Oh, incredibly busy evening. Good morning to you, steve, ainsley and brian. And the former president is lashing out against the prosecution. He tells fox news digital, quote politically inspired indictment, which could have been brought close to three years ago, was tailored for placement right smack in the middle of my Political Campaign where i am leading all republicans. The former president and 18 others face various charges individually, including violation of oath by a public officer and filing spawls documents. All of the defendants have been charged with violating georgias racketeering law, which carries a maximum Prison Sentence of 20 years. In addition to the mr. Trump, the indicted defendants include his former white house Chief Of Staff mark meadows and some of his former attorneys, including Rudy Giuliani and sidney powell. The 98page indictment lists scott mccafe as the judge who will be presiding over the judge. Appointed by republican Governor Brian Kemp and joined the
Accusing them of engaging in a criminal enterprise designed to overturn the will of georgia voter. The d. A. Wants to try all 19 defendants together at the same time. She wants to do it within six months and that puts this thing on a Collision Course with the primary schedule. Dana the president and legal team are seizing on that saying the charges are politically motivated. Chris christie is here with us. Jonathan turley on deck with legal analysis. In atlanta Jhonattan Seary is standing by for an update. Good morning to you, dana. Former President Trump is lashing out against prosecutors because of the timing of these indictments. Mr. Trump tells fox news digital quote, this politically inspired indictment which could have been brought close to three years ago was tail ored for placement with my Political Campaign where im leading all republicans. He has been indicted along with 18 others including former Chief Of Staff mark meadows and former trump attorneys Rudy Giuliani and sidney
House. Im sure you have heard that. Ainsley Brooke Singman spoke exclusively with the former president last night and joins us now. What did he say . Thats right. I spoke with the former president last night who says his fourth indictment comes during a, quote, dark period for our country but he wont let it stop him President Trump telling me this is a consideration of the greatest and longest running witchhunt in american history. I will make America Great again. Now, late Last Night Trump was indicted by Fulton County georgia d. A. Fanny willis alongside 18 others that included personal attorney Rudy Giuliani. Former white house Chief Of Staff mark meadows and even kanye west former publicist. Traveled to the home of an Election Worker in Fulton County. These charges come after a years long criminal investigation over his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 president ial election in the state sparked by a phone call he made to georgias Secretary Of State back in December 2020 charge
Criminal conspiracy to overturn the results of the 2020 president ial election in this state. The indictment brings Felony Charges against donald john trump. It was so important we had to wait until midnight. Among the 19 included in the indictment is trump ozzie for me former attorney Rudy Giuliani and former Chief Of Staff mark meadows. Trump is facing 13 counts in georgia now bringing his grand total, look at that number, to 91 criminal charges across four indictments. Never in American History has there been one. They have now brought 90 plus 1. 91 against there most feared political opponent. The former president has been charged with the racketeering influenced and corrupt organizations act which is what prosecutors used to go after gangsters and mob bosses. It carries with it a 20 year penalty. We know the left will not stop until they put them behind bars. The grand jury issued Arrest Warrants for those who are charged. I am giving the defendants the opportunity to voluntarily
A search for answers. The atf now in maui investigating what sparked a catastrophic wildfire, as crews search for more than a thousand people still missing. And in the aftermath of the disaster, a top Emergency Management official stepping down even as he defends the response to the fires. Plus, delay, delay, delay. Donald trumps legal team testing the limits of that legal strategy, proposing to start one of his special counsel trials in april of 2026. Will the judge buy their reasons for the setback . And serious skepticism from the white house to the pentagon about ukraines current strategy and where kyiv is targeting its fight against russia. We are following these major developing stories and many more all coming in right here to cnn news central. We start this afternoon with major growing questions on the cause and the response to the deadly maui wildfires. Right now, the atfs National Response team is joining the investigation. The death toll remains at 111. But a thousand people