Former US President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to federal criminal charges on the classified documents case. Seeking a jury trial during the arraignment, Trump's lawyers told Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman that "we most certainly enter a plea of not guilty."
The former President, clad in a blue suit and a red tie, did not speak during the 47-minute hearing though he was seen scowling in his chair. Trump is the first former President to be charged with federal crimes.
On arrival at the Miami courthouse, deputy marshals booked Trump and took electronic copies of his fingerprints. As predicted, they did not take a mugshot of Trump since he is easily recognisable.
Trump's aide Walt Nauta, who is also charged in the case, appeared alongside Trump but did not have to enter a plea until June 27 because he does not have a local lawyer. He was also released without having to post bond, reported CNN.
Judge Goodman allowed Trump to leave court without conditions or travel restrictions. No cash bond was required either. Prosecutor David Harbach told court that both Trump and Nauta be released with no financial or special conditions as "the government does not view either defendant as a flight risk."
However, the judge ruled that Trump could not communicate with Nauta about the case. There is also a ban on Trump against communicating with other witnesses in the case, except through a counsel.
Former President Donald Trump leaves Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse after making a federal court appearance | AP
Trump faces 37 felony counts in connection with his alleged stashing of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. The Justice Department claims that Trump illegally retained national defense information and refused to return them. Images released along with the indictment shows boxes of documents stored on a ballroom stage, in a bathroom and strewn across a storage-room floor. Those records included information about the secretive U.S. nuclear program and potential vulnerabilities in the event of an attack, the indictment said.
After the arraignment, Trump headed to a Cuban restaurant where he warmly greeted waiting supporters who sang "happy birthday." Trump’s birthday is on Wednesday.
Trump told supporters that the United States was "rigged," "corrupt" and "in decline." "We've got a government that's out of control," he said.
Meanwhile, Trump spoke to supporters after arriving at New Jersey when he had been staying. "This day will go down in infamy," Trump said, adding that he would appoint a special prosecutor to target Democratic President Joe Biden.
He reiterated that he had "every right to have these documents." Calling on prosecutors to drop this case immediately because they’re destroying our country, Trump said: "This was an unwritten rule, you just don’t unless it’s really bad. But you just don’t. But the seal is now broken."
