Image source Forbes
Donald Trump, the ex-president of the United States, has left his residence at Trump Tower and travelled towards the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, on Monday.
Reports suggest that he will surrender himself before being formally charged in front of a grand jury.
The courthouse where Trump is expected to appear is located about four miles away from Trump Tower. When he is arraigned in a New York courtroom, he will become the first former US president to face criminal charges, which is a significant and unprecedented event in the country’s history.
Although the proceedings are anticipated to be routine and brief, it will be a surreal and historic moment for the United States. The fact that a former president is being indicted for criminal charges is a rare and shocking event that will certainly make headlines.
Following his surrender to the district attorney’s office, Donald Trump is expected to attend his arraignment hearing in court, where he will be informed of the charges against him.
On Monday, a judge denied the request of several media organizations, including CNN, to broadcast the arraignment live. However, five photographers will be permitted to take pictures of Trump and the courtroom before the hearing commences.
The indictment against Trump, returned by a grand jury last week, will be unsealed on Tuesday, providing the public and Trump’s legal team with specific details about the charges he is facing. The investigation began with the payment of hush money to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign.
It is uncertain whether Trump will make any statements while in New York. Chris Kise, one of Trump’s lawyers, expects him to address the cameras in the hallway outside the courtroom before and after his arraignment. However, advisers have cautioned against any impromptu remarks that could harm his case.
After the court appearance, Trump plans to return to Florida and hold an event at Mar-a-Lago that same evening, providing an opportunity for the 2024 Republican presidential candidate to respond to the charges.
While Trump’s statements may indicate how he intends to fight the charges politically, he is also preparing for the legal battle. On Monday, he added Todd Blanche to his defense team as lead counsel.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s indictment marks the first criminal charges against Trump, but he faces other potential legal troubles. Special counsel Jack Smith is investigating Trump’s role in the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol and the handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago.
Additionally, a Fulton County grand jury has completed an investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia.
Trump arrived in New York on Monday afternoon and spent the night in Trump Tower. On Tuesday afternoon, he will travel four miles south to the courthouse in downtown Manhattan, where law enforcement and the US Secret Service have been preparing for his appearance for weeks.
During his time in New York, Donald Trump will be accompanied by the Secret Service for security purposes. After his arrest, he will be taken to the district attorney’s office to be processed, including fingerprinting. However, it is uncertain whether a mugshot will be taken due to concerns that it could be leaked to the public.
To avoid public attention, Trump will be escorted through back hallways and elevators to reach the courthouse, which is located in the same building as the district attorney’s office. He will then walk through a public hallway to reach the courtroom where he will be arraigned on the charges brought against him.
