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Former U.S. President Donald Trump appeared Tuesday before a Miami (Florida) court for an initial hearing in the case for alleged mishandling of classified documents.
Trump pleaded not guilty before federal Judge Jonathan Goodman in a courtroom at the Wilkie D Ferguson Courthouse in Miami.
He faces 31 counts of “willful withholding” of classified documents under the Espionage Act, and six other charges, including obstruction of justice and false statements.
The former president was arrested immediately after turning himself in to federal authorities. He was then released without precautionary measures after the judge determined that he was not a flight risk.
Trump advisor Walt Nauta, who is also charged in the case, appeared in court alongside Trump. He was not arraigned because he had not retained local counsel with standing to practice law in Florida. He is scheduled to appear in court on June 27.
Former US President Donald #Trump pleads not guilty in a federal court in Miami, Florida to 37 criminal counts related to keeping and hiding classified documents.
Trump spent about 50 minutes in the court and was released under instructions to not speak to potential witnesses.… pic.twitter.com/uFj2eCL3uJ
— GAROWE ONLINE (@GaroweOnline)
June 13, 2023
The federal investigation against Trump for allegedly possessing classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate residence in Florida is being led by Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith.
A raid on Trump’s residence took place last August, in which agents recovered boxes of government papers.
The 76-year-old politician said the documents he took to his residence had been previously declassified. Trump assured that the accusations against him are aimed at blocking his presidential aspirations for 2024.
