The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Episode (04/04/2023):

3:05pm- During Donald Trump’s Tuesday afternoon arraignment, the former president learned about the charges that have been brought against him. According to numerous reports, Trump pled not guilty to 34 felony counts before State Supreme Court Justice Juan M. Merchan. During the arraignment, Trump’s attorneys are expected to request a change of venue—arguing that Trump is unlikely to receive a fair trial in Manhattan, an area that votes overwhelmingly in favor of Democrat party candidates. The New York Times reports: “Mr. Trump’s 11-vehicle motorcade arrived just before 1:30 at the district attorney’s office, part of the towering Manhattan Criminal Courts Building. While in custody, he was fingerprinted like any felony defendant, but special accommodations were made for the former president: He spent only a short time in custody and he was not expected to be handcuffed or have his mug shot taken.” You can read more here: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/04/04/nyregion/trump-arrest-arraignment

3:20pm- During her Tuesday press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre refused to comment on Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s indictment of Donald Trump. Fox News journalist Peter Doocy asked if the Biden Administration was concerned that Bragg’s indictment of Trump will result in other local D.A. offices across the country targeting political rivals.

3:40pm- Michael Gold of The New York Times reports that former President Donald Trump “has been charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. The charges against Mr. Trump are all class E felonies, which are the lowest category of felony offense in New York and carry a maximum prison sentence of four years per count. Under New York law, falsifying business records is generally a misdemeanor.” You can read more here: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/04/04/nyregion/trump-arrest-arraignment/trump-charges-falsifying-business-records?smid=url-share

3:50pm- Following Trump’s arraignment, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg released a statement on Twitter: “Manhattan is home to the country’s most significant business market. We cannot allow New York businesses to manipulate their records to cover up criminal conduct. As the Statement of Facts describes, the trail of money and lies exposes a pattern that, the People allege, violates one of New York’s basic and fundamental business laws. As this office has done time and time again, we today uphold our solemn responsibility to ensure that everyone stands equal before the law.” You can read the full statement here: https://www.manhattanda.org/district-attorney-bragg-announces-34-count-felony-indictment-of-former-president-donald-j-trump/

4:05pm- FLASHBACK: While appearing on Hot 97 FM as a candidate for Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg pledged to investigate Donald Trump—even boasting about suing Trump and the Trump organization “over 100 times” in the past. Doesn’t this interview illustrate how the charges against Trump are primarily being driven by partisanship?

4:15pm- Following Donald Trump’s arraignment on Tuesday afternoon, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg made a statement to the press explaining why his office decided to bring charges against the former president of the United States—stating that his office “vigorously” combats white collar crime and alleging that New York state election laws were violated.

4:40pm- According to a report from The Daily Mail, the daughter of Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan—the judge presiding over Donald Trump’s criminal case—worked for Vice President Kamala Harris. Judge Merchan has set the next court hearing for December 4th.

5:00pm- The Drive at 5: Will criminal charges hurt Donald Trump’s chances of winning the presidency again in 2024? Zeoli speaks with listeners. PLUS former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson announces his intention to run for President in 2024…but who cares?

5:30pm- Nico Perrino—the Executive Vice President of Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE)—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss FIRE’s recently announced $3 million free speech advertising campaign in Philadelphia. “To honor the ratification of the First Amendment in 1791—and to celebrate the campaign’s launch—FIRE will hold a ‘Free Cheesesteaks for Free Speech’ event, giving away 1,791 free cheesesteaks at Pat’s King of Steaks and Geno’s Steaks on Wednesday, April 5 starting at 11 am.” Learn more about tomorrow’s event here: https://www.thefire.org/news/fire-launches-3m-free-speech-advertising-campaign-philadelphia

5:40pm- In a conspiratorial rant, MSNBC host Joy Reid claimed that criticisms of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg are not only racist but antisemitic as well since his campaign was largely funded by progressive billionaire George Soros.

5:50pm- CNN decried reporting that the daughter of Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan—the judge presiding over Donald Trump’s criminal case—worked for Vice President Kamala Harris. As political commentator Greg Price pointed out on Twitter: “This is the same CNN that once threatened to publish the identity of a random guy on Reddit who made the meme of Trump body slamming the CNN logo.”

6:05pm- According to Axios, former President Donald Trump already raised an estimated $5 million in the first 48 hours after news he had been indicted by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. With Trump once again the focus of all news media and polling numbers indicating that he is now unquestionably the Republican front runner for the 2024 presidential nomination, is there any doubt that this indictment has benefited the former President?

6:45pm- FLASHBACK: While appearing on Hot 97 FM as a candidate for Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg pledged to investigate Donald Trump—even boasting about suing Trump and the Trump organization “over 100 times” in the past. Doesn’t this interview illustrate how the charges against Trump are primarily being driven by partisanship?