Latest news with #Treason
Wall Street Journal
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
Notable & Quotable: Treason
From 'Trump's 'Treason' Trap,' a July 23 New York Sun editorial: 'No Person shall be convicted of Treason,' the Constitution says, 'unless on the testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.' Those standards are one of the reasons there have been so few treason cases in our courts. Not even Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were charged with treason. They went to the chair for espionage.
Arab News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Trump rehashes years-old grievances on Russia investigation after new intelligence report
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump rehashed longstanding grievances over the Russia investigation that shadowed much of his first term, lashing out Tuesday following a new report from his intelligence director aimed at casting doubt on long-established findings about Moscow's interference in the 2016 election. 'It's time to go after people,' Trump said from the Oval Office as he repeated a baseless claim that former President Barack Obama and other officials had engaged in treason. Trump was not making his claims for the first time, but he delivered them when administration officials are harnessing the machinery of the federal government to investigate the targets of Trump's derision, including key officials responsible for scrutinizing Russia's attempts to intervene on Trump's behalf in 2016. The backward-looking inquiries are taking place even as the Republican administration's national security agencies are confronting global threats. But they have served as a rallying cry for Trump, who is trying to unify a political base at odds over the Jeffrey Epstein case, with some allies pressing to disclose more information despite the president's push to turn the page. Trump's attack prompted a rare response from Obama's post-presidential office. 'Our office does not normally dignify the constant nonsense and misinformation flowing out of this White House with a response,' said Patrick Rodenbush, an Obama spokesman. 'But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one. These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction.' Gabbard's new report on the Russia investigation Trump's tirade, a detour from his official business as he hosted the leader of the Philippines, unfolded against the backdrop of a new report from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard that represented his administration's latest attempt to rewrite the history of the Russia investigation, which has infuriated him for years. The report, released Friday, downplayed the extent of Russian interference in the 2016 election by highlighting Obama administration emails showing officials had concluded before and after the presidential race that Moscow had not hacked state election systems to manipulate votes in Trump's favor. But Obama's Democratic administration never suggested otherwise, even as it exposed other means by which Russia interfered in the election, including through a massive hack-and-leak operation of Democratic emails by intelligence operatives working with WikiLeaks, as well as a covert influence campaign aimed at swaying public opinion and sowing discord through fake social media posts. Gabbard's report appears to suggest the absence of manipulation of state election systems is a basis to call into question more general Russian interference. By issuing it, she appeared to recover her standing in Trump's orbit, which just one month ago had seemed uncertain after Trump said she was 'wrong' when she previously said she believed Iran wasn't building a nuclear weapon. 'She's the hottest one in the room right now,' Trump said Tuesday night. 'Tulsi, great job — and I know you have a lot more coming.' Democrats, for their part, swiftly decried the report as factually flawed and politically motivated. 'It is sadly not surprising that DNI Gabbard, who promised to depoliticize the intelligence community, is once again weaponizing her position to amplify the president's election conspiracy theories,' Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, wrote on X. Several investigations found Russian interference in 2016 Russia's broad interference in 2016 has been established through a series of investigations, including special counsel Robert Mueller's report, which concluded that the Trump campaign welcomed the Kremlin's help but also found insufficient evidence to establish a criminal conspiracy. A House Intelligence Committee report also documented Russia's meddling, as did the Senate Intelligence Committee, which concluded its work in 2020 at a time when the panel was led by Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, who's now Trump's secretary of state. A different special counsel appointed by the Trump Justice Department to hunt for problems in the origins of the Russia investigation, John Durham, did find flaws, but not related to what Gabbard sought to highlight in her report. 'Few episodes in our nation's history have been investigated as thoroughly as the Intelligence Community's warning in 2016 that Russia was interfering in the election,' said Rep. Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee. He added that every legitimate investigation, including the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee probe, 'found no evidence of politicization and endorsed the findings' of an intelligence committee assessment on Russian interference made public in 2017. Gabbard's document was released weeks after a CIA report that reexamined that earlier intelligence community assessment. That new review, ordered by CIA Director John Ratcliffe, did not dispute Russia had interfered but suggested officials were rushed in the assessment they reached. Trump administration is seeking investigations of former officials Ratcliffe has since referred former CIA Director John Brennan to the Justice Department for investigation, a person familiar with the matter has said. The department earlier this month appeared to acknowledge an open investigation into Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey in an unusual statement, but the status and contours of the inquiries are unclear. Besides Obama, Trump on Tuesday rattled off a list of people he accused of acting criminally 'at the highest level,' including Comey, his 2016 Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton and former national intelligence director James Clapper. He accused Obama, without evidence, of being the 'ringleader' of a conspiracy to get him. Obama has never been accused of any wrongdoing as part of the Russia investigation, and, in any event, a landmark Supreme Court opinion from last year shields former presidents from prosecution for official acts conducted in office. Trump launched his tirade when asked about the Justice Department's effort to speak with Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend of Epstein, who was convicted of helping the financier sexually abuse underage girls. 'I don't really follow that too much,' he said. 'It's sort of a witch hunt, a continuation of the witch hunt.' Trump is under pressure from conspiracy-minded segments of his political base to release more about the Epstein case. Democrats say Trump is resisting because of his past association with Epstein. Trump has denied knowledge of or involvement with Epstein's crimes and said he ended their friendship years ago.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Obama office: Trump's ‘bizarre' claims ‘weak attempt at distraction'
Former President Obama on Tuesday denied the Trump administration's claims that he manipulated intelligence related to Russian interference in the 2016 election. 'These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction,' Patrick Rodenbush, a spokesperson for Obama, said in a statement sent to NewsNation, The Hill's sister company. 'Nothing in the document issued last week undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes. These findings were affirmed in a 2020 report by the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee, led by then-Chairman Marco Rubio,' he added. Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard issued a report last Friday detailing the alleged election fraud and said officials involved were engaged in a 'treasonous conspiracy.' Gabbard also said her office was turning over evidence to the Justice Department for possible criminal referrals with the support of President Trump. 'He's guilty, it's not a question,' Trump told reporters referring to Obama. 'This was treason, this was every word you can think of.' The president said then-Vice President Biden, former FBI director James Comey, former DNI director James Clapper and former CIA director John Brennan could face criminal charges for the controversy. The report follows Trump's March memo ordering the declassification of 'all files related to Crossfire Hurricane,' the name given to the FBI's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Trump has long denied that Russia influenced his successful White House bid in 2016 against Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) and Clinton's campaign team spent more than $1 million on an investigation into Trump's ties to Russia. The Perkins Coie law firm led the probe using resources from the research company Fusion GPS, which later hired retired British spy Christopher Steele to discover information on foreign involvement in the U.S. election. The DNC was ultimately fined $105,000 and the Clinton campaign was fined $8,000 by the Federal Election Commission for not disclosing the amount spent on the investigation, according to a letter sent by the agency following inquiry. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Elle
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Elle
'Hostage': Suranne Jones's New Netflix Thriller Series Will Fill The 'Dept Q' Hole In Your Life
Seeing Suranne Jones starring in anything is a good indicator of a stellar TV show — so the news that she's leading new Netflix thriller, Hostage, is enough to make us mark a date in our TV-watching schedule. A trailer just dropped for the new British thriller, which looks right up the street of Dept Q fans and also stars Julie Delpy. Unsurprisingly fans are already excited to watch. Netflix says of the plot, written by Matt Charman (whose previous credits include Bridge of Spies and Treason): 'When the British prime minister's husband is kidnapped and the visiting French president is blackmailed, the two political leaders both face unimaginable choices. Forced into a fierce rivalry where their political futures, and lives, might hang in the balance, can they work together to uncover the plot that threatens them both?' Fans of Dr Foster and Vigil will be thrilled to see Jones in a role she usually excels in — namely unimaginable stress. Speaking about taking on the role, she told Tudum: 'I'm thrilled to be on Netflix, in something I'm really proud of,' she said. 'It's been something I've wanted to do for a long time. We'd talked about projects previously, but for me, it was about finding the right thing. Hostage was perfect — me and Matt together, backed up by this brilliant, supportive team. I loved it.' Charman said: 'I've been dying to find the right story to tell with Suranne and I honestly believe what she's done with this character is going to blow the Netflix audience away. An embattled British PM in the middle of a fight for her country and her family — she's fierce, ruthless, and you can't take your eyes off of her.' Yes, and it looks so good. You can watch the trailer at the top of this article. It's not long to go now; the series will air from August 21 on Netflix, making it perfect for a summer treat. You can watch Hostage on Netflix from August 21. ELLE Collective is a new community of fashion, beauty and culture lovers. For access to exclusive content, events, inspiring advice from our Editors and industry experts, as well the opportunity to meet designers, thought-leaders and stylists, become a member today HERE.
