A group of pro-Trump “fake electors” in Georgia who tried to interfere to secure his 2020 election victory in the state are now the targets of a criminal investigation. In court documents filed in Atlanta on Tuesday prosecutors said: “Each of the sixteen persons who signed the unofficial Elector Certificate ultimately submitted to the National Archives received a similar target letter alerting, that person both that his testimony was required by the special purpose grand jury and that he was a target of the investigation.” Meanwhile, Jan 6 select committee chair Bennie Thompson has tested positive for Covid-19. The Democratic congressman says he is suffering only mild symptoms, and the panel’s primetime hearing on Thursday is expected to go ahead as planned. The hearing will reportedly feature two former White House aides who will testify as to what the ex-president was doing while a mob of his supporters violently stormed the US Capitol. The hearing is set to focus on Mr Trump’s inaction during the attack. And, at the start of the trial of Trump ally Steve Bannon for criminal contempt of Congress, prosecutors said he deliberately “decided he was above the law”.

Key Points

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Who are the ex-Trump aides and lead witnesses at next Jan 6 hearing?

When the January 6 committee’s next prime-time hearing airs on Thursday, lawmakers will hope to show how Donald Trump’s “dereliction of duty” on the day the US Capital was attacked was a key element of what unfolded. On Thursday evening, the panel will reportedly have the help of two star witnesses from within the former US president’s White House, who sources familiar with the matter informed CNN of on Monday night. According to reports, the pair are Matthew Pottinger, a former deputy national security adviser, and Sarah Matthews, a former press aide. Here’s what we know about the duo:

The ex-Trump aides set to be lead witnesses at next Jan 6 hearing

Former deputy press secretary has previously called Capitol riot a ‘coup attempt’ Oliver O’Connell20 July 2022 07:45 1658297700

South Carolina conservatives push almost total ban on abortion

A House committee reviewing South Carolina’s abortion law suggested Tuesday the state ban almost all abortions other than when the life of the mother is at risk. The state currently has a ban at roughly six weeks that includes exceptions for rape and incest. After the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, conservatives in the General Assembly started to look if they could join the growing number of states banning the procedure.

S. Carolina conservatives suggest almost total abortion ban

A House committee reviewing South Carolina’s abortion law is suggesting the state ban almost all abortions other than when the life of the mother is at risk Sravasti Dasgupta20 July 2022 07:15 1658295924

House of Representatives passes marriage equality bill

Only 47 Republicans joined Democrats in the House of Representatives to pass the Respect for Marriage Act to protect marriage equality, on Tuesday. The bill is a direct response to the US Supreme Court’s suggestion that it could revisit cases that affirm same-sex marriage protections in its recent decision to strike down abortion rights. All Democratic lawmakers supported the bill’s passage with only 47 Republicans joining in support; 157 Republicans voted against it.

47 House Republicans join Democrats to pass marriage equality bill

157 GOP lawmakers vote against legislation to repeal Defense of Marriage Act and affirm same-sex and interracial marriage protections Sravasti Dasgupta20 July 2022 06:45 1658294124

‘Steve Bannon thought he was above the law’

Former senior adviser to Donald Trump and the man widely credited with getting him elected, Steve Bannon, considered he was “above the law”, a criminal trial heard on Tuesday. Federal prosecutor Amanda Vaughn told a court in Washington DC that told that Mr Bannon, 68, had refused to comply with a request to provide information to the committee of the House of Representatives which is investigating the Jan 6 attack on the US Capitol, and the circumstances leading up to it. Ms Vaughn said the subpoena “was not optional”. “It wasn’t a request. And it wasn’t an invitation. It was mandatory,” she said. “The defendant decided he was above the law. That’s why we’re here today.” Chief US Correspondent Andrew Buncombe reports:

Steve Bannon thought he was ‘above the law’ trial hears

‘This case is about the defendant thumbing his nose at the orderly process of our government’ Sravasti Dasgupta20 July 2022 06:15 1658292300

Furious AOC says Manchin has no authority to speak on climate

Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York criticised Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia on Tuesday for his call to pause discussions on climate negotiations, saying he has no authority to discuss climate change. She spoke with Eric Garcia on Tuesday.

