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| FBI gets warrant to search Huma Abedin's laptop for Clinton emails – election live | FBI gets warrant to search Huma Abedin's laptop for Clinton emails – election live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 7.39pm GMT | |
| 19:39 | |
| Report: FBI concluded Russia undermining election, avoided saying so because it was 'too close' to Election Day | |
| FBI director James Comey reportedly argued that although the FBI had concluded that the Russian government was involved in attempts to undermine the legitimacy of the U.S. electoral process, it was too close to Election Day for the government to say so publicly, according to a report from CNBC. | |
| Citing a former FBI official, CNBC reported that Comey kept the FBI’s name off of a statement released on October 7 declaring that “the US intelligence community is confident that the Russian government directed the recent compromises of emails from US persons and institutions, including from US political organizations,” and that “these thefts and disclosures are intended to interfere with the US election process.” | |
| “A foreign power was trying to undermine the election,” the official told CNBC. “He believed it to be true, but was against putting it out before the election.” | |
| Comey clearly felt differently about possible emails on Anthony Weiner’s computer. | |
| 7.17pm GMT | |
| 19:17 | |
| Congressman Jim Jordan, the chair of the Freedom Caucus of tea party-aligned Republicans in the House of Representatives, is one of the sharpest critics of Hillary Clinton and the Obama administration, but the latest person to receive criticism from the Ohio congressman is the Republican director of the FBI. | |
| “I think this was probably not the right thing for [James] Comey to do - the protocol here - to come out this close to an election,” Jordan told Fox News Radio host Brian Kilmeade this morning. “But this whole case has been mishandled, and now it is what it is.” | |
| “He probably felt in light of what he did before he had to bring this out,” Jordan continued. “Quite frankly, because he had done the press conference and all the things he had before he probably did have to send a letter to Congress like he did last week. But I would argue all of this has been wrong from the get go in the way it’s been handled.” | |
| The Office of Special Counsel, an independent federal investigative agency, will neither confirm nor deny any the existence of investigation into Comey for violating the Hatch Act, a law designed to prevent federal officeholders from abusing their power to influence an election. | |
| 6.51pm GMT | 6.51pm GMT |
| 18:51 | 18:51 |
| Oliver Laughland | Oliver Laughland |
| Democratic party officials in four swing states have sought federal court injunctions against the Trump campaign and its affiliates, alleging they plan to intimidate minority voters on election day. | Democratic party officials in four swing states have sought federal court injunctions against the Trump campaign and its affiliates, alleging they plan to intimidate minority voters on election day. |
| The lawsuits argue that the Trump campaign, along with the nominee’s close confidant Roger Stone and state Republican party officials are “conspiring to threaten, intimidate, and thereby prevent minority voters in urban neighborhoods from voting”, citing Trump’s ongoing efforts to recruit “election observers” and Stone’s plans, as revealed by the Guardian, to conduct unorthodox “exit polling” on election day, as evidence of potentially “virulent harassment”. | The lawsuits argue that the Trump campaign, along with the nominee’s close confidant Roger Stone and state Republican party officials are “conspiring to threaten, intimidate, and thereby prevent minority voters in urban neighborhoods from voting”, citing Trump’s ongoing efforts to recruit “election observers” and Stone’s plans, as revealed by the Guardian, to conduct unorthodox “exit polling” on election day, as evidence of potentially “virulent harassment”. |
| The lawsuits follow another legal action made in federal court in New Jersey last week by the Democratic National Committee, which argues that the Republican National Committee is in violation of a 1982 consent decree that forbids the organisation from monitoring polls on election day. | The lawsuits follow another legal action made in federal court in New Jersey last week by the Democratic National Committee, which argues that the Republican National Committee is in violation of a 1982 consent decree that forbids the organisation from monitoring polls on election day. |
| Stone told the Guardian last week his group “Stop The Steal” planned to conduct exit polling in nine major cities in swing states, ostensibly to counter “election theft” and gauge the accuracy of electronic voting machines. But a number of polling and election law experts cast doubts on the methodology and suggested the process could be a smokescreen for voter intimidation. | Stone told the Guardian last week his group “Stop The Steal” planned to conduct exit polling in nine major cities in swing states, ostensibly to counter “election theft” and gauge the accuracy of electronic voting machines. But a number of polling and election law experts cast doubts on the methodology and suggested the process could be a smokescreen for voter intimidation. |
