The White House is prepared for any violence that may break out in the area Donald Trumparraignment in New York on Tuesday as Mayor Eric Adams warned Marjorie Taylor Greene and other supporters of the former president to be on their best behavior.
“We are watching this closely, as you would expect,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told a group of reporters on Monday.
Both Kirby and Adams said they have nnot to track down specific threats related to Trump’s hearing, which takes place at 2:15 p.m. ET on TuesdayBut federal, state and local officials are closely monitoring the situation.
And Adams called the Republican congressman of Georgia by name in his comments. Greene said she would be in New York on Tuesday to lead Trump supporters in a protest against his arraignment in what is expected to be a circus-like atmosphere.
“While we don’t have specific threats, people like Marjorie Taylor Green, who is known to spread misinformation and hate speech, have stated she is coming to town,” New York’s mayor said at a news conference.
While you’re in town. Be on your best behavior,” Adams remarked. “As always, we do not allow violence or vandalism of any kind. And if someone is implicated in violence by the court, he will be arrested.’
New York Mayor Eric Adams warned Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and other Trump supporters to be on their best behavior
“While there may be some rioters who are thinking about coming to our town tomorrow, our message is clear and simple: Control yourself,” Adams said.
New York City is our home, not a playground for your misplaced anger. We are the safest major city in America because we respect the rule of law in New York City.”
Meanwhile, Kirby said President Joe Biden’s administration was coordinating with state and local officials. he said he hoped supporters of the former president stuck to peaceful protests and did not participate in any violence.
“We will be prepared if necessary, but hopefully that will not be necessary. It shouldn’t be necessary for anyone to want to visit violence against fellow citizens around this or any other legal proceeding. Violence has no place in the United States. Peaceful protest has a very important place in our democracy,” he said.
Law enforcement officials have not yet seen evidence of a disruptive, organized backlash similar to the January 6, 2021 riot at the Capitol, the New York Times reported.
Trump left for New York on Monday afternoon to surrender to police on Tuesday, where he will be fingerprinted and get his police photo ahead of his hearing on hush-money charges payments to porn star Stormy Daniels.
He will land at New York’s LaGuardia Airport before spending the night at Trump Tower in Manhattan.
Local, state and federal agencies are gearing up for Tuesday’s historic event. The New York City Police Department, state law enforcement agencies, the Secret Service, and the U.S. Marshals Service work together on security.
New York City police officials have issued a standing order to about 35,000 officers.
“Officers are on alert and the department remains ready to respond if necessary and will ensure that everyone can exercise their rights peacefully,” the New York Police Department said in a statement.
Donald Trump rides in the back of an SUV as his motorcade arrives at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, to head to New York City
Trump Tower is circled with barriers as security forces prepare for Trump’s arraignment
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene tweeted an invitation to join her in a protest near the Manhattan courthouse
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg arrived at his office Monday, after walking through the crowd of NYPD officers.
In preparation for expected protests, police built barricades this weekend along the sidewalks around Trump Tower and the Manhattan Criminal Court building in downtown.
Greene tweeted an invitation to join her in a protest near the Manhattan courthouse.
“They’re not coming after President Trump, they’re coming after us, he’s just getting in their way,” she wrote.
Trump has encouraged protests on his behalf.
Greene’s meeting is scheduled for Tuesday morning, likely before Trump is due to appear in court as part of the indictment.
Details of Trump’s charges have not been released, but the former president would face more than 30 charges, including at least one misdemeanor, in the indictment handed down last week by a Manhattan grand jury.
The investigation examines six-figure payments made to Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal.
Both women claim they had sexual encounters with the married Trump years before he entered politics. Trump denies an affair with either woman and denies any wrongdoing – arguing that the case against him is politically motivated.
He is the first former president in history to be charged.