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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
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Tom McCarthy

Trump, Clinton and Sanders react to Dallas killings – as it happened

Donald Trump called for law and order to be restored in response to the Dallas shooting.
Donald Trump called for law and order to be restored in response to the Dallas shooting. Photograph: David Zalubowski/AP

Summary

We’re going to wrap up our live blog politics coverage for the day.

We leave you with this video feed, which is scheduled to go live at 6.30pm ET on Hillary Clinton speaking at African Methodist Episcopal Church General Conference in Philadelphia:

Speaking of late Friday afternoon news and Hillary Clinton – here she is just then on CNN saying it was a mistake for her to use personal email as secretary of state. But she rejected FBI director James Comey’s characterization that she and colleagues had been “extremely careless” in their handling of classified information.

For a summary of reactions by candidates and officials to the killings of police in Dallas and police killings of black men in Louisiana and Minnesota this week, please visit today’s edition of The Campaign Minute.

Updated

NYPD commissioner says Trump wanted 'photo op'

The New York Daily News reports that New York police commissioner Bill Bratton has rejected, strongly, a request by Donald Trump to address police officers at an afternoon meeting at the midtown north precinct:

“Our interest is staying out of the politics of the moment, and not to provide photo ops,” he told reporters. “If Mr. Trump wants to speak to me, I would be happy to brief him on what we’re doing. If Sen. Clinton wants to speak to me, I would very happy to brief her on what we’re doing. But we are not in the business of providing photo ops for our candidates.”

Clinton to speak at Philadelphia church

Presumptive democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton is scheduled to speak at African Methodist Episcopal Church General Conference in Philadelphia at 6.30pm ET, according to Reuters.

Justice Ginsburg: 'I don't want to think about' possibility of Trump presidency

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg says she doesn’t want to think about the possibility of Donald Trump winning the White House, and she predicts the next president — “whoever she will be” — will have a few appointments to make to the Supreme Court, the AP reports:

In an interview Thursday in her court office, the 83-year-old justice and leader of the court’s liberal wing said she presumes Democrat Hillary Clinton will be the next president. Asked what if Republican Donald Trump won instead, she said, “I don’t want to think about that possibility, but if it should be, then everything is up for grabs.”

On 1 June at a speech in Washington.
On 1 June at a speech in Washington. Photograph: Cliff Owen/AP

That includes the future of the high court itself, on which she is the oldest justice. Two justices, Anthony Kennedy and Stephen Breyer, are in their late 70s.

“It’s likely that the next president, whoever she will be, will have a few appointments to make,” Ginsburg said, smiling.

Read the full piece here.

Donald Trump has solicited donations from foreign members of foreign parliaments. Hillary Clinton’s campaign has gone looking for overseas cash, too – albeit from US citizens, who can legally contributed (and in what sounds like a much more organized way than the as-yet-unexplained Trump effort), according to a Washington Post report:

Hillary Clinton’s campaign held fundraising events in five foreign cities Thursday, offering U.S. lawyers living overseas the chance to have a “virtual policy conversation” with Sen. Timothy M. Kaine of Virginia, one of Clinton’s potential running mates.

Thursday’s receptions — held simultaneously in Moscow, Paris, Rome, Warsaw and Zurich — served as the kickoff of a new Lawyers Abroad for Hillary program, part of an aggressive push by the putative Democratic presidential nominee to tap new constituencies for funds as she ramps up for the general election.

Read the full piece here.

Rubio diagnoses a national “cancer” “fueled by anger and fear”:

One of the greatest ironies of the 2016 presidential election is that it took a billionaire to turn the dominance of money in politics inside out, write the Guardian’s Ben Jacobs and David Smith:

Many of Trump’s supporters say part of his appeal is that, as they see it, he is his own man and not a typical politician beholden to donors who give millions and expect policy favors in return.

The Trump phenomenon – and, for that matter, the rise of Bernie Sanders with his army of online fundraisers – have added intrigue to the perennial question of campaign finance and who pulls the strings of American democracy. But as the general election nears, there are signs of the old order reasserting itself. The distorting influence of money has not gone away.

