Donald Trump surrenders to face New York criminal charges
Former US president expected to enter ‘not guilty’ plea as he makes first appearance in hush-money case
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Donald Trump surrendered to a New York court on Tuesday as he became the first former president in American history to face criminal charges, in a dramatic legal reckoning while he plots a return to the White House in 2024. Trump arrived at a Manhattan courthouse shortly before 1.30pm local time to be formally charged in connection with payments allegedly made to buy the silence of a porn actress ahead of his 2016 campaign for the White House. His arraignment fired the starting gun on a courtroom drama that is likely to grip a deeply divided America. He pumped his fist before departing in a motorcade from Trump Tower at just after 1pm to make the roughly six-mile journey to the courthouse, which he entered without making any remarks.
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Trump posted on his Truth Social profile as the procession snaked down the Franklin D Roosevelt East River Drive. He wrote: “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 76-year-old, who is now under arrest, will be processed like other defendants, and have his fingerprints taken behind closed doors. Trump does not expect to be handcuffed, his lawyer Joe Tacopina told US television networks last week. A proceeding known as an arraignment, which usually takes no more than a half-hour, will follow, when the court will ascertain whether Trump and his legal team have read and had a chance to review the full indictment. He will then plead not guilty to the charges, his lawyers said. Trump is expected to return to Mar-a-Lago later on Tuesday, where he will deliver a speech.