Trump Pleads Not Guilty to 37 Federal Charges in Classified Documents Case

Former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to charges brought by federal prosecutors for his alleged retention of classified documents, obstructing justice, and making false statements.

Trump entered his plea Tuesday during his arraignment before U.S. District Court Magistrate Jonathan Goodman on the 13th floor of the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse in downtown Miami. The previous night, Goodman rejected a press coalition motion to permit photographers into the courtroom for the start of the hearing but said there would be a transcript of the proceedings.

Former President Trump pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges on 37 counts following a Department of Justice indictment alleging he violated both the Espionage Act and obstructed justice in taking classified records from his presidency and refusing to return them.

The arraignment was Trump’s second this year but his appearance in a Miami courthouse was his first on federal charges. He is the first former president or candidate for president to face such charges.

Former President Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to 37 charges related to alleged mishandling of classified documents.

Trump’s lawyers asked for a jury trial during the former president’s arraignment Tuesday at a federal courthouse in Miami.

“We most certainly enter a plea of not guilty,” Trump attorney Todd Blanche told the judge.

Before the arraignment, deputy marshals booked the former president and took electronic copies of his fingerprints. They did not to take a mugshot of Trump since he is easily recognizable. The booking process took about 10 minutes.