Former President Donald Trump Pleads Not Guilty to Charges of Mishandling Classified Documents After Leaving White House

On Tuesday, former President Donald Trump made history again as he became the first former president to face federal charges. Trump pleaded not guilty to charges of mishandling classified documents after leaving the White House.

The arrest comes about a month after a jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming journalist E. Jean Carroll, and as he is being investigated for his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection and his attempt to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results. Trump also became the first former president (and presidential candidate) to be indicted in a criminal investigation when he was arrested in New York City over hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels in April.

The scene outside the courthouse was a jarring end to what had been a somewhat sedate show of support for the embattled former president. Police had been bracing for as many of 50,000 demonstrators to protest outside the courthouse Tuesday. There was a contingent of anti-Trump demonstrators, including the man who was intercepted by police near Trump’s motorcade. Police officers tackled the man, and Trump headed to a famous Cuban restaurant called Versailles for what appeared to be a planned meeting with loyalists.

Trump’s criminal cases constitute a series of firsts for a former president. He is the first to face federal charges related to his handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. It remains to be seen what the outcome of this case will be, but it is clear that Trump’s legal troubles are far from over.