Trump formally charged

NEW+YORK%2C+NEW+YORK+-+APRIL+04%3A+Former+U.S.+President+Donald+Trump+sits+at+the+defense+table+with+his+defense+team+in+a+Manhattan+court+during+his+arraignment+on+April+4%2C+2023%2C+in+New+York+City.+Trump+was+arraigned+during+his+first+court+appearance+today+following+an+indictment+by+a+grand+jury+that+heard+evidence+about+money+paid+to+adult+film+star+Stormy+Daniels+before+the+2016+presidential+election.+With+the+indictment%2C+Trump+becomes+the+first+former+U.S.+president+in+history+to+be+charged+with+a+criminal+offense.+%28Photo+by+Seth+Wenig-Pool%2FGetty+Images%29

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 04: Former U.S. President Donald Trump sits at the defense table with his defense team in a Manhattan court during his arraignment on April 4, 2023, in New York City. Trump was arraigned during his first court appearance today following an indictment by a grand jury that heard evidence about money paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election. With the indictment, Trump becomes the first former U.S. president in history to be charged with a criminal offense. (Photo by Seth Wenig-Pool/Getty Images)

Hialeah Bever, Editor

History was made on Tuesday, April 4 as a Manhattan grand jury accused former President Donald Trump of falsifying business records, charging him with 34 counts in the first degree. The accusations stem from hush money payments given during the 2016 presidential election in an attempt to stop stories of extramarital affairs from making it to the public.

It was an underwhelming scene in New York City when Trump arrived at the office of Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg. Though hundreds gathered in support and opposition of the indictment, the crowd hadn’t realized that the former president had arrived until he was already booked by officials and sitting in court. 

Despite this setback, the historic morning was highlighted by the appearance of far-right Congress members such as Georgia representative Majorie Taylor Greene and New York representative George Santos. Both politicians left prematurely, however, as their speeches were drowned out by the sheer amount of heckling. 

The charging documents were also released on Tuesday, showing that the payments were taken directly from Trump’s bank account on a monthly basis. The prosecution alleges that this money was labeled as legal expenses when they were not. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all 34 counts; the next step to be determined is whether the case will move to trial.