Guardian readers have raised it as one of their main concerns. Christopher Kansas, a Sanders supporter in Colorado, thought campaign finance reform “is the most important issue that we currently have to deal with because without changing the way campaigns are financed the other important issues will never be completely discussed”. Jennifer Olsen, a Trump supporter from Missouri, felt “this country has the perception of a democracy ... but federal politics are corrupt”. In particular, several people like Julie Stevens, a Democrat from Minnesota, pointed to the effect of Citizens United.

This is a reference to a 2010 ruling by the supreme court that removed many existing limitations on outside groups spending money to influence elections. It enabled the creation Super Political Action Committees, or Super Pacs, organizations independent of the candidates’ campaigns which, unlike the campaigns, may raise unlimited amounts of money from individual donors. There were prophecies that these faceless funders of attack ads would seize control of American democracy.

Six years later, has this come to pass? Some believe so. Sanders tweeted earlier this year: “One of the most disastrous Supreme Court decisions in my lifetime. In essence, this ruling handed millionaires and billionaires – who have already rigged our economy – unlimited influence in our elections.”

Read the full piece here:

State department reopens inquiry into Clinton emails

The state department is reopening an internal investigation of possible mishandling of classified information by Hillary Clinton and top aides, AP reports:

Spokesman John Kirby says the emails probe is restarting now that the Department of Justice isn’t pursuing a criminal prosecution. The Department of State suspended its review in April to avoid interfering with the FBI’s inquiry.

Kirby set no deadline for the investigation’s completion.

Clinton was secretary of state until early 2013. Most of her top advisers left shortly thereafter.

But Kirby said this week former officials can still face “administrative sanctions”. The most serious is loss of security clearances, which could complicate Clinton’s naming of a national security team if she becomes president.

Beyond the Democratic frontrunner, the probe is most likely examining confidants Cheryl Mills, Jake Sullivan and Huma Abedin.

Updated

Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell calls the Dallas attack “unconscionable”. Here’s his full statement:

What we saw last night in Dallas was unconscionable. We as a country mourn for the five police officers senselessly murdered during a peaceful protest. We extend our hearts to the wounded, to the families and loved ones left behind, to the entire law enforcement community, and to a nation that has experienced much suffering and heartbreak over the course of a difficult week.

This is a cruel reminder that law enforcement officials selflessly put themselves in harm’s way day in and day out to keep our communities safe. Their spouses and loved ones also carry that incredible burden with them. We as a nation are here to grieve with them, to thank them for their unwavering courage, and to reassure them that Americans will stand by them in the days to come.

Now is the time to come together as nation, not pull further apart, and let justice and healing be our guide.”

Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker and potential Trump running mate, has spoken on Facebook live about how “normal, white” Americans do not “understand being black in America” and “instinctively under-estimate the level of discrimination and the level of additional risk”:

The Atlanta Journal Constitution has further.

A Texas congressman has accused president Obama of “instigation” that “contributed to the modern day hostility we are witnessing between the police and those they serve”:

The Republican national committee says “all life is precious” and makes a call for unity and nonviolence in a statement responding to the deaths this week in Dallas, Minnesota and Louisiana.

Here’s the statement in full:

Last night’s disturbing and cold-blooded violence in Dallas, resulting in the deaths of five brave police officers and the wounding of seven more, was an ugly continuation of a week of tragedies which have shaken our country. It is devastating to see those who wake up every day to protect us senselessly gunned down in the line of duty. Our hearts break for the families of these slain officers as well as the families of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, and our thoughts and prayers are with them as they try and put their lives back together. All life is precious and it grieves us to see it lost in the many ways it has been this week. All of these tragedies need to be investigated and justice needs to be served in an open and transparent way.

It is deeply troubling what is happening in our country, and this dark and divided time must come to an end. We must seek understanding with one another, and work as one nation to prevail over injustice in all its forms. Americans want to see our differences resolved in non-violent ways.

We commend law enforcement officers around the country for serving their communities and putting their lives on the line every single day. The sacrifices they make to maintain law and order allow us to enjoy the freedoms we are so privileged to have in this country. We honor the daily calling of police officers across the nation who represent the shield with professionalism, fairness, and restraint, and we express the highest gratitude for their service.

