Trump, in fiery speech in Alabama, boasts he needs 'one more indictment to close out this election'
Former President Donald Trump, fresh off his third appearance in court as a criminal defendant, delivered a speech full of defiance and bluster on Friday night, insulting prosecutors and declaring that the charges he faces only help his 2024 presidential campaign. “Any time they file an indictment, we go way up in the polls," Trump said at a Republican Party dinner in Alabama. "We need one more indictment to close out this election. One more indictment, and this election is closed out. Nobody has even a chance.” Trump pleaded not guilty on Thursday to crimes related to his efforts to overturn the results of his 2020 election loss. Although it's his third criminal indictment this year, this case is the most serious, with the federal government he once ran charging him with orchestrating a scheme to block the peaceful transfer of power. But Trump was characteristically unapologetic as he took the stage Friday night to Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA,” flashing a thumbs-up at the crowd, raising his fist and taking in a standing ovation of nearly three minutes. “We’re gonna be here for a little while,” he joked, asking the crowd to take a seat. The latest set of charges focuses on the two months between his November 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden and the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Trump has denied wrongdoing and has wedded his 2024 presidential campaign to his legal defense and his false claims of 2020 election fraud. In a sign of that defiance, his campaign released an online ad Friday attacking Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith, who led the investigation that resulted in Trump’s latest charges and a separate case where he’s charged with mishandling classified documents. The ad, which is expected to start airing on television next week, also attacks Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who has charged Trump in a hush money case, and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who is believed to be close to filing charges in her investigation into efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia. A Trump aide said the ad will start airing Monday and Tuesday in Washington, D.C., New York, Atlanta and on national cable. The ad was also shown to the crowd at the Alabama dinner Friday night. Trump has continued to receive endorsements from GOP elected officials throughout the investigations and criminal cases, including on Friday from all six of the state's Republican U.S. House members. Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, who is waging an unprecedented campaign to try to change Pentagon abortion policy by holding up hundreds of military nominations and promotions, introduced Trump at the dinner on Friday night. “He’s had a tough week. We need to stand behind him," Tuberville said. “He needs encouragement. They’re after him.” Repeating Trump's frequent refrain, he added, "They’re after you.” Among the opening acts of the dinner were Catherine Engelbrecht and Gregg Phillips, who produced the movie “2000 Mules,” which made various debunked claims about mail ballots, drop boxes and ballot collection in the 2020 presidential election. Trump praised the pair in his remarks and said: “Get ready. Get those votes ready. Just get them ready. Keep those tapes handy because you're going to need them." The crowd of 2,700 began arriving several hours early for the dinner, a $250-per-ticket fundraiser for the Alabama Republican Party. “They are excited,” Alabama Republican Party Chair John Wahl said. “There is so much passion from Trump supporters and voters across the state." Trump’s mounting legal troubles do not seem to be dampening his support in the Deep South state that is among more than a dozen that will hold primary contests on Super Tuesday. The March 5 slate of elections is increasingly seen as one of the last chances for any other GOP presidential candidate to try to make inroads in Trump’s front-runner status. Trump’s closest rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, has been making a play for Super Tuesday states. In Alabama, though, one gauge of interest doesn’t bode well for the governor: The state GOP sold about 1,000 fewer tickets for a similar dinner in March when DeSantis spoke. Robin Rowan, the owner of a financial company, wore a button and sash with Trump’s image and “NOT GUILTY” emblazoned in sequins as she waited Friday to hear Trump speak. Rowan, who does not believe the criminal accusations against Trump, said the charges have galvanized support for Trump rather than making voters doubt him. “We know the truth. They are trying to wear us down. They are not going to wear us down,” Rowan said. Rich Foster, a retired police officer wearing a black “Bikers for Trump” T-shirt, said he believes some crimes were committed on Jan. 6, such as the attacks on police officers defending the Capitol, but does not consider Trump responsible for the violence that happened. “I don’t