Tuesday Briefing: Trump’s criminal cases likely to be dismissed
Good morning. We’re covering a move to drop criminal cases against Donald Trump and a possible cease-fire deal in Lebanon. Plus, the thrill of wildlife spotting in Borneo.
Prosecutor moved to dismiss criminal charges against TrumpJack Smith, the special counsel, asked a federal judge in Washington and a court in Atlanta yesterday to dismiss two indictments against President-elect Donald Trump: one accusing him of attempting to overturn the 2020 election and one accusing him of illegally holding classified documents. In his requests, Smith made clear that the moves had nothing to do with the strength of the cases against Trump, but rather the Justice Department’s policy that sitting presidents may not be prosecuted. “Based on the department’s interpretation of the Constitution,” Smith wrote, “the government moves for dismissal without prejudice of the superseding indictment.” The requests were Smith’s final acknowledgment that after two years of courtroom drama, prosecutors will not be able to hold Trump accountable for trying to undo the 2020 election, or for accusations that he illegally kept scores of classified documents after he left office. But both filings left open the possibility that the charges could be refiled after Trump completes his term.
A decision on a cease-fire for Lebanon is close, officials saidIsrael’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was scheduled to meet with his cabinet today to decide on a proposal for a cease-fire with Hezbollah, officials said. U.S. officials have been putting pressure on Israel to finalize a deal before Thursday. Under the proposal, Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon within 60 days. Hezbollah would move north, away from the Israeli border, officials said. Then the Lebanese Army would deploy south, effectively creating a buffer zone along the Israeli border. Sticking points: One remaining hurdle appears to be that Israel wants the ability to take military action if Hezbollah militants break the truce or if the Lebanese Army fails to keep them away from the border, according to two Israeli officials. Hard-line factions in Netanyahu’s coalition have also opposed a deal, with Israel’s national security minister saying it would be a “big mistake.” On the ground: Every night, dozens of people gather on a hillside on the outskirts of Beirut to watch Israeli airstrikes rain down.
Thousands protested for Khan’s release in PakistanThousands of supporters of Imran Khan, the jailed former prime minister, marched to the outskirts of Islamabad yesterday to demand his release, despite a government lockdown and violent police opposition. At least one officer was killed, and several officers and demonstrators were injured, the government said. Context: Khan has been in jail since August 2023 and faces more than 150 criminal cases, but he remains hugely popular despite the effort by the military-backed civilian government to suppress his support. His party says the cases are politically motivated. |
