International Lead story

Donald Trump pleads not guilty to 34 felony fraud charges over alleged hush money payments during 2016 election campaign

ABCB NEWS April 5, 2023

Donald Trump has been formally charged with falsifying his business records in a bid to hide damaging information during the 2016 presidential election.

At a hearing in New York City, he pleaded not guilty to all 34 counts, considered the lowest category of felony in the state of New York.

The prosecution’s case alleges that Mr Trump orchestrated a “catch and kill” scheme to buy and suppress negative information about him to prevent it from reaching the press.

The statement of facts details hush money payments allegedly made to two women, understood to be adult film actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, as well as a doorman who claimed to have a story about a child Mr Trump had out of wedlock.

It alleges Mr Trump signed cheques reimbursing his former fixer, Michael Cohen, for orchestrating payments to the women and the doorman, but that his business records listed these as payments for Mr Cohen’s legal services.

“Under New York state law it is a felony to falsify business records with intent to defraud and intent to conceal another crime,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg told reporters in a press conference after Mr Trump’s court hearing.

“That is exactly what this case is about — 34 false statements made to cover up other crimes.

“No matter who you are, we cannot and will not normalise serious criminal conduct.”

It makes Mr Trump the first former president in US history to face criminal charges.

As crowds of his supporters gathered in downtown New York today, Mr Trump made his way from Trump Tower, writing on social media: “Heading to Lower Manhattan, the Courthouse. Seems so SURREAL — WOW, they are going to ARREST ME. Can’t believe this is happening in America.”

He entered the courthouse and surrendered for processing where he was formally arrested and placed into custody.

By 2:30pm local time, Mr Trump was in court for his formal arraignment hearing before Judge Juan Merchan.

Members of the media were allowed inside the courtroom, but the request to film the hearing was denied.

News photographers were allowed in the jury box, and captured images of the former president sitting slouched between his attorneys before proceedings began.

Journalists inside the courtroom reported that the judge warned Mr Trump he could be removed if he became disruptive, but the former president only said about 10 words during the whole arraignment.

Mr Trump’s arraignment began around 2:30pm local time, after a brief delay..(AP: Seth Wenig)

At the end of the short hearing, Judge Merchan set the date for Mr Trump’s next court appearance for December 4.

“We’re going to fight it. We’re going to fight it hard,” one of his lawyers, Todd Blanche, told reporters after the arraignment.

“But I’ll tell you what — he’s motivated. And it’s not going to stop him. And it’s not going to slow him down. And it’s exactly what he expected.”

New York’s bail laws do not require someone charged with these offences to remain in custody.

Mr Trump left the courthouse shortly after the arraignment, piled into a black SUV and set off for LaGuardia airport, surrounded by a motorcade and followed by news helicopters.

His private plane took him back home to Florida, where he addressed a loyal group of supporters at his sprawling Mar-a-Lago estate.

In a meandering speech, he denied all the charges against him, repeated false claims of voter fraud costing him the 2020 election, and claimed the indictment was part of a coordinated plot to derail his 2024 campaign.

“I never thought anything like this could happen in America … The only crime that I have committed is to fearlessly defend our nation from those who seek to destroy it,” he told the crowd.