe.
Dowd packed his bags in mid March,...
Replacing Cobb, Emmet T. Flood, the D.C. lawyer who saw former President Bill Clinton through his impeachment. File that under “rich.”
Nothing to see here, folks, the White House said in its statement on Cobb’s departure: “For several weeks Ty Cobb ha been discussing his retirement and last week he let Chief of Staff Kelly know he would retire at the end of this month.”
Cobb is the second major member of Trump legal team to bow out in last several weeks, following the exit of John Dowd. Today’s news comes as Special Counsel Robert Mueller has signaled he may resort to subpoena to get Trump to answer that list of 49 questions in his Russia probe.
Dowd packed his bags in mid March,...
- 5/2/2018
- by Lisa de Moraes
- Deadline Film + TV
Stephen Colbert got a break on Monday, with the late-breaking news that the FBI raided the office and home of Donald Trump’s personal attorney Michael Cohen happening just early enough that “The Late Show” writing staff could slip in some jokes about it.
“The Late Show” was coming off of hiatus, and it was clear that the imminently topical jokes were late additions to a bit he was doing to catch up on some of last week’s big news regarding the Stormy Daniels situation. Colbert started this part of his monologue with the video from last week of Trump denying he knew anything about the hush agreement Cohen had set up with Daniels.
“Trump trusts his lawyer so much, he lets him do stuff he doesn’t know about in his name for reasons he doesn’t understand. That’s like saying, ‘Doc, just put me under and take out whatever organs you want. Dealer’s choice. You want a lung? You take it,'” Colbert joked. “So he said on camera, ‘You’ll have to ask Michael Cohen.’ Well, guess who watches TV? Robert Mueller.
Also Read: Kimmel on FBI Raid of Trump's Attorney: 'It's Never a Great Sign When Your Lawyer Needs a Lawyer' (Video)
“Because, today, on a tip from Mueller, ‘The FBI raided Cohen’s office, seizing records related to several topics including payments to a pornographic-film actress.’ They got everything. All of his information about porn in a folder marked ‘finances,’ and all of his information about finances in a folder marked ‘porn.'”
After slipping in a joke about the FBI “taint team” that will have to review Cohen’s correspondence with Trump that was taken in the raids to make sure that the taking of it doesn’t violate laws regarding attorney-client privilege, Colbert suggested Cohen had reasons to be optimistic.
“But all hope isn’t lost, Michael Cohen. I’m sure the FBI will keep this whole thing quiet for $130,000,” Colbert joked. “Of course, if Trump really knew nothing about this, Cohen was already in trouble, because entering into an agreement on behalf of a client who doesn’t know about that agreement is ‘grounds for disbarment in New York. And if that happens, Trump’s legal team will be down to Ty Cobb, Jay Sekulow, and a DVD of ‘Matlock.’ He’s a good lawyer, that Matlock.”
Also Read: Stormy Daniels' Lawyer Gloats After FBI Raids Trump Lawyer Michael Cohen
Colbert then discussed Stormy Daniels’ lawyer Michael Avenatti’s assertion that Trump’s denial that he knew about the agreement would be “like Christmas and Hanukkah all rolled into one” for Daniels because “you can’t have an agreement if one party claims they knew nothing about one of the principal terms of the agreement.”
I don’t remember the part in the Christmas story where one of the wise men hooks up with a porn star,” Colbert said, though he was less skeptical about it being part of Hanukkah lore. “Hannukah, I believe. ‘And, lo, the massage oil lasted eight nights.'”
You can watch Colbert’s Monday “Late Show” monologue in the video embedded at the top of this post.
Read original story Stephen Colbert Offers Michael Cohen Some Advice: ‘I’m Sure the FBI Will Keep This Whole Thing Quiet for $130,000’ (Video) At TheWrap...
“The Late Show” was coming off of hiatus, and it was clear that the imminently topical jokes were late additions to a bit he was doing to catch up on some of last week’s big news regarding the Stormy Daniels situation. Colbert started this part of his monologue with the video from last week of Trump denying he knew anything about the hush agreement Cohen had set up with Daniels.
