Former US President Donald Trump is facing potential criminal charges in New York over the $130,000 payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in exchange for her silence regarding their alleged affair. Manhattan District Attorney’s office has presented evidence to a grand jury, which will decide whether to indict Trump. If indicted, he will be brought directly to an arraignment before a judge, fingerprinted, photographed for a mugshot, and likely be released on his own recognizance. The Secret Service is preparing to lead security efforts around the courthouse in lower Manhattan for the arrest. However, Trump’s status as a former US President and Secret Service protection makes his arrest unique, and it remains to be seen whether court security staff or Secret Service agents will escort him into the courtroom. If charged, Trump would be the first former US President to face criminal prosecution.
The state, city, and federal law enforcement agencies in New York are gearing up for widespread protests ahead of the expected arrest of former President Donald Trump early this week. As Trump’s supporters have already started gathering outside Trump Tower, the authorities are taking extra precautions to deal with the anticipated confrontation between pro-Trump and anti-Trump protesters. The NYPD is considering mobilizing its riot cops as they fear the possibility of both groups facing off outside Manhattan Criminal Court where Trump is expected to be arraigned. The authorities are closely monitoring social media to assess the size of any protests.
Trump is set to face criminal charges for the $130,000 payments his former lawyer Michael Cohen paid to Stormy Daniels, a porn star he had an affair with, towards the end of his 2016 campaign. Prosecutors claim that the payment violated campaign finance laws and was made to silence Daniels.
In a brazen attempt to prevent his arrest, several MAGA supporters have already descended on Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, with others even forming a moat around the property. Trump has urged his supporters to protest, and the authorities fear that his arrest could cause more widespread protests across the country. As such, law enforcement agencies at all levels are preparing for any eventuality.
The NYPD is considering stationing hundreds of riot cops in Manhattan and mobilizing over 700 officers, according to the Daily Beast. The authorities are also working with federal authorities and other police departments to ensure the safety of the public and maintain law and order. With the city on high alert, the authorities are taking no chances as they brace themselves for a tumultuous week ahead.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) is preparing to deploy its ‘Strategic Response Group,’ which comprises 700 members trained in ‘disaster control,’ in case of violent clashes outside Trump Tower if the former president is arrested. If necessary, the authorities said that they could escalate the situation by deploying a Level 4 alert, which would put eight cops and one sergeant on standby at every precinct across New York City. Furthermore, authorities may mobilize officers who provide security at the state Supreme Court building in lower Manhattan, fearing both pro-Trump and anti-Trump protesters may convene outside of the Manhattan Criminal Court, leading to potential violence.
The NYPD and FBI are also coordinating a contingency plan to deal with an increase in threats to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and his staff if some of Trump’s more extremist supporters were to target them. To ensure the safety of Trump and the media, Secret Service agents in charge of Trump’s detail in South Florida, as well as those in New York, are coordinating how they will get Trump into the District Attorney’s office through the crowds of protesters.
CNN reports that the discussion included securing an area for a possible press conference outside Trump Tower. Trump supporters have already gathered outside Trump Tower in Manhattan, with some even forming a moat around Mar-a-Lago in South Florida to prevent his arrest.
Trump urged his supporters to ‘protest, protest, protest,’ as he said he expects to be arrested as early as Tuesday on state charges for the payouts to Stormy Daniels. Responding to the threats, Manhattan District Attorney Bragg released a memo reassuring his office staff of their safety and claimed that law enforcement is investigating any threats. He did not use Trump’s name, but mentioned that the threats were related to an ‘ongoing investigation by this office.’
The Manhattan District Attorney’s office has presented evidence to a grand jury about the $130,000 payment made to Stormy Daniels in exchange for her silence about an alleged affair with former President Donald Trump. The payment was listed as ‘legal expenses,’ which is a violation of New York law that prohibits falsifying business records. Trump has denied these claims, and his lawyer accused Daniels of extortion. If indicted, authorities would set a date and time for Trump’s surrender, at which point he would be brought directly to an arraignment before a judge. He would likely be released on his own recognizance and would be fingerprinted and brought in to take a mugshot, just like any other defendant in New York.
Sources have previously told Fox News that the Secret Service will ‘take the lead’ over what they will and will not allow as part of the arrest, including deciding whether to handcuff the former president or not. The decision would set the tone and will escort him into the courtroom. Trump is in a highly unique position as a former US president, meaning he is protected at all times by the Secret Service. It is not yet clear whether he will be escorted into the courtroom by court security staff or his Secret Service agents.
If charged, Trump would become the first former US president to face criminal prosecution.
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