New York was gripped by a fear of violence on Tuesday over Donald Trump’s historic court showdown.
Thousands of police were deployed from early this morning ahead of the ex-president being taken from Trump Tower, under security service protection, to the Manhattan Criminal Court.
Mr Trump is the first former president to be indicted to face criminal charges over a case involving a $130,000 hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016. He denies having had a relationship with her and has vowed to fight the charges which threaten to further deepen the US political rift.
After the storming of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 by Trump supporters, New York’s mayor Eric Adams appealed for calm ahead of Tuesday’s hearing.
“Our message is clear and simple: Control yourselves. New York City is our home, not a playground for your misplaced anger,” he said.
The arraignment, where Mr Trump will hear charges and have a chance to enter a plea, was planned for 2.15pm local time (7.15pm UK time). Mr Trump’s lawyers, who said he will plead not guilty, opposed photography, video and radio coverage, arguing that it would “exacerbate an already almost circus-like atmosphere around this case”.
District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat who led the investigation, will give a news conference in the afternoon. Mr Trump will return to Florida and deliver remarks from his Mar-a-Lago estate at 8.15pm local time (1.15am UK time), his office said. The specific charges in the indictment by a grand jury have been kept secret until today.
Yahoo News reported that Mr Trump would face 34 felony counts for alleged falsification of business records. The ex-president was expected to be fingerprinted at the court but it was not clear if he would have his mugshot taken. He claims the charges are politically motivated, writing on his Truth Social profile: “We have to take back our country and, make America great again!”
President Joe Biden, who is widely expected to seek re-election next year and face a potential rematch against Mr Trump, said when asked about potential unrest: “No, I have faith in the New York Police Department.”
Analysts expect the court case to boost Mr Trump’s chances of becoming the Republican presidential candidate while denting the likelihood that he would win it.
He is also linked to several other inquiries including into his alleged role in the Capitol attack and government papers found at Mar-a-Lago.
