A win for Trump after shocking weekend

Hello. After surviving an assassination attempt two days ago, Donald Trump has announced his choice of running mate just as delegates at the Republican National Convention formalised his nomination as the party's presidential candidate. Nada Tawfik tells us what to expect from the event, and Anthony Zurcher examines how a Florida judge delivered good news for the former president. We're also reporting on a Brazilian influencer who has been convicted for human trafficking and slavery. Finally, an English football fan exemplifies hope despite renewed disappointment.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Florida judge hands Trump legal victory

Dozens of classified files were found in Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida after he left the White House in 2021. Credit: Reuters

Florida Judge Aileen Cannon has granted Donald Trump's motion to dismiss the US justice department's case dealing with his handling of classified documents. Judge Cannon ruled the attorney general’s appointment of a special prosecutor in the case was unlawful.

What's behind the judge's ruling?

Judge Cannon held that the mere existence of special counsels - how they are appointed and how they are funded - violates the US Constitution. That notion draws from theories advanced by some conservative legal scholars and, most notably, by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas in the recently decided presidential immunity case.

What happens next?

Special Counsel Jack Smith will almost certainly ask a federal appellate court to review - and overturn - Judge Cannon’s decision. And depending on the outcome of that appeal, the losing party could then turn to the US Supreme Court.

How long will that take?

All of this takes time. And, with the presidential election just three months away, that’s a commodity the special counsel has in short supply. On the day the Republican National Convention begins, just two days after he was nearly felled by an assassin’s bullet, Trump has been handed a big legal win.

THE BIG PICTURE

Influencer jailed for human trafficking

Kat Torres had more than a million followers on Instagram, persuading some of them to move in with her. Credit: BBC

In September 2022, the families of two Brazilian women launched a desperate search across the US to find them. All they knew was that they were living with wellness influencer Kat Torres. BBC Eye Investigations and BBC News Brasil trace the rise and fall of the model who once partied with A-listers and is now serving an eight-year sentence for human trafficking and slavery.

And finally... in England

In a textbook display of English football fans' irrepressible optimism, a supporter named Dan Thomas tattooed the European Championship's trophy on his leg ahead of Sunday's final, adorned with the words: "England Euro 2024 Winners". The 29-year-old is hopeful the tattoo will eventually prove accurate - bar minor modifications.