MINNEAPOLIS — There are no precedents; that’s all.
“Another entry into uncharted territory,” said CBS News political director Fin Gomez. “That’s unique in a legacy that’s probably one of the most unique that’s ever happened in terms of presidents.”
Former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty on Tuesday 37 crimes related to his alleged mismanagement of classified documents. This is the first time the Justice Department has charged a former president with a crime.
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“If we look at the historical context, we’re talking about Richard Nixon,” Gomez said. “Richard Nixon resigned because of the threat of impeachment. If you look at Donald Trump, he’s been impeached twice by the House. This was a completely different scenario.”
Trump was released on his own recognizance after the 45-minute proceeding. As a condition of his release, he is prohibited from speaking to his aide Walt Nauta, who was charged with six counts in the 44-page indictment, about the case.
Trump will not have to give up his passport and there will be no limit on his domestic or international travel. He left the courthouse shortly before 4:00 PM ET and headed to his golf club in Bedminster for a speech and fundraiser.
“Donald Trump is eating this up and gaining momentum, gaining traction in fundraising and gaining support in early primary states,” Gomez said. “Our latest CBS News poll shows that the vast majority of likely Republican primary voters believe these charges, this investigation, are politically motivated.”
Despite the historic nature of the charge, however, legal experts told WCCO News that the next steps in the legal process are more routine.
CBS
“It doesn’t matter if you’re talking about your neighbor across the street or a former president of the United States,” said Chris Keyser, a Minneapolis criminal defense attorney whose work includes several federal cases. “The rights that apply to that person are the same and the process is the same.”
Those rights, according to Keyser, include being read his Miranda rights at Tuesday’s arraignment. It also includes the right to a speedy trial within 70 days, or the option to delay by extending the discovery process and filing pre-trial motions.
“It could be asking the court to look at certain evidence in the case that they want to keep out of a trial,” he said. “Maybe it’s something they thought the government obtained illegally. Maybe they think their clients’ rights were violated in some way. These are classic examples.”
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Judge Aileen Cannon, who was appointed by President Trump to serve in the Southern District of Florida, will hear the case. Keyser said he will have discretion over the timing and timing of the proceedings.
“The judge will take into account a number of factors. How complex the case is, the media attention, the fact that it’s a former president of the United States. I don’t suspect we’ll see a trial within 70 days. any media ” Keyser said.
CBS News correspondent Scott MacFarlane, who was in the courtroom, said it was announced that the case is still assigned to Cannon, although it is unclear whether she will remain the presiding judge.
A higher court criticized an earlier Cannon ruling that granted Trump’s request for a special master’s order and ordered the Justice Department to temporarily stop using the seized materials for its investigation pending the completion of the review of the special master’s degree. The decision was reversed by the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in a unanimous decision.
This decision has led him to request that he recuse himself in this case.
Jonah Kaplan
