HISTORY: For the first time in U.S. history a former president is criminally charged after indictment on felony charges
AGN.News Team
April 4, 2023
MANHATTAN (AGN.News) – For the first time in U.S. history a former president of the United States is criminally charged after being indicted on 34 felony charges in Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City.
Former president of the United States, Donald John Trump, having been indicted on 34 felony charges involving a hush-money payments scheme made during and after the 2016 presidential campaign, has been arrested and charged with those crimes.
Does a court case prove guilt?
No! His appearance in court does not prove guilt. It should be noted, this proceeding does not mean he has been found guilty of any crimes.
There is a presumption of innocence until found guilty. Being charged does not mean he’s guilty. There is a burden of proof placed upon the state to establish guilt in a court of law before a jury.
This is simply an initial court proceeding that’s required by law after a grand jury issues an indictment.
The state has to prove he’s guilty in court, before a jury. All of this has to be done before he’s proven guilty.
Next, at some time in the future, the courts will announce his guilt or innocence. Then, if he’s found guilty, he can file an appeal to a higher court. At this stage, there is no guilt!
What is the case against Mr. Trump?
Prosecutors said those hush-money payments were meant to hide allegations that he was involved in extramarital sexual encounters in the years before the 2016 presidential campaign.
Those hush-money payments were allegedly made to a former adult film star with whom the Manhattan prosecutors alleges were authorized by the former president. It’s been reported that the 34 charges were all felony charges.
The former president arrived in Manhattan last night from his Palm Beach home to appear in court today. Mr. Trump went to the Manhattan Courthouse to be arraigned on 34 felonies.
Unlike most people charged with a crime, the former president was assigned a unique number, booked, fingerprinted, but not photographed for a mugshot to be distributed nor was he handcuffed.
Donald J. Trump appears in court
Mr. Trump appeared at the Manhattan courthouse. As a former president, Mr. Trump was surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents so local officials have said there is zero flight risk involved in this case.
He was arraigned on 34 felony charges involving a hush-money scheme to boost his 2016 election chances.
The reason for 34 felony charges
Prosecutors in Manhattan court accuse Mr. Trump of orchestrating payments to two women before the 2016 U.S. election to suppress publication of their sexual encounters with him.
The prosecutors said he falsified business records to conceal a violation of election laws during his successful 2016 campaign.
The two women were adult film star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal.
When asked how did he plea, the former president, Donald Trump, 76, replied, “Not Guilty” on all charges.
What did the Manhattan prosecutors say?
This case was not only about the two women but about other people who facilitated the election-era fraud. It involved the National Inquirer magazine and attorneys who prosecutors say were part of this fraud scheme.
“The defendant Donald J. Trump falsified New York business records in order to conceal an illegal conspiracy to undermine the integrity of 2016 presidential election and other violations of election law violations.” – Prosecutor Chris Conroy
The punishment for these alleged crimes
When a person falsifies business records in New York that alone is generally a misdemeanor punishable by no more than one year in prison.
This crime is elevated to a felony when done to advance or conceal another crime, like election law violations. As a felony, the crime’s punishment is elevated by up to four years in prison.
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