Now is a time when we must come together as Americans. We are better than racial division, senseless violence, and feelings of lost hope. Now is the time for strong leadership that includes everyone in the same, shared vision of the American Dream. In every era, America has shown an extraordinary capacity to rise above even the bleakest tragedies. Let us work together, let us heal together, and let us stay together.”

Marco Rubio’s senate reelection campaign gets off to a healthy start, via the Guardian’s Sabrina Siddiqui:

A former Illinois congressman is standing by a Twitter post he sent after the fatal shooting of police officers in Dallas in which he warned President Barack Obama to “Watch out,” the AP reports:

Joe Walsh told The Associated Press on Friday that he didn’t intend to incite violence against Obama or anyone else. He says “that’s just stupid” and “would be wrong and reprehensible.”

The one-term Republican congressman and radio host from suburban Chicago posted the tweet after five police officers were killed and seven wounded during a protest of fatal shootings by police in Louisiana and Minnesota.

His tweet read: “This is now war. Watch out Obama. Watch out black lives matter punks. Real America is coming after you.”

The post has been deleted.

Mitt Romney calls for racial healing:

Clinton has spoken with the Dallas mayor and offered help, NBC News reports:

Obama orders flags to be flown at half-staff

The president orders all US flags at public buildings and grounds and naval stations, and aboard naval vessels, to be flown at half-staff through sunset on July 12, next Tuesday:

Lynch to protesters: 'your voice is important'

Lynch refers to “a series of tragedies,” again linking the police killings of Sterling and Castile, and the killing last night of five officers.

And to those who seek to improve our country through peaceful protest and the exercise of their first amendment rights... I want you to know that your voice is important... we will continue to safeguard your constitutional rights and to work with you.

“Do not precipitate a new normal in this country... let us support one another,” she finishes.

She does not take questions.

Lynch: 'a week of profound grief and heartbreaking loss'

Here’s Lynch.

She says “at least five police officers were shot and killed.” She sends condolences to the families.

The FBI, ATF, US Marshals and US attorneys are working with state and local counterparts to investigate the attack and help heal the community, she says. She calls it “an unfathomable tragedy.”

“This has been a week of profound grief and heartbreaking loss,” she says. She names Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, and says “today we are feeling the devastating loss” of the Dallas officers.

“Americans are feeling a sense of helplessness, of uncertainty and of fear... but the answer must not be violence... rather... our answer must be action.

“We must continue working to build trust between communities and law enforcement.”

She calls for “a hard look at the ease with which evildoers can get their hands on weapons.”s

Lynch is to speak in two minutes:

Senator Marco Rubio decries a “series of tragic events”:

Ted Cruz’s former communications director defends the senator’s decision to speak at Donald Trump’s convention, to which some conservatives have objected, accusing Cruz of effectively endorsing Trump:

Blame the IT guy. Donald Trump Jr is, for a tweet Donald Trump sent before it was deleted, to which Trump objected, saying, “you shouldn’t have taking it down.”

The tweet had a graphic with a six-pointed star and the words “most corrupt candidate ever!” interposed on a pile of money next to a picture of Hillary Clinton. The Trump campaign was stung by charges that the graphic was anti-Semitic.

George W Bush: 'Laura and I are heartbroken'

Here’s the full statement. Bush hails the “courage of the Dallas Police Department” and says “their commitment to safety and justice makes us proud to call Dallas home”:

Updated

Democratic Representative Corrine Brown of Florida as been indicted after a federal investigation into a fraudulent charity with ties to the congresswoman, AP reports:

Brown was indicted Friday by a federal grand jury on multiple fraud, theft of government funds, conspiracy and other charges.

The indictment comes after an investigation into the charity One Door for Education Foundation Inc. Federal prosecutors say the charity was supposed to give scholarships to poor students but instead filled the coffers of Brown and her associates.

One Door President Carla Wiley pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud after it was determined that she had deposited $800,000 into the foundation’s account over four years. Over that time, federal prosecutors say the foundation gave one scholarship for $1,000.

Updated

An update on the Capitol Hill lockdown this morning: the “gun” was a power drill.

