Donald Trump goes down in history as the first former president of the United States to be charged with a crime and indicted by a New York grand jury.
Trump faces more than thirty count charges related to business fraud,from a Manhattan grand jury, sources say. The former president was also indicted in connection with a hush money payment to porn star, Stormy Daniels.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s office acknowledged late Thursday that Trump’s lawyers had been notified.
“This evening we contacted Mr. Trump’s attorney to coordinate his surrender… for arraignment on a Supreme Court indictment, which remains under seal,” a spokesperson for District Attorney Alvin Bragg said. “Guidance will be provided when the arraignment date is selected.”
When he is arrested, Trump will be read his rights, known as a Miranda warning, including how he has the right to remain silent, the right to an attorney and that what he says can be used against him in a court of law.
Then Trump will be taken into custody, and processed just like any other defendant, including a booking number, former prosecutors and law enforcement officials told USA TODAY. “There will still be a mug shot, fingerprints and lots of paperwork filled out as part of the booking process,” like other defendants, said former federal prosecutor Glenn Kirschner.
Underscoring the unprecedented nature of the case, it is expected that Trump will be accompanied through the process by his Secret Service detail, as former presidents are afforded such protection for life.
Given his special stature, Trump’s first appearance could be a relatively calm event, with special efforts made by prosecutors and police to shield him from the kind of “perp walk” that authorities sometimes force other defendants to endure. That means he may not be in handcuffs when he walks past the battery of reporters.