The bribery itself was not investigated, but the suspicion of tax fraudbecause it was justified as a campaign account.
The former president learned this afternoon that he is accused of committing 34 crimes of falsifying bank accounts. He himself pleaded not guilty when cross-examined by Judge Juan Merchan, who is leading the case.
The 16-page file was provided to Trump and his team of attorneys. Trump is scheduled to return to court on December 4, and the judge has decided not to remain silent on him.
Before arriving in court, the former president reacted on social media. “It’s surreal. I can’t believe this is happening in America.”he wrote.
Words echoed by his attorney, Todd Blanche, shortly after the hearing. “It’s a sad day,” he said, adding that he was not surprised by the allegations. He revealed that his client was “disappointed” and “upset”.
Silence now
Some observers expected Trump to say a few words before entering the audience and after leaving, a microphone was provided, but this did not happen. Commentators have speculated that the former president’s legal team and communications team do not get along, but that Trump will follow legal advice.
In his own style, Trump published a transcript against the presiding judge, Juan Merchan, that prosecutors delivered during the hearing. In that post, the now accused questioned Mirshan’s impartiality.
The hearing lasted about 30 minutes, and Trump was flown shortly thereafter to LaGuardia Airport, to fly back to Florida. In total, his Manhattan courtroom appearance lasted two hours.
The former American head of state was only aware of the specific charges he faced at this hearing, after he entered the room to be present to the judge after his fingerprints were taken to initiate the proceedings.
Trump, 76, will not be photographed. Because those responsible for his campaign for re-nomination by the Republican Party promised to use such images in their advertising materials.
Only five photographers attended this afternoon’s preliminary session, and no televisions or electronic devices were allowed.
Accused
A grand jury in a Manhattan court decided last week to indict the former president, after an investigation led by attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat. Any trial will most likely be done within a year.
Trump is the first former US president to be arrested. Even after being charged and even convicted, he still managed to run for the highest office in the country. He claims to be a victim of political persecution.
Despite the concerns, there were no clashes between the crowd of supporters and detractors who gathered outside the security perimeter of 35,000 police around the Manhattan courthouse.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a well-known Trump supporter, had to hurriedly leave the venue when she tried to use a megaphone to address the crowd, only to be drowned out by a chorus of whistles from Trump’s critics.
Joe Biden distances himself
Donald Trump maintains his popularity and leads the race against the other contenders for the Republican presidential nomination with a comfortable majority.
According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released Monday, about 48 percent of Republicans say they want Trump as their nominee, up from 44 percent last week. The former president’s main rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, dropped in preferences from 30 to 19 percent.
Without even knowing if coercive measures would be applied to him, Donald Trump scheduled a press conference for Tuesday in Florida, at 6 pm local time.
The White House said this Tuesday that the issue is “not the focus” of President Joe Bidenwho beat the former president in the most recent election, a victory contested by Trump and many of his supporters.
