Cesar A. Sayoc, mugshot photo.

Cesar Sayoc, who is accused of mailing explosive devices to prominent Democrats and other critics of President Donald Trump, pleaded not guilty on Thursday in a federal court in Manhattan to a 30-count indictment that includes five charges of using a weapon of mass destruction.

Sayoc, 56, is accused of mailing 16 explosive devices in the days leading up to the midterm elections from Florida to the Westchester County residences of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and billionaire philanthropist George Soros.

Prosecutors also allege that Sayoc sent explosive devices to James Clapper, who served as national intelligence director under President Barack Obama, former CIA Director John Brennan and actor Robert De Niro, who has publicly used harsh words in criticizing Trump.

Wearing a dark blue jail uniform, Sayoc was brought before U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff of the Southern District of New York, who set a July trial date in the case.

Sayoc’s attorney, Sarah Jane Baumgartel of the Federal Defenders of New York, said that her office would need considerable time to review the evidence in the case, noting that Sayoc is accused of mailing other devices that aren’t contained in the indictment.

“This is a slightly more complicated case than the average one,” Baumgartel said.

Sayoc is also accused of sending devices to former President Barack Obama, former Vice President Joseph Biden, Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Kamala Harris, former Attorney General Eric Holder, Thomas Steyer, and U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, though these potential targets were not named in the indictment.

Sayoc is also accused of sending devices to CNN headquarters on Columbus Circle in Manhattan that was addressed to Clapper and Brennan, which were also not contained in the indictment.

In all, Sayoc is accused of sending out 16 devices and prosecutors said last week that Sayoc has been linked to 11 through DNA samples and latent fingerprints. He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison for each of the weapons of mass destruction counts.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sam Adelsberg, Emil Bove III, Jane Kim and Jason Richman are leading the prosecution.

Baumgartel told Rakoff that defense attorneys and prosecutors are working to determine if there could be a pretrial disposition to the case.

When Rakoff asked why trial could not be held at an earlier date, Baumgartel said that she is tied up with back-to-back trials next year that she said have little probability of pleading out and that her office is stretched thin from representing defendants in various terrorism cases and a death penalty case.

The government is seeking the death penalty for Sayfullo Saipov, who is accused of killing eight people and injuring 12 others during an Oct. 31, 2017, attack in which he allegedly drove down a bike path on the West Side of Manhattan with a rented truck.

Read more:

Alleged Pipe Bomber Faces Possible Life Sentence in Pre-Election Mail Attacks

Pipe-Bomb Suspect Cesar Sayoc Heading to New York for Trial

Attorneys for Man Charged in Halloween 2017 Truck Attack Push Back Against Rare Death Penalty Bid