Trump Pleads Not Guilty In Arraignment Over Classified Files
Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to historic charges of mishandling sensitive files at a federal court in Miami, Florida.
Mr Trump is the first US president – current or former – to be hit with a federal criminal indictment.
He will be spared a mugshot, but is expected to be digitally fingerprinted and submit a DNA sample by swab.
This is the second time Mr Trump has appeared in court this year, but Tuesday’s case is more serious.
Small crowds of Trump supporters and counter-protesters were outside the Wilkie D Ferguson Jr. court in downtown Miami.
Appearing before a judge, Mr Trump denied 37 counts of illegally retaining classified documents and obstructing the government’s efforts to get them back.
He was processed at the court alongside a close aide, Walt Nauta, who is charged with six criminal counts in the same case.
Mr Trump, 76, was driven by motorcade from the Trump National Doral resort – where he spent the night – to court for his arraignment.
During the drive, several messages were posted to Mr Trump’s account on the social media platform Truth Social, including one in all capital letters saying: “One of the saddest days in the history of our country. We are a nation in decline!!!”
Alina Habba, a lawyer attorney for the former president, repeated the former president’s claims that the charges were politically motivated as she addressed media outside court.
“We are at a turning point in our nation’s history, the targeting prosecution of a leading political opponent is the type of thing you see in dictatorships like Cuba and Venezuela,” she told reporters.
“What is being done to President Trump should terrify all citizens of this country,” she added.
Instead of facing the humiliation of a booking photo, the US Marshals Service – which secures federal courts – will use a previously taken photo of Mr Trump, officials at the court briefed journalists on Tuesday morning.
Mr Trump, who has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, is expected to return to his golf resort in Bedminster, New Jersey, where he will make remarks to the media.
Reuters/Shakirat Sadiq
