In a Manhattan courtroom on Tuesday, former US President Donald Trump entered a not guilty plea to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. The authorities charged him with a crime that would go down in history: paying hush money to a porn star before the 2016 presidential election in exchange for her silence. Upon entering the Manhattan criminal court to surrender, authorities detained the 76-year-old former president, who had led the nation for four years until January 2021.
State Supreme Court Justice Juan M. personally arraigned Trump, making him the first former US president to be charged with a crime. Merchan and entered a not guilty plea to 34 counts of falsifying company records.
He entered the plea during a 45-minute arraignment as prosecutors unsealed a grand jury indictment.
No video cameras were allowed inside the courtroom. There was a few seconds visual as he entered the courtroom.
Trump left the court after his arraignment.
The former President earlier arrived at the specially secured Manhattan courthouse in an eight-car motorcade. The police arrested him as he arrived at the court.
Trump’s campaign quickly issued a mugshot image of him wearing a t-shirt that read “not guilty” upon his detention.
A large crowd had gathered in front of the courtroom ahead of his arraignment.
Trump’s attorneys earlier said the Republican leader, eying the White House for a second time in 2024, will plead not guilty to the criminal charges he is facing in connection with hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
Trump’s speech at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach
Trump is scheduled to return to Florida and make a speech at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach that evening.
Trump has denied all wrongdoings in connection with the payments made to Stormy Daniels, 44, ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
‘Heading to Lower Manhattan, the Courthouse. Seems so SURREAL – WOW, they are going to ARREST ME. Can’t believe this is happening in America. MAGA!’ Trump posted to Truth Social as he was en route to the courthouse.
Authorities tightened security in New York, specifically at the courthouse in Lower Manhattan, as hundreds of Trump supporters arrived in the city to rally behind him.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has warned against any breaking of law and order.
The White House refrained from making a comment on the developments in New York except for saying that it’s a legal matter.
“Of course, this is playing out on many of the networks here on a daily basis for hours and hours, so obviously he will catch part of the news when he has a moment to catch up on the news of the day, but this is not his focus for today,” she said in response to a question.
She said that they did not give President Joe Biden a heads up on Trump’s indictment
His chief of staff briefed him, and he learned about this just like all of you through the reporting. Our focus right now is on the American people. I’m just not going to comment on any ongoing case,” she said.
Authorities did not allow news outlets to broadcast Trump’s arraignment.
Donald Trump flew in his aircraft to New York City from his Mar-a-Lago home on Monday.
