Miami, Florida- Donald Trump supporters erupted in cheers as the former president of the United States waved to them through the tinted window of his car after leaving a federal court in Miami, Florida.
Trump pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to 37 charges of mishandling classified information — a charge that made him the first former U.S. president to face federal prosecution.
Enthusiastic supporters gathered around the court to protest the allegations, echoing Trump’s claim that the case is a political hit designed to derail his campaign for a second term as president in 2024. Many also chased Trump’s motorcade as he left, hoping to catch another glimpse of the Republican politician.
“I think the Liberals will try to take down anyone who gets in their way,” protester Patty Berry said. She was holding a sign that read “Department of Injustice,” referring to the Justice Department, which is prosecuting Trump in the Miami case.
Last week, prosecutors released the indictment against Trump alleging that he deliberately seized and preserved classified government files, including national defense-related documents, in violation of the Espionage Act.
The indictment also accused Trump of keeping the classified files in an unsecured location, including a bathroom at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. In addition, prosecutors said he showed the documents to unauthorized persons during private meetings.
But on Tuesday, the former president’s attorney, Alina Habba, called the allegations a “flagrant and unashamed weaponization of the criminal justice system.”
Trump denounced the charge as a “witch hunt” and “election interference” in posts on his Truth Social platform throughout the day. He also thanked protesters who gathered outside the court to show their support.
The day passes peacefully
The number of demonstrators outside the court grew as Tuesday’s hearing approached. Yet the dozens of reporters and photographers from around the world who attended often outnumbered the protesters.
A law enforcement presence was felt on every street corner in the neighborhood, with armed officers and vehicles guarding the building.
Multiple law enforcement agencies were on the scene, including the Miami Police Department, the Miami-Dade Police Department, Secret Service agents responsible for Trump’s security, and federal marshals responsible for court security.
But despite the presence of Trump supporters — and a handful of counter-protesters — the day passed largely without incident.
There has been fear of unrest or violence by far-right groups — a concern that has persisted since Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 to prevent the certification of President Joe Biden’s election.
Trump had rejected that election result by claiming widespread voter fraud, a false claim he continues to make.
Early Tuesday, far-right Laura Loomer stressed that the pro-Trump rally outside court would not turn into another violent event like the January 6 attack.
“We are peaceful, we are civil, we are lawful,” Loomer told a crowd of protesters, adding that the protesters are exercising their “God-given” right to free speech.
Counter-demonstrators
Nevertheless, the area around the courthouse saw an exchange of yelling and insults between Trump supporters and the few counter-protesters who showed up, but the confrontations did not turn violent.
Several Trump supporters had whipped up a protester wearing a prison suit and carrying a sign that read, “Lock him up.”
Domenic Santana, the anti-Trump protester, later said he feared for his life during the exchange.
“They spat at me, called me [an anti-gay slur]calling me a communist,” he told Al Jazeera.
Santana was subsequently detained after attempting to run to Trump’s convoy as the former president left the area.
Another counter-protester, who identified himself by the first name Chrissy, carried a sign reading “Trump 20-24 Years in Prison” — a play on the former president’s 2024 presidential campaign.
“If you want to support Donald Trump’s personality and policies, that’s irrelevant at this point in this lawsuit,” Chrissy told Al Jazeera. “What we support is legal repercussions for alleged actions.”
A Trump supporter later followed Chrissy and the man accompanying her and yelled at them with a megaphone.
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez also faced angry protesters on Tuesday when he visited the area.
Protesters called the mayor a RINO, a derisive acronym meaning “Only in the name of the Republican” — a term regularly used for members of the party who do not support Trump.
The mayor was surrounded by law enforcement and TV cameras as he walked through the crowd of people gathered outside the courthouse.
“RINO, shame on you,” protesters chanted at him.
Trump’s supporters waved huge flags and engaged in unusual political expressions. One protester even wore a real pig’s head on a nail. Such political gimmicks are not uncommon at Trump rallies, but they were especially prevalent off court.
Trump aide Walt Nauta, who is facing charges on the same charges as the former president, also appeared in court Tuesday, but will not be formally charged until later this month.
What’s next in the case?
Tuesday’s arraignment marks the start of what could be a lengthy legal process, despite Special Counsel Jack Smith’s promise to pursue a “speedy trial.”
Smith leads the prosecution and investigations into all federal cases related to Trump. Attorney General Merrick Garland — a Biden appointee — has distanced himself from the investigations to avoid a perceived conflict of interest.
The case is now entering a phase of discovery and pre-trial hearings, where prosecutors and defense attorneys discuss the rules of the trial and what evidence can be presented to the jury.
“If this case goes as criminal cases go, the court will set dates for discovery. You can expect the defense to delay and deliberate for as long as possible,” said Michael Meltsner, a law professor at Northeastern University in Boston. “And then a trial date will be set at some point.”
Meltsner told Al Jazeera last week that it would be difficult to predict when the trial would begin because of Trump’s presidential campaign.
“Of course it is assumed that he is innocent, but it is a surprising document,” Meltsner said of the indictment.
The professor also cautioned against speculating so early on Trump’s sentence if convicted.
“Yet the allegations – as set out in the indictment – are very, very serious,” he said.
If Trump wins the election, he will likely pardon himself, a possibility that has sparked legal debate. But for now, his legal troubles won’t stop him from running for a second term as president, even if convicted.
In fact, the former president saw a boost against his Republican rivals after he was indicted in New York earlier this year for allegedly falsifying business records. Those state-level charges related to a payment of hush money to a porn star ahead of the 2016 election.
Ron — a Trump supporter from Naples, Florida, who only gave his first name — told Al Jazeera that Trump is the only serious Republican contender for 2024, and rejected the candidacy of his home state governor, Ron DeSantis.
“These people are just going on the air right now,” he said of Trump’s Republican rivals on Tuesday. “There are no other candidates.”