JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Former President Donald Trump is set to be arraigned next Tuesday in New York after a grand jury indicted him for giving hush money to a former adult film star during his first presidential campaign.
The indictment is being called “unprecedented” in American history. A former president has never been indicted – neither has a person currently running for president.
Jacksonville University College of Law Dean and Professor of Law Nick Allard said Trump’s arraignment will look like most white-collar criminals, including having his fingerprints and a mugshot taken.
“In other respects, he will be probably somewhat different and afforded courtesies,” Allard said. “For example, he’ll be accompanied by Secret Service agents.”
When it comes to a trial, how hard will it be to find a jury that doesn’t already have an opinion about such a well-known, controversial political figure?
Allard said the jurors are only tested to see if they can be fair.
“It is likely to be a long and difficult jury selection process,” Allard said. “But I believe that in the state of New York, you can find twelve jurors and several alternates who can be fair and be impartial.”
Governor Ron DeSantis tweeted that the indictment is “un-American” and that Florida would not "assist in an extradition request.”
According to University of North Florida Political Science Professor Dr. Micheal Binder, the governor does have the power to deny an extradition request, but it’s a moot point in this case.
Binder said the unnecessary statement is an appeal to Trump supporters – and another hint that a presidential run is in DeSantis’ future.
“Maybe core Trump supporters that he might be trying to peel away,” Binder said. “He’s walking a very fine line because at the same time, he needs to attack Trump for having all this chaos around him and this indictment, ultimately, when he does officially announce.”
If he’s eventually convicted, how severe would the punishment actually be for a former president? Binder says it will look different.
“If it ever got anywhere near that, it would be something like maybe a home confinement, likely some fines, things of that nature,” Binder said.
Trump and his attorneys have denied any wrongdoing. The charges against him will be unsealed when he’s arraigned next week.