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Trump court hearing live: ‘Wow, they’re going to arrest me’ – Trump sends message before historic court appearance
Donald Trump has been formally arrested at a Manhattan court this evening,. His lawyer says he will plead not guilty to hush money charges “very loudly”.
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Trump has been formally arrested View post| A summary of this case View post
‘Wow, they are going to arrest me’ – Trump sends message View post
Comments about judge labelled ‘foolish’ View post
Ex-president will plead not guilty ‘very loudly’ View post
The party needs Trump as much as Trump needs the party | James Matthews View post
The charges against Trump have only galvanised his supporters | Martha Kelner View post
What happens after today? View post
Updates from US correspondents Martha Kelner, Mark Stone and James Matthews. Live reporting by Guy Birchall, Bhvishya Patel and Lauren Russell
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1m ago
13:42
Trump has been arrested
The ex-president has now surrendered to authorities and is formally under arrest.
This is the first time in US history a current or former president has been in this position.
Despite being arrested we have been told he will not be placed in handcuffs as per the request of his Secret Service detail.
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7m ago
13:36
So what happens now?
Donald Trump is inside the courthouse – where he will face arrest.
Here’s what awaits the former president…
He will be processed by officials, which likely involves taking his fingerprints, taking his details, a mugshot and checking for any outstanding arrest warrants or charges
The former president will then head to the 15th floor courtroom where the charges will be read and he will personally enter his “not guilty” plea
It is then believed he will be released on bail and return to Mar-a-Lago in Florida, where he has said he will hold a news conference.
As ever, we’ll be keeping you updated throughout the night.
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13m ago
13:31
‘Wow, they are going to arrest me’ – Trump
As he made his way to the court in Manhattan, Donald Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social to express his disbelief…
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20m ago
13:23
Donald Trump arrives at court
The former president has arrived at the courthouse in Manhattan to face his arraignment.
He waved at supporters after he exited an SUV flanked by his secret service detail – as has become the norm.
He will now undergo the booking process where he is expected to be fingerprinted and have a mugshot taken.
After he is registered he will be taken to the 15th floor where he will face the judge in the courtroom.
We are told he will enter the “not guilty” plea himself.
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22m ago
13:21
‘This is a political persecution’
The indictment facing Donald Trump is a “political persecution”, lawyer for Donald Trump, Jim Trusty, has said.
Speaking to Sky News, Mr Trusty said today was a “very bad day” for the US and the country expected prosecutors to be “fair”.
Asked how he knew Trump would plead not guilty, he said: “For starters, because he is innocent and secondly because this is a political persecution .”
He went on to say the case made many wonder if this was a “real prosecution”.
“From the weakness of the charges, from the reliance on people like Michael Cohen – it’s massive political persecution,” he added.
“So it’s a bad day and this could unfairly jeopardise other prosecutions.”
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23m ago
13:20
Inside Trump Tower, everything feels surreal
By Mark Stone, US correspondent
I’m inside Trump Tower 66 floors below the gilded penthouse home where the 45th President of the United States has been preparing for his day in court.
The lobby is full of heavily armed NYPD officers and Secret Service agents as they prepare for the Donald Trump to move from here, fifty or so blocks south, to the lower Manhattan courtroom where he will have the criminal charges revealed to him.
In here where everything is branded “Trump”, there is a certain surreality to it all.
At the Trump Grill, I can see one of Mr Trump’s close advisors is eating a burger. A quick bite before I watched him head up the golden escalator, past some agents and through a fire door, presumably back up to be with his boss.
All this really is territory uncharted.
Mr Trump’s teams – legal, personal and security – are working it all out as they go. And they are doing so with an impulsive unpredictable client.
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30m ago
13:13
Who are the lawyers representing Trump in court?
Donald Trump has assembled a top legal team to fight this historic legal case.
Here are the main players who will be defending the former president, all of whom are no strangers to the limelight themselves…
Susan Necheles
Ms Necheles’s website describes her as a lawyer who has been “consistently recognised as one of New York’s top litigators”.
She once represented Genovese crime family underboss Venero “Benny Eggs” Mangano and defended the Trump Organisation in a criminal trial last year in which the company was convicted of a scheme to defraud tax authorities.
She’s earned a reputation for being deeply prepared for court appearances and particularly skilled in cross-examination of witnesses.
Joe Tacopina
Pic: AP
Pic: AP
Mr Tacopina, is a frequent cable news commentator who is accustomed to litigating in the media spotlight.
He has represented rapper Meek Mill, former Yankees baseball star Alex Rodriguez and Donald Trump Jr.’s fiancee Kimberly Guilfoyle.
