NEW YORK, N.Y. (NCC News) – Protesters from both sides of the aisle gathered outside the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse ahead of former president Donald Trump’s arraignment on Tuesday morning.
Trump was read 34 charges of business fraud, and entered a not guilty plea. He is now the first former or sitting U.S. president to be criminally indicted.
In the hours leading up to the arraignment, hundreds of people crowded the courthouse plaza. Politicians from both sides of the aisle showed up to rile up their respective bases, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R) – Georgia, Rep. George Santos (R) – New York, and Jamaal Bowman, (D) – New York.
NYPD officers told NCC News that every officer was in uniform Tuesday, and that they were taking no chances with the protests potentially getting out of hand. Officers placed barriers down the middle of the plaza that separated the two groups of protesters.
Adam good afternoon… It was a hectic scene here outside the courthouse this morning… protestors on both sides of the aisle were here to voice their opinions as well as politicians on both sides… we saw democrat rep jamaal bowman and republican rep Marjorie Taylor Greene here early this morning riling up their base… the NYPD wasn’t taking any chances with these protests after what happened on January 6th- every NYPD officer was in uniform today, and barriers separated the two sides with a sidewalk leading into the courthouse
And Jake, after Trump entered the courthouse this afternoon- what happened with the arraignment?
Well Micah, just like any other American, Trump had to get his fingerprints booked and take a mugshot today, then he was officially read his charges and entered a plea… he’s charged with 34 counts of business fraud and pleaded not guilty… but the former president was not backing down before entering the courthouse, posting on social media in an attempt to rile up his base and sway public opinion…
And Jake, this could be just the beginning of a historic case– what happens next?
Well Adam, the case could go to trial and that could be a long, drawn out trial with key witnesses such as former trump lawyer Michael Cohen, who has been vocal about the case.
It’s also important to remember that this is potentially just the beginning of Trump’s legal woes– Officially criminally indicted for the hush money case, and he’s still facing the january 6th probe as well as the mar-a-lago documents case and another case in georgia involving election denial, so it’s entirely possible that we could see a few more indictments in the near future.
Reporting live on a historic day in New York City… Jake Morel, n-c-c news