Former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith has told lawmakers in a closed-door interview his team "developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt" President Donald Trump criminally conspired to overturn his 2020 election loss. That's according to portions of Smith's opening statement obtained by The Associated Press on Wednesday. Smith says investigators had "powerful evidence" Trump broke the law by hoarding classified documents at his Florida estate from his first term as president and by obstructing government efforts to recover the records. Smith says decisions in the investigations were made without regard to consideration of Trump's Republican candidacy in 2024. Trump has said he'd rather see Smith testify publicly.
Former Democratic U.S. House member Katie Porter is entering the crowded 2026 contest for California governor. Porter became a social media celebrity by brandishing a white board at congressional hearings. She says in a campaign video that she will be an aggressive counterpuncher to President Donald Trump's administration at a time of friction with the White House. Current Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom can't seek another term. Former Vice President Kamala Harris has not ruled out a run. A candidacy by Harris would scramble the field. Porter has indicated she would not run against her.
By ERIC TUCKER, ALI SWENSON and AARON KESSLER Associated Press
Kash Patel positioned himself as a steadfast Donald Trump loyalist well before the president picked him to run the FBI. An Associated Press review of nearly 100 podcasts that Patel hosted or on which he was interviewed over the last four years reveals how Patel has denigrated the investigations into Trump, sowed doubt in the criminal justice system, criticized the decision-making of the institution he's been asked to lead and professed sympathy for jailed Jan. 6 rioters. The vast catalog of provocative public statements, sometimes made in the company of like-minded FBI antagonists, provides an unusually extensive record into a nominee's unvarnished and controversial worldviews.
By LISA MASCARO, MARY CLARE JALONICK, FARNOUSH AMIRI and MATT BROWN Associated Press
Updated
Congress has certified Donald Trump as the 2024 presidential election winner without challenge. It's in stark contrast to 2021 violence. Lawmakers convened under heavy security and a snowstorm to certify the vote Monday, with the reading of the electoral results from the states coming swiftly. The legacy of Jan. 6, 2021, hung over Monday's proceedings as the Republican who tried to overturn the previous election is legitimately returning to power. As lawmakers gathered, the tightest national security was in place. It's a reminder of what happened at the U.S. Capitol four years ago, when a defeated Trump sent rallygoers to "fight like hell." Vice President Kamala Harris, presiding over her own defeat, said, "America's democracy stood."
By LINLEY SANDERS and NICHOLAS RICCARDI Associated Press
A new poll finds that Republican voters are more confident in the accuracy of U.S. elections now that Donald Trump has won. About 6 in 10 Republicans said they trust the 2024 vote count. That's a leap from only 2 in 10 who said in October they believed the count would be accurate. That low share followed years of Trump sowing doubt among his supporters over the accuracy of U.S. elections. He did so to explain away his 2020 loss. The poll found a slight dip in Democratic confidence in the vote count. But no top Democrat has encouraged voters to distrust elections as Trump did after the 2020 election.
After a resounding election victory, President-elect Donald Trump and Republicans say they have a mandate to govern. But it's opening an uneasy political question: Will there be any room for dissent in the U.S. Congress? Trump is laying down a gauntlet even before taking office. He is challenging the Senate to dare defy him over the nominations of Matt Gaetz, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other controversial choices for his administration. He even suggests Congress simply go on recess to allow his nominees to be installed without votes. It's forcing Congress to decide how far it will go in confronting Trump and opposing his wishes.
The judge overseeing Donald Trump's 2020 election interference case has canceled any remaining court deadlines after prosecutors said they need time to assess "the appropriate course going forward" after the Republican's presidential victory this week. Smith's team has been evaluating how to wind down the two federal cases before the president-elect takes office in light of longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Wednesday. In a court filing Friday in Trump's election interference case, Smith's team said it needs "time to assess this unprecedented circumstance and determine the appropriate course going forward consistent with Department of Justice policy."
