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Donald Trump has appeared in court via video link to receive a warning from a judge over evidence sharing in his criminal hush money case.

It was his first appearance in court – albeit this time not in person – since his arraignment on 5 April where he pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records and ordering alleged hush money payments.

The former US president, 76, was connected by video conference while prosecutors and Trump’s lawyers attended the Manhattan court in person.

The sole purpose of the hearing was to ensure Trump is aware of new rules barring him from using evidence turned over by prosecutors to target and attack witnesses.

Donald Trump appeared with his lawyer in court by videolink

Judge Juan Merchan first addressed Trump – warning the former president that if he violates a protective order set down in the case he could face sanctions, including contempt of court.

Addressing Trump’s lawyer Todd Blanche – who was sat next to the former president – Judge Merchan said: “Did you also explain this order is a mandate of the court?

Mr Blanche replied: “He understands he needs to comply and if he doesn’t it would violate the court order.”

“Contempt is punishable,” said Judge Merchan.

“Understood,” replied Mr Blanche.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump appears in court for an arraignment on charges stemming from his indictment by a Manhattan grand jury following a probe into hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels, in New York City, U.S., April 4, 2023. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/Pool
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Trump in court in April

Following the hearing, Trump criticised the decision to hold his trial on 25 March next year, calling it “election interference”.

He posted on the social media platform Truth: “Just had New York County Supreme Court hearing where I believe my First Amendment Rights,”Freedom of Speech,” have been violated, and they forced upon us a trial date of March 25th, right in the middle of Primary season.

“Very unfair, but this is exactly what the Radical Left Democrats wanted. It’s called ELECTION INTERFERENCE, and nothing like this has ever happened in our Country before!!!”

Mr Merchan agreed to the extra step of personally instructing Trump on the restrictions after listing them in what’s known as a protective order on 8 May.

Prosecutors sought the order soon after Trump’s arrest, citing what they say is his history of making “harassing, embarrassing, and threatening statements” about people he has been involved in legal disputes with.

In March, Trump warned of possible “death and destruction” if he was indicted for making alleged hush payments to Stormy Daniels.

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The former porn actress, who claimed Trump’s lawyers made a $130,000 (£105,000) payment to her in 2016 in exchange for her silence over an extramarital sexual encounter a decade earlier, also said she has received death threats from Trump supporters since the facts of the charges were made public.

Stormy Daniels was paid $130,000 in the final weeks of Mr Trump's 2016 presidential campaign
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Stormy Daniels

The order prevents Trump from disseminating evidence to third parties or posting on social media, and that certain, sensitive material shared by prosecutors be kept only by his lawyers.

Mr Merchan has made clear that the order should not be construed as a gag order, and the former president, who has a “special” status, has a right to publicly defend himself.

Trump is the first former US president to face criminal charges in court, even as he makes a bid to retake the White House in 2024.

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Trump calls sex accuser ‘wack job’

His lawyers are seeking to have his criminal case moved to federal court.

Earlier this month Trump was found liable for sexually abusing and defaming writer E Jean Carroll in the 1990s.

Despite consistently denying Ms Carroll’s claims, he was ordered to pay the former Elle magazine advice columnist $5m (£4m) in damages.

Barely a day after the jury’s rule in New York, Trump was seen mocking Ms Carroll on prime-time television, calling her a “wack job” and claiming the judge was “biased”.

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Israeli embassy shooting suspect ‘fired repeatedly after victims hit the ground’

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Israeli embassy shooting suspect 'fired repeatedly after victims hit the ground'

The man suspected of shooting dead two Israeli embassy workers in Washington DC leaned over and fired at them repeatedly after they fell to the ground, the FBI has said.

Elias Rodriguez, 31, has been charged with murdering Sarah Milgrim and her boyfriend Yaron Lischinsky, after they left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum on Wednesday night.

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Footage has showed Rodriguez, from Chicago, chanting “free, free Palestine” as he was arrested.

It later emerged Mr Lischinsky had bought a ring and planned to propose to Ms Milgrim.

Authorities are investigating the killings as both a hate crime against the Jewish community and terrorism.

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Shootings suspect shouts ‘free Palestine!’

‘I did it for Gaza’

It comes as the FBI has said in a charging document on Thursday that surveillance footage shows how Ms Milgrim and Mr Lischinsky died.

Rodriguez is allegedly seen passing the couple after they left the museum before shooting them in the back.

The FBI says the footage then shows him leaning over the couple and firing at them several more times after they fell to the ground.

The video then shows Ms Milgrim attempting to crawl away before “(Rodriguez) followed behind her and fired again”, the charging document says.

The suspected gunman is then accused of reloading his weapon and firing at Ms Milgrim as she sat up.

According to the charging document, Rodriguez then jogged to the museum and once inside asked to speak to a police officer before stating that he “did it” and that he was unarmed.

He is then said to have told police: “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, I am unarmed.”

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Suspect ‘expressed admiration’ for fatal protest

The court document also states that 21 expended 9mm bullet cases were found at the scene and the gun was slide-locked – meaning it was empty of ammunition.

An empty gun magazine was also recovered from the scene.

The FBI says it has obtained travel records which show Rodriguez flew from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport to the Reagan National in Washington DC on Tuesday with the gun in his checked baggage.

Rodriguez had bought the weapon in the state of Illinois on 6 March 2020, according to the charging document.

The FBI has said that while Rodriguez was in custody he “expressed admiration” for a US Air Force member who set himself on fire in front of the Israeli embassy in Washington DC on 25 February 2024.

Aaron Bushnell died in the apparent act of protest against the war in Gaza.

Rodriguez also told police he bought a ticket to the museum around three hours before the event that was attended by Ms Milgrim and Mr Lischinsky.

