In one of the most important trials of the U.S. Constitution and its criminal justice system, former President Donald Trump entered a not-guilty plea on Thursday to charges that he participated in criminal conspiracies to rig the 2020 presidential election results and maintain his power.
Trump was charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, obstruction of justice, conspiracy to hinder an official investigation, and conspiracy against the right to vote and have one’s ballot counted when he was arraigned.
During the hearing, special counsel Jack Smith, who filed the case against Trump, was seated in the front row, roughly 10 feet away from the former president, who has called him a “deranged prosecutor.” Smith was in Trump’s line of sight, but Trump didn’t seem to want to look at him.
When asked to enter a plea, Trump stood and replied, “Not guilty” on all charges.
Another unusual and unheard-of event in American history, the arraignment saw a former president and current front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination accused of attempting to undermine the foundation of democracy, a free and fair election. Trump has now been indicted in three different cases in three different locations over the past four months, making him the only former president to ever face criminal charges.
After the hearing, Trump told reporters at the airport that “This is a very sad day for America.” Trump has always denied any wrongdoing.
He declared, “This is the persecuting of a political rival.” In America, “this was never supposed to happen.”
American government vs. Donald J. Trump
The prosecution requested a swift trial in the case in court, but Trump’s attorney John Lauro objected, citing the probable “massive” amount of information they anticipate receiving from Smith’s team.
Prosecutor Thomas Windom stated that as soon as a protective order is in place, the government will turn over a “substantial” quantity of discovery, or basically all of their material in the case.
In the case before U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan, the magistrate judge Moxila A. Upadhyaya set the return date on August 28. Trump can choose not to attend that session, according to her, and Chutkan hopes to set a trial date there.
Upadhyaya allowed the defense five days to respond after ordering Smith’s office to submit a proposal in seven days outlining their plan for when a trial should be established.
Before the hearing began, Trump talked with his two attorneys, Todd Blanche and Lauro, who were seated next to him at the defense table. Trump had his hands clasped.
The case was introduced by the court clerk as “United States of America vs. Donald J. Trump” and was heard by Upadhyaya for just under 30 minutes.
The government’s terms of release were outlined by Windom, among them the requirement that “the defendant shouldn’t communicate about the facts of the lawsuit to any individual known to be a witness unless through counsel or in the presence of counsel.”
The judge also cautioned Trump, saying, “It is a crime to attempt to influence a juror.” If he disobeyed the terms of his release, she said, “You might be held pending trial in this case.”
The judge questioned, “Do you understand all of these warnings and consequences, sir?” Yes, Trump nodded.
Three officers who worked on Jan. 6 — Metropolitan Police Department Officer Daniel Hodges, earlier Capitol Police Officer Aquilino Gonell, and Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn — observed the arraignment from a crowded room at the courthouse. At least three federal court judges were spotted sitting in the back row of the courtroom for the proceeding.
Before the hearing, Trump was processed and his fingerprints were taken at the E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse.
Soon after 2 p.m. ET, Trump left New Jersey, where he had been residing throughout the summer.
Soon after midday, Trump posted in all caps on his social media platform Truth Social, “I am currently going to Washington, D.C. in order to be arrested for having challenged a corrupt, rigged & stolen election.” Just before 3 p.m., he came at Reagan National Airport on his personal aircraft bearing his last name.
“Not suitable”
In preparation for the former president’s arrival and potential protests from both his supporters and adversaries, security was increased in the area surrounding the courthouse.
According to a statement posted on social media on Wednesday, Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said his organization was “working very closely with the Metropolitan Police Department, U.S. Capitol Police, U.S. Marshals Service, and the Federal Protective Service to make sure the highest levels of protection and safety for the former president, whereas minimizing disruptions to the normal court process.”
Trump will be digitally fingerprinted in the course of the booking process, according to a Marshals Service official, but no mugshot will be taken. As his arrest photo, officials will use an already-existing image of the frequently photographed former president.
About 50 people, including numerous news organizations, had already gathered outside by 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday to watch the events.
Shortly after Trump entered the courtroom, a legal representative for his Save America PAC, Alina Habba, talked to reporters outside and insisted that Trump “used the law in an appropriate manner” in the weeks following the election. Habba pointed to the situation outside the courthouse and stated, “This is not appropriate.”
A third of a mile and about a block separate the courthouse from the Capitol complex and the U.S. Capitol building, respectively. On January 6, 2021, enraged Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building in an effort to stop the certification of their candidate’s defeat.
Following a thorough investigation by Smith’s office into Trump’s attempts to hold onto power despite losing the presidential election, a federal grand jury decided to prosecute him on Tuesday.
According to the indictment, Trump participated in three criminal schemes that were all intended to maintain him in power.
Each of these conspiracies, according to the indictment, “targeted a bedrock operation of the United States federal government: the nation’s process of collecting, counting, as well as certifying the results of the presidential election.” These conspiracies “built on the widespread distrust that the Defendant was creating via pervasive and destabilizing lies regarding election fraud.”
Trump believes that Smith is participating in “election interference” by filing criminal charges against him as he seeks to retake the White House, despite his denials of any wrongdoing.
This is the second lawsuit Smith has filed against Trump in the last two months. Smith indicted Trump on 37 counts in June in Florida on suspicion of tampering with national security secrets and obstructing justice. Trump has entered a not guilty plea in this case, which he has dubbed “the boxes hoax.” Last Monday, Trump was charged with new counts in the case.
Trump was also charged with 34 felony counts of manipulating business records in a New York criminal court in April after being hauled there for his alleged involvement in hush money payments heading toward the end of his 2016 presidential campaign. There, he entered a not guilty plea to all of the charges.
In the three cases, Trump has been charged with 78 felonies in total.
A prosecutor in Fulton County, Georgia, has also stated that she is thinking about filing charges against Trump for attempting to overturn his loss there and may do so in the upcoming weeks.
On Thursday, Trump posted a remark on Truth Social that appeared to be an insult directed at Willis. The message stated, “I need an additional indictment to ensure my election!”