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Former President Trump, defiant attitude after declaring his innocence

2023-06-14 16:31:51, Kosova & Bota CNA

Former President Trump, defiant attitude after declaring his innocence

Former American president, Donald Trump

Former US President Donald Trump took a defiant stance after pleading not guilty Tuesday in a Florida courtroom.

The Republican presidential candidate is facing 37 federal felony charges, including illegal possession of classified documents and obstruction of justice.

After the impeachment hearing in which he pleaded not guilty, former President Donald Trump stopped by a Cuban restaurant in Miami to greet his supporters.

Mr Trump, the first former US president to face federal charges, spoke afterwards from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, where he is alleged to have kept some of the classified documents.

"Today we witnessed the worst and most disgusting abuse of power in the country's history. Very sad: a corrupt president arrests his main political opponent on false and fabricated charges," he said.

Hundreds of his supporters and opponents gathered outside the Miami courthouse where Mr. Trump faced 37 charges, including illegally possessing more than 100 classified documents, some of which related to US nuclear and defense plans, and conspiracy to obstruct justice. The FBI obtained the documents from his Florida home, Mar-a-Lago, last August. Special prosecutor Jack Smith is leading the federal investigation.

"Our country's commitment to the rule of law is an example to the world. Our laws apply equally to everyone", he said.

James Sample, a professor of constitutional law at Hofstra University, agrees.

"It's a victory for the rule of law. It's a step toward accountability. If an ordinary citizen had done any of the actions mentioned in the very detailed and thorough federal indictment, they would have been jailed immediately. Donald Trump is even being treated very carefully from the Department of Justice," he says.

Prosecutor Smith said he is seeking a "speedy trial" but it could be months before the trial begins. Mr. Trump leads the Republican race for the 2024 presidential election. Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani says the former president would probably prefer the process to be delayed until after the election.

"No sitting president can be prosecuted, so if he wins, the case drops. Even if another Republican like DeSantis wins, chances are he would fire special counsel Jack Smith, so I think the delay is in the former president's favor in this case. Of course, if the trial is held before the elections, it may affect the outcome of the elections."

A poll by Ipsos and ABC News shows that the public remains divided over the allegations against Mr. Trump.

"I don't think Mr. Trump's position at the head of the Republican candidates is affected by the indictment. But I think it will affect his chances of winning the general election if he gets the Republican nomination, hurting his standing with independents," says Ipsus spokesman Chris Jackson.

47 percent of Americans believe the charges are politically motivated, according to the poll.

If Mr. Trump's guilt is proven, he could face a prison sentence./ VOA