Former President Donald Trump turned himself into a Manhattan court today. This makes him the first U.S. president to be charged with a crime. Trump is facing over 30 counts related to business fraud, following an investigation into a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels days before the 2016 election.
Trump’s legal team is gearing up for a legal fight. “The team will look at every potential issue that we will be able to challenge and we will challenge,” said Joe Tacopina, Trump’s defense lawyer.
Trump has also been active on his social media platform, Truth Social, calling the Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, politically motivated and claiming that the judge overseeing his case “Hates Him.”
“I would be mindful of not committing some other criminal offense like obstruction of governmental administration, which is interfering with — by threat or otherwise — the operation of government,” said former Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance. His comments could strengthen the case against him.
With political campaigning underway for 2024, Trump is expected to return to Mar-a-Lago, where he is planning to give a primetime speech.
This story was updated at 2:40 p.m. to reflect current events.
