45th President Donald Trump’s arraignment hearing is reportedly scheduled to take place at 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday at the Manhattan criminal court in New York, according to Lucian Chalfen, a spokesman for the New York office of court administration.
Trump was officially indicted Thursday by the grand jury summoned by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to examine claims the former president improperly handled money used to pay an adult film actress who he claims extorted him during the final days of the 2016 presidential campaign, Valiant News reported.
It has been reported that Trump will be forced to undergo full arrest procedure, including being booked into the system and going before a judge.
JUST IN: Former President Trump is expected to appear in Manhattan criminal court at 2:15 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Lucian Chalfen, a spokesman for the New York office of court administration, told NPR.
— NPR (@NPR) March 31, 2023
Bragg’s case against the 45th President hinges on a campaign finance law that would prohibit Trump from paying adult film actress Stormy Daniels using campaign funds. Trump and his team, meanwhile, say the candidate was victim to an extortion plot and that disgraced lawyer Michael Cohen paid the bill.
JUST IN (#TrumpIndictment) via @nytimes's Ben Protess, @Jonesieman, @WRashbaum:
"A Manhattan grand jury voted to indict Donald J. #Trump on Thursday for his role in paying hush money to a porn star,"https://t.co/IRNUIUE2S3
— Devon Heinen (@DevonHeinen) March 30, 2023
Following news of the indictment in New York, the former president released a statement describing the ordeal as “Political Persecution and Election Interference at the highest level in history” by Bragg, “who was hand-picked and funded by George Soros” and “is a disgrace.”
“Rather than stopping the unprecedented crime wave taking over New York City, he’s doing Joe Biden’s dirty work,” Trump said. “I believe this Witch-Hunt will backfire massively on Joe Biden.”
JUST IN – Trump statement: "This is Political Persecution and Election Interference at the highest level in history." pic.twitter.com/LQo2yYiemA
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) March 30, 2023
Some have speculated that the Manhattan DA’s indictment of the 45th President may have something to do with Bragg’s potential communications with Joe Biden’s White House, or his proximity to anti-Trump NY Attorney General Letitia James — which opponents of Trump vehemently deny.
Why are you so certain that the White House hasn’t been communicating with the Manhattan DA’s office, or the NY AG’s office as proxy? Why capitalize “NO” like that? You sure? Lol https://t.co/ySVvqffP7r
— Andrew (@whiteaf5) March 31, 2023
Thus far, the 82-year old Democrat president has offered “no comment” on the impending arrest of his top political opponent in the 2024 presidential race.
Follow Andrew on Twitter @whiteaf5.
