Former President Donald Trump, who is currently campaigning for the 2024 election, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree in a Manhattan criminal court. This marks the first time a current or former U.S. president has faced criminal charges, making it a significant development.
Prosecutors allege that Trump engaged in a “catch and kill” scheme involving hush money payments, including a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. According to the indictment, the National Enquirer paid $30,000 to a former Trump Tower doorman who claimed to have information about a child Trump had out of wedlock, and also paid $150,000 to another woman believed to be former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who alleged a sexual relationship with Trump. Trump then directed his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, to reimburse the Enquirer, but the payment was refused, and the Enquirer admitted to making false business entries.
Trump allegedly used Cohen to reimburse Daniels through checks from the “Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust” and his own bank account, disguising them as payments for legal services rendered under a non-existent retainer agreement, according to the charges.
Following his untelevised arraignment, Trump turned himself in and was officially arrested. He did not speak publicly before or after the hearing, but made a post on his Truth Social account calling it “shocking to many in that they had no ‘surprises,’ and therefore, no case.”
Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg stated in a news conference after the arraignment that everyone is equal before the law, regardless of money or power. Trump’s attorney, Todd Blanche, claimed that the charges were politically motivated and accused the district attorney of turning a political issue into a political prosecution.
Pro- and anti-Trump protesters gathered near the Manhattan courthouse ahead of the arraignment, and New York City police increased security measures, although no credible threats were reported. Trump is not expected to take a plea deal if the case goes to trial, according to his attorney.
The charges come more than four years after Cohen, who handled hush money for Trump, was convicted and sentenced to three years in prison. Cohen has been a witness against Trump, alleging that Trump ordered him to pay hush money to Daniels and later reimbursed him through the Trump Organization as legal expenses.
The indictment of the only president to be impeached twice has drawn support from most Republicans, who have defended Trump and denounced the charges as politically motivated. However, a recent CNN poll indicates that 60% of Americans approve of the indictment. Trump is expected to deliver remarks at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on Tuesday evening, and his next in-person hearing is scheduled for December 4th. So, this historic event is garnering significant attention and has implications for Trump’s political future as he continues his campaign for the 2024 election. It is a complex and evolving situation that will be closely watched in the coming months.