Donald Trump, the former US President was arraigned in court and pleaded not fuilty to 34 counts charge .
Trump was investigated for 34 criminal charges bothering on business transactions years ago.
“A frontrunner for the Republican nominee in 2024 US election , the former President was finger-printed and taken his plea as his lawyers sat besides him in the court room.”
Trump was indicted last week, becoming the first sitting or former president to face criminal charges, over “a case involving a 2016 hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.”
Amidst tight security demonstrations for and against Trump, lined up across the streets leading to the court and Trump Tower in New York.
No Court live coverage.
Trump’s lawyers opposed videography, photography and radio coverage, saying it would “exacerbate an already almost circus-like atmosphere around this case“, detracting from dignity and decorum.
Judge Juan Merchan ruled that five photographers will be admitted before the arraignment starts to take pictures for several minutes until they must stop, with cameras allowed in the hallways of the building.
Trump will return to Florida and deliver ‘remarks’ from Mar-a-Lago on Wednesday, his office said.
The specific charges in the indictment by a grand jury convened are due to be disclosed on Tuesday. Trump and his allies have “portrayed the charges as politically motivated.”
Aljazeera/Reuters/Shakirat Sadiq
