New York: Donald Trump brought himself in on Tuesday for a historic court hearing in New York that was held amid high security and media frenzy around the world. The Republican billionaire is the first American president to ever be charged with a crime.
The hearing which is being shown live on television and features competing demonstrators rallying outside, is a turning point in US criminal and political history that could completely alter the 2024 presidential election, in which Trump is presently the presumptive Republican contender.
The 76-year-old is expected to plead not guilty to a number of allegations involving hush money given to a porn star prior to the 2016 election that put him in office.
"Seems so SURREAL -- WOW, they are going to ARREST ME," Trump posted on his Truth Social app as he headed to the courthouse from Trump Tower, where he spent the night after flying from Florida.
The twice-impeached Republican is the first American president, current or past, to be charged with a crime, a development that has thrust the country into uncharted political territory. Police lined the streets while helicopters buzzed in the skies as Trump's motorcade made the short drive to court, carried live on US networks although cameras will not be allowed for the hearing itself.
After getting out of his car and entering the premises while being guarded by the US Secret Service, Trump waved to his followers. He was not taken on a "perp walk," in which a defendant is led past news cameras while being restrained.
The former president was due to undergo the standard booking procedure of being fingerprinted - and potentially photographed, which would result in an alltime famous mug shot - at the Manhattan District Attorney's office.