Donald Trump’s spokesperson calls charges against former president politically motivated’
Donald Trump pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in a Miami federal courthouse on 37 charges over his handling of classified national security documents after leaving the White House. He is now the first current or former US president to ever face federal criminal charges.
Mr Trump sat stonefaced in court for the arraignment with his arms crossed as the plea was entered by his lawyer Todd Blanche. Sitting with him was codefendant Walt Nauta.
Miami officials had braced for protests outside the courthouse but much of the Maga army of supporters failed to show up as expected. There were still some confrontations and one anti-Trump protester jumped in front of the former president’s motorcade as he left court.
After the hearing Mr Trump and Mr Nauta stopped at a famous family-owned Cuban restaurant in Little Havana where supporters sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to him. He turns 77 tomorrow.
The former president is now at his summer home at his golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey where he is holding a fundraising rally, making his first public remarks after this historic day in court.
Trump repeats his previous attacks on special counsel Jack Smith and his wife, a documentary filmmaker, on stage: “He’s a raging and uncontrolled Trump hater, as is his wife, who also happened to be the producer of that Michelle Obama puff piece.”
Oliver O’Connell14 June 2023 02:11
Trump says he is the only one who has followed the law.
Oliver O’Connell14 June 2023 02:09
A brief pause for the crowd to sing Trump ‘Happy Birthday’ while he takes a sip of water.
Oliver O’Connell14 June 2023 02:07
Here’ why the Biden, Clinton, and Pence documents cases are different to Trump’s:
Oliver O’Connell14 June 2023 02:06
Trump again talks about “Biden’s 1,850 boxes” of Senate papers which he donated to the University of Delaware. He claims no one was allowed to search them.
Biden permitted two FBI searches and there was no initial indication of any classified markings.
This is a very long string of falsehoods that he has often repeated.
Neither CNN or MSNBC are covering the speech live.
Oliver O’Connell14 June 2023 02:02
Trump talks about “staged photos” of the boxes at Mar-a-Lago in the indictment.
They were taken by his own members of staff and turned over to the investigation.
“I hadn’t had the chance to go through the boxes… because I have a busy life,” says Trump.
He again repeats the falsehood that he was supposed to negotiate with the National Archives. He refused to hand over the documents for approximately 18 months.
Oliver O’Connell14 June 2023 01:57
Mr Trump continues to repeat his own version of the Presidential Records Act.
CNN’s Daniel Dales offers these fact checks:
And yet Mr Trump continues to say that it is completely up to his discretion to take whatever documents he wants. This is not true.
Oliver O’Connell14 June 2023 01:53
In his opening remarks, Mr Trump denounces the “evil and heinous” arraignment and blames President Joe Biden.
“Today we witnessed the most evil and heinous abuse of power in the history of our country,” according to former President Trump, adding it’s an attempt to rig and steal another presidential election. “This day will go down in infamy.”
Oliver O’Connell14 June 2023 01:50
Trump steps up to the podium to… you guessed it… Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA”.
Oliver O’Connell14 June 2023 01:46
Trump has arrived at Bedminster
Donald Trump has arrived at his Bedminster summer home in New Jersey.
His remarks are expected soon.
Oliver O’Connell14 June 2023 01:42
