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| Clinton campaign manager denounces FBI over 'double standard' – election live | Clinton campaign manager denounces FBI over 'double standard' – election live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 12.55am GMT | |
| 00:55 | |
| Report: Donald Trump used 'legally dubious' tax avoidance maneuver in early 1990s | |
| A five-byline New York Times story reports that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump availed himself of a tax-avoidance method in the early 1990s so legally hazy that Trump’s own lawyers warned him that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) would deem it improper under audit. | |
| The maneuver, the New York Times reports, helped Trump avoid reporting hundreds of millions of dollars in cancelled debt resulting from the failure of one of Trump’s casino businesses as taxable income. The IRS views cancelled debt in the same light as taxable income - which would normally mean that after the floundering of Trump’s Atlantic City casino business and the subsequent cancellation of hundreds of millions of dollars in debt, Trump would have to pay taxes on that cancelled debt as income: | |
| The strategy - known among tax practitioners as a ‘stock-for-debt swap’ - relies on mathematical sleight of hand. Say a company can repay only $60 million of a $100 million bank loan. If the bank forgives the remaining $40 million, the company faces a large tax bill because it will have to report that canceled $40 million debt as taxable income. | |
| Clever tax lawyers found a way around this inconvenience. The company would simply swap stock for the $40 million in debt it could not repay. This way, it would look as if the entire $100 million loan had been repaid, and presto: There would be no tax bill due for $40 million in canceled debt. | |
| The Trump campaign dismissed the Times’ allegations, which are based on documents uncovered during a search of casino bankruptcy filings from the 1990s. | |
| “Your e-mail suggests either a fundamental misunderstanding or an intentional misreading of the law,” Trump campaign press secretary Hope Hicks told the New York Times. “Your thesis is a criticism, not just of Mr. Trump, but of all taxpayers who take the time and spend the money to try to comply with the dizzyingly complex and ambiguous tax laws without paying more tax than they owe. Mr. Trump does not think that taxpayers should file returns that resolve all doubt in favor of the IRS. And any tax experts that you have consulted are engaged in pure speculation. There is no news here.” | |
| Congress banned the use of “stock-for-debt swaps” in 1993. | |
| Updated | |
| at 12.56am GMT | |
| 12.32am GMT | |
| 00:32 | |
| The White House has announced the “line of succession” for President Barack Obama’s official @POTUS Twitter handle, as well as that of first lady Michelle Obama. | |
| Hello, Twitter! It's Barack. Really! Six years in, they're finally giving me my own account. | |
| According to a thorough statement from the White House office of communications, “the handle @POTUS will be made available to the 45th President of the United States on January 20, 2017. The account will retain its more than 11 million followers, but start with no tweets on the timeline.” | |
| Those tweets from Obama’s tenure will be maintained under @POTUS44. Those tweets will also be archived at National Archives and Records Administration, “where they will be preserved and accessible in the same manner as all other Presidential records.” | |
| “This will also be the case for other Twitter handles, including @WhiteHouse, @FLOTUS, @PressSec, and @VP,” the White House stated. “Individual official accounts, like @KS44, will transition to NARA and continue to be accessible for the public to view as an archive of all tweets sent by White House staff.” | |
| 12.20am GMT | 12.20am GMT |
| 00:20 | 00:20 |
| Trump campaign denies email server was used to communicate with Russian bank | Trump campaign denies email server was used to communicate with Russian bank |
| The Trump campaign has denied that a Trump Organization server was used to send or receive communications with a Russian bank, responding to a story by Slate’s Franklin Foer that activity on the server indicated “a sustained relationship between a server registered to the Trump Organization and two servers registered to an entity called Alfa Bank,” the largest private commercial bank in Russia. | The Trump campaign has denied that a Trump Organization server was used to send or receive communications with a Russian bank, responding to a story by Slate’s Franklin Foer that activity on the server indicated “a sustained relationship between a server registered to the Trump Organization and two servers registered to an entity called Alfa Bank,” the largest private commercial bank in Russia. |
