Donald Trump has officially been arrested
Topics: Donald Trump, US News, Crime
Gregory Robinson
Featured Image Credit: MediaPunch Inc / Alamy Stock Photo
Topics: Donald Trump, US News, Crime
Donald Trump has been arrested over an alleged hush money payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels.
The former US president, 76, was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury on 31 March after years of investigations into his personal, political and business arrangements.
There are countless security concerns involved because of the historic nature of Trump’s arrest and extra security measures are in place, as authorities are expecting protests held by Trump supporters outside the Manhattan court on Tuesday (4 April).
Trump has spoken briefly about his arrest on his social platform Truth Social, where he told his followers on Saturday (18 March) that he expected 'to be arrested' on 21 March.
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"Illegal leaks from a corrupt & highly political Manhattan district attorney's office ... indicate that, with no crime being able to be proven ... the far & away leading Republican candidate & former president of the United States of America, will be arrested on Tuesday of next week," he wrote.
"Protest, take our nation back!"
In another post, he wrote in all caps: "WE JUST CAN'T ALLOW THIS ANYMORE. THEY'RE KILLING OUR NATION AS WE SIT BACK & WATCH."
Trump has traveled from his home in Florida to New York on Monday (3 April) for his arraignment.
“WITCH HUNT,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform.
Although media outlets tried to persuade Judge Juan Merchan to let cameras in the court, the motion was opposed by Trump’s legal team because it would ‘create a circus-like atmosphere at the arraignment’.
BREAKING: Donald Trump is now under arrest in New York City ahead of his arraignment in court https://t.co/0NxzuxZt8I pic.twitter.com/9sdFFunjcM
— CNN (@CNN) April 4, 2023
On Tuesday morning local time, Trump was escorted by dozens of police and court officers, as well as Secret Service agents, through the streets of the Big Apple to the Lower Manhattan court complex.
He surrendered at the office of Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg, before being fingerprinted and processed by officials, which marked the moment he is considered under arrest and in custody.
Trump was then arraigned in court, where his charges were read and he pleaded [not guilty].
The exact nature of the charges were not revealed when the indictment was announced on Friday (31 March).
The allegations say that Daniels had planned to sell her account of an alleged adulterous affair between her and Trump, which the former President has denied ever happened.
When Trump’s team were apparently made aware of Daniels trying to sell her story, his lawyer Michael Cohen paid $130,000 for her silence, which is not illegal.
However, prosecutors have said that when Trump reimbursed Cohen and recorded the payment as a legal fee.
This is considered by prosecutors as falsifying business records, which is a misdemeanour criminal offence in New York.
And if prosecutors allege that Trump’s attempt to hide his payments to Daniels breaks election laws to stop voters from knowing about the alleged affair, it could led to a possible felony charge.
This is the first time a US president - either in or out of office - has faced criminal charges.
Legal experts have said that any trial of the former president would take place more than a year away.
The probe into the alleged hush money payment and the arrest comes as Trump is seeking the Republican nomination for presidency in 2024.
However, he would still be able to continue his presidential campaign despite being indicted, nor would a criminal conviction stop him from pursuing his political ambitions if he so chooses.
There are no US laws that would prevent a presidential candidate who is found guilty of a crime from campaigning for and serving as president - even from prison.
And Trump has indicated that he intends to pursue his presidential campaign regardless of the outcome of the investigation.