What to know ahead of Trump's arraignment in Miami
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Former President Trump waves as he arrives at the Miami International Airport on Monday. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images
Former President Trump arrived in Miami on Monday ahead of his Tuesday court appearance for criminal charges related to his possession of classified documents.
Why it matters: Trump's indictment was unsealed on Friday, outlining 37 felony counts against the former president. He has been outspoken against the charges, the Department of Justice and the special counsel at the forefront of the investigation.
- Trump was previously arraigned in April in a Manhattan criminal court, where he pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. This case is related to hush money payments from 2016.
- The recent indictment says Trump collected records pertaining to national defense, weapons and nuclear programs, jeopardizing national security. Boxes that contained some of these classified documents were transported to his home at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, the indictment says.
- Trump told Fox News that he would plead not guilty to the charges and said the indictment was “election interference at the highest level.”
What time is Trump’s arraignment?
Trump's first appearance will be held at 3pm on Tuesday, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida said on its website.
- After the hearing, Trump will travel to New Jersey for a speech at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster on Tuesday night, his 2024 campaign said in a statement.
Who will be there?
Christopher Michael Kise will represent Trump, according to court records.
- Kise is a former Florida solicitor general who won numerous cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and Florida Supreme Court.
- Kise was previously hired by Trump in the Justice Department's probe.
Duty Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman is scheduled to oversee the hearing.
- Meanwhile, Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump-appointed district judge, is scheduled to oversee the case. Cannon was criticized for ruling in Trump's favor by granting a special master in 2022, following his argument that some of the records in the case were protected under executive or attorney-client privileges.
Security and safety measures were being prepared by officials in Miami, including police and fire departments, ahead of the hearing to prepare for crowds and protests, said Miami Mayor Francis Suarez at a news conference on Monday. Some roads may be closed in the downtown area, he said.
- The U.S. Marshals and Florida Highway Patrol will also help.
Can I watch live?
Details: Federal court proceedings are not live streamed, and reporters are not allowed to record or transmit audio, photography or video from the courtroom or courthouse.
- Overflow viewing will be available for reporters.
- A federal judge in the Southern District of Florida issued an order on Monday evening prohibiting the use of all cell phones and other electronic equipment inside the courthouse during Trump's arraignment.
Separately, a magistrate in the Southern District of Florida rejected a request by a media coalition to permit a "limited number of photographs and video-recordings in the courtroom and/or the outside corridor" before proceedings begin, citing security concerns.
Of note: The U.S. Marshals Service will not release a mug shot of Trump, Barry Lane, a spokesperson for the service, said.
Go deeper:
- Follow Axios' live coverage here
- Listen to the Axios Today podcast, where host Niala Boodhoo and Alex Thompson unpack Trump's argument about the Presidential Records Acts and a call to his supporters.
Editor's note: This article has been updated with Monday's court rulings on the use of electronic equipment and photographs inside the courtroom and with a statement from the U.S. Marshals Service. It has been corrected to reflect that Duty Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman, not Judge Aileen Cannon, will oversee Trump's first court appearance in the classified documents probe.