| The Republican nominee has for months warned supporters of a “rigged election” and encouraged them to monitor polling areas in cities such as St Louis, Chicago and Philadelphia. The lawsuits, filed by state democratic parties in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Arizona and Nevada would cover many of the cities Stone said he intended to target. | The Republican nominee has for months warned supporters of a “rigged election” and encouraged them to monitor polling areas in cities such as St Louis, Chicago and Philadelphia. The lawsuits, filed by state democratic parties in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Arizona and Nevada would cover many of the cities Stone said he intended to target. |
| The filings argue that such efforts, along with Trump’s rhetoric, could violate both the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which outlawed discriminatory voting practices in the American south and the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, which outlawed intimidation against African American voters. | The filings argue that such efforts, along with Trump’s rhetoric, could violate both the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which outlawed discriminatory voting practices in the American south and the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, which outlawed intimidation against African American voters. |
| Election law experts said it was unclear whether courts would issue a broad order, as requested in the filings, to simply prevent voter intimidation, but could look in more detail at the temporary restraining order requested against Stone’s exit polling. | Election law experts said it was unclear whether courts would issue a broad order, as requested in the filings, to simply prevent voter intimidation, but could look in more detail at the temporary restraining order requested against Stone’s exit polling. |
| “It could be useful in getting the word out about these activities and secondly getting the [Republican state] parties and [Trump] campaign on record saying they will not engage in these activities,” said Rick Hasen, an election law expert at the University of California and whose Election Law blog first reported the lawsuits on Monday. | “It could be useful in getting the word out about these activities and secondly getting the [Republican state] parties and [Trump] campaign on record saying they will not engage in these activities,” said Rick Hasen, an election law expert at the University of California and whose Election Law blog first reported the lawsuits on Monday. |
| The Republican National Committee has been under a consent decree since the 1981 gubernatorial election in New Jersey when the group sent armed off-duty law enforcement officers to patrol polls in minority neighborhoods. These volunteers wore arm bands that identified them as an unofficial “Ballot Security Task Force” and erected posters warning against voting fraud. The RNC dismissed the lawsuit as “completely meritless” last week. | The Republican National Committee has been under a consent decree since the 1981 gubernatorial election in New Jersey when the group sent armed off-duty law enforcement officers to patrol polls in minority neighborhoods. These volunteers wore arm bands that identified them as an unofficial “Ballot Security Task Force” and erected posters warning against voting fraud. The RNC dismissed the lawsuit as “completely meritless” last week. |
| Stone’s exit pollers, self-titled “vote protectors”, had originally planned to use similar non-official identification badges, until these were removed from the organisation’s website late last week. The organisation is still encouraging its volunteers to live stream video from polling stations. | Stone’s exit pollers, self-titled “vote protectors”, had originally planned to use similar non-official identification badges, until these were removed from the organisation’s website late last week. The organisation is still encouraging its volunteers to live stream video from polling stations. |
| The Guardian contacted Stone and the Trump campaign for a response to the recent lawsuits and is awaiting a response. | The Guardian contacted Stone and the Trump campaign for a response to the recent lawsuits and is awaiting a response. |
| 6.40pm GMT | 6.40pm GMT |
| 18:40 | 18:40 |
| Dan Roberts | Dan Roberts |
| Hillary Clinton sought to play down the impact at her first public event of the week. | Hillary Clinton sought to play down the impact at her first public event of the week. |
| “Most people have decided quite a long time ago what they think about all this,” she told a rally in Ohio. “Now what people are focused upon is choosing the next president and commander-in-chief.” | “Most people have decided quite a long time ago what they think about all this,” she told a rally in Ohio. “Now what people are focused upon is choosing the next president and commander-in-chief.” |
| But there was less direct criticism of the FBI than over the weekend and Clinton said they were welcome to look at the emails of her aide Huma Abedin. | But there was less direct criticism of the FBI than over the weekend and Clinton said they were welcome to look at the emails of her aide Huma Abedin. |
