The today. And i was in the field, charging donald j. Trump. Were entitled to understand what the charges are. Were entitled to do our own Investigation Div tack on our nations capital. On january 6th, 2021 was an unprecedented assault seat of american democracy. What the president storing the 2020 election with all these irregularities going on was fueled by lies lies by the defendants and. And we get this and dive in and they want to go to trial in 90 days. Does that sound like justice to you . Funded . Must be presumed, innocent until Proven Guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. So on the day, european states began evacuating their nationals from needs, their fears were growing. They could end up trapped in the west african country following a military cool and rising regional tensions. This is the one point we really felt that sense of insecurity. We knew that everything to change at any moment. All of a sudden the situation felt unsafe. And the call for at least welcome to the show, donald trump has been indicted twice before, but this one is different. The former us president has been charged with committing crimes that strike at the heart of us democracy of working to overturn the 2020 president ial election when he knew he had lost to joe biden. The indictment maps out drums efforts to steal the election which culminated on january 6th of 2021, with the deadly storming of the Capital Building by a crowd of trumps, or porters or congress was in the act of certifying the vote. The 1st count against the drum is for conspiracy to defraud the United States. As, as the conspiracy tried to overturn the legitimate results of the 2020 president ial election by using knowingly false claims of election fraud, the charge is punishable by up to 5 years in prison. Now the 2nd count as for conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding not proceeding was the official certification by joint session of congress of jo bidens victory and the 2020 president ial election. This count is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Count 3 is for obstruction. Of attempting to obstruct an official proceeding, this charge is closely related to number 2 and focuses directly on the act to obstruct that joint session of congress certifying the election. A prosecutors have already used as lawn to charge hundreds of others who joined in the january 6th storming of the capital. The 4th and final account is for conspiracy against rights. It says a trump conspired with others to suppress peoples constitutional right to vote. And to have their vote counted, its punishable by up to 5 years in prison. And trump, himself has responded to, to the indictment on his truth social platform. Say it quote, has awoken the world to the Corruption Scandal and failure and has taken place in the United States in the past 3 years. Referring of course, the time since he reluctantly left office. There is a lots to unpack here and we want to do that with nick ackerman. Hes a legal expert and former watergate prosecutor. Mister ackerman is very good to have you on the day now for accounts 45 pages of indictment. Does the d o j have a case against donald trump here . The absolutely you mention the crimes that are alleged. But over those 45 pages in details, all of the facts, it underlined those crimes mean every thing from him perpetrating the live that he lost the election through friday because im dead. People voted because our state people vote is etc, etc. And they use that live one to try and get state legislators or state officials to try and reverse the vote in certain states. And then go with the indictment goes through it state by state, each of the major battleground states. He use that lie to try and get state legislators to actually reverse the certification of the vote for jo, fine in those states. I use the lied to get together a bunch of state directors in each of these states that were sent out to the National Archives and ensuring im to the congress to have those counties instead of the legitimate are ones. Im and he tried to get his Vice President odd to basically step out of his official role of simply counting the votes and, and trying to get him one to accept the fe collectors that were created by trump and his cohorts. And if not to do that, to send the votes back to a slight state legislatures have to have the whole matter redone. He never admitted publicly though, that we know of, at this point, that he knew that these things he was saying were false. Hood sto, so how big of challenge will it be to prove that transactions actually do amount to crime as well with they have our ologies, under rings in people who were with him is lawyers that with the white house council, they are going to testify against him theres his chief of staff, mark meadows, who it appears is going to be testifying against him. Are there are people other staff people are such as are Cassidy Hutchinson who testified before the january 6 committee. How this going to testify against him . Basically all of the testimony here is going to come from trumps own employees and own people who are working within the right hours at the turn. Some experts still argue that this is not the strongest case against mr. Trump. Though, do you agree . No, not at all. This is an extremely strong case. Theyve got them on tape in georgia, 3 or 4 times are theyve got testimony by extremely reputable people in the trunk called such as rusty bowers in arizona. And theyve got him saying things to various people, including the chairman of the republican party. Im to get her involved with this fake alexis or scheme. All roads lead back to donald trump. Hes on tape. I use talk to other people. Hes made public