Former President Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2016.
Arraigned at the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse, Trump left his home at Trump Tower and waved to waiting cameras before getting into his car.
The legal troubles, media spectacle, and porn-star-hush-money salaciousness are a new chapter for the New York tycoon turned TV star turned politician.
Unlike his bankrupted casinos or failed marriages, many of Trump’s supporters and detractors argue that the fate of American democracy is hanging in the balance as the former president increasingly conflates any legal woes as an effort to illegitimately deny him a return to power.
With the failures of Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot still fresh in officials’ minds, security was high in the courthouse and nearby areas.
This latest development in the case will undoubtedly increase attention on the former president, who remains a highly polarizing figure in American politics.
The outcome of the trial could have far-reaching consequences, not only for Trump and the Republican Party but also for future American presidents.
The case raises important questions about the limits of presidential power and the role of the courts in holding elected officials accountable.
Regardless of the outcome, the trial is likely to be a defining moment in the history of American politics.