Was Trump’s third indictment his most humiliating day in court? DailyMail.com witnesses the ex-president muttering “unacceptable” and glancing at his special counsel, nemesis Jack Smith during the excruciating 15-minute wait for the judge in the Jan. 6 case

For 15 excruciating minutes, former President Donald Trump was forced to wait in Courthouse 22A – with his nemesis Special Counsel Jack Smith just feet away.

It was his third charge in less than six months, but his meeting with Judge Moxila Upadhyaya was perhaps the most humiliating in the city he called home in four chaotic years.

During a hearing that lasted just 27 minutes, he spoke quietly to his lawyers, said his name “Donald J. Trump” and pleaded not guilty to four federal charges of conspiracy to overturn the election.

At one point, he appeared to pronounce “unacceptable” while discussing documents, before his lawyer, John Lauro, pushed aside the microphone on Jan. 6.

DailyMail.com was at the E. Barrett Pettyman Courthouse in Washington DC to watch a humble former president be told not to try to influence witnesses and to abstain from drugs or alcohol – even though he is famously teetotaler.

Trump sauntered into the courtroom on Thursday afternoon with a sombre look to sit in the same room as Smith, whom he has continually called “disturbed.”

He cast a quick glance in his direction as he awaited his fate, then seemed to look at everything but his nemesis.

Known as a tough-as-nails prosecutor who went after war criminals in The Hague, Smith sat behind government lawyers and often stared left at Trump.

Trump, who, as president, regularly kept the press waiting and was in constant command, arrived at 3:52 p.m.

He looked straight ahead at the Smiths deputy squad, then glanced at the grandstand, where reporters and only a handful of members of the public—including one who said he wanted to see in person “how orange’ he is.

He smiled briefly at the group of US Marshalls standing with their backs to the door in a closed courtroom.

Then the waiting began. Trump repeatedly talked to his lawyer, Todd Blanche, who sat to his right.

At times, he engaged in conversation with lawyer John Lauro, who has defended him on TV since his stunning charge of conspiracy to obstruct official proceedings during the election vote count.

Early expressions of annoyance and discomfort became more nonchalant as the wait continued. He smiled at his lawyers, put his hands on the desk and said “absolutely” and “okay” to some of their counselors.

At 4:08, minutes after his hearing was scheduled to begin, Trump began to look repeatedly at Judge Upadhyaya’s bench and empty black chair.

Blanche spun his pen as Trump continued to look around the room.

By the time a clerk ordered “all up,” it was 4:15 p.m. – 15 minutes past the official start time. Those who had been waiting for the hearing, following an indictment that has been called historic, quickly stood up. Trump was one of the last to be his.

Before the action, several dozen people chatted in the courtroom, often energetically, in anticipation of a performance for Trump in a new jurisdiction, but high-profile performances followed in New York and Miami.

Sitting in the back was the chief justice of the courthouse, as well as Judge Amy Berman Jackson, who oversaw the cases of Trump figures such as Roger Stone and Paul Manafort.

There were also several members of the judge’s family, who sat in front of reporters, along with five members of the public.

Once Trump entered the room, there was silence except for his hushed conversations amid the humming HVAC system.

Once the action began, Judge Upadhyaya alternately referred to her high-profile visitor as “Mr. Trump’ and ‘sir’.

That’s how she referred to him when she read Graaf, 2, about conspiracy to obstruct official proceedings. She also read charges of conspiracy against rights and other charges of obstruction.

When she asked Trump to give his name, he replied, “Donald J. Trump – John,” giving his full middle name.

“As I said, Mr. Trump, you have certain rights,” she told him, before informing him of his right to an attorney and to remain silent. She added a strict warning about speaking to witnesses or harassment.

When he finally slammed into his plea, Trump hesitated in his response. “Not…guilty,” he said, pausing briefly between the key words.

“Thank you, sir,” the judge told him.

There was only a hint of the intense jostling over the calendar that is sure to come as Trump faces multiple trials and probes amid an effort to impeach President Joe Biden, whom he blames for his prosecution. The judge, after consulting with the examining magistrate, offered Trump and the administration three dates — all just weeks away.

She offered August 21, August 22, and August 28. The government asked for ‘the fastest date’.

August 22 is the day before the first GOP debate in Milwaukee.

Trump’s team wanted the latter, and asked for the 28th, and got their wish.

The judge wanted memos from both parties about how long the process would take and when they would be finished.

Trump attorney John Lauro said there would be an “enormous amount” of discovery material, and said he wanted to vigorously address “any issue on behalf of Trump” and the American people.

‘Mr. Trump is entitled to a fair and just trial, although he is entitled to a speedy trial,” he said.

That started arguing about the Speedy Trial Act. The administration promised to produce a “significant” amount of material for Trump’s team.

“This case, like any other case, would benefit from normal order, including a speedy trial,” said lead prosecutor Thomas Windom.

The judge felt compelled to respond to Lauro’s complaints that Trump would receive a fair trial and due process. “I’m sure of that,” she said.

Lauro continued to complain that Trump’s team doesn’t know the extent of the evidence the administration has gathered in their two-and-a-half year investigation (although he said it was three and a half).

“You can file any objection with the district judge,” she said, referring to Judge Tanya S. Chutkan.

When it was over, the clerk again asked that “everyone stand up,” and Trump did, though again trailing behind the rest of the courtroom.

Five members of the public, who had camped in line from Wednesday evening, were there.

One was George Washington University student and researcher Yosi Zelalem, 22, who donned a suit and came to watch the trial after taking a seat in front of a media outlet. “Anytime I get to see a historic moment in history, I go,” he said.

Alexandria, Virginia resident said Trump was ‘guilty if…’

Zelalem said he was conducting COVID tests for Capitol police officers after Jan. 6. “I just remember how traumatized they were,” he said. “It seems as if many of them have lost the will to live.”

But he also said he wanted to know “how orange Donald Trump is in person.”

He couldn’t resist sharing his observation, even during the hearing. “It’s really orange, by the way,” he said.