Joe Biden spent the late months of his presidency considering a presidential pardon for Donald Trump in a move The White House said proves Democrats politicized the Justice Department.

The President pardoned several of those closest to him before leaving office, including son Hunter, Dr Anthony Fauci and members of the January 6 committee.  

However, Utah‘s Republican Governor Spencer Cox – a moderate member of the GOP who only endorsed Trump following his assassination attempt in Pennsylvania – was surprised to learn Biden had been thinking about giving the same to his predecessor. 

‘You know, I’ve actually considered this for a while,’ Cox told The Atlantic Biden said when he called him in August of 2023, long before the governor endorsed Trump.

‘In fact, just this week as we were lying in bed, Jill and I had a long conversation about it,’ Biden continued, according to Cox. 

The Trump administration said this story proves that the Biden administration knew Trump was being treated unfairly and didn’t stop it. 

‘This shows President Biden knew he and his fellow extreme Democrats had weaponized the justice system against his political opponent, but did nothing to stop it,’ White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis told The Daily Mail.

‘A real profile in courage,’ Bis joked. 

The Trump administration said this story proves that the Biden administration knew Trump was being treated unfairly and didn’t stop it

Cox believed that pardoning Trump from the criminal charges he faced in multiple states would help heal the nation and stop what he saw as a cycle of partisan revenge tactics. 

Biden told Cox that he was going to seriously consider the pardon – which Cox phrased to the President as something that ‘might sound crazy’ – despite his base ‘demanding justice’ for Trump. 

However, the clemency never came after Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris following Biden’s decision to not seek reelection.

Cox said he ‘hoped [Biden] would choose mercy over escalation’ by offering forgiveness to Trump.

Similarly, he asked Trump to unite the country following the shooting in Butler in August of 2024 and ‘hoped he would choose unity over retaliation.’

‘In both cases, things didn’t turn out quite the way I’d hoped,’ Cox said.  

Biden sparked fury on his way out the door by issuing preemptive pardons for his son Hunter, Dr Anthony Fauci and all nine members of the January 6 Committee.

The first pardon Biden issued after losing the 2024 presidential election to Trump was for Hunter, 54, who was convicted on felony tax charges as well as federal crimes for lying in 2018 about his drug use on a form to purchase a firearm.

This came to the ire of Democrats who felt it would give Trump permission to issue sweeping pardons without fear of being accused of hypocrisy.

Utah’s Republican Governor Spencer Cox (pictured) – a moderate member of the GOP who only endorsed Trump following his assassination attempt in Pennsylvania – lobbied Biden for the pardon in 2023

Biden sparked fury on his way out the door by issuing preemptive pardons for his son Hunter, Dr Anthony Fauci and all nine members of the January 6 Committee 

And the same day Biden pardoned his son, Trump announced he would pardon January 6 defendants who were charged with crimes related to the Capitol attack.

Biden wrote in his pardon announcement that the action was warranted because they are public servants who have ‘been threatened with criminal prosecutions.’

‘These public servants have served our nation with honor and distinction and do not deserve to be the targets of unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions,’ he noted.

The 82-year-old Democrat also used his final moments in the Oval Office to give blanket protection to former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, who Trump has said deserves to be executed.

In all, the Biden administration granted more than 1,500 individuals clemency during his final weeks in the White House. 

Emails show Biden formally decided on issuing pre-emptive pardons for his family on January 19, 2024. 

Among the most controversial of all Biden’s pardons so far is the protection of Fauci from federal prosecution. 

He also got massive backlash for pardoning his own son from his federal crimes.

Biden wrote in a statement on the pardons: ‘Our nation relies on dedicated, selfless public servants every day. They are the lifeblood of our democracy. Yet alarmingly, public servants have been subjected to ongoing threats and intimidation for faithfully discharging their duties.’ 

Alvarez has been absent from training at Atletico Madrid as Arsenal push to snap up the Argentine, while Gabriel Martinelli is set to join Al Hilal. A trio of youngsters in James Scanlon, Habeeb Ogunneye and Igor Tyjon are joining. Liverpool have agreed a fee with Paris Saint-Germain for Barcola, and also want Ismaila Sarr, which could see Cody Gakpo join Spurs.

This week Bolton South and Walkden MP Yasmin Qureshi met Network Rail engineers at Walkden Station together with Greater Manchester Deputy Mayor Paul Dennett.

With other councillors they discussed the works being done at the station under the “Access for All” programme, which aims to improve accessibility for disabled people and others.

