Donald Trump Arrives at Trump Tower for Court Appearance: What to Expect

UNITED STATES – Donald Trump, and America with him, are about to experience a historic first. The former president appears this Tuesday, April 4 in criminal justice after being charged in a case of payment to porn star Stormy Daniels to silence their relationship.

The 76-year-old billionaire, launched in the race for the Republican nomination for the presidential election of 2024, made the decision to go to New York to be formally served with the charges against him. They have not yet been made public and are believed to be 30 in number.

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The ex-president arrived in New York around 4 p.m. (local time) aboard his plane stamped with his name and joined the famous Trump Tower, located in Manhattan, to spend the night there. A gathering of supporters was planned at the foot of the billionaire’s building raising fears of overflows. They were finally few, as noted by the journalists on the spot.

The former US president, charged with criminal charges on March 30 by Manhattan prosecutor Alvin Bragg, will leave his glass and steel tower on Tuesday morning and has an appointment in the judge’s office at 2:15 p.m. (8:15 p.m. in France). Police are still on high alert as their supporters reportedly planned to gather outside the courthouse.

Handcuffs and mugshot?

In the turmoil surrounding the case, the way in which his appearance will take place is a question on everyone’s lips in political and media circles. Usually, the ritual is well established. The defendants give their name, age, profession, submit to fingerprinting and have their photo taken: the famous “ mugshot », source of shame for many stars who have had to go through it like Hugh Grant or Jane Fonda.

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This time, the fact that it is a former head of state raises unknowns. No indication was given concerning the photo ID, underlines for example RFI. If it is actually taken, it should in any case instantly become a collector’s item.

Usually, the defendants appear handcuffed, also underlines the New York Times. According to his lawyer Joe Tacopina, Donald Trump will escape this additional humiliation. However, there should be a “ perp walk »this march of the defendant surrounded by police in a public space, during which he is machine-gunned by photographers and cameras.

Despite requests, however, cameras will not be allowed in the courtroom after a judge ruled so on Monday night, US media reported. It will also be the first time that the Secret Serviceresponsible for protecting high American personalities, will be “involved in a reading of the indictment” at such a high level, said Joe Tacopina on Sunday.

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Back in Florida the same evening

After pleading not guilty as expected, Donald Trump should be released, possibly with conditions. As explained by New York Times, the facts with which he is charged do not contain violence. According to New York law, the prosecutor cannot place him in pre-trial detention.

Finally, on Tuesday evening, the 67-year-old billionaire planned to speak at 8:15 p.m. local time, but from his residence in Mar-a-Lago, Florida where he hopes to have returned. He should be “back in business” on Wednesday, according to members of his campaign quoted by Politico.

The case that comes back to torment Donald Trump dates back to 2016, just before his surprise election at the head of the first world power. His personal attorney, Michael Cohen, paid porn actress Stormy Daniels $130,000 at the time to buy her silence. The porn star claims she had sex with Donald Trump, which he denies.

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If the transaction is not illegal, it could however correspond to a campaign expense. However, the sum does not appear in the candidate’s accounts and has, on the contrary, been entered as “ legal fees » in company documents.

In this case, Donald Trump thundered against an indictment “ bogus and shameful ». He claims to have nothing to reproach himself for and to be the victim of a “witch hunt” and a “political persecution” to prevent him from returning to the White House in 2024.

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