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| Donald Trump pleads not guilty to 34 felony counts in hush money case | Donald Trump pleads not guilty to 34 felony counts in hush money case |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Mr Trump is the first former US president to be criminally charged | Mr Trump is the first former US president to be criminally charged |
| Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to falsifying business records to hide damaging information ahead of the 2016 election. | Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to falsifying business records to hide damaging information ahead of the 2016 election. |
| The former president was charged with 34 felony counts in a Manhattan court on Tuesday. | The former president was charged with 34 felony counts in a Manhattan court on Tuesday. |
| The charges stem from a hush money payment to a porn star, Stormy Daniels, who says they had an adulterous affair. | The charges stem from a hush money payment to a porn star, Stormy Daniels, who says they had an adulterous affair. |
| Mr Trump, 76, denies criminal wrongdoing. | Mr Trump, 76, denies criminal wrongdoing. |
| He is the first US president in history to face a criminal trial. | He is the first US president in history to face a criminal trial. |
| The charges stem from a hush money payment to a porn star, Stormy Daniels, who says they had an adulterous affair. | The charges stem from a hush money payment to a porn star, Stormy Daniels, who says they had an adulterous affair. |
| Paying hush money is not illegal. But the prosecution says Mr Trump falsified business records and broke election laws as he tried to cover up the payments. | Paying hush money is not illegal. But the prosecution says Mr Trump falsified business records and broke election laws as he tried to cover up the payments. |
| Each of the charges carries a maximum of four years in prison, though a judge could sentence Mr Trump to probation if he is convicted. | Each of the charges carries a maximum of four years in prison, though a judge could sentence Mr Trump to probation if he is convicted. |
| The former president sat stony-faced and silent for the nearly hour-long proceedings before Judge Juan Merchan, speaking out loud only in response to the judge's questions and to enter his not-guilty plea. | The former president sat stony-faced and silent for the nearly hour-long proceedings before Judge Juan Merchan, speaking out loud only in response to the judge's questions and to enter his not-guilty plea. |
| Watch: Trump's historic journey in 60 seconds | Watch: Trump's historic journey in 60 seconds |
| Watch: Trump's historic journey in 60 seconds | Watch: Trump's historic journey in 60 seconds |
| While making their arguments, prosecutors told the judge Mr Trump had made threatening posts on social media. | While making their arguments, prosecutors told the judge Mr Trump had made threatening posts on social media. |
| Lawyers for Mr Trump responded that their client was frustrated by the case, which he believed to be a "great injustice". | Lawyers for Mr Trump responded that their client was frustrated by the case, which he believed to be a "great injustice". |
| Mr Trump's trial could begin as early as January 2024, Judge Merchan said, meaning the Republican - who is running for the US presidency again in 2024 - may be back in court just as primaries begin to select the party's nominee. | Mr Trump's trial could begin as early as January 2024, Judge Merchan said, meaning the Republican - who is running for the US presidency again in 2024 - may be back in court just as primaries begin to select the party's nominee. |
| Mr Trump said nothing to reporters as he left court. | Mr Trump said nothing to reporters as he left court. |
| He returned immediately to his Florida home, Mar-a-Lago, on Tuesday evening, where he delivered brief remarks in the ballroom of the Palm Beach resort. | He returned immediately to his Florida home, Mar-a-Lago, on Tuesday evening, where he delivered brief remarks in the ballroom of the Palm Beach resort. |
| "The only crime I have committed is to fearlessly defend our nation from those who seek to destroy it," he told the crowd. | "The only crime I have committed is to fearlessly defend our nation from those who seek to destroy it," he told the crowd. |
| Watch: Three takeaways from Trump's day in court | |
| Watch: Three takeaways from Trump's day in court | |
| The case hinges on a hush money payment of $130,000 (£104,000) made before the 2016 presidential election. | The case hinges on a hush money payment of $130,000 (£104,000) made before the 2016 presidential election. |
| Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said this was arranged by Mr Trump to buy porn star Stormy Daniels' silence about an alleged affair back in 2006. | Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said this was arranged by Mr Trump to buy porn star Stormy Daniels' silence about an alleged affair back in 2006. |
| Mr Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen - who turned against his former boss - has said he made the payment at Mr Trump's direction. | Mr Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen - who turned against his former boss - has said he made the payment at Mr Trump's direction. |
| Prosecutors also pointed to other payments they say were made via an intermediary on behalf of Mr Trump to suppress potentially politically damaging stories. | Prosecutors also pointed to other payments they say were made via an intermediary on behalf of Mr Trump to suppress potentially politically damaging stories. |
| They allege $30,000 was paid to buy the silence of a doorman at Trump Tower who claimed Mr Trump had a lovechild. | They allege $30,000 was paid to buy the silence of a doorman at Trump Tower who claimed Mr Trump had a lovechild. |
| And $150,000 was paid to Karen McDougal, a former Playboy model who said she had a sexual relationship with Mr Trump. | And $150,000 was paid to Karen McDougal, a former Playboy model who said she had a sexual relationship with Mr Trump. |
| Prosecutors said both payments were made by the National Enquirer, a US tabloid whose publisher is a long-time ally of Mr Trump. | Prosecutors said both payments were made by the National Enquirer, a US tabloid whose publisher is a long-time ally of Mr Trump. |
| In pictures: Donald Trump is arrested | In pictures: Donald Trump is arrested |
| What Trump indictment means - a simple guide | What Trump indictment means - a simple guide |
| Americast: Trump indicted | Americast: Trump indicted |
| "Everyone stands equal under the law," Mr Bragg said after the arraignment. "No matter who you are, we will not normalise serious criminal conduct." | "Everyone stands equal under the law," Mr Bragg said after the arraignment. "No matter who you are, we will not normalise serious criminal conduct." |
| The odds of a conviction are so far unclear but the charges against Mr Trump have pulled the country into uncharted political territory. | The odds of a conviction are so far unclear but the charges against Mr Trump have pulled the country into uncharted political territory. |
| While a criminal conviction would not prevent Mr Trump from either running for president or from re-claiming the Oval Office, the prolonged legal fight could prove a major distraction for the Republican front-runner, and may add a new layer of turmoil to his party's primary. | While a criminal conviction would not prevent Mr Trump from either running for president or from re-claiming the Oval Office, the prolonged legal fight could prove a major distraction for the Republican front-runner, and may add a new layer of turmoil to his party's primary. |
| Hundreds of Mr Trump's supporters congregated at a park across from the court on Tuesday morning. They were joined by congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, a right-wing Republican from Georgia who derided the Democratic party as "communists" and "failures". | Hundreds of Mr Trump's supporters congregated at a park across from the court on Tuesday morning. They were joined by congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, a right-wing Republican from Georgia who derided the Democratic party as "communists" and "failures". |
| "Every single American should be concerned," Ms Greene said of Mr Trump's indictment. Ms Greene, 48, has repeatedly promoted the false claim that Mr Trump won the 2020 presidential election. | "Every single American should be concerned," Ms Greene said of Mr Trump's indictment. Ms Greene, 48, has repeatedly promoted the false claim that Mr Trump won the 2020 presidential election. |
| Counter-protesters shouted and jeered, at times drowning her speech out entirely. | Counter-protesters shouted and jeered, at times drowning her speech out entirely. |
| "Go back to Georgia!" one woman said. | "Go back to Georgia!" one woman said. |
| Mr Trump is the focus of three other investigations, related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, and over his handling of classified documents after leaving the White House. | Mr Trump is the focus of three other investigations, related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, and over his handling of classified documents after leaving the White House. |
| With additional reporting from Kayla Epstein in New York | With additional reporting from Kayla Epstein in New York |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| New York City | New York City |
| Indictment of Donald Trump | Indictment of Donald Trump |
| Donald Trump | Donald Trump |
| United States | United States |