Donald Trump left his New York skyscraper Tuesday to turn himself in for a historic court appearance on criminal charges that threaten to upend the 2024 White House race.
Trump departed Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue to make the six-mile (10-kilometer) journey to the courthouse where he is set to plead not guilty to dozens of counts over hush money paid to a porn star.
The twice-impeached Republican is the first sitting or former American president to be criminally indicted — a development that has propelled the United States into uncharted political waters.
Amid ramped-up security and a global media frenzy, the 76-year-old will learn at his arraignment precisely what charges he faces over the payment made ahead of the 2016 election that brought him to power.
Trump claims he is the victim of “political persecution” — but is also using the court case to energize his support base and raise millions of dollars for his bid to reclaim the White House next year.
He plans to speak to reporters as he walks through the hallways toward court, one of his lawyers told CNN.
“THE RADICAL LEFT DEMOCRATS HAVE CRIMINALIZED THE JUSTICE SYSTEM,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social hours before the hearing, branding the legal proceedings a “kangaroo court.”
Police lined the streets while helicopters buzzed in the skies as Trump’s motorcade began the historic drive that was being carried live on US networks. Video cameras, however, will not be allowed inside the courtroom.
Culled From AFP
