Live updates: Trump pleads not guilty at arraignment in 2020 election case

Oliver O'Connell and Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump pleaded not guilty in court on Thursday after being formally arrested and arraigned for conspiring to overturn the 2020 presidential election, the latest in his third – and potentially most serious – criminal case.

The former president was indicted Monday on four charges as part of special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into the alleged conspiracy and the January 6 Capitol riot. The indictment also described six unnamed co-conspirators, though observers have credibly guessed most of their identities.

The former president has railed against the indictment, calling for the “fake” case to be moved out of Washington DC where he claims it is “IMPOSSIBLE to get a fair trial”.

The case has been assigned to US district judge Tanya Chutkan, a Barack Obama appointee, with the next hearing scheduled for 28 August.

Read Trump’s full indictment from the January 6 grand jury

Key points

Trump lawyer rants about Hunter Biden’s laptop outside arraignment court

09:10 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

A lawyer for former president Donald Trump, Alina Habba, attempted to deflect the news cycle to focus on Hunter Biden as her client is about to be arraigned.

“On March 17, Hunter accidentally admits it was his laptop from hell,” Ms Habba said outside of the arraignment court.

The next day, Alvin Bragg indicted president Trump, she continued.

“June 8: an FBI document is released showing that Ukranians paid the Biden crime family millions of millions of dollars. The next day? The Mar-a-Lago raid and the Mar-a-Lago indictment”.

A reporter pointed out that Mr Trump could have just publicly disagreed with the votes, but the “difference is what he did to try to switch the votes.”

More here.

Trump lawyer Alina Habba rants about Hunter Biden’s laptop outside arraignment court

Editorial: Trump charges mean American voters face an unenviable choice in 2024

08:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Early in his 2016 campaign for the US presidency, Donald Trump told an audience at an Iowa caucus meeting: “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn’t lose any voters, OK? It’s, like, incredible.”

Incredible it undoubtedly has been, and he must be hoping that this strange quality of immunity will serve him once again after his indictment on serious federal charges of attempting to defraud the US, tampering with a witness and conspiracy against the rights of citizens. And these are just the latest instalment of alleged offences that will keep Mr Trump, his foolhardy lawyers and the courts busy for months if not years to come.

Unfortunately, for the American people – though not Mr Trump himself – he has been more right than wrong in his observation about getting away with things in recent years. With a total of 71 criminal indictments to his name (so far), he’s never been more popular in Republican circles. Mr Trump’s many enemies might think twice about bumping into him on Fifth Avenue anytime soon.

Read on...

Trump charges mean American voters face an unenviable choice in 2024

Voices: Trump’s January 6 antics don’t just damage democracy – they threaten the economy

08:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Eric Garcia considers the wider impact of Trump’s lies about the 2020 election.

Trump’s antics undermine his argument on the economy

Trump angrily rails against ‘filth’ in Washington DC

07:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Before departing from Washington DC after being arraigned on four federal charges, former president Donald Trump gave quick remarks in which he claimed the capitol had “filth”, “decay” and “broken buildings”.

Mr Trump made a quick appearance at the nation’s capital yesterday so he could appear in federal court to be formally charged with four counts related to his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election and subsequent 6 January attack on the Capitol.

“This is a very sad day for America,” Mr Trump told reporters before departing on his private plane to New Jersey.

Ariana Baio has more.

Trump rails against ‘filth’ in DC after arraignment on election conspiracy charges

ICYMI: Eight key revelations from Trump’s January 6 indictment

07:00 , Oliver O'Connell

A four-count federal indictment against Donald Trump accuses the former president of conspiring with his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and deprive Americans of their right to have their votes counted.

The detailed, 45-page federal indictment on 1 August outlines three criminal conspiracies and Mr Trump’s alleged obstruction of the certification of Joe Biden’s victory, a multi-state scheme built on a legacy of lies and conspiracy theories to undermine the democratic process.

Here are eight key points from the historic indictment of the former president.

Eight key revelations from Trump’s January 6 indictment

Nikki Hakey says she is tired of Trump drama

06:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley said she is tired of commenting on every Donald Trump drama following the former president’s third indictment.

“Like most American, I am tired of commenting on every Trump drama. I have lost count of whether this is the third indictment, fourth or the fifth,” the former governor of South Carolina told NBC News.

“Donald Trump bears some responsibility for what happened but Trump didn’t attack the Capitol. He should not be prosecuted for that.”