| “First of all, it’s not a secret server,” said Trump campaign press secretary Hope Hicks. “The email server, set up for marketing purposes and operated by a third-party, has not been used since 2010. The current traffic on the server from Alphabank’s IP address is regular DNS server traffic - not email traffic.” | “First of all, it’s not a secret server,” said Trump campaign press secretary Hope Hicks. “The email server, set up for marketing purposes and operated by a third-party, has not been used since 2010. The current traffic on the server from Alphabank’s IP address is regular DNS server traffic - not email traffic.” |
| “To be clear, The Trump Organization is not sending or receiving any communications from this email server,” Hicks continued. “The Trump Organization has no communication or relationship with this entity or any Russian entity.” | “To be clear, The Trump Organization is not sending or receiving any communications from this email server,” Hicks continued. “The Trump Organization has no communication or relationship with this entity or any Russian entity.” |
| The report, based on Foer’s interviews with three anonymous Domain Name System (DNS) specialists and multiple named academics with expertise in DNS, concluded that the server in question “was set to accept only incoming communication from a very small handful of IP addresses.” Among them, according to the DNS specialists: two Alfa Bank servers, which the specialists said accounted for 87% of the DNS lookups involving the Trump Organization server. | The report, based on Foer’s interviews with three anonymous Domain Name System (DNS) specialists and multiple named academics with expertise in DNS, concluded that the server in question “was set to accept only incoming communication from a very small handful of IP addresses.” Among them, according to the DNS specialists: two Alfa Bank servers, which the specialists said accounted for 87% of the DNS lookups involving the Trump Organization server. |
| The Guardian has been unable to independently confirm Slate’s report. | The Guardian has been unable to independently confirm Slate’s report. |
| Hillary for America senior policy adviser Jake Sullivan declared the story proof of “the most direct link yet between Donald Trump and Moscow,” calling the alleged “secret hotline” between the Trump Organization and Russian banks “the key to unlocking the mystery of Trump’s ties to Russia.” | Hillary for America senior policy adviser Jake Sullivan declared the story proof of “the most direct link yet between Donald Trump and Moscow,” calling the alleged “secret hotline” between the Trump Organization and Russian banks “the key to unlocking the mystery of Trump’s ties to Russia.” |
| “This line of communication may help explain Trump’s bizarre adoration of Vladimir Putin and endorsement of so many pro-Kremlin positions throughout this campaign,” Sullivan continued. “It raises even more troubling questions in light of Russia’s masterminding of hacking efforts that are clearly intended to hurt Hillary Clinton’s campaign. We can only assume that federal authorities will now explore this direct connection between Trump and Russia as part of their existing probe into Russia’s meddling in our elections.” | “This line of communication may help explain Trump’s bizarre adoration of Vladimir Putin and endorsement of so many pro-Kremlin positions throughout this campaign,” Sullivan continued. “It raises even more troubling questions in light of Russia’s masterminding of hacking efforts that are clearly intended to hurt Hillary Clinton’s campaign. We can only assume that federal authorities will now explore this direct connection between Trump and Russia as part of their existing probe into Russia’s meddling in our elections.” |
| 12.00am GMT | 12.00am GMT |
| 00:00 | 00:00 |
| Campaigning with two of the most visible faces of the gun-control movement in the US, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton accused Republican rival Donald Trump of “selling out” to the gun lobby. | Campaigning with two of the most visible faces of the gun-control movement in the US, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton accused Republican rival Donald Trump of “selling out” to the gun lobby. |
| “Donald Trump won’t stand up to the gun lobby - he sold out to them.” Clinton said in Cincinnati, Ohio. “I will stand up to them as president. The gun lobby is spending more on ads to get Donald Trump elected more than any other group.” | “Donald Trump won’t stand up to the gun lobby - he sold out to them.” Clinton said in Cincinnati, Ohio. “I will stand up to them as president. The gun lobby is spending more on ads to get Donald Trump elected more than any other group.” |
