NEWS
‘We are a nation in decline’ — Trump before arrest in Miami
Former President of the United States, Donald Trump, has been arrested at the federal courthouse in Miami, Florida, and is set to be arraigned on charges related to mishandling classified documents.
The arrest, carried out by deputy marshals on Tuesday, marks a significant escalation in the legal troubles faced by the 2024 Republican presidential front-runner.
CNN reports that during the proceedings, electronic copies of Trump’s fingerprints were taken by the authorities. Given his recognisability, it was noted that a mugshot was not expected to be taken. Walt Nauta, Trump’s aide and co-defendant, has also been arrested, processed, and had his fingerprints taken.
The charges brought against Trump in the Justice Department’s classified documents case intensify the legal jeopardy surrounding the former president. The scheduled hearing in Miami, taking place at 3 p.m. ET, is expected to primarily address procedural matters.
Trump will enter a plea, discussions will take place regarding the conditions of his pretrial release, and potential restrictions on Trump’s conduct during the ongoing case may be addressed.
The indictment unsealed on Friday outlines 37 felony counts against Trump, accusing him of illegally retaining national defense information and concealing documents in violation of witness-tampering laws as part of the Justice Department’s investigation into the materials. Nauta, Trump’s close aide, has also been charged in the indictment, alleging a conspiracy to obstruct the federal investigation.
Prior to heading to court, Trump left his Doral resort accompanied by Nauta in separate vehicles. When asked about his well-being by a bystander, Trump responded, “great” and waved. On social media, Trump posted a message before the court appearance, calling it
“ONE OF THE SADDEST DAYS IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY. WE ARE A NATION IN DECLINE!!!”
These recent charges in the DOJ documents case add to the legal challenges faced by Trump, who previously faced criminal charges brought by local prosecutors in New York City for an alleged hush money scheme during the 2016 campaign, involving accusations of falsifying business records.
The new charges in the classified documents case carry more severe implications and, if convicted, could result in several years of imprisonment for Trump.
