Former US President Donald Trump will appear in a New York court on Tuesday to be formally informed that he has been charged with criminal charges in a case of paying a actress to buy her silence.
That's what could happen when the 76-year-old Republican becomes the first former president or incumbent to be indicted for a felony, on the cusp of Trump's 2024 presidential election.
Surrender himself
Trump, who was convicted by a jury last week, arrived in New York on Monday from his Florida residence to turn himself in to authorities.
The former US president is expected to undergo the usual detention procedure by fingerprinting in a Manhattan court, and his photo may also be taken. But Trump's lawyer Joe Takubina said Sunday that his client "will not be handcuffed."
Security forces have been heavily deployed around the court where Trump will appear to formally inform him of criminal charges, and the charges against the former president have not yet been revealed.
New York City police were put on "alert" ahead of Trump's court appearance.
Republican leader faces more than 30 counts of falsifying business records (French)
Supporters of the former president are also planning to demonstrate in front of Trump Tower where he spent the night, AFP reports.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office is part of the New York State District District, formally charged the former president in a case of paying actress Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, $130,2016 to buy her silence ahead of the November <> presidential election.
Appearance before a judge
After his detention, Trump will appear before Judge Juan Marchán, where the charges against him will be read.
The judge may set conditions for Trump's release and set the date for the next hearing.
The former US president's lawyer has said Trump will not plead guilty to the charges against him, believing the case will not go ahead.
A supporter of the former president in Manhattan court (Reuters)
Trump will also seek to drop the charges without trial, his lawyer said, stressing that there is "no chance" that the former president will reach a settlement agreement with prosecutors.
According to Takupina, "President Trump will not accept a deal with the prosecution in this case," stressing that "this will not happen, no crime."
Trump is expected to leave New York shortly thereafter for Florida and plan to deliver a speech at Mar-a-Lago, Florida.
prison
With the charges unknown, it is difficult to predict whether a possible conviction will lead to a prison sentence for a former U.S. president, in an unprecedented situation.
The charges against Trump are believed to include commercial fraud and campaign finance violations, but it is unclear whether they are felony offenses that result in a possible prison sentence.
Trump has no criminal record, and it is unclear if he will be sentenced to prison if convicted.
Elections 2024
Trump will certainly continue his bid to run for president in 2024 even if he faces criminal charges.
There is no provision in the U.S. Constitution that prevents anyone from running for president even if they face charges. Trump will continue even if he is convicted of campaigning and will not be barred from becoming president.
NYPD braces for protests that could be organized by supporters of the former US president (Reuters)
Amendment 14 of the Constitution prohibits anyone who "engaged in rebellion or insurrection" from holding elected office.
Following the events of January 2021, <>, when a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in an effort to prevent the certification of Joe Biden's presidential victory, the House of Representatives voted to impeach Trump after the attack, but the Senate acquitted him.
Among the most prominent cases dogging the 45th president of the United States are accusations that he pressured officials in Georgia in 2020 and an investigation into his handling of the White House archive.