Trump's Former Personal Lawyer Confirmed As US Judge
The Republican-led Senate confirmed Emil Bove as a judge on the 3rd US Circuit Court of Appeals, a lifetime appointment, despite fiery opposition from Democrats, who walked out of a Senate committee meeting in protest earlier this month.
Two GOP Senators -- Alaska's Lisa Murkowski and Maine's Susan Collins -- voted against the nomination, but Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the chamber and were able to carry the vote anyway.
A former federal prosecutor, Bove, 44, was nominated by Trump while serving as the third-ranking official in the Justice Department.
His nomination drew fierce criticism, and Senator Dick Durbin, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued a statement Tuesday night lambasting Bove after he got the new job.
"Mr. Bove's primary qualification appears to be his blind loyalty to this President," Durbin said, adding that Bove sided with January 6, 2021 rioters who rushed in the Capitol, and fired career prosecutors who held them to account.
The Third Circuit covers the eastern states of Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
New Jersey Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim issued a joint statement saying Bove's "professional record is marred by a pattern of abusive behavior, ethical breaches, and disdain for the norms of judicial integrity."
Opposition to Bove's appointment was vocal in legal circles ahead of Tuesday's vote.
More than 900 former Justice Department attorneys recently sent a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee saying "it's intolerable to us that anyone who disgraces the Justice Department would be promoted to one of the highest courts in the land."
A group of more than 75 retired state and federal judges also wrote the committee, saying it is "deeply inappropriate for a president to nominate their own criminal defense attorney for a federal judgeship."
Bove represented Trump in the New York case that ended in his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments to a porn star.
He also defended Trump in two federal criminal cases which never reached trial and were shut down after Trump won the 2024 presidential election.
Earlier this year, Bove ordered federal prosecutors to drop bribery and fraud charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams, triggering a wave of resignations in the Manhattan US attorney's office and the Justice Department in Washington.
Bove has denied allegations that the decision was a quid pro quo in exchange for the Democratic mayor's support for Trump's immigration crackdown.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
6 minutes ago
- First Post
Trump envoy Witkoff lands in Russia, India's NSA Doval in Moscow; meeting on the cards?
Ahead of US President Donald Trump's deadline for a ceasefire in Ukraine, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has arrived in Moscow to hold talks with Russian officials. Incidentally, Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is also in Moscow. read more Ahead of US President Donald Trump's deadline for a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff on Wednesday arrived in Moscow to hold talks with Russian officials — possibly Vladimir Putin as well. Late last month, Trump shortened the 50-day ultimatum to Putin to agree to a ceasefire in his war on Ukraine to 10-12 days. The deadline will expire this week. With his continued attacks on Ukrainian civilians and statements, Putin has so far shown no indication that he wants a ceasefire. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On the failure to reach a ceasefire, Trump has threatened to impose tariffs and sanctions on Russia and those countries buying Russian oil. He has already slapped 25 per cent tariff on India and has said he would 'substantially' increase that and impose additional penalties over the trade with Russia. Incidentally, Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is also in Moscow in the moment. Even though Doval's visit had been planned in advance of Witkoff's visit, there has been speculation about a meeting between the two officials, possibly to manage the spiralling relations between the two countries. Witkoff arrives in Moscow as Putin remains defiant Witkoff's visit comes just ahead of Trump's Friday deadline to Putin to agree to a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin has previously said that Witkoff could have a meeting with Putin. However, Putin so far not indicated that he wants peace — or at least real peace. Last week, in an apparent reference to Trump's deadline, Putin said that 'all disappointments arise from inflated expectations'. Making it clear that he had no intention to stop ongoing ground offensive, he said that 'to stop our advance at any cost' was the objective of Russia's enemies and ill-wishers. Separately, Reuters on Tuesday reported three sources as saying that Putin's determination to keep going with the offensive is prompted by his belief that Russia is winning the and belief that any new US sanctions will not have much of an impact on Russia. Even though Putin does not want to anger Trump, the war goals take precedence, two of the sources told the news agency. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD One of the sources said that Putin's goal now is to completely capture Ukraine's four provinces of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. However, there is a possibility that Putin may be able to convince Trump via Witkoff. Analysts have said that Putin has been looking for a short-term break in the war to replenish the Russian forces and rearm the troops. For such a purpose, Putin may very well agree to a ceasefire now to escape Trump's immediate wrath and return later to war. Witkoff, who has long been very friendly to Putin and Russia, may be the best person to convince Trump if this is what Putin has decided. 'For Putin, the ideal scenario is to freeze the conflict for a while, build up strength, and then resume the war — ideally with a more plausible pretext, such as accusing Ukraine of failing to comply with peace agreements,' Kseniya Kirillova, a Russia analyst at Jamestown Foundation, previously told Firstpost. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Is Witkoff-Doval meeting on the cards? As Witkoff and Doval are both in Moscow, there is speculation about a meeting, but there not been any official confirmation. Doval's visit had been planned before and he is expected to speak to Russian officials about the delivery of S-400 air defence systems, according to The Hindu. The S-400 is among the many Russian defence deals that are running late by several years. As Russia has devoted all resources to the war on Ukraine, it has not been able to deliver the various platforms it has signed deals for, such as the S-400 air defence systems and navy vessels. The Hindu reported that US tariffs are also expected to feature in Doval's meetings in Moscow.
