As former President Donald Trump heads to New York for arraignment on Tuesday, following the indictment handed down by a New York grand jury last week, RedState will be posting updates on the situation as they become available. Here’s the latest:
Update: Tuesday, 3:58 PM (Eastern) – The unsealed indictment — 34 counts of “Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree,” regarding records spanning February to December 2017.
Donald J. Trump Indictment by Jennifer Van Laar
Donald J. Trump SOF by Jennifer Van Laar
Update: Tuesday, 3:51 PM (Eastern) – Jake Gibson, a federal law enforcement producer for Fox News who was in the courtroom during the arraignment, is reporting that the charges against former President Trump include felony counts for falsifying business records in NY, and using those records to help suppress a story that may have done damage to his campaign.
During the arraignment, the prosecution brought up all of Trump’s social media posts that he’s made recently, saying “This could be looked at as inciting violence,” seemingly wanting the judge to enter a gag order. However, the judge declined to do so. The prosecution requested a January 2024 trial setting.
Update: Tuesday, 3:44 PM (Eastern) – Donald Trump has departed the courthouse in Manhattan and is on his way back to Mar-a-Lago.
Former President Trump en route to Mar-a-Lago after pleading not guilty https://t.co/JOh6dfeBkm #FoxNews
— Taxes Are Due-sieQ 💼🧾💰📫 (@SmoosieQ) April 4, 2023
Former President Donald Trump departed the courthouse Tuesday after his arraignment hearing.
The former President is heading to LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York, and is expected to fly back to his Florida home and deliver remarks later Tuesday evening.
Update: Tuesday, 2:57 PM (Eastern) – The indictment against Donald Trump has been unsealed. It includes 34 counts of falsifying business records.
Update: Tuesday, 2:53 PM (Eastern) – Former President Donald Trump enters a plea of not guilty.
JUST IN—TRUMP ENTERS NOT GUILTY PLEA! pic.twitter.com/jk9giMeAza
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) April 4, 2023
Update: Tuesday, 2:49 PM (Eastern) – Image of Donald Trump inside the courtroom for his arraignment, where video cameras have been barred.
PHOTO: First image released of Trump inside Manhattan courtroom, TV cameras are not allowed https://t.co/Qe0nSTmH0R pic.twitter.com/vfG2pm6KGd
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) April 4, 2023
Update: Tuesday, 2:35 PM (Eastern) – No statement from President Trump as he enters the courtroom for his arraignment.
No statement from President Trump as he moves into the courtroom. pic.twitter.com/wvtv5kmlnn
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) April 4, 2023
Update: Tuesday, 1:35 PM (Eastern) – Trump gives a wave and a fist pump before leaving for Trump Tower.
WATCH: Trump gives a fist pump and a wave as he leaves Trump Tower. pic.twitter.com/JnLP5E8qxh
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) April 4, 2023
Update: Tuesday, 1:30 PM (Eastern) – Donald Trump posted to Truth Social while traveling to the courthouse, saying, “Heading to Lower Manhattan, the Courthouse. Seems so SURREAL – WOW, they are going to ARREST ME. Can’t believe this is happening in America. MAGA!”
Former President Trump has arrived at the courthouse in Manhattan, NY, where he has surrendered to be arraigned on criminal charges in the hush money case against him.
Trump posted this to his Truth Social account on his ride to the courthouse: pic.twitter.com/c6T2Znf4W9
— WBZ NewsRadio (@wbznewsradio) April 4, 2023
Update: Tuesday, 1:09 PM (Eastern) – Donald Trump has left Trump Tower for his arraignment.
BREAKING: Donald Trump leaves Trump Tower for the courthouse to be arraigned
— ALX 🇺🇸 (@alx) April 4, 2023
Update: Tuesday, 1:02 PM (Eastern) – Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is met by violent protesters when she leads a rally supporting Donald Trump. Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) shouts after her, “Get the hell out of here.”
Update: Tuesday, 12:35 pm (Eastern) – Rep. George Santos (R-NY), outside the courthouse, gives a journalist the only answer we ever need to give when asked, “Why are you here?!”
REPORTER:" Why are you here?!"@Santos4Congress: "Because I can. That's why I'm here!" pic.twitter.com/zSFQkHWyNE
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) April 4, 2023
Update: Tuesday, 11:57 am (Eastern) – Things are getting a bit chippy outside the courthouse in Manhattan as the time for Donald Trump’s arraignment approaches.
Tensions roil Manhattan ahead of Trump arraignment https://t.co/JOh6dfeBkm #FoxNews
— Taxes Are Due-sieQ 💼🧾💰📫 (@SmoosieQ) April 4, 2023
A handful of pro-Trump and anti-Trump protesters scuffled with one another outside of the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse building on Tuesday ahead of former President Donald Trump’s expected arraignment.
Amid the clash, one woman in a Make America Great Again hat was shown on video walking on a large banner stretched across the ground that read: “Trump Lies All The Time.”
