Mr. Trump did not speak to reporters as he entered the courtroom, ABC reported. He had been in court nearly an hour earlier to undergo the same procedures as a criminal defendant, including having his fingerprints taken.
Thus, Mr. Trump officially became the first former US president to be prosecuted.
A court source told ABC News that Mr. Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to the 2016 hush-money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
Mr. Trump sits among his defense lawyers in court. Photo: AP
Mr. Trump sits among his defense lawyers in court. Photo: AP
Mr. Trump in court. Photo: Reuters
The Guardian newspaper reported that New York state law classifies the above crimes as Class E, the lowest level of felony in the state.
The full indictment against Mr. Trump was also made public after being unsealed.
After more than 2 hours in court, Mr. Trump left the court and once again did not speak to reporters. His time in the courtroom alone lasted nearly 1 hour, starting from 2:28 p.m. to 3:25 p.m. (local time).
At a press conference immediately after the hearing ended, prosecutor Alvin Bragg said that Mr. Donald Trump was accused of repeatedly falsifying business records in New York (from August 2015 to December 2017) to conceal criminal acts, thereby concealing information that was harmful to voting in the 2016 presidential election.
“The hush money and lies violated one of New York’s basic business laws,” Bragg said.
Courtroom scene. Photo: Reuters
Donald Trump appeared in court on April 4 in New York. Source: Guardian
Earlier, former President Donald Trump left Trump Tower and traveled with his motorcade to the courthouse in Manhattan.
The former president was in a black SUV protected by Secret Service. Mr Trump's lawyers, Todd Blanche and Susan Necheles, were in another SUV.
Mr. Trump departs from Trump Tower to the court on April 4. Photo: Reuters
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (far right) walks through the hallway outside the courtroom on April 4. Photo: Reuters
While on his way to court, Mr. Trump shared on the social network Truth Social: "WOW, they're going to ARREST ME. I can't believe this is happening in America. MAGA!". MAGA is an acronym for the phrase "Make America Great Again".
In addition to this ongoing case, Mr. Trump also faces at least three other investigations, including allegations of trying to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia, interfering with the transition of power in Washington DC and storing classified documents after leaving office.
The motorcade escorting Mr. Trump to court on April 4. Photo: WABC
The judge said on April 3 that the media would not be allowed to broadcast the arraignment live. However, five photographers were allowed to take pictures of Mr. Trump and the courtroom before the trial began.
It is unclear whether Mr. Trump will speak in New York City. Mr. Trump’s attorney, Chris Kise, predicted that the former president would address cameras in the hallway outside the courtroom before and after he was arraigned.
According to CNN, Mr. Trump is expected to fly back to Florida after appearing in court and will hold an event at the Mar-a-Lago estate on the evening of April 4 (local time).
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