MIAMI – Former US President Donald Trump was taken into jail at a Miami courthouse on Tuesday to face criminal charges that he illegally kept national security materials after leaving office and lied to investigators attempting to recover them.
Trump was scheduled to enter a plea before US Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman in an arraignment that was restricted to cameras and live transmissions. His former aide Walt Nauta, who is also charged in the case, also appeared in court.
Trump’s second court appearance in recent months. In April, he pleaded not guilty in New York to state charges resulting from a hush-money payment to a porn performer. The appearance in Miami on Tuesday was for federal accusations.
As the motorcade paused outside the courtroom, supporters wearing Make America Great Again hats and brandishing American flags screamed “Miami for Trump” and “Latinos for Trump.” A man was heard yelling, “USA! USA!”
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Miami Mayor Francis Suarez informed reporters outside the courthouse that no security issues had arisen.
Authorities were braced for gatherings of up to 50,000 people and planned for probable violence, recalling the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Trump has consistently asserted his innocence and accused Democratic President Joe Biden’s government of conspiring against him. On Tuesday, he dubbed Special Counsel Jack Smith, who is leading the prosecution, a “Trump hater” on social media.
According to a grand jury indictment issued last week, Smith accused Trump of putting national secrets in danger by taking thousands of classified papers with him when he left the White House in January 2021 and storing them haphazardly at his Mar-a-Lago Florida estate and his New Jersey golf club.
The indictment includes photos of packages of documents concealed on a ballroom stage, in a bathroom, and strewn across a storage-room floor.
According to the accusation, Trump lied to officials who attempted to reclaim them. The federal indictment of a former US president is unparalleled in American history.
The indictment also alleges that Trump and Nauta colluded to keep classified papers and conceal them from a federal grand jury. Nauta, who has previously worked for Trump in the White House and at Mar-a-Lago, was scheduled to appear with Trump.
Republican voters and competitors rally behind Trump.
Recent developments have not diminished Trump’s desire to return to the White House. Following his arraignment, Trump was supposed to fly from Miami to his New Jersey golf club, where he was to speak.
Recent developments have not diminished Trump’s desire to return to the White House. Following his arraignment, Trump was supposed to fly from Miami to his New Jersey golf club, where he was to speak.
“I never believed I’d be witnessing something like this. “It’s unbelievable,” said Esperanza, a lady carrying a placard that read “I Stand With Trump” outside the courthouse.
The majority of Trump’s Republican rivals for the nomination have backed him. One of those candidates, Vivek Ramaswamy, promised the gathering that if elected, he would pardon Trump.
Other Republican candidates have accused the FBI of political bias, and some have called for its destruction, reversing the party’s long-standing support for law enforcement.
Secrets of national security
The 37-count indictment charges violations of the Espionage Act, which criminalizes unauthorized possession of defence information, as well as conspiracy to obstruct justice, which has a maximum jail penalty of 20 years.
Legal experts say the evidence supports a solid case, and Smith has stated that Trump, who is 77 on Wednesday, will face a “speedy” trial.
Aileen Cannon, the judge assigned to the case, was appointed by Trump in 2020 and issued a judgement in his favour during the probe last year that was overturned on appeal. The magistrate judge, Goodman, was assigned to Tuesday’s hearing but is not likely to be involved in the case in the future.
Due to the complications of processing classified information, experts estimate that a trial may take a year or more.
Trump’s lawyers might file a slew of petitions to dismiss Smith’s case before it goes to trial, causing further delays.
Meanwhile, Trump is allowed to campaign for the presidency and might be elected even if he is found guilty.
Trump accused Biden of instigating the government investigation to derail his campaign. Biden has been silent on the matter and has declined to comment.
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