| The NRA has spent nearly $80m alternately against Clinton and in support of Trump. | The NRA has spent nearly $80m alternately against Clinton and in support of Trump. |
| Clinton appeared alongside former Arizona congresswoman Gabby Giffords and her husband, retired astronaut Mark Kelly. | Clinton appeared alongside former Arizona congresswoman Gabby Giffords and her husband, retired astronaut Mark Kelly. |
| 11.36pm GMT | 11.36pm GMT |
| 23:36 | 23:36 |
| Dan Roberts | Dan Roberts |
| The Clinton campaign blasted FBI director James Comey for “jaw-dropping” double standards on Monday after claims that he had sought to withhold evidence of Russian support for Donald Trump for fear of influencing next week’s US election. | The Clinton campaign blasted FBI director James Comey for “jaw-dropping” double standards on Monday after claims that he had sought to withhold evidence of Russian support for Donald Trump for fear of influencing next week’s US election. |
| In a sharp escalation of the unprecedented war of words with federal law enforcement authorities, the campaign contrasted this apparent caution with Comey’s controversial decision to release new details of its probe into Clinton’s private email server to lawmakers on Friday. | In a sharp escalation of the unprecedented war of words with federal law enforcement authorities, the campaign contrasted this apparent caution with Comey’s controversial decision to release new details of its probe into Clinton’s private email server to lawmakers on Friday. |
| “It is impossible to view this as anything less than a blatant double standard,” her campaign manager Robby Mook told reporters, claiming the decision “defied all logic”, especially as other intelligence agencies had favoured disclosure of suspected Russian involvement. | “It is impossible to view this as anything less than a blatant double standard,” her campaign manager Robby Mook told reporters, claiming the decision “defied all logic”, especially as other intelligence agencies had favoured disclosure of suspected Russian involvement. |
| “Through these two decisions he shows he favours acting alone and without consulting … these are not the hallmarks of a responsible investigation,” added Mook. | “Through these two decisions he shows he favours acting alone and without consulting … these are not the hallmarks of a responsible investigation,” added Mook. |
| Both CNBC and the Huffington Post have reported that Comey privately urged against naming Russia for allegedy meddling in the election and hacking Democratic email accounts. | Both CNBC and the Huffington Post have reported that Comey privately urged against naming Russia for allegedy meddling in the election and hacking Democratic email accounts. |
| Though this advice has not been confirmed officially, it tallies with the fact the FBI’s name did not appear on a list of US intelligence agencies supporting the allegations. | Though this advice has not been confirmed officially, it tallies with the fact the FBI’s name did not appear on a list of US intelligence agencies supporting the allegations. |
| “A foreign power was trying to undermine the election. He believed it to be true, but was against putting it out before the election,” one former official told CNBC. Comey’s position, this official reportedly said, was “if it is said, it shouldn’t come from the FBI, which as you’ll recall it did not.” | “A foreign power was trying to undermine the election. He believed it to be true, but was against putting it out before the election,” one former official told CNBC. Comey’s position, this official reportedly said, was “if it is said, it shouldn’t come from the FBI, which as you’ll recall it did not.” |
| The Clinton campaign called on Comey to “immediately explain this incongruence’. | The Clinton campaign called on Comey to “immediately explain this incongruence’. |
| “He has set the standard for narrating a play-by-play,” added spokesman Brian Fallon. “If that is his way of handling things, he needs to take the same approach to the Trump campaign.” | “He has set the standard for narrating a play-by-play,” added spokesman Brian Fallon. “If that is his way of handling things, he needs to take the same approach to the Trump campaign.” |
| 11.18pm GMT | 11.18pm GMT |
| 23:18 | 23:18 |
| Report: FBI opens inquiry into Paul Manafort's foreign business ties | Report: FBI opens inquiry into Paul Manafort's foreign business ties |
