Current:Home > MarketsMembers of the public explain why they waited for hours to see Trump arraigned: "This is historic"-LoTradeCoin
Members of the public explain why they waited for hours to see Trump arraigned: "This is historic"
View Date:2024-12-23 23:47:25
Just seven members of the general public, as well as a couple dozen reporters, were allowed into the courtroom during former President Donald Trump's arraignment on 37 federal felony charges.
They waited for hours, unsure if they'd be able to witness the proceeding in person. They entered the courthouse 8:30 a.m. ET, waiting without phones or other devices until after the hearing ended after 3 p.m. ET. Several said they were drawn by the history of the moment.
Raj Abhyanker, a lawyer from California, happened to be in town for his daughter's high school basketball tournament, and decided to "see history." Wearing a T-shirt and shorts, he said he watches big trials frequently — such as that of Elizabeth Holmes — and even took his daughter, who wants to be a lawyer, to part of a local double murder trial.
"I had the day free and the former president's here getting arraigned. It's unprecedented history," Abhyanker said.
He said he thought the indictment was "very detailed, and particularly well laid out." About the audio recordings detailed in the indictment, Abhyanker said, "It goes right into the best evidence they had."
"It just seems like the guy [Trump] is going to have a very tough time," he said. He added that he believes Trump's New York criminal case is weaker, "more bare bones."
After the hearing, Abhyanker said he thought it was interesting that the judge "pushed back on not having a blanket no-condition-based bail bond."
Instead, Trump signed a personal surety bond with a special condition barring him from discussing the case with certain potential witnesses who prosecutors will soon list for the defense. That includes his aide Walt Nauta, who was charged in the indictment with six counts of conspiracy, making false statements and withholding documents.
Lazaro Ecenarro, a Trump supporter wearing a Make America Great Again hat, also said he was drawn to the courthouse by the significance of the moment.
"This is historic," Ecenarro said. "What we're witnessing is historic, but at the same time it's embarrassing because it makes us a laughingstock internationally."
"I'm worried about him," Ecenarro said, referring to Trump. "And I'm worried about our country."
After the arraignment, Ecenarro said Trump looked, "serious" and noted Trump had his arms folded much of the time. Ecenarro said special counsel Jack Smith, whose investigation led the Justice Department to charge Trump, was accompanied by a dozen or so other prosecutors, while Trump had two lawyers. He said he was "worried about Trump, and worried about the country."
Florida attorney Alan Weisberg was another lawyer who said he decided to see "a very important event."
As a young lawyer in Washington, D.C., he attended the Watergate burglars trial and a related Senate hearing.
He called the indictment "very well crafted."
"I think it tells a very good story," Weissberg said.
- In:
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Walt Nauta
- Donald Trump
- Politics
- Indictment
- FBI
- Miami
- Florida
- Jack Smith
Graham Kates is an investigative reporter covering criminal justice, privacy issues and information security for CBS News Digital. Contact Graham at [email protected] or [email protected]
veryGood! (119)
Related
- Denzel Washington Will Star in Black Panther 3 Before Retirement
- Super Bowl prop bets for 2024 include Taylor Swift and Usher's shoes
- Taylor Swift, Drake, BTS and more may have their music taken off TikTok — here's why
- Clydesdale foal joins the fold ahead of iconic horses' Budweiser Super Bowl commercial return
- Report: Jaguars' Trevor Lawrence could miss rest of season with shoulder injury
- Horoscopes Today, January 31, 2024
- Cole Sprouse admits he doesn't remember a lot from filming 'Suite Life of Zack & Cody'
- Syphilis cases rise sharply in women as CDC reports an alarming resurgence nationwide
- Brush fire erupts in Brooklyn's iconic Prospect Park amid prolonged drought
- Bachelor Nation’s Bryan Abasolo Reacts to Speculation About Cause of Rachel Lindsay Breakup
Ranking
- Ready-to-eat meat, poultry recalled over listeria risk: See list of affected products
- Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Alum Lisa Rinna Shares $3 Picks To Refresh Your Beauty Routine
- Biden will visit Ohio community that was devastated by a fiery train derailment nearly a year ago
- Rita Moreno, Debbie Allen, Ariana DeBose of 'West Side Story' honor the original Anita, Chita Rivera
- Up to 20 human skulls found in man's discarded bags, home in New Mexico
- Oklahoma gas pipeline explodes, shooting flames 500 feet into the air
- Memories tied up in boxes and boxes of pictures? Here's how to scan photos easily
- Memories tied up in boxes and boxes of pictures? Here's how to scan photos easily
Recommendation
-
Darren Criss on why playing a robot in 'Maybe Happy Ending' makes him want to cry
-
How U.S. Marshals captured pro cyclist Moriah Mo Wilson's killer
-
Taylor Swift, Drake, BTS and more may have their music taken off TikTok — here's why
-
Wisconsin governor signs legislative package aimed at expanding access to dental care
-
The View's Sara Haines Walks Off After Whoopi Goldberg's NSFW Confession
-
First human to receive Neuralink brain implant is 'recovering well,' Elon Musk says
-
2024 NHL All-Star Game weekend: Live stream, TV, draft, skills competition, rosters
-
This Michael Kors $398 Crossbody Can Be Yours For Just $63, Plus More Deals Up to 82% off