Obama warned Biden of Trump’s strength in GOP

06:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Barack Obama privately warned President Joe Biden that Donald Trump’s rabid supporter base and the echo-chamber of conservative media give the twice-impeached, thrice-indicted ex-president a strength heading into next year’s election that should not be underestimated.

According to the Washington Post, Mr Obama delivered the candid advice to his former vice president during a late June lunch in the White House residence, at which he promised Mr Biden that he would “do all he could” to aide his re-election campaign.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Obama has warned Biden of Trump’s strength with GOP, report says

Trump has ‘blood on his hands’, say parents of Capitol police officer

05:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

The parents of a Capitol police officer who succumbed to his injuries following the 6 January riots have reacted to former president Donald Trump’s indictment.

The family of Brian Sicknick demanded accountability for the former president in an interview with CBS 2.“Things will never be the same,” Charles Sicknick said.

“No matter what happens, nothing anybody can do or say will bring Brian back to us.”Reacting to the news of the indictment, Mr Sicknick said it was “about time”.

“He [Donald Trump] has blood on his hands,” Gladys Sicknick said, adding, “And I don’t care. People say, ‘Oh, but Brian died from strokes.’ Because of what he was going through, I’m sure, because he was very intense and I’m sure that helped.”

05:01 , Oliver O'Connell

DeSantis says DC jury would ‘convict a ham sandwich’ if it was Republican

Trump appears to stumble over his name and age at arraignment

04:40 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Donald Trump appeared to stumble over his words when he was asked to state his full name and age at his arraignment on charges of attempting to overturn the 2020 election.

Mr Trump arrived at the E Barrett Prettyman federal courthouse in Washington DC on Thursday where he pleaded not guilty to four criminal counts of an alleged election hoax conspiracy that led to the Capitol riots.

Mr Trump, dressed in his trademark navy blue suit and red tie, entered the courtroom at 3.51pm accompanied by John Lauro, a veteran Washington-based criminal defence attorney, and Todd Blanche, the New York-based lawyer who is leading his defence in the other criminal cases against him.

Andrew Feinberg and Bevan Hurley report.

Trump appears to stumble over his name and age at arraignment

Trump 2024 campaign selling $47 T-shirts marking indictment

04:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Within two hours after he was criminally charged for his failed efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, a political action committee connected to Donald Trump’s campaign sent out two fundraising emails to supporters.

One message – sent from the “Official Trump Store” – advertises a “limited-edition” commemorative “I Stand with Trump” T-shirt that includes the date of the latest indictment against him.

Read more...

Trump’s campaign is selling $47 T-shirts commemorating his latest indictment

GOP senator who voted for Trump’s impeachment says he ‘played a key role in instigating the riot’

03:30 , Oliver O'Connell

One of the few Republican senators who voted to convict former president Donald Trump during his second impeachment trial for his role in the January 6 riot, said that the latest indictment showed the former president played an “active role” in instigating the chaos.

Eric Garcia reports.

GOP senator who supported Trump impeachment says he ‘played a key role’ in Jan 6 riot

Analysis: A stress test of Biden’s focus on safeguarding democracy

02:45 , Oliver O'Connell

After two previous indictments, the novelty of prosecuting a former president may have worn off. But the latest criminal charges against Donald Trump represent an unprecedented stress test for the American political system.

Analysis: Trump's indictment is a stress test of Biden's focus on safeguarding democracy

Explained: Trump, January 6 and a conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election

02:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward reports how a sprawling Justice Department probe into the former president and his allies yielded four criminal charges in a stunning indictment outlining a path to power at whatever cost.

The federal investigation into Trump and January 6, explained

DeSantis slammed for using ‘dangerous language’ on the campaign trail

01:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Governor Ron DeSantis is facing some backlash after he described a violent means of handling those he believes to be part of the “deep state” should he be elected president.

While campaigning in New Hampshire over the weekend, Mr DeSantis spoke to a group of supporters in the backyard of former Massachusettes Senator Scott Brown who hosted a barbecue for Mr DeSantis.

While there, the Florida governor addressed how he would handle problems that he sees in the federal government.

Ariana Baio reports on what he said.

Ron DeSantis slammed for using ‘dangerous language’ on the campaign trail

Poll: Massive majority of GOP voters don’t believe Biden is a legitimate president

01:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Nearly 70 per cent of Republicans believe that President Joe Biden is not a legitimately elected president, according to a new CNN poll.

The survey showed that 69 per cent of Republicans and Republican-leaning voters do not think Mr Biden is a legitimately elected president, up six points from earlier this year. This comes despite the fact that no evidence of significant voter fraud has proven that Mr Biden’s election was anything other than legitimate.

