Former President Donald Trump has been processed and arraigned before a judge on more than two dozen felony charges.
To some observers, Trump's appearance before Judge Juan Merchan signified one of the few times in his adult life when he entered a room and wasn't in control. Indeed, as a defendant in criminal court, Trump was not free to leave like any other accused criminal.
Trump walked into court on the 15th floor with legal and political aides by his side, looking sternly at the camera.
Minutes later, Trump entered a plea of “not guilty.”
Fox News' Bret Baier obtained a preliminary summary of the indictment, which included the following charges stemming from the Stormy Daniels hush money payment:
As expected, the indictment — The People of the State of New York against Donald J. Trump — includes 34 felony counts.
ALN-affiliate America's News Desk further notes:
The 34 counts reportedly include conspiracy as well as charges related to falsifying business records.
In addition, it appears at least two of the counts involve the payment of hush money to two different women, presumably Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal.
The indictment can be read here:
According to reports, prosecutors said “Mr. Trump tried to conceal a conspiracy and undermine the 2016 election” with the help of his former attorney, Michael Cohen, and David Pecker, then-CEO of the company that publishes National Enquirer, to capture and kill politically damaging stories. Stories allegedly involving Stormy Daniels, Karen McDougal and a doorman at Trump Tower who claimed Trump fathered a child with a housekeeper.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg appears to have Pecker's full cooperation. However, like Michael Cohen, legal commentator Dan Abrams noted that Pecker falls far short of having an unassailable character.
Cameras captured Trump flanked by his attorneys during his court appearance. The former president's eyes repeatedly met them head-on.
Earlier, with his motorcade preparing to depart for the courthouse and helicopters hovering nearby, the 45th president shared his thoughts with the world:
Trump's appearance came as a phalanx of security and barricades ringed Manhattan Criminal Court.
Like the rest of us, Trump's legal team had not seen Bragg's indictment until today.
Bragg ran and won the race for district attorney by, as ABC's Terry Morgan put it, “politicizing” the prosecution of the former president. Morgan noted that Bragg knows the stakes his career faces as well.
In response to ABC anchor David Muir, Chris Christie, a former U.S. attorney, former governor and former friend of President Trump, said, “I don't care what his staff says, today is a very, very difficult day for Donald Trump.”
“No, I don't think he ever thought he would because he thought he was too smart, too careful, too clever,” Christie said when asked by Muir if his onetime friend ever thought he'd be indicted.
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