TRUMP – Donald Trump arrived this Monday, April 3 at his hotel in New York, at the eve of his historic court appearance in a fraud case related to the payment of money to a porn star. It is an event all the more extraordinary as the 76-year-old Republican billionaire has relaunched himself in the race for the Republican nomination to regain the presidency in November 2024.
His private Boeing 757, named after him, landed around 7:25 p.m. GMT at New York’s LaGuardia Airport. In New York, the surroundings of the Trump Tower where the businessman will stay 36 hours, have been under high security for days.
Upon his arrival, supporters and opponents crowded in front of the security barriers to support or boo the former president. A large number of journalists were also present.
« Former President Trump arrived at Trump Tower – at his New York home – ahead of his arraignment tomorrow. »
« Anti-Trump drivers continue to flip the middle fingers and shout at Trump supporters outside Trump Tower. This is probably the 4th driver to do so. »
« Breaking 4 News covered former President Donald Trump’s arrival at Trump Tower in Manhattan this afternoon. We were not alone. »
Vito Dichiara, a supporter of Donald Trump, explains to AFP that he is “here to support Donald Trump, the former and future President of the United States”. “The Democrat Party is just meddling in the election, Donald Trump won in 2020 but the Democrats stole the election”thinks this 71-year-old retiree who presents himself as a former Fox News cameraman.
As the courthouse area in lower Manhattan is placed under tight security, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a former police officer, has warned would-be “troublemakers” summoning them to ” to master “.
Trump « plead not guilty”
The populist former head of state, who upended the political system, society and the balance of power in the United States, was criminally charged on March 30 by the Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. After five years of investigation by the New York State Department.
The businessman, a native of New York, must be served on Tuesday from 2:15 p.m. (6:15 p.m. GMT) with criminal proceedings: they have not been made public but are said to be 30 in number.
This summons, with an unprecedented ritual for a former head of state, should see Trump give his name, age, profession, submit to a fingerprinting and be photographed, like all warned. According to his lawyer Joe Tacopina, he will not be handcuffed but may have to walk through the halls of the Manhattan courthouse, in the presence of media.
Before the judge, “The president will plead not guilty” car “there is no crime” criminal according to his defence. Donald Trump should then be released, possibly under conditions, pending the organization of his trial.
The ” witch hunt “
Donald Trump swears he is « innocent » and wrote in all caps on his Truth Social social network that he was heading to New York to “Make America Great Again” and that he was the victim of a “witch hunt as (his) great country sinks into hell”.
In fact, Donald Trump has never recognized his defeat in the last presidential election in November 2020 and has since accused Joe Biden of having “cheated” and to have ” stolen “ victory.
While the billionaire got off his plane, Joe Biden was in a factory in Minnesota (north), to praise his economic record and promise the workers who listened to him better days.
The American president has so far refused to comment on the legal proceedings, instead playing the contrast effect against the one he could face again in 2024.
Personal costs or legal costs?
The affair that torments Donald Trump dates back to October 2016, just before his surprise election at the head of the first world power. His personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, who turned against him, had at the time paid $130,000 to porn actress Stormy Daniels to buy his silence. The porn star claims she had sex with Donald Trump.
What the interested party denies. The tycoon admitted to having reimbursed Michael Cohen, but assures that the transaction was not illegal.
If the agreement made with Stormy Daniels was indeed authorized, it could however correspond to a campaign expense. However, the sum does not appear in the candidate’s accounts for 2016 and has, on the contrary, been entered as “legal fees” in documents from his company Trump Organization.
In addition to this investigation in New York, federal justice is examining its role in the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, and its management of the presidential archives after his departure from the White House, while a prosecutor in Georgia s is also interested in pressure exerted on electoral officials to challenge his defeat in the 2020 presidential election.
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