AOC says Manchin has no authority to speak on climate ‘for the rest of our term here’

The congresswoman’s remarks come on the heels of Manchin putting climate negotiations on hold until after more inflation numbers come out. Sravasti Dasgupta20 July 2022 05:45 1658291424

Trump-backed far right legislator wins Maryland governor Republican primary

Dan Cox, a far-right Maryland legislator endorsed by former president Donald Trump, won the Republican primary for state governor on Tuesday. Mr Cox has opposed outgoing governor Larry Hogan’s policies including suing over his stay-at-home orders and regulations in the early days of the pandemic. He also tried to unsuccessfully impeach him for Covid-19 orders that Mr Cox called “restrictive and protracted.” “We will never again give over our bodies, our churches and our businesses to a lockdown state,” Mr Cox said on Tuesday night after his victory. Mr Cox also organised busloads of protesters to Washington for the “Stop the Steal” rally that preceded last year’s Capitol insurrection. He has also said that president Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory shouldn’t have been certified, and referred to former Vice President Mike Pence a “traitor.” (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Sravasti Dasgupta20 July 2022 05:30 1658290524

Pro-Trump ‘fake electors’ in Georgia now targets of criminal investigation

A group of pro-Trump “fake electors” in Georgia who tried to interfere to secure his 2020 election victory in the state are now the targets of a criminal investigation. In court documents filed in Atlanta on Tuesday prosecutors said: “Each of the sixteen persons who signed the unofficial Elector Certificate ultimately submitted to the National Archives received a similar target letter alerting, that person both that his testimony was required by the special purpose grand jury and that he was a target of the investigation.” In a statement Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ office said: “As our investigation has matured and new evidence has come to light, in a spirit of integrity we feel it only fitting to inform you that your clients’ status has changed to ‘Target’.”

Pro-Trump ‘fake electors’ in Georgia now targets of criminal investigation

Among people under investigation by grand jury is state Republican Party Chairman David Shafer Sravasti Dasgupta20 July 2022 05:15 1658288759

Jan 6 hearing still on despite chairman’s Covid diagnosis

The House select committee investigating the Capitol riot on January 6 will proceed with its primetime hearing despite Chairman Bennie Thompson testing positive for Covid-19. Communications director Tim Mulvey said the hearings would proceed as scheduled, sharing in a statement that “while Chairman Thompson is disappointed with his COVID diagnosis, he has instructed the Select Committee to proceed with Thursday evening’s hearing. Committee members and staff wish the Chairman a speedy recovery.”

Jan 6 hearing still on despite chairman Bennie Thompson testing positive for Covid

The chairman’s sickness comes the same week that the committee planned to hold a major prime time hearing. Oliver O’Connell20 July 2022 04:45 1658285159

‘MAGA movement is dying’ warns Dr Oz

Pennsylvania’s Senate race may represent a setback for Donald Trump’s “MAGA” wing of the Republican Party, and his chosen candidate seems to know it. Dr Mehmet Oz declared in a fundraising email, first reported by The Daily Beast, on Monday that the former president’s political movement was “dying” as he trails Democrat John Fetterman in both poll numbers and fundraising totals in the hotly-contested Rust Belt state.

Trump-backed Dr Oz warns ‘MAGA movement is dying’ in Senate campaign ad

Dr Oz has struggled in his pivot to general election after bruising primary Oliver O’Connell20 July 2022 03:45 1658281559

A group of voting rights advocates in Georgia have asked a judge to block enforcement of a measure that outlaws handing out food and water to people standing in line to vote, part of a sweeping election law that has faced widespread criticism and a series of legal challenges from civil rights groups.

Georgia’s ban on handing out water to voters challenged in court

Advocates are urging a judge to immediately block restrictions and argue GOP-backed law infringes on First Amendment rights Oliver O’Connell20 July 2022 02:45