Trump Considers Invoking Insurrection Act Amid Rising Tensions
Good morning, and welcome to our live updates on U.S. politics as former President Donald Trump raised the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act to send additional troops into cities led by Democratic officials.
“The Insurrection Act exists for a purpose. If necessary, I would use it,” Trump stated during a press gathering in the Oval Office on Monday. He further remarked, “If lives were at risk and legal obstacles or resistance from local leaders delayed action, absolutely, I would proceed.”
This follows a federal judge in Oregon issuing a temporary block on National Guard deployments in Portland, while troops from Texas might arrive in Chicago as early as today, despite legal opposition from Illinois.
Meanwhile, Pam Bondi is expected to face rigorous questioning before the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding troop deployments. The former attorney general may also be pressed on last month’s indictment of ex-FBI director James Comey, fatal strikes on vessels suspected of transporting narcotics near Venezuela, and the growing scrutiny over documents tied to the late Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump is scheduled to host Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the White House, with trade negotiations anticipated as the primary topic. Later, he will meet with Edan Alexander, a former American-Israeli hostage, as the world observes the second anniversary of the October 7 attacks. Meanwhile, indirect discussions between Israel and Hamas continue in Egypt concerning Trump’s proposed 20-point plan for Gaza.
These developments unfold against the ongoing government shutdown, now in its second week. Stay with us for further updates.
In other developments:
A senior federal prosecutor in Virginia has informed colleagues she does not find sufficient evidence to pursue criminal mortgage fraud charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James, according to a source familiar with the matter. The prosecutor, Elizabeth Yusi, leads major criminal cases in Norfolk and intends to present her findings to Lindsey Halligan, the recently appointed U.S. attorney for Virginia’s eastern district and a Trump ally.
The Supreme Court rejected an appeal from Ghislaine Maxwell, an associate of Jeffrey Epstein, regarding her conviction for sex trafficking. Maxwell was sentenced in 2022 to 20 years imprisonment for related offenses.
A federal program funding air service to rural airports is nearing expiration due to the government shutdown, officials confirmed.
A recent poll indicates Jimmy Kimmel gained higher approval ratings than Trump after a dispute with the administration briefly halted his talk show in September.
Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has called on Trump to eliminate tariffs on Brazilian imports and impose targeted sanctions.
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