Miami

Trump indictment: What to expect from federal court ahead of history-making hearing in Miami

Here's what you can expect on Tuesday, and what else we know so far

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Former President Donald Trump arrived in Miami ahead of his appearance in a federal courtroom to face charges of allegedly mishandling classified documents.

Trump arrived at Miami International Airport on Monday afternoon before spending the night at his golf resort in Doral.

Here's what you can expect on Tuesday, and what else we know so far:

What will this process look like?

Sometime around mid-day Tuesday, Trump will be taken from Doral to the federal courthouse in downtown Miami where he has a scheduled 3 p.m. appearance before a federal magistrate to hear the charges against him.

Trump is expected to enter the federal courthouse in Miami through an underground tunnel, where he will be processed and fingerprinted by federal Marshals and the FBI.

He won't be handcuffed and it is not known yet if a mugshot will be taken.

NBC6's Chris Hush reports live from Miami Intl. Airport on Trump's arrival to South Florida for his indictment.

Trump is expected to waive the reading of the indictment, and magistrate judge Jonathan Goodman will set conditions of release.

Trump could be let go on his own recognizance with an unsecured personal surety — a promise to pay a hefty sum set by the judge in the event he doesn't show up for court.

Other accused criminals often have to surrender their passports in federal court, but we don't know if that will apply to the former president.

It's possible that Trump will also be arraigned and enter his not-guilty plea Tuesday.

This would usually require a local attorney admitted in the district, and so far he has not hired one. However, the judge could let it go forward anyway.

What will be happening outside the courthouse?

There will be a large law enforcement presence at and around the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Courthouse on Northeast 1st Avenue.

Miami Police said Northeast 1st Avenue wil be shut down between 3rd and 5th streets, with traffic delays expected.

Authorities have been preparing for the hearing and for protests at the courthouse. By Tuesday morning, some protesters had gathered.

Who is the judge presiding over this case?

Judge Aileen Cannon will be the trial judge overseeing the case, however, she will not be involved in this stage.

Instead, magistrate judge Jonathan Goodman will preside over the arraignment of the former president on Tuesday.

Cannon will, however, have the authority to review the magistrate's ruling upon motion by either side.

Cannon was nominated to the federal bench in 2019 by then-President Trump and confirmed by the Senate in 2020. She was randomly selected amongst four federal judges in South Florida.

The Colombian-born, Miami-raised judge will handle the case as it goes forward.

What happens after Tuesday's hearing?

The whole process on Tuesday — from processing to release — could take around 90 minutes or so.

After that, Trump is expected to travel back to New Jersey after the hearing, where he will attend a fundraiser for the 2024 Presidential campaign.

In New Jersey, Trump is expected to deliver remarks.

He will also celebrate his 77th birthday on Wednesday.

What led to the indictment?

Here's a timeline of the events that led to Trump's history-making indictment:

After news broke that former president Donald Trump was indicted in Miami, many people were left with questions about what comes next. NBC6's Steve Litz breaks down everything you need to know.
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