Former President Donald Trump entered a plea of ‘not guilty’ in federal court on Thursday, responding to all four federal charges related to Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into 2020 election interference and the Capitol riot that occurred on January 6, 2021.
The 2024 GOP front-runner, Trump, is facing charges that include conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, as well as conspiracy against rights, Fox News reported.
“Trump traveled from his resort in Bedminster, N.J., Thursday to Washington D.C. His first court appearance took place at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia,” the report continued.
The indictment stems from Smith’s investigation, which aims to determine whether Trump or other officials and entities were involved in interfering with the peaceful transfer of power after the 2020 presidential election, specifically during the certification of the Electoral College vote on January 6, 2021.
Thursday’s proceedings were overseen by US Magistrate Judge Moxila Upadhaya. The trial, however, will be presided over by U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who was previously an assistant public defender and later appointed to the bench by President Barack Obama.
Chutkan has prior experience in handling several cases related to individuals who entered the Capitol on January 6, as in, she has developed a reputation for sentencing Jan. 6 defendants to harsher sentences sought by federal prosecutors.
According to Upadhaya, Chutkan plans to schedule the trial for August 28. Following the prosecutor’s request for a “speedy trial,” Trump’s attorney, John Lauro, voiced his opposition.
The proposal for a speed trial is “absurd” because of “the amount of discovery,” he said.
“The United States had had three and a half years to investigate this matter…all we ask is for the opportunity to fairly defend our client, but we need a little time, so we will ask for the exclusion of a speedy trial,” he noted further.
Fox News noted further:
In the courtroom, the judge laid out how the proceeding would go and asked that Trump be seated closer to a microphone so that he could answer her questions. She first asked his name and age.
“Trump. “Donald J. Trump – John…Seven Seven – seventy-seven.”
The judge then advised Trump of the counts of the indictment that he was facing and the potential penalties associated with being convicted on the counts. The judge also read Trump his rights.
Trump was asked how he would plead to the four counts against him. He responded succinctly, “Not guilty.”
Trump was then advised of the conditions of release.
Upadhaya said that Trump is required to adhere to federal, state, and local laws, attend all court appearances, and accept any court-imposed sentence. Furthermore, he is prohibited from discussing the facts of the case with anyone known to be a witness in the proceedings.
She then read the potential sentences: Conspiracy to defraud the US, not more than 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both; conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, prison not more than 20 years, fine of up to $250,000; violation of an official proceeding, prison not more than 20 years, fine of up to $250,000; conspiracy against rights, up to 10 years in prison.
Trump took to his Truth Social platform Thursday morning to rip his chief political rival, President Joe Biden, and his administration.
“Look, it’s not my fault that my political opponent in the Democrat Party, Crooked Joe Biden, has told his Attorney General to charge the leading (by far!) Republican Nominee & former President of the United States, me, with as many crimes as can be concocted so that he is forced to spend large amounts of time & money to defend himself,” Trump said. “The Dems don’t want to run against me or they would not be doing this unprecedented weaponization of “Justice.” BUT SOON, IN 2024, IT WILL BE OUR TURN. MAGA!”
