AMERICA’S TOP PERP WALKS: HOW WILL DONALD TRUMP MEASURE UP?
Donald Trump arriving at court in Manhattan, 2015. He came to satisfy a jury service summons. It was practice for his expected appearance in Manhattan Criminal Court now. Photo Credit: JB Nicholas
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Donald Trump is facing indictment in New York City and the former president is reportedly obsessing over his potental "perp walk."
Many people might be wondering what a perp walk is, exactly. I worked as a photojournalist in New York City for 15 years. I photographed a lot of perp walks. There are all kinds. Here's some of my best. All copyright reserved.
New York Post frontpage, known as “The Wood” in tabloid parlance, Mar. 23, 2023
Simply stated, a perp walk is any time police parade someone accused of crime in a front a camera. Traditionally, a perp walk occurs after someone is formally charged by police and taken to their arraignment in criminal court. But perp walks can also happen far away from courts. For example, when a defendant is performing community service.
The federal appeals court covering New York reviewed perp walks in 2000 and found the practice to be “widespead.” The Second Circuit Court of Appeals also found it violated the Constitution-if done for no reason other than to provide a chance for press to photograph the perp. If there’s some other practical or legitimate law enforcement reason for the “walk“ its OK.
MAFIA
Here's a classic from a Gambino family takedown in 2008.
NAOMI CAMPBELL
Supermodel Naomi Campbell pleaded guilty to throwing a phone at a servant over a pair of missing jeans. She was sentenced to five days' community service at a Sanitation Department pier. She treated it like any other runway fashion show.
SHELDON SILVER
The once-powerful New York State Assembly Speaker lived in a modest, middle-class apartment building in an Orthodox Jewish community on the Lower East Side. But he was also prosecuted on federal corruption charges and found guilty, twice. He died serving a 6 1/2 year sentence in federal prison. Here he’s handcuffed and riding to his arraignment in 2015.
AMANDA BYNES
Actor Amanda Bynes got busted for pot possession and throwing a bong out of her hi-rise Manhattan apartment in 2013. She used a wig to hid her face from photographers.
SHIA LABEOUF
There was a time when actor Shia LaBeouf didn’t give a fuck. That time included 2014. Here he is leaving Manhattan Criminal Court after a particularly rough night-with a court appearance notice in his hand.
DOMINIQUE STRAUS-KAHN
The International Monetary Fund president and potential candidate for the presidency of France was busted for allegedly raping a hotel maid in 2012. The charge was dismissed.
HARVEY WEINSTEIN
Disgraced Hollywood heavyweight Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to effectively die in jail after being convicted of rape and sexual assault in New York and Los Angeles. Here he's smiling in early morning sunlight as he’s led in handcuffs out of the NYPD's First Precinct on the way to his arraignment in New York. He was sentenced to a total of 39 years.
SOCCER MOM MADAM
The so-called suburban soccer mom madam Anna Gristina leaving court after her arraignment and release on bail. Her son handed her a dozen flowers in the courthouse hallway. She pleaded guilty to promoting prostitution and got time-served and five years’ probation.
JAYNE MAE BAKER
New York City's tabloids called her the "hooker booker" because she was allegedly Gristina's accomplice. She ended up selling real estate before moving to Los Angeles.
MARTIN SHKRELI
The Brooklyn-born fraudster is best known for being the asshole who lost the only copy of Wu-Tang Clan's album Once Upon A Time in Shaolin-to the feds.
MARC DREIER
Federal prosecutors wanted to send the mini-Bernard Madoff to prison for 145 years for stealing or scheming to steal almost $1 billion from investors. Federal Judge Jed S. Rakoff gave him a break: 20 years. He gets out in 2025. Here I am captured in video capturing him leaving Manhattan federal court.
BERNARD MADOFF
The Queens native stole a staggering $65 billion from investors with the largest Ponzi scheme in history. He was released on bond, before pleading guilty and being sentenced to 145 years in prison. The Guardian named this photograph one of the ten best photographs of the Noughties.
DONALD TRUMP
Donald Trump went to court in Manhattan in 2015 to satisfy a jury service summons. In effect, it was a practice run for his expected indictment and appearance in Manhattan Criminal Court in 2023.
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