Chris Lange, FISM News
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Former President Donald Trump is expected to turn himself in to authorities at the New York City courthouse between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. today to face felony charges in a historic first for the nation.
Trump will most likely enter the courthouse through a side door, though court personnel won’t be apprised of the exact details of his arrival until moments before it happens, given heightened security concerns, Fox News reported.
Pursuant to a deal struck between Trump’s legal team and prosecutors, the former president will not be handcuffed, though officials will take fingerprints and a mug shot of the 45th U.S. president destined for the history books.
A line of people hoping to nab a coveted seat in the courtroom began forming outside the building in the predawn hours. Some 60 people will be allowed to observe the proceedings after clearing security hurdles, including double searches, by courthouse officials. Barricades have been erected around the courthouse and a strong police presence is in place to deal with any potential unrest.
Judge Juan Merchan, who will preside over Trump’s arraignment scheduled for 2:15 p.m. this afternoon, denied media requests to allow cameras inside the courtroom. During the estimated 15- to 30-minute proceedings, Trump is expected to plead “not guilty” to charges linked to alleged hush money payments made to ex-porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election. The yet-to-be-unsealed indictment is said to contain more than 30 criminal counts against the former president.
Following his arraignment, Trump will fly back to Mar-a-Lago to deliver remarks to his supporters.
Several legal analysts have suggested that the case against Trump could drag along well past 2024, given that multiple motions and cross-motions will undoubtedly be filed in the case.
TRUMP CALLS FOR DA’S INDICTMENT OVER ‘ILLEGAL’ LEAKS
On the eve of his arraignment, Trump again denied any wrongdoing and accused Soros-backed Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg of having leaked “the various points, and complete information, on the pathetic indictment against me.”
“I know the reporter and so, unfortunately, does he. This means that he MUST BE IMMEDIATELY INDICTED. Now, if he wants to really clean up his reputation, he will do the honorable thing and, as District Attorney, INDICT HIMSELF,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.
MORE THAN THREE-QUARTERS OF AMERICANS SAY PROSECUTION IS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED
Seventy-six percent of Americans believe Trump’s indictment was politically motivated, with more than half (52%) saying that politics played a major role in the charges, according to the results of a CNN poll published on Monday.
Trump has repeatedly referred to the case against him as a baseless “witch hunt.”
Unsurprisingly, nearly 80% of Republican respondents said they disapproved of the indictment, while virtually every Democrat (94%) said they approved. It may surprise some, however, that 62% of independents said that they approved of the decision to indict Trump.
GOP WARNS THAT TRUMP PROSECUTION MAY BACKFIRE ON DEMS
Republicans, meanwhile, are warning that the unprecedented indictment of a former U.S. president has set a dangerous precedent that will make it easier for political prosecutions to take place in the future.
“I think it is a terrible precedent for the country. I think it’s bad for America, bad for the Republican Party and it’s bad for the political system in our country. Once you start down this path, there’s no way you’re going to reverse it. That’s what we saw with impeachment,” said Vin Weber, a Republican strategist and former member of the House GOP leadership, per The Hill.
“Once this wall of precedent has been destroyed, we’re going to find people around the country who are going to find reasons to engage in political prosecutions,” he continued, adding that Republicans are already discussing the possibility of bringing charges against President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, after he leaves office.
Democrats have responded to the criticism by repeating their well-practiced mantra that “no one is above the law,” including a former president.
Some on the left, however, have expressed concern over the fact that Bragg is the first to prosecute Trump, given the fact that the Justice Department and even Bragg’s predecessor, had previously declined to pursue the case.