Development in the special counsels investigation of former President Donald Trump. A Federal Grand Jury has now criminally indicted the former president out of the special counsels investigation into his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The 45page indictment begins by saying the former president lost the 2020 election, knew he lost, and then for months spread lies that there had been outcome determinative fraud in the election. And that he had actually won it. The indictment charges trump with four counts. Conspiracy to defraud the u. S. , conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction in an attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights. The indictment laying out a detailed timeline, and statebystate efforts to appoint illegal electors and influence local officials to change the outcome in their states. And it also lists six unnamed coconspirators. The indictment alleges trump attempted to enlist Vice President mike pence to obstruct the certification of the Election Results, and that the violent attack on the Capitol On January 6th was fueled by lies. And as you heard jack smith say right here moments ago, lies by the defendant. Special counsel jack smith making that rare appearance before the cameras, calling the attack on our nations Capitol On January 6th an unprecedented assault on the seat of american democracy. The former president has been asked to appear in federal Court Thursday at 4 00 p. M. To be arraigned on these charges. Our Team Standing by, including our reporter who just talked with the former president. His reaction here in a moment. But we begin with our Chief Justice correspondent Pierre Thomas tonight. Reporter tonight, donald trump, former president of the united states, indicted for allegedly trying to subvert democracy and overturn the will of American Voters in the 2020 election because he was determined to remain in power. Today, an indictment was unsealed charging donald j. Trump with conspiring to defraud the united states, conspiring to disenfranchise voters, and conspiring and attempting to obstruct an official proceeding. Reporter trump informed of the sweeping indictment just before it was unsealed. The charges outlined in the sweeping indictment. Prosecutors say trump spread lies that there had been outcome determinative fraud in the election, and that he had actually won. These claims were false, and the defendant knew they were false. Still, they say, trump worked to create an Intense National atmosphere of mistrust and anger, and erode public faith in the administration of the election. The indictment going methodically, statebystate, Accusing Trump and his unnamed coconspirators of creating fraudulent slates of electors in seven states. Of trying to compel the Justice Department to Sham Election crime investigations. Of pressuring Vice President mike pence to reject legitimate electoral votes on january 6th. And ultimately, sending his supporters to the capitol to obstruct the Certification Proceeding and exert pressure on the Vice President. Were going to walk down to the capitol. And we fight. We fight like hell. And if you dont fight like hell, youre not going to have a country anymore. Reporter smiths indictment documenting dozens of trumps lies, the pressure he put on republican state officials. In a phone call, trump pushing Georgia Secretary Of State Brad Raffensperger to find the votes he needed. So, look, all i want to do is this, i just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have because we won the state. Reporter prosecutors allege trumps criminal scheme culminated on january 6th, in what they call the president s exploitation of the violence and chaos at the capitol. David Pierre Thomas leading us off here. And before i bring in pierre, i just want to read from the first paragraph of this 45page indictment. Despite having lost, jack smith writes of the defendant, donald trump, was determined to remain in power. So, for more than two months following election day on november 3rd, 2020, the defendant spread lies there had been outcome determinative fraud in the election and that he had actually won. These claims were false, and the defendant knew that they were false, but the defendant repeated it anyway. Lets bring in Pierre Thomas. Pierre, a key part of this, along with the rest of our team, a key part of this is this notion jack smith and the team will in prosecuting the former president make the case that he knew he had lost the election. He had every reason to understand that he lost. He was informed repeatedly, david, that there was no widescale fraud, that there was no way that he could win the election. And then the special counsels making the case that he went to the public with that lie and tried to steal the election. David and in this speaking indictment, if you will, in lay terms, its just basically laid out so all of us can read it and understand it, everybody across this country, he makes the case that a number of people who were very close to the president , trusted advisers to the president , told him repeatedly, weve lost this election. The attorney general, Homeland Security officials, his own white house counsel, all these people were telling him, you lost, mr. President. David Pierre Thomas leading us off. I want to bring in our Chief Washington correspondent jonathan karl. Because jon, one of the questions going into whether or not jack smith would indict in this particular case, because by far, this is the most serious case any former president has ever faced, would be whether or not they would present evidence directly linking donald trump to these conversations to this actual alleged conspiracy, and its in the indictment. There are six