The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper S2024E04 - The United States v. Donald J. Trump

CNN Anchor and Chief Legal Analyst Laura Coates presents an in-depth examination of former President Donald Trump's federal election subversion trial. 

In August 2023, less than a year after Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Jack Smith as special counsel to investigate Trump, the former president was indicted on federal felony charges stemming from his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Time is of the essence with this trial as Trump is far and away the leading Republican candidate for the presidential election in November, and Coates unpacks everything at stake as the case continues to unfold. She examines little-known aspects of the case that have been revealed by court filings and connects the dots between Trump and his cohorts' attempts in court to overturn the election across multiple crucial swing states, the secretive plot to replace Biden electors with those who would vote for Trump, and how these efforts climaxed with one last desperate attempt to stay in office on January 6.  

"Finally – a comprehensive look behind the curtain with everything on the table, and everything on the line," said Coates. "We combine all the puzzle pieces and give you the most complete pre-trial picture of the definitive case for democracy."

This episode features interviews with Former US Representative and January 6th Committee Member Adam Kinzinger, Former White House Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Matthews, Georgia State Senator Elena Parent, Former Lieutenant Governor of Georgia Geoff Duncan, January 6th Committee Investigator Marcus Childress, Former US Attorney Harry Litman and more.