think Trump committed a crime that day,” Foster said. He said he believed that Trump, as president, had a right to speak out about the election. Trump has not been charged with inciting the attack, but prosecutors accused him of exploiting the violence and chaos at the Capitol to continue making false claims of election fraud and trying to halt the certification of the election results. Foster said he and other Trump supporters viewed the charges as an attempt to keep Trump from winning in 2024. He said he would write in the former president's name if he had to. “If they get him off the ballot somehow," he said, “I know how to write Donald J. Trump on the ballot.” Read More Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Opera singer David Daniels and his husband plead guilty to sexual assault Slovenia has suffered its worst-ever floods. Damage could top 500 million euros, its leader says More people go missing and thousands are evacuated as northeast China is hit by more floods
1970-01-01 08:00
Driver charged in crash that killed actor Treat Williams speaks out
A driver accused of causing a crash that killed Treat Williams knew the actor and considered him a friend but denied wrongdoing and said charges are not warranted. Ryan Koss, the managing creative director of the Dorset Theatre Festival in Vermont, said he knew Williams for years as a member of the tight-knit community, as well as a fellow theater member. He said he was devastated by Williams' death and offered his “sincerest condolences” to the actor's family. “I considered him a friend,” Mr Koss said. Mr Koss, 35, of Dorset, issued a statement Friday evening, three days after being issued a citation for grossly negligent operation causing death. He was ordered to appear in court in September to be formally charged. A Vermont State Police investigation concluded Mr Koss’ vehicle pulled in front of Williams’ motorcycle on June 12 in Dorset, but Mr Koss said he’s “confident the facts will show I obeyed all relevant traffic laws, and the state’s charges are unwarranted.” Williams, 71, of Manchester Center, was pronounced dead at Albany Medical Center in New York. Richard Treat Williams starred in the TV series Everwood and the movie Hair. He appeared in more than 120 TV and film roles, including the movies The Eagle Has Landed, Prince of the City and Once Upon a Time in America. Read More Treat Williams’ cause of death in fatal crash revealed as driver involved is accused of ‘gross negligence’
1970-01-01 08:00
Andre Onana has Old Trafford debut to forget in Manchester United come from behind to beat Lens
There are Old Trafford debuts to savour. Wayne Rooney’s hat-trick against Fenerbahce, for instance, or Anthony Martial’s solo strike against Liverpool. A teenage Cristiano Ronaldo’s precocious display of trickery against Bolton. A similarly young Marcus Rashford’s two-goal emergence onto the scene against Midtjylland. Federico Macheda’s injury-time decider against Aston Villa was perhaps the goal that swung a title race. It is safe to say Andre Onana and Mason Mount’s United bows at Old Trafford do not belong in that category. They were introductions to forget, matches to be banished from the memory bank, moments that can at least be caveated with the knowledge that, as they happened in pre-season, there was an irrelevance to their ignominy. But these were inauspicious ways to start life at United’s home ground. Their £47 million goalkeeper was lobbed from perhaps 47 yards. Their £55 million midfielder missed an open goal. The £72 million striker, Rasmus Hojlund, was unveiled to smiles and applause but he is injured and will miss the start of the season. Erik ten Hag has landed his three major summer targets. They were not hired for one to be sidelined or humiliated. As United recovered to beat Lens 3-1, a three-goal comeback was preceded by a tale of three signings. The boyhood United fan Hojlund took the field first, though a problem sustained in pre-season with Atalanta means it is a few weeks before he does in earnest. He will be charged with converting chances. When Mount made a forceful run from deep into the box, the clearest of opportunities materialised. Bruno Fernandes’ cross-field ball was superb, Alejandro Garnacho centred and Mount only had to apply the finishing touch. But he swung his left foot and the ball hit his standing leg, his right. It was a glaring miss. Then came an extraordinary opener. United savoured a No. 7 lobbing a goalkeeper from the environs of the half-way line when it was David Beckham. Not when it was Florian Sotoca, a 32-year-old journeyman of a French forward. It was not entirely Onana’s fault, but it was a product of the shift in style since David de Gea’s departure. It was apparent from the off. There were cheers when, after barely 80 seconds, Onana came out of his box to get involved in a passing move. De Gea rarely did that. There was evidence of his confidence, too, with a cheeky header to Diogo Dalot when, had he held back a yard or two, he could have caught the ball in his box. On each occasion, his willingness to double