Donald Trump faces 34 charges of falsifying business records

Former US president Donald Trump is facing 34 charges following his bombshell indictment by a grand jury in New York.

Donald Trump making his way to the courtroom. Picture: Ed Jones/AFP

Former US president Donald Trump is facing 34 charges of falsifying business records following his indictment by a grand jury in New York.

Appearing at a Manhattan court on Tuesday afternoon, local time, Mr Trump pleaded not guilty to all counts.

In the indictment, unsealed by a judge, prosecutors accuse Mr Trump of “repeatedly and fraudulently” falsifying records to “conceal criminal conduct that hid damaging information from the voting public” before the 2016 presidential election.

“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,” the indictment reads.

“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 next in-person hearing in the case is reportedly scheduled for December, with a trial set to start in January of 2024 at the earliest. The 2024 presidential election, in which Mr Trump is a candidate, will happen in November of that year.

Mr Trump in court on Tuesday. Picture: Seth Wenig/AFP

Speaking outside court after Mr Trump’s arraignment on Tuesday, one of his lawyers, Todd Blanche, accused District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, of turning a “political issue” into a “political prosecution”. He said the former president was “upset” and “frustrated”.

“It’s not a good day,” said Mr Blanche.

“I don’t expect this to happen in this country. You don’t expect this to happen to somebody who was the president of the United States. “

Mr Blanche promised Mr Trump’s legal team would “fight hard” against the charges.

All 34 counts against Mr Trump allege that he falsified business records in the first degree. They concern alleged hush money payments, mostly to the adult film actress Stormy Daniels, with whom Mr Trump allegedly had an affair while married to his wife, Melania Trump.

Mr Trump says he never did anything illegal, and insists no affair took place.

“The defendant, Donald J. Trump, repeatedly and fraudulently falsified New York business records to conceal criminal conduct that hid damaging information from the voting public during the 2016 election,” the prosecutors’ statement of claim alleges.

“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.

“In order to execute the unlawful scheme, the participants violated election laws and caused false entries in 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 indictment alleges Michael Cohen, then Mr Trump’s personal lawyer, made payments totalling $US130,000 payment to Ms Daniels through a shell corporation. Prosecutors claim Mr Trump, having won the election, then reimbursed Cohen through a series of monthly cheques, disguising the money as “payment for legal services rendered”.

They allege these payments were “false New York business records”, because there was “no retainer agreement” with Cohen and he was “not being paid for legal services”.

Mr Trump leaving court. Picture: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP

Ms Daniels is not the only woman involved. The indictment mentions Karen McDougal, a former Playboy model, who also claims she had an affair with Mr Trump. It is alleged that the National Enquirer, a media company friendly towards Mr Trump, paid Ms McDougal on his behalf “in exchange for her agreement not to speak out”.

In addition, the Enquirer’s parent company allegedly paid $US30,000 to a doorman who was “trying to sell information that the defendant had allegedly fathered a child out of wedlock”.

“Under New York State law, it is a felony to falsify business records with intent to defraud and intent to conceal another crime. That is exactly what this case is about,” Mr Bragg told reporters after the arraignment on Tuesday.

“Thirty-four false statements made to cover up other crimes. These are felony crimes in New York. No matter who you are, we cannot and will not normalize serious criminal conduct.”

Mr Trump flashed a defiant fist pump as he left his residence shortly after 1pm, local time, to go to court. A short time later he arrived at Mr Bragg’s office.

The former president was not handcuffed, but he was booked and authorities recorded his fingerprints.

He is expected to give a speech from Mar-a-Lago after 8pm, local time.

Mr Trump is the first former president of the United States to face criminal charges, and as such, unique security arrangements were made for his appearance. Most other activity in the Manhattan court, including all trials, was suspended to accommodate his presence.