Trump pleads not guilty, allowed to leave court
WASHINGTON – Former U.S. President Donald Trump appeared in a federal court in Washington on Thursday to face charges that he conspired to stay in office despite his 2020 election defeat.
He pleaded not guilty to all four charges, including obstruction of an official proceeding, fraud on the United States and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding.
He was allowed to leave court without posting bail or accepting travel restrictions. A preliminary court hearing was set for Aug. 28.
Trump’s lawyers have signaled they intend to fight the charges. They argue that the ex-president exercised his First Amendment rights and that he believed the election was stolen.
The case is expected to go to trial later this year.
The indictment against Trump was filed by Special Prosecutor Jack Smith, who was appointed by the House of Representatives to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
Judge Moxila A. Upadhyaya ordered Trump to speak about the case only through his lawyers or in the presence of lawyers with witnesses.
Trump is the first former president to be indicted by a federal grand jury.
Trump said this is a prosecution of a political opponent unlike anything America has ever seen.
He called it a “sad day” for the country and claimed there was more “filth and decay” in the nation’s capital than when he was president.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