up as the 11th outfield player showed the extra dimension he can offer United. But it was also a reason why Onana was on the edge of his area when Dalot misplaced a pass and Sotoca took aim with a combination of ambition and precision.c Backpedalling, flailing in thin air, Onana ended up in the back of the net. So did the ball. He had to untangle himself. It is a form of embarrassment that is an occupational hazard, part of the risk-and-reward equation for a footballing goalkeeper. De Gea probably would not have conceded that goal, because his starting position would have been five yards further back. Perhaps the Cameroonian has exacerbated the differences with his predecessor; his pre-season has been notable for how far he has strayed from his goal. United have gone from one of the most conservative keepers to one of the boldest. There is a showman in Onana; when a last-minute shot looped up off Lisandro Martinez, he made a flamboyant save, but if De Gea was undermined by his poor passing, the other issue was his errors. Meanwhile, a team who had lost their previous three pre-season games – albeit one with a youth side to Wrexham – went from a goal down to 3-1 up with a quick turnaround. First Marcus Rashford equalised with a deflected shot. The Mancunian operated as the centre-forward, a role that, with Hojlund injured, he is likely to occupy at the start of the season. Then Antony, who had provided the pass for Rashford’s goal, scored the second with a dink over goalkeeper Brice Samba following a ball from the electric Garnacho. Finally, Rashford’s header deflected in off Casemiro. They face Athletic Bilbao in Dublin on Sunday and return to Old Trafford to start their league campaign against Wolves. And then, Mount and Onana must hope, their first competitive action at Old Trafford will give them something to recall more fondly. Read More Manchester United complete £72m transfer of striker Rasmus Hojlund Marcus Rashford: Wayne Rooney wants me to break his Manchester United record A new era for old empires? How a summer of rebuilding could change the Premier League
1970-01-01 08:00
Stetson Bennett IV's ascension as draft steal takes another sizable step forward
Stetson Bennett IV is flourishing during his first training camp with the Los Angeles Rams.To say Georgia football legend Stetson Bennett IV went to the perfect NFL franchise for him in the Los Angeles Rams would be such a gross understatement.The two-time College Football Playoff National C...
1970-01-01 08:00
Reds rumors: 3 players who won't be on the roster on September 1
The Cincinnati Reds roster could see some major shake ups, mainly with the pitching staff, before September 1st rolls around.Nick Krall and the Cincinnati Reds shocked the baseball world when they opted to not make many trades at the trade deadline. They made just one move, trading for Sam Moll ...
1970-01-01 08:00
Who's on strike and who's close? Labor unions are flexing
There are multiple stories involving strikes and unions in the news recently. Here's what's going on in this moment for American unions and how it could affect everyone's life.
1970-01-01 08:00
NFT Rout Crushes $1.5 Billion Windfall for Artists as Markets Slash Royalties
Tension between traders and creators of digital collectibles is deepening amid a painful slump in the market for
1970-01-01 08:00
3 Browns who earned a roster spot in Hall of Fame Game, and 1 on verge of being cut
The Cleveland Browns took on the New York Jets in the Hall of Fame Game and discovered three players who need to stick around and one that might have to go.Overcoming a 13-point deficit and a 16-7 halftime deficit, the Cleveland Browns defended the state of Ohio with a 21-16 win over the New Yor...
1970-01-01 08:00
USMNT news: Tillman to PSV, done deals, Turner to Forest
Today's USMNT news includes Malik Tillman being linked with PSV Eindhoven, Yunus Musah and Haji Wright both have new clubs and Matt Turner could be on his way to Nottingham Forest.USMNT news: Malik Tillman to PSV EindhovenPSV Eindhoven won theJohan Cruyff Shield last night, with Ricardo Pep...
1970-01-01 08:00
Braves' best addition had nothing to do with trade deadline
The best move the Atlanta Braves made at the trade deadline was not messing around with the rotation at all.All Atlanta Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos needed to do at the trade deadline was to trust his gut, be patient and let things sort themselves out.While addressing some minor b...
1970-01-01 08:00
Area 51 ‘baseball field’ prompts entertaining conspiracy theories
A satellite image of Area 51 showing what looks to be a baseball diamond has fans coming up with some wild conspiracy theories to explain it.Men are from Mars. Women are from Venus. Are MLB superstars like Shohei Ohtani possibly from a galaxy even further away than our own? It would explain the ...
1970-01-01 08:00
Man Utd 3-1 RC Lens: Player ratings as Red Devils come from behind in pre-season friendly
Match report and player ratings from Manchester United's pre-season friendly against Ligue 1 runners-up RC Lens
1970-01-01 08:00
