The Trump Trials, Vol. 1

This new Proof series—authored by a longtime criminal defense attorney and leading Trump biographer—will unpack recent events in the historic trials of disgraced former president Donald Trump.

(1) Trump lied about wanting a televised “perp walk.” Last week Trump leaked to the press, and major media dutifully reported, that he believed his indictment and coming arraignment would be so politically beneficial to him that it was to his advantage that they be televised. As it turns out, this was another lie from a man who told more than 30,000 of them while president. Forbes now reports that Trump attorney Joe Tacopina is desperately trying to keep Judge Merchan—the presiding judge in the Manhattan case—from letting cameras into the courtroom for Trump’s historic arraignment. The judge is expected to make his final decision on this on the evening of Monday, April 3. Media reports indicate that Merchan has generally opposed cameras in the courtroom in high-profile criminal cases. The arraignment is scheduled for the early afternoon of Tuesday, April 4.