Trump Attorney: Former President “Likely” to Turn Himself In, Won’t Be Put in Handcuffs
Trump ‘likely’ to turn himself in but won’t be put in handcuffs, lawyer says
Former President Donald Trump is expected to surrender to the authorities as early as next Tuesday, according to his lawyer. However, he will not be physically restrained upon arrest.
The surrender follows the grand jury indictment of the former president by Manhattan officials on Thursday. The charges are related to the White House bid in 2016 and it marks the first time a former president faces criminal charges.
It remains unclear when Trump’s arraignment would happen, but officials say they are working with his legal team to schedule a date. In case he complies, the former president would be taken to a courthouse in New York, where he would undergo standard procedures like photographing and fingerprinting.
Initially, Trump was asked to surrender on Friday, but his lawyers requested more time for his security detail to prepare.
The former president has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and accused Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg of carrying out a politically motivated prosecution. He also denied any affair with Stormy Daniels, a porn star who wanted to make her story public during Trump’s 2016 bid.
Rumors of an imminent indictment surfaced after Michael Cohen, former Trump attorney, testified several times in front of the grand jury this month. Cohen was convicted in 2018 after pleading guilty to paying two women who accused Trump of sexual affairs to stay quiet, including Daniels. As part of the scheme, Cohen paid Daniels $130,000, which was later reimbursed by the Trump Organization.
Prosecutors are also investigating whether Trump falsified business records around this reimbursement to list it as a legal expense. This act, though considered a misdemeanor in New York, could be increased to a felony if prosecutors argue that it was meant to cover up another crime.
During Cohen’s trial, federal prosecutors did not press charges against Trump on the grounds that a sitting president cannot face criminal charges. However, conversations about the possibility of charges resumed shortly before Trump’s term ended in 2021.
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