Former President Trump’s made his first court appearance Thursday to enter a not guilty plea to charges in a federal indictment in the investigation of his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith, who was also in the Washington courtroom, unveiled the four-count indictment Tuesday, alleging Trump was the director of a conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and was also central to a campaign to prevent votes from being certified Jan. 6.
Trump appeared before a magistrate judge. His next hearing was set for Aug. 28.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan has been randomly assigned to handle Trump’s case going forward.
Chutkan has handled cases related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, and she also ruled against Trump when he filed a lawsuit in November 2021 that sought to block the National Archives from handing over documents related to the events of Jan. 6 to the House select committee investigating the attack.
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Jordan says indictment ‘hardens,’ ‘expands’ support for Trump
In an interview on Fox News Thursday, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said former President Donald Trump’s third indictment is furthering and solidifying support for his 2024 presidential bid.
“I do think the end result, the takeaway is, I think this just strengthens, just hardens the support for President Trump and frankly expands it,” Jordan said.
—Tara Suter
Capitol Police’s Dunn: Trump should have been arrested ‘on January 7’
Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn, who was on duty during the Jan. 6 insurrection and has been a prominent critic of former President Trump since, said action should have been taken sooner after rioters broke into the Capitol Building.
“They should have arrested him on January 7, but I’m not the one doing the investigation,” Dunn said in a CBS interview Thursday. “Every day that goes by, the more that is at stake.”
— Nick Robertson
Hurd ‘pissed’ about Trump arraignment
Republican presidential candidate and former Rep. Will Hurd (Texas) said former President Trump’s arraignment could be his election downfall, calling on voters to reject the race’s leading candidate.
“The fact that a former president is in our nation’s capital, in front of a judge, having to plead in a contest about trying to overturn an election is just outrageous. I’m like most Americans. I’m upset, I’m annoyed, I’m pissed,” Hurd said in a CNN interview Thursday.
Hurd added that U.S. allies abroad are worried about the country’s leadership and that leaders in China and Russia are laughing at the U.S.
“But here’s the great thing. We can do something about this. I don’t want the folks that are watching your show to be concerned or scared or upset about the fact that Donald Trump has a lead right now,” Hurd said.
— Nick Robertson
Trump’s motorcade is headed to Bedminster, N.J.
A Sketch depicts former President Donald Trump, right, conferring with defense lawyer Todd Blanche, center, during his appearance at the Federal Courthouse in Washington.
(Dana Verkouteren via AP)
Trump has landed in New Jersey
Former President Trump’s plane landed in New Jersey shortly after 6 p.m. following his arraignment in Washington, D.C. He pleaded not guilty to four criminal counts.
Trump campaign fundraising off arraignment
The Trump campaign blasted out a fundraising email as the former president flew back from his arraignment, seeking to capitalize on the day’s events to solicit donations.
“I’m writing you this email as I fly back from the belly of the beast where I was ARRAIGNED as an innocent man at the federal courthouse in Washington, D.C by Biden’s weaponized Department of Justice,” the email reads.
Trump’s campaign has previously seen spikes in donations in the days after his previous arraignments in New York City and Florida.
But financial disclosure forms filed earlier this week also gave insight into how Trump’s political operation has had to spend millions of dollars on legal fees, something that could become an issue for his campaign as his legal troubles grow.
—Brett Samuels
Bennie Thompson says he has mixed feelings about Trump going on trial
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), the former chairman of House panel that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack, said he has mixed feelings about former President Trump’s federal indictment this week in a CBS News interview Thursday.
“I don’t feel good about the fact that a former president of the United States is going on trial, but I do feel good that our system of democracy works,” Thompson said.
The indictment, he added, “is part of how we test our democracy. No one is above the law in the United States. It has nothing to do with the timing of the election.”
—Nick Robertson
First court sketch of former President Trump released
(Bill Hennessy via pool)
Trump departs DC
President Trump has departed Reagan National Airport en route to New Jersey.
He spoke briefly to a small group of reporters before he got on his plane to lambast D.C. and slam President Biden over the Jan. 6 charges he faces.
