On Tuesday, April 4, 2023 former US President Donald Trump arrived at a Manhattan courthouse to face criminal charges. This unprecedented moment had been preceded by a grand jury indictment last week. Trump, 76, had departed his New York residence at Trump Tower surrounded by a motorcade.
Trump supporters and detractors noisily rallied outside the courthouse, visible separated by barricades with some confrontations reported. Trump denied the charges, and was expected to plead not guilty, officially beginning his due process of law. Trump’s team of lawyers endeavored to keep out photographers from the courthouse proceedings.
Trump took to social media to attack the judge, Justice Juan Merchan, who had previously presided over a trial in which Trump’s real estate company was convicted of tax fraud. Trump also supporters have argued that the case against him is politically motivated.
The specific charges Trump faces have yet to be revealed but a late night report from Yahoo News states that Trump will face 34 felony counts for falsification of business records.
Any trial is at least more than a year away. It is important to keep in mind that being indicted or convicted does not legally prevent Trump from running for president and Trump is the front-runner for the 2024 Republican nomination.
Donald Trump was President of the United States from 2017 to 2021 before being defeated in the 2020 U.S. Elections by current President Joe Biden. As President he made numerous controversial decisions and also supported unpopular policies including high tariffs and a deepened relationship with Russia.
The Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, is leading the investigation against President Trump and is a Democrat. His office has received bomb threats in recent weeks. Security officials said they were unaware of credible threats surrounding Trump’s courtroom appearance on Tuesday.
Trump was expected to deliver remarks from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida at 8:15 p.m. on Tuesday. This sentencing could reshape the 2024 Presidential race and it will be an important moment for US politics.