Donald Trump enters not guilty plea, avoiding televised courtroom drama

Donald Trump has entered a plea in his latest election interference charge, sidestepping what would have been a historic moment.

Donald Trump’s historic mugshot

Donald Trump temporarily dodged an explosive courtroom TV drama by entering an early not-guilty plea to conspiring to overturn the 2020 US election results.

Trump, who made history as the first ex-president to have his mugshot taken, was set for another unprecedented moment after a judge ruled broadcast news cameras would be allowed inside the court for an arraignment on September 6.

Instead, Trump entered a not-guilty plea to 13 felony counts while filing a waiver of arraignment in Fulton County Court, delaying the made-for-TV moment until his next required appearance.

“As evidenced by my signature below, I do hereby waive formal arraignment and enter my plea of NOT GUILTY to the indictment in this case,” reads the filing signed by Trump.

The mugshot of Donald Trump, who entered a not guilty plea and waived his right to an arraignment, delaying his first TV appearance inside a courtroom. Picture: AFP

Unlike his previous three indictments in federal court in New York, Florida and Washington DC, the fourth in Georgia allows for mugshots and footage from the courtroom under the state’s jurisdiction.

Trump and 18 co-defendants, including former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, face 13 racketeering charges over allegations they ran a “criminal enterprise” to hinder the certification of Georgia’s election results.

The 77-year-old, who is the Republican Party’s frontrunner to contest the next presidential election in 2024, surrendered to the court last week and was released on a USD $200,000 bond.

Inmate number “PO1135809” raised US $9.4 million the week after his mugshot was released, and merchandise went on sale, for a total of $20 million in August alone.

Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis is seeking a start date of the trial in October, but Trump’s attorneys filed a motion this week arguing the right to a fair trial and due process “necessarily includes sufficient time to prepare to defend against a RICO conspiracy charge with 161 Overt Acts.”

“Apparently, the DA’s office believes that even though its investigation of the defendants consumed over 18 months, the Court has no discretion or choice but to put all the defendants on trial in two months because one or more defendants have demanded a speedy trial,” the filing from new Trump lawyer Steven Sadow stated.

“President Trump has already informed the Court that he will be filing a timely motion to sever his case from those who are demanding a speedy trial,” the filing said.

Trump’s legal defence team has been aiming to push the start of his four separate criminal cases until after the 2024 election.

He was dealt a double blow when a US District Judge this week ordered the Washington DC trial to begin on March 4 next year, one day before “Super Tuesday”.

Donald Trump will face trial in Washington DC on March 4, one day before “Super Tuesday”. Picture: AFP

With more than a dozen US states voting in the Republican primary contest on March 5, the “Super Tuesday” of the election cycle is seen as the likely confirmation of the party’s top candidate to contest the presidential election in November.

Despite Trump’s hopes he will wrap up the party’s nomination well before then, the wide field of candidates remaining in the race shows belief among presidential hopefuls that their top rival won’t make it to Super Tuesday.

The timing of the trial date to coincide with the biggest milestone on the primary calendar led to claims of “straight-up election interference” by Judge Tanya Chutkan, who was appointed by former Democrat president Barack Obama.

“Today a biased, Trump Hating Judge gave me only a two-month extension, just what our corrupt government wanted,” Trump wrote in a livid social media post Monday afternoon.

“I will APPEAL!” he declared.

Originally published as Donald Trump enters not guilty plea, avoiding televised courtroom drama