Donald Trump pleads not guilty in Georgia election case

Former President Donald Trump entered a plea of not guilty Thursday in response to a Georgia indictment accusing him of illegally conspiring to overturn the state’s 2020 election result.

Trump, 77, had been scheduled to be arraigned in person before Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee at 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 6, but now will not have to appear.

The 45th president and 18 of his allies and supporters were indicted Aug. 14 by a grand jury convened by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.

Three other co-defendants in the sweeping case — former Trump campaign lawyers Ray Stallings Smith III and Sidney Powell, as well as publicist Trevian Kutti — have also pleaded not guilty and will be spared appearances before McAfee next week.

Trump faces 13 counts, including violating the state’s anti-racketeering law, conspiracy, filing false documents, making false statements, and asking a public official to violate their oath of office.

The former president was formally booked into the Fulton County Jail Aug. 24, where he was fingerprinted and had his mugshot taken — the first ever of an American commander-in-chief.

The Georgia indictment was the fourth brought against the former president in under five months. Previously, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg hit Trump with a 34-count indictment accusing him of falsifying business records to conceal evidence of hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 election.

In addition, special counsel Jack Smith has accused Trump of 40 counts relating to hoarding classified national security documents at his Mar-a-Lago resort, and four counts charging the former president with illegally attempting to stay in power after his defeat by Joe Biden.

Other prominent co-defendants in the Georgia case include former mayor and Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani and former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, who has petitioned to have his case moved to federal court.

A ruling in that matter is expected later this week.