Trump supporters linger around courthouse
Some supporters were still gathered in front of the courthouse where former President Trump pleaded not guilty to federal criminal charges Thursday after Trump’s motorcade had left the building.
A man in a tricorn hat with a guitar strapped around him spoke over a loudspeaker to suggest subpoenas of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and President Biden.
The man railed against a two-tiered justice system and painted the case as weaponization of the government. Nearby, a group of men gathered sporting T-shirts that said “Blacks for Trump” and “Trumpsters are not racists.”
– Julia Mueller
Walt Nauta accompanies Trump
Trump aide Walt Nauta accompanied the former president for his arraignment in Washington, D.C. Nauta is a co-defendant in the federal case against Trump for his handling of classified documents.
Nauta could be see handing Trump an umbrella after the motorcade arrived at the airport following the court hearing.
A judge in the Florida case had instructed Trump and Nauta in June not to discuss the matter as proceedings move forward. Nauta has been seen with Trump at several events since then.
— Brett Samuels
Trump makes remarks at airport
Former President Trump briefly addressed reporters before boarding his plane after his arraignment hearing in Washington, D.C.
“This is a very sad day for America, and it was also very sad driving through Washington, D.C.,” Trump said, standing under an umbrella in the rain.
“It’s a very sad thing to see it. When you look at what’s happening this is a persecution of a political opponent. This was never supposed to happen in America,” he added.
— Brett Samuels
Trump motorcade leaves courthouse
Trump’s motorcade has departed the federal courthouse in D.C. He was not seen outside the courthouse following his arraignment on Jan. 6 charges.
The clamor of the crowd outside the courthouse died down slightly as it started to rain, with some demonstrators appearing to trickle out.
Several dozen stayed to catch a glimpse of Trump’s motorcade leaving the building, and one onlooker shouted “afterparty at my place!” as the cars pulled out, prompting cheers.
– Julia Mueller
Judge issues warning about witness tampering
U.S. Magistrate Judge Moxila Upadhyaya reminded Trump during the arraignment proceedings that bribing or influencing witnesses, or retaliation against them, is a crime.
— Brett Samuels
Arraignment concludes
Trump’s arraignment on Jan. 6 charges has concluded.
Judge guarantees ‘fair trial’ as prosecution, defense trade jabs
John Lauro, one of Trump’s attorneys, asked that the prosecution present the defense with information about the “magnitude of discovery” ahead of offering up a proposed timeline for the trial. He told the court Trump is entitled to a “fair and just trial.”
Thomas Windom, the top prosecutor, said the government is prepared to produce “substantial discovery” on a quick timeline, requesting a speedy trial. Defense attorneys said they did not want a speedy trial, given the purported extensive evidence.
Moxila Upadhyaya, the magistrate judge overseeing the proceeding, said she can “guarantee” a “fair trial” in the D.C. federal court.
– Ella Lee
First hearing before federal judge set for Aug. 28
Former President Trump’s first hearing before Tanya Chutkan, the federal judge who will be overseeing Trump’s case, is scheduled for 10 a.m. Aug. 28.
Trump’s counsel requested that date of three options, including Aug. 21 and 22 at 10 a.m.
Thomas Windom, the prosecutor, requested Aug. 21, the first date.
— Ella Lee
Scene outside the courthouse
Melody Pike, 72, was visiting the National Art Gallery across the street from the courthouse where former President Trump is being arraigned Thursday when she was drawn from her planned vacation by the commotion of demonstrators.
Pike confronted a woman sporting pro-Trump paraphernalia, asking how she could support the former president.
“It’s she’s a woman, and she still believes in Trump. So that is kind of unbelievable to me,” Pike said.“Because he’s such a misogynist, and he’s only said bad things about women. So, just being a woman, I can’t understand why they would vote for him,” Pike said.
— Julia Mueller
Government names terms of release; judge lists consequences of violations
The government is not seeking detention of former President Trump ahead of his trial, top prosecutor Thomas Windom said.