Bill Clinton: ‘we are better than this’:

A state chairman for the Trump campaign blamed Hillary Clinton for the “murder of these police officers” in a since-deleted Facebook post:

(h/t: New York Times)

Update:

Updated

Attorney general Loretta Lynch is scheduled to speak shortly. Here’s a video feed:

Libertarian ticket calls for calm

The Libertarian ticket of Gary Johnson and Bill Weld calls for dealing with “real issues in this country” “calmly and cooperatively”:

Our thoughts are with the families and colleagues of the Dallas police officers who were so brutally murdered. The apparently calculated and cold-blooded shooting of those who were simply trying to insure the peaceful exercise of citizens’ rights to protest is both despicable and unacceptable in our society.

We have real issues in this country with regard to the relationship between law enforcement and our communities -- and those issues must be dealt with calmly and cooperatively. As we go about that effort, we must all join in rejecting the kind of cowardly and tragic atrocity that has occurred in Dallas.

As a nation, we have wounds to bind.

More from congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis, who participated in the Nashville lunch-counter sit ins and the original integrated bus freedom ride from Washington DC to New Orleans, chaired the student nonviolent coordinating committee, spoke at the 1963 March on Washington and organized the Mississippi freedom summer to organize black voters:

Updated

Representative Cedric Richmond of Louisiana says he is “angry,” and says the frustration of “our young people is at a tipping point.”

“We call on all our friends, from the human rights community to the Jewish community to the Hispanic community, we’re calling on all of our friends to join us in this fight against injustice,” he says.

“If this Congress does not have the guts to lead, then we are responsible for all the bloodshed on the streets of America... We stand here today in a lot of pain. We stand here today very angry. .. but with our resolve stronger than it’s ever been that we can lead this country.”

Updated

The congressional black caucus is holding a news conference to address the Dallas killings. Congressman John Lewis makes a call for nonviolence:

“Whatever we do, we must do it in an orderly, peaceful, nonviolent fashion... We’re one people, we’re one family, we’re one house,” he says. “We must learn to live together as brothers and sisters.”

Here’s a live stream:

Lynch to hold news conference

Attorney general Loretta Lynch will speak to reporters about the Dallas shootings, the justice department has announced. She’s due to appear at 11.30am ET.

Ryan: 'who could have fathomed such horror?'

House speaker Paul Ryan has addressed the Dallas attack in a speech on the House floor:

“Who could have fathomed such horror?” he says.

“There will be temptation to let our anger harden our divisions,” Ryan says. “Let’s not let that happen.”

House minority leader Nancy Pelosi speaks after Ryan. “We are all horrified,” she said.

Updated

Gingrich says he is under consideration as Trump running mate

Newt Gingrich told Fox News Thursday night that he is among “five or six” people being vetted by the Trump campaign as a potential running mate.

Gingrich said he “would feel compelled to serve” if chosen. (Which is more than Trump said yesterday.)

“If Trump offers the position and is serious about it, which I think he would be after our conversations, Callista and I would feel compelled to serve the country,” Gingrich said. Callista is his wife.

In Cincinnati Wednesday.
In Cincinnati Wednesday. Photograph: Aaron P. Bernstein/Reuters

Updated

The Canadian prime minister voices solidarity:

Green party candidate offers ticket to Sanders

Bernie Sanders has been invited to continue his underdog bid for the White House by the Green party’s probable presidential candidate, who has offered to step aside to let him run, the Guardian’s Oliver Milman reports:

Jill Stein, who is expected to be endorsed at the party’s August convention in Houston, told Guardian US that “overwhelming” numbers of Sanders supporters are flocking to the Greens rather than Hillary Clinton.

Stein insisted that her presidential bid has a viable “near term goal” of reaching 15% in national polling, which would enable her to stand alongside presumptive nominees Clinton and Donald Trump in televised election debates.

But in a potentially destabilising move for the Democratic party, and an exciting one for Sanders’ supporters, the Green party candidate said she was willing to stand aside for Sanders.

“I’ve invited Bernie to sit down explore collaboration – everything is on the table,” she said. “If he saw that you can’t have a revolutionary campaign in a counter-revolutionary party, he’d be welcomed to the Green party. He could lead the ticket and build a political movement,” she said.

