Authorities: Trump golf course suspect left assassination note, offered bounty
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The man accused in an apparent assassination attempt against former President Trump earlier this month allegedly penned a letter outlining his intentions and offered a bounty to anyone who would carry out the plot. The Justice Department shared those details in a court filing ahead of a lengthy hearing Monday. Ryan Routh, 58, who reportedly remained stoic during the hearing, will remain behind bars, a judge ruled. "Dear world, this was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, but I am so sorry I failed you," Routh reportedly wrote in the letter seized by authorities. "I tried my best and give it all the gumption I could muster. It is up to you now to finish the job, and I will offer $150,000 to anyone who can complete the job." Authorities say a witness told investigators that Routh left a box of items at his home months ago, including "ammunition, a metal pipe, miscellaneous building materials, tools, four phones, and various letters." The person only opened the box after hearing about the apparent assassination attempt, according to the filing.
The judge cited the letter and other evidence law enforcement gathered, including Routh's fingerprint on tape used to attach a scope to the rifle found near the golf course. The filing also revealed that Routh's cellphone was traced to towers near Trump's golf course and Mar-a-Lago resort for nearly a month before he was arrested. Trump on Monday accused the Justice Department and FBI of "downplaying" the second apparent assassination attempt against him, suggesting the case should be left to Florida authorities to handle.
"The Kamala Harris/Joe Biden Department of Justice and FBI are mishandling and downplaying the second assassination attempt on my life since July," Trump said in a statement. "The charges brought against the maniac assassin are a slap on the wrist. It's no wonder, since the DOJ and FBI have been coming after me nonstop with Weaponized Lawfare since I announced my first Historic Campaign for the Presidency." Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) has joined calls for quick bipartisan action from the task force investigating the Trump assassination attempts, including the shooting at a Pennsylvania rally in July. RELATED: Fewer than a third of U.S. adults surveyed in a recent Gallup poll said the U.S. Secret Service does an "excellent" or "good" job — marking a new low for the federal agency tasked with protecting the country's top political leaders. (The Hill) |
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Welcome to Evening Report! I'm Elizabeth Crisp, catching you up from the afternoon and what's coming tomorrow. Not on the list? Subscribe here. |
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A key Nebraska Republican has said he won't back a proposed change to how the state splits its electoral votes this November.
- The U.S. is sending a small number of ground troops to the Middle East as a larger war between Israel and Hezbollah threatens to break out, the Pentagon announced Monday.
A top expert on chemical exposure hired to review the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, told The Hill's sister network NewsNation in an interview that the parties involved now want the situation to go away.
Former first lady Melania Trump will be on Fox News' "Fox & Friends" on Thursday for an exclusive interview as she promotes her new book.
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Robinson lashes out at CNN over bombshell report
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North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson (R) is threatening to sue CNN over a report that revealed salacious messages the network said he posted on a porn website more than a decade ago. "We're going after them, OK?" Robinson, North Carolina's current lieutenant governor, said at a campaign event on Monday. "We absolutely are." CNN's report late last week highlighted racist and other inflammatory online remarks from the conservative Republican, citing tracing of email addresses and personal data. Robinson has denied the claims and accused artificial intelligence of spoofing his information without providing proof to back up his claims. Several key staffers on his campaign resigned over the weekend. Meanwhile, Republicans and Democrats have called for more answers on the situation. "He owes the people of North Carolina more answers about it," Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) said on CNN after asked about the ordeal and antisemitic comments on Robinson's public Facebook page. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said that Robinson is "unfit to serve" if the allegations that he posted racist comments — including calling himself a "Black Nazi" and wished he could own slaves — prove to be accurate. Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock, a Democrat who is Black, called Robinson "white supremacy in blackface," during an interview with MSNBC. "The people of North Carolina need to take note of the fact that this is Donald Trump's candidate." According to The Hill / Decision Desk HQ polling index, Robinson's Democratic rival Josh Stein has an 11 point lead on average, with nearly 49 percent of voters backing the Democrat and 38 percent backing Robinson. |
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Where things stand as Congress races to avert shutdown
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House GOP lawmakers continue to clash with each other and some Democrats over how to keep the federal government afloat past next week, as another government shutdown looms. The House is trying to move quickly on the measure, known as a continuing resolution (CR), to stave off a government shutdown, but deep divides remain as the clock ticks. Conservatives aren't happy about the latest plan put forth from House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.). If enough Republican members vote against bringing up the proposal, Johnson could seek help from Democrats on the procedural vote — a rare occurrence that would likely anger some conservative hard-liners.
