Donald Trump Pleads Not Guilty In NYC To Hush Money Criminal Charges

NEW YORK CITY — The eyes of the nation were on Manhattan Criminal Court Tuesday as a former U.S. president swore before a judge he had not committed 34 acts of fraud.

Donald Trump and District Attorney Alvin Bragg faced off in an unprecedented arraignment as a throng of protesters, politicians and reporters rallied outside to declare their faith in the former president's innocence, or guilt.

"They are going to ARREST ME," Trump posted as he headed downtown from Trump Tower. "Can’t believe this is happening in America."

Said Bragg in a post-arraignment press conference, "We today uphold our solemn responsibility to ensure that everyone stands equal before the law."

Patch spent the day reporting live updates. Here's what we saw.

'Everyone Stands Equal Before The Law,' Bragg Says On Trump Indictment

Updated 5:01 p.m.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said the unprecedented criminal indictment against former President Donald Trump carries a serious message: no one is above the law.

Bragg, in a news conference shortly after Trump's arraignment, cast the case against the former president not unlike other white collar crimes. The only difference, he implied, is who is being charged.

"We today uphold our solemn responsibility to ensure that everyone stands equal before the law," Bragg said. "No amount of money and no amount of power changes that enduring American principle."

"No matter who you are, we cannot and will not normalize serious criminal conduct."

Bragg offered few details about the criminal case that couldn't be gleaned from a newly unsealed criminal indictment leveled by a grand jury and associated statement of facts.

But he did confirm that the case partly revolved around a $130,000 "hush-money" payment by Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen to porn star Stormy Daniels, who remained unnamed in the court documents themselves, on the eve of the 2016 election.

The payment effectively silenced Daniels and kept her at a crucial time before the election from publicly saying she had sex with Trump, the documents argue.

"That payment was to hide damaging information from the voting public," Bragg said.

The payment to Daniels thus amounted to an illegal campaign contribution, Bragg argued. He said also that Trump reimbursed Cohen for fictitious legal services in an effort to cover up that crime.

And it's not the only time Trump and others did so, by Bragg's telling. The publisher of the National Enquirer worked with Trump engaged a "catch and kill" scheme, in which the tabloid paid for rights to damaging stories against the then-presidential candidate with the intent of never publishing them, according to court documents. The magazine shelled out $150,000 to another woman who said she had sex with Trump, as well as $30,000 to a doorman who claimed to have a story about a child Trump had out of wedlock, documents state.

Trump reimbursed Cohen for those payments through a spate of Trump Organization checks that were falsely labeled, prosecutors said.

“That is exactly what this case is about: 34 false statements made to cover up other crimes,” Bragg said.

"It is not just about one payment. It is 34 business records."

Trump remained uncharacteristically silent after his arraignment, but pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing. He left New York City after the hearing for Florida, where is scheduled to give a speech at 8:15 p.m.

Trump Engaged In 'Catch And Kill' Scheme To Conceal Affairs: DA, Indictment

Updated 3:58 p.m.

A 34-count indictment against former President Donald Trump accuses him of repeatedly falsifying business records connected to what prosecutors called a "catch and kill" scheme to bury negative stories about him ahead of the 2016 election.

“The People of the State of New York allege that Donald J. Trump repeatedly and fraudulently falsified New York business records to conceal crimes that hid damaging information from the voting public during the 2016 presidential election,” said Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg in a statement.

The long-awaited indictment unsealed Thursday levels 34 counts of falsifying business records against Trump, a felony punishable by up to four years in prison, if he's found guilty.

Trump's attorney Joe Tacopina, in a combative news conference after the hearing, argued the indictment is a bare-bones document that covers a weak case against the former president.

"It's a sad day," he said.

A 13-page statement of facts related to the indictment outlines payments to an unnamed adult film actress, likely Stormy Daniels, and another unidentified woman. Both women said they had sex with Trump, according to the document.

Those stories were potentially damaging to Trump's electoral prospects, and he sought to buy the women's silence and keep them from being published — a practice known as "catch and kill," prosecutors argue.

