In Manhattan, the former president will face criminal charges relating to an alleged 'hush money' scam.
Donald Trump will appear in court on Tuesday afternoon to formally reply to accusations stemming from his role in a hush-money conspiracy, making him the first former president to face criminal charges in US history.
The appearance in court comes only five days after a New York grand jury chose to indict Trump as part of a multi-year probe led by the Manhattan district attorney's office.
On Monday, the former president and current presidential contender drove from Mar-a-Lago, Florida, to New York, where he stayed at Trump Tower. Trump's arraignment is set for 2.15pm ET in a courthouse in lower Manhattan, which has been highly secured amid fears of protests or violence in response to the indictment.
Here's What You Should Know About Today Proceeding:
Why is Trump in Court?
Last Thursday, a grand jury voted to indict Trump on charges that he improperly reimbursed his former attorney, Michael Cohen, for a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels, an adult film star who claims to have had an adulterous affair with Trump in 2006. Cohen made the payment to Daniels in the final days before the 2016 presidential election, just as she was about to go public with her story about the alleged affair. (Trump has stated that the affair never occurred.)
Trump has admitted to reimbursing Cohen, but he denies any wrongdoing. The Manhattan district attorney's office, led by Alvin Bragg, has been investigating the case for months, and Bragg announced on Thursday that he was coordinating Trump's surrender.
What Exactly is an Arraignment?
A judicial procedure in which a judge reads official charges against a defendant is known as an arraignment. This will be the first time Trump learns the specifics of his charges.
What Charges Does Trump Face?
That is yet unknown. The indictment was still sealed as of Tuesday morning, but it will most likely be revealed to the public until Trump is formally arrested and appears at his arraignment.
Trump is facing approximately 30 charges relating to document fraud in the hush-money scam, according to NBC News. Trump's attorney, Joseph Tacopina, has already begun to contest the allegations, accusing Bragg of “taken a misdemeanor and tried, cobbled together, to make it a felony by alleging a violation of federal campaign violations''.
How Will Trump Submit to the Authorities?
Some judgments about how to formally arrest a former president appear to be in flux. Tacopina has stated that he does not expect authorities to handcuff Trump, but he will be fingerprinted and have his mugshot taken after he surrenders.
“I honestly don’t know how this is going to go – hopefully as smoothly as possible, and then we begin the battle to right this wrong,†Tacopina told CNN on Sunday.
What is The State of Security in New York?
Officials have closed roads around the courthouse and Trump Tower to severely restrict access to the structures as they prepare for potential disruption in response to the indictment. Barricades have also been built at both locations, and the courthouse plans to close several courtrooms during the arraignment, according to Reuters. As a "precautionary measure," the New York Police Department ordered all officers to report for duty in uniform last week. Trump will be accompanied by Secret Service agents, who guard all former American presidents.
The New York Young Republican Club has already scheduled a demonstration against Bragg's "heinous attack" on Trump in a park near the courthouse. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a far-right representative from Washington, planned to attend the gathering.
“We will not live in fear and we will lawfully stand against tyranny and corruption while we show our support for President Trump,†Greene said on Sunday.
How Will Trump Respond to the Allegations?
Tacopina has indicated that Trump will enter a not-guilty plea to all charges, and the former president's legal team is anticipated to battle the prosecution on every point.
“I very much anticipate a motion to dismiss coming because there’s no law that fits this,†Tacopina said on Sunday.
What's Next?
The court will determine a timeline for the next steps in the pre-trial process once Trump files a plea. The trial itself is not scheduled to begin for several months. Trump will very definitely be released and permitted to return to Florida once the arraignment concludes.
Trump has already announced that he will make a statement at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, at 8.15 p.m. ET on Tuesday night to defend himself against the allegations.
Despite the fact that the trial is still months away, Trump is already planning for a guilty verdict. Trump criticized the judge assigned to his case, New York State Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, in a statement posted to the social media network Truth Social on Friday, and vowed to challenge the verdict.