Former US president Donald Trump is due to appear at a Manhattan court on Tuesday for his in-person arraignment on charges related to a hush money payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign.
The charges stem from allegations that Trump had an affair with Daniels in 2006, which he has denied.
In 2016, Daniels attempted to sell her story to the media, but Trump’s lawyer Michael Cohen paid her $130 000 (R2.3-million) to keep silent.
While the payment may not be illegal, Trump is accused of falsifying his business records by claiming the payment was for legal fees.
According to chief investigative correspondent Michael Isikoff, Trump is facing 34 felony charges and is likely to be found guilty.
However, the former president will not be handcuffed, placed in a jail cell, or subjected to a mugshot until a judge has weighed in on pre-trial conditions.
The Manhattan district attorney’s office, which has been consulting with the Secret Service and court officials, concluded that there is no need to subject Trump to these typical procedures for white-collar defendants.
“Donald Trump will be placed under arrest on Tuesday and informed that he has been charged with 34 felony counts for falsification of business records, according to a source who has been briefed on the procedures for the arraignment of the former president,” said Isikoff
“A New York City police arrest report summarising the charges against Trump will then be prepared and entered into the court system before he is led into a courtroom to be formally arraigned on the charges, none of which are misdemeanors.
“But, the source said, Trump will not be put in handcuffs, placed in a jail cell or subjected to a mug shot, typical procedures even for white-collar defendants until a judge has weighed in on pre-trial conditions.
“Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg’s office, which has been consulting with the Secret Service and New York City court officials, concluded [that] there was no reason to subject the former president to handcuffs or a mug shot.”
After news of the indictment broke on social media, Trump’s spokesperson said the former president’s legal team had not seen the indictment or been briefed on the details.
Trump himself responded on TrustSocial, accusing Bragg of illegally leaking information about the indictment and calling for the district attorney to indict himself.
The arraignment is unfolding as Trump campaigns for the presidency in the 2024 election.
After his court appearance, he is expected to be released on bail and return to his Mar-a-Lago home before addressing supporters later in the evening.
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