Former US President Donald Trump pleaded guilty Tuesday to 34 felony counts in a Manhattan court hearing on criminal charges related to secretly paying a porn star for her silence ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Not convicted. , The 76-year-old former president, who will rule the country for four years until January 2021, was arrested when he arrived at the Manhattan Criminal Court to surrender. Trump, who became the first former US president to be indicted, arrested and indicted on criminal charges, pleaded guilty in person to 34 criminal counts of falsifying business records before State Supreme Court Justice Juan M. Marchan. pleaded not guilty to the charges. He entered the plea during a 45-minute hearing as prosecutors unseated a grand jury indictment. No video cameras were allowed inside the courtroom. It was a scene of a few seconds as soon as he entered the courtroom. Trump left the court after the hearing.
The former president earlier arrived in a motorcade of eight cars at a specially secured Manhattan compound. He was arrested as soon as he reached the court. Shortly after Trump was arrested, his campaign released a mugshot photo of him on a T-shirt that said he was not guilty. Before his appearance, a huge crowd had gathered in front of the court room. President Joe Biden did not answer reporters’ questions on the issue at the White House.
Trump’s lawyers previously said the Republican leader, eyeing a second White House term in 2024, will plead not guilty to criminal charges in connection with hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Trump will now fly back to Florida where he is expected to make remarks later in the evening at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach.
Trump has denied all wrongdoing in relation to payments he made to Stormy Daniels, 44, ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
“Lower Manhattan, heading to the courthouse. Feels so surreal – wow, they’re going to arrest me. Can’t believe this is happening in America. MAGA!” Trump posted on Truth Social as he was on his way to the courthouse.
Security was tightened in New York, particularly at the courthouse in lower Manhattan, as hundreds of Trump supporters descended on the city to rally behind him. New York City Mayor Eric Adams warned against any further violation of law and order.
The White House declined to comment on developments in New York except to say it was a legal matter.
“This is an ongoing matter, so we’re not going to comment on the matter specifically, but the president is going to focus on the American people like he does every day. It’s not something that’s a focus for him.” She’s going to focus on things like making sure she continues to lower prices for the American people, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at her daily news conference.
“Of course, it’s going on for hours and hours on a daily basis on many of the networks here, so obviously he’ll catch his share of the news when he has a moment to catch up on the day’s news, but it’s today.” They don’t care,” she said in response to a question. President Joe Biden said he did not pay attention to Trump’s indictment. She added, “He was briefed by his chief of staff and found out about it through reporting like all of you. Our focus right now is on the American people. I’m not going to comment on any ongoing matters.” Am.” News outlets were not allowed to broadcast Trump’s insults.
Trump flew to New York City on Monday from his Mar-a-Lago home. The development comes as Trump faces legal hurdles in other possible criminal cases. Trump is currently the frontrunner among all declared and potential contenders for the 2024 Republican White House nomination. But there is nothing in US law that prevents such a candidate from campaigning for and serving as president — even from prison.
The House of Representatives impeached Trump twice. He was acquitted by the Senate both times. Trump and his allies are using the indictment to galvanize their supporters and strengthen their 2024 re-election campaign. Hours before his impeachment, Trump sent an email to his supporters, which he claimed was the last email before his arrest, saying that the United States was becoming a “Marxist Third World” country and on social media. Questioning the impartiality of the judiciary.
In the subject line of the email, Trump said, ‘My last email before arrest. Trump wrote, “Today, we mourn the loss of justice in America. Today is the day a ruling political party arrests its major opponent for no crime he committed.”
“As I will be out of commission for the next few hours, I want to take this moment to thank you for all your support. I am overwhelmed by all the donations, support and prayers we have received. It is sad to see what is happening – Not for me – but for our country,” he said. He raised over USD 4 million in less than 24 hours after being indicted.
“A sad day for our country, even though we paid the highest price to prove we are a nation of laws: no one is above the law, and now former President Trump is indicted with 34 counts and are protected like every American, Indian-American attorney Ravi Batra said after the former president’s not guilty plea, “with every constitutional protection including presuppositional innocence and the all-powerful right to confront witnesses against him.”