| “I am sure a lot of you may be asking what this email business is about and why in the world the FBI would decide to jump into an election without any evidence and it’s a good a question,” she said to boos from the young crowd at Kent State University in Ohio. | “I am sure a lot of you may be asking what this email business is about and why in the world the FBI would decide to jump into an election without any evidence and it’s a good a question,” she said to boos from the young crowd at Kent State University in Ohio. |
| “By all mean they should look at them and I am sure they will reach the same conclusion as when they looked at my emails: there is no case.” | “By all mean they should look at them and I am sure they will reach the same conclusion as when they looked at my emails: there is no case.” |
| 6.31pm GMT | 6.31pm GMT |
| 18:31 | 18:31 |
| Donald Trump’s companies have deleted thousands of documents and records from court proceedings, often defying court orders, according to a Newsweek investigation - despite his anger at Hillary Clinton deleting emails from her private server. | Donald Trump’s companies have deleted thousands of documents and records from court proceedings, often defying court orders, according to a Newsweek investigation - despite his anger at Hillary Clinton deleting emails from her private server. |
| Journalist Kurt Eichwald explains the tactics Trump would use to hide documents: | Journalist Kurt Eichwald explains the tactics Trump would use to hide documents: |
| Over the course of decades, Donald Trump’s companies have systematically destroyed or hidden thousands of emails, digital records and paper documents demanded in official proceedings, often in defiance of court orders. These tactics—exposed by a Newsweek review of thousands of pages of court filings, judicial orders and affidavits from an array of court cases—have enraged judges, prosecutors, opposing lawyers and the many ordinary citizens entangled in litigation with Trump. In each instance, Trump and entities he controlled also erected numerous hurdles that made lawsuits drag on for years, forcing courtroom opponents to spend huge sums of money in legal fees as they struggled — sometimes in vain — to obtain records. | Over the course of decades, Donald Trump’s companies have systematically destroyed or hidden thousands of emails, digital records and paper documents demanded in official proceedings, often in defiance of court orders. These tactics—exposed by a Newsweek review of thousands of pages of court filings, judicial orders and affidavits from an array of court cases—have enraged judges, prosecutors, opposing lawyers and the many ordinary citizens entangled in litigation with Trump. In each instance, Trump and entities he controlled also erected numerous hurdles that made lawsuits drag on for years, forcing courtroom opponents to spend huge sums of money in legal fees as they struggled — sometimes in vain — to obtain records. |
| Trump would file untruthful affidavits, ignore deadlines and employ top delaying tactics, says Eichwald. | Trump would file untruthful affidavits, ignore deadlines and employ top delaying tactics, says Eichwald. |
| 6.13pm GMT | 6.13pm GMT |
| 18:13 | 18:13 |
| Trump says it 'took guts' for FBI chief to send letter to Congress | Trump says it 'took guts' for FBI chief to send letter to Congress |
| Dan Roberts | Dan Roberts |
| Trump claimed on Monday that the FBI had stumbled across a digital “motherlode” and predicted they would discover missing work-related emails that had been deleted from Clinton’s computers. | Trump claimed on Monday that the FBI had stumbled across a digital “motherlode” and predicted they would discover missing work-related emails that had been deleted from Clinton’s computers. |
| “650,000?.. I think you are going to find the 33,000 that are missing,” he told supporters in Michigan. “I think we hit the motherlode as they say in the mining industry.” | “650,000?.. I think you are going to find the 33,000 that are missing,” he told supporters in Michigan. “I think we hit the motherlode as they say in the mining industry.” |
| He also urged FBI director James Comey to resist political pressure from those criticizing his decision to disclose the investigation. | He also urged FBI director James Comey to resist political pressure from those criticizing his decision to disclose the investigation. |
| “He’s gotta hang tough because a lot of people think he did the wrong thing, but he did the right thing,” Trump told the Grand Rapids rally. “I was not his fan but what he did he brought back his reputation.” | “He’s gotta hang tough because a lot of people think he did the wrong thing, but he did the right thing,” Trump told the Grand Rapids rally. “I was not his fan but what he did he brought back his reputation.” |
| “It took guts for director Comey to do what he did,” he added, to chants of “lock her up” from the crowd. | “It took guts for director Comey to do what he did,” he added, to chants of “lock her up” from the crowd. |
| 6.05pm GMT | 6.05pm GMT |
| 18:05 | 18:05 |
| UK golf resort owned by Trump summonsed for alleged privacy breach | UK golf resort owned by Trump summonsed for alleged privacy breach |
| Severin Carrell | Severin Carrell |
| A Scottish golf resort owned by Donald Trump is being taken to court for allegedly breaching the privacy of a rambler photographed by staff without her consent or knowledge. | A Scottish golf resort owned by Donald Trump is being taken to court for allegedly breaching the privacy of a rambler photographed by staff without her consent or knowledge. |
