Former President Donald Trump, twice impeached and now twice indicted since leaving the White House, surrendered and pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Florida to 37 federal charges in Miami. His lawyers have asked for a jury trial.
The 50-minute hearing marked the beginning of what is sure to be a monthslong process of bringing Trump to trial against the backdrop of a presidential race in which he is the front-runner for the Republican nomination. Small groups of pro-Trump demonstrators voiced their support for the former president, denouncing the indictment as a politically inspired witch hunt.
After his arraignment, Trump returned to his golf club in New Jersey, where he gave a speech presenting himself as a blameless victim of a tyrannical government.
“Today we witnessed the most evil and heinous abuse of power in the history of our country,” Trump said. “Very sad thing to watch, a corrupt sitting president had his top political opponent arrested on fake and fabricated charges of which he and numerous other presidents would be guilty, right in the middle of a presidential election in which he’s losing very badly.”
A CNN analysis called his speech “the most chilling and demagogic ever spoken by a major figure in modern U.S. history.”
“Trump’s defiance reinforced the impression he views the law with contempt,” the analysis reads. “By ignoring the gravity of a situation he created, he once again put immediate personal and political needs ahead of the national interest.”
Trump has also been indicted in an unrelated case by the Manhattan district attorney in connection with hush money payments to a porn star ahead of the 2016 election.
In other headlines:
CP: Charleston County students can get free meals this summer. Charleston County students under 18 can receive hot and cold lunches as well as snacks through Aug. 4 thanks to a Summer Feeding Program offered by three local institutions.
Charleston man sleeps where enslaved ancestors slept for new book. A historic preservationist who has slept in more than 150 slave dwellings across the country, worked alongside a Charleston journalist for a new book, “Sleeping with the Ancestors.”
Officials, community raise concerns over CCSD superintendent search. Politicians and community activists gathered in front of the Charleston County School District’s main building June 13 demanding the board revisit its search for a new superintendent.
A day in the life of one family at the Charleston Market. Jonzetta Taylor’s family has sold goods at the Charleston City Market for more than 100 years.
Federal judge extends election fundraising rights in win for S.C. conservatives. South Carolina legislative special interest caucuses can formally campaign, senior U.S. District Judge Cameron Currie ruled Tuesday in a victory for a hardline conservative group of state representatives.
- To get dozens of South Carolina news stories every business day, contact the folks at SC Clips.
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