Donald Trump Flanked by his Three  Attorneys at the Start of his Arraignment This Afternoon, the First Time Trump Has Been Seen Publicly as a Criminal  Defendant.

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg at a Press Conference Following Trump’s Arraignment in New York City This Afternoon. Bragg Attended Harvard Law School and was Raised in Harlem.

“Trump Arrested” – Just One of Many Signs at Trump’s Arrest Earlyh This Afternoon in New York City.

At 2:28 PM, a somber looking Donald Trump left his fingerprinting and arrest session for his arraignment in a courtroom in downtown New York City.  The arraignment started about 15 minutes late and lasted longer than is normal – almost an hour.

Prior to his arraignment, cable news pundits pointed out that today is Trump’s day of reckoning after years of not being held accountable for his alleged criminal behavior.  Trump initiated a fund raising appeal with a T-shirt and a manufactured picture of him on it. It was not the court’s mug shot  because no mug shot was taken of Trump by the court during his booking this afternoon.

A reporter who witnessed the arriagnment reported that Trump has been charged with 34 felony counts. They falsify business records to cover-jup oher crimes.  Those other crimes were not named in the indictment to the disappointment of some.  Those other crimes are what some had hoped to learn more than they did from the indictment.

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg expressed concern about the threats by Trump to Bragg and his wife, including the photo of Trump with a bat directed at Bragg, threats to the Judge, his family and impact on potential juriors and witnesses  in the indictment..  Bragg sought guarantees of safety protections from Trump and his allies during the legal entanglements to come.

Cable news pundits who are also experenced attorneys said that felony counts mean the case goes way beyond hush money for Stormy Daniels and another woman.   It could extend to tax and conspirancy issues in the indictment against Trump, although as stated previously,  that was not made public in the indictment.

At 3:25 Trump left his arraignment after pleading “not guilty.”  Notable has been the lack of protests in the streets of New York City, despite Trump’s call for protests in opposition to his indictment by Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg.