Trump arraignment updates: Ex-US president pleads not guilty

As Trump made his first court appearance in the federal case, his supporters re-pledged their support for the Republican leader – and claimed political persecution.

“Today is a dark day for our country as Joe Biden continues to fully weaponise the federal government against President Trump, his leading opponent for the White House in 2024,” said Representative Elise Stefanik, chair of the House Republican Conference

Texas Senator Ted Cruz said: “Looking at the indictment of Donald Trump, the double standard is a massive problem for the Department of Justice. Merrick Garland and Jack Smith have done nothing to address this.”

Meanwhile, Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene tweeted a picture of herself with Trump and wrote: “I stand with Trump”.

Ohio Senator JD Vance promised to hold up all Department of Justice nominations, which must be confirmed by the Senate, “until Merrick Garland stops using his agency to harass Joe Biden’s political opponents”.

Until Merrick Garland stops using his agency to harass Joe Biden’s political opponents, I will hold all DoJ nominees. pic.twitter.com/UVRwi6Ue01

— J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) June 13, 2023

Some Republicans officials have seized on the federal indictment against Trump as evidence of a liberal campaign to take down the 2024 presidential candidate.

Others have said the latest legal trouble underscores why Trump remains a liability to the party.

But on Tuesday, top Republican Mitch McConnell said he would not be commenting either way.

“I’m not going to start commenting on the various candidates we have running for president,” McConnell, the Senate Republican leader, told reporters after Trump arrived at the Florida court to face charges.

Donald Trump has been dealt another blow after a Manhattan judge ruled that writer E Jean Carroll can pursue a related $10m defamation case against him.

The judge’s decision comes after Carroll, a former columnist for Elle magazine, won a $5m jury verdict in a separate civil suit against Trump in May, for sexual abuse and defamation.

Tuesday’s ruling in New York underscores the fact that Trump’s legal woes extend far beyond the Miami court where he appeared on federal charges.

US District Judge Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan ruled in favour of Carroll. Trump, however, argued that the $10m defamation case should be dismissed because the jury in the earlier case had concluded Trump never raped her.

In that case, jurors found that Carroll had sufficiently proved Trump sexually assaulted her, although they said she had not proven that he raped her.

The former president has taken off in his private Trump-branded jet as he travels from Florida to New Jersey.

He is set to host his first major fundraiser of the campaign season and address supporters later on Tuesday.

“Thank you Miami. Such a warm welcome on such a SAD DAY for our country,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform before taking off.

Trump’s aide Walt Nauta, who is also charged in the case, appeared in court alongside Trump but was not arraigned.

That was because he had not retained a local lawyer able to practise law in Florida.

Like Trump, he was released without having to post bond and was ordered not to talk to other witnesses.

He will not have to enter a plea until June 27, when he is set to be arraigned.

Trump spoke briefly with supporters at a Cuban cafe in Miami, making statements that would easily fit in a campaign rally.

“I think it’s a rigged deal here. We have a rigged country. We have a country that’s corrupt. We have a country that’s got no borders. We have a country that’s got nothing but problems,” said Trump, who made his first successful campaign for president in 2016 by running on the motto “Make America Great Again”.

“We’re a nation in decline, and then they do this stuff. And you see where the people are. We love the people, and you see where they are. You see the crowds and everything else. We have a country that is in decline like never before, and we can’t let it happen,” he said.

Attorney Jason Emert told Al Jazeera that Trump’s supporters and legal representatives have tried to focus attention on the political implications of the case rather than the legal basis of the claims against the former US president.

“The indictment itself is very strong; it should be worrisome to his legal team,” he said. “They don’t seem to be taking it as seriously as I would like to see a legal defence built for a client. They try to couch this in terms of political defence rather than legal defence and that’s ultimately not going to win in front of a jury.”

Asked if there was any substance to the allegation that the case represented a form of political persecution, Emert also pushed back.

“If former President Trump was a [military] service member, he would already be arrested, he would already be in jail. If he was a former general officer in our military, he’d already be in jail,” he said. “Trump is a benefactor of a two-tiered system that favours the powerful in this country, the politically connected. So to say that this is some kind of political prosecution that goes after him because he’s a political opponent, just is a weak defence in a very serious argument.”

