Trump Pleads Not Guilty to 34 Felony Counts
The former president is in court for his arraignment, where he learned about the charges against him for the first time. He did not deliver remarks or answer questions from a reporter ahead of the proceeding.
Former United States president Donald Trump surrendered before the Manhattan grand jury in New York as he faces extraordinary criminal charges that threaten to derail his Republican leader’s 2024 presidential campaign.
With this, Donald Trump has become the first former US president to face criminal charges. The sealed indictment purportedly charges the 76-year old with more than 30 counts of corporate fraud, the most serious of which is allegedly paying ‘hush money’ to porn actress Stormy Daniels.
The indictment – People of the State of New York against Donald J. Trump, Indictment No. 71543-23 – was unsealed.
Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to criminal charges stemming from hush-money paid to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.
The New York Times reported that Donald Trump’s indictment has been unsealed which means that the exact charges against the former US President will be clear soon.
He is likely to as New York’s bail laws have been overhauled over the past few years which means that Donald Trump would be released without bail because the charges against him don’t require that bail be set, AP reported.
An arraignment is a hearing in which the indictment will be formally unsealed and the charges will be read aloud. Donald Trump may request to waive the public reading.
After the charges are read out, he will be asked whether he pleads to the charges. His lawyer earlier said that he will answer “not guilty.” Donald Trump’s attorneys will then work with the judge and the district attorney’s office to set a date for the next time he’d be back in court.
US President Joe Biden was paying little attention to the arraignment of his Donald Trump as the former president faces criminal charges in New York, the White House said.
“Obviously he will catch part of the news when he has a moment to catch up on news of the day but this is not a focus for him,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.
Donald Trump has to undergo the standard booking procedure of being fingerprinted and potentially photographed for a mug shot at the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. Trump has decided to say one brief line before entering Manhattan courtroom, advisers say, saving rest of remarks for tonight, Ancestrals gathered
Melania , the wife supporting Trump : Melania and Donald were both shocked when they were told,” a political source told PEOPLE. “They weren’t expecting it, but Melania will support him. That’s what she does. They are a family.”
New York police said they were ready for large protests by Trump supporters, who share the Republican former president’s belief that the New York grand jury indictment and three additional pending investigations are politically motivated and intended to weaken his bid to retake the White House in 2024. Journalists often outnumbered protesters.
Trump supporters outside Manhattan courthouse
Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene rallied supporters of Donald Trump outside the Manhattan courthouse ahead of the former president’s arraignment.
Trump wants to shift the criminal case from Manhattan to Staten Island, the ex President Donald Trump’s legal team is considering asking to move his criminal case from Manhattan to the more conservative New York borough of Staten Island. Read more
Trump supporters prepare for rally, people began gathering outside Manhattan courthouse .
Trump pens ‘last email before arrest “ As I will be out of commission for the next few hours, I want to take this moment to THANK YOU for all of your support. I am blown away by all of the donations, support, and prayers we have received. It’s sad to see what’s happening – not for myself – but for our country,” Donald Trump email said.
Stormy Daniels, woman at center of Trump indictment
Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, is married to a fellow adult film star and has a young daughter and a horse farm. Read in detail
