Hush-money case highlights | Donald Trump's first remarks following arraignment

Donald Trump further hit out at Joe Biden by saying, "If we took five worst presidents and they wouldn't have near destruction to the country, which Joe Biden and administration has done."

"We are a failing nation," the former president added. 

Hitting out at the Joe Biden administration, Donald Trump said that the US is going to hell, and the world is already laughing at the country for so many reasons. 

"The only crime I have committed is to fearlessly defend our nation from those who seek to destroy it," Donald Trump told reporters. 
 

Donald Trump is currently addressing the media following his arraignment.  "I never thought this could happen in America," Trump said on the criminal charges filed against him. 

"Just lifted off for Palm Beach, Florida. Will be delivering remarks tonight at Mar-a-Lago at 8:15 P.M., EASTERN. The hearing was shocking to many in that they had no “surprises,” and therefore, no case. Virtually every legal pundit has said that there is no case here. There was nothing done illegally!" Trump said in his first social media post after arraignment. 

Here are the latest updates on the hush-money case. 

Donald Trump on Tuesday was released from custody without any pre-trial restrictions at the historic arraignment Tuesday where the ex-president was charged with 34 counts related to hush money payments ahead of the 2016 election.

According to a report by the news agency AFP, the judge Juan Merchan said during the hearing that a trial could potentially start in January 2024, although Trump's lawyers indicated they would rather push it back to the spring.

Donald Trump has left the courtroom after pleading not guilty to criminal charges in the hush-money case. 

Former US president Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges stemming from hush-money paid to porn actor Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. 

Supporters of Donald Trump are being offered t-shirts by his fundraising team. The t-shirts, with a "NOT GUILTY" tagline feature a fake Trump mugshot. Trump's fundraising team is for a minimum donation of $47 for a free t-shirt.

Donald Trump's arraignment in the hush money case is underway as the former US president entered the Manhattan courtroom, according to a report by CNN. Trump is expected to plead not guilty to a host of charges related to hush money paid to Stormy Daniels. 

Hundreds of media swarmed the streets around the courthouse in New York City on Tuesday where former president Donald Trump was due to be arraigned on charges related to a hush-money payment to Stormy Daniels. 

The White House said on Tuesday that Donald Trump's court appearance was not a focus for US President Joe Biden. Trump, the former president, is expected to plead not guilty to a host of charges related to hush money paid to porn actor Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election.

"Obviously he will catch part of the news when he has a moment to catch up on news of the day but this is not a focus for him," Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, the news agency AFP reported. 

Donald Trump on Tuesday called the New York court hearing surreal, adding that he would be arrested. 

"Seems so SURREAL -- WOW, they are going to ARREST ME," Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social, adding he could not believe that this was happening in America.  

The former US president arrived at the courthouse in Manhattan to face criminal charges in the hush money case. 

Trump's motorcade drew up at the court complex after making the 10-kilometer journey from his Trump Tower residence near Central Park.

According to a report by the CNN, Trump is under arrest and in police custody before his upcoming arraignment. 

Donald Trump left his New York skyscraper amid tight security Tuesday to turn himself in for a historic court appearance on criminal charges that threaten to upend the 2024 White House race.

His motorcade departed Trump Tower to drive the six-mile (10-kilometre) journey to the courthouse in Manhattan with police lining the streets and helicopters buzzing overhead.

The much-awaited court proceedings will begin in the afternoon. Here’s what will transpire next in the lead up to his impending arrest.

Amid tight security and a global media frenzy — the 76-year-old businessman will today learn at his arraignment precisely what charges he faces over hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels.

Trump is likely to undergo the standard booking procedure of being fingerprinted — and potentially photographed, which could result in an all-time famous mug shot, reports AFP.

Alvin Bragg, the prosecutor behind bringing charges against former US president Donald Trump, is in the spotlight ever since he pushed ahead with efforts to indict Trump. 

Here's all you need to know about him.

Here is all you need to know before the mega-political and legal spectacle unfolds.

Hordes of reporters, police and barriers greeted Donald Trump when he arrived at his Manhattan residence yesterday.

The Trump Tower was closed of f to public just before midday.

A tiny group of Trump supporters staged a demonstration that relied mostly on a large banner emblazoned with "Finish the Wall Trump 24," referring to the former president's bid to construct barriers on the US border with Mexico.

"I'm here to support Donald Trump, the former president of the United States and the next president of the United States," said one Trump supporter.

A couple of anti-Trump demonstrators also greeted the former president. One of them was dressed as a devil, covered with fake 100-dollar notes. The bills, as per the protestor, represented "the hush money" at the heart of the historic indictment against Trump.

Following the arraignment hearing, Trump will return to Florida. There he will deliver remarks from his Mar-a-Lago resort at 8:15 pm on Tuesday (0015 GMT on Wednesday), his office said.

The District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, who is leading the investigation against Trump, will give a news conference once the arraignment hearing is done.

The arraignment, where Donald Trump will be in court to hear charges and have a chance to enter a plea, as per reports, is planned for 2:15 p.m. (1815 GMT) on Tuesday.

As per Trump's lawyer Joe Tacopina, a "perp walk" is unlikely for an ex-president who, due to security concerns, is under US Secret Service protection.

"Hopefully this will be as painless and classy as possible for a situation like this," he said. Here "perp" stands for perpetrator; in a perp walk as per AFP, a defendant is escorted in handcuffs past media cameras.

However, as per latest AFP, Judge Juan Merchan late on Monday ruled that five photographers will be admitted before the arraignment starts. They will be allowed to take pictures for several minutes.

Trump's lawyers had implored him to keep them out, asserting admitting cameras would worsen "an already almost circus-like atmosphere."

His lawyers, as per US media reports, have said that the former US president will enter a 'not-guilty' plea.

However, as per Reuters, Trump will be arraigned, fingerprinted and photographed at the downtown Manhattan courthouse.

No, as per experts, any trial is at least more than a year away.

Today (Tuesday, April 4th), the specific charges reached by a grand jury against Donald Trump will be disclosed.

As per a Yahoo News report, Trump would face 34 felony counts for falsification of business records. 

Donald Trump is the first former or sitting US president to face criminal charges.

Donald Trump is facing about 30 document fraud-related charges in New York City after a grand jury voted to indict the former president. The concerning matter involves illegal payments Trump allegedly paid to an adult actress Stormy Daniels ahead of 2016 presidential elections.

Amidst heightened security measures, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, as per reports, has arrived at Manhattan Court for the arraignment of former President Trump.