Trump stays away from the debate — and comes out unscathed
Eight underdog Republican presidential candidates debated Wednesday on a stage overshadowed by Donald Trump, who snubbed his rivals in an attempt to show his dominance — and consign them to irrelevancy.
While some took aim at Trump, his nearest rivals either defended him or trod cautiously around the former president as he faces four criminal indictments involving his alleged attempt to overturn the 2020 election, misuse of classified documents and falsification of business records to make hush money payments to a porn star.
There was little reason to believe the debate would shake up the fundamental dynamic of the Republican primary campaign: Trump’s dominance. Heading into the evening, he was winning 52% of GOP voters in national polls, according to the FiveThirtyEight average. His top-polling rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, was far behind, with 15%. Nobody else reached double digits.
House Judiciary chair sends letter to Willis demanding information on her Trump investigation
House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, is demanding information from Willis related to her investigation.
In his letter to Willis, obtained by NBC News, Jordan requests specific information related to her probe, including whether she coordinated any of her efforts with special counsel Jack Smith, who has also brought charges against Trump for his attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
“There are questions about whether and how your office coordinated with DOJ Special Counsel Jack Smith during the course of this investigation, Congress has an interest in any such activity that involves federal law enforcement agencies and officials that fall under its oversight,” Jordan wrote.
Jordan demanded Willis turn over all documents and communications:
- referring or relating to the DA’s office’s receipt and use of federal funds
- between or among the DA’s office and the DOJ and its components, including but not limited to the office of the special counsel, referring or related to her office’s investigation of Trump or the 18 co-defendants in the special counsel’s indictment of the former president
- between the DA’s office and any federal executive branch officials regarding Willis’ investigation of Trump or the 18 co-defendants in the special counsel’s indictment of the former president
Jordan’s request follows a similar pattern that he employed shortly after Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg brought charges against Trump. Jordan also requested documents from Bragg, and demanded specific information into how federal funds may have been used to conduct the investigation into Trump.
Here are those who still haven’t surrendered
There are 10 defendants who still haven’t surrendered. Willis has warned that if individuals don’t surrender by noon tomorrow, she will issue arrest warrants.
Here’s who they are:
- Donald Trump
- Mark Meadows
- Jeffrey Clark
- Robert Cheeley
- Michael Roman
- Shawn Still
- Stephen Lee
- Harrison Floyd
- Trevian Kutti
- Misty Hampton, aka Emily Misty Hayes
Trump’s new lawyer previously critical of RICO cases
Trump’s new lawyer, Steve Sadow is a prominent defense attorney in Atlanta and had previously been critical of Willis’ use of the racketeering law.
In an article from March 2021 about the possibility that Willis could charge Trump, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution quoted Sadow as saying “I think it’s been overused for quite a long time.”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution continued:
Sadow said if Willis goes for RICO charges, she would be able to pursue potential evidence from outside of Georgia in an attempt to prove a wider conspiracy.
“She can make it as broad as she wants,” he said. “There’s just no limit to it.”
Trump hires new Georgia lawyer
Trump has replaced attorney Drew Findling and will use attorney Steven Sadow to handle his arrest and processing today in Atlanta, a source with direct knowledge of the matter tells NBC News.
Findling could not immediately be reached for comment.
Sadow confirmed he is now representing Trump in a statement
“I have been retained to represent President Trump in the Fulton County, Georgia case,” he said in the statement. “The president should never have been indicted. He is innocent of all the charges brought against him, we look forward to the case being dismissed or, if necessary, an unbiased, open minded jury finding the president not guilty. Prosecutions intended to advance or serve the ambitions and careers of political opponents of the president have no place in our justice system.”
Giuliani booked and released on $150,000 bond
Rudy Giuliani, a Trump lawyer who championed the former president’s bogus election fraud claims, turned himself in to authorities in Georgia yesterday to face racketeering charges alleging he meddled in the state’s 2020 presidential election.
He was booked at the Fulton County Jail in the midafternoon. A judge signed off on a $150,000 bond agreement Giuliani’s lawyers worked out with prosecutors.
Giuliani was indignant about the charges as he left the jail, telling a crush of reporters that Willis “will go down in American history as having conducted one of the worst attacks on the American Constitution ever when this case is dismissed.”
