US Prosecutors Hold Press Conference at New York Criminal Court
Trump Leaves Court Without Statement
Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan District Attorney who indicted former U.S. President Donald Trump, stated, "Seven years before the election, former President Trump paid hush money in three separate cases related to sexual misconduct scandals."
On the 4th (local time), Alvin Bragg held a press conference at the New York City Criminal Court, saying, "During the 2016 presidential election, former President Trump committed a crime by hiding unfavorable information from voters," and added, "He repeatedly forged corporate documents to cover this up."
Former porn actress Stormy Daniels (left in the photo) and Karen McDougal. [Photo source= SNS capture]
In this press conference held immediately after completing the indictment procedure against former President Trump, DA Bragg said that the 'hush money suspicions' involve three cases, more than previously known.
In addition to the already known case where $130,000 (about 170 million KRW) was paid just before the election in 2006 to former porn actress Stormy Daniels to prevent her from revealing an extramarital affair, it was revealed that $30,000 was also paid to a New York Trump Tower doorman who claimed that "Trump has an illegitimate child."
Alvin Bragg, Manhattan District Attorney, holding a press conference after the indictment procedure of Trump [Photo by Reuters·Yonhap News]
Furthermore, the criminal case files include that $150,000 (about 200 million KRW) was paid to Playboy model Karen McDougal, who was once in an affair, through a tabloid run by one of Trump's friends.
DA Bragg stated, "Under New York State law, forging corporate documents with the intent to conceal and deceive about other crimes is a felony," and claimed, "Former President Trump created 34 false documents to hide other crimes."
Trump Shows Uncharacteristically Tight-Lipped Demeanor in Court
Former President Trump, the first U.S. president to be criminally indicted, appeared unusually tight-lipped at the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York on that day.
Wearing his signature navy suit and red tie, former President Trump sat with his legal team in the defendant's seat arranged in the front row of the courtroom.
The New York Times (NYT) reported that aside from denying the charges during the indictment procedure, former President Trump remained silent.
During the indictment procedure that lasted about 50 minutes, Trump gave only the minimum necessary responses. After the procedure, he did not make any statements to the media or supporters and immediately boarded a vehicle to LaGuardia Airport in New York.
Meanwhile, Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over the indictment procedure, announced that the court will hear arguments from both the prosecution and defense again on December 4.
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