Former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to 37 charges, including violations of the Espionage Act and obstruction of justice, stemming from accusations that he unlawfully retained classified documents from his presidency.
This is Trump’s second arraignment this year but his first on federal charges, making him the first ex-president to face such accusations. The allegations come as part of an investigation led by special counsel Jack Smith.
Trump, who is so far leading the field in the 2024 GOP presidential primary, maintains his innocence, claiming the charges are “ridiculous.”
During the arraignment, Trump was represented by attorneys Todd Blanche and Christopher Kise. The prosecution argued that Trump’s contact with potential witnesses, including employees at Mar-a-Lago, could interfere with the case. Consequently, the court ruled that any communication between Trump and these individuals must be conducted through their attorneys.
The core of the Justice Department’s case lies in 31 classified documents found among over 300 kept at Mar-a-Lago. The indictment claims these classified documents contained sensitive information, including details on U.S. military capabilities and nuclear weapons, along with intelligence briefings on foreign countries.
The prosecution alleges that–in violation of the Espionage Act–Trump willfully retained these documents. Trump, however, claims that the documents were declassified.
In addition to the classified records, Trump allegedly kept 13,000 government records from his tenure, frequently moving them as the National Archives and the Justice Department sought their recovery. It is also alleged that Trump suggested lying about or destroying these documents to evade legal compliance.
Following the hearing, Trump visited a popular restaurant in Miami, turning the court appearance into a campaign stop. He continues to claim that the prosecution is a political witch hunt, a sentiment echoed by many of his supporters. However, prominent Republican figures like Sen. Mitt Romney have criticized Trump’s actions. Nikki Haley, Trump’s political opponent, has called his actions “incredibly reckless” but has also suggested a potential pardon.
