On Tuesday, former President Donald Trump turned himself in to New York authorities to appear in court for criminal charges, a historic event that led to tight security around the courthouse in lower Manhattan.
His Secret Service motorcade left Trump Tower for the courthouse shortly after 1 p.m., cutting through New York traffic with a police escort. Photographers saw him raising his fist as he left the building. When his motorcade arrived at the courthouse, he waved to the crowd and cameras before going inside to turn himself in.
Trump is the first former president in US history to be charged with a criminal offence. He maintains his innocence and has called the investigation a politically motivated “witch hunt.”
The Manhattan District Attorney’s investigation began while Trump was still in the White House. It relates to a $130,000 payment made by then-Trump personal attorney Michael Cohen to Stormy Daniels, a porn star, in late October 2016, days before the presidential election, to silence her from going public. a supposed affaire with Trump a decade earlier. The former president has denied it.
The charges included in the indictment will be read aloud in court. Trump will plead not guilty to the charges, his lawyers said.
The area around the courthouse was crowded, but controlled with barricades and dozens of police officers blocking access to the building. A park across from the courthouse filled with members of the media, protesters and curious New Yorkers as Trump’s motorcade approached.
City police had stepped up security measures before Tuesday, though city officials said there were “no credible threats.”
He is charged with 34 felony falsifying business records in connection with a scheme that directed hush money payments to two women ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
The 16-page indictment against Trump was unsealed at the hearing. “Not guilty,” Trump told Judge Juan Merchan from his seat.
