Last week we told you that Donald Trump, the former president of the United States, will also be the first former U.S. president to face criminal charges after being indicted last week by a Manhattan grand jury. Trump would face up to 30 counts of corporate fraud, according to CNN, although the charges are not public at this time.
Today, Tuesday, Trump will have to carry out the reading of the charges against him in the Manhattan court. The former president would be part of a plot that took place in the 2016 presidential campaigns, and which also involves porn actress Stormy Daniels, in a secret money payment scheme. But what will this judicial process be like for someone who held the office of president of the United States? We explain.
Will they handcuff Trump?
Although it is normal for defendants to be arrested, booked and then held in cells near the courtroom before being arraigned, Trump will be led through a back set of hallways and elevators to the floor where the courtroom is located. This, coupled with the protection that will be offered by the federal agents present, makes it quite unlikely that Trump will be handcuffed. So no, we won’t see those famous Trump deepfakes in real life (at least for now).
Who is the judge in the case?
The case is presided over by Judge Juan Merchan, who has long followed Trump closely. This acting New York Supreme Court justice sentenced close Trump confidant Allen Weisselberg to prison; presided over the Trump Organization tax fraud trial; and oversaw the criminal fraud case of former Trump advisor Steve Bannon.
Will the arraignment be retransmitted in any way?
No, the trial will not be broadcast by any media. Several major U.S. media outlets, including The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, requested permission from Judge Merchan to broadcast Trump’s courtroom appearance, but the judge rejected all requests, allowing only five photographers to take pictures before the hearing begins.
How does this case affect Trump’s presidential campaign?
Both Trump, who is running for president of the United States for 2024, and his team of political advisors have been treating this case as a “political hoax” and a “witch hunt”. For the moment, he maintains his lead over what would be his biggest rival in the Republican party: Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida. In addition, his victimization campaign has been quite successful among his followers, raising $7 million since he was indicted last Thursday.
How could Trump defend himself against these accusations?
On the one hand, Trump is expected to plead not guilty. The main strategy of Trump’s team of lawyers, which could have new additions soon, would focus on challenging the case, as it may rely on business record entries that prosecutors link to secret money payments to Stormy Daniels made seven years ago, something that is beyond the statute of limitations for a criminal case in the United States.
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