Good evening everyone, and welcome back to our special breaking news coverage, im laura coates on this a stunning night in american history. As the 45th u. S. President s criminally indicted now for the fourth time. Donald trump now accused of leading a criminal enterprise to overturn the 2020 election in georgia. Im kaitlan collins, its not just trump. 18 others have been charged alongside him in this 41 count indictment tonight, including his former Chief Of Staff, mark meadows. His former attorney, Rudy Giuliani, and the onetime mayor of new york. All 19 defendants are facing racketeering charges. I mean, the indictment states all, quote, refused to accept that trump lost and they knowingly, and willfully, joined the conspiracy to unlawfully change the outcome of the election in favor of trump. Joining me now here in d. C. Is cnns evan perez, also the washington correspondent of the atlanta journalconstitution, tea mitchell and is back as well. Tour former house judiciary special co
Counts against mr. Trump, handed up last night by a grand jury after a 2 1 2 year investigation conducted by District Attorney willis in georgia. Willis writes, quote, defendant donald trump lost the election. One of the states he lost was georgia. Trump and the other defendants charged in this Indictment Refuse to accept that trump lost. They knowingly and willfully joined a conspiracy to unlawfully change the outcome of the election in favor of trump. Among those codefendants, some of the most wellknown people in the former president s orbit during his final days in office. Including his white house chief of staff, mark meadows, personal attorney and former new york city mayor, rudy giuliani, jeffrey clark, who tried to assert significant election concerns had been identified, and a string of lawyers, including john eastman, Sidney Powell and speaking to the press just before midnight, she rejected trumps accusation on social media that she was persecuting him for political reasons.
This is not someone in a maga hat at cpac last year. It is a random new yorker in the year 1985. 1985 was the year that Rudolph Giuliani made a name for himself. It was the year that giuliani pioneer the same prosecutorial tactics that now very much look like they could be his downfall. But let me back up just a little bit. This is carmine the cigar galante. He was allegedly the boss of one of new yorks most powerful Crime Families. And in the 70s, galante flew a little too close to the sun. He was shot point blank at an Italian Restaurant in brooklyn. Allegedly the motivation of his assassins ways that galante had to decided he should be the head mob boss. But the other mob bosses didnt want to agree. A Guy Named Anthony Indelicate whackwhacks palm print but mr. Indelicato whackwhack was almost definitely not the person who decided the fate of carmine the six car. Whackwhack may have been part of the group that but he would not have mr. Indlicato ways what is referred to in the mafia
We are expecting to hear from President Joe Biden in just a few moments in milwaukee, but first Donald Trumps fourth indictment arrived last night and its the case many in his orbit have been the most worried about. In no small part because several members of his team are also charged. The former president now ensnared in whats known as a rico case in georgia alongside some of his closest advisers like mark meadows and Rudy Giuliani over efforts to overturn joe bidens 2020 win in georgia. The 98page indictment includes conspiracy and racketeering charges. Trump and the 18 other defendants have ten days to surrender to georgia authorities. And the d. A. Wants the trial to start within six months and she wants to try all 19 of them in one go. Cnns sara murray is outside the courthouse in atlanta. Sara, this is a rico case. This is something thats usually against the mob, against gangs. Tell us more. Reporter Fulton County District Attorney fani willis has made very clear she likes this r
Happening now in the newsroom, a heartbreaking loss for u. S. Womens soccer. Off the post sweden can win on this kick. Plus one on one with Donald Trumps lawyer who claims trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election were aspirational, not criminal. And lost at sea for two days in a boat only 12 feet long. Well show you the incredible rescue. Youre live in the cnn newsroom. Hello again, everyone. Thank you so much for joining me this sunday, im fredricka whitfield. Donald trumps lawyer doubling down that trump was within his First Amendment rights when he told former Vice President mike pence not to certify the election results. The Attorney Says it all boils down to the way he asked. And all of this played out in the open. Its all free speech. There was a Supreme Court decision that says when youre exercising free speech, youre not engaging in a fraud on the government. Unfortunately most people dont understand thats just one example of the actions. Its very political. Thats just one