Former President Donald Trump has stopped at Miami’s Versailles Famous Cuban Bakery and greeted supporters.

It was unclear if the stop was planned.

Trump shook hands with those gathered and took pictures. One man appeared to pray with him. Supporters sang “Happy Birthday” to Trump, who turns 77 on Wednesday.

He then repeated his claims that he is being politically targeted: “We have a rigged country, a country that’s corrupt,” he said.

Despite supporters – and a handful of protesters – gathering in front of the federal court in Miami, the day was largely without incident by the time Trump departed.

The number of Trump supporters swelled throughout the day, but remained far from a major display of popular support.

Protesters carried enormous flags and engaged in unusual political displays – including one demonstrator who carried a pig’s head on a spike. These political gimmicks are not unusual at Trump rallies, but they were especially prevalent outside the court.

There was some shouting and insults exchanged between Trump supporters and the few counter-protesters who showed up, but the confrontations did not turn violent. The dozens of reporters and photographers from around the world outnumbered the demonstrators at times. Law enforcement presence was felt at every corner with armed agents and vehicles securing the building.

Multiple law enforcement agencies were at the scene, including Miami Police, the county’s Miami-Dade police force, Secret Service responsible for Trump’s safety and federal marshals in charge of the court’s security.

Trump supporters chant “USA” and “Let’s go Brandon” – a slogan that implies an insult to President Biden – as the former president’s convoy prepares to depart.

Demonstrators erupted in cheers as Trump could be seen waving at supporters from inside his car.

One man has been arrested as Trump’s motorcade departed.

The man, who was wearing a prison suit and calling for Trump’s arrest, had appeared to try to approach the motorcade, Al Jazeera’s John Hendren reported.

“The only arrest we’ve seen so far,” Hendren said, saying the low number underscored the relative peace of the day.

The hearing on Tuesday lasted just under 50 minutes.

Trump is set to fly back to his golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey, where he is scheduled to address supporters.

The judge also ruled that Trump is not allowed to communicate with potential witnesses in the case, or his co-defendant Nauta.

The judge noted that Trump and Nauta, who works as Trump’s valet and aide, are together on a daily basis. Still, he said any discussions related to the case must go through lawyers.

Trump has been allowed to leave the court without conditions, with prosecutors saying they did not consider him a flight risk.

Nauta was also allowed to leave on his own recognizance, although he was not officially arraigned as he did not retain local legal representation.

Supporters were awaiting Trump’s departure from the Miami court as his first appearance in the case wrapped up.

One Trump supporter, Patty Berry, said the show of support for the former president outside the court was “wonderful”.

“These people are good people, and we do support him,” she told Al Jazeera.

Berry, who carried a sign referring to the Department of Justice, which is prosecuting Trump, as the “Department of Injustice”, said dialogue and civil conversations between Americans was needed to bridge the deepening political divide.

Trump aide Waltine “Walt” Nauta, who is also expected to pleaded not guilty, was not arraigned on Tuesday due to a lack of local legal representation.

Nauta was charged with six criminal counts related to helping Trump hide documents. He is also accused of giving false information to investigators. He was set to be arraigned at the end of the month.

Chrissy, an anti-Trump protester who chose to be identified by her first name only, said it doesn’t matter where one stands on the former president’s politics; if he broke the law, he should be prosecuted.

She carried a sign that said “Trump 20-24 years in jail” – a play on the former president’s 2024 presidential campaign.

“If you want to support Donald Trump’s persona and policies, it’s irrelevant right now in this court case,” Chrissy said. “What we’re supporting is judicial consequences to alleged actions.”

Trump has formally denied the dozens of allegations laid out in an unsealed indictment against him. Prosecutors accuse Trump of willfully mishandling US government secrets and scheming to prevent their return.

“We are certainly entering a plea of not guilty,” Todd Blanche, Trump’s lawyer, told the judge.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to the 37 criminal counts against him.