Former President Donald Trump was arraigned in Washington, DC, federal court Thursday for allegedly trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
Trump, 77, surrendered to law enforcement and pleaded not guilty to a four-count indictment from the Justice Department for disrupting the peaceful transfer of power with his “stolen” election claims that culminated in the storming of the US Capitol building by hundreds of his supporters on Jan. 6, 2021.
Special counsel Jack Smith charged the former president with conspiracy to defraud the US government, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding and conspiracy against rights.
The indictment states Trump made “knowingly false” claims about the 2020 election and unlawfully pressured former Vice President Mike Pence and various state officials to reject President Biden’s victory.
Trump and Smith reportedly exchanged glances inside the courtroom on Thursday — and the former president gazed backward a few times at the roughly 100 spectators and reporters allotted seats for the hearing.
The charges carry a maximum sentence of 55 years in federal prison, but the case is unlikely to be decided before Election Day 2024.
Trump lawyer John Lauro has indicated the former president’s legal team will launch their own counter-investigation into Smith’s indictment claims, pushing the trial date back months.
On Thursday at noon, Trump took to Truth Social to protest the indictment.
“I AM NOW GOING TO WASHINGTON, D.C., TO BE ARRESTED FOR HAVING CHALLENGED A CORRUPT, RIGGED, & STOLEN ELECTION,” he said. “IT IS A GREAT HONOR, BECAUSE I AM BEING ARRESTED FOR YOU. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”