Former President Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges outlined in special counsel Jack Smith's retooled election subversion indictment against him in federal court. The plea was entered in a court filing on Tuesday, where Trump also requested to be excused from appearing in person at an upcoming court hearing in the case.
In the one-page filing, Trump stated, 'I, President Donald J. Trump, the above-named defendant, do hereby waive my right to be present at Arraignment and I authorize my attorneys to enter a plea of not guilty on my behalf to each and every count of the superseding indictment. I further state that I have received a copy of the superseding indictment and reviewed it with my counsel.'
The upcoming court hearing, scheduled for Thursday before Judge Tanya Chutkan, will be the first since the case was paused for the US Supreme Court to determine the extent of presidential immunity that Trump may be entitled to. Judge Chutkan confirmed on Tuesday that Trump will not be required to attend the hearing on Thursday, where his formal arraignment will take place. Instead, Trump's attorneys will represent him at the hearing.
