Trump lashes out at Biden over prisoner swap deal with Iran – live

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has condemned Donald Trump’s laundry list of criminal charges as “persecution” and branded the US political system “rotten”.

At an Eastern Economic Forum gathering in Russia’s Pacific Coast city of Vladivostok, the Russian president claimed the prosecution of the former US president is an act of political revenge.

“As for the prosecution of Trump, for us what is happening in today’s conditions, in my opinion, is good because it shows the rottenness of the American political system, which cannot pretend to teach others democracy,” Mr Putin said.

“Everything that is happening with Trump is the persecution of a political rival for political reasons. That’s what it is. And this is being done in front of the public of the United States and the whole world.”

Mr Putin also discussed Mr Trump’s claim that he could resolve the conflict in Ukraine in a matter of days.

Democrats are seizing their advantage over a Republican Party that returns to Capitol Hill this week bitterly divided over the issue of Joe Biden’s impeachment — among others.

John Bowden reports from Washington, DC.

The Russian leader said yesterday that the criminal cases against Mr Trump are political revenge that show the fundamental corruption of the United States.

“As for the prosecution of Trump, for us what is happening in today’s conditions, in my opinion, is good because it shows the rottenness of the American political system, which cannot pretend to teach others democracy,” Mr Putin said at an Eastern Economic Forum gathering in Vladivostok, helpfully echo Mr Trump’s own narrative about what many would consider his inevitable comeuppance.

Georgia Republican representative Marjorie Taylor Greene is determined to go forward with articles of impeachment against President Joe Biden – though not all of her GOP colleagues are on board.

Colorado’s Ken Buck, who serves on the House Freedom Caucus alongside Ms Greene, publicly denounced there was any evidence that Mr Biden committed high crimes or a misdemeanor, while speaking with Jen Psaki on MSNBC this weekend.

President Joe Biden commemorated the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks with US servicemembers in Alaska, calling for national unity.

The president spoke at Elmendorf-Richardson Air Force Base in Anchorage, where commended servicemembers for their bravery in the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Over on Truth Social, Donald Trump has been bashing Joe Biden over his administration’s move to clear the way for the release of five American citizens detained in Iran by issuing a blanket waiver for international banks to transfer $6bn in frozen Iranian money from South Korea to Qatar without fear of US sanctions.

In addition, as part of the same deal, the administration has agreed to release five Iranian citizens held in the United States.

Never missing a chance to attack his successor, Mr Trump writes: “Can you believe that Crooked Joe Biden is giving $6 Billion to the terrorist regime in Iran? That money be used for terrorism all over the Middle East, and, indeed, the World. This incompetent FOOL is absolutely destroying America. He had the audacity to announce this terrible deal today, September 11th. To pay for hostages will lead to kidnapping, ransom, and blackmail against Americans across the globe. I freed many dozens of our people from various unfriendly countries and never paid a dime!”

Here’s what he’s so angry about.

Attorneys for former President Trump have filed a motion asking that federal district court judge Tanya Chutkan recuse herself from his Jan 6 criminal case.

The ex-president has fumed over the last few days in response to a lawsuit filed by a top Washington DC ethics group aimed at preventing Mr Trump from appearing on the 2024 ballot.

A Republican senator who has long voiced his opposition to Donald Trump winning the GOP primary in 2024 is now saying he may not vote for either Joe Biden or Mr Trump next year if the two are their respective parties’ nominees.

Bill Cassidy spoke on Meet the Press on Sunday and explained that he would likely write in another candidate, essentially tossing away his vote, were the two to be on the ballot in November of 2024.

In one of his first public appearances after he was formally booked on racketeering charges in Georgia, Donald Trump arrived at the closely watched football match-up between the University of Iowa and Iowa State University on Saturday to a wave of cheers, audible booing and a banner asking “Where’s Melania?”