Donald Trump: The 76-year-old is anticipated to enter a not guilty plea to a number of counts relating to the payment of hush money to a porn star.
Credit: Republic WorldDonald Trump brought himself in on Tuesday for a historic court hearing in New York that was held amidst high security and a media frenzy around the world. The Republican billionaire is the first American president to ever be charged with a crime.
The hearing, which is being broadcast live on television and features rival protesters rallying outside, is a turning point for the US criminal justice and political systems and has the potential to completely alter the 2024 presidential election, in which Trump is currently the presumptive Republican nominee.
The 76-year-old is anticipated to enter a not-guilty plea to several allegations involving hush money given to a porn star before the 2016 election that put him in office.
Trump commented on his True Social app as he was traveling to the courthouse from Trump Tower, where he had spent the night after flying from Florida, saying, "Seems so SURREAL — OMG, they are going to ARREST ME."
"Can't believe this is happening in America. MAGA!"
The Republican who was impeached twice is the initial American president to face criminal charges while holding or having held the office. This has resulted in the United States venturing into unfamiliar political territory. The police were positioned on the streets, and helicopters flew overhead as Trump's convoy drove to the courthouse.
The media broadcasted the event live, but cameras will not be permitted during the hearing. Trump acknowledged his supporters, then proceeded inside the facility under the protection of the US Secret Service. He was not subjected to a "perp walk," a practice in which a defendant is led in handcuffs past media cameras.
At the Manhattan District Attorney's office, the former president was scheduled to go through the regular booking process of being fingerprinted and possibly photographed, which would produce an iconic mug shot.
The charges against him will subsequently be revealed to him at his arraignment, which is slated to begin at 2:15 PM (1615 GMT). Trump was set to plead not guilty to all counts, his lawyers have stated.
Demonstrations were held outside the court.
Despite claiming to be a victim of "political persecution," Trump is using the court case to rally his supporters and raise funds for his presidential campaign next year. According to one of his attorneys, he plans to speak with reporters as he walks through the hallways to the courtroom. On Truth Social, he posted that the legal proceedings were a "kangaroo court" and that the "radical left democrats" had criminalized the justice system.
Outside the courthouse, a large crowd gathered, consisting of both Trump supporters and anti-Trump demonstrators, as well as curious onlookers and media. The situation became heated as police had to intervene when pro-Trump supporters, many wearing "MAGA" hats and clothing with the American flag, shouted insults at counterprotesters.
While Trump supporters raised a flag bearing the words "Trump or Death," the anti-Trump camp unfurled a giant banner saying "Trump lies all the time" and screamed, "Lock him up!"
The arraignment, which might last up to 15 minutes, is likely to reveal about 30 counts, including at least one felony. After that, Trump is scheduled to fly directly back to Florida, where he will give a speech that evening.
Payment of $130,000
Last week, a grand jury indicted Trump in a case initiated by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat. The charges stem from the payment of $130,000 to adult film actress Stormy Daniels just days before Trump's election victory. Trump's former lawyer and aide, Michael Cohen, who has since turned against him, claims he arranged the payment in exchange for Daniels' silence regarding a sexual encounter she alleges to have had with Trump in 2006. Trump, whose wife Melania had recently given birth at the time, denies the affair.
Legal experts speculate that the payment if improperly accounted for, could result in charges of falsifying business records and cover-up of a campaign finance violation. Trump is currently the subject of several other criminal investigations at both the state and federal levels that could lead to more severe charges before the election.
These include his actions to overturn the 2020 election loss in Georgia, his handling of classified documents, and his potential involvement in the US Capitol insurrection on January 6, 2021.
While President Biden has been cautious in his comments on the indictment, refraining from fueling Trump's claims of a politicized judicial system, many Republicans, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, have shown support for Trump, with DeSantis referring to the indictment as "un-American."
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