This is today. Facing the judge the former president pleads not guilty to charges he conspired to overturn the 2020 election. If you cant beat him, you persecute him or you prosecute him. Defiant after court what he can expect now the battle over timing of the trial will be crucial. Selling secrets. Two u. S. Navy sailors accused of sharing sensitive military information with china when soldiers choose cash over country, it is the ultimate act of betrayal. What were learning about the charges and the tensions ratcheting up between the two r suspect of the idaho countries. What the suspect claim he was doing on the night of the crime. What the student from th idaho murders claims he was doing the night of the crime. Get your ticket. Tonights Mega Million Jackpot soars to one and a quarter billion dollars. A new case of lottery fever developing plus, flipping out. Piece of air. There you go. The gymnastics air ecstatic and abuzz over the highprofil return of simone biles this weekend. Is this the road to paris 2024. And look what you made her do taylor swift announces new tour dates, setting off yet another ticket frenzy. And fans just cant calm down. I have been waiting my entire life, i swear. Oh, my gosh. Today is friday, august 4, 2023. From nbc news, this is today with Savannah Guthrie and hoda kotb. Live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. Hi, everybody so nice to have you there. After a busy week, we have a fun summer weekend ahead so much fun to watch out there. Simone biles returns to competition the First Time Since the Tokyo Olympics team usa in action and then, of course, taylor swift is closing out the first leg of her massively successful eras tour in los angeles a lot of girl power coming up this weekend. Oh, and shes adding more dates. Well get to all of that in just a bit, but first, our top story. In the wake of federal charges yesterday stemming from his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, the former president pleading not guilty before a judge in the courthouse where more than 6,000 people have been charged with crimes from the january 6th attack on the capitol. We well start this morning with nbcs garrett headaake garrett, good morning. Reporter good morning. That whole hearing only took 27 minutes. The president giving the judge his full name and his age and his not guilty plea, all under the watchful gaze of the special counsel, who accused him of trying to steal the 2020 election former President Donald Trump in court just blocks from the u. S. Capitol, attacked by some of his supporters on january 6th. Mr. Trump pleaded not guilty to four felony charges, stemming from what prosecutors say was a criminal scheme to overturn the 2020 election, including conspiracy to defraud the United States the republican front runner claims the charges against him are designed to damage his campaign. This is a persecution of a political opponent this was never supposed to happen in america. But for the most part, the former president was treated like any other criminal defendant. He was processed and fingerprinted, but no mug shot was taken. He was released on the condition he not communicate with witnesses about the case unless attorneys are present. The judge also warning mr. Trump that it would be a crime to influence the jury or threaten or retaliate against witnesses or any other person with information about the case if you fail to comply, a warrant may be issued for your arrest. That somewhat unusual warning notable because of mr. Trumps history of verbally attacking prosecutors and judges in other proceedings hes faced. Deranged jack smith and the doj will probably bring another case. Reporter mr. Trumps attorneys say they will fight against a speedy trail. This is a fastmoving railroad without any concern for justice. Reporter despite his dominance in the 2024 republican primary, the former president is facing at least three trials in the coming year, including in the maralago classified documents case walt nauta, his codefendant in that case, at his side yesterday in washington. With a possible fourth indictment looming in georgia this month where the d. A. Is investigating mr. Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 the next hearing in this case is victory in that state. The next hearing in this case will come on august 28th prosecutors say they want to move quickly mr. Trumps team signaling they will push for a delay. All right, garrett, thank you very much. Lets bring in our Legal CorrespondentLaura Jarrett and kri Kristin Welker lets talk about the timing of the trial. Obviously the defense lawyers are already saying we need more time we got to look at this discovery. Come on. We have so much to go through. When do you think this trial date will be set, and why is that such an important issue in this case . This is when it is key to watch the judge. Shes already signaling she wants to move fast mr. Trump didnt even appear in front of the judge who you see on your screen there shes made it clear to the magistrate she wants to set a trial date at that hearing it signals she wants to move she could set it before the one set for may. His other classified documents case, she could move it ahead. She could set it for early next year before that case. What are Donald Trumps rights here . He