Trump prepares to walk into Manhattan DA's office as the first president to ... trends now
When former President Donald Trump walks into the 17-storey Art Deco Manhattan District Attorney's office on Tuesday afternoon it will mark the start of what has been called 'the most dramatic 75 minutes in modern American history'.
As the first US President ever to face criminal charges, Mr Trump will be arrested and read his rights as he faces 34 charges connected to an alleged $130,000 'hush money' payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 Presidential Election race.
Trump – who is vying to be the Republican candidate at the next Presidential election – denies all charges and has called last Thursday's Grand Jury indictment a 'witch hunt' led by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
While Mr Trump has denied any liaisons with Ms Daniels – who says she was paid to keep quiet about an alleged affair with him – he faces the prospect of up to four years in jail if convicted.
Former President Donald Trump prepares to depart after speaking during a rally at the Waco Regional Airport on March 25, 2023 in Waco, Texas. He now faces 34 charges in connection to an alleged $130,000 'hush money' payment made to porn actress Stormy Daniels
A source close to the former President said: 'While the prospect of him going to jail on these charges is slim, it is possible. There is nothing in the constitution which says a Presidential candidate cannot campaign from behind bars so you have the prospect of Donald Trump making campaign speeches via a Zoom call from a cell somewhere.'
The 'circus' surrounding the case will begin around 1pm on Tuesday when Mr Trump will arrive at the sprawling building in Lower Manhattan which houses both the District Attorney's offices and the Manhattan Supreme Court.
One former prosecutor said: 'This is going to be the biggest circus since Barnum and Bailey. You are going to see unprecedented scenes. There will be crowds outside, shouting both for and against Trump, and cops everywhere. They've told the NYPD all leave has been cancelled that day.'
The MoS has learned that Mr Trump – surrounded by a wall of Secret Service agents, armed police and his legal team – will be taken to a seventh floor 'processing room' where he will be read his rights and arrested.
The source said: 'A defendant would normally be put in handcuffs at this stage but the DA's office and Trump's legal team have been in talks and it's unlikely you will see him in cuffs.' Mr Trump will, however, have his mugshot and fingerprints taken before a police officer will use a cotton swab to collect a DNA sample from the inside of his cheeks.
He will be asked to provide details such as height, weight and hair colour.
Ron Kuby, a veteran New York defence lawyer, joked: 'That's where you lie about your weight: I'm 6ft 3in and 205lbs. Sure you are. Colour of hair? 'Orange'.'
Once Mr Trump has been 'processed' he will make his way to the 15th floor of the building to Court 59, where, at 2.15pm (7.15pm UK time) Judge Juan Merchan will remove the typed indictment – number 71543 – from a burnt-red folder and formally read out
