Former President Trump's legal team entered a not guilty plea on his behalf in federal court in Washington, D.C., related to charges from special counsel Jack Smith's new indictment. The plea was made after the Supreme Court ruled that a president is immune from prosecution for official acts while in office.
During the status hearing before U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, Trump did not appear in court, but his lawyers submitted the not guilty plea. Trump signed a document authorizing his attorneys to enter the plea and waived his right to be present at the arraignment.
The case revolves around allegations of Trump's attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. The indictment accuses Trump of pressuring former Vice President Pence to reject legitimate electoral votes and orchestrating fake electors in key states won by President Biden to validate Trump's supposed victory.
The revised indictment maintains charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States, obstruction of an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights. However, it has been modified to clarify Trump's role as a candidate and his interactions with Pence in his ceremonial capacity as president of the Senate.
Notably, the new indictment omits allegations involving Department of Justice officials and government officials, focusing on Trump's actions as a candidate. The Supreme Court's recent ruling granting immunity to former presidents for official acts influenced the reframing of the charges against Trump.
Despite the updated indictment, sources suggest that the legal proceedings are unlikely to expedite, with a trial potentially not taking place before the November election. The new grand jury, which issued the revised indictment, had not previously been presented with evidence in the case, indicating a fresh perspective on the allegations against Trump.
