Latest news with #election
Fox News
34 minutes ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Top GOP senator demands probe into whether Jack Smith 'unlawfully' tried to influence 2024 election
FIRST ON FOX: A Senate Republican wants the Justice Department to investigate, and potentially prosecute, former Special Counsel Jack Smith over whether he "unlawfully took political actions to influence the 2024 election" against President Donald Trump. Sen. Tom Cotton, who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, accused Smith of seeking to impact the 2024 election in his capacity as special counsel under the Biden-led Justice Department in a letter to the acting head of the Office of Special Counsel, Jamieson Greer, first obtained by Fox News Digital. "As the Office of the Special Counsel is tasked with ensuring federal employees aren't conducting partisan political activity under the guise of their federal employment, you're well situated to determine whether Smith broke the law," the Arkansas Republican wrote. "Many of Smith's legal actions seem to have no rationale except for an attempt to affect the 2024 election results – actions that would violate federal law," he continued. Smith was tapped by former Attorney General Merrick Garland to probe allegations that Trump sought to overturn the 2020 election results, and later investigated the handling of classified documents that were uncovered during a raid at Trump's Mar-a-Lago compound. Cotton listed four instances during Smith's tenure where he charged that the prosecutor sped up trial dates and published information "with no legitimate purpose." In one example, Cotton accused Smith of fast-tracking the trial date and jury selection for his case against Trump related to his August 2023 indictment that was part of his 2020 election investigation. That indictment included four charges against the president, including conspiracy to defraud the United States, obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights. Cotton argued that, typically, defendants have more than two years to prepare for that kind of trial, and noted that the jury selection period was slated just two weeks before the Iowa Caucuses in 2024. He also charged that Smith skirted the normal appellate process and "failed to articulate a legitimate reason" the court should grant his request when Smith demanded a trial before the forthcoming election day, wanted an expedited review by the appeals court and then filed a petition with the Supreme Court to bypass the district court after Trump filed his defense with the District of Columbia District Court in December 2023. Cotton accused Smith of violating the Justice Department's "60-day rule," that prevents prosecutorial steps from being taken that could influence an upcoming election. That charge stemmed from Smith's move to file a brief following the Supreme Court's decision regarding presidential immunity, which was granted on Sept. 26, 2024, a little over a month out from the election. And that brief, Cotton noted, exceeded the normally allowed length four times over and included grand jury testimony "typically kept secret at this point in other proceedings." "These actions were not standard, necessary, or justified – unless Smith's real purpose was to influence the election," Cotton said. "In fact, throughout Special Counsel Smith's tenure, he regularly used farfetched and aggressive legal theories to prosecute the Republican nominee for president. I would add that President Biden also called during the election for President Trump to be 'locked up.'" "President Trump, of course, vanquished Joe Biden, Jack Smith, every Democrat who weaponized the law against him, but President Trump's astounding victory doesn't excuse Smith of responsibility for his unlawful election interference," he continued. "I therefore ask the Office of Special Counsel to investigate whether Jack Smith or any members of his team unlawfully acted for political purposes." Fox News Digital reached out to Smith but did not immediately hear back.
