How Trump’s second indictment will unfold
Former President Donald Trump is set to appear in court again in downtown Miami on Tuesday, this time for the 37 federal charges he faces over his handling of classified documents following his departure from the White House.
The ex-president arrived in Miami, Florida, on Monday afternoon aboard his plane, “Trump Force One,” and took a motorcade to his Trump National Doral resort, where he stayed overnight.
In the evening, he was spotted meeting with his advisors and having dinner with his son Eric at the hotel’s restaurant, while his wife Melania went to the dentist in New York.
A well-known source told the DailyMail.com Monday night that Trump remained “joyful” and “cheerful.” “There were reports that the mood had turned. That couldn’t be further from the truth,” the source said.
It is his second appearance before a judge in just three months and represents an unprecedented moment in American politics.
Former President Donald Trump is set to appear in court again in downtown Miami on Tuesday, this time for the 37 federal charges he faces over his handling of classified documents following his departure from the White House. The times below are estimates due to safety precautions
Law enforcement in Miami braced for between 5,000 and 50,000 protesters as the former president has his confrontation with the judge in scenes similar to his charges in Manhattan’s Stormy Daniels hush money case.
He’s the first president to face federal charges, and DailyMail.com has broken down how his day will go.
TRUMP’S MORNING AND JOURNEY TO MIAMI’S COURT
Trump will wake up at his resort in Doral and have a bright morning, with his court appearance not until the afternoon.
He would meet with several lawyers to finalize a team that will bring him to justice.
Two of his lawyers, Jim Trusty and John Rowley, resigned abruptly on Friday, hours after Trump announced he would face charges.
It is still unclear why they left.
In the afternoon on Tuesday, he takes the black SUVs to drive about 25 minutes to the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. US Courthouse in downtown Miami.
Around 2:30 p.m. he turns himself in and is processed.
A well-known source told DailyMail.com that Trump will not be handcuffed, nor will there be a photo of this performance, similar to what happened when he faced state charges in New York in April in the Daniels case.
His fingerprints are expected to be taken.
Jay Weaver, longtime federal court reporter for the Miami Herald told NPR the fingerprinting could happen in the courthouse’s underground garage, away from the media’s prying cameras.
WHAT HAPPENS IN THE COURTROOM
Once processed, Trump will be taken to court and will stand next to his lawyers as the magistrate reads the indictment.
The judge assigned to the case is Trump appointee Judge Aileen M. Cannon, but it is unclear if she will oversee Tuesday’s hearing.
She previously ruled in favor of the ex-president last summer, authorizing a special master to review documents collected by the FBI as part of the August Mar-a-Lago raid.
Once in court, Trump told Fox News Digital on Thursday night that he will plead not guilty to the charges.
That can happen on Tuesday or he can come back for arraignment.
His lawyers could also ask the judge to drop the charges immediately.
Cameras are also not allowed in the hearing – but a few lucky journalists are allowed into the room to witness the proceedings.
Late Monday, a judge denied a request from news organizations to bring video equipment, meaning only a cartoonist will be present.
The DailyMail.com source noted that the configuration of the courthouse was different from that in Manhattan.
“The layout of the courthouse is different from New York, so he’ll probably use one of the private entrances. So that will be a little different. There won’t be much for the media to see,” the source said, adding “it will be a quick turnaround with a short hearing.”
Trump’s personal assistant Walt Nauta has been subpoenaed to appear in court at the same time as the former president.
Nauta traveled on Trump’s plane with the 2024 hopeful, Politico reported. Trump also traveled to Miami with Todd Blanche, a new Trump attorney, and former adviser Boris Epshteyn, the news site said.
AFTER HIS APPEARANCE, TRUMP GOES TO JERSEY FOR PRIMETIME ADDRESS
The process is expected to be completed at 3:30 p.m
Then he will head back to his club in New Jersey, where he will give a primetime address.
Trump is expected to head straight to the airport once his federal court session is over.
After being impeached in Manhattan in April, Trump flew to Florida to run a diatribe in front of supporters and some family members in Mar-a-Lago.
This time, Trump is leaving Florida and heading back north to his summer residence, his resort in Bedminster, New Jersey, where he will address top donors and the press.
Donald Trump was seen Monday evening at his resort in Doral, a suburb of Miami
Trump poses with supporters in Doral on Monday night. His aide Walt Nauta is seen on the far left, in a red tie: Nauta has been charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice with Trump
Melania Trump was spotted in New York City on Monday on her way to a dentist appointment
The address is expected to happen in primetime.
The event serves as a fundraiser for Trump’s reelection, with Politico reporting that there will be a “candlelight dinner,” a “photo opportunity,” and a “VIP reception” with elected officials and special guests, according to an invitation.
Congress is in session this week, so it’s unclear which lawmakers will make the draft.
A spokesman for Rep. Matt Gaetz told Politico that the Florida congressman would not make it.
A representative of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has yet to respond to DailyMail.com’s question about whether she will attend the Bedminster party.