Trump pleads ‘not guilty’ for 3rd time this year
The former president was arraigned in a federal courthouse for Jan. 6 election interference case
Former United States President Donald Trump was arraigned in the federal courthouse in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, where he heard charges accusing him of attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 elections.
Trump traveled in a private plane from his resort in Bedminster, New Jersey. He was welcomed by protesters and heavy security outside the court.
The former president pleaded “not guilty” for the third time this year.
Hours beforehand, he posted the following message to his supporters on Truth Social:
“I AM NOW GOING TO WASHINGTON, D.C., TO BE ARRESTED FOR HAVING CHALLENGED A CORRUPT, RIGGED, & STOLEN ELECTION. IT IS A GREAT HONOR, BECAUSE I AM BEING ARRESTED FOR YOU. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”
Trump was released on the condition that he is not allowed to communicate with witnesses in the case except through an attorney.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, an Obama appointee, presided over the proceedings and set the first hearing date in the case for Aug. 28 at 10 a.m.
Special Counsel Jack Smith, who handed down the indictment, was present at the hearing. He alleged that Trump, along with six other unnamed, unindicted co-conspirators, engaged in efforts to change the outcome of the vote despite no credible evidence of widespread voter fraud.
The 45-page indictment unsealed on Tuesday included four counts: Conspiracy to defraud the United States; Conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; Obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding; Conspiracy against rights.
“Shortly after the election day, the Defendant also pursued unlawful means of discounting legitimate votes and subverting the election results,” read the indictment.
Federal prosecutors said in the indictment that Trump knew his allegations about the elections were false, yet he continued to push them anyway. They accused the 45th president of seeking to “exploit” the Capitol riot events on Jan. 6, 2021, deceiving rioters to believe that then-Vice President Mike Pence could change the election results.
“On January 6th, Former President Trump demanded that I choose between him and the Constitution. I chose the Constitution and I always will,” Pence wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.
He stressed that Trump’s indictment “serves as an important reminder: anyone who puts himself over the Constitution should never be President of the United States.”
Trump continues to lead the pack of 2024 Republican contenders by a large margin. National primary polls reveal he is pulling more than 50% of his support from Republican voters, placing him 37% ahead of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. No other Republican contender has reached 10%.
As Trump’s legal troubles proceed and pile up, ALL ISRAEL NEWS is keeping track and keeping readers informed about the cases.
Overall, the GOP frontrunner is facing three felony cases, two civil lawsuits and two federal indictments.
Tal Heinrich is a senior correspondent for both ALL ISRAEL NEWS and ALL ARAB NEWS. She is currently based in New York City. Tal also provides reports and analysis for Israeli Hebrew media Channel 14 News.
