‘Not guilty’: Donald Trump denies three ‘pay offs’ to hide affairs and secret love child
Donald Trump has defied a judge’s warning and lashed out at authorities online after pleading not guilty to charges of “pay-offs” to allegedly hide affairs and a secret love child.
Donald Trump has defied a judge’s warning and lashed out at authorities online after pleading not guilty to 34 felony charges as part of an alleged “catch and kill” scheme to help secure his presidency.
The former US President is accused of making multiple pay-offs to his doorman, a former Playboy model, and a porn star to hide affairs and a secret love child in the lead up to the 2016 presidential election. He has denied any wrongdoing and slammed the case as “fake”.
“REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS SHOULD DEFUND THE DOJ AND FBI UNTIL THEY COME TO THEIR SENSES,” Mr Trump, 76, wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday morning local time, less than 24 hours after he was arraigned and pleased not guilty to all charges in the New York Criminal Court.
“THE DEMOCRATS HAVE TOTALLY WEAPONISED LAW ENFORCEMENT IN OUR COUNTRY AND ARE VICIOUSLY USING THIS ABUSE OF POWER TO INTERFERE WITH OUR ALREADY UNDER SIEGE ELECTIONS!”
The fiery rebuke came after Judge Juan Merchan warned Mr Trump against his social media tirades during his arraignment on Tuesday.
In his first post-arraignment remarks at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday night, however, Mr Trump showed no signs of heeding the judge’s advice.
Taking to the stage at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida after making a grand entrance to the song Proud To Be An American, Mr Trump told the crowd chanting “USA, USA” that “we have to save our country”.
“I never thought anything like this could happen in America,” he told his cheering supporters in the opulent surrounds of the Mar-a-Lago ballroom.
“Never thought it could happen. The only crime that I have committed is to fearlessly defend our nation from those who seek to destroy it.”
During his scathing address, Mr Trump thanked his children, who were present in the ballroom, but did not mention his wife Melania, who appeared to be absent.
He recounted the investigations various authorities were bringing against him, which he suggested was motivated by political rivals who were out to get him.
Mr Trump called Alvin Bragg “a local failed district attorney” who charged a former president of the United States for the first time in history.
“Every single pundit and legal analyst said ‘there is no case’. There’s no case. They kept saying ’there’s no case’.
He called on Mr Bragg to resign, saying he broke the law when he allegedly “illegally leaked massive amounts of grand jury information”.
The former US president recounted all the things he accused the Democrats of doing to him — including an “illegal” raid of Mar-a-Lago and supposed stealing of ballots.
He doubled down on his accusations that the 2020 presidential election was stolen.
“The millions of votes illegally stuffed into ballot boxes and all caught on government cameras,” he said.
The former US president warned of the “dark cloud” being cast by the “radical left”.
“Incredibly, we are now a failing nation,” he said. “We are a nation in decline,” he declared.
“Now these radical left lunatics want to interfere with our elections by using law enforcement. We can’t let that happen.”
But he ended his speech on a defiant note.
“With all of this being said, and with a very dark cloud over our beloved country, I have no doubt, nevertheless, that we will make America great again.”
‘COUNTRY IS GOING TO HELL’
Earlier in his speech, Mr Trump told the crowd “this country is going to hell”.
“Our elections were like those of a Third World country, and now this massive election interference at a scale never seen before in our country, beginning with the radical left, the prosecutor, Alvin Bragg of New York who campaigned on the fact that he would get President Trump.”
“This is a guy campaigning who said ‘We want to get President Trump at any cost’.
“And this before he knew anything about me, didn’t know a thing about me. He was campaigning.
“As it turns out, virtually everybody that has looked at this case, including RINOS and even hard-core Democrats, say there is no crime and that it should never have been brought.”
Mr Trump also invoked the threat of nuclear war in his speech, when he pointed to the unrest in many parts of the world and the tense geopolitical situation.
“The open threats by various countries of the use of nuclear weapons, something never mentioned or discussed by outside nations during the Trump Administration, and which could very well lead under the Biden Administration’s leadership to an all-out nuclear world war three. It can happen. We’re not very far away from it, believe it or not.”
