For the first time in US history, a former president surrendered to law enforcement and was arrested.

The arraignment of Donald Trump on Tuesday pushed the US criminal justice system into a new area, testing the durability of court rules and legal processes that apply to all Americans, this time the nation’s 45th chief executive.

In a televised spectacle, rival protesters rallied outside the hearing, marking a watershed moment for America’s criminal and political systems, threatening to upend Trump’s 2024 White House race, now the presumptive Republican nominee.

In a charge unsealed Tuesday, Bragg charged Trump with 34 felony counts of falsifying New York business records through a “catch and kill” scheme designed to conceal damaging information and illegal activities ahead of the 2016 election.

Trump pleaded not guilty to each charge before Judge Juan Merchan.

The crux of the case was the $130,000 hush money paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels by Trump’s then-agent Michael Cohen. Prosecutors also outlined a $30,000 payment to a former Trump Tower doorman “who claimed to have a story about Trump’s illegitimate children.”

They cited another $150,000 payment to former Playboy model Karen McDougall to keep her quiet about an alleged extramarital affair before the 2016 election. The last two payments were facilitated by American Media Inc, which owns and operates the National Enquirer tabloid, prosecutors said.

There is no state law prohibiting the payment of hush money. But Bragg said Trump falsified business records by concealing his monthly reimbursement payments to Cohen as checks for legal services.

Falsifying business records is a misdemeanour under New York law. Bragg charged Trump with a more severe felony, saying the documents were forged to cover up other crimes.

“Why has Donald Trump repeatedly made these false statements?” Bragg said. “The evidence will show that he did so to cover up crimes related to the 2016 election.”

While the indictment did not specify other crimes, Bragg said Trump violated New York election law and federal campaign finance law.

Trump’s former national security adviser-turned-critic John Bolton questioned whether Trump’s hush money represented campaign contributions or expenditures under federal law.

The twice-impeached Republican is the first sitting or former US president to be criminally charged, a development that thrusts the country into uncharted political territory.

Police lined the street, and helicopters buzzed the sky as Trump’s motorcade made the brief drive to the courtroom, which was broadcast live on USA Network, although cameras were not allowed at the hearing itself.

Trump waved to supporters as he exited the car before walking into the complex under US Secret Service protection. He was not given a “prep walk” by the accused in handcuffs and escorted past media cameras.

The former president will undergo the standard appointment process for fingerprinting and possible photographs, leading to an all-time famous mug shot at the Manhattan district attorney’s office.

Trump claims he is the victim of “political persecution,” but he is also using the court case to energise his support base and raise millions for his return to the White House next year.