- Trump Arrives at Court for Third Appearance as Defendant
- Not-Guilty Plea Expected for Charges of Obstructing Election Results
- Former President Faces New Indictment Amid Free Speech Debate
Former US President Donald Trump made his third court appearance in four months as a criminal defendant in Washington, DC.
Trump will be fingerprinted before his court appearance on charges of trying to rig the 2020 election.
The 77-year-old former president is anticipated to enter a not-guilty plea.
He traveled to court alongside Secret Service agents and the media in a sizable motorcade.
Mr. Trump took his private plane, known as Trump Force One, from his home in New Jersey to Washington.
The new allegations contained a count of “conspiracy to impair, obstruct, and defeat the federal government function through dishonesty, fraud, and deceit” as stated in an indictment or charge sheet filed early this week.
Thursday’s arraignment is scheduled to take place at the Elijah Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse at 16:00 local time (21:00 BST). Mr. Trump will appear in front of Magistrate Judge Moxila Upadhyaya, while Tanya Chutkan will preside over the criminal trial.
The Republican politician has previously been charged with mishandling classified documents and falsifying business records to conceal a hush-money payment to a pornstar.
Earlier, Mr. Trump’s attorney general nominee, Bill Barr, stated that the former president “knew full well that he had lost the election.”
The latest indictment, according to Trump’s attorney John Lauro, is an attack on free speech, and he stated, “There is nothing more protected by the First Amendment [the right to free speech] than political speech.”
But Mr. Barr, who resigned from his position as head of the US legal system shortly after Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election, stated that free speech is not a valid defense.
“They are not violating his privilege under the First Amendment. He can say whatever he pleases, including lying. Even when he knew better, he can persuade people that the election was stolen, Mr. Barr told CNN.
Mr. Trump criticized what he termed “corruption, scandal, and failure” after the most recent charges were made public.
A group of Trump supporters brandishing campaign flags gathered in front of the courthouse. Anti-Trump protesters were present as well.
After his arraignment, Mr. Trump will fly back to New Jersey from Washington Reagan National Airport.
