Former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Miami federal court to a 37-count indictment accusing him of deliberately keeping at his Palm Beach estate government documents that contained highly sensitive defense, weapons and nuclear information and of obstructing efforts by U.S. authorities to reclaim them.
In a packed courtroom, Trump entered his plea in a historic case marking the first federal prosecution of a former president and a potential hurdle in his renewed quest for the presidency in the 2024 election.
“We most certainly enter a plea of not guilty,” said attorney Todd Blanche, who was representing Trump in court alongside Chris Kise, a Florida-based attorney to the former president since last fall.
Trump was arraigned a day before his 77th birthday, appearing before Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman on the 13th floor of the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. Courthouse in downtown Miami. Trump was released on his own recognizance with no monetary bond and no travel restrictions. There were conditions that he not have any communications about the case with any witnesses. Prosecutor David Harbach told the judge that his team would prepare a list of witnesses with whom Trump cannot communicate about the case before trial.
Trump did not say anything during the 45-minute proceeding. Much of the time he was seated, hunched over with his hands clasped in front of him, with a stern and serious expression.
A heave presence of security was seen inside the courtroom, with two rows of security personnel including Secret Service officers seated behind the former president. Other security personnel and U.S. Marshals were also in the courtroom
Before the hearing started the courtroom was silent. At the end of the hearing Trump got up and was escorted out a side door.
The indictment, returned by a Miami federal grand jury last Thursday, accuses Trump of willfully retaining national defense secrets in violation of the Espionage Act, making false statements and conspiracy to obstruct justice.
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