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Former President Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to 37 federal charges in a historic arraignment in Miami Tuesday afternoon, NBC News reports.
The 76-year-old’s federal charges stem from his alleged misuse and concealment of more than 100 top-secret documents after leaving the presidency in January 2021, the New York Post reports.
Last week, Trump’s aide Walter Nauta was similarly indicted on six charges related to the case. Nauta, a Navy veteran, is accused of helping Trump to hide the top-secret documents in question.
Nauta and Trump were booked in Miami on Tuesday afternoon and were formally arraigned before a judge around 3 p.m. A federal prosecutor did not find Trump nor Nauta to be a flight risk,
Per the conditions of his release, Trump will not have to surrender his passport. Meanwhile, no limitations have been placed on his domestic or international travel, CBS reported.
However, he cannot communicate with Nauta about the case. Trump eventually left with his motorcade via the courthouse garage.
A spokesperson for the former commander-in-chief attempted to paint the arrests as politically-motivated.
“The people in charge of this country do not love America. They hate Donald Trump,” Trump spokesperson and attorney Alina Habba told NBC News outside the courthouse following his arrest.
Meanwhile, Trump, too, slammed the investigation into his treatment of top secret documents.
In a social media post to Truth Social about an hour before turning himself in to authorities. Trump called the probe a “witch hunt” en route to his arraignment in Miami Tuesday afternoon.
“ON MY WAY TO COURTHOUSE. WITCH HUNT!!! MAGA,” the former president wrote.
Afterward, Trump returned to Truth Social and thanked the state of Miami, adding that it was a “sad day.”
“Thank you Miami. Such a warm welcome on such a SAD DAY for our Country!”
Trump was transported to the courthouse in a caravan of secret service vehicles. Protestors peacefully demonstrated against Donald Trump along the streets as he pulled up to his destination.
The former president was not handcuffed, nor did he have a mugshot taken.
However, he did have his fingerprints digitally scanned after surrendering to authorities, according to reports.
However, a protestor was arrested after rushing Trump’s motorcade as he left the Miami courthouse Tuesday afternoon, CNN reports.