New York Times
42 minutes ago
- Politics
- New York Times
Mamdani Returns From Uganda and Visits Slain Officer's Family
When the deadliest shooting in New York City in 25 years unfolded earlier this week, Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic candidate for mayor of New York City, was in a less than ideal position to respond: He was at the tail end of a 10-day trip to Uganda to celebrate his recent marriage. Some critics and Democratic rivals like former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who is running for mayor on a third-party line, pounced on Mr. Mamdani for taking an extended vacation during the general election campaign. But upon Mr. Mamdani's return to New York on Wednesday, he moved swiftly to change the narrative. Shortly after landing at Kennedy International Airport, Mr. Mamdani was seen entering the home of Police Officer Didarul Islam, who was killed in the mass shooting in Midtown Manhattan on Monday. Mr. Mamdani was holding flowers. The candidate stayed with the officer's family for roughly an hour before leaving the home through a side door, appearing solemn as he avoided reporters outside the house in the Parkchester section of the Bronx. He could be seen embracing a family member before entering his vehicle. Mr. Mamdani planned to address the shooting at a news conference in the afternoon with two groups whose members had been killed in the attack: the union that represents building workers and the Bangladeshi American Police Association. The news conference will be held at the Manhattan headquarters of 32BJ SEIU, a prominent union that endorsed Mr. Mamdani and whose member, Aland Etienne, was an unarmed security officer who was killed in the shooting. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Pro-Gaza MP's supporter ‘harassed rival with megaphone'
A member of a pro-Gaza MP 's campaign team harassed his Labour rival with ' inflammatory and offensive ' language shouted from a megaphone during the election, a council investigation has found. Ammar Anwar, who was a part of MP Iqbal Mohamed's team in Dewsbury and Batley last summer, allegedly accused a Labour candidate of being a Zionist who supported genocide. Heather Iqbal, the defeated Labour candidate, and her supporters subsequently complained of 'intimidation, abuse and harassment' from Mr Mohamed's backers in the run-up to polling day on July 4 2024. Two complaints against Mr Anwar were later upheld by the council's standards committee. The Telegraph has also obtained a video showing Mr Mohamed branding Sir Keir Starmer a 'murderer' and the Conservatives 'thieves'. In his campaign video, Mr Mohamed, surrounded by six supporters, said he was standing 'for our community, for Muslims, for Pakistanis, for Gujaratis, for English people, for all people'. 'I have one request for you, please do not give your vote to the murderer Starmer. And do not give it to the thieving Tories. Give it to the Independents. Vote Mohamed.' This weekend, The Telegraph revealed how tensions have escalated in the constituency since the election, with allegations that people have been terrorised by supporters of the MP following incidents of violence and arson. Mr Mohamed rejected the allegations. He said reported claims of abuse, intimidation and harassment during the election campaign are 'one-sided, unsubstantiated and misleading'. His office said the MP 'has, and continues to, categorically condemn all forms of harassment, intimidation or abuse in political campaigning or general life, has stated that these actions have no place in our democracy or society, and that he does not condone them under any circumstances'. The incidents provide a worrying insight into a brand of sectarian politics apparently on the rise in parts of the UK in the wake of Hamas's Oct 7 attack on Israel. Mr Anwar, an Independent councillor, was investigated by the standards committee of Kirklees council, which covers Dewsbury, after two complaints. One alleged that he had followed Ms Iqbal in a van and used a loudspeaker to 'target and harass' her, using language that was allegedly 'offensive'. The second cited 'inappropriate' behaviour on election day, when he was acting as Mr Mohamed's polling agent, including failing to treat council officers with respect, encouraging others to 'engage in poor behaviour', and ignoring requests for assistance to ' calm down volatile situations '. Both complaints were upheld as breaches of the council's code of conduct covering respect, honesty and integrity. Mr Anwar apologised to the council for his behaviour. The investigation noted that he did not deny the van incidents. It also noted his suggestion that he was not in breach of standards as the police had declined to take any further action on the first complaint and dismissed it. However, it said that while it was not a criminal breach, the council's code of conduct was a 'very different matter'. The investigators concluded that 'in asserting that the Labour party candidate was a Zionist who supported genocide, Cllr Anwar was disrespectful'. They added: 'His language was inflammatory and offensive and had the potential to create a risk for the Labour candidate and her campaign team.' The investigators upheld the second complaint and said: 'Cllr Anwar had not treated the complainant and other council officers with respect… 'He consistently ignored requests for assistance in calming down volatile situations and that he was also actively encouraging others to engage in poor behaviour, much of which was either directed towards officers or which they were left to deal with.' Dewsbury and Batley constituency used to be a two-way fight between Tories and Labour, but the fracturing of politics saw Mr Mohamed, the pro-Gaza Independent, take 41 per cent of the vote to Labour's 23 per cent. Reform on 16 per cent squeezed the Tories into fourth with 11 per cent. Mr Anwar disputed both complaints when contacted by The Telegraph. He said he was in Birmingham and not in West Yorkshire on the day of the alleged incident with the van. He said a recording of the voice on the megaphone was not his. He said he had been at home on the day of the election. He acknowledged he had apologised over that complaint because 'the council legal department decided to believe the council employee rather than me'. But he said he had not apologised for the second incident involving the van. Mr Anwar added that he did not believe Ms Iqbal had been intimidated by the MP's supporters. Instead, he said: 'It's a predominantly Muslim area. She was getting confronted by residents. We are not responsible for how the residents feel towards the Labour party.' Asked about Mr Mohamed's campaign video, Shaheen Sidat, the deputy chairman of the Dewsbury and Batley Conservative party, said: 'Given the sensitive nature of the local community dynamics, this kind of rhetoric not only risks division but also raises serious questions about the integrity of his campaign message.'
