Trump charged with 34 felony counts in hush money scheme

Continued from A1 cover up an effort to illegally influence the 2016 election by arranging payments that silenced claims potentially harmful to his candidacy. It includes 34 counts of fudging records related to checks Trump sent to his personal lawyer and problem-solver to reimburse him for his role in paying off a porn actor who said she had an extramarital sexual encounter with Trump years earlier.

“The defendant, Donald J. Trump, falsified

New York business records in order to conceal an illegal conspiracy to undermine the integrity of the 2016 presidential election and other violations of election laws,” said Assistant District Attorney Christopher Conroy.

Mr. Trump, somber and silent as he entered and exited the Manhattan courtroom, said “not guilty” in a firm voice while facing a judge who warned him to refrain from rhetoric that could inflame or cause civil unrest. All told, the ever-verbose Mr. Trump, who for weeks before Tuesday’s arraignment had assailed the case against him as political persecution, uttered only 10 words in the courtroom. He appeared to glare for a period at Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, the prosecutor who brought the case.

As he returned to his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, where he delivered a primetime address to hundreds of supporters, Mr. Trump again protested his innocence and asserted on his Truth Social platform that the “hearing was shocking to many in that they had no ‘surprises,’ and therefore, no case.”

In his speech, Mr. Trump lashed out anew at the prosecution and attacked in bitter terms the prosecutor and the judge presiding over the case despite being admonished hours earlier about incendiary rhetoric. In a sign of that other probes are weighing on him, Mr. Trump also steered his speech into a broadside against a separate Justice Department investigation into the mishandling of classified documents.

“I never thought anything like this could happen in America,” Mr. Trump said of the New York indictment. “This fake case was brought only to interfere with the upcoming 2024 election and it should be dropped immediately.”

Bubba’s Block Party

Nascar driver Bubba Wallace was back in town for his second block party at Richmond Raceway on March 31. Despite the rain, Mr. Wallace took the stage to share what he enjoys about Richmond during his “Bubba’s Block Party.” Partygoers stood in line for the party’s various food trucks outside of the amphitheater and free performances by The Art of Noise and Backyard Band that were inside the facility. Mr. Wallace raced Sunday, April 2, in the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway. Will Spencer, center, of Chesterfield, a diehard NASCAR and Bubba Wallace fan, brought his nephews, brothers Taio Merrill, 9, left, and Will Spencer, 11 to the block party. Virginia artist Gina Net painted a stylized portrait of Bubba Wallace and had him sign it during the block party.

Maymont’s spring break includes baby goats and three little chicks

Nature Center will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., to take in the arrival of five baby goats and three Brahma chicks to the Maymont Farm. Also, the Dominion Energy Family Easter returns on April 8. With the arrival of spring, free exploration of the Maymont grounds is available 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Free parking is available at the Farm lot at 1001 Spottswood Road. General admission is free, though a $5 donation is suggested and welcome. For more information, visit www. maymont.org

Being seen, being heard

Bri (they/them) helped organize the Transgender Day of Visibility that took place March 31 at Monroe Park. “The point of today is showing up for trans youths and trans community as a whole,” said Bri, 23. “We’re not looking for a win, we just want a chance to live so we can find our happiness, comfort, and joy.” Shannon McKay, (she/her) executive director of He She Ze and We, distributes pins for the Transgender Day of Visibility to make known resources She Ze and We provides for the transgender community and others in need.

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