Update: Tuesday, 11:30 am (Eastern) – Ahead of his arraignment, former President Donald Trump suggests a change of venue would be warranted for any trial, and criticizes the judge as “highly partisan” and a “well-known Trump hater.”
Trump suggests hush money case be moved to Staten Island https://t.co/QsPTbMAqxi pic.twitter.com/N9YZwveJzr
— The Hill (@thehill) April 4, 2023
Update: Tuesday, 8:35 am (Eastern) – The judge presiding over Donald Trump’s arraignment proceedings has denied a request for cameras in the courtroom.
A judge presiding over Donald Trump’s arraignment in a Manhattan courthouse Tuesday afternoon has denied a request from several media outlets to allow cameras to cover live courtroom proceedings, according to court documents.
New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan said the court would allow a “limited number” of videographers, photographers and radio journalists to be present but denied the motion to allow photos or live video during the court session.
Update 10:10 pm (Eastern) – As Bonchie details here, reports tonight are that former President Trump will face 34 felony counts when he is arraigned on Tuesday.
A new report is providing fresh information on exactly what the indictment against Donald Trump contains. According to an exclusive garnered by Yahoo News, the former president will face 34 felony counts for falsification of records related to the payoff made to porn star Stormy Daniels.
…
As to whether Democrats will get the iconic mug shot they are longing for, the answer there appears to be no. Bragg has decided it’s not necessary.
Update 7:25 pm (Eastern) – As Donald Trump prepares for his expected arraignment Tuesday on charges still unknown, Politico reports that he’s added top white-collar criminal defense attorney and former federal prosecutor Todd Blanche to his legal team.
Blanche resigned from his partnership role at what Politico calls “New York City’s oldest law firm and one of its most elite,” Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, in advance of accepting his new position as Trump’s lead counsel. Trump is also represented in the case by Susan Necheles and Joe Tacopina.
Blanche is a former assistant U.S. attorney in the Manhattan office and previously represented Paul Manafort. Although Manafort was convicted of a variety of crimes, Blanche’s defense may have impressed Trump:
Blanche was vocal during that effort in calling the indictment of Manafort “politically motivated,” a charge Trump has also levied at the current district attorney, Alvin Bragg, also a Democrat.
Trump arrived at Trump Tower in midtown Manhattan Monday afternoon and waved to the small crowd of supporters waiting outside. Tuesday should be very interesting indeed.
Former President Trump is expanding his legal defense team as he looks ahead toward a possible trial, adding on veteran New York attorney Todd Blanche. As CBS News' @costareports reports, Blanche has experience as a prosecutor and in high-profile litigation. pic.twitter.com/hdIosYufu7
— CBS News (@CBSNews) April 3, 2023
Update (5:10 pm Eastern) – Former President Trump’s attorneys are arguing against allowing cameras in the courtroom when he is arraigned on Tuesday.
Trump’s lawyers argue against cameras in courtroom: "Would cause circus-like atmosphere" https://t.co/m0F9AMH4fg pic.twitter.com/Zz9DonvKC6
— The Hill (@thehill) April 3, 2023
Lawyers for former President Trump are urging the judge in his Manhattan criminal case to not allow cameras inside the courtroom on Tuesday, when he is expected to appear before the court for arraignment after being indicted by a New York grand jury last week.
Trump’s team is arguing that the cameras would cause a “circus-like atmosphere at the arraignment, raise unique security concerns, and is inconsistent with President Trump’s presumption of innocence,” in a letter to Judge Juan Merchan on Monday, according to CNBC. Merchan is set to decide today whether cameras will be allowed in the courtroom tomorrow.
Update (4:25 pm Eastern) – Donald Trump arrives at Trump Tower in New York.
WATCH LIVE: Former president arrives at 'Trump Tower' ahead of hush money arraignment https://t.co/AGGx8HCgoA pic.twitter.com/7d1LTO2cBY
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 3, 2023
The former president is currently en route to New York aboard Trump Force One.
Shortly before noon Eastern on Monday, Donald Trump departed Mar-a-Lago to board his plane and head to New York.
JUST IN: Trump departs Florida home to make court appearance in NYC https://t.co/XYWBNrUgtI pic.twitter.com/psPMMZjMED
— The Hill (@thehill) April 3, 2023
On Monday morning, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell held a press conference ahead of the former president’s arraignment. Their message to the masses? “Control yourselves.”
Adams, NYPD commissioner hold security briefing ahead of Trump arraignment: 'Control yourselves' https://t.co/ry4hSERMoE
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 3, 2023
“Control yourselves,” Adams warned at City Hall, recognizing anticipated protests and the unique nature of the situation. “New York City is our home, not a playground for your misplaced anger. We are the safest large city in America because we respect the rule of law in New York City. And although we have no specific threats, people like Marjorie Taylor Greene, who is known to spread misinformation and hate speech, says she’s coming to town. While you in town be on your best behavior. As always, we will not allow violence or vandalism of any kind. And if one is caught participating in any act of violence, they will be arrested and held accountable no matter who you are.”
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