MIAMI, Fla. — In the hours before former President Donald Trump’s historic appearance in federal court, Miami was flooded with his supporters donning red, white and blue.
Though present in smaller numbers, those against Trump weren’t keeping quiet either with counter-protestors saying even a former president is subject to the laws of the nation he once led.
“Nobody is above the law,” anti-Trump protestor Luis Soto said.
A 49-page indictment details how prosecutors claim the former president jeopardized national security after he left office. UCF professor John Hanley said the indictment gives a good idea of the evidence in the case.
Sketches from Trump's indictment Courtroom sketches show moments from inside the courtroom during former President Trump's arraignment in Miami. (William J. Hennessy Jr.)
Sketches from Trump's indictment Courtroom sketches show moments from inside the courtroom during former President Trump's arraignment in Miami. (William J. Hennessy Jr.)
Sketches from Trump's indictment Courtroom sketches show moments from inside the courtroom during former President Trump's arraignment in Miami. (William J. Hennessy Jr.)
Sketches from Trump's indictment Courtroom sketches show moments from inside the courtroom during former President Trump's arraignment in Miami. (William J. Hennessy Jr.)
“We have the showing of the documents to other people, we have the haphazard retention of the documents, we have these recordings of him saying that he doesn’t have the authority to declassify them now,” Hanley said.
But Trump supporter Brenda Vitucci said she belives the charges are politically motivated.
“I don’t know if they are going to be dismissed right now but I hope that the majority are because I think it’s a sham,” she said.
All day security was present controlling crowds outside the courthouse with Miami police patrolling by foot and on bikes alongside federal agents.
During one tense moment, protestors swarmed Miami Mayor Francis Suarez as he crossed a grassy area in front of the courthouse, but security quickly rushed to his side.
Trump's arraignment in federal court MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 12: Republican presidential candidate former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives at the Miami International Airport June 12, 2023 in Miami, Florida. Trump is scheduled to appear tomorrow in federal court for his arraignment on charges including possession of national security documents after leaving office, obstruction, and making false statements. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Trump's arraignment in federal court MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 12: Walt Nauta, valet to former U.S. President Donald Trump and a co-defendant in federal charges filed against Trump, arrives at the Miami International Airport June 12, 2023 in Miami, Florida. Trump is scheduled to appear Tuesday in federal court for his arraignment on charges including possession of national security documents after leaving office, obstruction, and making false statements. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Trump's arraignment in federal court DORAL, FLORIDA - JUNE 12: A motorcade carrying former President Donald Trump arrives at the Trump National Doral Miami resort on June 12, 2023 in Doral, Florida. Trump is scheduled to appear Tuesday in federal court in Miami for an arraignment on charges including mishandling of classified documents, obstruction, and making false statements. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Trump's arraignment in federal court DORAL, FLORIDA - JUNE 12: Supporters of former U.S. President Donald Trump protest outside of Trump National Doral resort as they await his arrival on June 12, 2023 in Doral, Florida. Trump is scheduled to appear Tuesday in federal court for his arraignment on charges including possession of national security documents after leaving office, obstruction, and making false statements. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Trump's arraignment in federal court MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 13: The Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Federal Courthouse where former President Donald Trump is scheduled to be arraigned later in the day on June 13, 2023 in Miami, Florida. Trump is scheduled to appear tomorrow in federal court for his arraignment on charges including possession of national security documents after leaving office, obstruction, and making false statements. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Trump's arraignment in federal court MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 13: Department of Homeland Security police officers stand near an entrance to the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Federal Courthouse before the arraignment of former President Donald Trump on June 13, 2023 in Miami, Florida. Trump is scheduled to appear later in the federal court for his arraignment on charges including possession of national security documents after leaving office, obstruction, and making false statements. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Trump's arraignment in federal court MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 13: Trump supporter Gregg Donovan, from Los Angeles, outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Federal Courthouse where former President Donald Trump is set to appear in front of a judge on June 13, 2023 in Miami, Florida. Trump is scheduled to appear later in the federal court for his arraignment on charges including possession of national security documents after leaving office, obstruction, and making false statements. (Photo by Alon Skuy/Getty Images) (Alon Skuy/Getty Images)
Trump's arraignment in federal court MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 13: A supporter of former President Donald Trump pulls a trailer around outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Federal Courthouse where former U.S. President Donald Trump is set to appear in front of a judge on June 13, 2023 in Miami, Florida. Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to appear in federal court for his arraignment on charges including possession of national security documents after leaving office, obstruction, and making false statements. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Trump's arraignment in federal court MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 13: Gregg Donovan waits outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Federal Courthouse where former President Donald Trump is set to appear in front of a judge on June 13, 2023 in Miami, Florida. Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to appear in the federal court for his arraignment on charges including possession of national security documents after leaving office, obstruction, and making false statements. (Photo by Alon Skuy/Getty Images) (Alon Skuy/Getty Images)
