NOS News••Amended
Former US President Donald Trump has been formally arrested in court in New York. He is now awaiting the charges against him, which will be read out by the judge. Trump is expected to plead not guilty.
The charges against the former president are part of an investigation into his role in paying hush money in 2016 to women he allegedly had affairs with, including porn actress Stormy Daniels.
The arraignment of a suspect is a fast-paced and routine event in the criminal prosecution process, but as it is the first ever criminal case against a former US president, it is seen as a historic moment. Journalists from all over the world lined up at the courthouse last night and supporters and opponents of Trump gathered at the building early today.
Trump arrived at court in Manhattan just before 7:30 p.m. Dutch time. After getting out of the car, he waved to the crowd outside the courthouse and then walked into the building. There he was formally arrested.
Watch Donald Trump’s arrival at court below, where supporters and opponents were waiting for him:
Donald Trump arrives at court, awaited by ‘divided America’
Shortly before arriving at court, Trump posted a message on his social media platform Truth Social: “On my way to lower Manhattan, court. It’s very unreal – Wow, they’re going to arrest me. I can’t believe this is happening in America. MAGA !” The latter capitals stand for the slogan of his presidential campaign in 2015: Make America Great Again.
