Donald Trump is privately musing about a potential perp walk in New York and asking aides if he should smile for the camera: report
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- Trump said privately at Mar-a-Lago that he looks forward to doing a perp walk, per The New York Times.
- Trump has also wondered aloud if he should smile for reporters and cameras if he is charged.
- However, it is unlikely that he will be handcuffed or have to do a perp walk.
Behind closed doors at his Mar-a-Lago residence, former President Donald Trump has been telling his friends and associates that he wouldn't mind being perp-walked in front of a throng of reporters in New York, per The New York Times.
Trump has even been thinking about what sort of behavior from him would play best with the public, and whether he should smile for the cameras as he is taken away by the authorities, reported The Times' Michael Bender and Maggie Haberman.
The Times also reported that in private conversations, Trump characterized the perp walk — where an arrested suspect is frog-marched through a scrum of reporters — as a potentially enjoyable experience.
One person close to Trump told The Times that Trump is not so concerned about being seen while he's surrendering to the authorities, but wants to show people that he's not ashamed or hiding.
However, a perp walk is not likely to happen if Trump is charged with a crime.
Bill Pickle, a former Secret Service special agent, told Insider's Laura Italiano that the perp walk Trump is looking forward to won't happen. The process of him being taken away by authorities will likely be a much more "sedate event" than one would imagine, Pickle said.
"You're not going to expose him to people who could cause him harm," Pickles said.
Neither would he be handcuffed, Manhattan defense lawyer Ron Kuby told Insider. In case of an emergency where Trump is faced with danger, the handcuffs could limit his mobility.
Another rationale for the subdued procession is that handcuffs could anger Trump supporters, Kuby said.
However, some customary protocols will be followed. If Trump is charged, he'll be photographed for a mugshot, have his fingerprint taken, and be swabbed for the state DNA database, experts told Insider.
Despite this looming indictment, Trump seems to be going about his business without many disruptions to his routine. The Times reported that he was spotted rolling around on his golf cart and that he also DJ-ed at a party held at his Florida residence.
On Tuesday — the day that Trump earlier claimed he would be arrested — he was staying in at Mar-a-Lago and checking out his performance in the polls, his lawyer Joe Tacopina told Insider's Jacob Shamsian. Trump was not arrested or indicted on Tuesday.
"He's going about business as usual, doing what he does, enjoying the fact that he seems to be rising in the poll numbers the more this thing picks up steam," Tacopina said.
Tacopina has also said that Trump will surrender if indicted.
"They want him at 100 Centre Street? He'll be there, loud and proud," Tacopina said on Monday, referring to the Manhattan Criminal Court.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is investigating if Trump paid off the adult film actress, Stormy Daniels and violated New York election and document laws. Trump could face up to four years in prison if convicted.
Trump's spokesman did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment sent outside regular business hours.