coconspirators here, but donald trump is at the center of this. He spearheaded this effort to overturn the election, including the gathering of those fake electors to create confusion on january 6th. But david, The Big Picture here, donald trump faces legal challenges all over the place. We have new york. We have civil cases. We have georgia coming. We have the Documents Case. Nothing is anywhere near as serious as this. The allegation here, one of the counts, depravation of rights. What rights . The right of american citizens to have their votes count. He tried to overturn an election illegally, an election that he knew he had lost. And as for the question of a speedy trial, jack smith wanted to see a speedy trial, one of the questions i think coming today is, actually, what took so long . We are, you know, two plus years after what happened on january 6th, and now, he is finally being held to account legally for it. David and you talk about the timeline. Lets ask katherine faulders, our Senior Reporter with the Investigative Unit here, just how soon the American People will begin to see this play out. You learned, katherine, that well see the former president first answer to these charges on thursday . Reporter thats right. The former president will appear here in a d. C. Federal Court Thursday at 4 00 p. M. Eastern. Now, david, this is Federal Court. There are no cameras allowed in court. He could remain completely out of view. But if this process is to go how it is typically supposed to go, he will appear here at 4 00 p. M. He will be processed. Hes able to be processed inside this courthouse, if thats something that will happen. We expect that it will. And he will be accompanied by, were expecting, two of his attorneys. But again, david, 4 00 p. M. Eastern at this courthouse, the former president set to appear. David well see the former president on thursday In Washington where this case will now play out. Katherine faulders, our thanks to you. I mentioned off the top of the broadcast tonight that our team just spoke with donald trump moments before we came on the air tonight. Lets bring in John Santucci who has covered donald trump the candidate, the president , and now the candidate again. John, what was his reaction . David, i just hung up the phone with donald trump moments ago. He called news of this latest indictment pile on, david. He said, yet again, this is election interference. And when i asked him about all of the mounting charges against him, we mentioned manhattan, documents, and now this case, he called all of the charges, david, ridiculous. I then said to donald trump, you know, how does this move forward . Where do you go from here . Donald trump telling me tonight, david, we will fight, and we will win. But david, i have to tell you, all throughout this afternoon, hearing from former white house aides to donald trump, they all believe this was avoidable. David . David John Santucci with us here. John, thank you. I want to bring until our chief legal analyst. Two questions for you, dan abrams. First of all, this is what we would expect from donald trump, the public facing, to say this is pile on. It will be part of the political message moving forward. Surely his legal team understands the weight of this. And if you were listen, this classified Documents Case is a heavy case in and of itself, but this case is far more serious. Yeah, its far more serious based on the facts, based on the allegations, and based on the law. I mean, yes, the Documents Case is at its heart an Obstruction Of Justice case, which is serious stuff, but here, youre talking about the fundamental functioning of our democracy. And Donald Trumps effort, according to the special counsel, to undermine that. I will say, though, that there are maybe more legal defenses that he may have here than in the Documents Case. So, while this one may be more serious, it is also likely that hell have more legal avenues to defend himself by saying he believed it. He Still Believes it. He thinks they engaged in wrongdoing. He believes there was voter fraud, et cetera. David and this will be more difficult to prosecute. The same is true, if you flip it for prosecutors in the classified Documents Case. In the meantime, we know the judge who has been appointed. I was so curious about this. I asked you before we came on the air tonight. This is done as random, and we were trying to figure out exactly how they do it. They have an Automated System in the d. C. Federal court. Right, just lack of the draw, basically, as to how this judge. And for donald trump, probably not great luck, right, in terms of who the judge was. The judges name is tanya chutkan. She was appointed by president obama. And maybe most importantly, she has been one of the judges in this district who has meted out some of the toughest sentences on the january 6th defendants. This is one of the many judges In Washington, d. C. Who has dealt with january 6th cases. This isnt the judge that donald trump would want. But again, most important issue right now, with regard to the judge, is the timing. Is the judge going to force this case to trial before the election . David and of course, we should also point out that every judge In Washington, d. C. And Federal Court has now dealt with at least one of these january 6th cases involving a rioter or someone related to january 6th. Right. So, they all have some level of experience. Four of the judges appointed by republicans, nine by democrats. It just happened that this was the judge appointed to this case. David and the republicanappointed judges have handed down some serious sentences, as well. Exactly. It wouldnt have been a fundamental difference in terms of who the judge is, when the question is, what