Former President Donald Trump Faces Arraignment in Washington, D.C. Courtroom
Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to be arraigned in a courtroom in Washington, D.C. on Thursday at 4 p.m. Eastern Time. This comes after he was indicted on Tuesday on four counts for his alleged involvement in attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election, including his role in the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Trump, who is currently leading in polls for the 2024 Republican presidential primary, has consistently denied any wrongdoing. It is expected that he will enter pleas of not guilty, just as he did earlier this year in a Manhattan case concerning hush-money payments and in a Miami case involving classified documents.
Trump's 2024 Campaign Seeks to Capitalize on Indictment
The former president's 2024 campaign has taken advantage of the latest indictment by trying to raise funds. One strategy includes offering supporters an "I Stand With Trump" T-shirt featuring Tuesday's date in exchange for a $47 donation. Recent disclosures filed for the first six months of this year revealed an increase in fundraising following Trump's indictment in Manhattan, and a smaller spike following his indictment in Miami.
Public Opinion on Trump's Actions
A recent poll conducted by The New York Times/Siena College indicated that around one-quarter of Republican voters either believe that Trump acted criminally or expressed uncertainty on the matter. However, these reservations do not appear to be impacting their continued support for him.
Trump's PAC Expenditures on Legal Fees
It is worth noting that Trump's political action committee (PAC) has spent $40 million on legal fees thus far this year, further highlighting the legal challenges he has faced.
Trump Lawyer Rejects Request for Speedy Trial
Special Counsel Jack Smith has expressed his intention to push for a speedy trial in the Jan. 6 case. However, Trump defense attorney John Lauro has put forth a different perspective, suggesting that the trial should be held after the 2024 presidential election.
In an interview on NBC's "Today" show, Lauro criticized the Biden Justice Department for taking three years to investigate the case. He called it absurd to rush into a trial within 90 days, stating, "Why don't we make it equal?"
Adding to the legal challenges faced by the former president, there is a possibility of another indictment this month. A prosecutor in Georgia's Fulton County has announced that she will reveal charging decisions by Sept. 1 regarding her investigation into efforts to overturn the state's results in the 2020 presidential election.
The announcement from Fulton County has contributed to the unease in the stock market, with U.S. stocks experiencing a decline on Wednesday. This sudden dip was triggered by Fitch Ratings' decision to lower the U.S. government's credit rating. The agency mentioned a "deterioration of governance" as one of the reasons for the downgrade. Their discussion with the U.S. Treasury Department prior to the downgrade apparently highlighted the Jan. 6 insurrection as evidence supporting their decision.
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