Former US President Donald Trump is expected to turn himself into law enforcement on Tuesday thereby officially becoming the first former president to face criminal charges when he appears in a New York court following last week's historic grand jury indictment. The indictment is expected to be unveiled today Tuesday, April 4, providing the public, and Trump's legal team, with the first details regarding the specific charges he is facing. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has been investigating a $130,000 (£105,000) payment made by Mr. Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen to porn star Stormy Daniels, which was initiated to keep her mute about an alleged affair.
This is not illegal, and Mr. Trump has acknowledged reimbursing Mr. Cohen for the said payment.
However, after he reimbursed Mr. Cohen, the record for the payment says it was for legal fees.
Prosecutors claim this amounts to Mr. Trump falsifying business records, which is a misdemeanor, a criminal offense in New York, and it is expected that the charges against him will be in relation to that.
Mr. Bragg would have to prove that Mr. Trump knew he was breaking the law and that he falsified business records with the aim of helping his presidential campaign.
According to Mr. Trump's lawyer Joe Tacopina, he believed the case against Mr. Trump could include 30 separate charges, possibly because each cheque that he wrote to Mr. Cohen would be counted separately.
Trump's legal team has noted the former president will plead not guilty and challenge “every potential issue” once the indictment is unsealed. Mr. Trump, who has vowed to continue his 2024 bid despite the charges, is slated to speak Tuesday tonight from Florida.
A judge ruled Monday night, rejecting a request by several media organizations to be allowed to broadcast Mr. Trump’s arraignment.
Meanwhile, Extra security measures are in place with the authorities expecting protests outside the Manhattan court on Tuesday.