pronouncements about this fraud when in fact theres going to be testimony that immediately prior to making those statements. He was told by his menus that there was no such fraud. Sure with the case here is pretty overwhelming. Donald trumps attorney appeared on nbc. Todays show and gave a few hints of the former president s legal strategy in defending against this indictment. John, laura indicated that he objects to the speed at which this indictment is proceeding. Lets take a listen. If you like to see a speedy trial, a speedy trial, right . Is the defendants right, right. The governments right. So were entitled to understand what the charges are. Were entitled to do our own investigation. The bottom line is that they have 60 federal agents working on this 60 lawyers, all kinds of government personnel and, and we get this and diving and they want to go to trial and nowadays, does that sound like justice to you . What mister ackerman, do you think terms legal team will be able to delay the start of the trial . I dont think so. I think that down with the speedy trial act it requires an initial 90 days. But it may go beyond a couple of months of that. I think that would be reasonable all but the fact remains that trumps legal team knew a boss. These allegations for a long time. Its not like, there were 3 years that went by and all of a sudden they learned about this the other day for the 1st time. They knew this was coming. I donald trump, has spent some 40000000. 00 on lawyers over the past few years. They knew what the evidence would be. They heard what was before the january 6 committee and theyre going to get entire discovery. In this case, i guarantee you, within a week or 2 of his arraignment tomorrow. And the governments going to be ready to go to trial in 90 days. That is not unreasonable or the judge may pushing forward a month or 2. But the government made a very conscious prestigious decision here to indict only donald trump and not the other Co Conspirators that are referenced in the indictment is uninvited Co Conspirators. Why is this the same case . They get it to simplify the case. So the case could get to trial as quickly as possible. Okay . Im like the classified documents case. There are no classified documents here to deal with. This is a much simpler case. All right, i think what do you think you say the the evidence is overwhelming and that the deal jake has a really good case. What is the defense likely to lean on here then . Well, it seems to me what he said, the same person, john, laura, im cnn all last night, basically was claiming that donald trump was just exercising his 1st amendment. Right. That case that this fence is not going to go very far. You can, if you lie sure of diamond says right upfront. Yeah, he could lie and say that the he lost the election by fraud. But he went a step further and basically use that lie to undermine the democratic processes that are set up in our constitution by creating these false electors by trying to get the state legislatures to resend the vote. The joe biden received a trying to get his Vice President to go outside of the constitution and declare that all of these electro about the Battle Ground states should go back to the state legislatures. It wasnt just a matter of line, but it was acting on those lies, which is a classic way that fraud claims are made. Criminal fraud, crimes are made in the last stage as legal experts make ackerman, we appreciate your input. Thank you. Thank you. So lets take a closer look at the political implications of this latest indictment with mark fischer. Hes a Senior Editor of the Washington Post and co author of the book, trump revealed. Mr. Fisher, welcome back to the w. Now what are the implications of this case for american democracy as well . It certainly has all the ingredients to be a trial of the century. Kind of event that dominates the Popular Culture that dominates political scheme for quite some time. On the other hand, theres always a very important distinction to be made when it comes to donald trump. Between the legal and the political. This is going to be something that taps into Donald Trumps more than half a century history of battling back against legal threats to his business to his career. And hes been very successful with that. Hes been very successful in the late. So i think its quite reasonable to expect that he will be able to push this back deep into the campaign. Its not beyond the campaign of 2024, but in addition, theres an inherent conflict between his Legal Defense and his political defense. This political defense is going to be, theyre coming after me when they come after me. They come after you until about to hit the prosecutors or the government backed partner, the big his thats whose instinct his Legal Defense will be. Very different. His Legal Defense as a previous guess, it will be about free speech. And part of that free speech will be his reading to say things that were wrong or that were lies. So that would run directly into conflict to his political response. Yeah. It in response to, to being died and being on the field. Mr. Trump posted on his social media platform that he has never had more support in no way. Hes not entirely wrong. Is it. He still is a fund runner for the republican nomination by a large margin. Is there anything in the indictment that could change that it will probably not certainly among his hard core supporters, each type and seems to strengthen their belief that hes being wronged in this process. And that the system is really against him. And so that hard core support groups like to stay with him. What has changed is the attitudes of many independence and some republicans who are essentially just exhausted