Former President Donald Trump Arraigned on Criminal Charges in Manhattan Courthouse
Trump's lawyer, Joe Tacopina, stated that the former president would not plead guilty to lesser charges.
On Tuesday, former President Donald Trump is scheduled to surrender and be arraigned in a Manhattan courtroom on criminal charges related to 2016 hush money payments, amid multiple election-related investigations.
Trump is expected to be fingerprinted, informed of the charges against him, and enter a not-guilty plea during his booking and appearance before Judge Juan Merchan. According to Merchan, cameras are not permitted in the courtroom.
Trump will be the first former president to face criminal charges after being impeached twice by the US House but not convicted by the US Senate. The Secret Service will accompany him from Trump Tower to the courthouse, and his mug shot may be taken.
Trump’s attorney, Joe Tacopina, stated that the former president will not plead guilty to lesser charges and that he does not expect the case to go to a jury, but he acknowledged that there is uncertainty because they are doing something unprecedented.
Tacopina stated that the procedure would be standard and brief, lasting only 20-30 minutes and that handcuffs would not be used. The New York police department is bracing for large protests from Trump supporters who see the New York grand jury indictment and three other ongoing investigations as politically motivated and aimed at undermining his chances of re-election in 2024.
Prabhnoor Kaur