Security boost for Trump indictment
Ex-president faces jail over hush money
NEW YORK: Police tightened security on Monday ahead of a possible historic indictment of Donald Trump over hush money paid to a porn actress, with the ex-president calling for mass demonstrations if he is charged.
Only a couple of dozen Trump supporters attended a protest in America’s financial capital on Monday evening though, as a grand jury weighs an investigation by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg over the 2016 payment to Stormy Daniels.
Mr Trump would become the first former or sitting president to be charged with a crime if an indictment is filed — a move that would send shockwaves through the 2024 White House race, in which the 76-year-old is running to regain office.
Mr Bragg, an elected Democrat, has not confirmed any plans publicly, but has put key witnesses in front of the jury in recent weeks and offered Mr Trump the opportunity to testify.
Mr Trump said over the weekend that he expects to be “arrested” yesterday and urged supporters to “Protest, take our nation back!” although his lawyer said the comments were based on media reports and not any fresh action by prosecutors.
Some US media said the panel could vote to indict when it returns today after it interviewed its final witness, lawyer Robert Costello, on Monday.
The NYPD geared up for an unprecedented arrest, which would see an ex-leader of the United States fingerprinted and possibly even handcuffed, by erecting barricades outside Mr Bragg’s office and Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue.
More than a dozen senior police officials met with mayoral aides on Sunday to discuss security and contingency plans for protests, the New York Times reported.
NBC News said police and other law enforcement agencies had conducted “preliminary security assessments,” including placing a security perimeter around the Manhattan Criminal Court where Mr Trump would likely appear before a judge.
Senior Democrats have warned that Mr Trump’s calls could trigger a repeat of the violence that his supporters unleashed on the US Capitol in January 2021.
In an online group named “The Donald”, some Trump supporters called for a “national strike” and “Civil War 2.0” to protect Mr Trump and protest any arrest.
Mr Bragg’s inquiry centres on US$130,000 (4.46 million baht) paid weeks before the 2016 polls to stop Ms Daniels from going public about an affair she says she had with Mr Trump years earlier.
Mr Trump’s ex-lawyer-turnedenemy Michael Cohen says he made the payment and was later reimbursed.
The payment to Ms Daniels, if not properly accounted for, could result in a misdemeanour charge for falsifying business records.
That might be raised to a felony if the false accounting was intended to cover up a second crime, such as a campaign finance violation.