Media spectacle, loud crowds mark Donald Trump’s court appearance in Manhattan
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NEW YORK - Amid feverish television reporting, a raucous crowd of chanting rival protesters and hovering media helicopters tracking his every move, Donald Trump walked into the Manhattan Criminal Court on Tuesday afternoon to become the first former president of the United States to be prosecuted.
The 76-year-old billionaire was charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records relating to hush money payments made around the time of the 2016 US presidential election,
As expected, Trump pleaded not guilty,
In the other half of the park was an equal number of people celebrating the indictment, separated from Trump’s supporters by barriers, with the no man’s land in between patrolled by police officers.
The two sides faced off across the barriers, dancing, beating drums, waving banners and flags and taunting each other, watched by onlookers, thrill-seekers and performers, and the occasional bewildered dog.
A middle-aged Trump supporter – a Manhattan resident who gave her name as Gail – told The Straits Times: “Since he first said he was running for president in 2015, the Democratic Party has harassed and persecuted him, made up lies about him, non-stop.”
She said: “It’s horrific what’s happened to our justice system, our political system. It’s hard to believe this is happening in America.”
Another Manhattan resident, Ms Pamela Menera, said: “It’s a sham, and it’s political.”
“It makes you question everything,” she added. “I don’t know what their deal is. They (Democrats) want to stop him from running (in the 2024 presidential election).”
On the other side of the fence, the mood was jubilant, with the crowd sometimes breaking into chants of “Lock him up!” – echoing the phrase “Lock her up!” that Trump had used to fire up crowds in his 2016 presidential campaign as he demanded that his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton be incarcerated over her use of a private e-mail server as the secretary of state.
“Finally, he got what’s coming,” said one middle-aged New York resident.
“He’s a racist, he’s a fascist,” added the man, who asked not to be named.
Arguments broke out at times in the dense crowd, with hundreds of journalists bristling with cameras and microphones tracking every move. But police swiftly moved in to separate people and bundle off the occasional person who tried crossing the lines. And, while the crowd was rumbustious and argumentative, there was no violence.
It was certainly a media spectacle. Helicopters tracked Trump’s every move, from the moment his motorcade left Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue to travel about 6km to the Manhattan courthouse. Aerial footage of the motorcade and Trump slipping into the side entrance of the building was shown on many major news networks in the US.
On the eve of the arraignment, the media had tracked his motorcade in Florida – and his flight as well.
Former Ohio governor John Kasich said on MSNBC: “There are more interesting things happening, but I guess we’re all fixated.”
According to prosecutors, in addition to the US$130,000 payment (S$172,300) to adult film star Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about their alleged affair – he denies they had one – there were other “catch and kill” payments made to suppress awkward information.
A supporter of Donald Trump arguing with opponents outside the Manhattan District Attorney’s office in New York City on April 4, 2023.
PHOTO: AFP
At a press conference after Trump had flown back to his home in Florida, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who took office in 2022, said additional evidence not available to his predecessor had led to the indictment.
“I bring cases when they’re ready,” said Mr Bragg, who is a Democrat.
It may be December when the case is actually brought to trial – if it is not stalled further by legal contestation, reports say.
Mr Todd Blanche, a lawyer for Trump, told reporters after the arraignment that Trump was frustrated, upset and angry.
“But I’ll tell you what – he’s motivated. And it’s not going to stop him. And it’s not going to slow him down. And it’s exactly what he expected,” Mr Blanche said.
The crowd had already dispersed by the time Mr Blanche spoke, and soon after the media pulled down their tents and umbrellas, packed up their lights, generators and cables, and left in their satellite vans.
And the city of 8½ million, which had barely paused to take notice, rumbled on.
