Interesting: GOP Bailing On Trump?

🚨 Breaking News: Trump at Court House on Jan. 6 Charges! 🚨

Former President Trump's first court appearance related to his federal indictment in the 2020 election investigation took place on Thursday afternoon. Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith announced a four-count indictment on Tuesday, accusing Trump of directing a conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and playing a central role in a campaign to prevent votes from being certified on January 6. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who has previously handled cases related to the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol and ruled against Trump in a lawsuit to block the National Archives from releasing documents related to the events of January 6, was randomly assigned to Trump's case.

• Donations to Pence: 2024 GOP presidential candidate and former Vice President Mike Pence's campaign received over 7,400 donations following the release of former President Trump's most recent indictment.

• Trump's Indictment: Trump faces four counts in special counsel Jack Smith's investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The indictment specifically mentions Trump's pressure campaign to get Pence to overturn the election during its certification in Congress, leading to threats of violence and death against Pence.

• Former President Trump’s campaign said Thursday that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s White House bid is “marred by idiocy,” as the governor’s campaign continues to falter amid an attempted reboot.

• The Trump campaign dismissed recent comparisons between the Florida governor’s reboot and that of the late Arizona Sen. John McCain (R), who revived his ailing presidential campaign to secure the GOP nomination in 2008.

• Senate Republican aides and strategists say the gravity of the new charges is underscored by the blistering speech Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) delivered at the end of Trump’s impeachment trial, in which he called Trump “practically and morally responsible” for the chaos of that day and suggested he could face criminal prosecution.

Analysis: Favorability Ratings Of Candidates

• Joe Biden: 42 percent favorable, 54 percent unfavorable, 2 percent haven't heard enough about him;

• Donald Trump: 37 percent favorable, 59 percent unfavorable, 3 percent haven't heard enough about him;

• Ron DeSantis: 33 percent favorable, 48 percent unfavorable, 18 percent haven't heard enough about him;