Hello, I'm Ari Melver and you are watching the beat with Ari Melver and a special edition

at that.

The trials of Donald Trump as we approach a very heavy period here in the weeks ahead.

This hour we're going to break down the legal cases, the four looming trials, and also

look at how an ally has already been convicted in a trial that relates to January 6th, it's

someone who I just spoke with, and we have some special insights on that, as well as

how other Trump officials are now paying the price dearly in finances and maybe in their

liberty for what they view as an unending loyalty to Donald Trump.

So, we've got a lot for you right now, but we begin with a closer look at this pretty

praise and defense strategy that we're seeing in the Rico case in Georgia defense, arguing

that they shouldn't have to face trial in the court where they were charged because

they're arguing that they should get a kind of treatment based on the fact that they

worked in the federal government.

Now, you've probably heard a little bit about this, Mark Meadows lost a version of this

argument, but even though he lost and is appealing, everyone gets their own case here.

So, other people are going to be able to make the same argument based on their situation,

and Meadows himself says it's quote, impossible to draw distinction between a chief of staff

engaging in official and political activity going on to say that without that political

activity being part of his job, well, it would cease to function.

You don't need to be a lawyer to understand what's going on there.

Mr. Meadows, having lost that case already, lost that argument and trying to get it overturned

on appeal, is basically saying that his alleged coup activity was just political activity,

...