| The FBI has opened a preliminary inquiry into Paul Manafort, Donald Trump’s campaign manager, in relation to his business ties to foreign entities, NBC is reporting. The inquiry, which is reportedly not a formal investigation at this time, was reportedly prompted by the mounting scrutiny that faced Manafort before his resignation details emerged of his role in advising foreign politicians, including Ukrainian strongman Viktor Yanukovych. | The FBI has opened a preliminary inquiry into Paul Manafort, Donald Trump’s campaign manager, in relation to his business ties to foreign entities, NBC is reporting. The inquiry, which is reportedly not a formal investigation at this time, was reportedly prompted by the mounting scrutiny that faced Manafort before his resignation details emerged of his role in advising foreign politicians, including Ukrainian strongman Viktor Yanukovych. |
| Manafort’s close connections to Russia through Yanukovych, at a time when Trump attempted to criticize Clinton for taking money from foreign donors for her family foundation, cast a pall over Trump and his longtime admiration for Russian president Vladimir Putin that the candidate has not yet been able to shake. | Manafort’s close connections to Russia through Yanukovych, at a time when Trump attempted to criticize Clinton for taking money from foreign donors for her family foundation, cast a pall over Trump and his longtime admiration for Russian president Vladimir Putin that the candidate has not yet been able to shake. |
| “None of it is true,” Manafort said to NBC in response to the story. “There’s no investigation going on by the FBI that I’m aware of.” | “None of it is true,” Manafort said to NBC in response to the story. “There’s no investigation going on by the FBI that I’m aware of.” |
| “This is all political propaganda, meant to deflect,” he said. | “This is all political propaganda, meant to deflect,” he said. |
| 11.04pm GMT | 11.04pm GMT |
| 23:04 | 23:04 |
| Dan Roberts | Dan Roberts |
| Donald Trump, the target of adverts saying he sets a bad example to children, has attempted to turn the tables by referencing his 10-year-old son. | Donald Trump, the target of adverts saying he sets a bad example to children, has attempted to turn the tables by referencing his 10-year-old son. |
| He told a rally in Warren, Michigan, that Hillary Clinton lied repeatedly about her email server. He also highlighted the latest batch of emails released by WikiLeaks seeming to show Donna Brazile, the interim head of the Democratic National Committee and a CNN contributor, giving Clinton a tip-off about a likely debate question during the party primary. | He told a rally in Warren, Michigan, that Hillary Clinton lied repeatedly about her email server. He also highlighted the latest batch of emails released by WikiLeaks seeming to show Donna Brazile, the interim head of the Democratic National Committee and a CNN contributor, giving Clinton a tip-off about a likely debate question during the party primary. |
| “Nobody’s saying why did Hillary Clinton not turn it in,” Trump said. “I have a son named Barron and I want to tell you, she is a terrible example for my son and the children in this country. That I can tell you... We do want the answer to that question, media. Ask her: why didn’t she say that she had the questions to the debate? I hope you’e going to be able to give us that answer.” | “Nobody’s saying why did Hillary Clinton not turn it in,” Trump said. “I have a son named Barron and I want to tell you, she is a terrible example for my son and the children in this country. That I can tell you... We do want the answer to that question, media. Ask her: why didn’t she say that she had the questions to the debate? I hope you’e going to be able to give us that answer.” |
| He added: “Somebody said, oh, maybe that’s not that a big a deal. To me it’s a big deal. Getting the questions to the debate: that’s a big deal, that’s a big deal, and not turning yourself in. And if they fired Donna Brazile, why are they not firing Hillary Clinton? Why is she allowed to run?” | He added: “Somebody said, oh, maybe that’s not that a big a deal. To me it’s a big deal. Getting the questions to the debate: that’s a big deal, that’s a big deal, and not turning yourself in. And if they fired Donna Brazile, why are they not firing Hillary Clinton? Why is she allowed to run?” |
| Trump’s rally started two hours late and numerous supporters left before the end. Trump raised the prospect of “a constitutional crisis” if Clinton becomes president. “We’re going to be tied up in court for the rest of our lives with this deal. She’s not going to win the election, but I’m just saying. If Hillary is elected, she would be under protracted criminal investigation, likely followed by the trial of a sitting president. This is just what we need.” | Trump’s rally started two hours late and numerous supporters left before the end. Trump raised the prospect of “a constitutional crisis” if Clinton becomes president. “We’re going to be tied up in court for the rest of our lives with this deal. She’s not going to win the election, but I’m just saying. If Hillary is elected, she would be under protracted criminal investigation, likely followed by the trial of a sitting president. This is just what we need.” |
