By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - Former US President Donald Trump made history on Tuesday as he became the first ex-president to be charged with a crime. In an arraignment that took place at a Manhattan courtroom, prosecutors accused him of trying to conceal allegations of extramarital affairs during his first White House campaign.
The hearing was a stunning spectacle for Trump, who faced blunt accusations of criminal conduct from prosecutors. The case against him centers around allegations that he falsified internal business records at his private company to cover up an effort to illegally influence the 2016 election.
The charges include fudging records related to checks that Trump sent to his personal lawyer and problem-solver Michael Cohen, which were made over a twelve months period and were recorded among internal company documents.
Assistant District Attorney Christopher Conroy stated "the defendant, Donald J. Trump, falsified New York business records in order to conceal an illegal conspiracy to undermine the integrity of the 2016 presidential election and other violations of election laws."
Despite facing such serious charges, Trump remained somber and silent throughout most of the proceedings. He uttered only ten words - "not guilty" - while facing Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan who warned him not inflame or cause civil unrest through any rhetoric.
Trump's lawyers have urged him not make any posts on social media platforms which could encourage unrest after printouts of his previous posts were handed over by prosecutors during the hearing.
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If convicted, each count of falsifying business records is punishable by up to four years in prison; however it's unclear whether or not any prison time will be imposed if he is found guilty. His next court date is set for December 4th.
The 34-count felony indictment marks a significant moment in Trump's career, following years of investigations into his personal, business and political dealings. Despite his efforts to reclaim the White House in 2024, he is shadowed by multiple investigations related to his behavior in previous elections.
Prosecutors in Atlanta and Washington are scrutinizing his efforts and those of his allies to overturn the 2020 presidential election while a separate Justice Department inquiry is focused on allegations of mishandling classified documents. The ongoing investigations could lead to even more charges against him in the future.
Trump has denied allegations of sexual liaisons with both Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal, as well as any wrongdoing involving payments. A conviction would not prevent Trump from running for or winning the presidency again in 2024 but it remains unclear how this will impact his political future.