Tom's Guide
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
Netflix's new political thriller series looks more intense than I expected — here's the first trailer
Netflix has just dropped the first trailer for 'Hostage,' its upcoming political thriller series landing on August 21, and it adds new weight to what was already shaping up to be an intriguing watch. A few weeks back, I wrote about the first-look images and said it looks like a compelling binge watch, and now, with the trailer in hand, that impression only deepens. Created by Matt Charman (the mind behind 'Bridge of Spies' and 'Treason'), the limited series stars Suranne Jones and Julie Delpy as two world leaders caught in the middle of a high-stakes crisis during a global summit. One moment, they're preparing for diplomacy; the next, they're forced into a deadly game of control and survival. It's tense stuff. The trailer opens with a personal crisis at the heart of a political storm: the British Prime Minister's husband has been kidnapped, and things escalate quickly from there. Suranne Jones (who also executive produces) plays PM Abigail Dalton, shown grappling with the weight of national duty while her personal life unravels. We see flashes of mounting pressure, coded threats and tense stand-offs as a visiting French President becomes the target of a separate blackmail plot. The two leaders are thrust into a serious rivalry, each forced to make impossible decisions. Whether the two women can trust each other or whether they're being played against one another remains the central question. By the end of this short teaser, Jones's character delivers a steely statement of intent: 'They have weaponized my family. I will not be threatened. I will not negotiate. My loyalties are to this country, I will not allow it to be held to ransom.' Safe to say, she's not here to play games. Rather than going for explosive action, 'Hostage' appears to favor slow-burning psychological tension. If you're into character-driven thrillers that take their time, 'Hostage' might just be one to watch when it premieres in August. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. While the trailer sets the mood with its clipped dialogue and cold tension, 'Hostage' looks set to dig even deeper into the emotional and political fallout of a crisis at the highest level. Netflix said to expect a 'political thriller with a captivating performance from Jones at its center.' Jones told Netflix: 'I'm thrilled to be on Netflix, in something I'm really proud of. It's been something I've wanted to do for a long time. We'd talked about projects previously, but for me, it was about finding the right thing. 'Hostage' was perfect — me and Matt together, backed up by this brilliant, supportive team. I loved it.' Charman also said, 'I've been dying to find the right story to tell with Suranne and I honestly believe what she's done with this character is going to blow the Netflix audience away. An embattled British PM in the middle of a fight for her country and her family — she's fierce, ruthless, and you can't take your eyes off of her.' Behind the scenes, the creative team brings a sterling pedigree. Backed by Charman's writing and the directorial vision of Isabelle Sieb and Amy Neil, 'Hostage' is likely to channel the same high-gloss tension seen in 'Treason' and 'Vigil.' The supporting cast is strong too, with actors like Corey Mylchreest and Lucian Msamati expected to add some juicy drama. Filmed across the U.K. and France, the series already feels stylistically self-assured. With only five episodes, this definitely feels like a thriller most viewers will eat up once it lands (including me). Political thrillers usually aren't my first choice, but 'Hostage' has definitely caught my attention. A big part of that is the cast, but also how the story doesn't focus on being explosive or full of unnecessary action. Now, having seen the first trailer, I'm even more hyped. I'm also confident this thriller will deliver because Suranne Jones is at the center of it. With her proven track record in gripping dramas like 'Doctor Foster' and 'Gentlemen Jack,' she brings enough intensity to elevate any story. Having her both star and executive produce gives me faith that this series has been crafted with care. Reminder: you can stream all five episodes of 'Hostage' on Netflix starting August 21, 2025. In the meantime, see what's new on Netflix this week.
