Former US President Donald Trump to be arraigned Tuesday: What to expect

By Darren Lyn

HOUSTON, United States (AA) - Former US President Donald Trump on Tuesday will become the first-ever American president, serving or former, to be arraigned and indicted in court.

Bucking predictions by some that authorities might face resistance, the ex-president flew to New York on Monday from his Florida Mar-a-Lago estate and is expected to turn himself in on Tuesday morning.

One big question looms in the public eye: Will Trump be the subject of what is called a "perp walk," which is when a defendant or alleged "perpetrator" is escorted into the courthouse accompanied by law enforcement in front of the media for video and photographers?

"Hopefully, this will be as painless and classy as possible for a situation like this," Trump attorney Joe Tacopina told CNN, downplaying the idea of the former president being given a "perp walk."

Once inside the courthouse, Trump is expected to be handled like any other defendant being charged with a crime: he will be booked, fingerprinted, DNA-swabbed, and have his mugshot taken, according to multiple news outlets.

The exact charges Trump faces are still unknown, even to his own lawyers, as the indictment is still sealed.

The issue at hand is a $130,000 hush-money payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels by then-Trump attorney Michael Cohen in the days leading up to the 2016 presidential election.

That payment was allegedly made to keep Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, from discussing a sexual encounter she claims she had with Trump in 2006.

Trump's arraignment is scheduled for 2:15 pm EST (1815GMT) on Tuesday, where the former president is expected to enter a plea for whatever crime or crimes he is being charged with.

- Seeking dismissal

“All the Tuesday stuff is still very much up in the air other than the fact that we will very loudly and proudly say not guilty,” said Tacopina, adding that his legal team is looking at a motion to dismiss whatever is unsealed.

Several media reports have suggested Trump will face multiple counts based on a number of financial transactions being investigated by the Manhattan District Attorney's office.

“We will take the indictment. We will dissect it. The team will look at every, every potential issue that we will be able to challenge and we will challenge, and of course I very much anticipate a motion to dismiss coming because there’s no law that fits this,” Tacopina continued.

Another Trump attorney, James Trusty, told Fox News that whatever is unsealed in the indictment will be "legally frail," adding: “So my hope is that despite some of the hysterics at the moment, despite some emotionality and frustration, the president certainly deserves to feel that this judge will do the right thing when he’s faced with significant legal motions."

Trump himself has been very vocal about the case, accusing Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg of making it a politically motivated spectacle, as well as calling him an “animal.”

"America was not supposed to be this way!" Trump posted on social media late Sunday.

In past court cases, Trump has also attacked judges and claimed the cases were unfair.

When Trump first predicted his potential arrest in the case last month, he called for protests, which echoed his sentiments made before the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riots.

Because of that, the New York Police Department (NYPD) is beefing up its police presence ahead of Tuesday's arraignment, as several protests are planned before his court appearance.

Steel barricades have been put up outside the Manhattan Criminal Court and district attorney's office. The NYPD has also ordered every member of its police force to report in full uniform Friday as “a precautionary measure," and The Washington Post reported that Secret Service agents have been involved in preparations for Trump’s appearance.

Legal experts said Trump is expected to be released on his own recognizance after his New York arraignment.

His campaign managers have announced that the former president will fly back to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida where he is set to hold an evening news conference.

The legal challenges for Trump do not end with this case, as there are several other probes being conducted, including both federal and state investigations into his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

Trump is also expected to return to New York next week for a deposition in an unrelated civil suit brought by the New York state's attorney general. In that case, the state is seeking $250 million in penalties against Trump, his real estate company, and his three adult children for defrauding lenders and tax authorities.