BREAKING NEWS: Trump pleads ‘not guilty’ — speaks to reporters at airport: video

VIDEO FROM CNN WIRE

Former President Donald Trump stood before a federal magistrate in Washington, D.C., this afternoon and entered a plea of “not guilty” to the four felony counts in the indictment against him that was issued by a federal grand jury that investigated his activities and those of six alleged co-conspirators. The grand jury concluded that they combined in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election in order to keep Trump in the White House.

By about 5:10 p.m., Trump had been taken back to Washington National Airport to board his private jet for a flight back to Newark, New Jeerey, from where he would return to his gofl club at Bedminster.

Before boarding the airplane, Trump told newspeople gathered on the ramp by the airplane, “This is a very sad day for America and it was also very sad driving through Washington, D.C., and seeing the filth and the decay and all of the broken buildings and walls and all of the graffiti. This is not the place that I left. Its a very sad thing to see it.”

Trump then spoke about his indictment.

“This is the persecution of a political opponent,” Trump said. “This was never supposed to happen in America. This is the persecution of the person that’s leading by very very substantial numbers in the Republican Primary and leading Biden by a lot so if you can’t beat him you persecute him or you prosecute him. We can’t let this happen in America.”

Earlier, at the beginning of the arraignment, the judge had asked Trump to state his name and other biographical information. She advised Trump of his rights and detailed the possible prison sentences for each of the four counts. The judge admonished Trump not to discuss the case with witnesses who might testify. The judge said that Trump could remain free.

Trump was described as presenting a serious, almost solemn appearance. He was described as sitting with his hands clasped and head bowed for most of the time. Trump appeared to have some intensive conversations with his attorneys.

Trump had arrived in Washington, D.C., earlier in the afternoon following a flight from Newark Airport in New Jersey on his private jet. A motorcade had taken him from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, to Newark. After his arrival at Washington National Airport a motorcade took him to the federal court house.

There were small groups of both pro-Trump and anti-Trump demonstrators gathered near the court house. Police had blocked off various sections of sidewalk and streets were blocked as Trump’s motorcade approached. The vehicle in which Trump was riding entered a ramp leading underground. Trump then accessed the area of the court house where he was to be fingerprinted before entering a courtroom for the arraignment, which was scheduled to begin at 4 p.m., but did not begin until about 4:17 p.m. Newspeople in the courtroom reported that Trump was seated at a table with his attorneys and about 15 feet away was Special Counsel Jack Smith. They reported that Trump and Smith looked at each other from time to time. Before entering the courtroom, Trump has been taken into custody by law enforcement officers.

The six co-conspirators the indictment were not identified by name but their participation in activities alleged in the indictment were described in detail. It was believed they were not charged in this indictment in order to simplify the case naming Trump that would be presented to a jury but many be separately charged in the future.

Street scene outside of Washington, D.C., federal court. CNN image.