‘Significant increase’ in online threats as potential Trump indictment looms – as it happened

NYPD officers set up step barricades outside Trump Tower after a small crowd gathers on Tuesday in New York City. Photograph: Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images

8.00pm GMT

Closing summary

Donald Trump’s looming indictment had protesters convening outside the Manhattan courthouse where a grand jury is weighing charges against the former president, and police growing nervous about an increase in threats from online extremist groups. An indictment is not expected to happen before Wednesday, but Republicans nonetheless spent today reacting to what are expected to be history making allegations.

Here’s what else happened today:

• Ron DeSantis might be Trump’s most prominent challenger for the Republican presidential nomination next year, but he’s way down in the polls.

• Older Americans are holding protests across the country against banks that finance fossil fuel projects.

• The defamation lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems against Fox News is having a major hearing in a Delaware court.

• Top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell signaled opposition to repealing the authorizations behind the invasion of Iraq and America’s involvement in the Gulf war.

• A former lawyer for the January 6 committee said Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg needs to take steps to ensure his expected indictment of Trump is not viewed as politically motivated.

7.53pm GMT

On the Senate floor, Democratic majority leader Chuck Schumer is sounding optimistic about repealing the legal authorizations for America’s involvement in the Gulf war and invasion of Iraq, according to C-SPAN:

Schumer from Senate floor on Iraq War AUMF repeal bill: "I hope Republicans will work with us to keep this bill moving forward because AUMF repeal in the Senate is now a matter of when, not of if. It's my hope we can finish our work on repealing these AUMFs as soon as possible." https://t.co/g5W7yofxie pic.twitter.com/iSWv8wwhcu

— Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) March 21, 2023

Schumer:"We'll have a reasonable amendment process. That said,given last week's strong vote (68-27) there is no reason to drag this out. I'm encouraged that in the House, members from both sides of the aisle seem to be open to taking action once the Senate passes the resolution."

— Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) March 21, 2023

Schumer on Iraq War AUMF repeal bill: "And there are members of the Senate Republican leadership who seem very strongly for the bill. That's a very good sign."

— Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) March 21, 2023