Hearing to focus on Trump’s pressure on justice officials | First Thing

Panel will cover how ex-president pushed department to further investigate debunked claims of fraud. Plus, Uvalde police chief placed on leave

Good morning.

Donald Trump pushed senior justice department officials to aggressively investigate false claims of election fraud in order to return him to office, the House select committee will say on Thursday.

How many more hearings will there be? There will be at least two more next month.

Federal prosecutors have sought a delay in proceedings in the conspiracy case against the far-right Proud Boys group as it collided with the House panel's hearings.

What have Maxwell's lawyers argued? In a plea for leniency, they said an emotionally abusive childhood set her up for Epstein's influence. They also alleged her life was under threat in prison.

How did prosecutors' respond? Maxwell's upbringing did not support a lesser sentence, they said: she enjoyed a remarkable life of privilege".