"In order to execute the unlawful scheme, the participants violated election laws and made and caused false entries in the business records of various entities in New York," the document states. "The participants also took steps that mischaracterized, for tax purposes, the true nature of the payments made in furtherance of the scheme."

Trump Silent As He Leaves Arraignment

Updated 3:39 p.m.

Former President Donald Trump remained silent as he left Manhattan Criminal Court on Tuesday, bypassing reporters and members of the media after pleading not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records.

Despite reports indicating the former president planned to offer brief remarks, Trump also didn't speak prior to his arraignment and did not answer questions from reporters.

According to a CNN report, advisers had encouraged the former president to keep any remarks brief due to potential legal risk until his scheduled Tuesday-night speech at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

The speech is scheduled for 8:15 p.m.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is expected to speak as soon as 3:45 p.m. It can be livestreamed here.

Trump Pleads Not Guilty To 34-Count Indictment: Report

Updated 3:25 p.m.

Former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a conspiracy over in hush-money payments to two women, NBC News first reported.

Prosecutors said Trump engaged in a conspiracy to suppress an affair and negative information ahead of the 2016 election, reporter Adam Reiss recounted on NBC.

The charges stem from an indictment that has been unsealed, but yet to be publicly released.

Trump, according to prosecutors, falsified records by labeling reimbursed payments to his former attorney Michael Cohen as cash, Reiss said.

Citing a wave of threatening social media statements by Trump, prosecutors also sought a protective order over discovery materials, Reiss said.

The potential gag order stemming from Trump's social media posts follows a volatile few weeks during which the former president repeatedly attacked Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg online. At one point, the former president shared a photo of himself holding a baseball bat next to another of Bragg, whom he called a "degenerate psychopath" in another post.

Photo: Trump Walks Into Courtroom For Arraignment

Updated 2:47 p.m.

A glowering Donald Trump stole a glance at reporters as he walked into a Manhattan courtroom for his historic arraignment.

Trump's arraignment is likely underway Tuesday afternoon where still-unreleased charges will be read. The hearing started later than scheduled.

Footage from a hallway outside the courtroom showed Trump in an extraordinary moment — in between being processed for arrest and before the highly anticipated court hearing.

The image is just one from surreal day in Lower Manhattan.

PHOTOS: Trump Arraigned In Manhattan Criminal Court As Protests Roil

'They Are Going To ARREST Me': Trump Posts As He Arrives At Courthouse

Updated 1:25 p.m.

Donald Trump acknowledged the "surreal" moment in American history in a social media post timed with his arrival at a Manhattan courthouse.

"Heading to Lower Manhattan, the Courthouse," he posted on Truth Social. "Seems so SURREAL — WOW, they are going to ARREST ME. Can’t believe this is happening in America. MAGA!"

A motorcade took roughly 15 minutes to ferry Trump from Midtown to Manhattan Criminal Court, where he'll be arrested and arraigned.

Trump gave a single wave to a crowd before he entered Manhattan Criminal Court.

Once inside, Trump will be arrested, fingerprinted and then appear in a courtroom to face criminal charges about 2:15 p.m.

The indictment is still under seal, but appears likely related to a hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.

More details likely will be available by the time Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg holds a 3:30 p.m. news conference.

Trump Leaves Trump Tower In Motorcade To Surrender In Court

Updated 1:10 p.m.

Former President Donald Trump is heading to his day in court.

A motorcade left Trump Tower about 1:10 p.m. toward Lower Manhattan, according to helicopter footage livestreamed by NBC4.

The motorcade’s course to the courthouse likely will be speeded by rolling street closures. Once Trump arrives, the world’s eyes will be watching to see if he makes comments to a rowdy crowd gathered outside.

The expected arraignment about 2 p.m. will be the first time in U.S. history that an ex-president officially faces criminal charges.

'Crackhead Barney' Escorted Away From Courthouse

Updated 12:23 p.m.