Mr Dennett said: “I’m pleased to say that the proposal to provide a new lift for the station has been agreed.

“Unfortunately, the presence of historic mineshafts in the area mean a number of structural surveys, ecological, drainage and ground investigations are required, and this has slowed down the project somewhat.

A new lift has been agreed at Walkden Station (Image: Office of Paul Dennett)

“Local people who rely on step-free access deserve a reliable railway service, and accessibility should never be treated as an afterthought.”

Along with Ms Qureshi and Mr Dennett, the meeting was attended by Cllr Tony Davies, of Little Hulton and Cllr Hilaria Asumu, of Walkden South.

Mr Dennett said he and his colleagues would work with rail operators to ensure the work is completed within a reasonable timeframe, and that residents are kept abreast of developments.

Back in August last year Ms Qureshi had written to transport secretary Heidi Alexander MP calling for Walkden station to be made more accessible.

In her letter, she said: “Walkden has been waiting far too long for step-free access.

“The station was awarded funding through the Government’s Access for All programme back in 2020, yet more than three years later, no visible progress has been made.

“This is completely unacceptable.

“I have spoken to many local passengers who rely on accessible transport, and the frustration is clear.

“Delays like this continue to exclude people with mobility issues, parents with pushchairs, older passengers, and anyone who needs easier access to our rail services.

“Accessibility is not a luxury, it is a right.”

She added: “I will continue to hold the government to account.

“We will not accept vague promises or endless delays.

“Walkden Station deserves step-free access and the passengers who rely on it deserve to be treated fairly and equally.”

Alec Brown, leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, and MP Anna Turley said Cleveland Police’s resources are being bolstered as investigations into both tragedies continue.

Seven people, including two police officers, died in a crash on the A66 in South Bank on Saturday, and a house fire in Grangetown on Wednesday, which is being treated as murder, claimed the lives of a woman seven-year-old girl and her aunt, 34.

In a statement after a meeting with a Cleveland Police superintendent, Mr Brown said: “They are working 20-hour days to ensure the ongoing safety of innocent residents.

“Over 200 extra police officers from forces around the country are here and are on route, from detectives to armed response.

“I will sending a letter today to our Prime Minister asking for even more resource.

“The police really are doing an amazing job.

“If it is any reassurance at all, jobs called in to the police are actually down this week, however the seriousness of the ones that have been called in need serious and swift action.

“Everyone is heartbroken over the loss of the aunt and little girl in Grangetown yesterday.

“People need to feel safe in their homes.”

Anna Turley, MP for Redcar and Cleveland, added: “I cannot thank our police enough. Officers are working incredibly long hours in extremely difficult circumstances to keep people safe, investigate what has happened and respond swiftly to incidents across our area.

“Right now, the priority is keeping people safe and making sure our police and other services have everything they need.

“I am working closely with Cleveland Police, Our Government, Redcar & Cleveland Council and our local partners to make sure there is a joined-up response across our communities.

“The additional officers coming into our area are an important and immediate response, but we will continue working together to make sure our police, public services and communities have exactly the support and resources they need, for as long as they are needed.

“I know how worried people are, and understandably people want to know what is being done. There is a significant response underway, with additional officers and resources being brought into our area and agencies working together around the clock.

“People have a right to feel safe in their homes and in their communities. That is our absolute priority.

A spokesperson for Cleveland Police said: “We can confirm that we have received mutual aid support through established arrangements from the other six Northern forces.

“This includes Northumbria, Durham, North Yorks, South Yorks, West Yorks and Humber and the National Crime Agency.”

Cleveland Police, who have made several arrests in connection with the recent deaths, are also investigating a crash which saw a vehicle hit the wall of a house in South Bank in the early hours of Thursday morning.

The property had been empty at the time and the force said it had “not yet been confirmed whether this incident is linked to wider organised crime”.

On Saturday, PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough died when a Volkswagen Passat, which was going the wrong way on the A66 at South Bank, hit their vehicle.

The five young men in the Volkswagen also died.

Police said 17 people, aged between 18 and 61, had been arrested across Teesside as part of an investigation into the lead up to the crash.

They have been held on a range of offences including possession of a firearm and being part of an organised crime group.

On Wednesday, Natalie McDonald, 34, died along with her seven-year-old niece Valentina Foster in the fire in Grangetown.

The fire also left a 48-year-old woman in a critical condition in hospital, while another three people suffered non-life threatening injuries.