| 10.35pm GMT | 10.35pm GMT |
| 22:35 | 22:35 |
| David Smith | David Smith |
| Donald Trump, the target of advertisements saying he sets a bad example to children, has attempted to turn the tables by referencing his 10-year-old son. | Donald Trump, the target of advertisements saying he sets a bad example to children, has attempted to turn the tables by referencing his 10-year-old son. |
| He told a rally in Warren, Michigan, that Hillary Clinton lied repeatedly about her email server. He also highlighted the latest batch of emails released by WikiLeaks seeming to show Donna Brazile, the interim head of the Democratic National Committee and a CNN contributor, giving Clinton a tip-off about a likely debate question during the party primary. | He told a rally in Warren, Michigan, that Hillary Clinton lied repeatedly about her email server. He also highlighted the latest batch of emails released by WikiLeaks seeming to show Donna Brazile, the interim head of the Democratic National Committee and a CNN contributor, giving Clinton a tip-off about a likely debate question during the party primary. |
| “Nobody’s saying why did Hillary Clinton not turn it in,” Trump said. “I have a son named Barron and I want to tell you, she is a terrible example for my son and the children in this country. That I can tell you... We do want the answer to that question, media. Ask her: why didn’t she say that she had the questions to the debate? I hope you’e going to be able to give us that answer.” | “Nobody’s saying why did Hillary Clinton not turn it in,” Trump said. “I have a son named Barron and I want to tell you, she is a terrible example for my son and the children in this country. That I can tell you... We do want the answer to that question, media. Ask her: why didn’t she say that she had the questions to the debate? I hope you’e going to be able to give us that answer.” |
| He added: “Somebody said, oh, maybe that’s not that a big a deal. To me it’s a big deal. Getting the questions to the debate: that’s a big deal, that’s a big deal, and not turning yourself in. And if they fired Donna Brazile, why are they not firing Hillary Clinton? Why is she allowed to run?” | He added: “Somebody said, oh, maybe that’s not that a big a deal. To me it’s a big deal. Getting the questions to the debate: that’s a big deal, that’s a big deal, and not turning yourself in. And if they fired Donna Brazile, why are they not firing Hillary Clinton? Why is she allowed to run?” |
| Trump’s rally started two hours late and numerous supporters left before the end. Trump raised the prospect of “a constitutional crisis” if Clinton becomes president. | Trump’s rally started two hours late and numerous supporters left before the end. Trump raised the prospect of “a constitutional crisis” if Clinton becomes president. |
| “We’re going to be tied up in court for the rest of our lives with this deal. She’s not going to win the election, but I’m just saying. If Hillary is elected, she would be under protracted criminal investigation, likely followed by the trial of a sitting president. This is just what we need.” | “We’re going to be tied up in court for the rest of our lives with this deal. She’s not going to win the election, but I’m just saying. If Hillary is elected, she would be under protracted criminal investigation, likely followed by the trial of a sitting president. This is just what we need.” |
| 10.17pm GMT | 10.17pm GMT |
| 22:17 | 22:17 |
| Sam Levin | Sam Levin |
| A United Nations group is investigating allegations of human rights abuses by North Dakota law enforcement against Native American protesters, with indigenous leaders testifying about “acts of war” they observed during mass arrests at an oil pipeline protest. | A United Nations group is investigating allegations of human rights abuses by North Dakota law enforcement against Native American protesters, with indigenous leaders testifying about “acts of war” they observed during mass arrests at an oil pipeline protest. |
| A representative of the UN’s permanent forum on indigenous issues, an advisory group, has been collecting testimony from Dakota Access pipeline protesters who have raised concerns about excessive force, unlawful arrests and mistreatment in jail where some activists have been held in cages. | A representative of the UN’s permanent forum on indigenous issues, an advisory group, has been collecting testimony from Dakota Access pipeline protesters who have raised concerns about excessive force, unlawful arrests and mistreatment in jail where some activists have been held in cages. |
