
Jack Smith says Jan 6 was ‘unprecedented assault’ on democracy as grand jury indicts Trump
Special Counsel Jack Smith said in a statement that the insurrection on January 6 was an “unprecedented assault” on democracy. The prosecutor spoke following the indictment of former President Donald Trump in relation to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election. Mr Smith said the indictment “sets forth the crimes charged in detail. I encourage everyone to read it in full”. “The attack on our nation's capitol on January 6 2021, was an unprecedented assault on the seat of American democracy,” he added. “As described in the indictment, it was fueled by lies. Lies by the defendant targeted at obstructing a bedrock function of the US government – the nation's process of collecting, counting and certifying the results of the presidential election.” “The men and women of law enforcement who defended the US Capitol on January 6 are heroes. They are patriots and they're the very best of us,” the special counsel said. “They did not just defend a building or the people sheltering in it, they put their lives on the line to defend who we are as a country and as a people.” Mr Smith added: “They defended the very institutions and principles that define the United States.” A grand jury in Washington, DC voted to indict Mr Trump on four counts on Tuesday, including conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights. The indictment states that Mr Trump took part in a “conspiracy to defraud the United States by using dishonesty, fraud, and deceit to impair, obstruct, and defeat the lawful federal government function by which the results of the presidential election are collected, counted, and certified by the federal government”. It states that he conspired to “corruptly obstruct and impede the January 6 congressional proceeding at which the collected results of the presidential election are counted and certified” and orchestrated a “conspiracy against the right to vote and to have one’s vote counted”. On Tuesday evening, Mr Smith said, “Since the attack on our capital, the Department of Justice has remained committed to ensuring accountability for those criminally responsible for what happened that day”. “This case is brought consistent with that commitment and our investigation of other individuals continues,” he added. “In this case, my office will seek a speedy trial so that our evidence can be tested in court and judged by a jury of citizens. In the meantime, I must emphasize that the indictment is only an allegation and that the defendant must be presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.” Prosecutors claim that Mr Trump had six co-conspirators, five of which were attorneys. Mr Trump and the “co-conspirators used knowingly false claims of election fraud to get state legislators and election officials to subvert the legitimate election results and change electoral votes for the Defendant’s opponent, Joseph R. Biden, Jr., to electoral votes for the Defendant,” the indictment states. They also argue that Mr Trump “pushed officials in certain states to ignore the popular vote; disenfranchise millions of voters; dismiss legitimate electors; and ultimately, cause the ascertainment of and voting by illegitimate electors”. Mr Smith ended his statement by thanking “the members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation who are working on this investigation with my office, as well as the many career prosecutors and law enforcement agents from around the country who have worked on previous January 6 investigations. “These women and men are public servants of the very highest order and it is a privilege to work alongside them.” Read More Trump indictment - live: Trump faces four criminal charges in indictment over 2020 election interference Marjorie Taylor Greene calls for Jack Smith’s office to be defunded amid Trump indictment DeSantis calls new Trump indictment ‘unfair’ - while pushing his own campaign
2023-08-02 06:47

Body of Goldman Sachs banker pulled from NYC creek after he vanished from concert
The body of a Goldman Sachs staffer has been pulled from a New York City waterway nearly three days after he vanished from a concert venue. Twenty-seven-year-old John Castic was last seen at a concert at The Brooklyn Mirage in the Brooklyn neighbourhood of East Williamsburg. The NYPD said earlier this week that Castic, originally from Illinois, left the venue around 3am on Saturday. His father, Jeffrey Castic, told Fox News Digital that his body was found floating in a section of Newtown Creek on Tuesday afternoon less than two miles from where he vanished. “They have found his body and confirmed it’s him,” Mr Castic told the outlet. “It appears to have been death by misadventure. His wallet and phone were found on him.” Castic’s body was first noticed by a passerby who alerted law enforcement. NYPD Harbor units then responded to the scene and recovered his remains. Castic graduated DuPaul University in 2020 and went on to work at different firms before joining Goldman Sachs as a senior analyst in August 2022. “He was so smart but, in the end, he did something dumb, and it cost him,” Mr Castic told Fox. “We think he might have been impaired, we do not know, and it was just a lapse of judgment.” Law enforcement does not suspect foul play at this time, according to The New York Post. Castic’s friend Sara Kostecka told the outlet that the young man was an “amazing friend.” “He is very charismatic, high-energy with a good sense of humor,” Ms Kostecka told the Post. “Whatever happened, he did not deserve this.” Read More Ira Sachs wanted to make 'a film of intimacy.' It got him an NC-17 rating Rex Heuermann’s defence buried in mountain of evidence as he faces court in Gilgo Beach murders case Lori Vallow - update: ‘Cult mom’ smirks in new mug shot after denying murders in bizarre sentencing statement
2023-08-02 05:58

MLB trade grades: White Sox send Burger with a side of fries to the Marlins
The Miami Marlins continue their push for a postseason berth by acquiring slugger Jake Burger from the Chicago White Sox.When it comes to surprising teams in MLB, the Miami Marlins fit the bill. They missed out on the postseason last year, brought in a new manager in Skip Schumaker, and traded f...
2023-08-02 05:52

Donald Trump indictment: Ex-president charged for efforts to overturn 2020 election
A special prosecutor accuses the former US president of "prolific lies about election fraud".
2023-08-02 05:45

MLB Rumors: Cubs misfire, NY Mets rebuild, Braves indecision
MLB Rumors: The Cubs are done with Trey ManciniThe Trey Mancini experiment is done in Chicago.Mancini was a major MLB trade deadline addition in Houston this time last year. He was expected to split time in the outfield and at first base. Mancini did just that, but did not perform well.Aft...
2023-08-02 05:18

Trump-backed candidate for Michigan AG and ex-GOP lawmaker face state charges over alleged voting machine plot after 2020 election
Two prominent Republicans in Michigan, including a Trump-backed candidate who lost his state attorney general bid, are now facing criminal charges in connection with their alleged role in a plot to access and seize voting machines across that state, according to court documents.
2023-08-02 04:49

GM recalls more vehicles with Takata air bag inflators that could explode
General Motors said Tuesday is recalling almost 900 vehicles worldwide because the Takata-made air bag inflator may explode, potentially striking drivers and passengers with sharp metal fragments.
2023-08-02 04:46

TSX starts month on weak note as China slowdown hits sentiment
By Fergal Smith (Reuters) -Canada's main stock market index fell on Tuesday to start the new month on a cautious
2023-08-02 04:27

GM issues new Takata recall covering over 900 vehicles
By David Shepardson WASHINGTON General Motors Co said Tuesday it will recall just over 900 older vehicles worldwide
2023-08-02 03:55

Global Abortion Pill Provider Buys From Manufacturer With Shoddy Quality Record
With splashy marketing campaigns and major donors like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, DKT International has become
2023-08-02 03:51

Heat projected lineup and rotations heading into 2023-24 season
The Miami Heat finished three wins shy of an improbable NBA championship. Now, Erik Spoelstra will look to rekindle the magic in 2023-24.The vibes around the Miami Heat were generally pretty bad last season. The team performed far below expectations in the regular season, plagued by wildly incon...
2023-08-02 03:19

MLB trade grades: Cardinals mercifully end Paul DeJong era in trade with Blue Jays
Paul DeJong has been struggling for a couple of seasons now with the Cardinals and will get a fresh start with the Toronto Blue Jays.Shortstop Paul DeJong was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays just before Tuesday's MLB Trade Deadline. The St. Louis Cardinals received Matt Svanson, an AA-level...
2023-08-02 03:16