Trump pleads not guilty to all 37 charges of hoarding top secret documents
Former President Donald Trump has faced court and pled not guilty after being arrested and processed in his history making indictment today.
The former president has been booked in and fingerprinted but no mugshot has been taken and no photos have yet emerged from his appearance.
Trump attorney Todd Blanche told the court on the former President's behalf: "We most certainly enter a plea of not guilty." When asked by Judge Jonathan Goodman how he pleaded, his attorney, Mr Blanche replied: "Not guilty, your honour".
It is understood his wife, Melania Trump, was in New York, although it was unclear why.
The businessman, 76, was today brought before Judge Goodman, where he denied 37 counts of illegally retaining classified documents and obstructing the US government’s efforts to get them back.
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His appearance kickstarted a legal process that will unfold at the height of the 2024 presidential campaign and carry profound consequences as he bids to recapture the White House.
Trump and his co-defendant and loyal aide Walt Nauta, have both been released without restrictions as Judge Goodman ruled neither posed a flight risk and did not have to put up a cash bond.
Some legal experts have argued Trump will seek to delay any trial hoping that he could be elected beforehand, which would allow him to dismiss the charges against him.
Former President Donald Trump arrives at court today (AP)His motorcade’s trip from Trump National Doral Miami to the Miami courthouse took approximately 25 minutes. Four black vehicles entered the garage beneath the Miami court building, followed by police.
A fifth black vehicle remained outside. It's been reported that Trump travelled with son Eric Trump, with CNN airing footage of Trump walking past a line of vehicles from his Doral resort in Florida with his son by his side.
Trump stopped and waved at supporters after one yelled: "Let's go Trump!"
Eric appeared to clap his father on the back just before he climbed into a vehicle.
Huge crowds have been seen gathered outside the Miami CourthouseAhead of his arrival at the Miami federal court, officials had prepared for possible unrest by crowds that officials estimated could number in the thousands.
But whether it was a show of how far his personal appeal to voters had fallen in the States, his supporters failed to show in any great strength.
Trump arrived at the courthouse via an underground tunnel, kept from public view.
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By 2.05pm local time, after being arrested by the FBI, he, along with Mr Nauta, had completed the booking process before he then appeared in court.
Supporters wait for the arrival of former President Donald Trump at the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse (AP)Trump approached his arraignment with characteristic bravado, insisting that through years of legal woes, he had done nothing wrong and was being persecuted for political purposes.
But the gravity of the moment was unmistakable as he answered 37 felony counts that accuse him of wilfully retaining classified records.
Prosecutors argue the files - stored openly throughout his Mar-A-Lago property, including in a bath - could have jeopardised national security if exposed.
Trump is accused of hiding the documents from investigators who demanded them back, even telling his lawyers to lie.
Alina Habba, lawyer for former President Donald Trump, speaks outside the courthouse in Miami (AP)Outside the court, attorney and spokesperson for Trump Alina Habba, who is not representing him in this case, said: "The people in charge of this country do not love America, they hate Donald Trump.
"What we are witnessing today is the blatant and unapologetic weaponisation of the criminal justice system."
She continued: "What is being done to the [former] president Trump should terrify all citizens of this country. This is not the ideals our democracy is founded on, this is not our America."
The former president is now under arrest. 31 of the counts against him come under an Espionage Act statute pertaining to the willful retention of national defense information.
The booking means the Mr Nauta and Trump have had paperwork filled out and digital fingerprints taken.
As many as 1,000 people are thought to be gathered outside the courthouse either in support of the former president, or against him. This is along with a huge media presence, with journalists from across the world camped out to cover the historic proceedings.
Trump supporters have been honking their horns and screaming wildly as Trump arrived at the courthouse in downtown Miami as he makes his first appearance on the criminal charges.
While this is Trump's second court appearance in the last two months, Espionage Act charges carry far heftier potential jail sentences if he is convicted, and legal experts have deemed his New York trial minimally significant by comparison to this one.
Trump waves to supporters as he his Trump National Doral resort to head to court (AP)The case is laden with political implications for Trump, who currently holds the dominant spot in the early days of the 2024 Republican presidential primary.
But it also poses profound legal consequences given the prospect of a years-long prison sentence. Even for a defendant whose post-presidential life has been dominated by investigations, the documents probe has stood out for the apparent volume of evidence amassed by prosecutors and the severity of the allegations.
Trump’s arraignment, though largely procedural, was the latest in an unprecedented public reckoning this year for the businessman.
The former US leader also faces charges in New York arising from hush money payments during his 2016 presidential campaign and ongoing investigations in Washington and Atlanta into efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 race.