Two men, aged 23 and 31, have been arrested on suspicion of murder and remained in custody.

Cleveland Police said it was “keeping an open mind” about the fire and said it could not “rule out any links to wider organised crime at this time”.

Families should utilise the scheme before it comes to an end on September 1

The Government has urged families to make the most of the cost-of-living scheme during the summer holidays, which will soon come to an end.

Families should use the coming days to take advantage of the Government’s summer holidays scheme, Chancellor John Healey has said.

Mr Healey has reminded people across the country that the Great British Summer Savings scheme will come to an end on September 1.

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The scheme was announced back in July, launched in August, and aimed to support families in being able to enjoy summer activities; despite the rise in living costs caused by the Iran war and other global turmoil.

Throughout the whole of August, the VAT is reduced from 20% to 5% on kids meals in restaurants, as well as tickets for attractions like theatres and soft play, and the scheme also provides free bus travel for children between five and 15.

Mr Healey said: “I want every family to get out and enjoy the bank holiday weekend by taking advantage of the final days of Great British Summer Savings.

“This Government is determined to give people a bit of breathing space. So families can afford the days out that make the summer holidays special. Whilst giving our world-class attractions and businesses a welcome boost in trade.”

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The Government has listed more than 2,100 restaurants and attractions on its deal finder website as part of the scheme, where families can find discounts near to them.

It comes as the Chancellor on Thursday, August 27, visited a holiday park, the Haven Kiln Park site in Pembrokeshire, as the company announced its customers across the UK had collectively got back £4 million as a result of the scheme.

Some 251,000 families have benefited from the savings across Haven sites UK-wide, and 39,000 families across Wales.

Greene King, which is also participating in the scheme, said its customers had saved a cumulative £740,000 as a result of it.

This was a result of 1.1 million children’s meals being sold, and more than 80,000 entries to soft play areas, the pub company said.

The six part docuseries follows the former footballer Michael Owen and his chaotic family life

Football legend Michael Owen is opening the doors to let fans see inside his family life in a brand new documentary series. The former England striker will star in the six-part Prime Video show titled ‘Meet the Owens.’

Viewers will be given a front-row seat to the daily struggles as they navigate the pressures of running a horse racing business alongside the everyday chaos of family life. The newly released trailer reveals that keeping the family’s ambitious stables afloat is becoming increasingly difficult each year.

The series also promises an intimate look at Michael and his wife Louise as they prepare to become empty nesters. Their four children are all currently standing at major crossroads while pursuing their own high-pressure ambitions.

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Influencer daughter Gemma is trading her glamorous television career for the saddle as she trains at her father’s racing yard. The popular social media star has firmly set her sights on competing as a jockey at Glorious Goodwood.

Meanwhile, twenty-year-old James is determined to join the family business despite battling a degenerative eye condition. Eighteen-year-old Emily is striving to become the first Owen to attend university, while the youngest child, Jessica, dreams of Olympic show jumping glory.

How to watch ‘Meet The Owens’ for free

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Sign up for Amazon Prime to watch the six-part docuseries following former England striker Michael Owen and his family as they juggle a horse racing empire and a chaotic home life.

With autumn just around the corner, rival streaming companies are also gearing up to keep folks entertained as the evenings grow longer. Apple TV, for example, will be dropping Series 6 of Slow Horses on September 16.

The darkly funny espionage thriller follows a team of failed British intelligence agents led by the brilliant but often unlikeable Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman). Over at Disney+ Star Wars: The Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal) and his apprentice Grogu are about to embark on a feature-length mission to protect the galaxy.

The highly anticipated movie will be available for Disney+ subscribers to watch on September 2. Meet the Owens isn’t the only documentary from a football legend; Netflix recently launched its series with Jose Mourinho, Sky TV shoppers can get Netflix included for no extra cost in its Ultimate TV plans.

How to watch Meet the Owens for free

All six episodes of the docuseries will be available to stream exclusively on Prime Video from today, August 28. This means fans with an Amazon Prime subscription can watch at no extra cost, alongside benefits such as next-day delivery, Amazon Music Prime and Amazon Reading, as well as early access to promotional events and personalised offers throughout the year (fees may apply).

After the initial one-month trial, standard membership is usually £8.99 a month, or customers can opt for an annual subscription for £95. A caveat, and negative to point out, is that the subscription will automatically renew at the usual £8.99 when the trial ends, so customers wanting to avoid this must remember to cancel within 30 days or get hit a bill.

