Former President Donald Trump entered a plea of “not guilty” in federal court on Thursday to four charges that have come out of an investigation by Special Counsel Jack Smith concerning 2020 election interference and alleged involvement in the Capitol riot that took place on Jan. 6, 2021, sources close to the case said, according to Fox News.
Trump, who is currently enjoying a rather sizable lead in the 2024 GOP primary field, has been officially charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights. Man, that’s a mouth full. And that’s not including the other indictments that have been leveled against him this year.
According to Fox, “Trump traveled from his resort in Bedminster, N.J., Thursday to Washington D.C. His first court appearance took place at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. US Magistrate Judge Moxila Upadhaya is presiding over Thursday’s proceedings. Judge Tanya Chutkan will preside over the trial. Chutkan, a former assistant public defender before her appointment to the bench by President Barack Obama, has handled several cases involving individuals who entered the Capitol on January 6.”
The former commander-in-chief took to Truth Social late Wednesday evening stating that the current case “will hopefully be moved to an impartial venue, such as the politically unbiased nearby State of West Virginia.”
“IMPOSSIBLE to get a fair trial in Washington, D.C., which is over 95% anti-Trump, & for which I have called for a Federal TAKEOVER in order to bring our Capital back to Greatness,” Trump said in the post. “It is now a high crime embarrassment to our Nation and, indeed, the World. This Indictment is all about Election Interference!!!”
The latest indictment comes as a result of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s probe into whether Trump or any other officials or entities — maybe it was the aliens we’ve been hearing so much about lately? — mucked up the peaceful transfer of power following the results of the 2020 presidential election, which includes the certification of the Electoral College vote on Jan. 6, 2021. After the riot occurred, the House of Representatives, then under Democrat control, filed articles of impeachment against him, charging him with citing an insurrection. However, he was acquitted of the charges. Trump is the only president in the history of the U.S. to be impeached and acquitted two times in a row.
“This is the second federal indictment the former president faces out of Smith’s investigation. Trump, who leads the 2024 GOP presidential primary field, has already pleaded not guilty in federal court in the Southern District of Florida to 37 counts related to his alleged improper retention of classified records from his presidency. Those charges include willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and false statements. Trump was charged with an additional three counts as part of a superseding indictment out of that probe last week,” the Fox News report said.
One thing’s for sure, Trump made a whole lot of history as the president. He’s also the first former president to face federal criminal charges.
Trump took to Truth Social again on Thursday where he leveled accusations at the White House of bringing criminal charges against him in order to sap his presidential campaign of money.
“Look, it’s not my fault that my political opponent in the Democrat Party, Crooked Joe Biden, has told his Attorney General to charge the leading (by far!) Republican Nominee & former President of the United States, me, with as many crimes as can be concocted so that he is forced to spend large amounts of time & money to defend himself,” Trump stated. “The Dems don’t want to run against me or they would not be doing this unprecedented weaponization of “Justice.” BUT SOON, IN 2024, IT WILL BE OUR TURN. MAGA!”
"*" indicates required fields