Indian Express
6 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Why is Trump upset with India? It is not about peace in Ukraine
As India and the United States failed to clinch a trade deal by the stipulated deadline, President Donald Trump announced on his social media post that all imports from India would now be subject to a 25 per cent tariff, and an additional penalty for importing Russian energy. While a higher tariff across the board was expected if the deal fails, the additional penalty for trading with Russia has irked the Indian establishment. The MEA issued a statement criticising the US and the EU by exposing their own hypocrisy on the issue of doing business with Russia. It is true that India's energy imports, mostly crude oil, from Russia have increased. But Russia's emergence as India's major supplier of crude oil is a consequence of US policy itself. To begin with, US sanctions on Venezuelan crude oil continue to be in force, blocking off a major source of supply. This is significant because Venezuela holds the world's largest reserves of crude oil. A fear of secondary sanctions has prevented the world from importing from Venezuela. Then, in 2019, the US, during the first Trump presidency, imposed sanctions on Iranian oil after it pulled out of the JCPOA. Iran was one of India's major oil suppliers, but the threat of secondary sanctions forced it to immediately cut its imports from Iran to 0.76 per cent of its total oil imports by 2020. Today, the share has fallen below 0.04 per cent. Finally, after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the EU, which felt morally compelled to reduce its energy dependence on Russia, undertook measures to gradually phase out Russian coal and oil imports. The EU's decision to transition from traditional suppliers to new ones threatened to drive up global oil prices. To further worsen the situation, OPEC's practice of capping output to create artificial scarcity threatened to trigger inflationary pressures worldwide. And even then, Russian oil was not under any direct sanctions, like Iran or Venezuela. While the G7 placed a price cap on Russian oil, which they were able to enforce globally, India didn't violate any understanding. And thus, Trump's sudden frustration with India's trade with Russia is bizarre. Moreover, while Trump has singled out India, alongside China, he chose to conveniently absolve the EU for the same. For all its moral chest-thumping, the EU has only been successful in cutting its coal dependence on Russia. It continues to import crude oil from Russia even as imports have reduced substantially. But most importantly, the EU has not stopped importing Russian gas, LNG and pipeline gas. In fact, it continues to be Russia's top export destination for both LNG (51 per cent) and pipeline gas (37 per cent). Additionally, after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, India emerged as the top supplier of refined oil to the EU, overtaking Saudi Arabia. The EU had no problems until very recently in importing Russian crude oil refined in India. Trump's actions appear, more than anything else, to be a result of his frustration and exasperation in dealing with Russia, India, and China. That he doesn't care about Ukraine or the Ukrainian cause is quite evident. However, it is no secret that when Trump assumed the presidency earlier this year, he made some tall claims regarding Russia, China and India. He vowed to bring the Russian war on Ukraine to an end. He also expressed confidence in concluding a favourable trade deal with both India and China. Trump expressed his admiration for the three leaders of all three countries. He was hoping to bank on his personal working relationship with them to deliver on these promises. Yet, more than six months after Trump took office, Putin has shrugged off repeated deadlines set by Trump to end the war. Xi Jinping, too, has refused to buckle under pressure and instead coerced Trump into agreeing to a 90-day truce amidst the ongoing tariff war between the US and China. Finally, India's decision to refute Trump's claim of mediating a ceasefire with Pakistan and its refusal to compromise on some core issues during the trade talks seems to have further infuriated the US president. Trump's decision, therefore, to sanction Russian crude oil, all of a sudden, is an expression of his disappointment arising from the mismatch between his expectations and reality. The writer is with Takshashila's Indo-Pacific Studies programme
Economic Times
6 minutes ago
- Economic Times
India needs fiscal push to revive domestic growth: Arvind Sanger
But for now, growth doesn't look terrible, it just doesn't look very robust either. Synopsis Arvind Sanger of Geosphere Capital Management discusses Trump's tariff plans. These plans include potential hikes on pharmaceutical imports and Indian goods. China may have leverage due to rare earth elements and Trump's desire for a meeting with Xi Jinping. India lacks a similar advantage. Sanger also addresses concerns about consistent FII selling and the need for domestic growth initiatives. "China imports as much oil from Russia as India does, but India doesn't have a similar trump card—no pun intended—that it can use against Trump. Right now, it's about Witkoff heading to Moscow tomorrow, and Putin offering some kind of olive branch by saying he won't launch air attacks in exchange for avoiding tariffs. How all of this plays out remains to be seen," says Arvind Sanger, Geosphere Capital Management. ADVERTISEMENT Like I mentioned, there's a lot to talk about when it comes to Trump—his commentary on the EU, China, India, and pharma. Let's begin