Trump addresses supporters in NJ after entering 'not guilty' plea in classified documents case

Former President Donald Trump pauses for a drink as he speaks to supporters at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Bedminster, N.J. Trump is facing 37 counts related to the mishandling and retention of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. He plead not guilty to the charges in Miami federal court earlier Tuesday, alongside his co-defendant, valet Walt Nauta, and was released on his own recognizance without having to pay bail. 

2024 presidential candidate Nikki Haley said Tuesday she would be "inclined" to pardon former President Trump if he's convicted of federal charges.

Haley made the remarks during an interview with the conservative Clay Travis and Buck Sexton radio show.

Eric Trump arrives before former President Donald Trump speaks at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J., Tuesday, June 13, 2023, after pleading not guilty in a Miami courtroom earlier in the day to dozens of felony counts that he hoarded classified documents and refused government demands to give them back. 

Former President Donald Trump speaks to supporters at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Bedminster, N.J. Trump is facing 37 counts related to the mishandling and retention of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. He plead not guilty to the charges in Miami federal court earlier Tuesday, alongside his co-defendant, valet Walt Nauta, and was released on his own recognizance without having to pay bail. 

Guests look up as a helicopter passes near as the motorcade with former President Donald Trump arrives at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J., Tuesday, June 13, 2023, after pleading not guilty in a Miami courtroom earlier in the day to dozens of felony counts that he hoarded classified documents and refused government demands to give them back.

Supporters await the former president in Bedminster, NJ awaiting Donald Trump’s arrival, June 13, 2023.

Former President Donald Trump’s motorcade leaves Newark Liberty International Airport on Tuesday afternoon, June 13, 2023, en route to Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, where he’s holding a campaign fundraiser and is expected to address supporters.

Former President Donald Trump prays with pastor Mario Bramnick, third from right, and others at Versailles restaurant on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Miami after appearing in federal court on dozens of federal charges accusing him of illegally hoarding classified documents and thwarting the Justice Department's efforts to get the records back.

Former President Donald Trump thanked supporters for a "warm welcome" after he pleaded not guilty to federal charges in a Miami courtroom.

"Thank you Miami. Such a warm welcome on such a SAD DAY for our Country!" he said on Truth Social.

Former President Donald Trump and Special Counsel Jack Smith were in the same room as Trump pleaded not guilty to charges that stemmed from Smith's investigation into alleged mishandling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago.

However, there was no apparent eye contact between the two men during the day's proceedings.

Trump sat with his arms folded most of the time, talking with his lawyers occasionally. But Trump did not speak and Magistrate Judge Goodman never addressed him directly.

Judge Goodman asked both sides if they agreed to waive the reading of the indictment, to which they agreed, so the matter got to Trump’s arraignment fairly quickly.

Most of the arguments from both sides were about Trump’s contact with potential witnesses, and the defense pointed out that they don’t even have a full list of witnesses yet.

Trump was indicted Friday on 37 federal counts, including willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice and false statements.

The indictment accuses Trump of failing to comply with demands to return classified documents — including plans for a retaliatory attack on an unnamed foreign power — he had gathered in Mar-a-Lago.

Other documents include defense and weapon capabilities of the U.S. and details of the U.S. nuclear program.

"The unauthorized disclosure of these classified documents could put at risk the national security of the United States, foreign relations, the safety of the United States military, and human sources and the continued viability of sensitive intelligence collection methods," the indictment said. It also accused him of storing the documents in a bathroom and other places at the residence, and of bragging and showing off the documents to visitors.

In one instance, he is said to have told individuals of a document, "as president, I could have declassified it," and, "Now I can't, you know, but this is still a secret."

He is also said to have directed an aide to move boxes of documents demanded by a grand jury subpoena while claiming to have fully cooperated. The FBI opened a criminal investigation into the matter in March 2022.

Fox News' Jake Gibson contributed to this report.

Former President Donald Trump stopped at a Miami cafe on Tuesday after pleading not guilty to federal charges in a nearby courtroom.

Trump stopped at Versailles, where he was greeted by religious leaders and supporters who prayed with him. He also ordered some pastries.

'Food for everyone," he said. The crowd sang "Happy Birthday" to him. The former president's birthday is tomorrow.

It came shortly after he was booked and pleaded not guilty to 37 felony charges related to his alleged mishandling of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate.