TRUMP BLASTS FBI AGENTS
Trump said “gun toting FBI agents” took his medications and passports when Mar-o-Lago was raided.
“Everybody was in shock. Nobody had ever heard of such a raid before [we] can’t even believe it. Who would think that that could happen today? I immediately thought of the fourth amendment that protects against unreasonable search and seizure, but they did it anyway because our justice system has become lawless,” Mr Trump said.
He appeared to suggest the penalty prosecutors were seeking for him, with regards to the records he is alleged to have improperly kept, was “death”.
“Apparently, they’re not looking at me through the view of the non-criminal Presidential Records Act. They came up with a new one. This is a new one – and they’re looking at me through the Espionage Act … where the penalty is death.”
TRUMP HOLDS ‘PRAYER CALL’ ON JET
While on board his jet from New York to Florida, Mr Trump took part in a bizarre emergency prayer conference call where he called the charges brought against him as a “fake investigation by radical left people who hate our country”.
Mr Trump asked the thousands of people who paid to be on the call to “pray really hard”.
“I just want to thank everybody … we have fought so hard.
“We won in 2016, nobody thought that was possible. We won again in 2020 by much more,” he said.
“Evangelicals have been there from the beginning. They have been one of the reasons we get so many votes, we would do it one more time, 2024.”
‘CATCH AND KILL SCHEME’
The unsealed indictment and statement of facts alleged the former US president “orchestrated” a so-called catch-and-kill scheme to pay off a Trump Tower doorman, who claimed he had a story about the secret child.
The court filing detailed allegations previously reported by the New York Post that American Media Inc, owner of the National Inquirer, paid former doorman Dino Sajudin $30,000 after he claimed to have knowledge of a Trump affair which led to the birth of a child.
In another instance, American Media Inc paid $150,000 to a woman who alleged a sexual relationship with Mr Trump.
In the third, Mr Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen allegedly wired former porn star Stormy Daniels $130,000.
Speaking at a press conference after Mr Trump’s historic court appearance, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said 11 checks were issued for a “phony purpose”. Nine of those were signed by Mr Trump, it is alleged. In total, 34 false entries were made in New York Business records to conceal the $130,000 payment to Ms Daniels.
Mr Bragg added that the scheme took steps to mischaracterise the reimbursements for tax purposes.
“At its core, this case today is one with allegations like so many of our white collar cases, allegations that someone lied again and again to protect their interests and evade the laws to which we are all held accountable,” Mr Bragg said.
“As this office has done time and time again, we today uphold our solemn responsibility to ensure that everyone stands equal before the law.
“No amount of money and no amount of power changes that enduring American principle.”
Defence lawyer Todd Blanche said outside the court Mr Trump was “upset and frustrated” but “motivated” to fight the charges.
“There were not really any surprises. The indictment itself is boilerplate. It doesn’t allege any federal crime. It’s disappointing, sad. But we are going to fight it,” he said.
TRUMP PLEADS NOT GUILTY
Donald Trump — the first former president in US history to face criminal charges — has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts in a New York court after hearing charges against him.
The charges stem from an investigation into a hush money payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign.
The indictment against Mr Trump, which was unsealed and made public, alleged the former president was involved in a conspiracy to undermine the integrity of the 2016 election.
Prosecutors alleged Mr Trump was part of an unlawful plan to suppress negative information, including an illegal payment of US$130,000 (A$192,000) that was ordered by the defendant to suppress the negative information that would hurt his campaign.
Mr Trump was in the courtroom for about one hour, and pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records outlined in the indictment that was unsealed by Judge Juan Merchan.
He declined to speak to the media, despite previous reports that he would address the crowd after appearing before the judge.
Trump is expected to deliver a post-arraignment speech at his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, at 8.15pm local time (10.15am AEST).
Mr Trump arrived at court just before 2.15pm (4.15am AEST), where at least 30 counts against him were unsealed in regards to the US$130,000 (A$192,000) payment he allegedly had his former lawyer Michael Cohen pay Ms Daniels in 2016 to keep quiet about their reported affair.