New members can sign up today for an Amazon Prime 30-day trial to enjoy the full library completely free. This also grants access to other fan favourites, including other Amazon Original series such as Clarkson’s Farm, Last One Laughing UK and Bait.

An inquest heard that Conor Hillyard, who lived in Farnworth and had Pallister-Killian syndrome, died at Royal Bolton Hospital on May 12.

A statement from his mother, Lindsay Hillyard, read out at Bolton Coroners’ Court painted a picture of a young man whose warmth and enthusiasm for life touched those around him despite the significant health challenges he faced throughout his life.

Describing her son as having a “wonderful personality”, she said Conor loved music, lights and water, and found happiness in life’s simplest pleasures.

Ms Hillyard said: “He had complex medical needs, but despite that Conor brought great joy to all those around him.”

The court heard that although Conor required extensive care and support, his health had remained stable for many years.

However, Coroner Michael Pemberton said his condition had deteriorated in the years leading up to his death despite the dedication of both his family and medical professionals.

Mr Pemberton told the hearing that Conor had received “excellent care” throughout his life and highlighted the commitment shown by those closest to him and the healthcare professionals that worked alongside his family.

He recorded Mr Hillyard’s cause of death as sepsis and aspiration pneumonia, with contributing factors including Pallister-Killian syndrome and the misplacement of a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube.

The inquest heard that PEG tube misplacement is a recognised but extremely rare complication and was not something that could reasonably have been foreseen.

Offering his condolences to Mr Hillyard’s loved ones, Mr Pemberton said the young man had left a lasting impression on everyone who met him.

He said: “I wish to express my deepest condolences to members of his family.

“It is very clear to me that Conor, despite his physical ailments and challenges he faced throughout his life, was a beacon of brightness and joy to all who knew him.

“He had an extremely committed family that cared for him and loved him immensely.

“My thoughts will remain with them after today’s hearing.”

The inquest concluded that Conor’s death was the result of natural disease complicated by a rare medical event.

Although his life was cut tragically short, the tributes heard in court made clear the lasting impact he had on those around him, and the love that surrounded him throughout his life.

SOKOTO, Nigeria (AP) — Multicolored strobe lights sweep across a dance floor soon to throng with sweaty revelers and shrilling voices singing along to Afrobeats in a nightclub that is thriving despite being in one of northern Nigeria’s most deeply conservative states.

As the DJ prepared his set and attendants arranged bottles of expensive liquor on tables, Vincent Tabat joined those streaming into the venue, which is one of a handful along a street in Sokoto state.

It was an ironic scene given that the conservative Sokoto is known as the “seat of the caliphate” for its storied place in the birth and propagation of Islam in West and Central Africa. Despite its reputation, there is a thriving nightlife alongside strict religious codes, a morality police, and security challenges fueled by attacks by jihadi groups.

“This is nearly 2 a.m., and as you can see, everyone is outside to have fun,” Tabat told The Associated Press. Tabat was fired up by the booming music all night, dancing with female companions as he portioned out drinks into emptying cups on the table.

Partygoers shun regulated daily life

At the center of northern Nigeria’s strict religious code is the local Islamic police, known as the Hisbah force, whose personnel are tasked with upholding public morals across some of the region’s 19 states.

They often patrol cities and raid key spots to enforce Shariah and local laws, such as dress codes, haircuts and alcohol bans, with seized bottles often destroyed. Partygoers, however, say they are not deterred.

For frequent reveler Benjamin Danjuma, weekend outings are nearly sacrosanct. The few clubs and bars in Sokoto city are his haunts, and the scene for him is no different from those in the more liberal southern Nigeria.

“We are living our life more than anybody’s expectation in this state,” he said. “There is so much groove going on. We are not left behind.”

Gone are the days when nightlife and partying were considered taboo in conservative Nigerian society, as people have been partying for a long time, said Oluwamayowa Idowu, founder of Culture Custodian, a leading culture publication based in Lagos.

Amid the security crisis and its fallout of economic hardship in the region, nightlife offers people an escape from the tough realities, said Idowu. “The north has been ravaged by insecurity, but people still live there, and people still participate in life there daily,” he said.

Social division runs along religious lines

Both Tabat and Danjuma said they are not bound by Hisbah’s rules as non-Muslims, but they acknowledged that there have been run-ins with the group.

This represents the dynamics of Nigeria’s religious composition in one of the few places in the world where the population is almost evenly split between Christians, who live predominantly in the south, and Muslims, mostly in the north.