“Trump trusts his lawyer so much, he lets him do stuff he doesn’t know about in his name for reasons he doesn’t understand. That’s like saying, ‘Doc, just put me under and take out whatever organs you want. Dealer’s choice. You want a lung? You take it,'” Colbert joked. “So he said on camera, ‘You’ll have to ask Michael Cohen.’ Well, guess who watches TV? Robert Mueller.
Also Read: Kimmel on FBI Raid of Trump's Attorney: 'It's Never a Great Sign When Your Lawyer Needs a Lawyer' (Video)
“Because, today, on a tip from Mueller, ‘The FBI raided Cohen’s office, seizing records related to several topics including payments to a pornographic-film actress.’ They got everything. All of his information about porn in a folder marked ‘finances,’ and all of his information about finances in a folder marked ‘porn.'”
After slipping in a joke about the FBI “taint team” that will have to review Cohen’s correspondence with Trump that was taken in the raids to make sure that the taking of it doesn’t violate laws regarding attorney-client privilege, Colbert suggested Cohen had reasons to be optimistic.
“But all hope isn’t lost, Michael Cohen. I’m sure the FBI will keep this whole thing quiet for $130,000,” Colbert joked. “Of course, if Trump really knew nothing about this, Cohen was already in trouble, because entering into an agreement on behalf of a client who doesn’t know about that agreement is ‘grounds for disbarment in New York. And if that happens, Trump’s legal team will be down to Ty Cobb, Jay Sekulow, and a DVD of ‘Matlock.’ He’s a good lawyer, that Matlock.”
Also Read: Stormy Daniels' Lawyer Gloats After FBI Raids Trump Lawyer Michael Cohen
Colbert then discussed Stormy Daniels’ lawyer Michael Avenatti’s assertion that Trump’s denial that he knew about the agreement would be “like Christmas and Hanukkah all rolled into one” for Daniels because “you can’t have an agreement if one party claims they knew nothing about one of the principal terms of the agreement.”
I don’t remember the part in the Christmas story where one of the wise men hooks up with a porn star,” Colbert said, though he was less skeptical about it being part of Hanukkah lore. “Hannukah, I believe. ‘And, lo, the massage oil lasted eight nights.'”
You can watch Colbert’s Monday “Late Show” monologue in the video embedded at the top of this post.
Read original story Stephen Colbert Offers Michael Cohen Some Advice: ‘I’m Sure the FBI Will Keep This Whole Thing Quiet for $130,000’ (Video) At TheWrap...
- 4/10/2018
- by Phil Owen
- The Wrap
Here we go again. Near the end of his show on Fox News Tuesday night, Sean Hannity casually said that he’s been told that he and all three of his panel members at the time are currently under some kind of illegal surveillance. “By the way, I have sources saying all of us are being surveilled illegally, just in case you’re interested,” Hannity said. His guests were Circa’s Sara Carter, The Hill’s John Solomon and Trump legal counsel Jay Sekulow. He provided no further details about his claims but his claim but it came at the end of the segment in.
- 11/15/2017
- by Phil Owen
- The Wrap
During the height of last summer’s news cycle that focused on Donald Trump, Jr.’s meeting with Russian Lawyer’s, President Donald Trump’s lawyer Jay Sekulow was a frequent visage on various news outlets, providing full throated defenses over alleged charges of collusion with Russia. With news of Robert Mueller charging Paul Manafort and Rick Gates, and former Trump campaign […]...
- 10/31/2017
- by Colby Hall
- Mediaite - TV
Jay Sekulow, a member of President Trump's legal team, weighed in on the recent news that then-fbi Director James Comey drafted his statement that exonerated Hillary Clinton months before his July 2016 press conference that officially concluded the investigation.
