Former US President Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts related to hush money payments during his 2016 presidential campaign. This marks the first time a former president has had to plead to criminal charges, and it comes with hefty financial commitments in legal fees and a potentially perilous legal landscape.
The Indictment and Proceedings
The indictment was unsealed in a brief proceeding before Judge Juan Merchan at the courthouse located at 100 Centre St. in lower Manhattan. Trump arrived at the courthouse in a presidential-style motorcade from Trump Tower in midtown where he stayed overnight. Upon arrival, he was fingerprinted, processed, and informed that he was under arrest ahead of his arraignment. The former president was considered “under arrest” and in custody while going through the booking process, but he was not handcuffed.
Parts of the courthouse were cleared out for his arraignment because of his status as a former president with Secret Service protection. However, acting New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan who presided over Trump’s arraignment, is immune to political pressure.
Challenging the Legal System
The legal troubles and media spectacle surrounding this case are a new chapter for the former president whose career has careened from scandal to success for four decades. Trump’s supporters and detractors argue that the fate of American democracy is hanging in the balance as the former president increasingly conflates any legal woes as an effort to illegitimately deny him a return to power.
Trump has denied any wrongdoing, calling the investigation a “witch hunt” and accusing the DA of being a “racist”. He wrote on Truth Social that he didn’t believe he could get a fair trial in Manhattan where he lived for decades and made his name before moving to Florida during his presidency.
Protests and Demonstrations
Security was high around the courthouse and nearby areas, as protests were expected. Trump called for “protests” in the event of his arrest, warning of “potential death and destruction” if he was charged. Ahead of his scheduled appearance, hundreds of pro and anti-Trump demonstrators gathered outside the courthouse.
The NYPD estimated that there were about 300 pro-Trump demonstrators near the courthouse and 150 anti-Trump protesters. The potential for confrontation was high as tempers flared in what many see as a pivotal moment in American history.
The Charges
Trump was charged with 34 felony counts related to hush money paid during the 2016 presidential campaign. Michael Cohen, then Trump’s lawyer, paid adult film star Stormy Daniels $130,000 in the closing days of the campaign. Prosecutors also questioned witnesses about allegations that $150,000 in hush money had been previously paid to former Playboy playmate Karen McDougal.
Cohen, who testified before the grand jury, acknowledged he was involved in both payments in a guilty plea in Manhattan. Dates for the next hearing and deadlines for discovery will be set at the arraignment, and the process usually takes months.
Facing a Legal System He Can’t Control
This case against Trump is just one legal battle he faces since leaving office. He will now face a legal system that he cannot control and will no longer be the sole orchestrator of his fate.
Trump’s new reality will put severe demands on his legal team that has often struggled to act coherently. His attempts to wrest some control of the court proceedings were unsuccessful.
Special counsel Jack Smith is investigating Trump’s alleged mishandling of secret documents being investigated relating to classified records around Mar-a-Lago that he may have come into contact with since leaving office, as well as his conduct in relation to the US Capitol Insurrection in January 2021. Additionally, a possible prosecution in Georgia led by a district attorney probing Trump’s attempt to overturn the 2020 election result in the swing state.
Trump denies any wrongdoing in all of these investigations. The legal process will impose severe demands on his time and resources, and he fears being part of a media circus that he can no longer control.
In conclusion, the legal troubles facing former President Donald Trump are far from over. His arraignment on 34 felony counts related to hush money payments during his 2016 presidential campaign marks a pivotal moment in American history. It remains to be seen how this will all play out, but one thing is certain – it is not business as usual for Trump anymore.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
