PALM BEACH, Fla.–Former President Donald Trump and a personal aide are expected to appear in a Miami courtroom on Tuesday to face historic federal charges.
Both Trump and Walt Nauta, a U.S. Navy petty officer who had been assigned as Trump’s valet during his presidency, are accused of conspiring to hide Trump’s alleged illegal retention and handling of classified records.
Their appearances are set for 3 p.m. in a Miami federal courthouse. Throngs of media and protesters—both for and against Trump—are expected to gather, just as they did for his indictment on state business records charges two months ago in New York.
Trump has pleaded not guilty in that case and is also expected to deny the charges in Florida. Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, will preside.
Trump’s arraignment in Miami comes a day before his 77th birthday.
Because of his age, Trump could pass away in prison if convicted of even a single one of the 37 charges lodged against him, legal expert Jonathan Turley warned.
Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 or 20 years in prison.
The Miami indictment (pdf) was unsealed on June 8, a day after Trump announced that his lawyers had been informed about it.
The two separate indictments—the first to transform a former U.S. president into a criminal defendant—have drawn worldwide attention and stirred American political debate to fever pitch, while current President Joe Biden also remains under investigation.
Special Counsel Robert Hur is investigating Biden’s possession of sensitive government documents from his era as vice president as well as from his time in the Senate. The Republican-led House Oversight Committee is also probing an alleged $5 million bribe paid to Biden while he served as vice president.
By Janice Hisle
