Donald Trump dramatically returned to Washington D.C. on Thursday to be arrested and face a federal judge on charges he tried to overturn his 2020 election defeat to Joe Biden.
The defiant former president vented on Truth Social about facing his third arraignment and indictment in less than six months while the Biden family was ‘stealing millions’ in alleged bribes from foreign countries.
The 2024 Republican frontrunner referenced the recent bombshell testimony from Hunter’s business partner Devon Archer before his court appearance – just two days after Special Counsel Jack Smith filed the indictment on his election ‘lies’ and the January 6 Capitol riot.
Trump said ‘I’m being arrested for you’ and claimed one more indictment would confirm his 2024 win in a slew of messages as Trump Force One passed the Washington Monument before touching down at Reagan National Airport.
His motorcade then made its way through D.C. traffic and drove underneath the court so that U.S. Marshals could take him into custody. He will be fingerprinted, but won’t be handcuffed or have to pose for a mugshot.
Trump is facing four federal charges related to January 6 and his plot to overturn the 2020 election results that carry a maximum prison sentence of 55 years.
The charges are: Conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy against rights of citizens, obstructing an official proceeding and conspiring to obstruct an official proceeding.
Outside the court, his lawyer Alina Habba called the case ‘election interference and its finest’ and a bid to ruin his 2024 campaign.
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Donald Trump dramatically returned to Washington D.C. on Thursday to face a federal judge on charges he illegally tried to cling onto power following his 2020 election defeat to Joe Biden
The defiant former president vented on Truth Social about facing his third arraignment and indictment in six months while the Biden family was ‘stealing millions’ in alleged bribes from foreign countries
Trump is seen in the back of his SUV as it turns into the courthouse in downtown D.C.
Trump lawyer Alina Habba told reporters outside the court that the charges against him are a bid to upend his 2024 campaign
She claimed that every raid or indictment against the former president came just 24 hours after a Biden scandal.
‘This is election interference at its finest against the leading candidate right now for president for either party. President Trump is under siege in a way that we have never seen before,’ she said.
Trump arrived as law enforcement in the nation’s capital ramped up security and braced for protests for another dramatic court appearance.
‘Biden and his family steal Millions and Millions of Dollars, including BRIBES from foreign countries, and I’m headed to D.C. to be ARRESTED for protesting a CROOKED ELECTION. UNFAIR VENUE, UNFAIR JUDGE. We are a Nation in Decline. MAGA!!!’ he wrote during the flight to Washington D.C.
Cops set up security barriers and were on standby as protesters started to gather for another historic day in court.
In his all-caps signature style, Trump wrote: ‘I am now going to Washington, D.C., to be arrested for having challenged a corrupt, rigged and stolen election.’
‘It is a great honor because I am being arrested for you,’ the ex-president touted. ‘Make America Great Again!!!’
Special Counsel Jack Smith announced the four new charges on Tuesday following an investigation into Trump’s involvement in the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot and the efforts to stop Congress from certifying the 2020 election.
A grand jury voted to indict Trump on conspiracy to defraud the U.S., conspiracy against citizens’ rights, obstruction and attempted obstruction of an official proceeding and witness tampering.
Law enforcement erected barriers around the courthouse on Constitution Avenue on Wednesday night in preparation for Trump’s appearance.
Habba claimed that every raid or indictment against the former president came just 24 hours after a Biden scandal
Trump’s SUV drives past supporters and turns into the Elijah Barrett Prettyman courthouse before the hearing
Trump said ‘I’m being arrested for you’ in a slew of messages as Trump Force One (pictured above) flew past the Washington Monument before touching down at Reagan National Airport
Trump ducks into the back of an SUV for the drive to the courtroom in the heart of the nation’s capital
The arraignment is being overseen by Biden-appointed Magistrate Judge Moxila Upadhyaya – a different judge will handle the criminal trial.
Trump’s top 2024 competitor Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said after news broke of the indictment that Americans should have the legal ability to move their cases out of D.C.’s jurisdiction because ‘swamp mentality’ could affect jurors.
The ex-President agrees, posting to his Truth Social on Tuesday night that it’s ‘impossible’ that he will be given a fair trial in D.C.
‘The latest Fake ‘case’ brought by Crooked Joe Biden & Deranged Jack Smith will hopefully be moved to an impartial Venue, such as the politically unbiased nearby State of West Virginia!’ he wrote on his social media platform. ‘IMPOSSIBLE to get a fair trial in Washington, D.C., which is over 95% anti-Trump, & for which I have called for a Federal TAKEOVER in order to bring our Capital back to Greatness.’
He added: ‘It is now a high crime embarrassment to our Nation and, indeed, the World. This Indictment is all about Election Interference!!!’
Trump walks out of his private golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, to start his journey
Trump walks up the stairs of Trump Force Once at Newark, New Jersey, for his flight to D.C. to face a judge on charges he knowingly peddled lies about the 2020 election and tried to cling onto power
Trump supporters and critics set up around the courthouse amid the crush of media and onlookers
Eric Lamar holds an anti-Trump sign as his surrounded by protestors and supporters
Law enforcement erected barriers around the E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday in preparation for Donald Trump’s arraignment on Thursday afternoon
Trump bragged he is ‘being arrested’ for his supporters because he ‘challenged a corrupt, rigged and stolen election.’ The ex-President will be booked and processed by U.S. Marshals and fingerprinted when he arrives in D.C.
Media started setting up outside the courthouse on Constitution Ave. Wednesday
Trump says it’s ‘impossible’ for him to have a ‘fair trial in Washington, D.C.’ because the nation’s capital is ‘over 95% anti-Trump’ – he urged that he case be moved to ‘politicall unbiased nearby state of West Virginia’
City workers put up bike racks and other barriers around the E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse on Tuesday and Wednesday
U.S. Capitol Police, the Metropolitan Police Department, Park Police, Marshals Service and the Federal Protective Service are all on high-alert for the indictment
The indictments and growing legal woes facing Trump are only bolstering his support among Republican voters.
In March, before his first indictment, Trump was earning 43 percent of the GOP primary vote, according to a RealClearPolitics average. A day after he was charged in the case involving hush-money payments to Stormy Daniels, his support jumped to 50 percent in the same tracking.
A few months later in early June, Trump was indicted for a second time on 37 charges related to mishandling classified documents he was privy to while President. His polling average jumped again to 55 percent.
Polling on RealClearPolitics only tracks until Monday, August 1 – a day before the third and latest indictment – but it still shows Trump far in the lead against his 14 GOP challengers.
A protester in a striped prisoner outfit stands outside the courthouse on Wednesday holding up a photoshopped image of a bald Trump in an orange prison jumpsuit with the words: ‘You do the crime you pay the time. Your time is up’
