Former US president Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty before an Indian-American judge to the charges accusing him of orchestrating a criminal conspiracy to remain in power despite losing the November 2020 election. It was Trump’s third court appearance in four months. Trump, who is seeking to contest the 2024 presidential election from the Republican Party, entered the not-guilty plea before Magistrate Judge Moxila A Upadhyaya as he appeared at the courthouse that sits just blocks away from the Capitol, where his angry supporters stormed the US Congress on January 6, 2021.

Trump, 77, flew in from Bedminster in New Jersey. The former president was arrested and arraigned on four felony counts outlined in special counsel Jack Smith’s indictment: conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, attempting to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights. The 45-page indictment was filed in Washington, DC this week by Smith. “As to counts one to four, how does Mr Trump plead?” Judge Upadhyaya asked Trump. Trump, flanked by his lawyers, said, “Not guilty.”