Former President Donald Trump will face a historic arraignment Tuesday in New York, following an indictment on criminal charges stemming from prosecutors’ long-running investigation into his business dealings. He will be the first current or former United States president ever in that position.
Trump, 76, is expected to appear before State Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan in Manhattan around 2:15 p.m. EST.
Five pool photographers will be allowed inside the courtroom for the arraignment, Merchan ruled late Monday. Video cameras will be confined to hallways outside the courtroom, and reporters won’t be allowed to bring laptops or other electronics inside.
The charges, expected to remain under seal until Trump appears in court, are believed to relate to his notorious hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Trump is expected to face multiple charges, including at least one felony related to business fraud, but it’s unclear whether they all relate to the hush money. The indictment stems from an investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office spanning more than four years.
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 03: A man uses a tent to save a spot as he waits in line for access to the court outside the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse on April 03, 2023 in New York City. Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to travel to New York City today with an expected arraignment tomorrow at court following his indictment by a grand jury. The indictment is sealed but a grand jury has heard evidence related to money paid to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 03: A Trump supporter poses outside the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse on April 03, 2023 in New York City. Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to travel to New York City today with an expected arraignment tomorrow at court following his indictment by a grand jury. The indictment is sealed but a grand jury has heard evidence of money paid to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images)
PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - APRIL 03: On the heels of Donald Trump's indictment by a New York Grand Jury on criminal charges, MoveOn erected a pair of billboards on the highway approaches to Mar-a-Lago, Trump's Florida residence on April 03, 2023 in Palm Beach, Florida. One billboard reads "Trump Is Not Above the Law." Another quotes Fox News host Tucker Carlson's private text message about Trump, made public in court filings, which quotes Carlson: "I hate [Trump] passionately." The billboards were funded by donations from MoveOn members. (Photo by Jason Koerner/Getty Images for MoveOn Political Action)
Former US President Donald Trump waves as he arrives at Trump Tower in New York on April 3, 2023. - Trump arrived on April 3, 2023 in New York where he will surrender to unprecedented criminal charges, taking America into uncharted and potentially volatile territory as he seeks to regain the presidency. The 76-year-old Republican, the first US president ever to be criminally indicted, will be formally charged Tuesday over hush money paid to a porn star during the 2016 election campaign. (Photo by ED JONES/AFP via Getty Images)
Supporters of former US president Donald Trump gather at Trump Tower in New York on April 3, 2023. - Trump arrived in New York where he will surrender to unprecedented criminal charges, taking America into uncharted and potentially volatile territory as he seeks to regain the presidency. The 76-year-old Republican, the first US president ever to be criminally indicted, will be formally charged on April 4, 2023 over hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election campaign. (Photo by STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
New York police officers arrest a man after a fight outside the Manhattan District Attorney's office in New York City on April 3, 2023. - Former US President Donald Trump is to be booked, fingerprinted, and will have a mugshot taken at a Manhattan courthouse on the afternoon of April 4, 2023, before appearing before a judge as the first ever American president to face criminal charges. (Photo by LEONARDO MUNOZ/AFP via Getty Images)
A man holds a placard outside the Manhattan District Attorney's office in New York City on April 3, 2023. - Former US President Donald Trump is to be booked, fingerprinted, and will have a mugshot taken at a Manhattan courthouse on the afternoon of April 4, 2023, before appearing before a judge as the first ever American president to face criminal charges. (Photo by LEONARDO MUNOZ/AFP via Getty Images)
A supporter of former US president Donald Trump stands outside of Trump Tower in New York on April 3, 2023. - Former US President Donald Trump is to be booked, fingerprinted, and will have a mugshot taken at a Manhattan courthouse on the afternoon of April 4, 2023, before appearing before a judge as the first ever American president to face criminal charges. (Photo by STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
“Our message is clear and simple: control yourselves,” the mayor said at a press conference. “New York City’s our home — not a playground for your misplaced anger.”
Adams said the New York Police Department had no knowledge of any specific threats ahead of Tuesday’s arraignment.
Trump, who’s running for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, is expected to arrive at the DA’s offices several hours before appearing before the judge. Armed Secret Service agents will accompany him at all times, and court officials plan to halt all other proceedings while he’s in the courthouse, sources familiar with the arrangements told The New York Daily News. Though he doesn’t know what he’s charged with, Trump’s legal team said he plans to plead not guilty.
Once all is said and done, the former president plans to return to Mar-a-Lago to hold a press conference.
Follow live updates here.
Contributing: Molly Crane-Newman David Goldiner, Leonard Greene, Ellen Moynihan, Rocco Parascandola, Harry Parker, Shant Shahrigian, Evan Simko-Bednarski, Josephine Stratman, Rebecca White and Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News
