Former President Donald Trump is inside the federal courtroom in Miami, where he faces 37 criminal charges related to his handling of classified documents at his Florida Mar-a-Lago resort.
Trump, who is the first former US president to face federal charges, is expected to plea not guilty to all counts. This second indictment comes just months after Trump was charged by a Manhattan grand jury in a separate hush-money case.
Trump has denied any wrongdoing in both cases and has vowed to stay in the 2024 race despite the charges. He’s expected to speak Tuesday evening once he returns to his Bedminster resort in New Jersey.
Special Counsel Jack Smith is attending the arraignment of former President Donald Trump in Miami, Florida.
Smith was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November to investigate Trump’s handling of classified documents and efforts by Trump and his allies to interfere with the peaceful transfer of power following the 2020 election.
The special counsel announced the indictment in the classified documents case against the former president last week, noting that he would be seeking a speedy trial.
“Our laws that protect national defense information are critical to the safety and security of the United States and they must be enforced,” Smith said Friday. “Violations of those laws put our country at risk.
