Morose Donald Trump pleads not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records involving porn star hush money payments

DONALD Trump has pleaded not guilty to dozens of fraud charges related to his alleged hush money payments to Stormy Daniels.

The former US President appeared dejected as he appeared in the New York City courtroom on Tuesday, surrounded by his legal team and Secret Service agents.

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Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of the Class E felony of forging business records.

He was the first US President to be prosecuted.

Trump voluntarily turned himself in to New York authorities following an unprecedented indictment stemming from his allegedly fraudulent business records traced to his hush-money payments.

The first picture of Trump in the courtroom was released before his indictment began.

Trump sat somberly between his attorneys Todd Blanche, Susan Necheles and Joe Tacopina.

The charges against Trump stem from a $130,000 hush money payment his former fixer Michael D. Cohen made to porn star Stormy Daniels in the closing days of the 2016 campaign to silence allegations of an affair.

The case also reportedly includes claims for separate payments to a second wife, former Playboy model Karen McDougal.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Trump allegedly played a role in paying $150,000 to McDougal, who claims she began a 10-month relationship with the former president in 2006.

The former US president also allegedly paid a former Trump Tower bouncer $30,000 to silence his claims that Trump had an “illegitimate child.”

A Class E felony in New York state is the lowest available felony charge and is usually associated with felonies that did not warrant a higher felony charge.

“It’s not just about a payment. It’s about 34 business records,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a press conference following Trump’s indictment.

“Er, 34 false statements and business records. You covered up criminal behavior.”

The Manhattan DA added, “No matter who you are … We cannot and will not normalize serious criminal behavior.”

“They will arrest me”

Before his arrangement, a horrified Trump posted on Truth Social how he was heading to Lower Manhattan to be arrested.

“On the way to Lower Manhattan, to the courthouse. Seems so SURREAL – WOW they’re going to ARREST ME. I can’t believe this is happening in America. MAGA!” wrote the former President.

His motorcade arrived at Manhattan DA Bragg’s office, which is part of the towering Manhattan Criminal Court facility, just before 1:30 p.m.

He waved to onlookers one last time before being escorted into the building where he was officially placed in the custody of the NYPD.

Trump was reportedly fingerprinted before his arraignment, but he was not handcuffed when he entered the courtroom.

A mug shot of Trump was not to be expected.

The former president made no comments or answered media questions when he arrived in court.

Meanwhile, outside the courthouse, hundreds of pro- and anti-Trump protesters flooded the streets and engaged in screaming clashes while police struggled to separate the groups.

Before arriving at the downtown courthouse, Trump raised his fist to supporters in front of Trump Tower just before he was driven away in a motorcade.

The former US President was released on his own and boarded his private jet back to Florida, where he is expected to address the public from his resort in Mar-a-Lago tonight.

Judge Juan Merchan did not gag Trump, but warned him not to post anything on social media that could cause unrest.

“Do not engage in conduct that has the potential to incite violence or cause civil unrest,” Judge Merchan told Trump.

“Do not engage in any words or conduct that might jeopardize the rule of law as it applies to these proceedings in this courtroom.”

Addressing the media outside the courthouse after the historic indictment, Trump’s attorney Tacopina said, “It wasn’t a good day.

“There’s nothing about the charge itself. It’s a paradigm. No federal crime or state crime violated is alleged.

“It doesn’t state what the false statement is and it’s really disappointing. It’s sad and we will fight it. We will fight hard against it.”

Tacopina said Trump is “upset” but still motivated and the moment will not “stop” him or “slow him down.”

His next court hearing is scheduled for December 4th.

STORMY DANIELS PAYMENTS

Trump’s former fixer Cohen made the payments to 44-year-old Daniels, née Stephanie Clifford, who claimed to have had an affair with the former president in 2006.

Cohen admitted to paying Daniels $130,000 just before the 2016 presidential election to keep quiet about his alleged affair with Trump.

Daniels claimed Cohen used “intimidation and coercion tactics” to get her to sign the statement denying her affair with Trump.

District Attorney Bragg said Tuesday Trump was allegedly part of a “catch and kill” program, which he explained as a “scheme” to “buy and suppress” negative information to help him win the election.

Cohen eventually pleaded guilty to campaign finance charges for his involvement in the payments.

He told a federal court in Manhattan that Trump ordered him to make the payments.

The ex-Trump aide was sentenced to three years in prison.

The former commander-in-chief has vehemently denied any wrongdoing throughout the investigation.

Trump’s impeachment comes as he seeks the Republican nomination for president in 2024.

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