As the crowd waited for Trump to arrive at Manhattan Criminal Court, performance artist "Crackhead Barney" claimed the spotlight.

Barney—clad in silver body paint, a blonde wig, rainbow suspenders and what appeared to be a diaper — was escorted out of the pro-Trump side of the protests.

Video shows Crackhead Barney flop to the ground as if cops had shoved her and screaming, "The racism in New York City is disgusting."

Barney also pleaded with cops to kick, punch and Tase her.

"Free Crackhead Barney," one person shouted. "This is a circus, she is showing this for what it is."

Security Tightens At Manhattan Courthouse

Updated 12 p.m.

Security is tight at the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse where spectators and media gathered hoping catch a glimpse of the historic event.

Ahead of Trump's arraignment, the NYPD surrounded the courthouse with officers and steel barriers.

U.S. Secret Service agents will escort Trump to the courthouse and have also been stationed at entrances around the building, The Washington Post reported.

No other trials or arraignments are scheduled for Tuesday, the clerk’s office told the Post.

Retired Secret Service agent Robert Sica told NY1 to expect agents in the courtroom itself.

"There will be Secret Service agents in and around the courtroom," Sica told NY1. "Most of them you won't even see, but that footprint will be there."

Marjorie Taylor Greene Headlines Chaotic Pro-Trump Rally

Updated 11:25 a.m.

A pro-Trump rally outside Manhattan Criminal Court drew thousands of people to the small park outside Manhattan Criminal Court where headliner Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene could barely be heard above the chaos.

"She almost is falling over as her security tries to get her out safely," tweeted Buzzfeed's David Mack, along with a video showing Greene's security and NYPD officers mowing through a crowd. "This is extremely dangerous."

About 250 Trump supporters and roughly 150 anti-Trump protesters have been separated into two groups by NYPD officers to cut down on conflicts, although the crowd remained rowdy and shouts hung in the air.

About 2,000 people joined the scrum at its peak, a police officer told Patch.

Photos published show one Trump supporter took issue with a large banner that declared, "TRUMP LIES ALL THE TIME." The woman rushed the banner and fell to the ground.

Michael Picard, 34, told Patch he took Metro-North from a tobacco farm in west Connecticut to attend the rally. He wore a pair of American flag overalls he made himself.

"I was up all night finishing these," he told Patch.

Picard was firmly against Trump's prosecution, which he said was "for something he didn't do."

"I think that once Trump is reelected, he should lock this district attorney up in Gitmo," he told Patch, before boasting about voting for Trump. "He’s got a great head of hair."

A Flatbush woman who gave her name as Q and wore a jacket featuring Trump as a matador said, "There's tunnels under our feet."

"They are trafficking children," Q said. "They transport children in the tunnels. Organ harvesting."

Passions were also high on the anti-Trump side.

A man who gave his name as Atlas Johnson (the name of a man shot dead in Buffalo in June) said he lost family in a recent shooting near Buffalo and wanted people to pay more attention to gun violence.

"F--- her," he said of Greene. "She's a liar."

Besides Greene and Rep. George Santos, a Patch reporter also spotted Jack Posobiec — who peddled the "Pizzagate" conspiracy theory — attempt to enter the pro-Trump side.

Posobiec said Greene cut her speech short "more for safety than anything."

The rally's organizers didn't submit an application with the city to use Collect Pond Park, officials confirmed to Patch.

Trump Unlikely To Have Mugshot Taken: Report

Updated 10:46 a.m.

Posterity will have to do without one photograph from Trump's historic arrest: his mugshot.

Or, at least that's what the New York Times has reported.

Trump, as a criminal defendant, will have his fingerprints taken after his expected surrender at a Manhattan court. But, as a former president with heightened 24/7 security, it has been viewed as unlikely he'd be handcuffed.

Now, the Times report suggests that Trump will avoid having his mugshot taken. The report notes that mugshots are meant to help authorities identify people who have fled law enforcement.

Trump is a highly recognizable public figure, so taking a mugshot — which could also be leaked — is unnecessary, according to the report.

