Former U.S. President Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to the revised charges in the federal election interference case, according to court documents filed by his lawyers. The new indictment, which maintains the same four felony counts as before, was filed by Special Counsel Jack Smith after a Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity. Trump waived his right to appear in court, authorizing his lawyers to enter the plea on his behalf.The charges against Trump include conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, and attempting to disenfranchise U.S. voters through false claims about the 2020 election results. While the revised indictment is slightly shorter, removing allegations related to Trump’s efforts to have the Department of Justice support his claim of election fraud, the core accusations remain unchanged.A court hearing is scheduled for Thursday, where Judge Tanya Chutkan will determine how to proceed with the case, including setting a schedule and deciding whether prosecutors can call certain witnesses, such as former Vice President Mike Pence. Trump’s legal team has been seeking to delay the trial until after the November election.In a separate development, U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein rejected Trump’s second attempt to move his New York state case, involving 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, to federal court. Hellerstein ruled that the Supreme Court’s recent decision on presidential immunity does not apply to this case, as the alleged actions occurred before Trump’s presidency. Trump was convicted in this case in May, and sentencing is scheduled for September 18.As these legal challenges unfold, Trump continues to dismiss the proceedings as a ‘political witch hunt’. Meanwhile, he faces an upcoming debate against Vice President Kamala Harris, adding political pressure to his legal battles. The outcomes of these cases could have significant implications for Trump’s political future and the upcoming election.
Key points
- Trump pleads not guilty to revised charges in the federal election interference case.
- The revised indictment maintains four felony counts but removes some allegations following a Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity.
- Trump faces multiple legal challenges, including a rejected attempt to move his New York case to federal court.
- A court hearing is scheduled for Thursday to determine next steps in the federal case.
