Trump indictment updates: Trump attacks special counsel after court
Trump's attorney entered a plea of not guilty.
Last Updated: June 13, 2024, 10:10 PM EDT
Former President Donald Trump made his first appearance Tuesday in a federal courtroom in Miami after he was indicted in an investigation into his handling of classified documents.
Trump, who has repeatedly denied any allegations of impropriety, entered a not guilty plea through his attorneys and did not speak at all during the court appearance.
Trump has been charged with 37 counts: 31 counts of willful retention of national defense information; one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice; one count of withholding a document or record; one count of corruptly concealing a document or record; one count of concealing a document in a federal investigation; one count of scheme to conceal; and one count of false statements and representations.
Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Jun 13, 2023, 10:22 AM EDT
Officers move into positions around courthouse
Miami police officers on horseback, motorcycles and bicycles are moving into positions around the downtown federal courthouse, while the Federal Protective Service is positioning cars by the building's entrance.
Members of law enforcement wearing riot gear ride past the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. U.S. Courthouse, June 13, 2023 in Miami.
Win Mcnamee/Getty Images
A few supporters of former President Donald Trump are outside the courthouse, some carrying flags and others in costume. Some opponents are in the crowd, as well, including a man carrying a "Lock Him Up" sign.
All demonstrators at this point are peaceful.
-ABC News' Brian Hartman, Aaron Katersky and Mara Robles
Jun 13, 2023, 8:25 AM EDT
Chris Christie calls Trump's conduct 'inexcusable,' 'self-centered'
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie took aim at former President Donald Trump during a CNN Republican Presidential Town Hall Monday night, calling Trump's conduct "inexcusable" for someone who wants to occupy the Oval Office.
"He has shown himself, and I think most particularly in his post-presidency, to be completely self-centered, completely self-consumed, and doesn't give a damn about the American people, in my view, if what the American people want is in conflict with what Donald Trump thinks is best for him," Christie said.
A Department of Homeland Security police officer stands near the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Federal Courthouse before the arraignment of former President Donald Trump on June 13, 2023 in Miami.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
"I mean, put aside taking the documents in the first place," Christie said. "But then when you start getting asked … nicely with a letter from the archivist saying, 'Could you please give it back,' and you ignore it, ignore it, ignore it. Then they come with a grand jury subpoena, and then, according to the indictment, you tell your lawyers to tell them we don't have anything even though you have dozens and dozens of boxes of material. That's obstruction of justice, if it's true."
Lawyers Todd Blanche, Chris Kise expected to attend court appearance
Former President Donald Trump is expected to be joined by his lawyers Todd Blanche and Chris Kise at Tuesday's court appearance in MIami, sources told ABC News. Meetings with additional local attorneys are ongoing.
Blanche is representing Trump in the Manhattan criminal case while Kise represents Trump and the Trump Organization in other matters.
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump arrives at the Miami International Airport on June 12, 2023, in Miami.
Win Mcnamee/Getty Images
-ABC News' Katherine Faulders, Olivia Rubin and John Santucci
He's accused of willfully retaining documents containing the nation's most sensitive secrets, including nuclear programs, after he left office, prosecutors said. He allegedly showed some of the documents to people on at least two occasions and then tried to obstruct the investigation into their whereabouts, prosecutors claim.
A photo contained in the indictment released on June 9, 2023, from the U.S. Southern District of Florida, shows boxes stored in a bathroom of potentially sensitive documents that were found at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla.
DOJ via US Southern District of Florida
Trump denied any wrongdoing over the weekend, saying: "We did absolutely nothing wrong. Take a look at the Presidential Records Act. We did it by the book. Perfect."
Trump is expected to arrive at and depart from the Miami courthouse via secure private access points that would make it impossible for the public or journalists to see him.
Trump aide Walt Nauta, who was also charged in connection with his handling of government documents, is also due in court at 3 p.m.
The front of the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Federal Courthouse, June 9, 2023 in Miami, Florida.
