Former President Donald Trump, who was the first criminally prosecuted among US presidents, appeared in front of Trump Tower in Manhattan, New York, where he was staying, to head to the court around 1:00 pm on the 4th (local time).
Former President Trump was seen waving and clenching his fists at the waiting cameras and supporters before boarding the vehicle to the courthouse.
A total of 10 vehicles, including Secret Service vehicles, were mobilized to escort former President Trump. He was escorted by Secret Service agents into the car.
The distance from Trump Tower to the Manhattan courthouse is 6.4 km, and it takes only a few minutes to travel. New York police controlled traffic on the road where former President Trump’s vehicle passed.
It is said that in front of the Manhattan courthouse, supporters of former President Trump, protesters calling for Trump’s arrest, reporters, and ordinary citizens were mixed and showed a chaotic appearance.
Former President Trump, who got off in front of the courthouse, stopped for a moment as he headed toward the building and waved to the gathered crowd. The BBC expressed that former President Trump’s expression looked serious. Reporter Michael Gold of the New York Times (NYT) said in a Twitter post, “Trump did not answer reporters’ questions as he entered the courtroom.”
Since live broadcasting of the situation inside the courtroom was prohibited on this day, the situation inside the courtroom was conveyed through articles posted on social media by reporters who had applied in advance and were allowed to attend the courtroom.
During the prosecution process, which lasted about 50 minutes, former President Trump was reported to have remained silent except for a short answer of “yes” when Judge Juan Mercheon read the defendant’s rights and asked, “Do you understand?” “Trump sat with his hands clasped and his elbows on the table and listened as prosecutors began to explain (the charges),” post-NYT reporter Rubier Mecko tweeted. At one point, next to his lawyer, Joe Tacopina, he suddenly took out a paper and started writing something with a pen.”
Meanwhile, former President Trump is known to have been scheduled to take a mugshot (a facial photo for identification of the criminal) at the Manhattan District Prosecutor’s Office before arriving at Manhattan Court, but it is said to have been cancelled. It is said that the judicial authorities made this decision because they were concerned about the possibility of the mugshot being leaked to the outside.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.