evidence is going to come in, its all going to come down to the timing. David just a few seconds left in our coverage of this federal indictment. Mary bruce, our chief White House Correspondent with us, as well. Mary, any reaction specifically from the white house . No. The white house is instead referring all questions to the Justice Department, stressing that it conducts its investigations independently. This president is not commenting on Donald Trumps legal woes, these indictments, because he is well aware that donald trump and his allies are trying to argue that this is all a weaponization of the Justice Department. The president doesnt want to say anything that they could use to fuel that argument. That argument, which is now at the center of Donald Trumps Reelection Campaign and an argument that we have seen only lead his support to grow. Donald trump is the overwhelming frontrunner and, despite all of his legal challenges, despite these indictments, his supporters, david, so far based on polling, arent going anywhere. David frontrunner on the republican side. Leading ron desantis by 37 points or more. And in a General Election matchup, as we sit here tonight, the New York Times siena poll just out today, puts joe biden and donald trump even, 4343. A very tight headtohead matchup, that looks to be where were headed, david. David mary bruce with us tonight. Dan abrams, jon karl, Pierre Thomas. Thank you. Well have much more later tonight on nightline and of course, first thing in the morning on gma. Thank you, all. In the meantime, we move onto the other headlines on this tuesday evening. Accused long island Serial Killer Rex Heuermann appearing in court today. It comes as his estranged wife tells abc news she and her children cried themselves to sleep. And she is sharing photos of the destruction she says investigators made of their home. Abcs Erielle Reshef in new york tonight. Reporter tonight, the first glimpse of Suspected Gilgo Beach Serial Killer Rex Heuermann in court since the new york architect pleaded not guilty to the murders of three women. This is a 13year case. So, as you saw, we have a great deal of information. Reporter prosecutors turning over more than 2,500 pages of documents and evidence to the defense. Heuermanns attorney saying his client maintains his innocence. He said from the moment i met him that, i did not do this. So, were prepared to go forward. We will defend this case in a court of law. Reporter heuermanns estranged wife, asa ellerup, who has filed for divorce, seen here today at the long island home they shared, describing how her familys life has been upended, telling abc news, my children have been crying themselves to sleep. And ive been crying myself to sleep, too. Ellerup sharing these photos of the aftermath of investigators weeklong search of their property. Boxes piled up. A bathtub sliced open. Does she plan to stay in that home . Right now thats the only place she has to reside with her and her children. Shes not employed. The daughter works for her dad. So, theres been no financial income. Reporter police say ellerup is not a suspect and was unaware of her husbands alleged crime spree. Has she spoken to rex since he was arrested . I believe she has, but not about the incident or not about the arrest. Do you know what that conversation was like . I do not know. Reporter david, several of the victims families were inside that hearing today, coming facetoface with heuermann for the first time. Hes due in court again next month. David . David Erielle Reshef here with us tonight. Erielle, thank you. There is word tonight that north korea has responded to the americanled u. N. Outreach about the u. S. Soldier who crossed the border on his own two weeks ago now. Lets bring in our chief Global Affairs correspondent Martha Raddatz with us live tonight. Martha, what have you learned . Reporter david, the contact was through the u. N. Command, not the u. S. Directly. The north koreans acknowledging they have travis king and saying they are investigating the matter. Of course, what makes this case so unusual and so complicated is that travis king bolted across that border on his own on purpose after leaving the airport in seoul where he was supposed to head back to the u. S. To face charges from the army. I am told he has already been interrogated by the north koreans. But given this is the first time the north koreans have responded to the u. N. , this may be a sign that north korea is willing to negotiate his release, although nothing moves quickly in negotiations with the north koreans. David . David as we all know well. Martha raddatz tonight. Martha, thank you. We turn now to the war in ukraine and what appears tonight to be a new phase of the war. Drones striking the heart of moscow for the fourth time in just over a week now. One highrise building struck twice in just three days. Tonight, ukraine not taking responsibility, but saying that moscow is now getting used to a fullfledged war. Heres our chief Foreign Correspondent ian pannell in ukraine again tonight. Reporter tonight, a drone slamming into the exact same Skyscraper Housing Government Offices in moscow that was struck just three days ago. The kremlin again accusing ukraine for the fourth drone attack on the russian capital in just over a week. An adviser to president zelenskyy not confirming, but saying, moscow is rapidly getting used to a fullfledged war. And the russians appear rattled, warning of a massive increase in strikes on ukraine in retaliation. Overnight, at least five attack drones launched towards this city, kharkiv. One hitting a dormitory for students. Luckily, no one there at the time. And to the south in kherson, this medical facility also coming under