Before entering the courtroom, Mr Trump did not make a statement — something some advisers had expected him to do.
“We had been under the impression he may make a brief statement before going in, and I think the fact that he didn’t is notable,” former Trump White House communications director Alyssa Farah Griffin, told CNN.
“That indicates to me potentially what he saw in the indictment goes further than he expected to.”
Ms Griffin said his lack of a statement could also signify that “the [lawyers] are likely at odds with the comms advisers.”
Mr Trump waved to supporters as he has arrived at a New York court in downtown Manhattan for his arraignment before entering the courthouse, where he will be fingerprinted upon arrival.
He is not expected to be handcuffed nor will have his mugshot taken.
The courthouse was surrounded by hundreds of both pro- and anti-Trump protesters, with the building closed down and swept for the former president’s arrival.
“Heading to Lower Manhattan, the Courthouse,” Mr Trump wrote via Truth Social.
“Seems so SURREAL — WOW, they are going to ARREST ME. Can’t believe this is happening in America. MAGA!”
Reports suggest there is at least one felony count included in the charges being filed against Mr Trump by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
Mr Trump is the first former US president to face criminal charges.
Mr Trump’s senior campaign adviser Jason Miller has been live-tweeting the stunning journey from Mar-a-Lago a day earlier, adding “POTUS 45 is rolling!” on the drive between Trump Tower and his appearance in court.
Mr Miller, along campaign aide Walt Nuata and lawyers Joe Tacopina and Boris Ephsteyn, accompanied Mr Trump into the arraignment. None of Mr Trump’s family members appeared to join the former president in court.
TRUMP SUPPORTERS, PROTESTERS CLASH
Earlier, protesters clashed briefly near the New York court where Mr Trump was arraigned early morning Australian time.
A shouting match between Trump loyalists and detractors narrowly avoided becoming a serious physical altercation as riled up attendees traded barbs over the heads of police officers.
“Get out of here you old bag of bones!” one Trump supporter mocked a grey-haired woman wearing an “Arrest Trump” top, reported the New York Post.
“Get the f**k out of here!” another yelled.
Police struggled to separate the groups, and one MAGA hat-wearing woman fell over while trying to tear an anti-Trump a banner.
“Trump has unleashed violence,” the grey-haired woman lectured the crowd.
“This is news!”
Republican George Santos also attended the rally in support of Mr Trump near the Manhattan courthouse.
“I’m not here for the cameras. I’m just here for the president of the United States who is being unfairly attacked by a DA,” he told the New York Post.
Controversial Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene appeared briefly at the chaotic scene in lower Manhattan and spoke for only a few minutes before fleeing from booing counter-protesters.
Ms Greene was expected to deliver a speech in favour of Mr Trump ahead of his indictment in New York City, however, her words were drowned out by counter-protesters.
The anti-Trump group blew whistles and banged on drums, making her remarks inaudible to many at the rally.
Ms Greene could be heard saying: “We are the party of male and female. We are the party of secured borders.“
But most of her short speech was drowned out by protesters yelling: “Get your a** home,” and “Go back to Washington.”
More Trump supporters gathered at Trump Tower, the former president’s Manhattan home, to show their support.
TRUMP MAKES LAST-DITCH COURT PLEA
Meanwhile, hours before he was due in court, Mr Trump made a last-ditch effort at trying to change the venue to the more Republican-friendly Staten Island.
“VERY UNFAIR VENUE, WITH SOME AREAS THAT VOTED 1% REPUBLICAN. THIS CASE SHOULD BE MOVED TO NEARBY STATEN ISLAND – WOULD BE A VERY FAIR AND SECURE LOCATION FOR THE TRIAL,” the former president wrote in an all-caps posting on his social media outlet, Truth Social.
He also continued to blast Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over his arraignment.
