And one man had arrived from California. He was wearing a top hat and red tailcoat while carrying a “Trump DeSantis 2024” corflute – a reference to Florida governor Ron DeSantis,who is also vying for the Republican nomination.
Loading
“Trump for president and DeSantis as vice president would be the dream ticket,” said Gregg Donovan from Beverly Hills. “The only way it could get any better if we had (actor and former Californian Governor) Arnold Schwarzenegger as Secretary of State.”
Of the 37 charges Trump faces,31 relate to the “wilful retention” of classified material in violation of the Espionage Act,a national security law that has been used to target leakers of government secrets,which comes with a maximum 10-year jail term.
The documents were taken after Trump left the White House in 2021 and were stored in boxes all over his Mar-a-Lago resort,including “in a ballroom,a bathroom and shower,an office space,his bedroom,and a storage room”.
They included information relating to nuclear programs and military vulnerabilities,to intelligence that should have only been shared with the “Five Eyes” countries,including Australia.
While the motive for keeping the documents is still not clear,prosecutors argue that their retention nonetheless presented a national security risk and have accused Trump,along with his aid Walt Nauta,of trying to obstruct attempts to retrieve them.
Trump leaves his Trump National Doral resort for Miami.Credit:AP
“If even half of it is true,then he’s toast,” Trump’s former attorney-general Bill Barr told Fox News Sunday. “I mean,it’s a very detailed indictment,and it’s very,very damning.”
Trump left the court at around 3.55 pm without conditions or travel restrictions and no cash bond was required. However,Goodman ruled that he was not allowed to communicate with potential witnesses in the case.
His supporters,who had lined the streets for hours,screamed and waved as the former president gave them the thumbs-up while he passed. One anti-Trump protester dressed in prison garb was detained by authorities after trying to chase down the presidential motorcade.
Trump’s team is now expected to file a motion to dismiss the case,but if unsuccessful,it is likely to proceed to trial,although this could take months – particularly if the former president attempts to delay the matter until after the November 2024 election.
Gregg Donovan,a supporter of former president Donald Trump outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr Courthouse in Miami,Florida.Credit:Bloomberg
Today’s arraignment nonetheless caps off an explosive investigation that began last August when theFBI raided Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property searching for sensitive material that he had taken from the White House.
Trump,however,argues that he had presidential authority over the documents and has framed the probe as a politically motivated “witch hunt”.
“ONE OF THE SADDEST DAYS IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY,” he posted on his Truth Social shortly before he arrived in court. “WE ARE A NATION IN DECLINE.”
The charges were brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith,who was hired by Federal Attorney General Merrick Garland to take over the case from the department after Trump announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination in November. This was done to ensure the department was at arms’ length from the case,given Garland was a Biden appointee.
Special counsel Jack Smith,who is running the case against Donald Trump.Credit:AP
Biden,who is also being investigated by a separate Special Counsel over his own handling of classified documents,has repeatedly insisted he has had nothing to do with the Department’s decisions.
According to an Ipsos/Reuters poll completed on Monday,the vast majority of republicans - 81 per cent - also believe the federal charges against Trump are driven by politics. This exceeds the estimated 30-35 per cent of so-called “always Trumpers” - the hardcore supporters who make up his core base.
As the race for the Republican nomination heats up,much of the party - including some of Trump’s biggest rivals - have also attacked what they see as the “weaponisation” of the Justice Department under Biden.
Loading
Florida Governor Ron Desantis,for instance,has vowed to overhaul the department if he is elected,including sacking FBI director Chris Wray “on day one”.
Outside the Miami court on Tuesday,entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy - who is also seeking the nomination but is deemed a longshot - urged other presidential candidates to commit to pardoning the former president if they win in 2024.
After his court appearance,Trump is expected to speak at a fundraiser at his Bedminster golf club in New Jersey at 8.15pm (10.15am Wednesday AEST). In addition to the latest documents case,Trump is also facing two separate probes:one into election interference in Georgia and another into his role in the Capitol attack.