Former US President Donald Trump made his first appearance in court on Tuesday, where he pleaded not guilty to 37 felony charges related to his handling of classified documents and alleged obstruction of the government’s efforts to recover them. This marks the first time in American history that a sitting president has been charged with a federal crime.
The arraignment took place at a federal courthouse, with Trump appearing slouched in his chair, his hands clasped in his lap, as he waited for the proceedings to begin, according to ABC News. Special counsel Jack Smith, who led the investigation, observed Trump closely from the front row but did not address the court, as reported by CBS News.
Trump’s attorney, Todd Blanche, entered the plea of not guilty on behalf of his client before Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman, who presided over the arraignment. Following the proceedings, Trump was released on his own recognizance and was not required to surrender his passport, enabling him to travel internationally, as stated in various news reports.
Judge Goodman issued an order prohibiting Trump from discussing the case with his personal aide and co-defendant, Walt Nauta, as well as any potential witnesses involved in the trial. The next hearing date has yet to be determined.
The charges against Trump stem from a year-long investigation conducted by the Justice Department. The indictment, unsealed on Friday, alleges that he unlawfully retained classified documents after his presidency ended and impeded the government’s efforts to retrieve hundreds of secret files, some of which pertained to US nuclear operations and national defense vulnerabilities.
According to the indictment, these classified records were found in unsecured areas of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, including a bathroom, ballroom, and storage room. Mar-a-Lago, a private club frequented by thousands of people annually, was the location where Trump stored these sensitive documents.
The recovered documents, obtained by the FBI through a subpoena and subsequent search, contained information on US and foreign nations’ defense capabilities, potential vulnerabilities to military attacks, and contingency plans for retaliation. Additionally, the indictment reveals two instances where Trump shared classified documents with individuals lacking security clearances.
The charges against Trump include willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding documents or records, corruptly concealing documents in a federal investigation, scheming to conceal, and making false statements and representations.
Hours before his court appearance, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to label Special Counsel Jack Smith a “thug” and accused him, his friends, and his family of planting evidence in the case. Trump also questioned why Smith had not reviewed allegations against President Joe Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, although Smith lacks the authority to examine such claims.
Walt Nauta, Trump’s personal aide and co-defendant, faces similar charges, including conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding documents or records, corruptly concealing documents in a federal investigation, scheming to conceal, and making false statements and representations. Nauta’s arraignment was delayed due to his inability to secure local counsel.
This spring, Trump previously entered a not-guilty plea in New York City on charges related to an alleged hush money payment made to a porn actor during the final days of the 2016 campaign. Moreover, he remains the subject of two ongoing criminal investigations into his role in 2020 election interference.
The media’s request to capture photos and videos of the unprecedented proceedings was denied by the magistrate judge. Additionally, Chief US Judge for the Southern District of Florida, Cecilia Altonaga, imposed a ban on reporters bringing electronic devices into the courtroom.
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