with what he said about the pharmaceutical sector. He's announced a sharp hike in tariffs—eventually going up to 250% over the next 12 months. How do you see this playing out for pharma exporters to the US, especially companies operating within the US? Arvind Sanger: Well, remember, he had already mentioned a 200% tariff a couple of weeks ago. Now he's saying 150%, eventually going to 250%. So, to be honest, 200 or 250—who cares? The bottom line is, he's trying to phase this in over time to encourage more pharmaceutical manufacturing within the US. Clearly, that's a disadvantage for Indian pharmaceutical companies that rely heavily on exports to the US. It's a headwind, and the market has been aware of it for a few weeks now. So, I don't think it's significantly new information. That headwind is already factored in and is likely to have an impact. Whether it starts at 150% or eventually reaches 250%, it will negatively affect the pharmaceutical industry. Trump's tone has also been quite harsh on the Indian market. He's said he's planning a substantial tariff hike in the next 24 hours. Meanwhile, his commentary on China seems more conciliatory—he's even planning a meeting with Xi Jinping. On the flip side, he's again threatening the EU with a possible 35% tariff if certain conditions aren't met. How do you see Trump's tariff strategy playing out, especially for India and China? And how do you think the markets will react? Arvind Sanger: It sounds like China has something Trump wants. Two key things, in fact—first, the US needs rare earths in the short term, and second, Trump seems quite eager to visit China, meet Xi Jinping, and get a big photo op. Those are the cards China is playing to its advantage. China imports as much oil from Russia as India does, but India doesn't have a similar trump card—no pun intended—that it can use against Trump. Right now, it's about Witkoff heading to Moscow tomorrow, and Putin offering some kind of olive branch by saying he won't launch air attacks in exchange for avoiding tariffs. How all of this plays out remains to be sense is that Trump is unlikely to take any dramatically escalatory steps against India—especially on the Russian oil front. If India were to stop buying Russian oil altogether, Russia would struggle to find replacement buyers, meaning some of that oil would be off the global market. That would definitely spike oil prices. ADVERTISEMENT We must keep in mind that when it comes to Iran, Venezuela, or even Russia, Trump's bark has so far been worse than his bite. In the case of Iran, for instance, he made strong statements, but Iranian oil flows remained largely unaffected. So personally, I'm not overly worried about Trump being truly serious about halting Russian oil flows. He's been a toothless tiger so far when it comes to stopping oil from major producers. Domestically, what's the bigger concern for India? Forget tariffs for a moment—why is there consistent FII selling? What should domestic investors be doing right now? Arvind Sanger: If you look at the earnings numbers, auto sales, two-wheeler sales—basically any India-specific economic statistic—it doesn't quite support the kind of multiples that the Indian market is currently trading at. So, while India has been positioned as a growth story, that growth isn't showing up in earnings in a big enough way to get people like me excited. ADVERTISEMENT Yes, India might still be the fastest-growing major economy, but it's not translating meaningfully into numbers that make it a 'must buy.' The weakening rupee is also reducing India's attractiveness for dollar-based investors. And if exports take a hit, we'll need to find domestic opportunities where growth is Indian government may need to step up—not just the RBI, but also on the fiscal front. They may need to be more aggressive, even run a slightly higher deficit, to kickstart growth. If that happens, then domestic themes like consumption, infrastructure, leisure, and travel could benefit. But for now, growth doesn't look terrible, it just doesn't look very robust either. (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel) Parth Electricals and Engineering IPO opens August 4; price band set at Rs 160–170 Parth Electricals and Engineering IPO opens August 4; price band set at Rs 160–170 Nikita Papers IPO opens on May 27, price band set at Rs 95-104 per share Nikita Papers IPO opens on May 27, price band set at Rs 95-104 per share Why gold prices could surpass $4,000: JP Morgan's bullish outlook explained Why gold prices could surpass $4,000: JP Morgan's bullish outlook explained Cyient shares fall over 9% after Q4 profit declines, core business underperforms Cyient shares fall over 9% after Q4 profit declines, core business underperforms L&T Technology Services shares slide 7% after Q4 profit dips L&T Technology Services shares slide 7% after Q4 profit dips Trump-Powell standoff puts U.S. Rate policy in crosshairs: Who will blink first? Trump-Powell standoff puts U.S. Rate policy in crosshairs: Who will blink first? SEBI warns of securities market frauds via YouTube, Facebook, X and more SEBI warns of securities market frauds via YouTube, Facebook, X and more API Trading for All: Pi42 CTO Satish Mishra on How Pi42 is Empowering Retail Traders API Trading for All: Pi42 CTO Satish Mishra on How Pi42 is Empowering Retail Traders Security, transparency, and innovation: What sets Pi42 apart in crypto trading Security, transparency, and innovation: What sets Pi42 apart in crypto trading Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Altcoins? How investors are structuring their crypto portfolios, Avinash Shekhar explains NEXT STORY
