'Can't Believe This Is Happening In America' ...Trump Defiant As He Denies 34 Charges

'$30,000 Paid to doorman who claimed tycoon fathered love child'

- Christopher Bucktin

DONALD Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of fraud yesterday as he became the first former US president to face criminal prosecution.

Among the allegations was one that $30,0000 hush money was paid to a doorman who claimed Trump had fathered a child out of wedlock.

In an extraordinary moment, the ex-president was fingerprinted before entering his pleas but was spared the humiliation of having his mugshot taken.

The tycoon, 76, appeared before Judge Juan Merchan at Manhattan Criminal Courthouse and was arraigned, before speaking to enter his pleas.

Each of the counts against him carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison. The former president arrived in a motorcade of 11 vehicles before he was formally arrested.

During the hearing, the judge warned Trump about his use of language following a stream of extraordinary social media posts earlier. The businessman had expressed his disbelief at what was happening in the moments before he walked into court on his Truth Social network.