| The resort in Aberdeenshire was served with a court summons on Monday after Trump’s Scottish lawyers admitted that two staff members took mobile phone images of Rohan Beyts while she was on the course in April. | The resort in Aberdeenshire was served with a court summons on Monday after Trump’s Scottish lawyers admitted that two staff members took mobile phone images of Rohan Beyts while she was on the course in April. |
| Trump International Golf Club Scotland, owned by the Republican presidential candidate, has been ordered to appear at Edinburgh sheriff court on 22 December to respond to a civil action lodged in the small claims court by Beyts this month. | Trump International Golf Club Scotland, owned by the Republican presidential candidate, has been ordered to appear at Edinburgh sheriff court on 22 December to respond to a civil action lodged in the small claims court by Beyts this month. |
| Beyts is seeking damages of up to £3,000 ($3,650) after TIGCS rejected her initial requests by letter for an apology and damages. Her civil action claims the company is guilty of a criminal offence under the UK’s data protection and privacy legislation, after an investigation by the Guardian revealed the resort was in breach of the Data Protection Act. | Beyts is seeking damages of up to £3,000 ($3,650) after TIGCS rejected her initial requests by letter for an apology and damages. Her civil action claims the company is guilty of a criminal offence under the UK’s data protection and privacy legislation, after an investigation by the Guardian revealed the resort was in breach of the Data Protection Act. |
| The resort admitted it was not registered under the act with the Information Commissioner’s Office despite operating at least nine CCTV cameras and holding confidential records on its staff, its thousands of customers and its suppliers. It subsequently registered with the ICO in August. | The resort admitted it was not registered under the act with the Information Commissioner’s Office despite operating at least nine CCTV cameras and holding confidential records on its staff, its thousands of customers and its suppliers. It subsequently registered with the ICO in August. |
| In the US, meanwhile, Trump has threatened to sue any cinema that screens the documentary, You’ve Been Trumped Too. Made by Anthony Baxter, the film is a sequel to You’ve Been Trumped, in which Baxter was seen being forcibly arrested by police as he investigated allegations of intimidatory behavior against the property tycoon’s neighbors in 2010. | In the US, meanwhile, Trump has threatened to sue any cinema that screens the documentary, You’ve Been Trumped Too. Made by Anthony Baxter, the film is a sequel to You’ve Been Trumped, in which Baxter was seen being forcibly arrested by police as he investigated allegations of intimidatory behavior against the property tycoon’s neighbors in 2010. |
| Read the rest of the article here. | Read the rest of the article here. |
| 5.57pm GMT | 5.57pm GMT |
| 17:57 | 17:57 |
| Donald Trump’s campaign is refusing to pay a $767,000 bill to a Florida pollster, reports the Washington Post. | Donald Trump’s campaign is refusing to pay a $767,000 bill to a Florida pollster, reports the Washington Post. |
| The Trump campaign hired GOP strategist and pollster Tony Fabrizio in May. Trump’s latest campaign filings show that it is disputing over three quarters of a million dollars to Fabrizio’s company. | The Trump campaign hired GOP strategist and pollster Tony Fabrizio in May. Trump’s latest campaign filings show that it is disputing over three quarters of a million dollars to Fabrizio’s company. |
| The Trump campaign already paid $624,000 for Fabrizio’s services. | The Trump campaign already paid $624,000 for Fabrizio’s services. |
| 5.40pm GMT | 5.40pm GMT |
| 17:40 | 17:40 |
| “Her election would mire our government and country in a constitutional crisis that we can not afford,” says Trump, arguing that an investigation into Hillary Clinton’s email will last years and cripple the economy. | “Her election would mire our government and country in a constitutional crisis that we can not afford,” says Trump, arguing that an investigation into Hillary Clinton’s email will last years and cripple the economy. |
| 5.38pm GMT | 5.38pm GMT |
| 17:38 | 17:38 |
| “Thank you Huma! Good job Huma! Thank you Anthony Weiner!” says Trump to laughter at Michigan, referencing how the FBI is examining emails that came to light due to the investigation of Weiner sexting with an underage girl. | “Thank you Huma! Good job Huma! Thank you Anthony Weiner!” says Trump to laughter at Michigan, referencing how the FBI is examining emails that came to light due to the investigation of Weiner sexting with an underage girl. |
| 5.33pm GMT | 5.33pm GMT |
| 17:33 | 17:33 |
| “It took guts for director Comey to make the move he made in light of the opposition he had where they’re trying to protect her from criminal prosecution... it took a lot of guts,” says Trump in Michigan. | “It took guts for director Comey to make the move he made in light of the opposition he had where they’re trying to protect her from criminal prosecution... it took a lot of guts,” says Trump in Michigan. |