Donald Trump, former US president and 2024 Republican nominee, arrived at a Manhattan courthouse on Tuesday to hear the allegations against him.
New York State Supreme Court Justice Juan Mercan denied media requests to televise the trial, but said he would allow a group of photographers to take photos of Trump and others just before the start of the indictment.
On Monday, Yahoo News reported that Trump would face 34 criminal charges for falsifying business records. The arrest was scheduled for 2:15 p.m.
Legal experts say any trial is still at least a year away. The indictment and even the conviction does not disqualify Trump from running for president.
Before the start of the arraignment, five photographers will be allowed into the courtroom and will be able to take pictures for a few minutes.
The White House declined to discuss security measures, but said the government was “always prepared” for what could happen if protests break out for or against Trump and District Court Prosecutor Alvin Bragg, the prosecutor in the case.
President Joe Biden, who visited the Minnesota plant on Monday, replied, “I believe in the New York Police Department.” Barricades have been erected near the courthouse to restrict traffic.
As a general rule, the persons indicted are fingerprinted and a composite portrait is drawn up. The trial may be short.
In a social media post, Trump said Manhattan Criminal Court was “a very unfair place to hear the case” and called for the trial to be moved to Staten Island, which regularly votes Republican. It was unclear whether Trump’s attorneys would testify in court Tuesday for a venue change.
After his court appearance, Trump will return to Florida and deliver a speech from Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday at 8:15 p.m., his office said.
