Trump Pleads Not Guilty in Documents Case – During a court hearing Tuesday, former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to 37 felony counts related to his alleged mishandling of classified documents. It is the first time a former president has been charged with a crime by the Department of Justice.
Trump Pleads Not Guilty in Documents Case
An indictment against the former President was issued last week on 37 counts. Some charges include willful mishandling of classified documents of national importance when he left the presidential office, obstruction of the investigation, and issuing false statements to hide the documents from law enforcement officials attempting to retrieve them at his residence.
Donald Trump was summoned last week to appear in a Miami courtroom on Tuesday regarding handling classified documents at his estate, Mar-a-Lago. According to reports, Trump has pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the criminal charges filed against him.
His lawyer entered a not-guilty plea in the Federal District Court courtroom on the 13th floor after Trump was booked, fingerprinted, and taken to the courtroom.
After a 45-minute hearing, Trump was released on his own recognizance. The 44-page indictment charges Walt Nauta with six counts, and the condition of his release is that he cannot discuss the case with him.
There will be no requirement for Trump to surrender his passport, and he can travel domestically and internationally without restriction. He left the courthouse shortly before 4 p.m. ET. Afterward, he flew to New Jersey to address supporters at his Bedminster resort.
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After flying on a private plane to Miami on Monday, Trump arrived at the courthouse at 1:50 p.m. ET, where he was booked.
Before the arraignment, court officials told reporters there would be no mugshot, and cameras were prohibited.
Monday night, special counsel Jack Smith, whose office led the investigation that led to Trump’s indictment, arrived in Miami.
The judge was informed by Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, that the defendant had entered a plea of not guilty. Judge Aileen M. Cannon will hear Trump’s case.
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However, Tuesday’s hearing was presided over by Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman, who is in charge of dealing with many aspects of court procedures and routine hearings.
According to reports, there were no restrictions on Trump’s departure from federal court. Prosecutors informed Magistrate Goodman that the accused was not at risk of fleeing.
