Former President Trump Pleads Not Guilty to 13 Felony Counts in Georgia Election Case; Waives Appearance at Arraignment

Former President Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to 13 felony counts in the Georgia election case and has waived his right to appear at his arraignment next week in Atlanta. Trump's arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 6 in Fulton County Superior Court. In a court filing, Trump stated that he voluntarily waived his right to be present at his arraignment and to have the indictment read to him in open court.

Trump is one of 19 co-defendants in a racketeering case that includes his former lawyer Rudy Giuliani, former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, and several Republican state party officials. The indictment alleges that the defendants participated in a criminal enterprise to overturn Biden's victory in Georgia through false statements and other means. Trump's most serious charge is violating the state's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.

Trump was previously arrested and released on a $200,000 bond, with conditions that prohibit him from making any threats against anyone involved in the case. Trump is also facing charges in three other criminal cases related to his attempt to overturn Biden's victory and for mishandling classified documents. Trial dates for those cases have been set in 2024. The latest developments in Trump's legal troubles coincide with his position as the front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.