JAKARTA - Donald Trump pleaded not guilty on Thursday to charges of orchestrating a plot to overturn the results of the 2020 United States election, in what US prosecutors called an "unprecedented attempt to undermine a pillar of Uncle Sam's democracy".
Trump walked into the courtroom wearing a red tie and navy suit with an American flag lapel pin. About 10 Secret Service agents stood against the wall behind him.
He seemed to glance occasionally at Smith, who entered with his own security guard and the prosecutor assigned to the case.
As the court representative read aloud the name of the case — "United States vs. Donald J. Trump" — the former president shook his head in disapproval.
Special Counsel Jack Smith, who has overseen the federal investigation, watched from the front row of the courtroom as Trump presented his defense before US Judge Moxila Upadhyaya.
"Not guilty," Trump said, emphasizing the first word, according to Reuters, August 4.
The lawsuit, which lasted about half an hour, took place in a Washington courthouse half a mile (1 km) from the US Capitol Hill, the building that Trump supporters stormed on January 6, 2021, to try to stop Congress declaring defeat.
It was Trump's third time pleading not guilty since April, with months of pretrial legal wrangling expected to take place against the backdrop of the 2024 presidential campaign, in which Trump was the frontrunner for the Republican nomination to face Democratic President Joe Biden.
In the 45-page indictment on Tuesday, Smith accused Trump and his allies of promoting false claims the election was rigged, pressuring state and federal officials to change results and compiling fake voter lists to try to wrest the electoral vote from Biden.
Trump, 77, faces four charges, including conspiracy to defraud the US, disenfranchise citizens and obstruct an official process. The most serious charges carry a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.
The next court date in the case is Aug. 28 before US District Judge Tanya Chutkan, though Upadhyaya said Trump doesn't need to appear. Chutkan intended to set a trial date by then, said Upadhyaya.
Meanwhile, Trump's attorney, John Lauro, filed initial objections, arguing the size of the case and the amount of material involved could take too much time.
Meanwhile, Prosecutor Thomas Windom denied that the case should proceed as usual, including with a speedy trial.
Trump was released without travel restrictions. One of the conditions for his release was that he did not discuss the case with any witnesses unless accompanied by his lawyer.
Trump, as before, has described the charges, as well as the other criminal cases against him, as a "witch hunt" meant to derail his White House campaign.
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"This is a very sad day for America," Trump told reporters after the hearing before boarding his private plane back to his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club.
"This is persecution of political opponents," he stressed.
Trump previously pleaded not guilty to federal charges related to keeping classified documents after leaving office, as well as New York State allegations that he forged documents in connection with paying bribes to a porn star.
Trump will also face charges in Georgia, where state prosecutors are investigating his attempts to overturn the election there. Atlanta district attorney Fani Willis said he would file charges in mid-August.
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