From the SAVE Act to additional Secret Service funding, The Hill has the breakdown on what made and did not make the cut in the latest funding deal.
The deal, rolled out by congressional leaders Sunday afternoon, would keep the government funded through Dec. 20 so a larger funding agreement can be reached after the November elections.
A previous proposal for a six-month stopgap that was sought by conservatives, failed on the House floor.
NOTE: House GOP aides told reporters on a call before the bill's unveiling that Republicans still aren't keen on the idea of an end-of-year omnibus deal, because they will likely face "having the same conversations" again during the holiday season.
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Polls have Harris, Trump neck and neck in key battleground states
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It's the height of campaign season, and readers are likely feeling a bit inundated with the latest data and experiencing some polling whiplash. Surveys continue to show Vice President Harris and former President Trump neck-and-neck in key battleground states and nationally.
- The Hill's Alexander Bolton reports some Democrats are concerned that pollsters are undercounting the Trump vote and say Harris's slim lead in battleground states, especially Pennsylvania, could be alarming after Hillary Clinton's surprise loss in 2016.
- "Polling has really been seriously damaged since 2016. And that's one of the truths, is that Trump is going to be tough in Pennsylvania, and that's absolutely the truth," Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) told The Hill.
Democratic lawmakers say they are growing nervous that their party may once again feel lulled into a false sense of optimism.
Take Monday as an example: A set of polls from The New York Times and Siena College found Trump holds a slight lead over Harris in three key battleground states: Arizona, Georgia and North Carolina.
And yet, another set of polls from CBS News and YouGov suggest that Harris has an edge in the battleground states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Some highlights from other polls out Monday: - Harris leads Trump by 5 points in Pennsylvania, according to a new Spotlight PA/MassINC poll.
- Harris leads Trump by 5 points in Minnesota, according to a Minnesota Star Tribune/MPR News/KARE 11 Minnesota poll.
The latest polling aggregate from The Hill / Decision Desk HQ has Harris up 3.6 percentage points on the national scene, polling 53.6 percent to Trump's 46.7 percent. Forecasters have Harris as a favorite in the race, but neither candidate has a clear pathway to the 270 electoral votes needed to win the White House. Harris wants another debate against Trump before Nov. 5. "There's more to talk about and the voters of America deserve to hear the conversations that I think we should be having on substance, on issues, on policies ... What's your plan? What's my plan?" she told reporters Sunday. "We should have another debate before Election Day." The former president so far has declined. Meanwhile, Harris will not attend the annual Al Smith dinner in New York next month, but Trump has said he will be there. RELATED: Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance (Ohio) has tapped Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer (R), to play the role of Democratic rival Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz in preparation for next week's VP debate. |
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"Trump is at 48 percent. How could this be possible but for widespread racism?" writes Juan Williams for The Hill. "ProPublica's abortion disinformation goes national," writes Becket Adams for The Hill. |
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7 days until a federal shutdown if Congress doesn't act.
8 days until the vice-presidential debate.
43 days until the 2024 general election.
119 days until Inauguration Day 2025. |
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President Biden is heading to New York this afternoon after meetings in Washington. Vice President Harris is in D.C. The House and Senate returned to the Capitol this afternoon. More ahead Monday evening: - Former President Trump campaigns in Pennsylvania.
- Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance (Ohio) campaigns in North Carolina.
- Democratic vice presidential candidate Minnesota Gov Tim Walz fundraises in New York City.
Coming up Tuesday:
The Capitol is honoring music icon Johnny Cash with the placement of a life-sized figurine in the Hall of Statues, representing Cash's home state Arkansas. House and Senate committees will hold several hearings. Here are some highlights: - 10 a.m.: Secretary of State Antony Blinken will testify during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on the military's Afghanistan withdrawal.
- 10 a.m.: NFL star Bret Favre will appear at a House Ways & Means Committee hearing on welfare reform. Background on Favre's alleged involvement in a Mississippi welfare scandal.
- 10 a.m.: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chairman Gary Gensler will appear at a House Financial Services Committee hearing on oversight of the SEC.
- 10 a.m.: The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on the Supreme Court decision that defined presidential immunity.
Details on these and other hearings here.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) will be on Bravo!'s "Watch What Happens Live!" Tuesday night.
NOTE: Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has canceled an appearance on CBS' "Late Show with Stephen Colbert" that had been set for Tuesday. An administration official told The Hill's Evening Report that Yellen is still recovering from rebound COVID-19. |
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There a story you think should be getting more attention? Something people should be talking about? Drop me a line: ecrisp@thehill.com |
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