Trump pleaded not guilty to attempting to manipulate the election results in Georgia

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Former President of the United States, Donald Trump (2017-2021), pleaded not guilty on Thursday to charges in Georgia of allegedly attempting to manipulate the results of the 2020 elections, in which he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.

Trump's lawyers filed a document with the Fulton County, Georgia, court in which the former president pleads not guilty to the 13 charges brought against him. 

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In the document, Trump also "freely and voluntarily" waives his right to be present at a formal reading of the charges in court.

The reading of charges, scheduled for September 6th, would have included Trump and 18 other defendants. However, since Trump has already pleaded not guilty, he will not need to attend the hearing.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis used the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), known for its application against organized crime, to charge Trump and his associates. 

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This law ensures that leaders of a criminal enterprise, not just their subordinates, are held accountable under the law.

Trump faces multiple criminal cases in other states as well. In addition to Georgia, he is facing legal proceedings in New York for irregular payments during the 2016 campaign, in Florida for the mishandling of classified documents, and in Washington, D.C. for his alleged role in the Capitol riot in 2021.

Trump has thus become the first former president in U.S. history to be indicted in criminal cases. His legal situation is in the spotlight as he also seeks the nomination of the Republican Party for the 2024 presidential elections.