Former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty in federal court to all four federal charges related to the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. The charges include 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. Trump made his first court appearance at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, where U.S. Magistrate Judge Moxila Upadhaya presided over the proceedings. Judge Tanya Chutkan will preside over the trial, with a trial date expected to be set for August 28.
During the hearing, Trump was advised of the counts against him and their potential penalties. He responded with a plea of not guilty. The judge also laid out the conditions of release, which include not violating any laws, appearing in court, serving any imposed sentence, and refraining from communicating about the case to known witnesses. Trump, sitting about 20 feet away from the prosecutor, expressed that the timing of the indictments was election interference.
Following his plea, Trump spoke at Reagan National Airport, calling the indictment a politicization of justice and stating that Washington, D.C., had declined since he left office. A lawyer for Trump claimed that the three indictments against him amounted to election interference and vowed to continue fighting, not just for Trump but for the American people.
On January 6, 2021, pro-Trump rioters breached the U.S. Capitol during a joint session of Congress, leading to the drafting of articles of impeachment against Trump for inciting an insurrection. This made him the first president in history to be impeached twice. Apart from the charges related to the Capitol riot, Trump also faces charges in the Southern District of Florida for alleged improper retention of classified records and in New York for falsifying business records related to hush-money payments made during the 2016 campaign.
In conclusion, former President Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to federal charges stemming from the Capitol riot investigation. The trial is set to take place, and Trump and his legal team vow to continue fighting.