Read the full piece here:

Pursuant to the Clinton campaign’s earlier announcement that her rally with vice president Joe Biden had been canceled, the White House advises Biden will spend the day at home in Delaware:

Martin O’Malley, the former Maryland governor and presidential candidate, tweets a call for action to stop gun violence and police shootings:

Capitol lockdown lifted

Representative Charles Rangel, who has announced he is retiring after 45 years in Congress, shares the news with a call for “light & love”:

Katherine Scott is the Congressional Quarterly reporter locked in the House chamber. She quotes a Capitol officer referring to a woman with a gun. Other reports say officers are searching for a person believed to possibly have a gun on Capitol Hill.

UPDATE:

Updated

We’ve added a note to our introduction to the Trump statement. He incorrectly refers to the “tragic deaths of two motorists in Louisiana and Minnesota.” Alton Sterling, killed Wednesday in a Baton Rouge, Louisiana parking lot, was not a motorist.

US Capitol in lockdown – reports

The US Capitol is in lockdown, under unclear circumstances, according to reports from Capitol Hill. A reporter for Congressional Quarterly tweeted that she’s locked in the House chamber. Here’s CNN:

Updated

Clinton: 'I mourn for the officers'

Hillary Clinton has tweeted a response to the Dallas killings:

Trump: 'we must restore law and order'

Donald Trump has released a statement on the Dallas killings. “We must restore law and order,” he says. He also refers to the “senseless, tragic deaths of two motorists in Louisiana and Minnesota” [NOTE: Alton Sterling, killed Wednesday in a Baton Rouge, Louisiana parking lot, was not a motorist] and says “our nation has become too divided.”

He also says “racial tensions have gotten worse, not better.”

Here’s the statement in full:

Last night’s horrific execution-style shootings of 12 Dallas law enforcement officers – five of whom were killed and seven wounded - is an attack on our country. It is a coordinated, premeditated assault on the men and women who keep us safe.

We must restore law and order. We must restore the confidence of our people to be safe and secure in their homes and on the street.

The senseless, tragic deaths of two motorists in Louisiana and Minnesota reminds us how much more needs to be done.

This morning I offer my thoughts and prayers for all of the victims’ families, and we pray for our brave police officers and first responders who risk their lives to protect us every single day.

Our nation has become too divided. Too many Americans feel like they’ve lost hope. Crime is harming too many citizens. Racial tensions have gotten worse, not better. This isn’t the American Dream we all want for our children.

This is a time, perhaps more than ever, for strong leadership, love and compassion. We will pull through these tragedies.

Updated

Hillary Clinton has canceled a planned appearance with vice president Joe Biden in Scranton today, her campaign advises:

Due to the tragic events in Dallas, the July 8 Hillary for America campaign event with Vice President Biden will be postponed.

Clinton’s first scheduled event with Obama was postponed due to the Orlando shooting of 12 June.

Sanders: 'horrifying and despicable'

Bernie Sanders has tweeted a response to the attack:

Donald Trump has canceled a rally planned for Friday afternoon in Miami, his campaign advises:

The Trump Campaign has canceled the trip to Miami, Florida today, due to the tragic events in Dallas last night. A statement from Mr. Trump will soon follow.

Hello and welcome to our live-wire coverage of the 2016 race for the White House. A new reality dawned on the presidential race Friday with the news that four Dallas police officers and one Dallas transit officer were shot dead in what was described as a coordinated attack by multiple suspects during a protest of police violence Thursday night in the city. In total, 12 officers and two civilians were shot, the mayor said. One suspect died after a standoff with police and three people described as suspects were under arrest.

Speaking from a Nato summit in Warsaw, Barack Obama said: “We still don’t know all the facts. What we do know is that there has been a vicious, calculated and despicable attack on law enforcement.” Video of Obama’s statement is here.

Our liveblog of developments in Dallas is here:

Donald Trump, who is scheduled to appear at an afternoon rally with New Jersey governor Chris Christie today in Miami, Florida, has tweeted prayers and condolences:

Senator Ted Cruz released a statement of condolence early Friday and said he was in contact with Dallas authorities. Texas senator John Cornyn called the incident “senseless and vicious”.

We’ll gather reactions from the candidates and elected officials here and carry related updates.

Updated

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