Former US President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty on Thursday to charges against him in conspiring to overturn his US elections defeat in 2020.
Trump appeared before a magistrate judge in Washington's federal courthouse two days after being indicted on four felony counts by Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith.
He was accused of trying to subvert the will of voters and obstruct the certification of Democrat Joe Biden's victory before January 6, 2021. A mob of supporters stormed the US Capitol in a violent clash with law enforcement.
Trump entered through the backdoor of the courthouse on Thursday afternoon in the centre of nation's capital.
Four charges against him included conspiracy to defraud the US, obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy against the rights of citizens.
Magistrate Judge Moxila Upadhyaya told the former president not to communicate about the facts of the case.
Failure to comply would result in an arrest warrant, warned the Judge.
Trump's defence attorney John Lauro said they would need more time to prepare.
The allegation laid out on Tuesday in an indictment or charge sheet include a count of "conspiracy to impair, obstruct, and defeat the federal government function through dishonesty, fraud and deceit."
Trump is running for the 2024 US elections.
Speaking to the reporters he said that his was arraignment was a "very sad day for America".
"Was sad to see the filth and the decay and all of the broken buildings and walls and the graffiti" in the Washington DC, he said.
"I think that everybody was made aware that he lost the election, but that doesn't mean that was the only advice he was given," said Alina Habba, one of his lawyers.
She argued that Trump was given bad guidance by his team in the aftermath of the election.
"But that doesn't mean there weren't other people advising him exactly the opposite. And the president has a right, as every one of us do, to listen to several opinions and make a decision," she added.
A group of Trump supporters assembled outside the courthouse to support him.
The next hearing will take place on August 28. However, the judge may set a trial date.
Altogether, Trump is facing five trials, three in New York over hush-money payment, and civil trials over business practices and alleged defamation of a woman who accused him of rape.
The fourth trial will take place in Florida relating to the alleged mishandling of classified documents.
(With agencies inputs)
