By PRFSU Writers 2023-2024 
Grant Golin
Former President Donald Trump surrendered to New York authorities on Tuesday afternoon to face 34 felony counts in the first degree relating to hush money payments made to an adult film star prior to the 2016 presidential election. Trump allegedly had an affair with Stormy Daniels, an adult film actress, in 2006. When Trump was taken into custody, he was taken to the district attorney’s office on the seventh floor of the court building to be processed, which included being fingerprinted.
Shortly before 2:30 p.m., the former president was brought to the fifteenth floor of the criminal court building and brought before Justice Juan M. Merchan for his charges to be read to him. Trump did not deliver a short statement to members of the press before he was brought into the courtroom, contrary to reporting prior to his arraignment.
Before the arraignment began, several pool photographers were allowed into the courtroom to take photographs. Trump pleaded not guilty to all 34 criminal counts. While falsifying business records is typically a misdemeanor under New York state law, it can be raised to a felony if the falsification of those business records was used to commit or cover up a different crime. A conviction of Trump could result in up to four years in prison.
The indictment lays out the statutes under which Trump was criminally charged and links hush money payments to specific dates on which they were made. According to the indictment, by falsifying business records relating to the hush money payments, Trump also violated election laws because those payments were made to influence the 2016 election with the intention of covering up his alleged affair with an adult film star.
Upon his release from custody, Trump flew back to Palm Beach. He is expected to deliver remarks from his Mar-a-Lago estate at 8:15 p.m.
The full indictment can be read here.