Sen. J.D. Vance on Tuesday pledged to place a hold all on Biden Department of Justice nominations in response to the federal indictment of former President Donald Trump, which he described as an act of political harassment.

Vance made the announcement in response to the unsealing of the federal indictment, which accused Trump of mishandling classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate.

“Donald Trump is merely the latest victim of a Department of Justice that cares more about politics than law enforcement. Merrick Garland’s department harasses Christians for pro-life advocacy, but allows hardened criminals to walk our streets unpunished. This must stop, and I will do everything in my ability to ensure it does,” Vance said in a statement.

“Starting today, I will hold all Department of Justice nominations. If Merrick Garland wants to use these officials to harass Joe Biden’s political opponents, we will grind his department to a halt.”

Vance spoke as Trump pleaded not guilty to the 37 federal charges in a Miami federal courthouse. Trump and his allies have dismissed the charges as politically motivated.

Vance's move would mean that nominees can no longer be cleared quickly by unanimous consent, and would require a floor vote in the chamber, where Democrats have a slim majority. Vance's office clarified that the hold would not apply to those nominated to the U.S. Marshal's Service.

Former President Trump pleaded not guilty at a Miami federal courthouse Tuesday to 37 federal felony counts related to his alleged refusal to hand over classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago residence.

Trump made his first appearance in court for the case in Miami on Tuesday and pleaded not guilty. The former president did not speak directly to the judge, as his lawyer entered the not guilty plea in the courtroom.

Trump was indicted last week on the 37 counts by Special Counsel Jack Smith.

The FBI seized 102 documents from Trump with classification markings in August.

Caroline Elliot contributed to this report.

Alina Habba, one of former President Trump's lawyers, said Tuesday that the indictment of her client is "the type of thing you see in dictatorships."

"We are at a turning point in our nation’s history," Habba said Tuesday outside the Miami federal courthouse where Trump is set to appear at 3 p.m. "The targeting prosecution of a leading political opponent is the type of thing you see in dictatorships like Cuba and Venezuela. It is commonplace there for rival candidates to be prosecuted, persecuted and put into jail."

Trump was indicted last week on 37 federal counts resulting from Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into his alleged retention and refusal to turn over classified documents at Mar-a-Lago.

Habba argued the indictment of Trump shows a double-standard in the justice system, where Democrats such as Hillary Clinton and President Biden have yet to be similarly prosecuted for mishandling of classified material.

"None of them were president, who as the head and sole member of the executive branch, has the power to summarily declassify documents," Habba said. "The decision to pursue charges against President Trump while turning a blind eye to others is emblematic of the corruption that we have here."

Former President Donald Trump was booked Tuesday in a Miami federal courthouse on 37 felony charges that were unsealed last week in a federal indictment that accuses him of mishandling classified documents.

The 2024 presidential frontrunner turned himself in to the federal court on Tuesday. The Associated Press reported he was booked on the charges.

The indictment accuses Trump of failing to comply with demands to return classified documents — including plans for a retaliatory attack on an unnamed foreign power — that he had gathered in Mar-a-Lago. Other documents detail defense and weapons capabilities of the U.S. and details of the U.S. nuclear program.

"The unauthorized disclosure of these classified documents could put at risk the national security of the United States, foreign relations, the safety of the United States military, and human sources and the continued viability of sensitive intelligence collection methods," the indictment said.

It also accused him of storing the documents in a bathroom and other places at the residence, and of even bragging and showing off the documents to visitors. In one instance, he is said to have told people about a document, "as president, I could have declassified it," and, "Now I can't, you know, but this is still a secret."

Trump arrived at the courthouse amid a circus outside the building, where protesters and supporters gathered.

He has dismissed the charges as politically motivated by the Biden administration’s Department of Justice.

"ON MY WAY TO COURTHOUSE. WITCH HUNT!!! MAGA," Trump posted on Truth Social as his motorcade rode on the highway.

Former President Trump called the investigation that led to his Tuesday court date in Miami a "WITCH HUNT" as he traveled to a federal courthouse in Miami for his classified documents case.

"ON MY WAY TO COURTHOUSE. WITCH HUNT!!! MAGA," Trump posted on Truth Social as his motorcade rode on the highway.

Trump was indicted last week on 37 federal counts in relation to a special counsel investigation into his holding of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago residence. The former president told Fox News Digital he plans to plead not guilty.

Trump is expected to make an appearance at the courthouse at 3 p.m. Tuesday.