Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to all 37 charges filed against him by the Department of Justice (DOJ). On Tuesday, the former president arrived at the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. Courthouse in Miami, where he appeared before the judge and was booked by authorities. Afterward, he is expected to return to his home in New Jersey, where he will speak to the press.
It was the first time the former president came face to face with Jack Smith, the special prosecutor in charge of the case and whom the now-defendant defined as a "bully" and "Trump hater." Both CNN and CBS confirmed that Smith was present in the courtroom. Jonathan Goodman was the federal judge presiding over the initial appearance. Goodman, a magistrate judge, will then yield his seat to federal district judge Aileen Cannon, who was once a Trump nominee.
Todd Blanche, one of the new faces on the Republican's legal team, was the one who pleaded not guilty on behalf of his client before the judge. As reported by Telemundo, the former president was calm in the room, just like when he was arrested following his court appearance in Manhattan, N.Y., in April.
The former president left the courthouse in Miami around 3:50 p.m. and headed to the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey, where he will speak at around 8:15 p.m.
#BREAKING | Former President Donald Trump officially pleads NOT GUILTY to all charges in classified documents case. pic.twitter.com/Ya3q44UtuP
— VOZ (@Voz_US) June 13, 2023
Met with supporters at Cuban restaurant and sent thanks
Trump allowed himself one stop before taking off for New Jersey. He left the courthouse and arrived at Versailles, a popular Cuban restaurant in the Little Havana neighborhood, where he met with supporters. He was greeted with chants in favor of the United States and promised "food for all."
After this exchange, he took his phone and gave thanks for the affection on his Truth Social account. "Thank you, Miami. What a warm welcome on such a SAD DAY for our Country!" he wrote. When he arrived at the courthouse, people greeted him with an early "Happy birthday" greeting as he will turn 77 on Wednesday, June 14.
The accusations against Trump
According to the DOJ, Trump kept high-level material after leaving the White House, improperly shared it with those without authorization, and tried to block any attempt to retrieve the documents. Following the formal accusation, the former president revamped his legal team.
Specifically, the most complicated of the accusations for the former president is obstruction of justice, which is precisely what differentiates his case from that of Joe Biden, who voluntarily handed over the classified documents he had stored in the garage of his private residence next to his car.
Developing story...
