Donald Trump complained of a “witch hunt” after being indicted by a federal court in Miami on no less than thirty-seven charges on Tuesday, June 13. The former US president, currently campaigning for re-election, thus became the first ex-holder of the supreme office to be indicted at federal level.
Donald Trump pleaded not guilty Tuesday to dozens of criminal counts of mishandling some of the US government’s most sensitive secrets and scheming to prevent their return, in a historic first court appearance as a federal defendant.
On the eve of his 77th birthday, Trump appeared before a magistrate judge to be formally presented with 37 counts under seven charges brought by a special counsel probe that opened after an FBI raid of his Florida mansion 10 months ago.
But he dismissed his prosecution as politically-motivated in a speech to supporters framing the indictment as an effort to interfere in the 2024 election.
Trump enjoys strong backing from Republican voters, 81 percent of whom believe the charges against him are politically-driven, according to a new Ipsos poll.
The government has recovered more than 300 documents with classified markings from Trump since officials discovered his correspondence with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was missing, US media reported.
The records were the work of top national security and law enforcement agencies such as the CIA and NSA, according to prosecutors, and some concerned the military and nuclear capabilities of the United States and foreign countries, and “plans for possible retaliation in response to a foreign attack.”
The pugnacious billionaire has repeatedly complained that the investigations against him amount to a baseless “witch hunt” — and has vowed to stay in the race regardless of the outcome of the documents case.
He said Monday he would appoint a special prosecutor on his return to office to investigate Biden, who is not facing any credible accusations of criminality.
Fewer than one percent of US federal defendants go to trial and win acquittal, according to the Pew Research Center. The vast majority — around 90 percent — plead guilty.
Malo Pinatel, avec AFP
