Donald Trump has entered a not guilty plea to revised federal charges concerning his alleged attempts to interfere with the 2020 election. Special counsel Jack Smith updated the charges last week after the US Supreme Court ruled that presidents have broad immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts.
Trump denies claims that he pressured officials to overturn the 2020 election results, spread false information about election fraud, and exploited the Capitol riot to delay Joe Biden’s certification. His legal team entered the plea on his behalf during a Washington arraignment on Thursday.
The revised indictment keeps four charges intact: conspiracy to defraud the US, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, attempting to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights.
However, the charges now apply to Trump’s status as a political candidate rather than a sitting president.
Trump, who has previously labeled the case a “witch hunt,” maintains that it is an attempt to distract the public ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
Among the key allegations is his effort to persuade then-Vice President Mike Pence to interfere with Biden’s election certification, a matter that sparked debate between Trump’s legal team and Judge Tanya Chutkan during the hearing.