Trump pleads not guilty to all charges in federal Jan. 6 case
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Former U.S. President Donald Trump holds an umbrella as he arrives at Reagan National Airport following an arraignment in a Washington, D.C. court on August 3, 2023 in Arlington, Virginia. Photo: Tasos Katopodis via Getty
Former President Trump pleaded not guilty Thursday to all federal charges alleging he plotted to overturn the 2020 election.
Why it matters: The GOP presidential frontrunner has now been indicted three times since launching his 2024 campaign.
- The former president was charged with conspiracy to defraud the U.S., conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding and conspiracy against rights.
- The latest charges will force Republicans to reengage with the Jan. 6 riot and Trump will appear at the same courthouse where more than 1,000 Capitol rioters charged with crimes have had hearings.
Driving the news: He arrived Thursday shortly before 4PM at the Elijah Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse before Magistrate Judge Moxila Upadhyaya.
- The former president traveled from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, to D.C.
Catch up quick: Trump was indicted Tuesday by a grand jury convened by special counsel Jack Smith.
- He has denied wrongdoing following every indictment against him.
What's next: Trump's next hearing in the case will be Aug. 28. Chutkan intends to set Trump's trial date then.
- Upadhyaya gave both sides three date options, two of which were before the first GOP presidential primary debate. (Trump has suggested he won't appear at the debate.)
- Both parties agreed upon conditions of release. Prosecutors did not seek pretrial detention.
Go deeper: Read: The indictment against Trump in Jan 6. case
Editor's note: This story is breaking and will be updated.
Trump pleaded not guilty in June to 37 felony counts in a probe related to retaining classified information and obstruction of justice.
- He now faces 40 counts in that case, per a revised indictment in late July.
In a separate case this spring, the former president pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records in a Manhattan criminal court related to hush money payments during his 2016 presidential campaign.
- Prosecutors allege that Trump conducted a "catch and kill" scheme including the $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
Trump also faces a separate inquiry related to his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia.
- Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is nearing a decision on his alleged efforts to subvert results in the state.
Go deeper: Trump's legal woes heating up ... How he's controlling the narrative of his legal battles.
Many Republicans were quick to defend Trump following his latest indictment, criticizing it as partisan, with some exceptions.
Driving the news: Former Vice President Mike Pence, a key witness in the Jan. 6 case, took aim at his ex-boss Tuesday, saying Trump's indictment served as a reminder that "anyone who puts himself over the Constitution should never be president of the United States."
- In an interview with Fox News Wednesday, Pence, who's running for president, recalled that Trump and "his gaggle of crackpot lawyers" asked him to "literally reject votes" on Jan. 6.
- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a fellow GOP presidential candidate, condemned the "weaponization of government" in a statement Tuesday but admitted he had not yet read the indictment.
The big picture: Several Republican lawmakers rushed to Trump's defense and took aim at the Justice Department — a recurring theme within the party.
- House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) without evidence framed the indictment as an effort to divert attention from the recent investigations into Hunter Biden.
- Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C), another GOP presidential candidate, said: "I remain concerned about the weaponization of Biden's DOJ and its immense power used against political opponents," comparing the situation to Hunter Biden's .
