MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – Donald Trump still awaits his Tuesday arraignment, facing criminal charges linked to falsifying business records. The indictment remains sealed until the arraignment, leaving many wondering what is to come for the first former president to be facing criminal charges. The grand jury voted to indict Donald Trump on more than two dozen counts, with one of them being a felony charge.
Northern Michigan University Criminal Law Professor Dominic Andriacchi notes that the intent within the specific charges holds significant weight in the former president’s case. “The thing I think is going to be interesting is to show specific intent. With any type of fraud crime such as falsifying business records, you have to show that the person not only committed the act as in falsified the business records but also has a specific intent to defraud at the same time,” said Andriacchi.
Officials confirmed with WZMQ that with a felony the prosecutors need to show not only the intent to defraud but also the intent to commit another felony at the same time. The case will proceed to trial but that could take months, even years to see a jury.
“Well I’ve seen cases last anywhere between a minimum of a year and a half and if you start going through the appellate process, three, four, five years before finally getting down to a jury,” continued Professor Andriacchi.
Even after a jury trial takes place, there is still an additional appellate process that could take up to 2 to 3 years. Trump is expected to be taken into custody and processed tomorrow, including having his mug shot and fingerprints taken, however, the former president is still eligible to run his campaign.
