Former President Donald Trump appeared in a federal courthouse in Miami on Tuesday and entered a plea of not guilty to 37 federal charges. This unprecedented indictment of a former president includes allegations of unlawfully retaining government secrets and conspiring to obstruct justice.
The indictment claims that Trump was personally involved in packing classified documents as he left the White House in 2021. It also alleges that he boasted about possessing secret materials and caused his own lawyer to mislead the FBI regarding the nature of the papers stored at Mar-a-Lago.
Trump’s aide, Walt Nauta, has also been indicted on charges of concealing documents and making false statements but did not enter a plea during Tuesday’s hearing.
Trump vehemently denies the charges, arguing that he is being unfairly targeted by prosecutors due to his potential candidacy for the presidency in 2024. His Republican allies in Congress echo these claims, alleging bias within the Justice Department.
Special Counsel Jack Smith, appointed by the Justice Department to oversee an independent investigation of Trump, defended the work of his team and the FBI, emphasizing that the same set of laws applies to everyone in the country.
During the court proceedings, Trump’s attorneys and the government discussed communication with potential witnesses in the case. It was ultimately agreed that the government would provide a list of witnesses whom Trump is prohibited from contacting, which is likely to include Nauta.
While law enforcement had prepared for potentially large crowds outside the courthouse, only around a thousand Trump supporters gathered peacefully to show their support for the former president. Trump spent the rest of the afternoon surrounded by his supporters, signaling his determination to win the court of public opinion.
Following his departure from the courthouse, Trump made an unannounced stop at a Cuban restaurant in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood, where he greeted numerous individuals and exclaimed, “food for everyone,” eliciting cheers and chants of “USA!”
Later, in Bedminster, New Jersey, Trump addressed a fundraising event at his golf club, where he reiterated his belief that the investigation is evidence of a corrupt administration weaponizing justice. He criticized the arrest of his political opponent, claiming it was based on fake and fabricated charges.
As the legal process unfolds, Trump’s defense team is expected to explore various strategies, including potentially requesting a speedy trial within 70 days. However, factors such as the involvement of classified documents and potential pretrial motions could lead to delays. Trump’s legal challenges extend beyond the classified documents case, with ongoing investigations into his actions related to the January 6 Capitol riot and attempts to pressure state officials after the 2020 election.