has a right to a speedy trial, but he also has a right to look at discovery and not be rushed into it how do those two factors play out . This will be up to her discretion there is no firm time line on when exactly she has to set the trial. But i could see her split the baby and say, you dont get to prolong it forever but she might not give the government 70 days that might be pushing it. The other issue is dont talk to witnesses you cant try to influence jurors we hear that typically at rainment and things like that. How fascinating, though, because donald trump came yesterday with two potential witnesses traveling with him jason miller, his senior adviser, who is mentioned not by name but his conduct is in the indictment and an aid. Hes under an order not to talk to those witnesses about the case at all so you cant be accused of colluding on the testimony. Obviously hes traveling with walt nada, a codefendant in his other case thats who was holding the umbrella. Yes lets talk about the politics of this donald trump is crushing the competition. It is not even close so how does this play. Hes crushing the competition, savannah. There is a new poll out today that shows hes up 44 to 24 over ron desantis. We are seeing with each new indictment hes only solidifying his lead you have candidates like chris cristie, will hurd taking the gloves off former Vice President mike pence started to sharpen his tone this week, but hes barely registering in the polls he doesnt qualify for the debate nikki haley said, i dont want to talk about this i want to talk about the issues. Why is that unusual . They are literally ignoring the elephant in the room i spoke to a top gop lawmaker who said he doesnt want to see trump as the nominee who says we need to see one of these two things these candidates either need to start dropping out or speaking from the same chorus book and condemning or at least making arguments to voters that trump has too much baggage in 19 days, it debate. The former President Donald Trump says right now it doesnt look like hes going to come. And why should he . Why should you go when you are crushing your competition. Strategically speaking, it doesnt make much sense. I spoke to an aide close to him that said, no, it doesnt make sense. You see the ways in which the court dates dove tail into the public appearances. That keeps the spotlight on donald trump. It makes it that much harder for donald trump the break through. Thats what theyre trying to do right now. This goes back to the point that laura is making which is that his he team is signaling they want to run out the clock. They want this to last as long as possible. Noably there is a new poll showing that about 45 of Republican Voters would not support him if he were convicted, but will that happen before they get a chance to go to the polls . And the bottom line on this issue is timing because it is critical here. It is up to the judge. Up to the trump appointed judge in florida for timing, up to the obama appointed case in washington for timing. Random assignments. They spin the wheel and thats how you get the judge. Inside trump world, if the president can make it to the general election and win, then all of this will potentially fade away. Okay. Thank you. Lets move to a pair of stunning arrests. Two u. S. Sailors in custody accused of sending sensitive military information to china. Vigil joins us for details. Miguel joins us for details. Good morning, miguel. Good morning. Reporter this is the naval base where one of the spies served before he was arrested. He faces 20 years in prison. The second faces up to life in prison. As of right now, there is no indication they were working together. This morning, two american sailors charged with passing sensitive intelligence to china in exchange for money. The department of justice and fbi announces their arrest. When a soldier or sailor chooses cash over country and hands over National Defense information in an ultimate act of betrayal, we have to be ready to act. Reporteter 22yeararold wa sailor on the Amphibious Assault ship. He sent information to china including documents, photos, and technical manuals. In exchange, this Intelligence Officer gained thousands of dollars. Reporter he has been charged under the espionage act which carries a life sentence. His attorney pleading not guilty on his behalf. And the petty officer working at a naval base in Ventura County california pleading not guilty in federal court. Officials say he gave nonpublic intel to a chinese Intelligence Officer for almost two years, passing along operational plans for military exercises, photographs and blueprints of a radar system on a u. S. Military base in okinawa, japan. And details about the navys operations at its home base and on san clemente island. In exchange they allege a chinese operative paid him about 15,000. Mr. Zhao chose a path of corruption. Reporter Officials Say charges were part of a broader strategy by the u. S. To counter chinas criminal efforts to steal its sensitive information. It is one more example of the peoples republic of china ongoing and Brazen Campaign to target u. S. Officials with access to sensitive u. S. Military secrets. Reporter both sailors who remain in custody are expected in court in a few weeks. Their trial in federal court is