Flash: Former U.S. President Donald Trump Faces Legal Proceedings (Arrested)
In a significant development, former President Donald Trump has been apprehended at the federal courthouse in Miami and is set to be arraigned on charges related to the mishandling of classified documents.
Deputy marshals have processed the former president and obtained electronic copies of his fingerprints during the ongoing proceedings on Tuesday. It is worth noting that a mugshot of Trump was not taken due to his recognizable appearance.
Walt Nauta, Trump's aide and co-defendant, has also been arrested, fingerprinted, and undergone processing.
The criminal charges brought forth by the Justice Department in relation to the classified documents case escalate the legal jeopardy surrounding Trump, who is currently considered the frontrunner for the 2024 GOP nomination.
The hearing scheduled for Tuesday at 3 p.m. ET in Miami is expected to primarily address procedural matters. Trump will enter a plea, and there will be discussions regarding the conditions of his pretrial release. Furthermore, potential restrictions on Trump's conduct during the progression of the case may be raised.
According to CNN, Trump is facing a total of 37 felony counts, alleging that he unlawfully retained national defense information and concealed documents in violation of witness-tampering laws during the Justice Department's investigation into the materials.
The recently unsealed indictment also charges Trump's close aide, Walt Nauta, alleging that both individuals conspired to obstruct the federal investigation. Nauta will also be appearing in court.
Trump departed from his Doral resort on Tuesday in a motorcade alongside Nauta, who traveled in a separate vehicle. As he entered his vehicle, a bystander inquired about his well-being, to which Trump responded, "great," and waved.
Before heading to court, Trump took to his social media to post that it was "ONE OF THE SADDEST DAYS IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY. WE ARE A NATION IN DECLINE!!!"
Tuesday's hearing marks the commencement of what is likely to be a protracted and dramatic legal process, including criminal proceedings and potential appeals that may span several years. The case has been assigned to US District Judge Aileen Cannon, a nominee of Trump, who previously drew criticism and had her decision to order a third-party review of an FBI search of Mar-a-Lago overturned by a conservative appeals court.
A magistrate judge, most likely Jonathan Goodman, who is on duty in Miami this week, will preside over Tuesday's proceedings.
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