Donald Trump, who is the first former president in US history to face criminal charges, has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony fraud counts of falsifying business records in the first degree.
According to the ABC, Trump was released without a requirement to post bail.
The charges were related to alleged payments made during Trump’s election campaign of 2016.
According to a statement of facts, Trump allegedly made hush money payments to two women and a doorman who claimed to have a story about a child Trump had out of wedlock.
The statement alleges Trump signed checks reimbursing his former fixer, Michael Cohen, for paying off the women and the doorman, but that his business records listed these as payments for Mr Cohen’s legal services.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg told reporters that the New York state law sees falsifying business records intending to defraud and to conceal another crime, as a felony.
“That is exactly what this case is about — 34 false statements made to cover up other crimes,” Mr Bragg said.
Mr Trump’s next court appearance was set for December 4.
“We’re going to fight it. We’re going to fight it hard,” was the response to the press from one of his lawyers, Todd Blanche.
Trump could face further criminal charges in at least two separate investigations, including one in Georgia and another relating to classified documents seized at Mar-a-Lago.
Source: ABC
