Former US President Donald Trump has asked not to appear in person at the Florida court hearing Thursday, pleading in writing “not guilty” to new charges in the case of alleged negligent handling of confidential documents.
Judge Aileen Cannon has not yet responded to this request from Trump’s lawyers (president between 2017-2021) to waive his right to appear at the reading of the three charges, the agency Efe reported.
Adding to the first 37 charges against Trump in the classified documents case were one of “deliberate withholding of national defense information” and two additional charges of “obstruction” in connection with alleged attempts to remove surveillance video footage in the summer of 2022.
In addition to Trump, Waltine Nauta and Carlos de Oliveira, two associates of the former president accused of helping him conceal confidential documents will be arraigned this Thursday before Judge Shaniek Mills Maynard, in a hearing scheduled for 2 p.m. (7 p.m.) . in Lisbon).
For Carlos de Oliveira, of Portuguese descent, caretaker of the Mar-a-Lago estate where Trump has a residence in Florida, it will be the first reading of the charges and for Waltine Nauta, the former president’s personal assistant, the second .
Oliveira is out on bail after being charged on July 31 with destroying evidence that could harm Trump and obstructing the investigation of the Republican tycoon.
Trump and Nauta will be read alongside the indictments filed July 27 by Special Counsel Jack Smith.
On the other hand, the judge denied a request from a group of media asking for electronic devices to be brought to the courthouse in Fort Pierce, Florida, where the trial is taking place.
The former president, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges, claims the lawsuits he faces are “electoral interference at the highest level” as he prepares a 2024 White House re-candidacy by the Republican Party, and places the blame on Joe Biden, the Democratic president.
Special counsel Jack Smith is also responsible for investigating the Republican tycoon in the case accusing him of attempting to alter the result of the 2020 presidential election that resulted in the January 6, 2021 invasion of the Capitol by his supporters . who tried to prevent the election victory of the current president.
Trump is also accused of falsifying business documents in a case involving pornographic actress Stormy Daniels, with whom the former president had an affair in 2006.
Despite his troubles with Justice, Trump is the clear favorite to win the 2024 Republican primaries, competing with Biden for the White House race in November of that same year.
Source: DN
