Trump arraignment: A defiant ex-president pleads 'not guilty' to felony charges in New York

• Trump looked unhappy as he sat in court waiting to hear the charges against him for the first time.
• The former president pleaded not guilty before New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan.
• Trump faces 34 felony counts after a probe into a 2016 "hush-money" payment to Stormy Daniels.

A series of historic firsts for any former president — a first court hearing on criminal charges, a first public appearance while in custody, a first-ever not-guilty plea — was over in just an hour during Donald Trump's arraignment in a Manhattan courtroom on Tuesday.

"Not guilty," Trump  said in a firm voice before New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan upon hearing the charges against in him in the 34-count felony indictment for first-degree falsifying business records.

He walked slowly in and out of the courtroom uncuffed with a Secret Service escort. The case was adjourned to December 4. 

Though the appearance and booking each took an hour, news of the arraignment has been "looming" for weeks. 

Trump attorneys Joe Tacopina, Susan Necheles, and Todd Blanche referred to their client throughout the proceeding as "President Trump." But to the judge he was simply "Mr. Trump."

To prosecutors he was "the defendant." Assistant District Attorney Christopher Conroy told the judge that Trump falsfied business records "to undermine the integrity of the 2016 election."

Conroy called the hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels allegedly to silence her ahead of that contest "covert and illegal" and said it was made "to avoid negative attention."

He also complained about Trump's "irresponsible social media posts."

Trump "threatened potential death and destruction. And that's a quote," Conroy told the judge.

The ex-president also threatened "World War III," he said, "and that's another quote."

Conroy specifically mentioned an image Trump re-Truthed showing himself "weilding a baseball bat at the head of the district attorney." 

He cited such escalating rhetoric in asking the judge to bar Trump from publicizing discovery material from the case, including grand jury witness testimony transcripts.  

The attorney stressed that Trump's rhetoric would not stop the DA's office from doing its job but raises "individual and public safety concerns."

Prior to his surrender, the former president departed his Mar-a-Lago estate in South Florida on Monday and arrived at Trump Tower.

Reporters and members of the public started congregating outside the downtown Manhattan criminal courthouse Monday afternoon in preparation for the historic arraignment.

A morning rally nearby in support of Trump drew GOP Reps. George Santos and Marjorie Taylor Greene, both of whom left within minutes. Members of the media far outnumbered Trump supporters, despite Trump's calls for "protest."

Trump and his defense lawyers maintain he has done nothing wrong and is facing political persecution.