Trump's arraignment in federal court MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 13: Members of law enforcement wearing riot gear ride past the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. U.S. Courthouse on June 13, 2023 in Miami, Florida. Republican presidential candidate former U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to appear today for his arraignment on charges including possession of national security documents after leaving office, obstruction, and making false statements. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Trump's arraignment in federal court MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 13: Dominique Santana demonstrates outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Federal Courthouse where former U.S. President Donald Trump is set to appear in front of a judge on June 13, 2023 in Miami, Florida. Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to appear in federal court for his arraignment on charges including possession of national security documents after leaving office, obstruction, and making false statements. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Trump's arraignment in federal court MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 13: A man holds a sign outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Federal Courthouse where former President Donald Trump is set to appear in front of a judge on June 13, 2023 in Miami, Florida. Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to appear in the federal court for his arraignment on charges including possession of national security documents after leaving office, obstruction, and making false statements. (Photo by Alon Skuy/Getty Images) (Alon Skuy/Getty Images)
Trump's arraignment in federal court MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 13: Gregg Donovan waits outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Federal Courthouse where former President Donald Trump is set to appear in front of a judge on June 13, 2023 in Miami, Florida. Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to appear in the federal court for his arraignment on charges including possession of national security documents after leaving office, obstruction, and making false statements. (Photo by Alon Skuy/Getty Images) (Alon Skuy/Getty Images)
Trump's arraignment in federal court MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 13: A man dressed as "Uncle Sam" rides a Segway outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Federal Courthouse where former U.S. President Donald Trump is set to appear in front of a judge on June 13, 2023 in Miami, Florida. Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to appear in federal court for his arraignment on charges including possession of national security documents after leaving office, obstruction, and making false statements. (Photo by Alon Skuy/Getty Images) (Alon Skuy/Getty Images)
Trump's arraignment in federal court MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 13: Blacks For Trump supporters stand outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Federal Courthouse where former President Donald Trump is set to appear in front of a judge on June 13, 2023 in Miami, Florida. Trump is reported to have been indicted by a federal grand jury as part of special counsel Jack Smith's investigation into Trump's handling of classified documents. (Photo by Alon Skuy/Getty Images) (Alon Skuy/Getty Images)
Trump's arraignment in federal court MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 13: A man holds flags outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Federal Courthouse where former President Donald Trump is set to appear in front of a judge on June 13, 2023 in Miami, Florida. Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to appear in the federal court for his arraignment on charges including possession of national security documents after leaving office, obstruction, and making false statements. (Photo by Alon Skuy/Getty Images) (Alon Skuy/Getty Images)
Trump's arraignment in federal court MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 13: Trump supporter Luimar Garza stands outside the the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Federal Courthouse where former President Donald Trump is scheduled to be arraigned later in the day on June 13, 2023 in Miami, Florida. Trump is scheduled to appear in the federal court for his arraignment on charges including possession of national security documents after leaving office, obstruction, and making false statements. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Former President Trump Is Arraigned On Federal Espionage Charges MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 13: Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy discusses FOIA request regarding former President Donald Trump's indictment outside of the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Federal Courthouse where Trump is scheduled to be arraigned later in the day on June 13, 2023 in Miami, Florida. Trump is scheduled to appear in federal court for his arraignment on charges including possession of national security documents after leaving office, obstruction, and making false statements. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Former President Trump Is Arraigned On Federal Espionage Charges MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 13: Federal police wait before the arrival of former President Donald Trump at the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Federal Courthouse for his arraignment on charges of mishandling classified documents on June 13, 2023 in Miami, Florida. Trump is scheduled to appear in federal court for his arraignment after being indicted on charges including possession of national security documents after leaving office, obstruction, and making false statements. (Photo by Octavio Jones/Getty Images) (OCTAVIO JONES/Getty Images)
Former President Trump Is Arraigned On Federal Espionage Charges MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 13: The motorcade carrying former President Donald Trump arrives to the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Federal Courthouse as Trump appears for his arraignment on June 13, 2023 in Miami, Florida. Trump is scheduled to appear in the federal court for his arraignment on charges including possession of national security documents after leaving office, obstruction, and making false statements. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Former President Trump Is Arraigned On Federal Espionage Charges MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 13: Trump supporters gather outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Federal Courthouse as former President Donald Trump appears for his arraignment on June 13, 2023 in Miami, Florida. Trump is scheduled to appear in the federal court for his arraignment on charges including possession of national security documents after leaving office, obstruction, and making false statements. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Former President Trump Is Arraigned On Federal Espionage Charges MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 13: People supporting and opposing former President Donald Trump make themselves heard outside of the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Federal Courthouse before the arraignment of Trump on June 13, 2023 in Miami, Florida. Trump is scheduled to appear tomorrow in the federal court for his arraignment on charges including possession of national security documents after leaving office, obstruction, and making false statements. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
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Sarah Wilson joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2018 as a digital producer after working as an award-winning newspaper reporter for nearly a decade in various communities across Central Florida.
