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Donald Trump pleads not guilty Former president says classified documents were ‘planted’ By BRETT ROWLAND THE CENTER SQUARE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER
WHITE HOUSE PHOTO
Donald Trump
(The Center Square) — Former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty Tuesday to 37 counts that allege he kept sensitive military documents, shared them with people who didn’t have security clearance and tried to get around the government’s efforts to get them back. Mr. Trump’s arraignment at the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. Courthouse was largely procedural except for heightened
security, lots of media coverage and hundreds of supporters outside the federal courthouse in Miami. The 49-page indictment laid out the charges against Mr. Trump and his valet and alleged co-conspirator, Walt Nauta. Mr. Trump was charged with keeping classified documents after leaving office and later obstructing the government’s efforts to retrieve them. Mr. Nauta did not enter a plea on Tuesday. His arraignment was delayed for two weeks, according to media reports.
About 40 reporters and 10 members of the public watched the proceedings in the courtroom. No cameras or electronic devices were allowed in the courtroom. U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman ordered Mr. Trump not to speak to Mr. Nauta or other witnesses about the facts of the case. Mr. Trump and Mr. Nauta were released without travel restrictions. They did not have to surrender their passports. In a post on his social media platform, Mr. Trump referred to Jack Smith, the special counsel
with the U.S. Department of Justice appointed by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, as a “thug” who planted documents in the boxes. Mr. Trump did not provide evidence to support his claim. “This is the Thug, over turned consistently and unanimously in big cases, that Biden and his CORRUPT Injustice Department stuck on me. He’s a Radical Right Lunatic and Trump Hater, as are all his friends and family, who probably ‘planted’ information in the ‘boxes’ given to them. They taint everything that they touch,
FIESTA RANCHERA
including our Country, which is rapidly going to HELL!,” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social. The indictment contains specific dates and times with tothe-minute details of where the documents were stored, where they were moved, and who was involved. Among the records were 197 that contained classified markings, including 98 marked “secret” and 30 marked “top secret.” The “top secret” designation means Please see TRUMP on A4
SB City Council OKs $667 million budget
Event to take place Thursday at Rancho La Patera
Councilmembers work with department heads on 2% cuts By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
PHOTOS BY FRITZ OLENBERGER/COURTESY OLD SPANISH DAYS
Tara Mata, the 2022 Spirit of Fiesta, dances at last year’s Fiesta Ranchera in Goleta. This year’s Fiesta Ranchera will take place Thursday.
By LIAM HIBBERT NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT
Old Spanish Days is coming up this August, and in anticipation, the Santa Barbara area is celebrating with preFiesta events. This Thursday, Goleta’s Fiesta Ranchera will take place to
honor the history of the Fiesta and the people who have made it possible. Guests are invited to join for food and dancing at Rancho La Patera gardens, 304 N. Los Carneros Road, from 5-10 p.m. “There’s always great entertainment, great food,” El Presidente David Bolton
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told the News-Press Tuesday. “Just that moment where everybody can join with family and friends, talk, have fun and dance.” This year celebrates 15 years of Fiesta Ranchera and 99 years of the larger Fiesta. “It’s really grown into a popular event,” Mr.
Bolton said about Fiesta Ranchera. “There’s food vendors, beverages and lively entertainment.” This year there will be 25 different food and drink vendors, as well as live music by Flamenco guitarist Tony Ybarra. Please see FIESTA on A4
With little fanfare, just one public speaker and minimal Santa Barbara City Council discussion, the $667 million Fiscal Year 2024 budget is now a reality. The council voted Tuesday to approve financial plans for fiscal years ’24 and ’25, and the operations and capital budget for Fiscal Year ’24. “This was a long, particularly contentious and tough budget process,” Mayor Randy Rowse said when opening the item for discussion. He thanked staff “for all their hard work,” his colleagues for “working together to get where we are,” and Finance Director Keith DeMartini “for bringing this hardfought budget to the forefront in such a clear and patient way.” The council spent all of May meeting with department heads forced to deal with 2% budget cuts to help cut a projected $3.8 million structural deficit in the $222 General Fund. During 3 1/2 hours of budget deliberations last week, the council approved increasing council allowances; restoring a planning technician and increasing permit revenue; restoring a Fire Department inspector position, educational supplies and training; restoring library hours; increasing the transient occupancy tax; restoring Parks and Recreation’s youth service and afterschool programs; increasing the police department’s parking enforcement; and raising downtown parking revenue, Mr. DeMartini reviewed for the council Tuesday. The remaining budget reductions totaled approximately $2 million across most other General Fund departments, including police, fire, library, human resources, finance and city attorney. The council authorized using $690,000 in General Fund reserves — later adjusted to $651,000 — to close the deficit gap and balance the Fiscal Year 2024 budget.
DAVE MASON/NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTO
Councilmember Eric Friedman thanked staff and Finance Director Keith DeMartini for making the “tough choices” before bringing the budget to the Santa Barbara City Council.
On Tuesday, the council actually approved a series of resolutions in order to approve the overall FY ’24 budget. Mayor Rowse and Councilmembers Eric Friedman and Oscar Gutierrez, citing conflicts of interest, each abstained from voting on a particular resolution. Councilwoman Kristen Sneddon voted no on another. During their discussion, Councilmember Friedman thanked staff and Mr. DeMartini for making the “tough choices” before bringing the budget to the council. “We landed in a tough place,” he said, yet the council nevertheless “found a way to support some of the issues the community advocated for.” Councilmember Mike Jordan also thanked staff for their hard work, but reminded his colleagues that they need to find a way to establish a better reserve policy “and plan to replenish the reserves.” The only threat to the actual budget structure, he said, is the timing between collective bargaining agreements being negotiated and the council tackling the budget, citing a “lack of alignment.” Please see BUDGET on A4
INSIDE
L O T T E RY RESULTS
Classified................. B4 Life...................... B1-2 Obituaries............... A4
Saturday’s SUPER LOTTO: 7-9-17-21-28 Meganumber: 16
Tuesday’s DAILY 4: 6-1-2-9
Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: N/A Meganumber: N/A
Tuesday’s FANTASY 5: 5-10-16-19-30
Tuesday’s DAILY DERBY: 05-01-08 Time: 1:41.56
Monday’s POWERBALL: 2-3-16-23-68 Meganumber: 7
Sudoku................... B3 Weather................. A4
Tuesday’s DAILY 3: 7-8-6 / Wednesday’s Midday 6-8-9