Donald Trump entered a plea of “not guilty” this afternoon during his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court to 34 counts contained in an indictment that had been obtained from a grand jury. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg was among those inside of the courtroom. Trump, in a loud voice, entered a single “not guilty” plea to the 34 counts of falsifying business records that were contained in the criminal indictment. Trump had entered the actual courtroom at 2:28 p.m., slightly behind the 2:15 scheduled time. The court session lasted approximately 58 minutes.
Trump did not make a statement before the proceeding and said nothing afterward to reporters who were waiting in a corridor outside of the courtroom. Trump had arrived at the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse on Centre Street at about 1:20 this afternoon and waved to cameras and supporters as he exited the vehicle in which he had been driven from Trump Tower. Trump was to surrender for booking. He was told that he was under arrest and then fingerprinted. It was understood that he would not have a mug shot taken.
Trump was held in a booking room rather than a jail cell while awaiting his court appearance.
After the arraignment, Trump headed to LaGuardia Airport where his private Boeing 757 jetliner was waiting to take him back to Florida. Trump had scheduled an event at his Mar-a-Lago resort for tonight. He was due to speak at 8:15 p.m. Approximately 800 of his supporters were expected to be at Mar-a-Lago..
(Images courtesy of WCBS-TV Ch. 2 News)
