Mr. Trump was allowed to leave the court without any restrictions, as prosecutors informed Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman that he was not considered a flight risk. Accompanied by a motorcade, the former president had been driven from the Trump National Doral resort, where he had spent the night.
During the drive, Mr. Trump posted several messages on his social media platform, Truth Social, including a capitalized statement expressing his belief that it was one of the saddest days in the country’s history, lamenting a perceived decline.
Alina Habba, an attorney for the former president, echoed Mr. Trump’s claims outside the court, suggesting that the charges were politically motivated. She compared the situation to targeting political opponents seen in dictatorships such as Cuba and Venezuela, stating that the prosecution should concern all citizens.
Rather than undergoing the customary booking photo, the US Marshals Service opted to use a previously taken picture of Mr. Trump, sparing him from potential humiliation. Officials at the court provided this information during a briefing with journalists.
