Trump pleads not guilty in revised election fraud case

Washington, Sept. 4, (dpa/GNA) – Former US president Donald Trump is continuing to plead not guilty following the publication of a revised indictment in the election fraud case against him, according to a court document filed by his lawyers on Tuesday.

The document states that Trump waived his right to be present in court at the next hearing related to the case. He has authorized his lawyers to plead not guilty on his behalf.

The Republican and several others are accused of trying to reverse the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.

Trump had lost to Democrat Joe Biden at the time and attempted to change the election result retrospectively by putting pressure on political leaders in the federal government and in states such as Georgia.

The revised indictment keeps the same criminal charges but removes some of the allegations against Trump, following a ruling in July by the US Supreme Court that presidents have presumed immunity from prosecution for official acts while in office.

Due to the top court’s historic decision, US special counsel Jack Smith and his team had to amend the indictment against Trump in order to be able to move the case forward.

Trump had pleaded not guilty at the arraignment last year.

Following the indictment, some of Trump’s former associates entered into an agreement with the public prosecutor’s office and pleaded guilty. Trump is aiming to return to the White House with a win in the presidential election in November.

GNA