Trump pleads not guilty in Georgia election charges, waives arraignment

WASHINGTON

Former US President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges concerning his alleged attempts to overturn his loss in the 2020 presidential election in the state of Georgia.

“I understand I have the right to appear personally at my arraignment, and that I have the right to have the Indictment read to me in court,” the former president said in court filings.

Trump waived his right for an in-person arraignment which had been set for Sept. 6 in Fulton County Superior Court in Atlanta.

A Georgia grand jury returned a 41-count indictment against Trump and 18 of his political allies on charges related to alleged efforts to overturn the state's 2020 election results.

Trump faces 13 criminal counts, including violations of Georgia’s RICO Act, solicitation of violation of oath by a public officer, conspiracy to commit impersonating a public officer and conspiracy to commit false statements.

Trump turned himself in to authorities in Fulton County last Thursday.

He was released on a $200,000 bond nearly 20 minutes after being booked at the Fulton County Jail, where he was fingerprinted and had his mugshot taken, becoming the first US president, past or present, to do so.