Summary
Former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to 37 felony counts related to his alleged mishandling of classified information after leaving the White House. The Justice Department says Trump illegally retained secret documents, obstructed the government’s efforts to retrieve them and made false statements on the matter. For a transcript of this story, click here . News wrap alternative : Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.Five Facts
- What are the federal charges against former President Donald Trump?
- How did Trump plead against the federal charges?
- Where in the United States did the arraignment take place?
- Who is Jack Smith?
- Why might Judge Aileen Cannon recuse herself from overseeing the trial?
Focus Questions
One argument in favor of Judge Aileen Cannon's recusal is the implication by a federal appeals court, the 11th Circuit, that she was being overly deferential to the former president and that other 'ordinary' people would have been in jail by now. Do you think former US presidents should be treated differently from ordinary individuals in court cases? Why or why not? What about this case with Trump? News analysis : Why do you think the NewsHour interviewed several members of the public? Alternative : See, Think, Wonder : What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What story would you want to find out more about? Where would you go to learn more?For More
What students can do: What is likely to happen next in Trump's indictment? Learn more about the expected timeline and next steps in this article.STUDENT VIDEO OF THE DAY (October 22, 2020)
This lesson was written by Fariya Farah, a junior at Amherst College and NewsHour Classroom’s intern, with editing by Luke Gerwe. Fill out this form to share your thoughts on Classroom’s resources. Sign up for NewsHour Classroom’s ready-to-go Daily News Lessons delivered to your inbox each morning.
