And for trump, Arraignment Number three is tomorrow. How he is preparing for the legal fight of his life and the judge overseeing it has already delivered this line, president s are not kings. Could it be the most important case in u. S. History . One of the nations top Election Experts says that democracy is on the line in the United States versus donald trump. Im kaitlan collins, and that is the source. Donald trump will be arraigned in less than 24 hours from now right here in washington, d. C. , the first time for crimes that he allegedly committed as president against his country. He is expected to appear in court at 4 00 p. M. Eastern in person we are told, and today his former Vice President and now 2024 challenger and a critical witness in this case had a lot more to say about the january 6th indictment and his former boss role. Anyone who puts themselves over the constitution should never be president of the United States. It wasnt just that he asked for a pause. The president
Of course, thank you for joining us. Cnn prime time with laura coates starts right now. Wow, that was a really fascinating interview. Weve all been leaning in to say what bill barr had to say. A lot of wanting to see what he had to say. Thank you for joining us here in washington, d. C. Its a Capitol On High alert tonight . Why . Because the nation is bracing for the arrest and arraignment of a former president. Should i say again the third time in three months. He will appear in Court Tomorrow as expected, and now his third indictment on charges of trying to overturn an election. And we learned on cnn the Secret Service has already done a walk through of the courthouse and Law Enforcement is even monitoring any potential threats. Meantime, everyone, were getting an early look at what his potential Defense Strategy might be including whats called this is not my term but the dilution defense, that he actually believed his own lies. Plus the suggestion hes about to throw his Legal Advise
Violence. Were erasing generations of traumatized americans. That concerns me as a faith leader. Good morning. Top of the hour. So glad youre with us here on cnn this morning. Another historic day, a really important day for our democracy in court today. Not just about an arraignment its much bigger than that. Down in washington. Just hours from now, former President Donald Trump set to appear in a courtroom in washington, d. C. On charges he tried to overturn the 2020 election and hold on to power. Night. Ty barriers went upover secret service has done walkthrough of the d. C. Courthouse. Trump is expected to plead not guilty to four counts including conspiracy to defraud the United States. His fingerprints will be taken digitally. A preview of trumps lawyers will argue, among those his claims of Election Fraud are protected by the first amendments free speech. He truly believed that the debunked fraud claims. Our Kaitlin Collins spoke with bill barr with these m potential legal avenu
Investigating efforts by former President Trump and his top allies to try to overturn the 2020 election, that grand jury has finished meeting for the day. The big question, will we learn in the next few minutes or hours if the grand jury here in washington, d. C. Has, in fact, indicted donald trump or anyone else involved in the plot to overturn the election. This is the third criminal indictment against the twice impeached former president of the United States and current frontrunner by far for the republican president ial nomination. There is quite a bit that we just dont know and it is unclear when or if the Federal Grand Jury here in d. C. Has even voted. But based upon what we have reported over the last three years, Potential Chargesn Special Counsel jack smiths his allies efforts to pressure state Election Officials and their disinformation about the election creating fake slates of State Electors and potentially inciting the deadly capitol insurrection among other potential cha
Between former President Trump and special counsel jack smith. A short time ago, the federal judge overseeing trumps election case responded to a court filing from smith theres night. Smith is seek a protective order after trump posted this yesterday evening, saying, quote, if you go after me, im coming after you. Smith is pointing to that message and asking the judge in the case to set limits on trump and his legal team when it comes to publicly discussing sensitive evidence and the judge has given the trump team until 5 00 p. M. This sunday to respond. Just this afternoon, lawyers asked a judge for more time to weigh in on what restrictions should be imposed. Joining us now to discuss, democratic congresswoman Veronica Escobar of texas. Thanks for joining. When you saw these words that trump wrote in that threatening post, what did you think of that . What was your concern there . Well, good afternoon, jim. It was as predicted. I mean, i knew he would not be able to help himself. He