Donald Trump returns to Florida after being arraigned in a New York courthouse. He is the first US president to face criminal charges.
Look back on our blog to see how Wednesday's events unfolded.
Key events
Live updates
We'll leave our live coverage here
By Jessica Riga
Thanks for following along with us today, folks. If you're just joining us now, here's a quick recap to get you up to speed:
- Donald Trump has been formally charged with falsifying his business records in a bid to hide damaging information during the 2016 presidential election.
- At a hearing in New York City, Trump pleaded not guilty to all 34 counts, considered the lowest category of felony in the state of New York.
- In a meandering speech at his Mar-a-Lago residence, Trump denied all the charges against him, repeated false claims of voter fraud costing him the 2020 election, and claimed the indictment was part of a coordinated plot to derail his 2024 campaign.
Looking for more?
- 'It's his worst fear': The mood outside court as Trump heard his charges
- These are the key takeaways from his case
- ANALYSIS: Exiled from his home city and back in his gilded haven, Mar-a-Lago, a familiar Trump re-emerged
You can catch up on Wednesday's developments below, or download the ABC News app and subscribe to our range of news alerts for the latest news. Bye for now!
Exiled from his home city and back in his gilded haven, Mar-a-Lago, a familiar Trump re-emerged
By Jessica Riga
Despite a word of warning from a New York judge, Trump delivered an uncharacteristically short address that was lapped up by the watching crowd in Mar-a-Lago, writes North America correspondent Barbara Miller.
He took no questions from the dozens of media crowded at the back of the room.
Perhaps in that respect, he was acting on the advice of lawyers, who must surely be worried that his troubles could quickly extend beyond the 34 charges.
If it pained him not to be able to spar with the crowd he loves to call the "fake news media", it didn't show.
This though is the President who thrived on lengthy, combative press conferences.
You can continue reading this analysis piece below.
What happens now that Donald Trump pleads not guilty?
By Jessica Riga
Donald Trump's potential trial could be more than a year away, if it gets to that point, and all of it will take place against the back drop of an election campaign.
Here's what you need to know about what happens next.
What are Trump's 34 charges and is there merit to them?
By Shiloh Payne
Associate Professor Margaret Russell breaks down the criminal charges the former US President faces.
Trump's speech was over in less than 25 minutes
By Jessica Riga
North America correspondent Barbara Miller was in the room during that Mar-a-Lago speech which she describes as "classic Donald Trump."
Just in: Liberals win Wisconsin Supreme Court vote
By Jessica Riga
Wisconsin voters have elected liberal Janet Protasiewicz to the state Supreme Court, flipping control to a liberal majority ahead of rulings on an abortion ban and other matters that could play a role in the 2024 presidential election.
The Associated Press has called the race in favor of Protasiewicz. With 662 per cent of the votes counted, Protasiewicz had 56.4 per cent of the vote to 43.6 per cent for conservative candidate Daniel Kelly, a lead of nearly 144,000 votes.
Democrats asserted a Kelly victory could have endangered democracy itself in Wisconsin, noting that a lawsuit from Donald Trump challenging his presidential election loss to Joe Biden in 2020 came within one vote of succeeding at the court.
Meanwhile, Wisconsin voters have been heading to the polls. Here's why that's important
By Jessica Riga
At first glance, this might seem slightly unrelated to Donald Trump's current situation.
But right now Wisconsin residents are voting in a new state Supreme Court justice in an election that will determine the future of abortion rights statewide and could have a significant impact on the 2024 election.
The contest between liberal Janet Protasiewicz and conservative Daniel Kelly is the most expensive judicial election in US history, with nearly $45 million spent, far outstripping the previous record of $15.2 million.
The winner will determine whether the court maintains its current 4-3 conservative majority or flips to liberal control.
Abortion has dominated the campaign, with the court expected in the coming months to decide whether to uphold the state's 1849 abortion ban.
The election's outcome also holds major implications for the political future of the battleground state.
Just as it did in 2020, the court could issue crucial voting decisions before and after the 2024 presidential election, when Wisconsin is again poised to be a vital swing state.
Watch: Donald Trump potentially faces further legal trouble after Florida address
By Shiloh Payne
Professor Joe Siracusa says Trump's remarks after facing the New York court could incur contempt-of-court and obstruction-of-justice charges.
Watch: Trump brands criminal charges as 'election interference'
By Jessica Riga
Why is this all happening now?
By Shiloh Payne
I don’t see anywhere in the coverage why the court case is happening now?!? Feeds into the election interference line he has but could it have happened sooner!?
- Julie
Hi Julie,
Alvin Bragg mentioned this in his press conference earlier.
He said that he "brings cases when they are ready".
Here's how Bragg explained it:
"We conducted a thorough investigation at the Manhattan District Attorney's office."
"I have been doing this for 24 years and I am no stranger to rigorous, complex investigations."
Trump has now concluded his speech
By Shiloh Payne
Trump ended his speech with an election pitch.
Trump: 'There is no case'
By Shiloh Payne
Trump says New York's district attorney is charging "a former president of the United States for the first time in history on a basis that every single pundit and legal analyst said there is no case."
"They kept saying there's no case," Trump says.
"Everybody said this is not really an indictment. Our lawyers came to me and they said there's nothing here. They're not even saying what you did."
Trump's got an engaged crowd
By Jessica Riga
Donald Trump is addressing a crowded ballroom inside his Mar-a-Lago estate.
His speech is punctuated by cheers of applause and booing from the audience.
His entrance had all the hallmarks of previous Trump appearances, with the former US president entering the room as Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA played.
Trump mentions classified documents investigation
By Shiloh Payne
Trump is dedicating the beginning of his speech to mentioning ongoing investigations, including the one looking into his conduct relating to classified documents.
"Apparently, they're not looking at me through the view of the non-criminal Presidential Records Act," he says.
"And they're looking at me through the Espionage Act."
Trump says this is 'election interference'
By Jessica Riga
"I never thought anything like this could happen in America," Donald Trump starts.
"Never thought it could happen. The only crime that I have committed is to fearlessly defend our nation from those who seek to destroy it."
Trump is speaking now
By Shiloh Payne
You can watch the beginning of Trump's speech on our ABC News Channel stream.
Here's who we can see in the room
By Jessica Riga
Donald Trump Jr has arrived, as has Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene.
We're expecting Trump to speak shortly
By Shiloh Payne
Trump is expected to speak from Mar-a-Lago in the next 10 minutes.
We'll bring you the latest from his speech here.
Trump supporters are piling into Mar-a-Largo
By Shiloh Payne
Some attendees have pimped out their outfits with words in support of Trump.
How much jail time could Trump face?
By Shiloh Payne
Do you we know what the maximum sentence/fines are if Trump is convicted?
- Hayden
Hi Hayden.
Each count of Trump's 34 charges has a maximum sentence of four years.
But the charges don't carry a mandatory prison sentence.
A judge might conclude that a first-time offender with no criminal record should face a fine or community service instead.
Trump's lawyers intend to file to have the charges dismissed.
