Former US President Donald Trump hit with 34 felony charges, leaves court after pleading not guilty

Former US President Donald Trump has arrived at the district attorney’s office in Manhattan, New York, CNN reports.

He will be in custody until he is arraigned. It is expected that Trump will be fingerprinted. Usually, a mugshot is taken during the proceedings, but the former president is likely to skip this step, CNN reports.

UPDATED 10:38 PM
Donald Trump has left a Manhattan courtroom after his arraignment, CNN reports. The former president pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts.

After Trump is presented with his charges, he may be released on bail.

On 31 March, Trump was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury. The indictment makes Trump the first former or current president of the US to face criminal charges. According to CNN, Trump was indicted on more than 30 counts related to business fraud.

According to CNN and The New York Times, Trump has been under investigation for his relations with porn star Stormy Daniels. According to court filings, Trump’s then-personal attorney Michael Cohen paid Daniels $130,000 of hush money a month before the 2016 elections so she would not make the information about her alleged affair with Trump in 2006 public. In 2006, Donald and Melania Trump welcomed their son Barron.