The Manhattan District Attorney’s office formally arrested and booked Donald Trump on Tuesday, and he was arraigned in an adjacent New York courthouse, making him the first criminally charged former president. As the former president’s legal drama took a new turn in Manhattan, the scene was a part spectacle and part routine.
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Trump arrived at the DA’s office around 1:30 p.m., surrounded by Secret Service agents. He didn’t say anything as he walked in, defying expectations. According to reports, Trump was processed once inside, including having his fingerprints taken, but he did not have a mugshot. Trump appeared in the adjacent Manhattan courtroom with his lawyers after being processed. The former president, who appeared stone-faced, only spoke to plead not guilty to falsifying business records and acknowledge his right to legal representation. Trump left the courtroom without making a public statement following the proceedings; he was scheduled to fly back to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida Tuesday night.
While the proceedings inside the DA’s office and courtroom were relatively routine, the scene outside was a spectacle, despite the heavy security presence. Hundreds of people turned out and stayed for several hours. Many were journalists, but others appear to have been Trump supporters or anti-Trump protesters. At least two members of Congress showed up to support Trump: Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and George Santos, R-N.Y. Santos, who is also embroiled in a slew of legal issues, was peppered with questions from reporters.
Of all the people the Trump team could find to defend him on Indictment Day, they settled on two of the most disgraced members of Congress — George Santos and Marjorie Taylor Greene.pic.twitter.com/e96Cws2WSl
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) April 4, 2023
Meanwhile, Greene was heckled by the crowd, with many blowing whistles at her as she made her way through the crowd.
New Yorkers really got Marjorie Taylor Greene’s club footed ass right on up outta there 💀 pic.twitter.com/9u0vj7598m
— chris evans (@notcapnamerica) April 4, 2023
The indictment against Trump was unsealed at his arraignment, making the 32 felony counts against him public for the first time. The charge alleges that Trump “made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise” by misreporting the nature of a $130,000 payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels; the payment was reported as “hush money” to keep her quiet about an affair she claims she had with Trump.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg stated the proceedings following the arraignment. Bragg’s message stated that his office “cannot allow New York businesses to manipulate their records to cover up criminal conduct,” and that the goal of prosecuting Trump is “to ensure that everyone stands equal before the law.”
We just announced a 34-count felony indictment of former President Donald J. Trump. Learn more: https://t.co/PTTh2zlsvv pic.twitter.com/IUE6JjdrS2
— Alvin Bragg (@ManhattanDA) April 4, 2023
Bragg reiterated the goal of holding everyone equally accountable in a press conference following the arraignment, adding, “No amount of money or power changes that enduring principle.”
“As this office has done time and time again, we today uphold our solemn responsibility to ensure that everyone stands equal before the law. No amount of money and no amount of power changes that enduring principle.” – D.A. Bragg pic.twitter.com/3IVj2SCoKU
— Alvin Bragg (@ManhattanDA) April 4, 2023
The story of Trump’s criminal case will linger for some time as details of his arraignment and the case against him are revealed. Given that this is likely to be only the beginning of Trump’s legal troubles, the scene from New York may be repeated in one or more other courtrooms this year as various jurisdictions attempt to hold Trump accountable for his actions.
