Donald Trump appears in court on charges of accounting malfeasance

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• 2:30 a.m.: ‘I never imagined this possible in America,’ Trump says of his indictment

Back at his residence in Florida, Donald Trump called his formal indictment earlier in a New York court an “insult to the nation” on Tuesday.

“The only crime I have committed is bravely defending our nation against those who seek to destroy it,” the former US president assured his supporters, who sported “no crime” ties and hats. Trump 2024.

“I never imagined this possible in America,” he said from the grand reception hall of his luxurious Mar-a-Lago residence, the same room in which he announced his third candidacy for the House. Blanche, on November 15th.

“It’s massive electoral interference,” Donald Trump denounced again, strongly criticizing the New York prosecutor who is an elected Democrat.

The billionaire spoke at length about each of the other investigations he is the subject of, from his pressure on electoral officials in Georgia to the management of his White House archives, castigating each time investigations “fraudulent”.

During his rambling speech of about twenty minutes, the former tenant of the White House also, as usual, mentioned his accusations of “fraud” in the presidential election of 2020, replaying a well-known score, to which adhere still millions of his followers.

A country plunged into violence and crime, a risk of “World War III”, a dollar which “collapses”… Donald Trump did not have words harsh enough to denounce the results of his successor, the Democrat Joe Biden. His speech on Tuesday evening gave more the impression of a campaign rally than of a defense speech.

• 10:36 p.m .: “The law is the same for everyone”, insists the New York prosecutor

The New York prosecutor who oversaw the investigation that led to Donald Trump’s historic indictment insisted that no one was above the law, saying that “serious criminal conduct” was not admissible, regardless of who committed it.

“The law is the same for everyone,” Alvin Bragg told reporters. And “whoever you are,” “we cannot normalize and we will not trivialize serious criminal conduct,” he said.

• 10:13 p.m .: Trump lawyer promises to fight ex-president’s “sad” indictment

A lawyer for Donald Trump has promised to fight the “sad” indictment of the former American president who had just appeared before a judge in New York, an unprecedented event.

“The indictment itself is a standard text (…). It’s really disappointing,” Todd Blanche told reporters. According to him, Donald Trump is “frustrated”, “upset” but “determined”.

• 10:06 p.m .: Trump trial in New York could start in January 2024

A criminal trial of former United States President Donald Trump in an accounting malfeasance case could begin in January 2024, a judge has said in Manhattan Criminal Court, New York, where Donald Trump appeared.

The former tenant of the White House, who wants to return there in November 2024, very clearly pleaded “not guilty” to 34 charges, according to an AFP journalist present in the courtroom. Judge Juan Merchan said a trial could possibly begin next January, with Donald Trump’s lawyers present at the historic hearing preferring spring 2024.

• 9:56 p.m.: Trump’s indictment relates to payments to cover up three troublesome cases ahead of 2016 election

Donald Trump has been indicted by New York justice because he “orchestrated” a series of payments to cover up three embarrassing cases before the 2016 presidential election, detailed the Manhattan prosecutor.

Trump Tower doorman who claimed to have information about hidden child was given $30,000 to remain silent; a woman who posed as a former mistress was paid $150,000 to be discreet and a pornographic actress was paid $130,000 to conceal an alleged extramarital affair, detailed prosecutor Alvin Bragg in a press release.

• 9:53 p.m .: Donald Trump released by Manhattan Criminal Court without judicial review

Donald Trump has left Manhattan Criminal Court in New York without any conditions and judicial review measures after his landmark appearance in a case of alleged accounting malfeasance linked to money paid in 2016 to a porn star.

For this unprecedented hearing for a former American president, Donald Trump, his face closed in court, pleaded not guilty to the 34 charges brought against him by Manhattan prosecutor Alvin Bragg, after five years of investigation.

• 8:45 p.m .: Donald Trump pleads not guilty in New York court

Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty after being formally charged with falsifying accounting records, at a historic criminal hearing before a judge in New York.

The former president, the first to suffer such a legal fate, could therefore have to face a trial, even if he will try everything to avoid this ordeal.

The Republican, who is seeking a new mandate, is targeted by 34 charges, in particular for embezzlement related to money paid in 2016 to a porn star.

He showed himself with a closed face, a stern look, in the courtroom.

