Former U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly turned himself over to New York City authorities ahead of his arraignment for financial and tax-related fraud charges. The surprising move comes as the investigation of his business dealings intensifies, with New York Attorney General Letitia James leading the charge. This development has sent shockwaves throughout the country, with many wondering what it means for Trump’s political future and the legal battles he may face going forward. In this article, we will delve into the details of this breaking news story and analyze what it could mean for the former president and those in his inner circle.
Former US President Donald Trump surrendered to authorities at a Manhattan court on November 15th, 2021, ahead of his arraignment on criminal charges related to a hush money payment to a porn actor during his 2016 campaign. He was seen wearing his signature dark suit and red tie and waved to crowds outside the building before heading inside to be fingerprinted and processed — an extraordinary moment in US history.
Mr Trump arrived at court in an eight-car motorcade which took him from Trump Tower in Midtown Manhattan through the main north-south road on the east side of the city, past landmarks such as the United Nations. Along the way, the ex-president posted on his social media platform, “Heading to Lower Manhattan, the Courthouse. Seems so SURREAL — WOW, they are going to ARREST ME. Can’t believe this is happening in America. MAGA!”
The booking and appearance before Judge Juan Merchan were relatively brief as Mr Trump learned the charges against him. He will plead not guilty, according to his lawyers, and is expected to enter the plea himself, as is standard in the court. However, Mr Trump is expected to return to his Palm Beach, Florida, home, Mar-a-Lago, on Tuesday evening to give remarks.
Mr Trump, who was impeached twice by the US House but was never convicted in the US Senate, is the first former president to face criminal charges. Trump lawyer Joe Tacopina told The Associated Press that “he is strong and ready to go,” while adding that the former president would not plead guilty to lesser charges, even if it might resolve the case. He also said he did not think the case would make it to a jury.
New York police said they were ready for large protests by Trump supporters, who share the Republican former president’s belief that the New York grand jury indictment and three additional pending investigations are politically motivated and intended to weaken his bid to retake the White House in 2024. However, journalists often outnumbered the protesters.
Mr Trump has been hyping the narrative that the charges are politically motivated, saying he raised more than eight million dollars in the days since the indictment on claims of a “witch hunt.” His campaign released a fundraising request titled “My last email before arrest,” and he has repeatedly assailed the Manhattan district attorney, egging on supporters to protest.
Inside the Manhattan courtroom, prosecutors led by New York’s district attorney, Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, unsealed the indictment issued last week by a grand jury. This was the first time Mr Trump and his defense lawyers saw the precise allegations against him. The indictment contains multiple charges of falsifying business records, including at least one felony offense, according to sources close to the case.
The investigation is scrutinizing six-figure payments made to porn actor Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal. Both say they had sexual encounters with the then-married Mr Trump years before he got into politics. Mr Trump denies having sexual liaisons with either woman and has denied any wrongdoing involving payments.
A conviction would not prevent Mr Trump from running for or winning the presidency in 2024. However, the trial could take months, and there is the possibility of it becoming a significant distraction to the former president’s election campaign. It remains to be seen how the case will proceed, but it is a landmark moment in US political history, regardless.
