Status: 4/4/2023 8:14 p.m
Donald Trump has arrived in court in New York for the reading of the indictment against him. It is the first time in US history that an ex-president is answering in a criminal casen must.
Former US President Donald Trump arrived in court to read the indictment against him, surrounded by a large police presence and accompanied by demonstrations. The Republican went into the New York courthouse and was taken into temporary custody there – this is part of the usual procedure before an indictment. It should make it possible to take fingerprints and make police photos. Whether this actually happened is not known.
Trump is likely to plead “not guilty” at the indictment hearing. The responsible judge rejected a video transmission from the court. It is expected that after the indictment has been read, Trump will first leave the court and then probably leave New York again. Trump wrote on his online platform “Truth Social” that the situation was “surreal”. “Wow, they’re going to arrest me. I can’t believe this is happening in America.”
Demonstrations for and against Trump
Because of feared riots, New York significantly increased security. The radical Republican MP Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of the best-known and most radical conspiracy theorists in the US Parliament and ardent Trump supporter, also spoke at a demonstration.
At the same time, dozens of Trump opponents gathered in front of the court and shouted: “Lock him up!” Both sides were separated by police cordons.
Trump is the first ex-president in US history to face criminal charges.
30 counts
The district attorney’s office in Manhattan announced the indictment against Trump on Thursday. A suspect must appear in person for the reading of the indictment. Around 30 charges are to be brought against Trump – none are officially known so far.
Shortly before his election as president in 2016, Trump paid hush money to porn actress Stormy Daniels. She had claimed she had sex with him. Trump denies an affair, but not that money flowed.
Such a payment in itself is not illegal. According to the media, however, Trump is accused of having incorrectly billed them and falsifying business documents. He may also have violated campaign finance laws.