Former US President Donald Trump has personally pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts as he appeared in a New York court, becoming the first former US president to face criminal charges.
The allegations relate to him falsifying business records. A felony is usually defined as a crime punishable by a year or more in prison.
The Manhattan prosecutors accuse Trump of repeatedly causing false entries in the business records.
The alleged false entries are related to invoices from Michael Cohen, the “Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump” and his trust, or to Donald J. Trump’s account checks. Those records are all kept by the Trump Organization, according to the indictment.
All of the entries are identified as being made in 2017, the indictment says.
Trump, 76, was earlier formally arrested following his arrival at Manhattan Criminal Courthouse.
The frontrunner to be the Republicans' choice for the White House in 2024 surrendered to the Manhattan district attorney's office in the same building before the historic hearing.
Wearing a dark blue suit and red tie, he was fingerprinted and processed but it was unclear whether a mugshot of him was also taken.
A stony-faced Trump then made his way to the courtroom, without saying anything, for his arraignment where the formal charges were disclosed. He was not in handcuffs during the proceedings.
He sat with his hands folded as he entered his plea flanked by his lawyers. "Not guilty," Trump said.
The grand jury indictment, which has been unsealed, includes a charge of conspiracy and one of hush money payments to two women, according to Sky's US partner network NBC News.
Follow the latest news on Google News