Before the indictment he said that he was unafraid of controversial cases and that he and Trump have a relationship of “mutual respect”.
Mr Tacopina is also defending the former president in a defamation lawsuit from writer E. Jean Carroll over Trump’s denial of Carroll’s claim that he sexually assaulted her in the 1990s.
He is also the current chairman of Italian Serie B football club SPAL.
Todd Blanche
Pic: AP
Pic: AP
Mr Blanche is a former assistant US attorney in the southern district in Manhattan.
He resigned from his previous firm Cadwalader, Wickersham and Taft just yesterday to take on Trump’s case.
He said: “I have been asked to represent Trump in the recently charged DA case, and after much thought and consideration, I have decided it is the best thing for me to do and an opportunity I should not pass up.”
Mr Blanche has previously represented former Trump associate Paul Manafort and Igor Fruman, a onetime associate of Rudy Giuliani who pleaded guilty in a campaign finance case brought by the Manhattan US attorney’s office.
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31m ago
13:12
Trump looks defiant as he heads to court
The former president raised a fist as he exited Trump Tower to make his way to the courthouse in the last few moments.
In our first glimpse of the former president today, he showed no sign of nerves as he climbed into his car to head downtown.
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34m ago
13:09
Donald Trump leaves Trump Tower
The former president has left his penthouse apartment ahead of his appearance at a courthouse in lower Manhattan.
Flanked by secret service agents and his legal team, Donald Trump stepped into a waiting SUV.
He and his entourage are making their way from the skyscraper on 5th Avenue to the lower end of the island where he will be arraigned.
The trip is just under four miles – you can see the route below:
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40m ago
13:03
‘This is a show trial’: Trump spokesperson condemns prosecution
Liz Harrington, a spokesperson for Donald Trump, has accused the prosecution of being “completely corrupt” – and the case being like “something out of a dictatorship”.
She told Sky News: “It is certainly galvanising support but it’s certainly not good for the country.
“This isn’t just about prosecuting an innocent man like Donald Trump, it is damaging the United States of America past the point of no return.
“If they can do this to President Trump on a total sham bogus charge when he’s committed no crime, they can do it to anyone.
“People are waking up to the corruption and they won’t stand for it anymore.”
She added that the case is “humiliating” for the US.
“This is a show trial, that is exactly what this is,” Ms Harrington added.
She went on to suggest that if contesting the results of an election were a crime, then Hillary Clinton would be in jail.
“They wouldn’t be going after Donald Trump if he wasn’t ahead in the polls,” Ms Harrington added.
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50m ago
12:53
Melania Trump ‘spotted at Trump Tower’
We didn’t see much mention of Donald Trump’s wife, Melania, as he made his way from Florida to New York ahead of today’s court appearance.
But now, the Mirror appears to have photographs of the former first lady outside Trump Tower in New York City.
It’s not exactly clear when these images were taken – but they could suggest some unity in Team Trump for the historic occasion.
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57m ago
12:47
‘Sign the petition to stop persecution’ – Donald Trump Jr
Donald Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, has encouraged people to sign a petition to “stop the political persecution of President Trump”.
Posting on his Twitter and Truth Social page, Mr Trump linked to a American Centre for Law and Justice (ACLJ) petition, which has more than 69,000 signatures.
The ACLJ defines itself as a “constitutional public interest law firm” and says it alerts individual members of Congress and the media to influence change.
The petition calls the indictment of Trump a “despicable case of political prosecutors taking out candidates they don’t like”.
It adds that political prosecutions are something to expect in “third-world dictatorships, not America”.
The petition also takes a swipe at Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg, who, as we explained earlier, could become the first prosecutor anywhere to bring a criminal case against a former US president.
The petition is well on its way of reaching the goal of 100,000 signatures.
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1h ago
12:38
Lawyers for Trump might request recess if indictment is provided in court
The legal team representing Donald Trump in court could request a brief recess if the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office provides a copy of the indictment.
Joe Tacopina – one of Trump’s three lawyers – told our US partner network NBC that this time would be used to review the document, which has remained sealed.
A room close to the courtroom could be made available if such a request is made, a senior security official has confirmed.
Officials also said that the courthouse’s upper floors are being cleared, and will be subject to a security sweep before members of the media or ticketholders are admitted.
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1h ago
12:26
Trump to say ‘one brief line’ before entering courtroom – reports
There has been much speculation about whether or not Donald Trump will make remarks as he heads to face criminal charges in Manhattan today.
