14-6-2023 (MIAMI) Donald Trump, the former President of the United States, entered a plea of not guilty on Tuesday (Jun 13) to federal criminal charges accusing him of unlawfully retaining national-security documents after leaving office and providing false information to officials who sought to recover them.
Trump’s plea, presented before US Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman at a federal court in Miami, initiates a legal battle that is expected to unfold over the next several months as he campaigns for the presidency in the November 2024 election. Legal experts anticipate that it may take a year or longer for the trial to commence.
During the 47-minute hearing, Trump, dressed in a blue suit and red tie, sat in his chair with a frown and leaned back but refrained from speaking.
He was permitted to leave the court without any conditions or travel restrictions, and no cash bond was required. Judge Goodman, however, ruled that Trump was not allowed to communicate with potential witnesses involved in the case.
Accompanying Trump in court was his aide Walt Nauta, who is also facing charges related to the case. Nauta, who does not have a local attorney, will not be required to enter a plea until Jun 27. Similar to Trump, he was released without posting bond and instructed not to have any contact with other witnesses.
As Trump’s motorcade departed the courthouse at 3.55pm EDT, approximately two hours after its arrival, supporters chanted “We love Trump.”
This marks the second court appearance for Trump in recent months. In April, he pleaded not guilty to state charges in New York connected to a hush-money payment made to a porn star.
Trump is the first former US president to face federal criminal charges.
Authorities had taken precautions in anticipation of potential violence, given the attack on the US Capitol on Jan 6, 2021. However, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez informed reporters that there were no security issues reported. Trump has consistently asserted his innocence and accused President Joe Biden’s administration of targeting him.
After the hearing, Trump visited Versailles, a Cuban restaurant, where he told supporters that the United States was “rigged,” “corrupt,” and “in decline.”
“We’ve got a government that’s out of control,” he declared. The Cuban-American community in Florida represents a significant Republican voting bloc in this politically competitive state.
He subsequently returned to his New Jersey golf club on his private jet, where he was scheduled to address supporters at 8.15pm EDT.
Special Counsel Jack Smith, responsible for the case, accuses Trump of endangering national secrets by taking thousands of sensitive documents with him when he left the White House in January 2021 and storing them haphazardly at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida and his New Jersey golf club.
The recently released grand jury indictment, which consists of 37 counts, includes allegations that Trump lied to officials who attempted to recover the documents.
The indictment also asserts that Trump conspired with Nauta to retain classified documents and conceal them from investigators. Nauta has previously worked for Trump at the White House and Mar-a-Lago.
REPUBLICAN VOTERS, RIVALS SHOW SUPPORT FOR TRUMP
Trump’s legal troubles have not diminished his standing among Republican voters.
According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll published on Monday, Trump still maintains a significant lead over his Republican rivals in the race for the 2024 presidential nomination. Additionally, 81 percent of Republican voters view the charges against him as politically motivated.
Most of Trump’s Republican presidential rivals have rallied behind him and accused the FBI of displaying political bias, marking a notable departure from the party’s traditional support for law enforcement.
Vivek Ramaswamy, one of Trump’s competitors, stated outside the Miami courthouse that he would pardon Trump if elected.
ESPIONAGE ACT CITED IN TRUMP’S CHARGES
Trump is facing charges that include violations of the Espionage Act, which criminalizes unauthorized possession of defense information, as well as conspiracy to obstruct justice. If convicted, he could face a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.
Legal experts argue that the evidence against Trump is compelling, and Special Counsel Jack Smith has stated that Trump, who will turn 77 on Wednesday, will receive a “speedy” trial.
The judge assigned to the case, Aileen Cannon, was appointed by Trump in 2020 and previously issued a ruling in his favor during the investigation last year, which was later overturned on appeal. It is not expected that Magistrate Judge Goodman, who presided over Tuesday’s hearing, will play an ongoing role in the proceedings.
Experts suggest that the complexities involved in handling classified evidence and legal maneuvers by Trump’s lawyers could potentially delay the trial by more than a year. Trump’s defense team is undergoing changes after two lawyers resigned from the case last Friday.
In the interim, Trump is free to continue his presidential campaign and could assume office even if found guilty.
Trump has accused President Biden of orchestrating the federal case to undermine his campaign. President Biden has refrained from commenting on the matter and has maintained distance from the case.
During his first presidential campaign in 2016, Trump called for the imprisonment of his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, for her use of private email while serving as Secretary of State. This led to the popular chant of “lock her up” at his campaign rallies. Then-FBI Director James Comey criticized Clinton for her carelessness but did not recommend criminal charges.