Trump: I Can Only Get A Fair Trial In Staten Island

Updated 10:17 a.m.

Trump called for his trial to be moved to Staten Island Tuesday, claiming it would be a “very fair and secure location," in a post shared on Truth Social.

Trump's all caps request arrived just hours before his scheduled arraignment in Manhattan at 2:15 p.m.

In the post, the former president also called New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan a “well-known Trump hater.”

“He was an unfair disaster on a previous Trump-related case," Trump claimed in his post.

"[Merchan] wouldn’t recuse, gave horrible jury instructions, & impossible to deal with during the witch hunt trial."

Marjorie Taylor Greene, George Santos To Attend Lower Manhattan Rally Ahead Of Trump Hearing

Updated 9:50 a.m.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene plans to lead a reportedly unsanctioned rally in support of Trump across the street from Manhattan Criminal Court Tuesday morning.

New York Young Republican Club hasn't obtained permits for their rally expected in Collect Pond Park at 10:30 a.m., Gothamist first reported.

Mayor Eric Adams singled out the controversial lawmaker Monday during a briefing on the extraordinary security measures the city is undertaking ahead of Trump's arraignment.

"While you're in town, be on your best behavior," Adams told Greene.

Greene shot back with a Twitter post in which she said Adams is "trying to intimidate, threaten, and stop me from using my 1st amendment rights to peacefully protest the Democrat’s unconstitutional weaponization of our justice system against our top Republican Presidential candidate, President Trump."

Activists Monday received a summons to an "emergency noise demo" to drown out the lawmaker's speech.

"Shut down her hate, lies, and nonstop ridiculousness," the summons reads. "We'll have whistles."

Protesters include Rep. George Santos, who was swarmed by reporters upon arrival, video footage from the rally shows.

"Is this how the media behaves these days?" he said.

Santos, who has faced intense scrutiny over his lies and accusations (including that he took $3,000 from a dying dog's GoFundMe), drew surprise from the pro-Trump crowd.

"(He) had the b---s to show his face here?!” one supporter said, according to PIX11 reporter Anthony DiLorenzo.

Patch will be providing live coverage from the rally.

Photos Can Be Taken In Courtroom, But No Video Cameras Will Roll

Updated 7:48 a.m.

The New York Supreme Court judge overseeing the Trump case will not allow electronics in the courtroom during Tuesday's arraignment, but will let five pool photographers take pictures before proceedings begin.

Judge Juan Merchan's ruling came after a group of New York City lawmakers challenged a state ban on cameras in court they say hinders transparency and lags behind the rest of the nation.

But in a decision shared by the Daily News, Merchan ultimately ruled transparency could not take precedent over procedure, and he would not risk disruption in his courtroom.

"Mr. Trump's arraignment has generated unparalleled public interest and media attention. The populace rightly hungers for the most accurate and current information available," Merchan wrote.

"Unfortunately, although genuine and undoubtedly important, the interests of the News Organizations must be weighed against competing interests."

New York City Prepares For Historic Arraignment Of Former U.S. President

Posted 7 a.m.

NEW YORK CITY — Donald Trump is slated to appear Tuesday for a highly anticipated — and already politically fractious — arraignment in Manhattan that will be first time in U.S. history an ex-president officially faces criminal charges.

Trump arrived Monday in his former hometown of New York City from his current home Florida to surrender to authorities.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who convened the grand jury that leveled a still-sealed indictment against Trump, has remained tight-lipped on details about the logistics of the arraignment itself.

Several outlets, including Reuters, reported the hearing is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. The former president will likely have a mugshot taken but probably won't be handcuffed.

Trump reportedly faces more than 30 counts related to a hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels on the eve of the 2016 election.

The former president will be fingerprinted then appear in a Manhattan Criminal Court room to hear the charges. Trump plans to plead not guilty, according to Bloomberg.

After the arraignment, Trump will leave for his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, where he has a speech scheduled for 8:15 p.m.

New Yorkers have been warned to expect intense traffic in Manhattan as the city grapples with security and protests.