Former US president, Donald Trump, has entered a plea of not guilty to longstanding accusations of mishandling sensitive files during a hearing at a federal court in Miami, Florida.
This marks the first time a federal criminal indictment has been filed against a sitting or former US president.
During the court proceedings, Trump maintained a stern and composed demeanor, crossing his arms while dressed in a dark suit and red tie. This court appearance is his second this year.
Following the hearing, the Republican politician made his way to his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, where he addressed his supporters.
Against a backdrop of American flags, Mr Trump, who is the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, struck a defiant tone and told the assembled crowd he had “every right” to hold the classified documents, but “hadn’t had a chance to go through all the boxes”.
He said he followed the law and went on to list series of unsubstantiated claims as well as grievances against President Joe Biden and his former rival Hillary Clinton.
Earlier in the day before leaving Miami, Mr Trump, on his social media platform Truth Social, thanked the city for “such a warm welcome on such a sad day for our country”.
Just hours before, in a 13th-floor room of a federal courthouse in downtown Miami, a sombre, subdued Mr Trump looked on while his lawyer entered a plea of not guilty on 37 counts of illegally retaining classified documents and obstructing the government’s efforts to get them back.
“We most certainly enter a plea of not guilty,” the attorney, Todd Blanche, told the judge.
Accompanying the former president, Mr. Walt Nauta, a close aide charged with six criminal counts, sat at the same table during the court proceedings.
On the other side of the courtroom, the entire prosecution team, including special counsel Jack Smith, who announced the indictment last week, were present.
Despite turning 77 on Wednesday, Mr. Trump was granted unrestricted domestic and international travel privileges by Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman, as prosecutors did not consider him a flight risk.
However, the former president is prohibited from discussing the case with Mr. Nauta.
After the hearing, Mr. Trump expressed a thumbs-up gesture to his supporters as his motorcade departed from the courthouse. In one mildly chaotic moment of an otherwise peaceful day, a protester dressed in a prison jumpsuit briefly interrupted the motorcade’s path before being swiftly moved away by security personnel.
Mr. Trump and his security detail subsequently headed to Versailles, a popular Cuban restaurant located in Miami’s Little Havana, where a crowd of supporters awaited him. Many lined up to take photos with the former president, and he appeared to participate in a prayer with some patrons. The visit coincided with a rendition of “Happy Birthday to You” sung in his honor.
Before the hearing, court officials said Mr Trump would not have a mugshot taken but would be digitally fingerprinted and asked to submit a DNA sample by swab.
A trial date has not yet been set, though the case is still earmarked for Aileen Cannon, a federal district judge in South Florida who was appointed by Mr Trump.