The political world is once again captivated as former President Donald Trump is being arraigned on charges related to incitement of insurrection. While Trump has faced numerous legal battles throughout his presidency and afterward, this is a landmark moment in US politics that has far-reaching consequences. In this article, we will delve into what arraignment means, what charges Trump is facing, and what happens next in this high-profile case.
Former US President Donald Trump is facing charges related to falsifying business records in a hush-money investigation, making him the first president ever to be charged with a crime. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and called the indictment “political persecution”. His lawyers have stated that “did not commit any crime. We will vigorously fight this political prosecution in court.”
Trump will appear in a Manhattan courtroom on Tuesday, where he will be arraigned at 2:15 pm US time (7:15 pm Irish time). He flew to New York from his Mar-a-Lago estate on Monday and is expected to leave Trump Tower on Tuesday to travel to the courthouse. The charges against Trump include multiple counts of falsifying business records, including at least one felony offence. Prosecutors will need to prove that there was an intent to defraud, and that the records were falsified to commit, aid, or conceal a second crime. While it is not clear what the second crime is, experts suggest it is likely to be some kind of campaign finance violation.
Trump’s surrender has been arranged with the district attorney’s office, so he will not be taken to a police precinct. Instead, he will go straight to court, meaning there will be no “perp walk”. Trump will be booked, which involves court officials taking down his full name, age, birthdate, height, and weight, and checking to see if he has any outstanding warrants. His fingerprints will be taken by a computerized system, and a mug shot may be taken.
The hearing will involve the judge formally unsealing the indictment and reading the charges aloud. Trump can choose to waive the public reading. He will then be asked to enter a plea of “guilty” or “not guilty”. Trump’s attorneys will work with the judge and the district attorney’s office to set a date for his next court appearance.
New York’s bail laws have been overhauled recently, meaning Trump will be released without bail. However, Judge Juan Merchan could decide that Trump is a flight risk and order him to be held in custody. Trump’s lawyers argue that his ties to the US are strong and that he has no reason to flee.
The legal process in this case is likely to take months. Trump’s lawyers will have access to information from the district attorney’s office during the discovery phase, and will have a chance to request a change of venue or dismiss the case outright. Meanwhile, Trump is facing additional investigations, including one by the Justice Department over the retention of top secret government documents at Trump’s Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago. Federal investigators are also still probing the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the US Capitol and efforts to overturn the 2020 election that Trump falsely claimed was stolen. In Georgia, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been investigating whether Trump and his allies illegally meddled in the 2020 election. The foreperson of a special grand jury has suggested that numerous people, including Trump, could be indicted. It is up to Willis to decide whether to move forward with any indictments.
