Ex-President Donald Trump, the leading contender for the Republican nomination in 2024, is set to appear in court on Tuesday to face formal charges, be fingerprinted, and have a mug shot taken. This marks a significant moment leading up to next year’s presidential election.
In a case related to a 2016 hush payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, Trump was indicted last week, making him the first sitting or former president to face criminal charges. Trump maintains his innocence and plans to plead not guilty.
On Tuesday, Trump will surrender amid heightened security, as supporters and opponents are expected to demonstrate. The arraignment, during which Trump will hear the charges and have the opportunity to enter a plea, is scheduled for 2:15 pm (1815 GMT).
District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat who led the investigation, will hold a news conference later. The charges in the grand jury indictment will be revealed on Tuesday, and Trump and his allies have denounced the charges as politically driven.
Trump faces 34 felony counts for falsification of business records, according to a report by Yahoo News on Monday. The Manhattan grand jury that indicted Trump examined the evidence for months regarding a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels in the final days of the 2016 presidential campaign. Trump denies having any relationship with Daniels.
An indictment or even a conviction does not legally prevent Trump from running for President. The Manhattan investigation is just one of several legal challenges concerning Trump, and any potential trial in the Manhattan case is still more than a year away. This means it could occur during or after the presidential campaign.
