former president Donald Trump surrendered to Federal authorities today in Miami he was arrested and booked indicted for the second time this one for 37 felony counts related to mishandling classified documents Trump pleaded not guilty as a crowd of supporters waited outside the courtroom Trump's Aid and co-defendant Walt NADA also has been arrested fingerprinted and processed it kicks off what will likely be a long and dramatic judicial process for the 2024 GOP Presidential front-runner giving his Rivals like New Jersey's own former Governor Chris Christie plenty to swing at Christie calling his former Ally a loser during a CNN Town Hall Monday night escalating an already heated primary race senior correspondent Joanna gagas has the latest in the hearing that lasted about 47 minutes former president Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to the 37 felony indictments against him including Espionage against the United States the magistrate instructed Trump not to discuss the case with his co-defendant Walt NADA or with any Witnesses supporters cheered we want Trump as the president left the courthouse although Mike erasmussen called it a sober moment these are serious charges really very alarming Behavior by a former president to have been so Cavalier with the nation's most classified information the 37 indictments allege that some of the 30 boxes of documents included information about the nation's defense and weapons capabilities and U.S nuclear programs special counsel Jack Smith has called it a matter of life and death Trump is still putting together a new legal team to represent him in the case where he'll likely draw comparisons to classified documents found in President Biden and vice president Mike Pence's offices there's a very very big difference when the government asked for those files back they gave them back and Trump did not the arraignment comes as the Republican primary is swinging into full steam former Governor Chris Christie who threw his hat in the ring last week wasted no opportunity to call out the former president during a town hall last night people in my own party who are blaming doj how about blame him as political performances go Christy got high marks from New Jersey strategist was the Charisma that we all remembered from back when he was governor look he's a Chris Christie is an unnaturally gifted politician Chris Christie is already carving out a role for himself that no other candidates playing in the Republican field so far he is saying things and being critical of trump in a way that no one else is loser loser loser now we're getting going it'll be different this time why it's an aggressive tone new jerseyans are familiar with and it's the first time a republican candidate has so boldly called out the former president on the campaign Trail but will it actually work to pluck supporters away from Trump and toward Christie the hardcore Trump base is still around that third of the party who will never ever ever leave um so to to Christy or to santis or anyone looking for the alternative I think the path is there although it is uh it's narrower than it was in 2016 and if Trump you know continues to to push forward it could get narrower than that Julie roginski thinks Christy has a hard time convincing any Republicans he's the right candidate let's not forget Chris Christie was the first really mainstream Republican to endorse Donald Trump back in 2016 when he dropped out of the race and he enabled Donald Trump every step of the way that's why I never understood what the path is for Chris Christie if he really is serious about wanting to be president the anti-magged people never believed that he was one of them because he enabled Christy for so long but the pro-mag of people who are unfortunately the vast majority of the Republican Party obviously don't like what he's selling now Christy is likely trying to capitalize on the moment a former president indicted by a federal court for the first time ever I do see evidence that Trump's numbers are going down right I do see evidence that this uh latest set of indictments 37 indictments is affecting him it's not moving the needle for DeSantis it's not making him any uh more popular with Republicans but it's also not benefiting Christie and if Christy is in fact so intent on making sure Trump is not the nominee does his candidacy actually help Trump battle Republican field will give Trump the victory yes I mean just like it did in 2016 he benefits energized base who's not going to leave him so the larger the field is the the less of a chance frankly to no chance people like Chris Christie or Nikki Haley or right these people have former president Trump is already using the indictment to his Advantage holding a massive fundraiser back here in Bedminster tonight where he'll likely raise millions of dollars I'm Joanna Gagis NJ Spotlight news [Music]