| “When you look at what the international standards are for the treatment of people, and you are in a place like the United States, it’s really astounding to hear some of this testimony,” said Roberto Borrero, a representative of the International Indian Treaty Council. | “When you look at what the international standards are for the treatment of people, and you are in a place like the United States, it’s really astounding to hear some of this testimony,” said Roberto Borrero, a representative of the International Indian Treaty Council. |
| Borrero, a Taino tribe member who is assisting the UN forum in its interviews, told the Guardian on Sunday night that the activists’ stories of human rights violations raised a number of serious questions about police response. “A lot of it was just very shocking.” | Borrero, a Taino tribe member who is assisting the UN forum in its interviews, told the Guardian on Sunday night that the activists’ stories of human rights violations raised a number of serious questions about police response. “A lot of it was just very shocking.” |
| The pipeline protests have become increasingly intense over the last two weeks as construction has moved closer to the Missouri river and as police have aggressively responded to activists’ demonstrations with arrests, pepper spray, riot gear and army tanks. | The pipeline protests have become increasingly intense over the last two weeks as construction has moved closer to the Missouri river and as police have aggressively responded to activists’ demonstrations with arrests, pepper spray, riot gear and army tanks. |
| The Standing Rock camps first emerged in April and have since drawn thousands of Native Americans and climate change activists from across North America and beyond to rally against the $3.7bn oil pipeline, which would carry crude oil from the Bakken oil field to a refinery near Chicago. | The Standing Rock camps first emerged in April and have since drawn thousands of Native Americans and climate change activists from across North America and beyond to rally against the $3.7bn oil pipeline, which would carry crude oil from the Bakken oil field to a refinery near Chicago. |
| 10.03pm GMT | 10.03pm GMT |
| 22:03 | 22:03 |
| North Carolina senator jokes about Hillary Clinton getting shot | North Carolina senator jokes about Hillary Clinton getting shot |
| North Carolina senator Richard Burr, a descendent of the only sitting vice president to shoot a man in a duel, joked about Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton getting shot during a meeting with Republican volunteers this weekend, according to audio obtained by CNN. | North Carolina senator Richard Burr, a descendent of the only sitting vice president to shoot a man in a duel, joked about Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton getting shot during a meeting with Republican volunteers this weekend, according to audio obtained by CNN. |
| Burr joked in a meeting with volunteers on Saturday that “nothing made me feel better” about walking into a gun shop than seeing a magazine “with a picture of Hillary Clinton on the front of it.” | Burr joked in a meeting with volunteers on Saturday that “nothing made me feel better” about walking into a gun shop than seeing a magazine “with a picture of Hillary Clinton on the front of it.” |
| “I was a little bit shocked at that - it didn’t have a bullseye on it,” Burr said, to laughter. “But on the bottom right, it had everybody for federal office in this particular state that they should vote for. So let me assure you, there’s an army of support out there right now for our candidates.” | “I was a little bit shocked at that - it didn’t have a bullseye on it,” Burr said, to laughter. “But on the bottom right, it had everybody for federal office in this particular state that they should vote for. So let me assure you, there’s an army of support out there right now for our candidates.” |
| Burr has apologized for the comments. | Burr has apologized for the comments. |
| “The comment I made was inappropriate, and I apologize for it,” Burr told CNN. | “The comment I made was inappropriate, and I apologize for it,” Burr told CNN. |
| 9.46pm GMT | 9.46pm GMT |
| 21:46 | 21:46 |
| Donald Trump’s speech in Warren, Michigan, is thinning out considerably: | Donald Trump’s speech in Warren, Michigan, is thinning out considerably: |
| Note suddenly empty seats on @realDonaldTrump riser & open spaces. Dozens upon dozens leaving #Trump speech as it continues. pic.twitter.com/WZrFTd2zRp | Note suddenly empty seats on @realDonaldTrump riser & open spaces. Dozens upon dozens leaving #Trump speech as it continues. pic.twitter.com/WZrFTd2zRp |