Donald Trump pleaded not guilty at an arraignment in a federal courthouse in Miami on Tuesday to all 37 charges of mishandling classified information levied against him.
Another charge against the indicted Trump, the first former United States president to be federally prosecuted, includes conspiring to obstruct justice.
The indictment states that Donald Trump was involved in packing the documents as he left the White House in 2021, that he bragged about having secret materials, and caused his own lawyer to mislead the FBI about what kind of papers he had stored at his Mar-a-Lago home.
The indictment also stated that the materials he stored in his home included nuclear programs, defense and weapons capabilities of the US and foreign governments
Trump’s aide, Walt Nauta, was also indicted for concealing documents and for making false statements. He did not enter a plea Tuesday.
He holds that he is innocent of all charges and was unfairly being targeted by prosecutors because he’s running for the presidency again.
Trump arrived at the courthouse to meet hundred of his supporters – though the number was lower than expected. After the court proceeding, he gave his signature thumbs-up to the crowd outside before heading to a popular Cuban restaurant in Miami in a motorcade.
In the restaurant, people sang “Happy Birthday” as he turns 77 on Wednesday.
Then Trump flew on his private jet to New Jersey, where backers welcomed him with rally-like enthusiasm, music and chants for a speech delivered before a clubhouse with columns resembling the White House.
What Happens After Trump’s Not Guilty Plea?
Donald Trump was allowed to leave court without conditions, travel restrictions, or cash bonds. US Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman however ordered him not to communicate with potential witnesses in the case.
Trump’s aide Walt Nauta, appeared alongside the former president but will not have to enter a plea until June 27 because he does not have a local lawyer. He, too, was released without having to post bond and was ordered not to talk to other witnesses.
It could take a year or more before a trial takes place, and federal prosecutors will start handing over evidence to Trump’s lawyers.
Trump’s defense also is also expected to try to dismiss the case for reasons such as his claim to have declassified the documents before taking them.
However, motions to dismiss criminal cases are usual but rarely succeed because defendants face a high burden of convincing a judge that their case is too flawed to even go before a jury.
