Trump’s battle with his legal issues
Hello! It’s Rebecca Morin, senior national news reporter at Paste BN. How are you getting into the holiday spirit? Programming note: Starting next week, the newsletter will be on vacation (as will I!) for the next few weeks. You can expect some guest or special editions if breaking news happens.
New York prosecutors defend Trump convictions for hush money case
Some of President-elect Donald Trump’s charges aren’t going away easily. Manhattan prosecutors urged a New York criminal court to keep Trump's hush money case alive. Trump was convicted May 30 on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 presidential election. Trump’s sentencing for the convictions have been repeatedly pushed back. Read more.
- Watch: Judge indefinitely postpones Donald Trump's hush money case sentencing
That’s not the only case Trump and his team are fighting against.
Trump lawyer John Sauer and New York Attorney General Letitia James' office are sparring over whether Trump's $485 million civil fraud loss should be wiped out because he won the November election. Trump is appealing a judge's February determination that he owed $454 million (plus interest) for inflating the value of his assets to get better loan and insurance terms over several years.
And while Trump isn’t in legal trouble for using first lady Jill Biden's image to sell perfume, he’s generated new questions about the legality of using Jill Biden's image to promote a new fragrance line.
Trump waves as he leaves golf club
A politics pit stop
- It wasn't only Oprah. Kamala Harris campaign paid Beyonce's production company too
- Trump vows to pardon Jan. 6 defendants on 'Day One.' Are there exceptions?
- Minimum wage set to rise in 23 states next year as $15 an hour, and beyond, picks up steam
- 77 Nobel Prize winners ask the Senate to reject Kennedy's nomination
- Luigi Mangione's path from valedictorian, engineer, Ivy League grad to murder suspect
Key Republican Sen. Joni Ernst sounds warmer on Trump's Defense Secretary pick Pete Hegseth
GOP Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa is warming up to Pete Hegseth, Trump's embattled pick to lead the U.S. Department of Defense, after several meetings with the former Fox News host. Ernst has been facing increased pressure from members of her party to offer an endorsement of Trump's nominee. Read more.
- Photos: See President-elect Donald Trump's staffing picks for key administration roles
You asked, On Politics answers: Vetting process for Trump’s cabinet picks
It’s been a while! Here’s a question from reader Kathleen Neill: “Will the public be apprised of the vetting results of the candidates for Trump’s cabinet? Americans must know the character of the persons who will make decisions affecting their lives.”
Several of Trump’s Cabinet picks have been on Capitol Hill over the past several weeks to have closed door meetings with senators, who will ultimately decide whether to confirm the nominees. The Senate will likely hold confirmation hearings, which are public, for Trump’s Cabinet picks. That's where the public will hear about the questions that lawmakers have for the nominee. One possible hiccup: Trump said he wants to have recess appointments for his Cabinet. That could allow Trump to make appointments temporarily without the approval or vetting process normally done by the Senate.
Got a burning question, or comment, for On Politics? You can submit them here or send me an email at rdmorin@usatoday.com.