Donald Trump denies all 34 charges against him, felony charges related to hush money payments.
New York, United States:
Manhattan’s sprawling criminal court complex has seen history time and time again, playing host to famous moments including Mark David Chapman’s guilty plea after John Lennon was shot, and Harvey Weinstein’s conviction for sex crimes.
But everyone from armed officers to the harshest court reporters was on edge as one of the most notorious New Yorkers in contemporary history, her lips pursed and her hair slightly tousled, as she met Donald Trump, the former president, To Donald Trump criminal defendant.
Few photographers were allowed to capture the dramatically heated room of the 76-year-old’s opening appearance as the one-time White House resident looked steely-eyed into his lenses while dressed in a blue suit and red tie.
But after the cameras are quickly rolled back into the heavily guarded corridor and the proceedings begin, Trump’s tough temper Faded, his eyes darted between twitch and water.
Throughout the hour-long hearing, he had the demeanor of a kid on his first day of school: a little curious, a little bored, and mostly wondering when he could go out.
But the man who made a name for himself as a flamboyant real estate mogul and newspaper personality before rising to the nation’s highest office restrained himself, collaborating with the cadence of a haughty script and letting his lawyers run the show. Gave the permission to.
As is customary for a defendant, Trump rarely spoke during the proceedings, but when he did it was loud and clear: “Not guilty.”
He denies all 34 counts against him, felony charges related to furlough money payments, including an alleged tryst with adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
But guilty or not, it’s a sordid affair for the twice-impeached Republican, who is vying for another presidential term in Washington.
Trump defied the form of the indictment for weeks, but the flashes appeared after the fingerprinting that goes with any standard booking procedure.
‘Absolutely disappointed’
Trump’s first appearance as a criminal defendant was likely the first of many encounters between members of the White House press corps and reporters covering New York City’s courts, a juxtaposition of worlds that once seemed far apart. Is.
Access to the 15th floor of the granite and limestone Art-Deco-style building on Tuesday required a full 24-hour wait amid a media frenzy – where rival protesters jeered each other and helicopters buzzed overhead – two security Probe and many more rows before.
All electronic gear, including watches, was strictly banned – only rolling up a pair of headphones merited the scolding of a court official – in a room whose midcentury design is giving way to peeling paint.
Arguments are usually rapid, but Tuesday’s day was lengthy due to a number of issues that a barrage of defense, prosecutors and media members raised with the judge, who is likely to set a date for the anticipated January 2024 trial. indicates a long road of legal wrangling before
Trump’s lead attorney Todd Blanche, who left an elite New York law firm to run the defendant’s team, repeatedly referred to his client as “the president” and responded to alleged criticism on social media from the judge. did not urge him to stop doing so.
Limiting Trump’s ability to speak “would potentially be unfair to someone who is running for president of the United States,” said Blanche, who was also included by Magnates on his team at the time of his surrender.
The attorney said, “Trump is completely disgusted, upset and believes that a gross injustice is being committed.”
The attitude was palpable as the 45th president walked out of the room, surrounded by the Secret Service as he barged in on the press, exited without a word and returned to the circus outside, a frenzy of his own design. .
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and was auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)