Trump's motorcade heads for miami court (sky news)He has sought to project confidence in the face of unmistakable legal peril, attacking special counsel Jack Smith as “a Trump hater,” pledging to stay in the race and scheduling a speech and fundraiser for last night at his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club.
“They’re using this because they can’t win the election fairly and squarely,” Trump said ahead of his court appearance.
A federal grand jury in Washington had heard testimony for months in the documents case. Still, the Justice Department filed it in Florida, where Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort is located and where many of the alleged acts of obstruction occurred.
It is still being determined what defences he will likely cite as the case progresses.
Miami Police cars line up outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Federal Courthouse (Getty Images)Two of his lead lawyers announced their resignation after his indictment. The notes and recollections of another attorney, M. Evan Corcoran, are cited repeatedly throughout the 49-page charging document, suggesting prosecutors envision him as a potential key witness.
Trump has said he’s looking to add to his legal team though no announcements have been made, with reports those he had approached had all refused.
The unsealed indictment charged Trump with 37 felony counts, 31 relating to the wilful retention of national defence information. Other charges include conspiracy to commit obstruction and false statements.
The indictment alleges Trump intentionally retained hundreds of classified documents from the White House to Mar-a-Lago after leaving the presidency in January 2021.
Donald Trump's motorcade en route to the Miami courthouse (AP)The material he stored in a bathroom, ballroom, bedroom and shower included material on nuclear programs, defence and weapons capabilities of the US and foreign governments and a Pentagon “attack plan,” the indictment says.
The information, if exposed, could have put at risk military members, confidential human sources and intelligence collection methods, prosecutors said.
Beyond that, prosecutors say, he sought to obstruct government efforts to recover the documents, including by directing personal aide Nauta, who was charged alongside Trump, to move boxes to conceal them and also suggesting to his own lawyer that he hide or destroy documents sought by a Justice Department subpoena.
Leaving his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, on Monday to make the flight to Miami, Trump is expected to appear back at his club afterwards for a media appearance.
Armed federal agents patrol the courthouse (AP)Before leaving, Trump encouraged his followers and supporters to stage a protest at the courthouse today.
“We need strength in our country now,” Trump said Sunday, speaking to longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone in an interview on WABC Radio.
“And they have to go out, and they have to protest peacefully. They have to go out. Look, our country has to protest. We have plenty of protests to protest. We’ve lost everything."
Taking to his Truth Social platform prior to setting off, the former president called it "one of the saddest days in the history of our country".
A woman celebrating the indictment of former US president Donald Trump holds a banner in front of the White House in Washington, DC (AFP via Getty Images)He went on to tell supporters he was on his way to the courthouse, referring to the case as "witch hunt".
Last week's indictment came with 100 documents submitted by prosecutors that revealed documents were found hiding all over Trump's residence inside the Mar-a-Lago resort, including inside the ballroom and in a shower.
They also submitted evidence of Trump engaging in a conspiracy with an aide to obstruct the government's attempts to retrieve them.
After getting the first reports from his lawyers about the indictment last Friday, Trump took to Truth Social, posting an unhinged rant about special counsel Jack Smith and the DOJ, calling them "deranged" and "thugs," while pointing fingers at Biden and the FBI, accusing them of running a "witch hunt."
People rally outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse today (AP)In his posts, Trump defended his former aide, Walt Nauta, who will also be charged with espionage charges for his role in allegedly helping the former president lie to investigators about the location of the then-missing White House documents.
President Joe Biden has avoided commenting on the events surrounding the case, despite Trump's call-outs.
Kevin McCarthy, the speaker of the House of Representatives, Tweeted that it was "unconscionable for a president to indict the leading candidate opposing him. House Republicans will hold this brazen weaponisation of power accountable."
In April this year, Trump officially became the first president ever to be indicted and arrested on federal charges after pleading not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records, over a hush-money scandal payment to a porn star.
That trial will not take place until next year and, although the charges are serious, Trump is unlikely to face real consequences in that case.
This summer, prosecutors in Georgia will announce whether they plan to charge Trump as well, this time on his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election in that state.
Trump assured his followers that he plans to continue his 2024 presidential campaign no matter what happens with the trial.
According to legal experts, nothing in the law books prevent him from running his presidential campaign, even if convicted or jailed.
Polls have found that Trump is still the front-runner among Republicans, even after the arrests and court appearances.
"He can be indicted any number of times, and it won't stop his ability to stand for office," says Georgetown University Law Centre professor David Super.
His Florida federal trial will likely be scheduled to take place after the November 2024 election.
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