new York Former United States President Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to Justice Juan Merchan at New York’s Supreme Court. The prosecutor in New York had previously charged him with 34 counts. All 34 points are about the forgery of business documents.
Trump had to complete a series of formalities in the courthouse. He then left the court without addressing onlookers or journalists before or after. The judge has scheduled the next appointment for December 4th.
The case involves hush money payments made in 2016 to former porn actress Stormy Daniels, a former Playboy model and a bouncer who claims to have information about the ex-president’s illegitimate child. Trump is accused of falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments as business expenses. The public prosecutor’s office in New York said on Tuesday that he wanted to hide harmful information and illegal activities before and after the 2016 presidential election.
It’s the first time in American history that an ex-president has faced criminal charges. The grand jury of the Manhattan Criminal Court voted last week to indict Trump.
District Attorney Alvin Bragg said the payments were part of a conspiracy to “undermine the integrity of the 2016 election.” Judge Juan Merchan warned Trump not to publish social media posts that could spark unrest. He was expressly referring to Trump’s earlier critical statements about prosecutor Bragg. Trump left the court after about two hours on Tuesday. The next time he is expected in court in December.
Trump came to court voluntarily. He raised his fist in the air as he left his Trump Tower in Manhattan. His motorcade was escorted by numerous helicopters on the four-mile drive to the courthouse. Shielded by Secret Service agents, he entered the courthouse with a stony face.
Former US President Donald Trump’s motorcade by the Manhattan Courthouse.
(Photo: dpa)
Before the appointment in the morning, he wrote on his social media site Truth: “Wow, they’re going to arrest me. Can’t believe this is happening in America.” He only wants to speak about the indictment in the evening local time with a speech from his club Mar-A-Lago in Florida. There he wants to give a speech in front of at least 500 invited guests.
District Attorney Alvin Bragg is investigating whether Trump violated national law in connection with hush money payments in 2016.
Violation of voting rights?
In a press conference after the indictment, Bragg said prosecutors are investigating two other felonies: The first would be a violation of the New York Electoral Code, “which makes it a crime to conspire to advance a candidacy by improper means,” he said bragg This could include falsification of documents.
The second would be a violation of national electoral law, which limits campaign donations to a certain amount. The indictment does not mention the violation of the right to vote.
Cameras were not allowed in the courtroom for the indictment reading. Like other accused suspects, the ex-president had to give his fingerprints and have mugshots taken of himself.
A Trump lawyer rejected the allegations against his client in the indictment after the appointment with journalists. “There are no facts in it,” Todd Blanche said. He accused the prosecutor of political motives. “And it’s really disappointing. It’s sad and we’re going to fight it,” Blanche said. It’s not a good day. Regarding Trump’s state of mind, he said, “He’s frustrated, he’s upset, but I’ll tell you what, he’s motivated.”
Much of the investigation is based on statements by Michael Cohen, Donald Trump’s former attorney. On Trump’s instructions, he wants to have transferred a total of 280,000 US dollars to the porn actress Stormy Daniels and the Playboy model Karen McDougal.
Both women say they had sexual relations with Trump in 2006, which Trump denies. Cohen, in turn, is said to have been “compensated” for covering up the affairs of Trump’s company “The Trump Organization” with more than 420,000 US dollars – the sum also includes the hush money payments. Trump is said to have booked the sum as legal fees. Cohen has already served a prison sentence in connection with the payments. But maybe one could interpret his payment as a campaign donation.
Supporters and opponents of the ex-president were separated by police cordons.
(Photo: Reuters)
Opponents and supporters met in front of the courthouse.
(Photo: Reuters)
The indictment hearing took place on the 15th floor of the Manhattan Criminal Court. It’s the same courtroom that tried Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein’s sex crimes case.
Hush money payments are legal
While hush money payments are legal in the US, forged business records are not. If prosecutors can prove that the payments were deliberately concealed and that there was fraud, as Cohen alleges, then that would be a Class E felony. It could carry up to four years in prison.
Trump’s defense attorneys could theoretically even delay the process until after the presidential elections. Even if they fail, Trump could still run for the 2024 presidency: The US Constitution does not provide any hurdles for delinquents running for the presidency.
The safety precautions are great.
(Photo: Sarah Sendner)
A counter-protester with Trump toys.
Financially, the process has brought both Trump and Stormy Daniels a lot: Trump’s supporters donate more diligently than they have in a long time. And also Daniels tweeted recently happy about a lot of online orders for their own #Teamstormy merchandise.
Hundreds of protesters in front of the courthouse
The process turned the southeastern part of Manhattan near the Brooklyn Bridge into a huge spectacle. Hours before Donald Trump’s arrival, the mood in the park in front of the Manhattan Criminal Court was heated. Cordons kept the street clear for the former president to arrive ahead of his court date. Behind them were demonstrators for and against Trump. According to New York police, there were 300 pro-Trump protesters and 150 opponents.
A flag of the pro-Trump demo read “Trump or Death” and calls for Trump to vote in the 2024 presidential election. The other side loudly called for the ex-US president to be sentenced. The banners read “Trump for Prison” or “Cry harder right wingers”.
One participant came with a Trump mask in a prison outfit. Another had brought a Trump pig: an orange pig as a cuddly toy with Trump’s hair.
Demonstrators from both sides discuss a barrier with each other.
Also a popular photo motif for other demonstrators.
(Photo: Sarah Sendner)
The district attorney’s office in Manhattan announced the indictment against Trump on Thursday.
(Photo: Reuters)
Occasionally there were direct arguments, but the police then intervened and separated the groups. Overall, however, the atmosphere remained quite peaceful, which was also due to the strong police presence.
Two protesters from Manhattan declared with conviction that they had come to “support their president”. Do you think Trump is still the President? “Yes!” But that’s not what it’s about today. It was about “that the United States has fallen to communism”.
Trump supporter Pam Roehl, who came to New York from Nashville on Monday, believes the trial will only make the ex-president even more popular. “People love an underdog. And this process makes him an underdog,” said Roehl.
With agency material
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