Eric Garcia reports.

Majority of GOP voters don’t believe Biden is a legitimate president, CNN poll finds

Trump lawyer Alina Habba rants about Hunter Biden’s laptop as arraignment gets underway

01:00 , Oliver O'Connell

A lawyer for former President Donald Trump, Alina Habba, attempted to deflect the news cycle to focus on Hunter Biden as her client was about to be arraigned earlier this afternoon.

Kelly Rissman reports on what she said outside the DC federal courthouse where the former president appeared this afternoon.

Trump lawyer Alina Habba rants about Hunter Biden’s laptop outside arraignment court

Dramatic courtroom sketch shows Trump arraignment

00:30 , Josh Marcus

It was a scene both unprecedented and, in a wild year, increasingly familiar: Donald Trump arriving in a courtroom to enter a plea on serious charges of misconduct.

On Thursday, he appeared at the E Barrett Prettyman Courthouse, where he pleaded not guilty to four charges accusing him and conspirators of attempting to overturn the 2020 election.

A courtroom sketch depicts Donald Trump appearing in Washington, DC, on 3 August, where the former president pleaded not guilty to four charges from a grand jury empaneled by the special counsel’s office, which accused Mr Trump of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election (William Hennesee / pool)
A courtroom sketch depicts Donald Trump appearing in Washington, DC, on 3 August, where the former president pleaded not guilty to four charges from a grand jury empaneled by the special counsel’s office, which accused Mr Trump of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election (William Hennesee / pool)

Read more about the plea and the special counsel investigation that launched it with this report from Andrew Feinberg and Alex Woodward.

Trump pleads not guilty

Trump pleaded not guilty. The stakes couldn’t be higher

00:00 , Josh Marcus

Donald Trump just faced his third arraignment in four months over his most consequential indictment yet. Trump stood in the same DC courthouse where over 1,000 January 6 rioters have appeared. Trump pleaded not guilty to charges alleging he led a multifaceted criminal conspiracy that sought to overturn American democracy. The same Constitution that Trump tried to undermine is now protecting him with due process rights. And now, Trump is shamelessly exploiting this process to bolster his campaign in his desperate re-election bid to keep himself out of prison.

If Donald Trump is the Republican nominee for president, the 2024 election will be a referendum on his criminality. He now faces 78 felony charges between his three indictments and his road to potential re-election is paved with trials. The Trump Organization fraud case is in October 2023, the second E Jean Carroll defamation trial is in January 2024, the hush money trial is in March 2024, and the classified documents trial is in May 2024. And soon, there will be a trial scheduled for this new 2020 election conspiracy. Trump could theoretically face 641 years in prison given his charges.

The legal defenses Trump has attempted are flimsy at best. Trump knows his legal troubles are overwhelming and the chances of conviction are increasing with each indictment. This is too big to ignore, so he’s trying to flip the script and make his indictments a key part of his campaign message. Rather than engaging in a serious legal defense, it appears Trump and his team are prioritizing a political defense.

Read Ahmed Baba’s full column for Independent Voices.

Trump pleaded not guilty. The stakes couldn’t be higher

WATCH: Donald Trump's January 6 arraignment: As it happened

23:45 , Josh Marcus

Thursday marked the third time Donald Trump has appeared in court since leaving the White House to face serious criminal or civil charges.

Watch what happened below.

Trump angrily rails against ‘filth’ in Washington DC

23:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Before departing from Washington DC after being arraigned on four federal charges, ex-president Donald Trump gave quick remarks in which he claimed the capitol had “filth”, “decay” and “broken buildings”.

Ariana Baio reports.

Trump rails against ‘filth’ in DC after arraignment on election conspiracy charges

Several federal judges were spotted at Trump arraignment

22:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Kyle Cheney, senior legal affairs reporter for Politico, was in the courtroom and noted that several of the federal judges of the district court filled the back row — including Chief Judge James Boasberg, Amy Berman Jackson, and Randy Moss.

New poll: About half of US Republicans could spurn Trump if he is convicted

22:30 , Oliver O'Connell

About half of Republicans would not vote for Donald Trump if he were convicted of a felony, a sign of the severe risks his legal problems pose for his 2024 US presidential bid, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll that closed on Thursday.

...

The two-day Reuters/Ipsos poll asked respondents if they would vote for Trump for president next year if he were "convicted of a felony crime by a jury." Among Republicans, 45% said they would not vote for him, more than the 35% who said they would. The rest said they didn't know.

Asked if they would vote for Trump if he were "currently serving time in prison," 52% of Republicans said they would not, compared to 28% who said they would.

