Former president Donald Trump has confirmed that he intends to appear before a New York court for his arraignment on charges brought against him by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
“ELECTION INTERFERENCE!!!” Trump said in an all-caps April 3 Truth Social post.
“I will be leaving Mar-a-Lago on Monday at 12 noon, heading to Trump Tower in New York. On Tuesday morning I will be going to, believe it or not, the Courthouse. America was not supposed to be this way!” Trump said in another post.
The court hearing for the arraignment will take place at 2:15 p.m. ET when Trump will appear before acting Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan. This will be the first time in history that a former U.S. president faces criminal charges.
In an interview with CNN on Sunday, Trump’s lawyer Joe Tacopina said that he is yet to see the indictment as it is still sealed.
“We will take the indictment. We will dissect it. The team will look at every, every potential issue that we will be able to challenge and we will challenge, and of course, I very much anticipate a motion to dismiss coming because there’s no law that fits this,” Tacopina said.
A spokesperson for the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said in a statement on March 31: “This evening we contacted Mr. Trump’s attorney to coordinate his surrender to the Manhattan D.A.’s Office for arraignment on a Supreme Court indictment, which remains under seal. Guidance will be provided when the arraignment date is selected.”
Trump blasted Bragg for subjecting him to criminal charges. “The Corrupt D.A. has no case. What he does have is a venue where it is IMPOSSIBLE for me to get a Fair Trial (it must be changed!), and a Trump-Hating Judge, hand selected by the Soros-backed D.A. (he must be changed!). Also has the DOJ working in the D.A.’s Office – Unprecedented!” he said in an April 3 Truth Social post.
Trump was indicted by a grand jury for his involvement in paying $130,000 to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The case is believed to rely mostly on testimony from Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen.
