Will Trump Have His Mug Shot Taken?

Federal rules dictate that an accused person be reprocessed in each jurisdiction in which he or she faces charges, so his fingerprints will be taken electronically again. But officials will again skip a mug shot.

By Glenn Thrush

Former President Donald J. Trump’s second federal arraignment this year is expected to follow a rhythm similar to his first: He will be fingerprinted but not have his mug shot taken.

As happened before his arraignment in Miami on charges of mishandling government documents, the U.S. Marshals Service, which is responsible for security inside federal courthouses, will escort him to a booking area.

Like last time, they will not take his picture, according to a law enforcement official involved in the planning. But federal rules dictate that an accused person be reprocessed in each jurisdiction in which he or she faces charges, so Mr. Trump will have to be fingerprinted for a second time using an electronic scanning device. He is also expected to answer a series of intake questions that include personal details, such as his age.

Mr. Trump also did not have a mug shot taken when he was arraigned earlier this year in New York on state charges in connection with a hush-money payment to a pornographic actress before the 2016 election. But his campaign did immediately start selling shirts with a pretend booking photo.

A genuine booking photo could still be in Mr. Trump’s future. The sheriff in Fulton County, Ga., where another potential indictment connected to Mr. Trump’s efforts to undermine the 2020 election looms, has suggested that if Mr. Trump is charged, he will be processed like anybody else, mug shot and all.

Glenn Thrush covers the Department of Justice. He joined The Times in 2017 after working for Politico, Newsday, Bloomberg News, The New York Daily News, The Birmingham Post-Herald and City Limits. More about Glenn Thrush