by truck. Theyre exhausted by oh, legal doings. The various ways in which he makes every single about himself. And so those people are looking for alternatives. And so were going to see weve already seen a, a drop off in Independence Support for truck. So the question is, is that enough to diminish his chances of getting the nomination at this moment . He looks like hes on a strong position for the nomination. Little watkin change, the still quite some months to go. And so the question is the general election like where he to get the nomination, and thats where i think hes run into some trouble because there has been a significant, measurable week of his position among those who are not a hard core trump base. Yeah. And talking about g o p voters, though in a recent poll, donald trump perceived 22 percent among them. Who believe he or who said that they would still vote for him if they knew that he committed serious federal crimes. So why does the electorate of what claims or at least claimed up to some point to be the party of lawn, or allow for their potential leaders to be above the law and not mind as well. They certainly dont see him as being above the law. They see him as being a victim of the law. And so the message that he and his minions will put out there already out. It is that he is being attacked by the democrats with the criminal Justice System is being you searched by democrats to come after him and that the trump derangement syndrome has taken effect across much of the american landscape. So thats an argument that is very appealing to people feel like theyve been left behind when people feel like the system is against them. They see trump as standing up for them against the leaks. And this will only deepen that attachment that they have to go. And hes fully aware of that. He knows very well how to play that. What is not working for him is the attempt to appeal to the broad swaps of independents and republicans like the way he went about. His policies as president , but really are exhausted by his ethics, by his showmanship and bodies of his own. Troops are fisher of the Washington Post. Always great speaking to you. Thank you so much. Thank you. For long news, there was one of the west most important allies in the soho after last weeks crew joins a growing number of countries in the region facing an uncertain future. Delegation from the west African Regional block eco was, has arrived in easier now for talks with the new military leadership. It was said its prepared to intervene and restore the democratic government to power by force if necessary. The delegation is an easier and a bit to find the magic solution and head off military intervention. Ill be speaking to an expert to find out what needs years future could look like. But 1st, this report on the evacuation of foreigners from a country that could be falling further into instability of the as im serious indeed, hang sort of an easiest future. Hundreds on foreign nationals heating home evacuation slides has been carrying citizens, mostly from european nations. Loved ones. Were you nice thing back and rone in paris after a hasty exit this is the one point we really felt that sense of insecurity. We knew that everything to change at any moment, all of a sudden the situation felt unsafe. For an offices have been coordinating to get as many people out as possible. More flights should jude for the coming days, with the embassies keeping a close eye on developments. We are always in favor of a diplomatic solution. That is why our Embassy Remains open and we will see what happens. Of course, we are for the restoration of democracy. And we will see how the situation develops. With them. As foreign nationals flee the situation, the leaving behind looks increasingly precarious. Nigeria which supplies stephen cheapest, seems of me just electricity has caused its power supply to put pressure on crudely to me. Im a has come doctor pro to supposing the one to attend violence on sunday, but the mood is still team the one to shows no sign of backing down despite ultimatums from the eco wash block, we stand for can nations to reinstate . Asked of president mohammed buzzer it wound could use military force as a last resort to this include a top, and there are probably gonna be just one vendor close while connecting potential. And im a united response. We must, frankly chatting this over to start in democratic governance in the gym hit on grid on, on. She had experiences with dont oncology results but of a neva state of banking. The code for the governments of the king of fossil and molly headphones, that any intervention will be seen as an act of war. The clock is ticking down to find the resolution with equal was giving the one to until the end of the week to restore natures democracy. And then by pays, that is a little a is a director and senior fellow at the Africa Program at the center for us strategic and International Studies in washington, dc. Good to see you go as a send a delegation to negotiate with these various military leaders. What chances of success does this initiative have . I think it will depend on the tone of the negotiation. Nicole, i think the rob, with this hubble wriggling that we saw early on about the tray to the intervening military lee was pretty comfortable when military officers decided to stage a quote. That means theyve accounted for all their obviously occasions that may bring that may come to them. Its costing that will become so tripping me before. I dont think thats an encouraging way, but now the do, the guessing is on the ground. Hopefully they will have a serious diplomatic thoughts that to lead to some resolution to this. I have no idea what the form the form of the 3 solution