Hours before the proceedings, 16-year-old Sam Arreaza lined up with his mother for a seat in an overflowing courtroom. Citing its historical significance, he said this first hearing in the Washington case had implications for American democracy.
“It’s a sad day but it’s also a day when justice begins,” he said. A resident of Ellicott City, Maryland, about an hour’s drive from Washington, Arreaza aims to study political science and law in college.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to charges of leading a wide-ranging conspiracy to undo his 2020 election loss to President Joe Biden.
The courthouse is about 1 km from the US Capitol where Trump supporters rioted on January 6, 2021, in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent Congress from certifying defeat to Biden, a Democrat.
Republican, Trump calls the case a political witch hunt.
The court has reserved around 150 seats in two overflow courtrooms for the public to watch the proceedings live on video. Television cameras for outside broadcast were barred from entering the courtroom.
Leah Krieger, 23, a former political science student from Denver, said her family was in Washington on vacation when Trump was indicted on Tuesday and decided to attend the arraignment.
“I think it was about time,” Krieger said of the charges against Trump for Jan. 6, adding that she plans to follow up on the case as it moves forward.
Outside the courthouse, before arraignment began, a man wearing a red “New York forTrump” cap climbed into the back seat of a black imitation presidential limo with American flags waving.
“We’re here to support Donald Trump, to show, you know, show our support, our love for our man,” he said, declining to give his full name.
A second man, named Dion Cini, 54, also from New York, arrived in the same vehicle, which he called the MAGA Beast, a reference to Trump’s slogan, “Make America Great Again.”
“The good news is that Trump is probably going to get five more points in the polls today,” Cini said. “So it’s another good day for us. Because the Democrats think they’re actually getting something done, not realizing it’s going to backfire.”
Washington-area management consultant Christine Reed watched from the overflow room. The impeachment was “extremely interesting,” Reed said, after observing Trump’s facial expressions as he spoke in the courtroom.
Reed said it was important not to prejudge the case and everyone could benefit from watching the process in person.
“It’s a crucial point for our democracy. It’s definitely worth taking the time to understand,” Reed said.