Associated Press
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Ivory Coast leader's bid for a fourth term after rivals sidelined is seen as a risk for democracy
LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — The decision of Ivory Coast's President Alassane Ouattara to run for a fourth term risks a return to a past era of 'old guard dictator rule,' an analyst warned on Wednesday. Ibrahim Anoba, an Africa affairs analyst at the Atlas Network, was speaking a day after Ouattara ended months of speculation about his contested candidacy with an announcement that is likely to lead to a near-guaranteed extension of a presidency that started in 2010. While Ouattara, 83, said his decision to run was informed by the 'unprecedented security, economic, and monetary challenges' the country faces, his announcement comes after the disqualification of most of his prominent rivals, including former Credit Suisse chief executive Tidjane Thiam. After changing the constitution in 2016 to remove presidential term limits, Ouattara is the latest leader in West and Central Africa to attempt to stay in power with little or no challenge from a weakened opposition. Togo's Faure Gnassingbé swapped the presidential system with a parliamentary system and introduced a new all-powerful role, while in Cameroon Paul Biya is eyeing an eighth term after being in power since 1982, nearly half his lifetime. Central African Republic's Faustin Touadera is seeking a third term amid a constitutional controversy. With Ivory Coast considered a regional powerhouse, analysts say a weakened opposition and the constitutional change that kept Ouattara in power after abolishing initial term limits could lead the country to an era of one-man rule, especially in a region where democracy is increasingly being challenged. Opposition protests against Ouattara have been blocked, and several protesters have been arrested and accused of disturbing public order. 'We might be sliding back to that era of old men, old guard dictator rule in West Africa because (of) the attitude of the military and equally the civilian rulers,' said Anoba. 'And the announcement of Ouattarra is a reflection of that reality.' Opposition politicians are now rallying against Ouattara, which could feed into a growing wave of discontent among citizens battling declining economies and security challenges. 'It is a repetition of the same problem that we have seen lead to the same consequences,' said Anoba. West and Central Africa has recorded 8 coups since 2020, with the military juntas sometimes pointing to the lack of fair democratic processes as one of their reasons for deposing elected governments. A spate of power grabs by military powers has reconfigured the region's geopolitical lines and split the decades-old regional bloc known as ECOWAS. Periodic elections have been used by others to maintain democratic credentials, but analysts say the trend of constitutional changes and attacks on opposition have been no different from the military powers that have all extended their stay in power. 'What we are having at the moment across West and Central Africa is status-quo elections,' said Beverly Ochieng, a senior analyst at Control Risks. 'They end up reinforcing the authority and executive power of the incumbent in a way the opposition parties are not able to challenge it.' Ochieng added: 'There is also almost like an equivalent in the sense that people want to prolong their stay in power and are willing to use constitutional and transitional means to achieve.' Ivory Coast has maintained its reputation as one of Africa's most stable democracies, especially after its ruinous civil wars. It has established itself as a major African economic power, mostly due to the policies of Ouattara's presidency. However, beneath the veneer of stability is a firm grip on government institutions that makes it impossible for the opposition to challenge the ruling party, analysts say. Ivory Coast has frequently experienced electoral violence, which has killed several people, even pushing it close to another civil war in 2011 when then-leader Laurent Gbagbo refused to concede defeat after losing the election, and some 3,000 people were killed in the violence that followed.
Washington Post
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Ivory Coast leader's bid for a fourth term after rivals sidelined is seen as a risk for democracy
LAGOS, Nigeria — The decision of Ivory Coast's President Alassane Ouattara to run for a fourth term risks a return to a past era of 'old guard dictator rule,' an analyst warned on Wednesday. Ibrahim Anoba, an Africa affairs analyst at the Atlas Network, was speaking a day after Ouattara ended months of speculation about his contested candidacy with an announcement that is likely to lead to a near-guaranteed extension of a presidency that started in 2010.
