Trump pleads not guilty of plotting to overturn 2020 election defeat

Former US president Donald Trump pleads not guilty to four counts of federal charges, dismissing criminal cases against him as a “witch hunt.”

Trump stands accused, among other things, of orchestrating a plot to overturn his 2020 presidential election defeat.

During a short arraignment on Thursday, Trump spoke to confirm his not-guilty plea.

"Not guilty," Trump said, emphasizing the first word.

The arraignment, lasting about half an hour, took place in a Washington courthouse half a mile (1.1 km) from the US Capitol, the building Trump's supporters stormed on January 6, 2021, in the hope of preventing lawmakers from certifying Biden's victory, thus overturning the outcome of the 2020 presidential election but to no avail.

Trump has said that the 2020 disputed US presidential election was “the greatest Election Hoax in history.”

After leaving the court, Trump said his arraignment on charges of trying to overturn the 2020 election results was sad.

Trump told reporters the case was persecution of “a political opponent.”

"This is a very sad day for America," Trump said after the hearing before boarding his private plane to return to his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club. "This is a persecution of a political opponent."

The plea, the third for Trump in four months, followed a federal grand jury indictment on Tuesday.

In a 45-page indictment, Special Counsel Jack Smith, who has overseen the federal investigation, accused Trump and his allies of promoting false claims the election was rigged.

The indictment also charges Trump with attempting to obstruct the certification of Joe Biden's victory and inciting an assault on US Capitol.

Russian president: Capitol protest arrests show US cracks down on political dissent

Putin has said the fact that American security forces arrested hundreds of people protesting the disputed 2020 election on January 6 proves that Washington is cracking down on political dissent.

He has already pleaded not guilty in two other cases of mishandling classified documents and paying hush money to an adult film actress.

He has dismissed the new indictment and other criminal cases against him as “a witch hunt” intended to derail his 2024 presidential campaign.

Trump is the front-runner for the Republican nomination and accuses the Biden administration of targeting him for political gain.

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