Trump Pleads Not Guilty: What's Next

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Good morning,

A question to ponder on this Wednesday— How much money do you need to be considered “wealthy” in America? According to a new survey from Charles Schwab: At least $2.2 million.

But people who responded to the survey also said having wealth is about having healthy relationships with their loved ones and enjoying experiences.

Cheers to that! Now get to work 😉 

Mosheh, Jill, & Courtney

🗞 TRUMP ARRAIGNMENT IN MIAMI

Former President Trump pleaded not guilty to 37 federal felony charges Tuesday accusing him of keeping classified documents and then lying to federal officials and obstructing them from getting them back.

“NOT GUILTY”
No cameras or audio recordings were allowed in the courtroom. Trump’s lawyer told the judge: “We most certainly enter a plea of not guilty.”

THE AFTERMATH
Trump was released without any restrictions. He didn't have to turn over a passport.

But the judge ordered the prosecution to create a list of potential witnesses that Trump cannot talk to about the details of this case. It could be a long list given how many people work at Mar-a-Lago and could have potentially witnessed something related to the classified documents.

CO-DEFENDANT WALT NAUTA
Goodman already ordered Trump not to discuss the case with his co-defendant, Walt Nauta, his personal aide who continues to work for him.

Nauta also appeared before the judge today. He did not enter a plea because he didn’t have local legal counsel. Nauta is charged with conspiring with the former president to hide some of the classified documents from government agents trying to recover them.

Following his court appearance, Trump met with supporters at the famous Cuban restaurant, Versailles, on Calle Ocho. They prayed for him and serenaded him with “Happy Birthday.” (Trump turns 77 years old today.)

ABOUT LAST NIGHT
Trump then flew to New Jersey where he had a fundraiser at his Bedminster golf club. He spoke to a crowd of supporters, saying that he is being victimized by a “deranged” special prosecutor and that the indictment is an attempt to rig the election for President Biden.

STOP ME IF YOU’VE HEARD THIS BEFORE
It’s a word we throw around a lot, but this is truly unprecedented. Trump is the first former US president to be indicted on a federal crime. That comes on top of his previous indictment earlier this year in NY. President Gerald Ford pardoned his predecessor, Richard Nixon, before he could ever be prosecuted for any federal crimes.

THE TIMING
There was no discussion today about the next time Trump will have to be in court for this case. Timing will be key to watch given this involves 31 counts related to classified documents. It will require time to determine access to those documents and possible declassification for the purposes of the trial. Look for the Trump team to file dozens of motions, including questioning the use of his own former attorney’s notes as part of this case and taking issue with the use of the Espionage Act. Special Counsel Jack Smith wants to move quickly. Trump does not. Delay is the name of the game. There is a scenario where this trial could stretch into late 2024, in time for Trump or a fellow Republican could be president and get this case dismissed.

Wildcard: Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee and the federal judge assigned to the case, who has a history of favorable rulings for the former president.

SEVERAL LEGAL FIGHTS
Playing a role into scheduling this trial are several other Trump legal cases:

—A NY civil case regarding Trump’s taxes and business.

— A NY criminal case regarding hush money payments to Stormy Daniels. That goest to trial in March 2024.

—Trump is also under investigation in Georgia’s Fulton County, where the District Attorney is weighing whether to charge Trump with interfering in the state’s election count.

—Special Counsel Jack Smith is separately conducting a federal investigation on January 6th.

⏳ SPEED READ

📌 Drug deal likely sparked Denver mass shooting after Nuggets’ NBA win, police say (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

📌 A new Alzheimer's drug Is one step closer to full approval, but access remains a problem (TIME)

📌 White House bans trans activist for taking topless photo at White House pride event (NBC NEWS)

📌 Inflation rises at 4%, the lowest level in two years. The Fed will announce interest rate decision later today (CNBC)

📌 France says it uncovered mass Russian-linked misinformation campaign about Ukraine (REUTERS)

📌 Leader of Belarus says he wouldn’t hesitate to use Russian nuclear weapons to repel aggression (NBC NEWS)

📌 Virginia teacher shot by 6-year-old student not returning to job at the school (WASHINGTON POST)

📌 Amazon says AWS is operating normally after outage brought down websites (AP)

📌 Google’s return-to-office crackdown gets backlash from some employees: ‘Check my work, not my badge’ (CNBC)

📌 Cormac McCarthy, author of ‘The Road’ and ‘No Country for Old Men,’ dies at age 89 (GUARDIAN)

📌 Forget Friday night — this is when real New Yorkers go out and get boozy (NY POST)

📌 Paul McCartney says artificial intelligence has enabled a 'final' Beatles song (BBC)

🗓 ON THIS DAY: JUNE 14

• 1777: The Continental Congress approved the Stars and Stripes as the first national flag of the United States. Happy Flag Day 🇺🇸

• 1954: U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed an order adding the words "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance amid the ‘red scare.’ It was done to assert the moral superiority over Soviet communism.

• 1998: The Chicago Bulls defeat the Utah Jazz in the NBA Finals to clinch their sixth championship in 8 seasons.

• 1968: Aretha Franklin released her album ‘Aretha Now’, including the hits “I Say a Little Prayer” and “Think.”