Former President Trump directed his attorneys to plead not guilty on his behalf following a revised indictment from special counsel Jack Smith that again charges Trump for his efforts to block the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Smith last week filed a superseding indictment in response to a Supreme Court decision that found former presidents retain broad immunity for actions take under their presidential responsibilities.
The new indictment keeps all the same charges Trump faced before but shifts the framing in its case, highlighting actions Trump took as a candidate or private citizen.
The indictment also followed specific instructions from the court to remove all references to Trump’s efforts to install a new attorney general who would advance investigations into his baseless claims of election fraud.
Prosecutors and Trump’s attorneys are planning to appear in court Thursday for a hearing to determine how to move forward in the case now that is has returned to U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan.
In a joint filing Friday, Trump’s legal team flagged additional challenges they plan to make in the case, including to Smith’s appointment after the judge overseeing his classified documents case found Smith was unlawfully appointed. The Justice Department has appealed the decision.
Trump’s attorneys also suggested his election interference case should stretch proceedings into mid-to-late 2025 “if necessary.”