- 9/1/2017
- by Joseph A. Wulfsohn
- Mediaite - TV
Statements from Jay Sekulow, a member of President Trump's legal team, are coming under renewed scrutiny after news broke last night of President Trump's involvement in his son's initial statement on his meeting with the Russian lawyer.
- 8/1/2017
- by Josh Feldman
- Mediaite - TV
The White House admitted Tuesday that President Donald Trump “weighed in” on the misleading statement released by his eldest son in response to revelations that Donald Trump Jr. met with a Russian lawyer in June 2016.
“The statement that Don Jr. issued is true,” White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Tuesday. “There’s no inaccuracy in the statement.”
“The president certainly didn’t dictate but, you know, he weighed in, offered suggestions like any father would do,” Sanders continued, adding that Trump Jr.’s meeting with the Russian lawyer was “of no consequence.”
“There was no follow-up. It was...
“The statement that Don Jr. issued is true,” White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Tuesday. “There’s no inaccuracy in the statement.”
“The president certainly didn’t dictate but, you know, he weighed in, offered suggestions like any father would do,” Sanders continued, adding that Trump Jr.’s meeting with the Russian lawyer was “of no consequence.”
“There was no follow-up. It was...
- 8/1/2017
- by Tierney McAfee
- PEOPLE.com
As a reminder, Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow has profusely denied that the president had anything to do with the statement his son offered up at first.
- 8/1/2017
- by Ken Meyer
- Mediaite - TV
After facing off with Jay Sekulow on Donald Trump Jr.'s meeting with the Russian lawyer, Fox News Sunday's Chris Wallace brought on the panel to discuss just how bad this looks for the White House.
- 7/16/2017
- by Josh Feldman
- Mediaite - TV
As Jay Sekulow did the Full Ginsburg on the Sunday shows this morning in response to Donald Trump Jr.'s meeting, he raised a question about the Secret Service's role on ABC's This Week.
- 7/16/2017
- by Josh Feldman
- Mediaite - TV
On Fox News Sunday this morning, Chris Wallace repeatedly grilled Jay Sekulow over whether the past denials of Russian contact by people on the Trump Team now look "suspect."...
- 7/16/2017
- by Josh Feldman
- Mediaite - TV
CNN's Jake Tapper faced off again with Jay Sekulow, a member of President Trump's legal team, over Donald Trump Jr.'s meeting with the Russian lawyer, even calling him out at one point for "changing the subject."...
- 7/16/2017
- by Josh Feldman
- Mediaite - TV
President Trump attorney Jay Sekulow said the meeting between Donald Trump Jr. and a Russian lawyer was “not illegal” and insisted the president wasn’t aware of the meeting. “It’s not illegal,” Sekulow told ABC News chief anchor George Stephanopoulos in an interview Wednesday on “Good Morning America.” Sekulow added: “The president wasn’t aware of the meeting, did not participate in the meeting, did not attend the meeting.” On Tuesday, the president’s eldest son tweeted an email exchange with publicist Rob Goldstone from June 2016, who said a Russian attorney wanted to offer damaging information regarding Hillary Clinton in an attempt to help.
- 7/12/2017
- by Brian Flood
- The Wrap
Today show hosts Savannah Guthrie and Matt Lauer did their best to pin down a slippery Jay Sekulow, President Donald Trump's personal attorney, over explosive reports on Donald Trump Jr.'s meeting with a Russian lawyer.
- 7/12/2017
- by Aidan McLaughlin
- Mediaite - TV
President Donald Trump has defended his son Donald Trump, Jr. over the rising din of criticism over his controversial meeting with Russian attorney Natalia Veselnitskaya during the 2016 presidential campaign.
The president took to Twitter early Wednesday morning to declare Donald Jr. “innocent” and praise his son’s interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, his first major televised appearance since the scandal broke.
“My son Donald did a good job last night,” President Trump tweeted. “He was open, transparent and innocent. This is the greatest Witch Hunt in political history. Sad!”
He followed up by writing, “Remember, when you hear the...
The president took to Twitter early Wednesday morning to declare Donald Jr. “innocent” and praise his son’s interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, his first major televised appearance since the scandal broke.
