Trump Pleads Not Guilty to 34 Charges Before New York Court

Rabat – Former U.S. President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 felony charges before a Manhattan court, as he became the first sitting or former president to face criminal charges.

Trump is accused of paying two women to keep their accounts of sexual encounters with him secret. The two women in question are adult film actress Stormy Daniels and former model Karen McDougal.

The indictment alleged that the former president and others violated election laws to suppress the women’s accounts, back during the 2016 presidential election campaign.

Trump’s charges could carry a maximum sentence of over 100 years under New York law, although a prison sentence would be much shorter than that if it were to happen, observers agree.

The hearing was also accompanied by protests from supporters and critics of the politician alike, as hundreds gathered outside the courthouse.

The Manhattan grand jury heard evidence about a $130,000 payment that was made to Daniels, but Trump denied having sexual relations with either woman.

An audio recording dating back to September 2016 was also heard in court, containing discussions between Trump and his attorney about the affair, Reuters reported.

Trump can be heard saying, “So what do we got to pay for this?” according to court documents.

Prosecutors claimed that Trump falsely stated the checks that went to a lawyer to silence the women were for a “retainer agreement,” accusing him of falsifying his real estate company’s accounts with intent to defraud.

The former president, who is again the Republican party’s frontrunner for the 2024 presidential election, had previously called the charges politically motivated.

“Heading to Lower Manhattan, the Courthouse. Seems so SURREAL – WOW, they are going to ARREST ME. Can’t believe this is happening in America,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform on the way to court.

The judge set the date for the next hearing on December 4, and has not placed a gag order on any of the parties.

Trump additionally faces separate investigations by a Georgia prosecutor and the U.S. Justice Department over alleged attempts to unlawfully overturn the 2020 presidential election results.