The parties agreed that the defendant cannot violate any state, federal or local laws and must appear in court. If convicted, he must turn himself in. He must also sign an appearance bond.
Trump also may not communicate about the facts of the case with anyone except for his counsel, or in the presence of his counsel, Windom said.
If Trump violates those terms, his release may be revoked, the judge said. A longer sentence in the case of a conviction could also be handed down if Trump breaks any laws, she said.
Trump said he understands the consequences of those violations and said under oath that he would comply with them.
The judge reminded Trump that bribing or influencing witnesses, or retaliation against them, is a crime.
— Ella Lee
Trump enters not guilty plea
The former president has pleaded not guilty to the charges laid out in the federal indictment.
— Ella Lee
Trump remains steely as charges are read
As the judge read the details of the charges Donald Trump faces, the former president maintained a steely stare, intently watching the judge. He sometimes nodded his head.
When asked whether he understood that his words could be used against him, he replied in the affirmative. He also replied affirmatively that he has obtained counsel.
The judge ordered top prosecutor Thomas Windom to produce all exculpatory evidence to Trump’s team.
— Ella Lee
Trump sworn in
Former President Trump was sworn in some 20 minutes after the arraignment was scheduled to begin.
The judge asked him to state his name: “Donald J. Trump – John,” he said.
— Ella Lee
Judge enters courtroom, beginning proceeding
U.S. Magistrate Judge Moxila Upadhyaya entered the courtroom shortly after the arraignment was scheduled to begin, diving straight into the proceeding after taking the bench.
While Upadhyaya will oversee Trump’s arraignment, she will not oversee the trial. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, an Obama appointee who has previously handed down strong sentences to Jan. 6 defendants.
Several U.S. Marshals and other unidentifiable individuals in suits who appear to be performing security are standing in front of the courtroom’s exits, effectively blocking them.
— Ella Lee
Trump consults with attorneys while waiting for judge to take the bench
Former President Trump has leaned in and whispered to both of his attorneys numerous times since entering the courtroom, though the content of those conversations is unknown.
Sitting in a hunched posture, the former president’s hands are crossed in front of him on the table.
Within Trump’s view is Jack Smith, the special counsel leading the probe into the former president’s efforts to overturn the election. Smith is chatting with a suited individual seated next to him, in the front row of the right side of the courtroom facing the judge.
— Ella Lee
Outside the courtroom:
Trump enters courtroom with team
Former President Trump has entered the D.C. courtroom where he is set to be arraigned, alongside his legal team.
Wearing his signature red tie, Trump sauntered into the room with a stony expression. He took a seat at the table on the left side of the room, facing the judge.
Trump attorneys John Lauro and Todd Blanche notified the court Thursday that they would appear alongside Trump, according to court filings. Lauro is sitting to the left of Trump, Blanche to the right.
— Ella Lee
Jack Smith enters courtroom
Special counsel Jack Smith, who is leading the probe into Trump’s efforts to subvert the 2020 election results, has entered the courtroom.
He is seated in the front row on the right side facing the judge, where the prosecution will sit. Next to him are a number of other unidentifiable suited individuals.
— Ella Lee
Protests grow after Trump’s courthouse arrival
(Julia Mueller)
Protestors chanted “lock him up” outside the Washington, D.C., courthouse where former President Trump is set to be arraigned, moments after his motorcade arrived at the building’s C Street entrance.
Others interjected with cries of “Trump for president!”
The modest crowd of demonstrators both for and against the former president grew after Trump’s arrival, with some sporting pro-Trump flags and others donning costumes of Trump in striped prison wear.
Some protestors played and sang along to “FDT” (“F‑‑‑ Donald Trump”), a protest song by YG featuring Nipsey Hussle.
Several protestors sporting megaphones also sparred, with one man calling for a female protestor to “make me a sandwich.”
– Julia Mueller
Trump will not take mugshot: reports
Former President Trump will not take a mugshot ahead of his arraignment Thursday; an existing photo of the ex-president will be used instead, according to several media outlets.
The former president will, however, undergo digital fingerprinting, according to NBC.
– Ella Lee