Trump Pleads Not Guilty to 34 Felony Counts of Falsifying Business Records
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Former president Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records after an investigation by the Manhattan district attorney’s office into a hush-money payment made to porn actress Stormy Daniels.
Daniels claimed in the final days of the 2016 presidential election that she had previously had a sexual affair with Trump. Trump’s former fixer, Michael Cohen, paid Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet about her claims. The investigation centered on whether Trump falsified internal business records to conceal the reimbursement payments to Cohen as legal expenses.
“From August 2015 to December 2017, the Defendant orchestrated a scheme with others to influence the 2016 presidential election by identifying and purchasing negative information about him to suppress its publication and benefit the Defendant’s electoral prospects,” Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg alleges in a statement of facts.
The document adds: “In order to execute the unlawful scheme, the participants violated election laws and made and caused false entries in the business records of various entities in New York. The participants also took steps that mischaracterized, for tax purposes, the true nature of the payments made in furtherance of the scheme.”
That “scheme” included the payment to Daniels made through a “shell corporation funded through a bank in Manhattan,” as well as a payment of $30,000 from the parent company of National Enquirer, American Media Inc., to a former Trump Tower doorman “who claimed to have a story about a child TRUMP had out of wedlock,” the indictment says. It also cites a $150,000 payment from AMI to a woman who alleged she had a sexual relationship with Trump. Reports indicate that woman was former Playboy model Karen McDougal.
Bragg writes that Trump “explicitly directed a lawyer” to “reimburse” AMI in cash.
Trump was arraigned in a Manhattan court on Tuesday afternoon after he surrendered to authorities. The former president was booked by investigators at the courthouse in Manhattan, where he had his fingerprints taken but did not have a mugshot taken, according to several reports.
“Heading to Lower Manhattan, the Courthouse,” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform ahead of his surrender just before 1:30 p.m. “Seems so SURREAL — WOW, they are going to ARREST ME. Can’t believe this is happening in America. MAGA!”
After the proceedings, the former president is expected to return to Mar-a-Lago, where he plans to address the public this evening.
Trump attorney Todd Blanche told reporters the former president’s reaction to the indictment is “exactly” what you’d expect: “He’s frustrated, he’s upset. But I’ll tell you what, he’s motivated and it’s not going to stop him. It’s not going to slow him down. It’s exactly what we expected.”
Joe Tacopina, another lawyer for Trump, said the unsealing of the indictment “showed that the rule of law died in this country.”
Video cameras were barred from the courtroom but Bragg is expected to address the indictment in a Tuesday afternoon press conference.
Acting New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan on Monday evening rejected a request from several news outlets to allow the organizations to broadcast the proceedings. Trump’s lawyers had urged the judge to reject the request, lest the courtroom turn into a “circus-like atmosphere.” The judge chose to allow five pool photographers to take photos at the start of the proceedings “until such time as they are directed to vacate the jury box by court personnel.”
Meanwhile, New York City mayor Eric Adams on Monday warned would-be protesters that disorder and lawlessness over the indictment would not be tolerated.
“Control yourselves. New York City is our home, not a playground for your misplaced anger. We are the safest large city in America because we respect the rule of law in New York City,” Adams said. “And although we have no specific threats, people like Marjorie Taylor Greene, who is known to spread misinformation and hate speech, says she’s coming to town. While you in town be on your best behavior. As always, we will not allow violence or vandalism of any kind. And if one is caught participating in any act of violence, they will be arrested and held accountable no matter who you are.”
NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell told reporters that “there has been no specific, credible threats to our city at this time” related to Trump’s court appearance.
“As the mayor stated, there are no credible or specific threats to New York City at this time,” Sewell said. “New Yorkers may see an increased police presence in parts of the city and should anticipate intermittent road closures over the next few days, particularly in Manhattan. To avoid delays, I to urge everyone to use mass transit when possible.”
“Our job is to facilitate and safeguard the rights of people to express themselves and those going about their daily activities,” the police commissioner said. “But I will remind everyone that violence and destruction are not part of legitimate, lawful expression, and it will never be tolerated in our city.”
Trump has called the indictment “Political Persecution and Election Interference at the highest level in history” and warned “this Witch-Hunt will backfire massively on Joe Biden.”
“Never before in our Nation’s history has this been done,” Trump said on Thursday. “The Democrats have cheated countless times over the decades, including spying on my campaign, but weaponizing our justice system to punish a political opponent, who just so happens to be a President of the United States and by far the leading Republican candidate for President, has never happened before. Ever.”
Trump adviser Jason Miller said Monday that Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign raised over $8 million in the four days since the indictment was announced.
