Trump Pleads Not Guilty on Federal Charges
Ask students: what are the federal charges against Donald Trump? How did Donald Trump plead against the federal charges? Where did the arraignment happen?
Former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to 37 felony counts related to his alleged mishandling of classified information after leaving the White House. The Justice Department says Trump illegally retained secret documents, obstructed the government’s efforts to retrieve them and made false statements on the matter.
For a transcript of this story, click here.
Discussion Questions
- According to journalist Geoff Bennett, what are the federal charges against Donald Trump?
- How did Donald Trump plead against the federal charges?
- Where in the United States did the arraignment take place?
- Who is Jack Smith?
- According to journalist William Brangham, why might Judge Aileen Cannon recuse herself from overseeing the trial?
Focus Questions
Journalist William Brangham described the discussion surrounding whether Judge Aileen Cannon recuse herself from overseeing the trial. One argument in favor of her recusal is the implication by a federal appeals court, the 11th Circuit, that she was being overly deferential to the former president. Moreover, Jack Kaplan commented on the arraignment that “These are serious felonies that he’s been charged with. So, if you or I had been charged, we’d already be in jail. And he shouldn’t be any different.”
For this legal case, do you think former President Donald Trump should be treated differently from ordinary individuals? Why or why not?
Media Literacy: Why do you think Brangham interviewed several members of the public?
Extension Article
What will happen next in Trump’s indictment? Learn more about the expected timeline and next steps in this article.
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Classroom.
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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