Former President Donald Trump made a statement on Saturday to CNN saying that he anticipates being arrested regarding the ongoing investigation into a payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. He also urged his supporters to protest if such an arrest were to occur.
In a social media post, the former President of the United States, Donald Trump, referred to himself as the "leading Republican candidate" and said that he expects to be arrested on Tuesday of next week, although he did not provide any reasons for why he thinks this. However, his team later stated that they have not received any notifications from prosecutors regarding his arrest.
According to a report by CNN's John Miller on Friday, various law enforcement agencies at the city, state, and federal levels in New York City have been holding meetings throughout the week to discuss security arrangements in the event of a possible indictment of Trump.
In a similar manner to his appeals to supporters following the 2020 Presidential Election, Donald Trump urged action in a statement on Saturday, writing "Protest, take our nation back."
Multiple people with knowledge of the matter informed CNN that the former President has been actively pushing his team to energize his base and thinks that an indictment against him would be beneficial for him politically.
If the former President, who is running for reelection in 2024, were to be indicted, it would be an unprecedented event and would rapidly alter the political discourse surrounding him, as he is already a controversial figure. Although Trump has a long history of facing civil lawsuits, both before and after his tenure as President, a criminal charge would signify a significant increase in his legal problems as he strives to regain the presidency.
A source familiar with the ongoing investigation into the hush money payments has disclosed that another witness is set to testify before the grand jury on Monday. It remains unclear whether this will be the final witness before the grand jury votes on a possible indictment.
Donald Trump's legal team has been anticipating the possibility of an indictment and has reportedly been making preparations behind the scenes for the next course of action.
Joe Tacopina, one of the attorneys representing Donald Trump, stated that the former President's claims were based on reports from the press.
In a statement to CNN, Joe Tacopina, one of Donald Trump's attorneys, expressed frustration at the lack of communication and information they have received about the ongoing investigation, stating "No one tells us anything which is very frustrating. President Trump is basing his response on press reports."
A spokesperson for Donald Trump stated on Saturday that the former President has not received any notification from the Manhattan District Attorney's Office regarding a possible indictment. The spokesperson also noted that Trump's social media post was simply him "rightfully highlighting his innocence."
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from California, took to Twitter on Saturday to preview a possible defense that Republicans on Capitol Hill could take in response to a potential indictment of former President Donald Trump. McCarthy tweeted that such an indictment would constitute "an outrageous abuse of power" by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.
Mike Pence, the former Vice President who served under Donald Trump, echoed House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's sentiments on Saturday. In a radio interview with Breitbart News, Pence expressed his surprise at the news of a potential indictment for Trump. He also accused the Manhattan District Attorney's investigation of being politically motivated and claimed that it "reeks" of "political prosecution."
On Saturday, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office declined to comment on the matter.
Protest call reminiscent of January 6 comments
According to a source familiar with Donald Trump's statements, the former President has privately complained that he believes he is going to be indicted only because he thinks that the Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg "hates him."
Donald Trump's call for a protest in response to a potential arrest echoes his behavior in his final days in office. At that time, he repeatedly urged his supporters to reject the results of the 2020 presidential election, which ultimately led to the deadly attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Some of Donald Trump's advisers had privately urged him not to call for protests, as they were concerned about the potential optics of a mass protest in the streets of Manhattan. They were worried that the protest could grow out of control or resemble the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the US Capitol.
Another witness scheduled to testify on Monday
If there is a possible indictment of Donald Trump, it is expected that his defense team will be notified, and then negotiations will begin for his surrender and an initial appearance.
According to a source familiar with the investigation, another witness is expected to testify before the grand jury investigating the hush money payments on Monday. It is currently unclear whether this witness will be the final one before the grand jury votes on a possible indictment.
Trump's legal team has stated that he will not agree to testify before the grand jury. However, sources familiar with his legal team's strategy have said that if an indictment is issued, they will negotiate a date for him to surrender with the district attorney's office.
Sources familiar with the matter have stated that Trump's legal team has been meeting all week to plan for different scenarios, including the possibility of Trump traveling to New York or participating in a remote hearing while staying at Mar-a-Lago.
According to sources, two lawyers named Jim Trusty and Christina Bobb, who are currently involved in the Justice Department's investigations related to the former president, were recruited by Trump after he saw them on television.
The campaign is reportedly hiring additional staff to specifically handle messaging related to the possibility of an indictment, as reported by The New York Times
Law enforcement talks continue
Law enforcement officials have been discussing how to handle the situation if a New York county grand jury were to issue a criminal indictment against a former president, and the steps that would need to be taken if an unprecedented arrest were to be made.
If the former president is indicted, it is anticipated that he will turn himself in and undergo the standard procedures of processing and arraignment at the courthouse, which involves being fingerprinted and having a mug shot taken, according to a source who is knowledgeable about the situation and spoke to CNN.
Nonetheless, the source stated that there may be some arrangements made to speed up the processing of Trump and minimize the time he spends inside the building. For instance, officials may attempt to have him appear before a judge right away.
After Trump's posts on Saturday, CNN contacted the New York Police Department, but they did not provide an immediate response. However, law enforcement sources in New York City informed CNN that the security measures for a potential indictment against Trump were discussed during the NYPD's daily briefing on Saturday morning. Additionally, they mentioned that social media is being monitored on a daily basis to detect any potential threats.
According to law enforcement sources, officials are aware that Trump has a devoted following and are taking a cautious approach. As of now, it is unknown how many individuals may be planning to gather in Manhattan this week, but the situation is being monitored closely. A more comprehensive security briefing is scheduled for Monday.
If indicted, Trump's US Secret Service detail would accompany him to the Manhattan district attorney's office for fingerprinting and mugshots, which would be taken in the offices of the district attorney's detective squad. It is standard procedure in cases where a defendant is permitted to voluntarily surrender that the former president would be taken straight to a judge for arraignment after being processed following the arrest. He would likely be released on his own recognizance.
Officials in law enforcement who have knowledge of the planning process have revealed that multiple concerns have been addressed, such as the security of the courthouse and the possibility of rallies or demonstrations outside the courthouse by either Trump supporters or anti-Trump protesters, which could potentially result in clashes between the two groups.
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