Former President of the United States Donald Trump entered a plea of not guilty to the 37 criminal counts brought against him in an indictment from Special Counsel Jack Smith.
This marked a historical court appearance for Trump, as he became the first former president to be charged by federal prosecutors and forced to proclaim his innocence in a federal courthouse.
Trump was taken into custody by the US Marshals Service on Tuesday and subsequently appeared at an arraignment in Miami federal court.
The charges against him included withholding classified records from the government after leaving office and attempting to obstruct their return, according to Justice Department prosecutors.
During the arraignment, US Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman allowed Trump to be released, considering him not to be a flight risk.
This decision allowed the former president, who is also a candidate for the 2024 presidential election, to walk free rather than being held in jail or having a cash bond imposed on him. Secret Service agents escorted Trump to the court appearance while onlookers gathered outside.
Todd Blanche, one of Trump’s attorneys, spoke on his behalf before the judge, confirming the plea of not guilty.
The court had recently unsealed a 38-count indictment against Trump and one of his personal aides, Waltine Nauta. Prosecutors accused Trump of violating the Espionage Act by illegally retaining sensitive national security documents at his Mar-a-Lago residence after leaving the presidency in January 2021. They further alleged that Trump conspired to obstruct justice, provided false statements to law enforcement, and violated statutes related to withholding and concealing government records.
The case will proceed to a criminal trial as Trump continues to maintain his innocence.
