It’s all about this: After the unprecedented indictment in connection with the storming of Congress and alleged attempted electoral fraud, former US President Donald Trump had to appear on Thursday (local time) for the formal presentation of the indictment before a judge in the capital Washington.
This is a very sad day for America.
This is how Trump presented himself: The 77-year-old Republican presidential nominee has pleaded not guilty. He flew in from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey for the approximately 30-minute appointment in Washington. “This is a very sad day for America,” Trump said immediately before departure. He repeated the accusation that the charges were politically motivated.
This is how it goes on: The next court date has been set for August 28th. Trump does not have to appear. That day is scheduled to be set by Federal District Judge Tanya Chutkan for the trial. Five days earlier, the first debate of the Republican presidential candidates will take place.
When is a verdict expected? Many questions remain unanswered at the moment, explains Viviane Manz, USA correspondent for SRF. So it is unclear whether a possible verdict would be made before the elections next year. If it goes that long, Trump could even become US President while in prison. “The whole thing could become quite a mess,” says Manz. According to a Reuters poll, about half of Republicans would not vote for Donald Trump if he were convicted of a felony.
What about the rest of the charges against Trump? The new indictment is the second federal indictment against Trump and the third overall. In recent months, Trump has been indicted on two other counts: in connection with paying hush money to a porn star several years ago and unlawfully storing top-secret government documents after the end of his tenure. In the new case, he is confronted with the most serious allegations to date.
Here is the ticker to read: