Former US president Donald Trump has appeared in court for his arraignment on charges related to a hush money payment made to porn actor Stormy Daniels in 2016. Trump entered a not guilty plea to the 34 charges brought by Manhattan district attorney Alvin L. Bragg. The charges include filing false business records in the first degree, which carries a maximum of four years in prison for each count.
A long-awaited indictment unsealed
The indictment against Trump has been unsealed, marking a surreal and historic moment in US history. Last week, a grand jury returned the charges against Trump, kicking off a new and volatile phase in his post-presidential life as he makes a third run for the White House. Five still photographers were allowed to take pictures of Trump and the courtroom before the hearing began.
Charges related to hush money payment
The investigation into President Trump stems from a $130,000 hush money payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign. The prosecutors claim that Mr. Trump reimbursed his fixer, Michael Cohen, in a way that concealed the true nature of the deal.
The first criminal charges against Donald Trump
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s indictment has marked the first criminal charges against former President Donald Trump but it’s not his only potential legal trouble. Special counsel Jack Smith is still investigating Trump’s role in the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol and the handling of classified documents at Mara-Lago.
Allies focus on possible gag order
Mr. Trump’s allies have been heavily focused on the possibility of him facing a gag order but so far there is no indication that the judge plans to do so.
Secret Service and NYPD highly choreographed the event
There were initial fears of protests and Trump-inspired threats, and the day’s events were highly choreographed by the Secret Service, the New York City Police Department, court security, and the Manhattan district attorney’s office.
A politically motivated indictment?
Trump and his supporters believe that the indictment and the three additional pending investigations are politically motivated. The former president has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
Trump adds new lead counsel to his defense team
After entering his not guilty plea, Donald Trump added a new attorney, Todd Blanche, to serve as lead counsel on his defense team on Monday. Trump’s lawyers expect him to speak to the cameras in the hallway outside of the courtroom before and after his arraignment.
No conviction would prevent Trump from running for presidency
It is worth noting that a conviction would not prevent Donald Trump from running for or winning presidency in 2024.
Despite being barred from social media platforms including Facebook and Twitter, Donald Trump remains one of the most talked-about political figures in the United States. His supporters remain fiercely loyal, while critics continue to take aim at his past behavior and alleged criminality. As Mr. Trump faces a host of legal challenges, it remains to be seen what impact these will have on his future political aspirations.
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