...

The new poll showed that Republicans broadly sympathize with Trump's accusations of political persecution. Seventy-five percent of Republican respondents agreed with a statement that the charges against Trump were "politically motivated." Twenty percent disagreed and the rest said they didn't know.

About two-thirds of Republicans - 66% - described as "not believable" the accusation in Trump's latest indictment that he solicited election fraud. Twenty-nine percent said it was believable and the rest were not sure.

Republican respondents also described themselves as more likely to withhold their votes on Election Day from an unnamed convicted felon than one named Donald Trump. When asked how a felony conviction would affect their voting in an abstract sense, 71% of Republicans said they would not vote for the convict, compared to 52% if it were Trump.

Trump has capitalized on his indictments since the first charges were filed in April, increasing his lead in the Republican nomination contest over his closest rival, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

The new poll showed Trump's dominance only growing in that contest, holding onto the 47% of Republican support he also had in a July poll, while DeSantis' share slipped six percentage points to 13%.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted nationwide, gathering responses online from 1,005 U.S. adults. It had a credibility interval, a measure of precision, of about four percentage points.

Officer injured on Jan 6 says ‘not prosecuting is far riskier than having no consequences

22:25 , Oliver O'Connell

Former Sgt Aquilino Gonell, who was injured on January 6, shared a statement after attending today’s arraignment, along with other officers.

“Not prosecuting is far riskier than having no consequences for the alleged power grab attempts,” Mr Gonell says.

Trump says it is ‘sad day for America’ before bashing ‘filth and decay’ of Washington DC

22:20 , Oliver O'Connell

In brief remarks to reporters on the tarmac of Reagan Airport, Donald Trump calls his arraignment a “sad day for America”.

He then bashes Washington DC saying driving through the city today he saw “filth and decay” and it is not the city he left. Mr Trump left office with the entire city on lockdown following the January 6 Capitol riot amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

How was Trump received in DC?

22:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Andrew Restuccia of The Wall Street Journal reports on some of the reaction to the former president as he left the courthouse.

Trump’s motorcade was met with a chorus of derision as he departed the courthouse. “Fuck you, terrorist,” one man shouted. “Get the fuck out of our city,” another said. “Good riddance, you prick,” a third man yelled. A woman posed for a selfie with her middle finger in the air.

Trump appears to stumble over his name and age

22:05 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump appeared to stumble over his words when he was asked to state his full name and age at his arraignment on charges of attempting to overturn the 2020 election on Thursday.

Trump appears to stumble over his name and age at arraignment

Trump lawyer says ‘absurd’ for case to go to trial within 100 days

21:44 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s lawyer John Lauro calls it “absurd” for the government to suggest the case could go to trial within the 100 days required by the Speedy Trial Act.

He wants the case excluded from that.

“For the government to suggest this trial could be tried within the timeframe of the Speedy Trial Act is somewhat absurd, I think, given the scope of the discovery.”

Judge Moxila Upadhyaya orders motions from each side on the matter.

First hearing in case scheduled for 28 August

21:39 , Oliver O'Connell

Magistrate Judge Moxila Upadhyaya sets 28 August 2023 as the first hearing date for former president Donald Trump to appear before US district court judge Tanya Chutkan. The hearing will take place at 10am.

This falls five days after the first Republican primary debate.

The judge gave two other dates as options — 21 and 22 August — Mr Trump’s lawyers chose the latest of the three.

Judge Tanya Chutka will set a trial date during that hearing.

Trump pleads not guilty to federal conspiracy charges in plot to overturn 2020 election

21:26 , Oliver O'Connell

The magistrate judge then ordered the government to fulfil its obligation to turn over exculpatory evidence, after which she formally arraigned former president Donald Trump.

Mr Lauro, the attorney for the ex-president, entered a plea of not guilty on all four counts on his behalf.

Thomas Windom, one of the prosecutors who represented the government at the arraignment, said the government was not seeking pretrial detention for Mr Trump, and said the ex-president had agreed to abide by release conditions that include not communicating with any witness in the case outside the presence of counsel.

Trump pleads not guilty

21:23 , Oliver O'Connell

Andrew Feinberg reports from court:

The court proceedings began at 4.15 pm, with the courtroom standing for the magistrate judge’s entrance. After attorneys for the government and defence introduced themselves. Mr Trump was then asked to swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, and the judge reminded participants and media of court rules against recording.

Mr Trump was then asked to state his full name.

He replied: “Donald J Trump — John — Donald John Trump”.

