Days after a Manhattan grand jury indicted Former President Donald Trump, charges against him have been made public.
Trump has been charged with 34 felony counts of falsification of business records in the first degree, and he’s pleaded not guilty to all of them.
This is the first time in history a current or former US president has faced criminal charges.
On Tuesday, Trump appeared at the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse, represented by his lawyers Joe Tacopina and Susan Necheles.
Trump was seen entering the NYC courthouse for his arraignment and was considered under arrest as soon as he entered the building.
Following his arraignment, Trump flew back to his Mar-A-Lago resort where he gave a short speech to his supporters, reiterating his intention to plead not guilty to the charges against him and run for the 2024 US presidential election. The ABC reports former first lady, Melania Trump was absent from the room.
What are the 34 charges?
Each charge represents a different instance of alleged misconduct under the same type of crime: falsifying business records.
Prosecutors have alleged Trump orchestrated a years-long scheme to use “hush money” payment to conceal damaging information before the 2016 US presidential election.
There are three payments in the alleged scheme, including $130,000 given to porn actor Stormy Daniels.
It’s also alleged a former Playboy model received a $150,000 “hush money” payment. And $30,000 went to a former Trump Tower doorman who claimed Trump had fathered a child out of wedlock.
Falsifying business records is a felony in New York when there’s an “intent to defraud” that includes an intent to “commit another crime or to aid or conceal”.
Announcing the 34-count felony indictment, Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg said, “These are felony crimes in New York. No matter who you are. We cannot normalise serious criminal conduct.”
“True and accurate business records are important everywhere, to be sure. They are all the more important in Manhattan, the financial centre of the world.”
What will happen if Trump is convicted?
If convicted of these felony charges, Trump faces up to four years in prison for each count, and the judge could choose to have him serve each sentence one at a time.
Although, the charge doesn’t carry a mandatory prison sentence, so it’s uncertain if the former US president would face any jail time if convicted. The judge could conclude that a first-time offender without a criminal record should face a fine or community service instead.