Following his arrival at a court in New York, former United States president Donald Trump is now formally under arrest and in police custody ahead of a court appearance on a charge about a payment of US$130 000 that was made on Trump’s behalf to a porn film actress before the US’ presidential election in 2016.
Trump is the first American president to face criminal charges.
On Monday, one of Trump’s attorneys, Alina Habba, told CNN that he should not be subjected to a mugshot as his is “the most recognised face in the world” and that the purpose of a mugshot was for identification.
On Tuesday, reports in US media suggested that Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg had decided there was no need to put the 76-year-old through the mugshot process.
Were the photo to take place, there is no guarantee the public will ever see it. Under New York state law, the former president would have to give his approval for its release, though US media have suggested he is not opposed to its publication.
Unsurprisingly, the White House has declined to comment about Trump’s indictment and arrest in New York.
Today’s daily press briefing at the White House began with other matters – primarily Finland joining Nato, but also technology companies, gun violence and the arrest of a Wall Street Journal reporter in Russia.
Soon, however, came the first question about Trump’s indictment.
“This is an ongoing case and we’re just not going to comment,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. “The president is going to focus on the American people, like he does every day.”
Jean-Pierre noted that with “hours and hours” of news coverage being dedicated to Trump’s indictment, president Joe Biden “will catch part of the news”.
“But this is not his focus,” she added. – BBC
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