Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to a revised set of criminal charges over his alleged attempts to overturn the result of the 2020 election.
The former president, who is the Republican candidate for this year’s presidential contest in November, faces four charges of using false claims of voter fraud to undermine the election results and prevent President Joe Biden being certified as the winner.
It’s the same four charges as Special Counsel Jack Smith brought last year, but without allegations the Supreme Court ruled had to be dropped from the case.
Donald Trump arrives to speak at the Economic Club of New York. Pic: AP
Mr Trump wasn’t present at a court in Washington on Thursday, where lawyers denied the charges on his behalf.
Mr Smith wants to move on with the case, while Mr Trump has argued it is politically motivated and designed to damage his campaign.
He wants a delay until after the 5 November election, where he faces Democrat Kamala Harris, the US vice president.
Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris in Detroit. Pic: Reuters
At the hearing, Mr Trump’s lawyer John Lauro accused the government of rushing forward with an “illegitimate” indictment at the height of the White House campaign.
US District Judge Tanya Chutkan said she was “not concerned with the electoral schedule.”
The new indictment, brought in August, was revised after the US Supreme Court ruled that former presidents have broad immunity from criminal prosecution.
Mr Trump’s lawyers have argued the judge should not begin weighing the impact of the immunity ruling until December, after the election.
If Mr Trump wins the election, he is expected to order the US Justice Department to drop the charges.
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He told business leaders in New York on Thursday that, if elected, he would set up a government efficiency commission to be run by Elon Musk, after the tech billionaire recommended the move.
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On Wednesday, the candidates agreed on the ground rules for their first TV debate.
Tuesday’s ABC-hosted event in Philadelphia will use the same rules and format as the June debate between Mr Trump and Mr Biden.
Candidate microphones will be live only for the candidate whose turn it is to speak.
The upcoming debates are seen as potentially pivotal. The race for the White House is tight after Democrat support surged following Mr Biden’s decision to quit the contest in favour of Ms Harris in July.
Some polls have even put the Democrat, who would become the first female president as well as the first black woman to hold the Oval Office, ahead.
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Putin on US election
On Thursday Russian President Vladimir Putin said he hoped the “infectious” Democrat won.
Early voting will be underway in at least four states by the end of September and a dozen more to follow by mid-October.