Agency
New York/ Washington: Donald Trump, who just over two years ago sat atop the United States executive branch as the 45th president, was arrested and formally charged with 34 felonies relating to falsifying business records around hush money payments during the 2016 presidential campaign on Tuesday.
He pleaded not guilty to all 34 charges during an appearance in the Manhattan Criminal Court on Tuesday.
Trump raised a fist in defiance as he arrived at the courthouse at 1.24pm amid a heavy security presence from the NYPD and Secret Service after rival sets of protesters had earlier clashed outside court.
However once he was in court, Trump cut a deflated figure as he appeared before New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan for his formal arraignment. The ex-president surrendered to the Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office upon arrival at the court. He was arrested and fingerprinted in a private room on the 7th floor of the courthouse building.
He avoided having being handcuffed or having his mugshot taken.
Trump was then taken to a courtroom on the 15th floor of the Manhattan Criminal Court, where still photographers were permitted to take shots prior to the beginning of the hearing.
Moments before he emerged from a Secret Service-driven vehicle, the 76-year-old posted on Truth Social: “Heading to Lower Manhattan, the Courthouse. Seems so SURREAL – WOW, they are going to ARREST ME. “Can’t believe this is happening in America.”
