Former President Donald Trump has entered a not guilty plea to revised charges in the federal election interference case against him, according to a court filing obtained by Fox News. The document, filed on Tuesday, shows that Trump waived his right to be present at his arraignment and authorized his attorneys to enter a plea of not guilty on his behalf.
The case centers around Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Special Counsel Jack Smith, who brought the charges, alleges that Trump pressured former Vice President Mike Pence to reject legitimate electoral votes and mounted fake electors in key states won by President Biden to falsely attest to Trump’s electoral victory.
Smith revised the charges after a recent Supreme Court ruling extended presidential immunity for official White House acts. The revised indictment maintains the original criminal charges against Trump, including 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.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump maintained he had “every right” to take the actions he did following the 2020 election. He questioned the indictment, stating, “Whoever heard you get indicted for interfering with a presidential election where you have every right to do it?”
Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign swiftly condemned Trump’s comments, releasing a statement on Monday. The statement claimed that Trump’s recent remarks “make it clear that he believes he is above the law.” The Harris campaign spokesperson added, “Now, Trump is claiming he had ‘every right’ to interfere in the 2020 election. He did not.”
The latest developments in the case come as the 2024 presidential election approaches. The ongoing legal battle adds another layer of complexity to the already contentious campaign, with both Trump and Harris vying for the presidency.