Asked for his age, he at first said “seven seven,” then corrected himself and said “seventy-seven”.

After the magistrate judge read the charges and explained the penalties Mr Trump could face if convicted, she advised the ex-president — who she addressed as “Mr Trump” — of his right to remain silent, and his right to an attorney.

After explaining each right, she asked if he understood. Each time, he replied: “Yes” or “yes, I do”.

Trump takes oath as proceedings get underway

21:20 , Oliver O'Connell

After Donald Trump takes the oath, Judge Moxila Upadhyaya says she will arraign him today and consider any conditions for his release.

Judge Moxila Upadhyaya enters court room

21:16 , Oliver O'Connell

Court is now in session as Judge Moxila Upadhyaya enters the courtroom.

The United States of America v Donald J Trump has been called.

A lot is being made of Trump and Smith’s glances and body language

21:12 , Oliver O'Connell

As the court awaits the judge, a lot is being made of Trump and Smith’s glances and body language.

Latest from the courthouse

20:56 , Oliver O'Connell

The Independent’s Andrew Feinberg, reporting from the courthouse, writes:

Jack Smith, the Department of Justice special counsel who has supervised the multiple federal investigations that have resulted in criminal charges against the former president, arrived in the courtroom at 3.45 pm, a quarter-hour before the proceedings were set to begin. Mr Smith entered the courtroom with members of his team, but sat at a bench in front of the bar which separated the working part of the courtroom from the spectator area where a small group of reporters had assembled more than an hour before to allow for security screenings by Secret Service.

One member of Mr Trump’s defence team, Evan Corcoran, entered the room four minutes after Mr Smith and sat on a similar bench across the room’s central aisle.

The ex-president entered at 3.51 pm, accompanied by John Lauro, a veteran Washington-based criminal defence attorney, and Todd Blanche, the New York-based lawyer who is leading his defence in the other criminal cases against him.

Mr Trump, wearing his customary red tie, white shirt and dark blue suit, sat impassively between Mr Blanche and Mr Lauro. After the ex-president and his team were seated, Mr Smith was seen glancing over at the defendant and counsel.

Trump has entered the courtroom

20:54 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump has now entered the courtroom wearing his customary blue suit and red tie.

He is seated at the defence table alongside his attorneys and was followed into the room by a number of Secret Service agents.

Jack Smith is in the courtroom

20:47 , Oliver O'Connell

Unlikely there is any love lost between the two of them.

Watch: Trump lawyer speaks about Hunter Biden laptop outside Trump arraignment

20:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Analysis: Trump’s latest indictment is a test for America

20:40 , Oliver O'Connell

How far can a president go to cling to power?

Alex Woodward reports.

Donald Trump’s latest indictment is a test for America

Todd Blanche to represent Trump

20:28 , Oliver O'Connell

Per NBC News:

Todd Blanche, an attorney for Trump, has notified the court that he will appear and represent the former president in this case.

Sources previously told NBC News that Blanche had met with prosecutors from the special counsel's office last week, days before Trump was indicted.

Trump arrives at the courthouse

20:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Less than a mile from where he was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States, Donald Trump has arrived at a Washington DC courthouse to face four criminal charges stemming from his attempt to overturn the election he lost to Joe Biden less than three years ago.

Mr Trump is expected to plead not guilty to each charge of the four-count indictment in a second-floor courtroom at the E Barrett Prettyman Courthouse on 3 August, just a short walk from where a mob of his supporters began assaulting police officers at the start of the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.

Trump arrives in court for historic arraignment

Does the former president potentially face the death penalty?

20:20 , Oliver O'Connell

That’s what some of his supporters incorrectly believe, as Josh Marcus reports.

Trump supporters falsely claim former president faces death penalty

In pictures: Trump has landed at Reagan Airport

20:05 , Oliver O'Connell

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Read the full Jan 6 grand jury indictment of Donald Trump

20:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Haven’t had time to read the whole indictment yet?

You have one hour before Mr Trump is scheduled to appear in court for his arraignment.

Read the full text of Trump’s indictment from the Jan 6 grand jury

Who is Tanya Chutkan, the judge overseeing Trump’s 2020 election probe case?

19:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Washington DC District Judge Tanya Chutkan has been assigned the case, according to the court docket. Mr Trump will appear before her at a later date which will be determined after his arraignment.

Judge Chutkan is an appointee of former President Barack Obama and was first appointed to the US District Court for the District of Columbia in June 2014.

Find out more about her here:

Tanya Chutkan: Who is the judge overseeing Trump’s 2020 election probe case?

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