- Former United States President Donald Trump pleads not guilty to federal charges in the classified documents case
- The Republican businessman became the first former president of the U.S. to face a judge on federal charges
- Trump is accused of refusing to cooperate with federal officials to return sensitive materials to the government
Former United States President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to federal charges with an indictment over his handling of classified documents taken from the White House and kept at the Republican businessman's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
Trump recently became the first former president in the history of the United States to face a judge on federal charges. The Republican businessman pleaded not guilty in a Miami courtroom on Tuesday to dozens of felony counts alleging him of hoarding sensitive materials and refusing to cooperate with the government to bring them back.
Trump Pleads Not Guilty in Classified Documents Case
The court date kickstarts a legal process that could unfold at the peak of the 2024 presidential campaign. It could also include profound consequences for Trump's political future and his personal liberty, as per the Associated Press.
The former president approached his arraignment with his usual bravado, which he posted on social media platforms claiming his innocence. He insisted that he has done nothing wrong throughout the years of facing legal challenges and is only being persecuted for political purposes.
However, inside the Miami courtroom, he was seen sitting silently as a lawyer entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf during a brief arraignment. It ended without the former president not having to surrender his passport or otherwise getting his travel restricted.
While Trump's arraignment was largely procedural, it was seen as the latest development in an unprecedented public reckoning of the former president. He faces charges in New York to alleged hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign.
Before the arraignment, several notable allies of the former president arrived at Trump's golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. According to The Hill, these reportedly included MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, Andrew Giuliani, and Kash Patel.
Trump Supporters Gathered in Support of the Republican
Furthermore, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez emphasized the importance of peaceful protests outside Trump's arraignment. The Republican's remarks came as he is set to join the 2024 presidential race.
Suarez posted a video on his Twitter account that showed him meeting with people protesting the former president's indictment, and he assured them that "everything is safe." He noted that his role was maintaining the peace and being the city's mayor.
Walt Nauta, Trump's aide, who is charged with lying to investigators and scheming with the former president to hide boxes containing classified documents, also appeared before the magistrate judge. A lawyer for Nauta requested a two-week extension, citing a need for a local lawyer to sponsor him.
Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman was appointed to oversee the case. He ordered the Republican businessman not to discuss the case with Nauta or any other witnesses, a joint restriction in criminal cases, said the New York Times.
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