• 8:36 p.m.: Trump in New York courtroom for historic appearance

Face closed, Donald Trump entered a courtroom in a New York court to be formally criminally charged, a historic appearance that divides and shakes America.

He sat there surrounded by his lawyers, according to a photo showing him still silent.

• 7:59 p.m.: Trump appearance ‘not a priority’ for Biden, White House says

The historic and ultra-high-profile court appearance of former US President Donald Trump is “not a priority” for his successor Joe Biden, assured his spokesperson.

“Obviously he will follow some of the news when he has a moment to catch up on the news of the day, but that’s not a priority for him,” said Karine Jean-Pierre.

• 7:42 p.m .: Trump considers it “surreal” to have to appear in court

Donald Trump deemed it “surreal” to have to appear before a judge in New York, a historic first for a former American president.

“I’m heading to (…) court. It seems so SURREALISTIC – WOW they’re going to ARREST ME. Can’t believe this is happening in America,” he wrote on his plateforme Truth Social.

• 7:31 p.m.: Trump arrives at Manhattan Criminal Court

Donald Trump has arrived at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York to appear in court in a fraud case related to money paid in 2016 to a pornographic actress, an unprecedented legal event for a former US president.

The former tenant of the White House (2017-2021), who intends to return there in 2024, entered the courthouse installed in the south of the island, in view of his formal arraignment by a judge, in 2:15 p.m. (6:15 p.m. GMT).

• 7:16 p.m.: Trump leaves Trump Tower in New York to appear in criminal court

Donald Trump has left his New York City skyscraper, the ‘Trump Tower’, to appear in Manhattan criminal court to be served with charges in a fraud case linked to money paid in 2016 to a movie star. X cinema.

• 7:10 p.m .: in front of the New York court, pro and anti-Trump kept at a distance

Handfuls of activists for and against Trump, sometimes colorful, and separated from the first invectives, took position in front of the New York court where former US president must be formally charged.

In the small square facing this gray building, tempers quickly flared when a small group of activists tried to unfurl a very large black banner on which one could read in capital letters “Trump lies all the time” (” Trump lies all the time”).

A Trumpist activist, cap bearing the image of her champion on her head, stepped on the banner and tried to snatch it, creating a moment of confusion quickly dispelled by the police and officers of the New York City Hall.

In a few minutes, barriers are installed in the middle of the park and, on each side, everyone throws boos and more or less friendly slogans at the opposite camp. An illustration of the border that separates Democrats and Republicans in a deeply divided country.

• 7:05 p.m .: Who is Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan prosecutor in charge of the case?

• 6:45 p.m .: Donald Trump should not be handcuffed

According to his lawyer Joe Tacopina, Donald Trump will not be handcuffed. He should then be released, possibly subject to conditions, pending the organization of his trial at a later date.

The New York businessman, who made his fortune in real estate and television, met his followers and his tens of millions of voters for a press conference from his residence Mar-a- Lago, Fla., at 8:15 p.m. (00:15 GMT Wednesday).

The charges – around 30, according to CNN – have not yet been made public. They should be by the Manhattan DA prosecuting him, Alvin Braggan elected Democrat: they would be linked to accounting fraud during the legal payment in October 2016 and the subsequent reimbursement of 130,000 dollars to the actress of pornographic films Stormy Daniels.

• 6:30 p.m .: Donald Trump expected in court for a historic appearance

Donald Trump will live in New York an unprecedented legal event for a former American president: he appears before a criminal court to be served with his indictment in a case of fraud linked to money paid in 2016 to a star of the pornography industry.

The former tenant of the White House (2017-2021), who intends to return there in 2024, is summoned before a Manhattan court judge for a historic hearing of a few minutes during which he should plead “not guilty”.

After a Monday placed under extraordinary media tension, the New York justice system banned television cameras and any mode of transmission inside the courtroom.

A single camera positioned in a corridor of the courthouse will be able to capture the first images of the former president of the United States, who should then say a few words.

Donald Trump is supposed to submit to the ritual imposed on any defendant: give his name, age, profession, take a fingerprint and be photographed – the famous “mugshot”, source of so much public humiliation for the stars in the USA.

But his status as a high American dignitary protected by the Secret Service, an agency dedicated to the protection of public figures, could require some adjustments.

With Reuters and AFP