Trump tries to block Jack Smith’s report as his son visits Greenland amid talks of US buying island: Live updates – UK Times

Lawyers for the president-elect and his former co-defendants launched efforts on Monday to block the expected “imminent” release of a final report by Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smith regarding his cases against Trump involving classified documents taken from the White House and election interference.

The cases have been dropped against Trump but charges relating to alleged obstruction continue against his one-time co-defendants Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira.

Trump’s lawyers on Monday sent an emailed letter calling on US Attorney General Merrick Garland to stop Smith from releasing the report and to fire Smith immediately.

They also branded Smith an “out-of-control private citizen unconstitutionally posing as a prosecutor” aiming to harm Trump politically.

Here’s more from Mary Papenfuss.

The president-elect’s son has reportedly landed in Nuuk this morning, according to Danish media, but can the Trumps seriously expect to buy the place?

It’s highly unlikely they can succeed and you may recall the former president’s attempts to buy the Arctic territory during his last term, which ended with a flat “no” that caused him to insult Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who remains in power in Copenhagen and will not have changed her mind in the interim.

However, as Steve Forbes points out this morning, the last time the US did acquire an overseas territory was the Virgin Islands in 1917 and the seller was… Denmark.

Forbes adds that paying cash for other countries is distinctly out of style a century later and suggests it would cost “tens of billions, if not hundreds of billions, of dollars”.

Donald Trump has said pardoning his supporters who took part in the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol four years ago will be one of the top priorities once he starts his new administration.

But how quickly will the pardons begin – and how far will Trump go?

Josh Marcus takes a closer look.

The former Illinois GOP congressman used the anniversary of the Capitol riot to hit out at members of his old party who have backpedaled on their positions regarding it since 2021.

Here’s Rhian Lubin on his social media trolling.

Let’s get back to yesterday’s pomp and ceremony on Capitol Hill.

Here’s Eric Garcia on unsmiling Democrats attempting to find solace in doing their constitutional duty on a day that they had hoped would be one of celebration.

Also yesterday, Judge Juan Merchan refused Trump’s latest attempt to delay the sentencing over his hush money conviction, currently scheduled for Friday.

Here’s Alex Woodward with the very latest from Manhattan Criminal Court.

On Monday, Congress formally recognized the president-elect’s November election win over Kamala Harris, with the poor vice president required to preside over the joint-session herself as is customary.

Here’s Andrew Feinberg and Richard Hall on an extraordinarily smooth process, precisely four years to the day since Trump’s supporters ransacked the US Capitol.

Also on Truth Social, the president-elect has been hitting out at the man he will succeed in the White House over yesterday’s move to ban oil and gas drilling along much of America’s coastlines.

Donald Trump is continuing to fantasize about the prospect of expanding the United States, even before taking office.

“I am hearing that the people of Greenland are ‘MAGA’,” the president-elect wrote on his Truth Social platform overnight, announcing that his eldest son Donald Trump Jr will soon be visiting the territory with an eye on attempting to acquire it from Denmark.

“Greenland is an incredible place, and the people will benefit tremendously if, and when, it becomes part of our Nation. We will protect it, and cherish it, from a very vicious outside World.”

Earlier, Trump pounced on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announcing his resignation to post on the same platform: “Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State.

“If Canada merged with the US, there would be no Tariffs, taxes would go way down, and they would be TOTALLY SECURE from the threat of the Russian and Chinese Ships that are constantly surrounding them.

“Together, what a great Nation it would be!!!”

Here’s more from Io Dodds.

The Independent’s Richard Hall returns to the US Capitol four years after the January 6 riot — this is what he saw as the 2024 election was certified.