Donald Trump, the former US President and leading contender for the 2024 Republican nomination, has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of first-degree falsifying of business records, according to media reports.
Trump appeared in court at the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse in New York for approximately two hours to be processed and arraigned before returning to his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida to deliver remarks.
The charges, which were filed last week, relate to a 2016 hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. Trump is the first sitting or former president to face criminal charges.
While the White House Press Secretary declined to comment on Trump’s indictment and arraignment, Karine Jean-Pierre emphasized that President Joe Biden’s focus is on the American people and that they will not comment on ongoing legal proceedings.