will be. Thats good. So i did from the encouraging that were talking. And echo was saying that they wouldnt shy away from military intervention as a last resort. You say a saber rattling, do you think they wouldnt live up to, to their words . Or it is very challenging to mount any type of military operation. Especially if youre trying to get the military to release and then restore president. Bustle is the president of the country. So mounting an operation actually increases the risk giving to the life of president bustle. And then in the end this is um, in many ways an internal problem. There is a risk of making matters worse. We also know that a lovely leaders in echo lies. Im not particularly democratic themselves. So the issues of legitimacy and credibility from where the message is coming from. All of these, theyre now complete. What is being called a cool belt that runs thousands of miles from guinea in the west. As a don in the east, how much of a d stabilizing factor could that become for the region . A nice, yeah, hes not going to be the destabilizing factor. Need your is you just mentioned, you call is the last of the countries to get the quote. We started with molly book and a 5, so gimme and so on. So we cannot blame the trends of clues on the share. The problem is that many drivers of instability in the region does instability and started with the inversion of libya. We need to, to face those facts as well, and there are issues of bad governance in all those countries. Those clues are similar, but not the same. They have common drivers, common sources of instability to cool, but in order for us to address it then for the international community, for the well, for the partners of new cheryl, molly, who cannot fuss when so on, we need to face the reality that the west is investing heavily on the kinetic militarys side, the foreign policy, and its not invested as much on the democracy in good governance. So for the populations, any one of those countries and beyond, what do you have democracy, or whether you have a military government, it doesnt make much difference because services. I know believes that people are still unemployed. You think is a problem, and so on. What is the difference . The difference will come when we Start Building strong, good governors, good policies and so on. Yeah, there has been speculation about russian meddling in the crew or plans by moscow, defend wagner mercenaries, to support the home to how much truth is there to that i was not seen any evidence of the russians being, be designed to cool. We need to keep in mind that the bulk of the military officers are using the case of new share, which they just cool and all being trained, either by friends or by United States. So until the cool, they were good friends of the west. They would not take choose of being close to rochelle and now that the situation is i sold, i think we need to be careful the west that is in the way we engage them so that we do not create opportunity for russia or the anybody else to fill that void, we saw that it didnt work well molly . Because the d was very stringent in the way that the engage with pneumonia and officers. And the thing thats was of loss. So we need to avoid such a loss when he comes to the share. We dont have much time, but maybe briefly, what is your long term outlook for the region . Can we expect more interest, or is there a chance for a diplomatic solution to this growing instability . We should be able to, to expect that the west will engage more robustly. They did this in molly, i think this is a wake up call. Not just for the populations in africa primarily from where for western countries. What exactly is the end goal in this . I how the population on file is young. They want change. They want, we dont do one democracy. The west should be able to provide that and scale up. Its engagement on the democratic and institutional side and not just focus on the can i take military. I so i was november has always a little a thank you so much. Hes with the center for a strategic and International Studies in washington dc. Thank give me a call as our time, but make sure to stay informed. Stay engaged and stay in touch. You can fall our team on twitter or x as its no. Now under apps, you know, we news and myself as nicole underscore flores. If its the latest headlines youre looking for, there is always our website dw, dot com for now though from the entire team on the day. Thank you so much for spending part of your day with us by the entered the conflicts own with sarah kelly, a carefully choreographed profession victory Day Celebration was a thats showing military might on red square this week. My guess on complex zone is nina cruz drove up. She has spent most of the war in moscow as russian for parents to face the ukranian counter offensive. How safety is prudent positions . Thank you for inviting me. Conflict zone on d w. The. Its in the, in the most creatures dancing in the aero biologists are exploring the world, those fairly plaintiff. These little ones are dancing with the 1st itself and calling on humans. Join it a d, w, the assassination. It says to move bangladesh a go facing the country to the guessing pushed back even from their own families and shrugged on slicing social loans. Seeking his self determined life, douglas escaped from drudgery and abuse the oldest fist on d. W. A carefully choreographed the russian victory Day Celebration was in that showing military might on red square of this week. But as proved and presided over the parade, he had little to show for the costly winter offensive. And ukraine have russians grown tired of the fighting. My guess on complex zone is nina crew stove up professor of international of