Advisers have now told CNN that he will likely deliver “brief comments” – thought to amount to “one line”.
Cameras will not be inside the courtroom today, but will be present in the hallways and en masse outside the building.
It’s not clear exactly where Trump is reportedly planning on making this short comment – but we should find out shortly.
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1h ago
12:20
Indictment has put Trump ‘back in the political game’
Michael Wolff, who has published several books on Donald Trump, has been speaking to Sky News this afternoon, as the former president’s court appearance draws nearer.
He said the crowds in New York will “warm his heart” – and the indictment has likely put him back in the political game.
“Let’s remember that Donald Trump has been in non-stop litigation for more than 50 years. None of this is new to him, he’s not unprepared as most of us would be,” Mr Wolff said.
“Donald Trump will be looking out on these crowds here and they will warm his heart.
“I think it has put him back into not only the game which a lot of people thought he was out of. I think he is back with gale winds at his back. From a political perspective all of this is good for him.”
Giving a glimpse of the inside of Trump’s penthouse, Mr Wolff added: “The most curious thing about his apartment is that it is split in half.
“On the one side is Trump world all in gold and, on the other side, is Melania world, which is actually kind of normal, even, I daresay, tasteful.”
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1h ago
12:09
Trump ‘has a videographer with him’
Donald Trump has reportedly had a cameraman travelling with him since he left his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Monday afternoon.
The videographer is there to record the “behind the scenes” of Trump’s surrender, CNN reports. This could mean that Trump is trying to make political capital from today’s events.
The cameraman is likely to accompany him to court, but it is unclear what he will be able to film, given the media restrictions.
A judge ruled yesterday that news outlets will not be allowed to broadcast the arraignment, but still photographs will be taken before the hearing begins.
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1h ago
11:55
Ex-Trump adviser calls case ‘arbitrary’ and ‘capricious’
Sam Nunberg, a former Trump campaign official and attorney, has told Sky News that he believes this prosecution is merely political.
He pointed to a poll, which found 40% of independents believe this is a political indictment – and 85% of Republicans feel the same way.
“You even have some Democrats saying that politics played a role in this charge,” Mr Nunberg said.
“I’m not here to defend this charge vis-a-vis 6 January, I don’t know if he’ll face charges from the Biden DoJ and I’m not here to defend him in regards to the documents issue.
“What I am here to say is that when it comes to this indictment… it is arbitrary, it is capricious.
“It is important to remember that this DA when he was campaigning specifically named Donald Trump and said he was going to prosecute Donald Trump and you can look at my history of prosecuting when it comes to the Trump Foundation.
“I would have no problem if DA [Alvin] Bragg said he had a history of prosecuting white collar crime, I don’t care who the defendant is, I’ll look at the facts, but he specifically named him and in New York City Donald Trump got less than 15% of the vote.”
He went on to claim: “The prosecutor is biased.”
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2h ago
11:40
Trump allies condemn potential gag order
Republican congressmen Jim Jordan and James Comer have released a joint statement expressing their concern over a potential gag order being placed on Donald Trump.
“To put any restrictions on the ability of President Trump to discuss his mistreatment at the hands of this politically motivated prosecutor would only further demonstrate the weaponisation of the New York justice system,” they wrote.
The judge could potentially issue a gag order, which would stop Trump talking publicly about the case if there was a “reasonable likelihood” it may prevent a fair trial.
Trump has vocally protested against the indictment on social media and warned of “potential death and destruction” if he was charged.
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2h ago
11:28
There will be no cameras in the courtroom – but could we hear from Trump?
Mark Stone, our US correspondent, is in New York at the moment – as we wait for Donald Trump to depart Trump Tower.
He says he spoke to a close adviser to Trump a few hours ago, to try and gain some clarity on what we might see from the former president inside court.
Although cameras have been banned from the courtroom, they are expected to be present in the hallways.
“There is a prospect that when Mr Trump enters the courthouse that he will – because of his nature – be drawn to those cameras to make some sort of comment,” Stone said.
“But the adviser that I spoke to within Team Trump wouldn’t be drawn on quite what we will see.”
The adviser also wouldn’t be drawn on what Trump’s mood is today – but we will find out shortly.
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2h ago
11:15
Love in the time of Trump
A happy couple had more than just their own wedding photographer waiting for them after they tied the knot in New York today.
Pictures on Twitter show a bride and groom posing for photographs right next to the hoards of journalists and cameramen gathered to cover Donald Trump’s indictment.
However, the bride’s beaming smile suggests the pair weren’t going to let the little matter of the first criminal indictment of a former president overshadow their big day.
