He said the president asked him to violate the Constitution, which is another way of saying he asked him to break the law.

He never said, no, that's wrong.

That's wrong.

A technical violation of the Constitution is not a violation of criminal law.

That's just plain wrong.

And to say that is contrary to decades of legal statutes.

Let's get it.

That's Donald Trump's lawyer in the federal 2020 election case, offering up another bizarre defense for his client.

Meanwhile, the former president spent the weekend raging on social media with posts that could defy the judge's orders.

We'll get legal analysis on that new development.

Also ahead, the latest warning from the Pentagon about potential disruptions to troop readiness and military relationships following the resignation of an

army chief. And that comes as we're learning about more provocative moves from both Russia and

China's navies off the coast of Alaska.

Thank you. off the coast of Alaska. Good morning and welcome to way too early on this Monday, August 8th.

I'm Jonathan Lemire.

Thanks for starting your day and week with us. And we'll begin with a flurry of

legal action in the latest indictment of former President Donald J. Trump. Just days after being

formally charged for his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, Trump spent

the weekend testing the limits of the judge assigned to that case.

Now, during Thursday's arraignment, the magistrate judge warned Trump against interfering in the case,

telling him that his bond could be revoked if he tried to influence a juror,

threaten or bribe a witness, or if he retaliated

...