Former President Donald Trump will be arraigned in a Manhattan courthouse on Tuesday afternoon after being indicted this week, court officials said on Friday.
Trump attorney Joe Tacopina said he does not expect his client to be placed in handcuffs when he turns himself in, and that Trump “will not take a plea deal on this case. It’s not gonna happen.”
“There’s no crime,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s gonna make it to trial because we have substantial legal challenges.”
Trump is expected to voluntarily surrender to authorities at which point fingerprints and photos will be taken. Trump will then make his first appearance in court.
The judge overseeing the case against signed off on an order late on Thursday allowing Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to disclose the indictment to the public.
The authorization was given to disclose the decision “upon a finding that this disclosure to the public that the grand jury has returned a true bill in the above captioned case and that said indictment has been filed with the Court would be in the public interest and an appropriate exercise of this Court’s discretion,” the order said, according to CNN.
Bragg later released a statement confirming the indictment and indicating that plans were being made for him to surrender.
“This evening we contacted Mr. Trump’s attorney to coordinate his surrender to the Manhattan D.A.’s Office for arraignment on a Supreme Court indictment, which remains under seal,” a spokesperson for Bragg said. “Guidance will be provided when the arraignment date in selected.”
The New York City Police Department has ordered every member of the department — which includes 36,000 officers and 19,000 civilian employees — to report to work in full uniform as a show of force to deter any potential unrest that may arise.
“The NYPD continues to monitor all activity and there are no credible threats to the city at this time,” said Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell. “The N.Y.P.D. always remains prepared to respond to events happening on the ground and keep New Yorkers safe.”
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