Michael Cohen: Trump will ‘absolutely’ have mugshot, be fingerprinted if arrested

Michael Cohen, one-time personal lawyer of former President Donald Trump, said that if the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office indicts the 45th president, then he will “absolutely” go through the standard arresting formalities. Cohen, in an interview with Alex Witt on her Sunday MSNBC program, explained that he expects Trump to be fingerprinted, swabbed, and even photographed for a mugshot. However, Cohen doesn’t want to see Trump paraded in handcuffs since he respects the institution of the presidency.

Cohen’s remarks come as the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office is reportedly gearing up to charge Trump over hush-money payments he made to Stephanie Clifford, who is also known as porn star Stormy Daniels, through Cohen. Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018, served three years in prison, and told lawmakers that he received monthly payments from Trump as reimbursement for his payment to Clifford. The case against Trump depends on whether he authorized his team to falsify business records and list the payment as a legal expense.

Trump claimed on Truth Social on Saturday morning that he will be arrested on Tuesday, condemning illegal leaks and a highly political prosecutor. Cohen testified before the Manhattan grand jury last week, while several lawmakers and legal professionals have raised concerns over the possibility that the indictment is politically motivated. Cohen, however, said that his goal is to hold Trump accountable for his own dirty deeds and not personal vendettas.

Cohen emphasized that publicly handcuffing Trump would humiliate the presidency as an institution, and isn’t a good signal to both allies and adversaries. Instead, holding Trump accountable for his actions would send the right message to the nation.

If Trump is arrested after being indicted, he will be subjected to the same arresting formalities as any other arrested person, including being fingerprinted, swabbed, and photographed for a mugshot. However, Cohen said that he doesn’t want to see Trump paraded in handcuffs since it would be an embarrassment for the nation.

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