“ADDITIONALLY, THE HIGHLY PARTISAN JUDGE & HIS FAMILY ARE WELL KNOWN TRUMP HATERS. HE WAS AN UNFAIR DISASTER ON A PREVIOUS TRUMP RELATED CASE, WOULDN’T RECUSE, GAVE HORRIBLE JURY INSTRUCTIONS, & IMPOSSIBLE TO DEAL WITH DURING THE WITCH HUNT TRIAL. HIS DAUGHTER WORKED FOR ‘KAMALA’ & NOW THE BIDEN-HARRIS CAMPAIGN. KANGAROO COURT!!!” Mr Trump said.
In an email sent to supporters, Mr Trump also blasted the “loss of justice in America” before surrendering to the New York District Attorney’s office – and warned his followers that the US was on the verge of becoming a “Marxist Third World country.”
“Today, we mourn the loss of justice in America. Today is the day that a ruling political party ARRESTS its leading opponent for having committed NO CRIME,” Mr Trump wrote in the scathing update, which was sent just hours before his anticipated arraignment on multiple felony charges.
“Our nation is becoming a Marxist Third World country that CRIMINALISES dissent and IMPRISONS its political opposition.”
Mr Trump also thanked his followers for their continued loyalty, stating that he is “blown away by all of the donations, support, and prayers we have received”.
POLICE ON HIGH ALERT
US police were overnight on high alert bracing for signs of unrest should Mr Trump urge his supporters to protest what he has termed a “witch hunt” as he seeks the Republican party nomination for the presidency in 2024.
In New York, 35,000 police officers were put on standby and told to be ready to mobilise in the event of violence.
New York City mayor Eric Adams warned that “rabblerousers” protesting violently would be arrested, regardless of whether they were supporters or detractors of Mr Trump.
“[You’ll] be arrested and held accountable, no matter who you are,” Mr Adams said. “While there may be some rabblerousers thinking about coming to our city tomorrow our message is simple: ‘control yourselves’.”
Footage shared on Twitter by Eric Trump showed the depth of support for the former president in Florida, with loyalists lining the streets waving flags as the Trump motorcade made its way to the airport, prior his flight to New York.
Upon arriving in Manhattan, Mr Trump made his way to Trump Tower, greeting supporters as he arrived. He met with members of his legal team on Monday evening, with one Trump insider telling CNN he was in “good spirits” and was “ready to go in and do what he needs to do tomorrow”.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the White House was in contact with state and local authorities to monitor the fallout from Mr Trump’s court appearance.
“We’ll be prepared should there be a need. Hopefully, there won’t be that need,” he said.
Mr Trump continued to whip his supporters into a frenzy on Monday.
“On Tuesday morning I will be going to, believe it or not, the Courthouse … America was not supposed to be this way!” he posted online.
“HEADING TO NEW YORK. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!,” he added. “WITCH HUNT, as our once great Country is going to HELL!”
He also took aim once again at Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, calling him “corrupt” and saying he had “no case”.
“What he does have is a venue where it is IMPOSSIBLE for me to get a Fair Trial,” Mr Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social.
Cyrus Vance Jr, the former Manhattan district attorney who launched the investigation, said Mr Trump could find himself in further legal trouble if he kept going after Mr Bragg.
“I would be mindful of not committing some other criminal offence, like obstruction of governmental administration, which is interfering by threat or otherwise, the operation of government,” Mr Vance said.
“I think that could take what perhaps we think is not the strongest case, when you add a count like that, put it in front of a jury … it can change the jury’s mind about the severity of the case that they’re looking at.”
The prosecution’s key witness is the former Trump adviser Michael Cohen, but his continued statements to the media could scuttle the case, according to the former lawyer for the porn star at the centre of the allegations, Stormy Daniels.
Michael Avanatti said Mr Cohen had handed Trump’s legal defence a path to victory by refusing to remain silent.
“He handed Tacopina a gold mine by effectively stating that his SDNY [Southern District of New York] plea agreement and allocution (under penalty of perjury) were both false!” Avenatti said. “Why is he incapable of shutting up?”
Originally published as ‘Not guilty’: Donald Trump denies three ‘pay offs’ to hide affairs and secret love child
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