local dbas and aeds, right in the middle of the campaign, where we are leading by so much and is not going to make any impact because every time they file an indictment, we go way up file an indictment, we go way up in polls, we need one more indictment to close out the selection, one more indictment at this election, and this election is closed out, no one has even a chance. the bbc was inside the courthouse watching the proceedings unfold. 0ur reporter bernd debusmann described the former president s demeanor in front of the judge. well, he was very calm and very quiet. he did not say much he just responded very quickly to questions when they were answered. he gave his name and when he was asked his age, he said he s seven seven, in his words. but otherwise, there was no real reaction when the even with the indictment and the possible penalties were being read out, there was very little visible on his face and he spent most of the time kind of with his hands in front of him, ki
live from washington, this is bbc news. donald trump arraigned in his third indictment. how will the former us president s growing legal cases impact his 2024 campaign to return to the white house? i m helena humphrey. good to have you with us. this week, the united states has found itself once again in unprecedented territory. never before has a sitting orformer president been indicted on federal criminal charges and yet, donald trump has now been arraigned three times in four months and on thursday, right here in washington, dc, mr trump faced arguably the most serious charges levelled against him
democratic congresswoman zoe lofgren, representative from california, thank you so much for being with us. just after mr trump s court appearance, my colleague sumi somaskanda also spoke with another former member of the jan 6th committee, congressman jamie raskin of maryland. congressman, thank you so much forjoining us. great to have you on bbc news. first of all, the former president arranged today. your thoughts on what you witnessed? well, i think it s a tremendous vindication of the rule of law in american democracy that we are least starting off with the principle that nobody is above the law, that people can t get away with crimes and then use theirfame or their celebrity or their former public office in order to nullify prosecution. donald trump famously said that he could shoot someone on fifth avenue and it would make no difference to his supporters. that s proven to be a fairly accurate prophecy about his supporters but it s not
that you exercise some kind of dictactiry or autocratic spell over the masses. i want to ask you about the indictment because it claims donald trump not only lied about losing the election but he knew he did and, together with his lawyers, launched a conspiracy to overturn the results. are you convinced that the president did indeed know he lost the election? well, i was convinced of that through the january 6 elect select committee investigation when a number of witnesses told us things like donald trump saying, can you believe i lost to this guy? and expressing frustration and exasperation about what had happened and, you know, he was told by the attorney general of the united states, who was as loyal sycophant as he ever had, william barr, that he had lost the election and that the claims that he was swallowing and repeating were bs i am cleaning that up for television. he was told by white house
that s because never before has a us president, sitting orformer, faced criminal charges. the case is complex and hasn t yet been made fully public. we ll look at what could happen next and we ll be live with our correspondent in new york injust a moment. but we begin with this report from our north america editor, sarah smith. it s not quite a presidential motorcade, but as donald trump leaves his florida home, he is still deliberately grabbing attention. there he is! cheering. american tv stations carried live his arrival in newark. as a former president, donald trump gets the secret service to escort him into town, and he is obviously relishing being back in the spotlight. no president in the history of our country has been subjected to such vicious and disgusting attacks. he is already using the claim that the case against him as a politically motivated witch hunt to raise funds. his campaign says it has brought in over $7 million in just four days. die hard supporters outside