Trump Pleads Not Guilty in Manhattan

PM: On Tuesday afternoon, former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying documents in the first degree.

The 2024 presidential candidate made the not guilty plea in response to 34 felony [counts] of falsifying business records, ZeroHedge reports, in relation to an alleged payout of $130,000 made by his former legal counsel Michael Cohen to porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016.

The 34 counts of falsifying business records were in the first degree, meaning that Bragg intends to show that these alleged crimes were committed in order to commit further crimes, thereby elevating the misdemeanors to felonies.

Trump arrived at the courthouse on Tuesday afternoon, waving at his supporters who had been gathering in the area since Monday.

Upon entering the courtroom at the Manhattan Criminal Court, Trump did not stop to answer questions from the media waiting outside.

No public trial for a presidential candidate?

So even the information stream will be strangled and thus controlled by one political party.

The most grievous attack on the checks and balances inherent in our constitution in play right out of the gate.
https://t.co/UhDG9yL00P

— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) April 4, 2023

After the Tuesday afternoon hearing, Trump plans to fly back to Florida, where on Tuesday evening he is set to make a speech regarding the arraignment.

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg is reported planning on imposing a gag order on the former President, a motion that House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan and House Oversight Committee James Comer called “unconstitutional.”

Trump attorney, Alina Habba, on the Trump arraignment tomorrow: If the judge puts a gag order on the Former President, this case will get thrown out right away. That would be the largest phase of election interference we’ve seen yet, if tomorrow’s not the biggest pic.twitter.com/e1s51WK8ZB

— Jesse Watters (@JesseBWatters) April 3, 2023

“To put any restrictions on the ability of President Trump to discuss his mistreatment at the hands of this politically motivated prosecutor would only further demonstrate the weaponization of the New York justice system,” the statement read. “To even contemplate stifling the speech of the former commander in chief and current candidate for President is at odds with everything America stands for.”