“My son Donald did a good job last night,” President Trump tweeted. “He was open, transparent and innocent. This is the greatest Witch Hunt in political history. Sad!”
He followed up by writing, “Remember, when you hear the...
- 7/12/2017
- by Stephanie Petit
- PEOPLE.com
Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow appeared on Fox & Friends on Tuesday, and he defended President Trump over the emerging legal matters putting the administration under pressure.
- 7/11/2017
- by Ken Meyer
- Mediaite - TV
Jay Sekulow, a lawyer for President Donald Trump, was back Fox News Wednesday to rail against what he calls "the so-called Russian probe."...
- 6/28/2017
- by Joe DePaolo
- Mediaite - TV
Jay Sekulow, a lawyer on Donald Trump’s legal team, also leads a rock band called “The Sekulow Band” that perform a variety of songs and music videos, like this cover of the Doobie Brothers’ “Jesus Is Just Alright” (in the video above). Sekulow plays both the drums and guitar for the band, which also includes the Christian rock singers John Schlitt and John Elefante (who enjoyed a brief stint with the ’80s band Kansas), according to Spin. The band boasts one, apparently original song called “Undemocratic,” which takes a jab at Hillary Clinton’s email scandal. The band has...
- 6/21/2017
- by Brian Flood
- The Wrap
After President Donald Trump seemed to acknowledge in a tweet that he is under investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller for possibly obstructing justice, Jay Sekulow — a member of Trump’s legal team — largely denied that during a round of appearances on Sunday news programs.
Seth Meyers then chimed in with his take on the conflicting accounts, attempting to clear up some of the confusion surrounding the reported investigation. During the “A Closer Look” segment of Monday’s episode of Late Night, the host examined the Trump camp’s contradictory statements on the matter.
“If an official White House statement...
Seth Meyers then chimed in with his take on the conflicting accounts, attempting to clear up some of the confusion surrounding the reported investigation. During the “A Closer Look” segment of Monday’s episode of Late Night, the host examined the Trump camp’s contradictory statements on the matter.
“If an official White House statement...
- 6/20/2017
- by Megan McCluskey
- PEOPLE.com
President Donald Trump’s lawyer Jay Sekulow got a surprise on Monday’s “Fox & Friends” when the usually Trump-friendly program peppered their guest with questions about the president’s tweets. Trump regularly praises the Fox News morning show on Twitter but that didn’t stop co-host Brian Kilmeade from challenging the president’s Twitter usage. “When the president’s furious and tweets, it seems to make your job harder,” Kilmeade said. “Will he say I’m no longer talking about the Russia investigation?” Also Read: 'Morning Joe' Counts Down Trump's 5 Most Self-Destructive Tweets (Video) Sekulow said Trump is...
- 6/19/2017
- by Brian Flood
- The Wrap
Jake Tapper, Chuck Todd, John Dickerson and Chris Wallace gave it their best, but none could quite crack the composure – or the logic – of Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow today. Watching Tapper’s State of the Union, Todd’s Meet the Press, Dickerson’s Face the Nation and Wallace’s Fox News Sunday, it was difficult to decide which of the men had the toughest job. Sekulow made the Sunday morning Beltway show rounds today to explain the president’s revelatory – or maybe not – June…...
- 6/18/2017
- Deadline TV
Jay Sekulow, a lawyer on Donald Trump’s legal team, made the rounds of the Sunday morning talk shows to walk back the president’s Friday tweet that seemed to confirm he was under investigation for possible obstruction of justice by special counsel Robert Mueller. “The president is not a subject or target of an investigation,” Sekulow said on CNN. “The tweet from the president was in response to the five anonymous sources that were purportedly leaking information to The Washington Post about a potential investigation of the president,” Sekulow told NBC’s Chuck Todd on “Meet the Press.” Also Read: Trump Admits: 'I Am.
- 6/18/2017
- by Thom Geier
- The Wrap
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