An indictment against former US President Donald Trump has been unsealed, revealing that the Republican leader faces 34 felonies of falsifying business records in New York.
Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges, which stem from a grand jury hush money investigation allegedly paid to porn star Stormy Daniels in the run-up to the 2016 election.
But charging documents released Tuesday reveal that prosecutors plan to pursue Trump for other payments beyond the $130,000 allegedly paid to Daniels for his silence.
The indictment accuses Trump of using a “catch-and-kill scheme” to subvert negative press, paying to suppress a janitor’s account of an out-of-wedlock child and burying a story of another alleged extramarital affair, believed to be which is with Playboy model Karen. McDougal.
With Tuesday’s indictment, Trump became the first former US president to face criminal charges. He briefly appeared in Manhattan Criminal Court to hear the charges and be fingerprinted and arraigned, before flying back to Florida.
The charges arise as Trump seeks the Republican candidacy for the presidency in the 2024 race. Below are some of the reactions to Trump’s arraignment:
‘Nothing done illegally!’: Former President Donald Trump
“The hearing was shocking to many because they had no ‘surprises’ and therefore no case,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social website after his arraignment.
“Virtually all legal experts have said there is no case here. Nothing illegal was done!”
‘Serious criminal conduct’: DA Alvin Bragg
“These are felonies in New York State, no matter who you are. We cannot and will not normalize serious criminal conduct,” Manhattan District Attorney Bragg told reporters in his first public comments after Trump’s arraignment.
Bragg has led the investigation into Trump’s hush money payments, collecting evidence of alleged falsified business records.
‘The law finally caught up with Donald Trump’: Rep. Rashida Tlaib
“History will remember Donald Trump not only as the first president to be impeached twice, but as the first president to be indicted on criminal charges,” the Michigan representative and Democrat said in a statement.
“Today, the law has finally caught up with Donald Trump and his corrupt and reckless behavior. No one is above the law, no matter how rich or powerful they are.”
‘Great courage’: Congressman Joaquín Castro
“While the indictment of a former president is unprecedented, the Manhattan district attorney has shown great courage in holding Donald Trump accountable,” the Texas Democrat said in a statement.
‘Gloomy moment’: Rep. Adam Schiff
“A bleak time in the life of our country when a former president needs to be prosecuted on criminal charges,” Schiff, a California Democrat, said Tuesday afternoon on Twitter.
“As the case is for the prosecutor to prove, we must recognize what is most important: even the most powerful must be held to account and that no one is above the law.”
Schiff was the lead prosecutor in Trump’s 2020 Senate impeachment trial.
‘Bad day’: Senator Marco Rubio
“Today is a bad day for all of us and we will all be sorry for it for a long time,” Rubio, a Florida Republican and former 2016 presidential candidate, tweeted.
“Today we established the new normal that if you really want to take someone down, nothing should stop you. You should be able to manipulate the law anyway if you want to charge someone.”
Rubio added that the charges against Trump were “absurd.”
Today is a bad day for all of us and we are all going to regret it for a long time. pic.twitter.com/Nc2oMpeFz0
– Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) April 4, 2023
‘Take responsibility’: Representative Jamaal Bowman
“Take responsibility, hold yourself accountable and walk away,” the New York Democrat said when asked by reporters if he had a message for Trump.
“I’m with Trump”: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton
“I stand with Trump and will always fight those who want to destroy our Republic,” Paxton, a Republican, said in a tweet.
‘No comment’: White House
“I think the American people should feel confident that when there’s an ongoing case like this, we just don’t comment,” White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at a news briefing.
“Protests Should Be Peaceful”: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer
Schumer, a New York Democrat, tweeted: “I believe Donald Trump will get a fair trial that follows the facts and the law. There is no place in our justice system for any outside influence or intimidation in the legal process. As the trial progresses, protest is an American right, but all protests must be peaceful.
‘Immoral Man’: Representative Madeleine Dean
“Mr. Trump was a president of many firsts, none of which were good for our country. His appearance is another first, all done by himself,” the Pennsylvania Democrat tweeted, adding that the twice impeached president was “ an immoral man” and a “corrupt citizen”.
‘Unsubstantiated’: Senator Ted Cruz
“Donald Trump’s allegation is totally political and baseless,” the Texas Republican said on Twitter.
“I supported Trump”: Representative George Santos
“I supported Trump from the moment he walked down the escalator, I voted for him in the primary and twice for president in the general election,” the newly elected Republican representative from New York wrote on Twitter.
“Today I showed up, because that’s what true fans do, they show up on your best and worst days.”
‘It’s been a long time coming’: Mary Trump
“The events in New York City have obviously been a long time coming. This is a historic day and the implications of what is about to happen in the Lower Manhattan courthouse will have massive implications for this country,” the former president’s niece said in a tweet.
“Donald has evaded accountability for so long and left so much destruction in his wake that there is a lot to take in,” she added with the hashtag “#HappyIndictmentDay.”
Many people have asked me how I feel today.
Events in New York City have obviously been a long time coming. This is a historic day and the implications of what is about to happen at the Lower Manhattan courthouse will have enormous implications for this country… pic.twitter.com/1KLOMNMIhx
—Mary L Trump (@MaryLTrump) April 4, 2023
‘He’s frustrated, he’s upset’: Trump lawyer Todd Blanche
“He’s frustrated, he’s upset, but I’ll tell you what, he’s motivated. And he won’t stop and won’t slow you down. It’s exactly what he expected. So to that extent, there’s no surprise, but he’s also upset, frustrated, disappointed and angry that this happened.”
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