Washington, 4 August 2023: Donald Trump, a former president, entered a not guilty plea to accusations of plotting to sway the 2020 presidential election and meddling in the voting process. His defense attorneys are getting ready to ‘vigorously’ defend him.
The arraignment took place at the federal courthouse in Washington before US Magistrate Judge Moxila Upadhyaya. Trump will continue to be free throughout the trial but is unable to speak with any witnesses directly without the assistance of his attorneys.
Trump was seated a short distance away from Special Counsel John “Jack” Smith, who has twice indicted him, during the 30-minute session. They did not converse. Trump didn’t speak much during the arraignment, as is customary, but he made a point of pleading not guilty himself rather than having his attorney, John Lauro, do it.
According to Upadhyaya, who was quoted by Bloomberg, the former president is facing his third criminal prosecution, with the Fulton County district attorney in Georgia possibly seeking a fourth indictment relating to election meddling.
On August 28, US District Judge Tanya Chutkan will hold a hearing in Washington, during which Chutkan will establish a date for the trial. There is no requirement that Trump attend the hearing. The prosecution has one week to present a proposed timeline, and Trump’s defense team has one more week to respond.
The Trump legal team requests a postponement
Considering the complexity of the case against Trump, Lauro, a member of his legal team, thinks it will take longer than the prosecution claims. He plans to ask for a postponement in the proceedings so that he can strongly contest the accusations, considering a quick trial to be “somewhat absurd.”
Lauro stated, “All we would seek is the chance to fairly defend our client, but in order to do so, we’re going to need a little time.” Thomas Windom, the prosecutor, stated that the government was ready to quickly turn over a “substantial volume” of evidence, but added that the Trump prosecution, “just like every other case,” would benefit from “normal order.”
Upadhyaya asserted that she could “guarantee everyone” that the proceedings and trial will be “fair.”
‘Sad Day for America’ state Trump
Trump made a brief statement to reporters at the Washington airport following the hearing, calling it a “very sad day for America.”
“This is an attempt to silence a political rival. In America, this was never meant to occur, he claimed.
As the legal proceedings progress, the case against Donald Trump will undoubtedly remain a significant and closely-watched matter, with potential implications for the country’s political landscape and the legacy of the 2020 election.
Further read: https://foej.in/election-manipulation-allegations-criminal-proceedings-commence-against-trump/
