On Thursday 30 March, it became known that a grand jury in New York will indict former President Donald Trump in the so-called bribery case. Trump himself calls the indictment political persecution. He thinks the whole thing is corrupt and shameful. Tump’s lawyer called the indictment “the lowest point in the history of our criminal justice system.” Trump has become more popular among parts of the electorate after the indictment, but Americans are divided in their views on what should happen to the former president. Photo: KENA BETANCUR / AFP Nevertheless, Trump must appear in court in Manhattan on Tuesday. Here you can read about: This is unplowed ground for the American nation, which is now anything but agreed on what the outcome of the historic indictment should be. Never before has a sitting or former US president been indicted for criminal offences. Not even Richard Nixon, who went on live TV and said “I am not a crook”, or in Norwegian “Jeg er ingen kjeltring”, was charged for his involvement in Watergate. The scandal led to Nixon resigning as president to avoid impeachment by Congress. Fingerprints and questions of guilt When the former reality star and ex-president meet in court, he has to go through the usual routine steps in an ordinary criminal case. Like an ordinary man. Almost. His lawyers have said Trump will release the handcuffs when he is brought into court. Several Trump supporters have gathered in New York. The former president will appear in court on Tuesday. Americans are divided in their views on what should happen to Donald Trump after the indictment became known. Close to press people on the streets of New York. Robert Hoatson fears what will happen if Trump is elected as president again. Photo: Tove Bjørgaas / news The former president arrived in New York at 21:30 Norwegian time on Monday. The police in New York have mobilized strongly in anticipation of Trump’s arrival in the city. On Tuesday morning local time, at 20:15 Norwegian time, Trump will appear in court in Manhattan in New York. Supporters outside Trump Tower in New York, where the former president is staying until the court hearing. Trump supporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, waved goodbye to the 76-year-old Republican as he left the Mar-a-Lago estate early Monday afternoon local time . But he must be fingerprinted and stand up when the judge in charge enters the room. He is informed of his rights and must declare himself guilty or innocent. Probably releasing “mug shots” According to The New York Times, however, it is not expected that Trump will have to take “mug shots”. New York state law requires anyone charged with a crime to provide fingerprints. When it comes to photography, the police can exercise discretion. “Mug shots” are intended to help the authorities identify a defendant, as well as to find the person again if he or she escapes. Avisa writes that the risk of Trump escaping is considered low, and that pictures of him are easily available anyway, if should there be a need to call for him. Here it is also possible for his defender, white-collar lawyer Todd Blanche, to argue that the indictment or penalty should be changed in Trump’s favor. The judge can agree to this, on the condition that Trump, for example, declares himself guilty of some of the charges. It will also be decided whether Trump can pay bail, or whether he must live with restrictions until a possible trial. New York against Donald Trump What exactly the indictment against Trump is about is currently not known. Several media have reported that the indictment is about more than the secret payments to porn actor Stormy Daniels. Sources have told CNN that the indictment will be on around 30 counts. The judge in charge of the case has named it “The People of the State of New York against Donald J. Trump”. State of New York v. Donald Trump. The jury indictment will be made public after the court hearing. Money against silence What is known is that Trump’s lawyer at the time, Michael Cohen, paid porn actress Stormy Daniels $130,000 in 2016. Daniels has alleged that she and the former president had sex in 2006, and the money was given in exchange for her to keep quiet about the affair. The payment is in violation of the Accounting Act and the rules for election campaign financing. It was entered in the accounts as “legal expenses” and prevented the publication of information that could weaken Trump’s candidacy. Michael Cohen photographed during a committee hearing about the payment to Stormy Daniels in 2019. Photo: ALEX WONG / AFP The lawyer was sentenced to three years in prison in 2018. He is a key witness when Trump will appear in court today. – Donald, once we talk about convicted felons, I’ll see you on Tuesday, buddy, Cohen said during an interview with CNN on Thursday last week. Unlikely with a prison sentence The real estate magnate will not be remanded in custody after the court hearing is over. Trump has not been charged with violence, has no previous criminal record and has the money to pay any bail. There will therefore be no orange prison uniform for the ex-president tonight. According to experts, the probability of a prison sentence is low even if he is convicted. The outcome of the case is likely to be that Trump must pay a fine to the authorities, writes the BBC. But he could risk a prison sentence, at least in theory. A Trump opponent photographed wearing an orange prison uniform and mask in New York on Monday. It is unlikely that Trump will have to wear the same suit. Photo: STEFANI REYNOLDS / AFP If any of the charges are serious enough to be defined as a “felony”, or serious offense in Norwegian, the penalty is up to four years in prison. The minimum time behind bars is then 1 year and 4 months, writes human rights lawyer Ron Kuby. Regardless of the outcome of the case, it cannot stop him from standing as a presidential candidate for the Republicans in 2024 as well. And with them, Trump’s popularity increases as the court hearing approaches.
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