By Allan Lengel
With his supporters and detractors standing outside, ex-President Donald Trump entered a not guilty plea on Tuesday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Miami on the 37 charges alleging he hid top secret documents from the federal government.
Before the proceeding, Trump was booked by federal authorities. ABC reports he did not take a mugshot, but did provide fingerprints.
Authorities alleged in a 49-page indictment that he hid sensitive documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate and lied about them and obstructed authorities from retrieving them.
It’s the first time that a former president has been under federal indictment. In New York, he faces state charges regarding payments to porn star Stormy Daniels, and he’s like to face state charges in Georgia.
Outside the courtroom, some held signs, “Lock him up.” Others displayed signs in support of Trump.
Authorities have expressed concern about violence. The group outside the courthouse was orderly.
