FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP (RNC image).

Former president Donald Trump was told repeatedly that he had lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden and there was no widespread voter fraud.

The Associated Press is reporting that between election day and Jan. 6 – when Congress met to certify the Electoral College’s count of a Biden victory – Trump repeatedly ignored advice from leaders of his campaign, his attorneys and even his daughter that he had been defeated in his bid for re-election.

A House select committee investigating the attack on the U.S. Capitol is reportedly poised to draw a connection between Trump’s insistence that the election had been stolen and any encouragement he may have given to the rioters.

An estimated 20 million people on Thursday watched live telecasts of the first night of the hearings, which will resume on Monday.

Trump posted on his social media site that the investigation was a “witch hunt” and that Jan. 6 “represented the greatest movement in the history of our country.”

Inflation rose 8.6 percent in May

INFLATION rose by 8.6% in May (Shutterstock).

A Commerce Department report indicating that inflation rose to 8.6 last month sent Wall Street into a tailspin. The S&P 500 fell by 2.9 percent, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average slid by 2.7 percent. Nasdaq declined by 3.5 percent.

According to the Associated Press, the Federal Reserve system has raised interest rates in an effort – so far unsuccessful – to slow consumer demand and thereby rein in the cost of living.

Also in the news … Jack Del Rio, defensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders was fined $100,000 for calling the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol a “dustup.” The money will be donated to a police memorial fund.

Sports: Angels, Dodgers lose

After breaking an epic 14-game losing streak with a win on Thursday in Anaheim, the Los Angeles Angels lost 7-3 to the New York Mets on Friday.

The Los Angeles Dodgers lost 7-2 to the San Francisco Giants in the Bay Area Friday night.

Weather: Nice and warm

Summer weather should continue through the weekend and well into next week in the West Orange County area. Saturday’s daytime high is expected to be 82 with an overnight low of 64 and sunny skies. Sunday will be slightly cooler with a high of 82 (65). That trend will continue into Monday (77/63) but reverse itself on Tuesday, rising to 81 (64).