Former US President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to federal criminal charges accusing him of unlawfully retaining national-security documents and lying to officials attempting
to retrieve them after leaving office.
The plea was entered before US Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman in a federal court in Miami, setting the stage for a legal battle that is likely to unfold over the next few months as Trump campaigns to regain the presidency in the 2024 election. Experts anticipate that it could take a year or longer before a trial occurs.
During the hearing, Trump, dressed in a blue suit and red tie, remained silent while frowning and leaning back in his chair. He was granted permission to leave the court without any conditions or travel restrictions, and no cash bond was required. However, the judge ruled that he should not communicate with potential witnesses involved in the case.
Walt Nauta, an aide to Trump who is also facing charges in the same case, appeared alongside Trump in court. However, Nauta did not enter a plea because he does not yet have a local lawyer. Similar to Trump, he was released without having to post bond and was instructed not to speak with other witnesses.
As Trump's motorcade departed the courthouse, supporters chanted "We love Trump." Authorities had taken precautions for possible violence, recalling the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. However, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez stated that there were no security issues.
Trump has consistently maintained his innocence and accused President Joe Biden's administration of targeting him. On social media, he referred to Special Counsel Jack Smith, who is leading the prosecution, as a "Trump hater."
Following the hearing, Trump addressed his supporters at a Cuban restaurant, Versailles, stating that the United States is "rigged," "corrupt," and "in decline." Trump's legal troubles have not diminished his aspirations of returning to the White House. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Monday revealed that he still leads the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential election by a substantial margin, with 81% of Republican voters considering the charges politically motivated.
The indictment against Trump alleges that he risked national security by taking thousands of sensitive documents with him when he left the White House in January 2021. These documents were allegedly stored in an unorganized manner at his Mar-a-Lago Florida estate and New Jersey golf club. The indictment claims that these records contained information about the secretive US nuclear program and potential vulnerabilities in the event of an attack.
Trump is charged with violations of the Espionage Act, which criminalizes the unauthorized possession of defense information, as well as conspiracy to obstruct justice. If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Legal experts believe the evidence against him is substantial, and the trial is expected to proceed swiftly. However, handling classified evidence and potential legal maneuvers by Trump's legal team could potentially delay the trial by more than a year.
While awaiting trial, Trump is free to continue his presidential campaign and could assume office even if found guilty. Trump accuses Biden of orchestrating the federal case to undermine his campaign, although Biden has maintained distance from the matter and refrained from commenting on it. In Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, he called for imprisoning his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton for using a private email server while serving as Secretary of State. Photo by Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia commons.