Trump pleads not guilty on Jan. 6 charges, calls it 'sad day for America’

Trump is accused of attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

ByMorgan Winsor, Emily Shapiro, and Meredith Deliso
Last Updated: August 2, 2023, 6:33 AM EDT

Former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to all counts after being charged in connection with his alleged attempts to overturn the result of the 2020 presidential election.

The new 45-page federal indictment, unsealed Tuesday, accuses Trump of four felony counts: conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights.

It's the third time that Trump has been indicted on criminal charges. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges in the two other cases, decrying the investigations as political witch hunts. He continues to insist that the 2020 vote was rigged and, speaking to ABC News on Tuesday, described the latest charges as a "pile-on" and "election interference."

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Aug 03, 2023, 9:26 AM EDT

Campaign staff to travel with Trump to DC

Former President Donald Trump is expected to travel to Washington, D.C., Thursday on his personal plane, accompanied by campaign staff and a handful of attorneys including John Lauro, Todd Blanche, Boris Epshteyn and Alina Habba, sources told ABC News.

At court, Trump will sit at the defense table with Lauro and Blanche. A plea of not guilty is expected to be entered, ABC News has learned.

Media members prepare for the arrival of former President Donald Trump, who is facing federal charges in connection with attempts to overturn his 2020 election defeat, at U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., Aug. 3, 2023.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

-ABC News' John Santucci, Olivia Rubin, Katherine Faulders and Will Steakin

Aug 02, 2023, 5:41 PM EDT

Capitol Police Chief: 'We're prepared for tomorrow'

The U.S. Capitol Police force is prepared for former President Donald Trump’s arraignment on Thursday, Chief Thomas Manger told reporters.

"We're prepared for tomorrow," Manger said during a press briefing on Wednesday. "We're prepared for whatever might happen."

Manger said USCP has been in talks with its partner agencies, including the Metropolitan Police Department, Park Service and Secret Service.

There are no plans to put up fencing around the Capitol complex, Manger said.

-ABC News' Lauren Peller

Aug 02, 2023, 3:09 PM EDT

Trump's fingerprints will be taken digitally, no mugshot

Former President Donald Trump won't be placed in handcuffs when he arrives at court on Thursday, according to a U.S. Marshals spokesperson.

Trump will have his fingerprints taken digitally and he will be required to give his social security number, date of birth and address, the spokesperson said.

Trump's mugshot won't be taken because the former president's picture is publicly available, according to the spokesperson.

-ABC News' Luke Barr

Aug 02, 2023, 2:36 PM EDT

Pence: 'I wish it didn't come to this'

Former Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday said of the indictment, "I wish it didn't come to this."

"It will be up to the government to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that this actually represented criminal conduct," Pence told reporters while campaigning at the Indiana State Fair.

Pence, asked what he had learned after reading through the indictment, responded that he "didn't know anything about the effort to secure fake electors" at the time.

-ABC News' Libby Cathey

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