[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]Former President Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to 37 counts of mishandling secret documents.
During Trump’s arraignment Tuesday in a federal courthouse in Miami, his lawyers requested a jury trial. “We will almost certainly enter a plea of not guilty,” Trump attorney Todd Blanche told the judge.
Trump sat slumped down with his arms crossed and a grimace on his face during the session. He didn’t say anything.
Walt Nauta, Trump’s adviser and co-defendant, was also detained, fingerprinted, and processed. He appeared in court for the first time on Tuesday but will not be charged until June 27.
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Here’s what else happened during Tuesday’s hearing, which lasted around 45 minutes:
Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman decided that Trump was not permitted to interact with Nauta regarding the matter. The court also directed prosecutors to compile a list of potential witnesses with whom Trump cannot interact about the matter except through lawyers.
The judge, however, did not impose any travel limitations on either defendant.
Both Trump and Nauta were recommended for release without any financial or special conditions by the Justice Department. According to Prosecutor David Harbach, “the government does not view either defendant as a flight risk.”
On Tuesday, Goodman began his hearing by praising “the entire law enforcement community” for their efforts.
Deputy marshals booked the former president and took computerised fingerprints before the arraignment hearing. They did not take mugshots of Trump since he is immediately identifiable. The booking procedure took roughly ten minutes.
The criminal charges in the Justice Department’s secret materials case raise the legal stakes for the GOP’s 2024 presidential candidate. The arraignment on Tuesday was accompanied by special counsel Jack Smith.
Trump is charged with 37 felonies, including illegally retaining national defence secrets and concealing papers in violation of witness-tampering statutes during the Justice Department’s investigation into the materials.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
