On Tuesday, June 13, 2023, former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to 37 charges of mishandling classified documents. The charges stem from an FBI investigation that found Trump had stored classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida after leaving office.
Trump's lawyers entered the plea on his behalf during a brief arraignment hearing in federal court in Miami. Trump was not required to appear in court in person.
The charges against Trump include unlawfully retaining national defense information, conspiring to obstruct justice, and making false statements. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison.
The case is the first time a former president has been charged with a crime. It is also the latest in a series of legal troubles for Trump, who is also facing investigations into his business dealings and his role in the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Trump has denied any wrongdoing and has vowed to fight the charges. His lawyers have said they will seek a jury trial.
The arraignment hearing was a brief and procedural matter. The next step in the case is a pretrial conference, which is scheduled for July 12.