Here are Florida’s next steps after Trump’s indictment in New York.
Former President Donald Trump Indicted It is the first time a US president has been held criminally responsible by a grand jury in New York on Thursday.
So what happens next? Specifically in Florida and Palm Beach County where he lives?
the answer depends on how he responds to the indictmentWill he turn himself in? Does he say “Please pick me up”?
Trump’s attorney said Trump will voluntarily appear for arraignment in New York. But Trump has also been belligerent on the case. He reportedly wanted a handcuffed “perp walk” last week and wanted to have his fingerprints taken and his face photographed.
Posting a statement on his platform Truth Social, Trump called the investigation “the highest level of political persecution and election interference in history.” Last week, he called Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg an “animal.”
So will Trump surrender voluntarily in New York or refuse to comply, and will state or local officials be involved?
Now all eyes are on Mar-a-Lago, his private club on a special island in Palm Beach, and Palm Beach International Airport, where he stores his private plane.
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Option 1: Trump agrees to voluntarily turn himself in
The appointment means the defendant will be fingerprinted and mugshot taken, according to the defendant’s attorney, which is likely to take place on Tuesday. to appear in court — followed.
Trump’s lawyers have publicly said they would most likely arrange for Trump’s voluntary appearance, and on Friday his private jet pulled up at its usual location at Palm Beach International Airport. Palm Beach County state attorney Dave Aronberg said Thursday that he will be fingerprinted and photographed, but not handcuffed.
He was then released and waited back at his Florida home.
more:Now that Donald Trump is indicted, can he still run for president?
Details of the president’s indictment history:Trump Indicted: Were Other Former US Presidents Indicted? No, but these came closer.
Option 2: New York State can first seek extradition through the Governor of Florida
But if Trump refuses to voluntarily attend, Florida officials will get involved.
As a Palm Beach County resident, New York would seek a court order to force Trump’s extradition, Aronberg said.
Normally, such motions would go to the governor of Florida, but there’s an interesting twist given that Governor Ron DeSantis is widely believed to be prepping for the 2024 Republican presidential primary against Trump. .
Things got even more interesting on Thursday when DeSantis appeared to flip-flop. Last week, the governor categorically said he would not get involved in the case.
“We have real issues to deal with here in Florida,” DeSantis said. “We were never involved in it.”
DeSantis reversed positions on Thursday in a sign of how Republican politics over the indictment favors Trump.
“Florida will not support extradition requests given the questionable circumstances in this Soros-backed Manhattan prosecutor’s case. And his political agenda,” DeSantis said Thursday, referring to liberal political activist George Soros.
Option 3: Palm Beach County Local Official Role?
If DeSantis refuses to get involved, a federal judge must sign an extradition order. Most likely, this federal judge will be in Palm Beach County, Aronberg said.
Local officials could be more involved if Trump decides to take the matter to state court to challenge the extradition. However, asserting innocence is not grounds for challenging extradition. It should be based on more mundane arguments, such as claims that the paperwork was incorrect or that the person was not the person named in the delivery documents.
If extradition is challenged, the local state attorney’s office may be involved.
After all, what does this mean?
The first step is to see if Trump surrenders. As Aronberg said, Trump is unlikely to be handcuffed, and it is especially unlikely that he will be put in a cell at any time.
It’s also unclear if Trump will be confined to New York or will be able to continue his nationwide campaign in the presidential election.
But Aronberg said Trump would “definitely” be allowed to return home because New York’s pretrial release laws are lenient.
Stephanie Mattat is a political reporter The Palm Beach Post, part of USA TODAY– Florida Network.contact her smatat@pbpost.comSupport local journalism: subscribe today.
http://rssfeeds.floridatoday.com/~/733293266/0/brevard/news~Trump-indictment-One-of-these-things-likely-will-happen-next/ Here are Florida’s next steps after Trump’s indictment in New York.
