POLITICS

The Friday, June 9 episode of “General Hospital” did not air as originally scheduled due to ABC News coverage of the 37-count federal indictment against former President Donald J. Trump. Instead, the network aired an encore presentation. The next all-new episode of the daytime drama series will now air on Monday, June 12, pushing all previously scheduled episodes back by one day for the foreseeable future.

The repeat, which originally aired Tuesday, March 1, 2022, was broken into by an ABC News Special Report after just 4:48 of the episode aired when “World News Tonight” anchor David Muir announced viewers would get to hear for the first time from Jack Smith, Special Counsel for the Department of Justice, who led the investigation which later prompted the unsealing of the federal indictment against former President Donald Trump and his aide Waltine Nauta.

In the United States vs. Donald J. Trump and Waltine Nauta, Defendants (Case No. 23-80101-CR-Cannon/Reinhart), the Southern District of Florida indicted the former president after a Grand Jury found sufficient evidence to bring about charges, including willful retention, conspiracy to obstruct justice and false statements.

Speaking for just two and a half minutes from an undisclosed location in Washington, D.C., Smith outlined charges brought against the former president, saying, “This indictment was voted by a Grand Jury of citizens of the Southern District of Flordia.

“I invite everyone to read it in full to understand the scope and the gravity of the crimes charged. The men and women of the United States intelligence community and our armed forces dedicate their lives to protecting our nation and its people. Our laws that protect national defense information are critical to the safety and security of the United States and they must be enforced. Violations of those laws put our country at risk. 

“Adherence to the rule of law is a bedrock principle of the Department of Justice and our nation’s commitment to the rule of law sets an example for the world. We have one set of laws in this country and they apply to everyone. Applying those laws, [and] collecting facts, that’s what determines the outcome of an investigation—nothing more and nothing less. 

“The prosecutors in my office are among the most talented and experienced in the Department of Justice. They have investigated this case hewing to the highest ethical standards and they will continue to do so as this case proceeds. It’s very important for me to note that the defendants, in this case, must be presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. To that end, my office will seek a speedy trial in this matter consistent with the public interest and the rights of the accused. We very much look forward to presenting our case to a jury of citizens in the Southern District of Florida.

“In conclusion, I would like to thank the dedicated public servants of the Federal Bureau of Investigation with whom my office is conducting this investigation and who work tirelessly every day upholding the rule of law in our country. I’m deeply proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them.”

Smith concluded his full statement without taking questions, in line with what was expected by the news media. 

A summary of the 37 charges can be read below:

• Counts #1-31 – Willful Retention of National Defense Information
• Count #32 – Conspiracy to Obstruct Justice
• Count #33  – Withholding a Document or Record
• Count #34 – Corruptly Concealing a Document or Record
• Count #35 – Concealing a Document in a Federal Investigation
• Count #36 – Scheme to Conceal
• Count #37 – False Statements and Representations

Click here to download a copy of the full 44-page indictment.

Roughly 40 minutes after the special report began, ABC returned to regular programming with the aforementioned repeat episode of “General Hospital” airing in progress at the 45:05 mark.

In the episode now airing on Monday, June 12, look for the following to take place:

• Sonny and Nina are interrupted.
• Finn questions Tracy’s story. 
• Austin cautions Ava. 
• TJ assesses a patient. 
• Chase is caught off-guard.

“General Hospital” airs weekdays on ABC. Anytime on On Demand or Hulu.