Donald Trump slams arrest over classified documents scandal as ‘evil and heinous abuse of power’

Donald Trump has dismissed his arrest and indictment for mishandling classified documents as a “heinous abuse of power”.

Donald Trump smiles after his arraignment. Picture: Alon Skuy/Getty Images

Donald Trump has dismissed his arrest and indictment for mishandling classified documents as a “heinous abuse of power”.

Addressing hundreds of supporters at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey on Tuesday night, the former US President claimed he had undergone “political persecution like something straight out of a fascist or communist nation”, after pleading not guilty to dozens of criminal felony counts at his arraignment hearing in Miami earlier in the day.

“Today we witnessed the most evil and heinous abuse of power in the history of our country,” Mr Trump said. “Very sad thing to watch.”

He added, “They ought to drop this case immediately, because they’re destroying the country. I had every right to have these documents. I did everything right and they indicted me.”

TRUMP: "Today, we witnessed the most evil and heinous abuse of power in the history of our country. 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." pic.twitter.com/LHr9p5ILsD

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) June 14, 2023

Mr Trump arrived at the federal courthouse in Miami at 2pm on Tuesday (4am AEST).

And he wanted everyone to know he wasn’t happy about it.

Before he headed into court, Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform – in all capitals – that this was “ONE OF THE SADDEST DAYS IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY”, adding “WE ARE A NATION IN DECLINE!!!”

He also suffered a new frustration in the hours before his appearance at the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. court, failing in his last-minute attempt to recruit a new lawyer to represent him.

With tight security and in a cavalcade of vehicles with blacked out windows, Mr Trump was arraigned minutes after arriving and charged with retaining classified documents from his time in the White House.

His personal aide Walt Nauta, 40, was arrested alongside his boss for his alleged role in the storing of the sensitive and top secret documents.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump waves as he makes a visit to the Cuban restaurant Versailles after he appeared for his arraignment on June 13, 2023 in Miami, Florida. Picture: Alon Skuy/Getty Images/AFP

A demonstrator holds a sign as a motorcade of vehicles, with former US President Donald Trump on board, arrives at Federal Courthouse in Miami, Florida. (Photo by RICARDO ARDUENGO / AFP)

‘Certainly entering a plea of not guilty’

On the eve of his 77th birthday, Mr Trump pleaded not guilty to all 37 charges. Mr Nauta also pleaded not guilty.

Special counsel Jack Smith, who was appointed to investigate Mr Trump, was also in court.

During the arraignment, which lasted for around two hours, the charges against Mr Trump were presented, and he was asked to enter a plea. Most defendants are also fingerprinted and photographed, though in this case it is not expected that there will be a mugshot, nor was he handcuffed.

On Mr Trump’s behalf, lawyer Todd Blanch said: “We are certainly entering a plea of not guilty”.

The 45th president left the courthouse at 4pm local time (6am AEST) to fly back to Bedminster.

Judge Jonathan Goodman did not impose any travel restrictions with prosecutors saying he was not a “flight risk” especially given the constant presence of his Secret Service protection.

Trump seen after his arraignment. Picture: Alon Sku/Getty Images/AFP

Police cars nose to tail outside the courthouse. (Photo by SCOTT OLSON / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Demonstrator Dominic Santana is detained by Miami police after trying to block former President Donald Trump's motorcade as it departed the courthouse. Picture: Octavio Jones/Getty Images/AFP

The case against him, which marks the first time a US president has ever faced criminal charges, concerns his alleged illegal retention of sensitive national security documents after he left office in January of 2021 and became a private citizen.

Prosecutors allege Mr Trump took the documents, which belonged to the government, not him, and stored them at his residences in Florida and New Jersey. It further alleges that he failed to return the documents when repeatedly asked, showed some of them to people who lacked the necessary security clearances, defied a subpoena, and lied to investigators, falsely claiming he had in fact returned all the relevant material.

Mr Trump disembarking from his private plane as he arrived in Florida yesterday. Picture: Win McNamee/Getty Images

The FBI raided his Florida residence, Mar-a-Lago, last August, where prosecutors allege boxes full of sensitive government documents were found, some with markings indicating they were highly classified.

Mr Trump has been charged with 31 counts of wilful retention of national defence information, and one count each of conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding a document or record, corruptly concealing a document or record, concealing a document in a federal investigation, scheme to conceal, and false statements and representations.

If convicted, he could face a prison sentence.

Trump stops at Cuban restaurant

Trump was heading back to his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, to deliver an evening speech protesting his innocence – but not before stopping to greet supporters at a Cuban restaurant in Miami’s Little Havana, where they sang happy birthday in his honour.

“We have a country that’s corrupt,” Trump told the gathering, railing at the charges brought against him.

“A country in decline like never before,” he said. “I think it’s a rigged deal here.”

Miami officials were preparing for large scale protests, and police had ramped up security well in advance of what turned out to be a few dozen Trump supporters converging near the courthouse.

Some wore “Make America Great Again” baseball caps and one with a sign reading “Indict Jack Smith” –- the special prosecutor who brought the charges.

The Miami courthouse where Mr Trump will be arraigned. Picture: Joe Raedle/Getty Images via AFP

Failed to find a lawyer

Mr Trump reportedly spent Monday afternoon trying to find a local lawyer to join his legal team. Extraordinarily, given his status as a former president and the high profile of his case, he failed to find a willing candidate.

Multiple people were interviewed for the role. US media reports that several ultimately decided to decline it.

As a result, Mr Trump will have to make do with his two existing lawyers, former federal prosecutor Todd Blanche and a former Florida solicitor-general, Chris Kise.

He has also reportedly been unable to find a specialist national security lawyer, which is a problem, because part of the case involves information that requires a security clearance.

According to The Guardian, which was able to glean information about the lawyers Mr Trump interviewed, the candidates’ concerns extended both to his reputation as a “notoriously difficult client” who ignores advice and ethics rules, and “the perceived reputational damage” they themselves could suffer by representing him.

The indictment against Mr Trump was revealed in full on Friday. It alleges that he stored documents in Mar-a-Lago’s “ballroom, a bathroom and shower, an office space, his bedroom, and a storage room”. There are photos of boxes being stored in these locations.

It says the documents in question included “information regarding defence and weapons capabilities of both the United States and foreign countries, United States nuclear programs, potential vulnerability of the United States and its allies to military attack, and plans for possible retaliation in response to a foreign attack”.

Originally published as Donald Trump slams arrest over classified documents scandal as ‘evil and heinous abuse of power’