Trump rails against 'criminal' Alvin Bragg in address to nation following arraignment

During CNN's wall-to-wall coverage of Trump's arraignment, former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe called Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's indictments a "disappointment." 

"If I had to characterize it, it's disappointment. I think everyone was hoping we would see more about the direction that they intend to take this prosecution. What is the legal theory that ties that very solid misdemeanor case 34 counts of misdemeanors to the intent to conceal another crime, which is what makes it a felony?" McCabe said.

"It simply isn't there. Now, it's possible that the DA has an elaborate and solid theory that's backed up by a lot of evidence, and he has just decided to conceal that at this point. That would be a strange decision on his part, but nevertheless I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt. At the end of the day if all of our legal friends read this indictment and don't see a way to have felony, it's hard to imagine convincing a jury that they should get there."

Former President Donald Trump addressed the nation Tuesday evening after pleading "not guilty" to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records during his arraignment in a New York courtroom.

Trump took to the stage, surrounded by a cheering crowd of supporters, after returning to his Mar-a-Lago, Florida home.

In the speech, he called called for New York district attorney Alvin Bragg, who he called a "criminal," to face charges over leaked details of his indictment.

Trump also suggested the case was brought to interfere with the 2024 presidential election, and said it had been "hell" on his family.

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., called for New York district attorney Alvin Bragg to be disbarred and removed from office following Tuesday's arraignment of former President Trump.

"Alvin Bragg should be disbarred and removed from office. This is an egregious abuse of the legal system for political purposes and threatens the fabric of our judicial system," Massie tweeted.

Prominent liberals in news media, Hollywood and on social media took to Twitter Tuesday to celebrate the arrest of former President Donald Trump.

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Tuesday was a frustrating day for supporters of the former president who believe that the charges brought against him by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg constitute a political hit job carried out to hobble his presidential campaign. But liberals celebrated the day. 

The Nation correspondent and frequent MSNBC guest Elie Mystal expressed sincere gratitude for the Manhattan District Attorney making the indictment and arrest happen. 

He tweeted, "Just want to put down the 3d chess board for a second and give Alvin Bragg his flowers for finally getting this done. MANY law enforcement officials and agencies have had probable cause to do this over the last 40 years. Bragg finally did it."

Former President Trump’s allies in Congress say his Tuesday arrest in New York City is an attack on the rule of law and the U.S. justice system, after they embattled Republican leader plead "not guilty" to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.

Many also heaped criticism on District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who brought the case against Trump, and accused him of being funded and controlled by billionaire Democratic donor George Soros.

"The arrest and arraignment of former President Donald Trump by a left-wing Soros prosecutor today is making a mockery of the rule of law. Not only is the indictment frivolous, this political persecution marks a dark day for our country," Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said soon after the ex-commander-in-chief turned himself in to a downtown Manhattan courthouse.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., on Tuesday called for cool heads and a fair legal process shortly after Donald Trump made history as the first former president ever to face criminal charges.

"I believe that Mr. Trump will have a fair trial that follows the facts and the law," Schumer said in a statement. "There’s no place in our justice system for any outside influence or intimidation in the legal process. As the trial proceeds, protest is an American right but all protests must be peaceful."

New York Times reporter Michael Shear had a heated clash with White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre over what he suggested was the Biden administration's selective silence when it comes to responding to legal matters involving former President Trump. 

At Tuesday's White House press briefing, Jean-Pierre repeatedly deflected questions about the 34 felony charges Trump is facing leveled by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg involving the 2016 hush money payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels.

However, Shear grilled her what "the difference" was between commenting on the Trump indictment versus the White House's outspokenness about Jan. 6, which involved hundreds of criminal probes. 

Jean-Pierre responded by referring to Jan. 6 as a "devastating day" which led to law enforcement being "attacked" and called the events an "attack on democracy."

Donald Trump's lawyer Susan Necheles sat beside him Tuesday when he was arraigned in a New York City courtroom on an indictment stemming from hush money payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels and other alleged crimes.

Necheles is one of three attorneys defending the former president, who pleaded not guilty in Manhattan Supreme Court to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records – a prosecution that he has called a politically driven "witch-hunt."

To Trump's right at the defense table sat Necheles and Todd Blanche and to his left, Joe Tacopina. 

The motley group of veteran attorneys, who are squaring off for an epic fight against Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, couldn't be more eclectic. 

President Biden chuckled after a reporter questioned him on the political implications of his predecessor being indicted on Tuesday.

Biden gave remarks in the State Dining Room at the White House prior to a meeting with the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology on "the opportunities and the risks of artificial intelligence." After he concluded, reporters shouted out questions, including one about the indictment of former President Trump.

"Is the indictment of your predecessor politically divisive?" a reporter asked.

Biden did not directly respond to the question but instead appeared to snicker as reporters were ushered out of the room for the meeting to begin.

Former President Donald Trump and his Attorney General William Barr have not had a warm relationship since leaving the White House, but following the unsealing of the ex-president's indictment, Barr told Fox News it is clear his former boss is being treated "unjustly."

