Closing summary
A three-judge federal appeals court panel sounded skeptical of arguments from Donald Trump’s attorney that he is immune from prosecution for trying to overturn the 2020 election because he was president at the time. That didn’t stop Trump from doubling down on his defense in brief remarks to reporters after the hearing wrapped up, while also giving something of a preview of the message he will bring voters in the general election campaign.
Here’s what else happened today:
Defense secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalized for complications related to treatment for prostate cancer, the Pentagon announced. Four House Republicans who served as military pilots called on him to resign for waiting days to tell Joe Biden of his illness.
Robert Menendez, New Jersey’s Democratic senator who is facing charges for allegedly accepting bribes from foreign countries, again proclaimed his innocence.
Fani Willis, the district attorney who indicted Trump and 18 others for trying to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia, engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a lawyer her office hired, an attorney for one of the co-defendants alleged.
Presidents need immunity to do their jobs, Trump argued, while referencing the legal dubiousness of Barack Obama’s drone strike campaign.
Special counsel Jack Smith and Trump both turned up for the immunity hearing at the Washington DC federal appeals court.
White House says Biden found out about Austin prostate cancer 'this morning', ordered review of procedures for cabinet secretary absences
Joe Biden learned “this morning” that defense secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalized with complications stemming from treatment for prostate cancer, national security council spokesman John Kirby said at today’s White House press briefing.
The Pentagon announced the diagnosis publicly in a statement this afternoon. Austin has been criticized for waiting days to inform Biden he had been hospitalized, and some congressional Republicans have called for his resignation.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the Biden administration has asked all its cabinet-level agencies to review their procedures for handling instances where secretaries have to temporarily hand authority to their deputies. She also reiterated that Biden had no plans to replace Austin.
“The president has complete confidence in the secretary,” Jean-Pierre said.
