Protesters gathered outside a courthouse in Washington D.C. Thursday afternoon, ahead of former President Donald Trump’s high-profile arraignment on federal charges for attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Demonstrators protest outside a D.C. courthouse where former President Donald Trump is set to appear ... [+]
Several dozen protesters, including protesters in support of and opposition to the former president, waved signs and flags in front of the Elijah Barrett Prettyman Courthouse on Thursday, ahead of Trump’s expected arrest over charges related to his actions following the 2020 election and leading up to the January 6 Capitol insurrection.
The protest comes two days after Trump was charged with four federal counts, including obstruction, conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy against citizens’ rights—which all carry prison sentences if Trump is convicted.
Anti-Trump protestors flew banners reading, “Arrested,” “Lock Him Up,” and “No one is Above the Law,” though a sizeable group of pro-Trump protesters showed signs of support for the former president, who has slammed the indictment as a “witch hunt.”
Trump announced he was heading to Washington D.C. just after noon on Thursday, according to a post on his social media platform Truth Social. The former president is expected to plead not guilty to the charges during a 4 p.m. hearing.
A demonstrator holding an effigy of former President Donald Trump outside E. Barrett Prettyman ... [+]
Pro-Trump groups also held demonstrations outside courthouse, including some wearing shirts that ... [+]
Trump supporters rallied in Washington D.C., though the number of protesters both for and against ... [+]
A protestor holds a sign with prison bars that reads "The Big Lie" —Trump's claim the election was ... [+]
A protester in an inflatable Trump costume, followed by journalists outside the courthouse.
Trump, who has denied any wrongdoing, berated federal prosecutors who brought the charges in a series of statements following his indictment, arguing, “the Radical Left wants to Criminalize Free Speech” and claiming he will be arrested “FOR HAVING CHALLENGED A CORRUPT, RIGGED, & STOLEN ELECTION.” Trump’s repeated claims that his 2020 election loss to President Joe Biden was marred by fraud have not been supported by evidence. A slew of major GOP lawmakers have also come to Trump’s defenses and harshly criticized the indictment—Trump’s third since announcing his re-election bid late last year. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) attacked Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smith for running a “witch hunt” and “abusing his power,” while Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) argued Trump “did nothing wrong.”
Trump’s former Vice President Mike Pence, a 2024 presidential GOP candidate, was less sympathetic toward his former running-mate, slamming Trump and arguing that anyone who puts themself above the Constitution “should never be president.” William Barr, Trump’s former attorney general, told CNN on Wednesday that he believes Trump knew he lost the 2020 election and that his relentless claims of widespread voter fraud were baseless, throwing a wrench in Trump’s anticipated defense.
Trump claims he is being arrested for protesting the results of his election loss, and has suggested moving the venue of the case from Washington D.C. to more GOP-supportive West Virginia. However, the 45-page federal indictment states that Trump is not being charged for publicly complaining about the results of the election. Instead, the Department of Justice says Trump was charged because he allegedly “pursued unlawful means of discounting legitimate votes and subverting the election results.”
Trump Indicted In Jan. 6 Probe—Here’s What Happens Next (Forbes)