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During a brief court appearance at the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse in Washington DC today, Rodriguez was charged with two counts of first degree murder and with the murder of foreign officials.

He has also been charged with causing the death of a person through the use of a firearm and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence.

Rodriguez was told he could face life in prison or the death penalty if he is found guilty.

He remained calm throughout the hearing, paying attention to the proceedings throughout and confirmed that he is asking the court to appoint an attorney on his behalf.

He will next appear at a federal court in Washington DC on 18 June.

Murdered couple ‘were perfect for each other’

Meanwhile, Ms Milgrim’s father, Robert, says he feared his daughter might be in danger when he saw news alerts of a fatal shooting in Washington DC.

Ms Milgrim’s mother Nancy opened a phone locator app and saw Ms Milgrim was at the Capital Jewish Museum.

“Shortly after that, the Israeli ambassador called us on my wife’s phone,” Mr Milgrim told Sky News’ partner network NBC News, fighting back tears.

He added that it was the ambassador who told them Mr Lischinksy had bought a ring and was planning to propose to Ms Milgrim.

“They were perfect for each other, he said.

Mr Milgrim continued: “They just brought us joy, and her memory, which is a blessing, will continue to bring us joy – but it’s not the same as her not being here.”

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Investors descend on Trump’s golf club for $148m meme coin dinner amid protests

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Investors descend on Trump's golf club for 8m meme coin dinner amid protests

Donald Trump hosted a dinner for investors in his meme coin on Thursday, as critics warned the US president was putting personal profit first.

Some 220 of the biggest investors in the $TRUMP meme coin descended on the exclusive dinner at Mr Trump’s private country club in Northern Virginia.

As the US president arrived, more than a hundred protesters at the Trump National Golf Club held signs that included “America is not for sale”, “stop crypto corruption” and “release the list”.

Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren described the dinner, where the US president spoke for about half an hour before dancing to the song YMCA, as an “orgy of corruption”.

US President Donald Trump leaves the White House to attend his own meme coin gala.
Pic: Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein
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Donald Trump leaves the White House to attend his own meme coin gala. Pic: Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein

Access to the dinner, and the president, was earned by purchasing enough of his $TRUMP meme coin to secure a seat.

The White House insisted Mr Trump would attend the event “in his personal time”, but the lectern he stood behind had the presidential seal.

NBC News reported that during his remarks, Mr Trump did not unveil any new crypto policies but spoke in support of a potential bitcoin reserve and then left promptly afterward.

In total, investors spent an estimated $148m (£110m), with the top 25 holders of the coin spending more than $111m (£82.56m), according to crypto intelligence firm Inca Digital.

A company controlled by the Trump family, and a second firm, hold 80% of the remaining $TRUMP coins and have so far earned $320.19m (£238.14m), including at least $1.35m (£1m) after the dinner announcement, according to blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis.

‘Trump a very successful businessman,’ says White House

According to blockchain analysis, more than half of the 220 holders who attended the black-tie event are likely based outside the US.

This has led to claims the US president has auctioned off access to himself to foreign investors for personal gain.

In response to criticisms about Mr Trump using his office to enrich himself from the meme coin, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: “All of the president’s assets are in a blind trust, which is managed by his children.

“And I would argue, one of the many reasons that the American people re-elected this president back to this office is because he was a very successful businessman before giving it up to publicly serve our country.”

Demonstrators gather outside Trump National Golf Course ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s meme coin gala.
Pic: Reuters
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Protesters gather outside Trump National Golf Course ahead of the dinner.
Pic: Reuters

President Donald Trump arrives on the South Lawn of the White House after attending the crypto dinner.
Pic: AP/John McDonnell
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Trump arrives back at White House after attending the crypto dinner. Pic: AP/John McDonnell

Who was on the guest list?

One of those attending was China-born crypto entrepreneur and billionaire Justin Sun.

He won first place in the dinner contest with his $18.5m (£13.76m) wallet of the Trump meme coin and is the largest publicly known investor in the family’s crypto platform – which has made them hundreds of millions of dollars.

Mr Sun posted videos of himself visiting parts of the White House complex on Wednesday, and on Thursday of Mr Trump at the dinner event.

In February, the US Securities and Exchange Commission paused a 2023 fraud case against him, citing public interest.

Demonstrators protest near Trump National Golf Club before the arrival of the president. 
Pic: AP/Rod Lamkey Jr
Image:
Demonstrators protest near Trump National Golf Club before the arrival of the president.
Pic: AP/Rod Lamkey Jr

However, the identities of the majority of the coin holders attending the event remain unknown.

Of those going, one was simply known as Ogle, a crypto security specialist who appears in video interviews with his face covered by a bandana and sunglasses.

He says this is to protect his identity.

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Even some pro-Trump crypto voices worried his personal involvement may hurt efforts to establish credibility.

“It’s distasteful and an unnecessary distraction,” said Nic Carter, a Trump supporter and partner at the crypto investment firm Castle Island Ventures.

“We would much rather that he passes common sense legislation and leave it at that.”

The event was capped off with an after-party, called “Meme The Night,” thrown by a Singapore-based meme-coin engagement company called MemeCore.

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Can Trump revoke international students’ visas?  

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Can Trump revoke international students' visas?  

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On Wednesday evening two Israeli embassy workers, Yaron Lichinsky and Sarah Milgrim, were shot and killed in Washington DC by a man who chanted “free Palestine” as he was arrested.

On Trump100, US correspondents Martha Kelner and Mark Stone discuss the politics at the centre of the killings, and the Trump administration’s approach to antisemitism in the US.

Plus, the Trump administration steps up its war on Harvard by preventing the university from enrolling international students, which could cost the institution half a billion dollars.

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