Trump back in court

Federal criminal prosecution against a former US president draws supporters, protesters in run-up to 2024 polls

Former US president Donald Trump on Tuesday pleaded not guilty in an indictment against him, in which he faces 37 federal charges for mishandling classified documents.

The indictment alleges that Trump was involved in unlawfully retaining government secrets as he left the White House in 2021 and conspired to obstruct justice.

It was also the second time that Trump, who has a big lead in polls for the 2024 GOP presidential primary, had been criminally charged since March, when he was indicted in New York City on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a hush-money payment.

He also faces ongoing investigations in Washington and Atlanta into efforts to undo the results of the 2020 presidential race.