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“From August 2015 to December 2017,the Defendant orchestrated a scheme with others to influence the 2016 presidential election by identifying and purchasing negative information about him to suppress its publication and benefit the Defendant’s electoral prospects,” prosecutors alleged in a “statement of facts” accompanying the indictment.
“In order to execute the unlawful scheme,the participants violated election laws and made and caused false entries in the business records of various entities in New York. The participants also took steps that mischaracterised,for tax purposes,the true nature of the payments made in furtherance of the scheme.”
The moment marks the first time a former US president has been charged with a criminal offence,let alone one who is currently the frontrunner to be the Republican nominee to run for the White House next year.
But in a sign of America’s deepening chasm,hundreds of protesters gathered at Collect Pond Park outside the court ahead of the arraignment,with those in favour of Trump assigned to the south side of the square,while those against were assigned to the north.
“Lock him up! Lock him up!” the anti-Trump forces sang as they faced off against the pro-Trump crowd. Some banged pots and pans or waved “F-– Trump” flags as they danced in unison,others wore costumes of the former president in prison uniform.
Former President Donald Trump leaves Trump Tower in New York on Tuesday.Credit:AP
Many on both sides also lamented what was happening to their country.
“All of us need to start coming together!” said New York resident Atlas Johnson,a black man who lost family in a racism-fuelled mass shooting in Buffalo last year.
“It’s time to come together as one! We are Americans - every single one of us - and it’s time to start acting like it! It’s time out for this bullshit.”
Until now,Trump had remained defiant over the indictment,and took to social media on Tuesday morning to demand that the case be moved to Staten Island in New York because he was unlikely to get a fair hearing in the deeply Democratic region of Manhattan. He has also repeatedly hit out at Bragg,a Democrat who Republicans believe is engaging in a politically motivated witch hunt.
Protesters at Collect Pond Park across the street from the Manhattan District Attorney’s office in New York on Tuesday.Credit:AP
However,Bragg defended his decision to pursue the charges,which are based on the allegation that Trump made false statements to conceal the hush-money payments in order to cover up another crime. This is what elevated the charges from a mere misdemeanour under New York state law,to a Class E felony,which comes with a maximum penalty of four years in prison - although the indictment does not explain which federal or state crime had been violated.
Speaking outside court after the arraignment,Trump’s attorney Todd Blanche said his client was “frustrated” and “upset” over Bragg’s “political persecution.”
“We’re going to fight it,fight it hard,” he said.
Bragg,meanwhile,told reporters:“These are felony crimes in New York state,no matter who you are. We cannot and will not normalise serious criminal conduct.”
“Why did Donald Trump repeatedly make these false statements? The evidence will show that he did so to cover up crimes relating to the 2016 election.”
Trump’s defence team,from left,Joseph Tacopina,Todd Blanche and Susan Necheles,answer questions for the media outside Manhattan criminal court.Credit:AP
Trump’s arraignment took place against the backdrop of one of the largest security operations New York City has ever undertaken. As the sun came up over Manhattan on Tuesday morning,helicopters hovered above the court precinct where Trump was set to be arraigned.
Roads had been blocked off with steel fencing,with groups of police on guard at almost every street corner. Media vans,camera crews and reporters had swarmed into the downtown district,with some journalists lining up outside the court overnight in the hope of getting one of the few coveted seats inside.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said there had been no evidence of credible threats,but had warned “rabble rousers” to “control themselves” singling out far-right Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene who had organised a protest rally in support of Trump next to the court.
But the scenes at the rally were so chaotic - thanks to counterprotesters who organised to show up in force to drown out her speech - that she could barely be heard among the throng,even with a megaphone. Some of the anti-Trump forces who had been at the north side of the park rushed to the south side when Greene arrived,resulting in pushing and scuffling between protesters.
The former president has used the indictment to build a war chest for his campaign ahead of next year’s election,soliciting donations and selling tee-shirts with emblazoned with the words “I Stand With Trump”. According to longtime adviser Jason Miller,Trump had raised “a record $US7million” ($10 million) since news of his indictment broke.
Hours before his arraignment,Trump sent out another fundraising email seeking money,with the subject headline:“The last email before my arrest.”
The email read:“Today is the day that a ruling political party ARRESTS its leading opponent for having committedNO CRIME.”