attack, an Operating Room destroyed. Officials say a doctor, on his first day at work, was killed. David, it really does appear that were now in a new phase of this war, not just a battle on the land inside ukraine, but also an escalating aerial conflict with drones front and center thats now hitting right into the heart of russia. David . David ian pannell in ukraine tonight. Ian, thank you. When we come back here, there is Breaking News here in New York City at this hour. We are just learning of an Out Of Control vehicle slamming into pedestrians in midtown manhattan. We have learned of several people injured at this point. Our Reporter Standing by on the scene. Im kareem abdul jabbar. I was diagnosed with afib. The first inkling that something was wrong was i started to notice that i couldnt do things without losing my breath. I couldnt make it through the airport, and every like 20 or 30 yards i had to sit down and get my breath. Every Physical Exertion seemed to exhaust me. And finally, i went to the hospital where i was diagnosed with afib. When i first noticed symptoms, which kept coming and going, i should have gone to the doctor and told them what was happening. Instead, i tried to let it pass. If you experience irregular heartbeat, heart racing, chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, or lightheadedness, you should talk to your doctor. Afib increases the risk of stroke about 5 times i want my experience to help others understand the symptoms of atrial fibrillation. When it comes to your health, this is no time to wait. How white do you think your teeth really are . Lets try the tissue test. Ooof, still yellow. Whitening toothpaste can only do so much. Theres toothpaste white, and theres crest 3d whitestrips white. So much whiter crest. tonya because i smoked, i have heart failure. I went from me being their caregiver to the husband and kids being mine. announcer the people you love are worth quitting for. You can quit. For free help, call 1800quitnow. Here in New York City tonight there is news just coming in. Several pedestrians struck by an Out Of Control vehicle on 42nd street on the east side of manhattan. First responders racing to the scene. Several people hurt. Veteran reporter lucy yang from our new york station wabc at the scene tonight. And, lucy, what have you learned . Reporter well, david, were on 42nd street and lexington avenue. This is the heart of midtown. It was 5 30 tuesday evening, the height of evening rush hour, sidewalks and crosswalks crowded with pedestrians trying to get home. Thats when this accident struck. We have three vehicles involved here. Police are still trying to put together the playbyplay. But this we know, ten were taken to a nearby hospital for nonlifethreatening injuries. A large radius around here, the traffic is a mess in all directions. But thankfully, no lives were lost in this accident, which left ten people injured and three vehicles involved. David . David it is always a fear here in manhattan. Lucy yang from wabc tonight. Lucy, thank you, to you and the team. When we come back here tonight, the story that made national headlines, and now, today, the tearful suspect accused of killing a bride. That Suspect Driving in a golf cart. Her appeal to be asking to be released from custody, and what the judge decided. 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David Jamie Lee Komoroski appearing by video from jail. She was denied bail. Her trial now set for march. Shes been in custody since the april crash. The judge saying komoroski is a flight risk. Komoroski says the whole thing was a terrible accident. We turn to the dangerous heat tonight and the excessive heat now targeting 55 million americans, on alert with Heat Warnings and advisories from texas to kansas, over east to florida. The heat index soaring past 110 degrees across several states. Record highs expected in some major cities. And potential storms tonight. A Severe Weather risk for parts of the rockies and the plains. Damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes all possible. When we come back here tonight, did you buy your ticket today . Dont run out right now. I want to tell you how much the jackpot is up to, and then you can run. My a1c was up here; now, its down with rybelsus®. His a1c . Its down with rybelsus®. 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Plus, rv parking versus pedestrian safety. You hear from those in the middle of this battle. From abc 7, live Breaking News. All of these indictments have been pretty influential and historical, but this is the first one that focuses on his time as president. So its quite a compelling indictment. At least compared to the previous two, in my masturbation. Estimation. Dan thank you so much for joining us, this is the third indictment against donald trump because of his action surrounding the january 6. Last month he was insurrection. He was indicted over classified materials found in ballrooms and bathrooms in his resort. In april, his first indictment was on State Charges of falsify Business Records in connection with a hushmoney payments made two Adult Film Actress stormy daniels. Ama todays indictment came after a grand jury spent months hearing evidence related to alleged efforts by trump and others to overturn the 2020 Election Results and his actions surrounding the january 6 capitol attack. Dan justin finch has the latest of elements from washington. Former President Donald Trump has been informed that he has been indicted by a Federal Grand Jury regarding the special councils pro into trumps alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Sources tell us indictment is listing for criminal counts,
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