expected to start a little after that. We did reach out to the chinese government. These are, quote, groundless slander. Hoda, back to you. Miguel, thank you. A frightening image leased by the ntsb this morning with a close call between a private leer jet and a jetblue flight in boston it happened in friday. Here is a screen capture from the cockpit of the jet blue plane that shows the moment the leer jet was taking off right in front of the jet blue flight beginning to land. The pilot said they were 30 feet off the ground at the moment the captain said they cant estimate how close they were to the smaller plane, but they were able to pull up, go around the captain blamed a cold and stuffy nose to his pilot, copilot, who was operating the plane. Turning now to a new development in the Idaho College murders case a man accused for those murders, his attorneys reveal his alibi however, it is raising more questions about his exact whereabouts on the night of the crime. Reporter yeah. Bryan kohbergers team gave the defense saying the defendant was driving by himself at the time of the murder, but say more details will come out during trial. This morning Bryan Kohbergers alleged alibi refused for the first time kohbergers attorneys say he was driving alone the night four university o idaho students were murdered in november mr. Kohberger has long had a habit of going for drives alone. Often they would go for drives at night beyond that, the defense didnt reveal much more in the alibi, revealing mr. Kohberger is not claiming to be in a specific location at a specific time. There is not a specific witness to say exactly where he was at each moment the time the murders took place. They want to give the state as little as they possibility could so they dont have to reveal their hand. Reporter however, the defense did say possible corroborating evidence provided during the trial thats scheduled to begin in october. Kohberger is charged with four counts of first degree murder for the murders of ethan chapin, Kaylee Goncalves, xana kernodle, madison mogen, and ethan chapin. An idaho judge entering a not guilty plea on his behalf. At the center of the case, a white hyundai elantra. Following the killings, investigators focussing on a similar car sitting near the crime scene the night of the murders. If he was driving around in a white automobile, thats part alibi and part not an alibi because the state is saying that he was driving around in a white alibi. Now, the next time we will see kohberger in court is august 15th they want the judge to dismiss the grand jury indictment. Meanwhile, the family of Kaylee Goncalves say they look forward to keeping the case on track for trial. Not too late to buy a chance for 1 billion dont wait too long. The Mega Millions drawing is tonight. Its a whopping 1. 25 billion dollars now. Fourth largest prize in the contests history. The jackpot has been building since it was last one back in april. By the way, even if you dont watch all six numbers, second nn tuesday won prize isnt the worth. Seven tickets won 1 million or more you dont even have to win. Second place sounds pretty good. Hey, here we go you got to be in it to win it. Unfortunately when you are in this kind of weather, you are not winning. This is alabama. We had a possible tornado touchdown, causing massive damage a lot of trees down. No reported injuries, so we love that but we have more Severe Weather to talk about. Flooding and flash flood warnings from mississippi back into the planes, especially into missouri on into kentucky. We have a risk of Severe Weather today. Tomorrow from sioux falls to wichita, we move on to sunday. The chance for showers, thunderstorms, isolated tornadoes, damages winds and hail and then monday we have a risk of Severe Weather from syracuse on into columbus heavy rain today stretching from the plains all the way down into the Lower Mississippi valley we have wet weather in the pacific northwest. But to the north, chicago, charlotte all looking good that heat goes into the weekend. Nice, wild conditions up to the north. We will get to your local forecast in the next 30 seconds. Aiddriven insisights to pininpoint inefefficiency . Yep. P. And act o on it. Saving enenergy, moneyey. And ememissions. Yuyup. 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Is back here in chicago this weekend, shes competing. What does that mean for team usa on the way to the Paris Olympics well break it down. This goes out to the Swifties Taylor swift adding new dates. Giving hope to fans who missed out on her first leg how you can get your chance at tickets. Do you think your chances are coming up, are you a magnet for mosquitos . Yes. We will share some answers why some of us get targeted by those pesky bugs it is not what you think plus, hohow to treatat the bite maybe e even prevevent them. But, firirst, your l local news weatheher. If y you want a a piece betterer get in liline aiaint nobody do it like thi go so o hard no i i just t quit dont t quit im coming o out with a a g b bang go so o hard no i i just t quit dont t quit blblowin up im the nextxt g thing b big thing dodo yoyou like me e now . Dododo you lilike . Blblowin up im the nextxt g thing b big thing wewe dont jusust have everyrything. 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