"As people know, I've had my differences with the president -- But in this situation, I think he's being unjustly treated just as he was by the Russiagate scam and the whole idea of the ‘Resistance’. So I feel bad that this has happened," Barr said Tuesday on "The Story."

"I don't think it's justified. And so at that very human level, I feel bad for him."

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., applauded what she called "social consequences" for Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., Tuesday, after the GOP congresswoman led a New York City rally protesting the indictment of former President Donald Trump. 

Trump was indicted by a grand jury Thursday over alleged hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal during the 2016 campaign cycle. The former president arrived in New York Monday ahead of his court appearance, prompting political protests to break out in the streets outside the courthouse.

With a megaphone in hand, Greene led a rally outside the New York City courthouse to protest the indictment and support Trump before his arraignment Tuesday, but progressive representative AOC blasted her efforts as "shameless bigotry."

Former President Donald Trump was charged Tuesday in a Manhattan court with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree.

Trump, the leading Republican in the 2024 race for the White House, pleaded not guilty to the charges and shortly after departed from New York City for his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

The charges, which are related to hush money payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign, came out of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's years-long investigation.

Former President Donald Trump took to social media following his Tuesday arraignment to rip New York district attorney Alvin Bragg and porn actress Stormy Daniels.

"The hearing was shocking to many in that they had no 'surprises,' and therefore, no case. Virtually every legal pundit has said that there is no case here. There was nothing done illegally!" Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

"Alvin Bragg shut down New York City, brought in 38,000 NYPD officers, and will spend an estimated $200,000,000 of NYC funds, for a totally legal $130,000 NDA. On top of all that, the 9th Circuit Court just awarded me $122,000 — over the $500,000 already awarded, from Stormy 'Horseface' Daniels!" he wrote.

Trump also said he was on his way back to his home in Palm Beach, Florida and would be delivering remarks from Mar-a-Lago at 8:15 p.m. ET.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg alleged Tuesday that former President Donald Trump conducted a "catch and kill" scheme to suppress negative information about himself during the 2016 presidential election.

Bragg's comments, delivered during a press conference Tuesday following Trump's historic arraignment, shed additional light on the charges levied against the former commander-in-chief. The indictment in the case, unsealed during the arraignment, includes 34 felony counts for falsification of business records.

Bragg alleged that Trump falsified business documents between 2015 and 2017 to hide payments to individuals, including adult film actress Stormy Daniels, with negative information about Trump, thereby "catching" the information and "killing" it with hush money payments.

Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, slammed Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg following former President Trump's arraignment on Tuesday.

“I believe President Trump’s character and conduct make him unfit for office. Even so, I believe the New York prosecutor has stretched to reach felony criminal charges in order to fit a political agenda," Romney said in a statement.

"No one is above the law, not even former presidents, but everyone is entitled to equal treatment under the law. The prosecutor’s overreach sets a dangerous precedent for criminalizing political opponents and damages the public’s faith in our justice system," he said.

“The charges and evidence will be duly considered and the outcome decided by a jury with an obligation to fulfill its responsibility with the utmost care and impartiality. The American voters will ultimately render their own judgment on the former President’s political future," he said.

He then called on all elected leaders to "discourage violence and anger" as a response to the charges against Trump.

Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday was awarded nearly $122,000 in attorney fees from Stormy Daniels, the porn star at the center of hush money payment during the 2016 campaign. 

The former president’s son, Eric Trump, tweeted that the 9th Circuit has awarded Donald Trump $121,962.56 in attorney fees from Daniels. 

The younger Trump said that amount was in addition to the roughly half a million that she already owes his father. 

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-NY, tore into the "shameful arrest" of former President Donald Trump on Tuesday, calling it an "unprecedented and chilling chapter" in the abuse of the legal system by left-wing officials.

"The shameful arrest of President Trump is an unprecedented and chilling chapter in the Left’s weaponization of the justice system against their leading political opponent," she said.

Trump was arraigned Tuesday in a NYC courtroom and faces 34 charges related to falsifying business records.

Trump and Republican allies have accused the Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg of launching a politicized attack on Trump -- who is running for president in 2024.

Stefanik echoed those attacks.

"This dangerous and illegal overreach by a radical DA has completely backfired for the corrupt Far Left Democrats who would rather desperately tear apart the fabric of our country than face President Trump at the ballot box," Stefanik said.

"The American people are smart, and they know this is politically charged and that President Trump will defeat these charges in court and turn the tables on the Far Left Democrats by exposing their corruption and abuse of power," she said. "President Trump continues to skyrocket in the polls, and just like with the Russia hoax and both sham impeachments, President Trump will defeat this latest witch-hunt, defeat Joe Biden, and will be sworn in as President of the United States of America in January 2025."

Former President Donald Trump took off from LaGuardia Airport for the return journey to Florida after his arraignment in a New York court on Tuesday.

The former president pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts related to accounting of alleged hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels at the height of the 2016 election.

Trump is expected to speak to reporters from his Mar-a-Lago home later Tuesday evening.

Some legal experts had speculated before Tuesday’s arraignment that Trump may be subject to a gag order limiting what he could publicly say about the case, but Justice Juan Merchan, who presided over the proceedings, declined to put the restriction in place.